The Business Leader Podcast

Over 200 years since its first publication hit the streets, The Sunday Times business section has solidified its role in British culture as a must-read for business leaders and entrepreneurs.

“With a nose for scoops”, Oliver Shah has risen to the role of Associate Editor at the publication, even writing a best-selling book along the way. In this exclusive interview, we talk to Oliver about the demise of brash business leader personalities, the current relationship between business and politics, being threatened by Sir Philip Green and much more.

Here's what we discussed:

• Could you give us an overview of your career? (03:22)
• What gave you an interest in business? (04:56)
• How do you reflect on Brexit? (07:25)
• You wrote Damaged Goods: The Inside Story of Sir Philip Green in 2018. How did that relationship come about and what led you to write the book? (09:49)
• Do you feel that the big, brash personalities of well-known business leaders, such as Sir Philip Green, are now a thing of the past? (13:36)
• You've been around exceptional leaders throughout your career, do any stick our mind in particular? (17:49)
• Many people, such as Jordan Peterson, are very critical of how ESG is perceived as a silver bullet. What is your view of ESG? (21:13)
• How do you reflect on the early days of the pandemic? (24:49)
• Do any post-pandemic success stories stick in your mind? (30:26)
• A number of companies have delisted from the London Stock Exchange or pulled their potential listings due to a lack of value. Does the Government need to do more to encourage investment and how do you compare them to Lord Mandelson’s pro-business approach you mentioned before? (35:50)
• The Good News Postcard: What is your favourite ever good news story? (39:42)
• What makes a great business leader? (41:28)

Thanks to Leo from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harriet Green is the real deal. She’s run some of the world’s largest companies and has been banging the drum on the tangible benefits of inclusivity for over two decades.

From 2018 to 2020, she served as the Chair and CEO of IBM Asia Pacific, where she focused on driving innovation-led growth within the organisation. Prior to that, she was the leader and founder of the IBM startup Watson Internet of Things from 2015 to 2017. Green's expertise and leadership contributed to the advancement of IBM's initiatives on the Internet of Things domain.

Before her tenure at IBM, Green held the position of CEO at Thomas Cook Group from 2012 to 2014. During her time there, she played a crucial role in transforming the company's fortunes. Under her leadership, Thomas Cook Group's market worth skyrocketed from £148m to over £2bn, and the company's share price experienced a staggering increase of 829%. Following the announcement of Green's departure, the company's share value suffered a significant drop of over £350m. This incident highlighted the impact of her leadership on the organisation's financial performance and investor sentiment.

In addition to her roles at IBM and Thomas Cook Group, Harriet Green also served as the CEO of Premier Farnell from 2006 to 2012 and has been a board member of BAE Systems, a leading multinational defence, security, and aerospace company. Green's notable achievements and track record in driving growth and innovation demonstrate her strategic vision and ability to deliver substantial results in various industries.

We talk to Harriet about how innovation-led growth could get us out of the global economic struggles, restructuring a business with empathy, the importance of building trust with your employees and much more.

Here's what we discussed:

• Could you tell us about what Tikkun Olam is and why it's so important to you? (00:55)
• Could you give us an overview of your career to date? (03:04)
• How do you reflect on the improvement we've seen in the last few years in regard to ESG? (06:25)
• You've always been very outspoken about digital transformation before it was widely accepted. Why was that so important to you and where did the drive to make a decision like this come from? (12:10)
• Could you tell us about how you got your job as CEO of the Thomas Cook Group? (16:38)
• How do you reflect on your departure from Thomas Cook? (18:46)
• You oversaw the cutting of over 2,500 jobs at Thomas Cook. How did you deal with making difficult decisions like this and do you have any tips for people who may have to do the same? (25:39)
• Your career has seen you travel all over the world. Have you seen any business practices that stick out in your that you wish people did more elsewhere in the world? (30:33)
• Do you have tips for leaders looking to build trust with their employees? (35:36)
• The Good News Postcard: What's your favourite book and why? (39:49)
• What makes a great business leader? (42:41)

Thanks to Rose from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

OCI is a trailblazing commercial process outsourcer that possesses the power to reshape supply chains and propel organisations to unprecedented heights of growth. In addition to bagging the prestigious Overall Scale-Up Business Award at the esteemed 2022 Scale-Up Awards, the company was also named the fastest-growing company in the UK and the third fastest-growing company in Europe.

At the helm of OCI, is the company’s founder Oliver Chapman. Under his tutelage, since its founding in 2010, the company has ungrown astronomical growth and revolutionised the supply chains of some of the world’s largest companies. We talk to Oliver about his hustle mindset at a young age, being a business disruptor, why the UK is anti-industry and much more.

Here's what we discussed:

• Did you always have an entrepreneurial mindset? (00:45)
• Could you give us an overview of your career? (03:24)
• Did you find youth to be an asset when you were setting up your business? (08:45)
• How have you grown OCI to where it is today? (12:01)
• Have you always been a disruptor in and out of business? (16:50)
• Could you tell us about how you've overcome the challenges of growing your business? (20:00)
• You’ve described yourself as stubborn - how have you found securing the right talent to grow your business? (22:25)
• What has your funding journey been to this point? (25:22)
• What real impact have you seen from the war in Ukraine? (29:54)
• Do you get frustrated when big global issues that affect UK business aren't reported on correctly? (35:00)
• As an international company, would you say that the UK is an attractive destination for investment? (37:46)
• What are your long-term plans for OCI? (46:09)
• Have you had a chance to reflect on your journey and appreciate where you've come from? (50:10)
• The Good News Postcard: What was your dream job when you were younger? (51:48)
• What makes a great business leader? (53:57)

Thanks to Leo from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adversity. A word associated with so many high-profile business figures since the dawn of time. James Dyson had 5,126 failed prototypes before coming up with his now legendary bagless vacuum. Self-made multi-millionaire Inger Ellen Nicolaisen, Founder of Nikita Hair, overcame being raised by an alcoholic father and being a homeless 15-year-old with a daughter to care for. These inspirational stories shed light on the never-say-die attitude of entrepreneurship.

Lewis Raymond Taylor’s story is one of hardship and pain but it’s also one of the most beautiful examples of how taking responsibility for yourself and your actions can transform the trajectory of your life, both personally and professionally.

We talk to Lewis about his upbringing, which included three prison sentences, how he’s overcoming the negative stereotype of the life coaching industry and his plans to build his company to become a unicorn in less than a decade.

Here's what we discussed:

• Could you give us an overview of your upbringing? (01:06)
• Could you tell us about how The Coaching Masters and what led you to establish it? (04:04)
• Did you have an entrepreneurial upbringing? (09:20)
• You have a history of being a disruptor growing up - how did you feel about being disruptive in the business world? (14:18)
• How important is baking IP into your business offering? (17:50)
• There is a negative stigma of life coaches in the business community – because there are so many of them promising people the world. How do you overcome this stigma? (22:54)
• What has your funding journey been to this point? (26:42)
• We’re on the tail end of a market where tech valuations were completely through the roof. How have you found the appetite of the investors you’re talking to? (28:58)
• How have found getting the right people around you to help grow the business? (31:55)
• The Good News Postcard: When you were 10 years old, what job did you want and why? (37:49)
• What makes a great business leader? (39:45)

Thanks to Dexter from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Social media. Influencers. Gen Z. There are many businesses and their leaders who still don’t fully grasp the importance and scope of these influential terms. One young entrepreneur was on the ground floor of the social media revolution and built and sold a company worth tens of millions of pounds.

Timo Armoo is a name you should get to know. We met with him at Servcorp’s beautiful office at The Leadenhall Building in London to discuss building his company Fanbytes, the importance of baking IP into a business, what it’s like when money hits your bank after an acquisition and much more.

Here's what we discussed:

• Could you give us an overview of your career? (02:04)
• How did you feel selling your first business at 17 for six figures? (06:14)
• You started Fanbytes as social media was on the rise. Do you think you would have been successful in another period of time? (11:30)
• Could you tell us about the growth you achieved with Fanbytes? (13:34)
• What made you choose angel investors over Venture Capitalists, is this something that was premeditated or was this something that developed over time? (17:29)
• When did you decide to exit the business: did you build an exit strategy to the business, or was there a lightbulb moment during your journey? (20:42)
• How did you settle on Brainlabs being the company that you were going to sell to? (24:28)
• What were the craziest moments from the acquisition? (27:43)
• How important was developing a personal brand to you? (34:00)
• Why did you find that creating your own technology and systems was so important? (38:21)
• As someone who started their business at a young age, how were you received in rooms filled with people that were more experienced than yourself? (39:42)
• Is there any part of you, now that you’ve exited, that would try and improve the VC landscape? (41:59)
• Where do you see the tech valuation bubble ending up? (44:02)
• What technology is intriguing you at the moment? (45:14)
• Are you putting pressure on yourself for what to do next? (47:08)
• The Good News Postcard: What is your favourite characteristic and why? (49:42)
• What makes a great business leader? (50:26)

Thanks to Grace from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Obediah Ayton was raised in the UK but began his professional career studying accounting in the United States of America. Upon his return to the UK, he got a job working at a Family Office under a German entrepreneur, learning about buying companies and becoming a keen Investment Analyst. He then set up shop in the Middle East with a dream of building his own companies.

Despite starting with nothing, he set up several businesses including an accounting company and a media company, before moving into food and beverage management. Now, he runs a holding company that invests in start-ups and has amassed a loyal LinkedIn following of over 64,000 people. He covers topics such as tips for entrepreneurs looking for funding in the UAE and explanations of ruling families, local family offices and groups.

We talk to Obediah about why companies should aim to be camels, not unicorns, how the Family Office ecosystem works in the UAE, and more.

Here's what we discussed:

• Most of the companies are aiming to become unicorns but on LinkedIn you talk about businesses aiming to become camels instead. Could you tell us more about the concept of being a camel? (00:16)
• Could you give us an overview of your career to this point? (02:24)
• What drew you to the UAE? (05:02)
• Could you explain the system that you have in the UAE with regard to Family Offices? (07:04)
• Have you noticed a trend in the size of company that successfully gains investment in the UAE? (14:21)
• How does the UAE view companies with large valuations but are still pre-revenue? (18:27)
• What is the tech scene like in the UAE? (21:26)
• You mentioned on LinkedIn that Dubai is more B2C and Abu Dhabi is more B2B. Could you tell us more about this? (25:01)
• No conversation about the UAE is complete without covering the criticisms, regarding LGBTQ+ rights and freedom of the media etc. How is the way the Middle East is viewed around the world regarded there? (26:57)
• How do companies find looking for talent on the ground in the UAE? (35:21)
• How are you feeling about the opportunities in the UAE over the next decade or so? (39:42)
• The Good News Postcard: What's your favourite sport and why? (42:43)
• What makes a great business leader? (44:58)

Thanks to Chloe from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fred Reichheld is a legend in the field of customer loyalty. If you’ve ever received a text or email asking to rate a product or service, you can thank Fred for that. Although the system isn’t without its critics, it’s estimated that NPS (Net Promoter Score) is now used by two-thirds of Fortune 1000 companies.

Since its initial development in the early ‘90s, Fred developed the NPS system to measure how likely customers were to recommend a company to a friend. His latest book, Winning on Purpose: The Unbeatable Strategy of Loving Customers, builds on the early system and is a must-read for any businessperson pursuing sustainable success.

We talk to Fred about the good and the bad of the NPS system, how it’s developed over time, how NPS is a key indicator for the quality of a company’s leadership and much more.

Here's what we discussed:

• What would a younger you say about your success? (00:14)
• Could you give us an overview of your career? (01:00)
• Where did your passion for customer loyalty come from? (02:32)
• How much has the NPS changed since you first came up with the concept? (05:04)
• Could you give some examples of companies that you feel have done NPS in the right way? (16:51)
• Have you noticed differences in the application of NPS across the world? (22:31)
• Would you say there is a direct correlation between NPS and good leadership at a company? (24:45)
• Who are the most inspiring business leaders you've met? (30:30)
• Have you noticed a dip in overall customer service since the pandemic? (34:05)
• The Good News Postcard: What is your advice to your younger self? (38:40)
• What makes a great business leader? (40:16)

Thanks to Finley from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I don’t think there are many organisational psychologists in this world that can claim to be endorsed as a Jedi by Mark Hamill. Professor John Amaechi OBE can. On top of this, John is also an award-winning, international best-selling author, a sought-after public speaker, an executive coach, and the Founder of APS Intelligence.

John’s CV and list of achievements is a fitting testament to this big thinker (and that’s not a reference to his 6 ft. 10 in. stature). Often outspoken, and frequently driven crazy by people who think facts and evidence should bow to opinion, John Amaechi’s talks have garnered millions of views online. His passion for topics including building high-performing teams and effective organisational design that maximises productivity have seen him become a frequently cited LinkedIn influencer and bestowed with the accolade of being a LinkedIn Top Voice since 2020.

We talk to John about being an introvert, securing talent for his business, his passion for winning, and much more.

Here's what we discussed:

• Some people believe that you need to be an extrovert to be successful in business. You’ve described yourself as an introvert, so what would you say to this belief? (00:51)
• Could you tell us what led you to create your business, APS Intelligence? (05:23)
• Was there a figure in your life growing up that embodied leadership to you? (08:01)
• Along with being an introvert, you’ve also described yourself as a lazy person. Why do you feel it’s important to talk about this? (10:18)
• How have you found the experience of securing talent for your business? (14:14)
• Some business leaders get frustrated that their staff don't think the same way that they do. Is this something you've experienced or seen with your clients? (18:26)
• Could you tell us about your funding journey with APS Intelligence? (21:55)
• Could you tell us about your career in the NBA? (23:49)
• Businesspeople are obsessed with the mindset of elite athletes. How do reflect back on the leaders you encountered in your sporting career? (28:01)
• Is there still a negative view of failure or do you notice that people are beginning to see the positives that come with failure? (32:20)
• You deal with a number of business clients at APS Intelligence. Is there a trend that you've noticed among your clients that gets you really excited about the future? (34:57)
• The Good News Postcard: Within your workplace, how do you maintain respect and collaboration with your colleagues? (39:14)
• What makes a great business leader? (41:37)

Thanks to Oliver from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even if you’ve never heard of The Sidemen, there’s a teenager in your life who has. One of the world’s most renowned YouTube factions, this content group is a juggernaut but they need smart representation to make the most of their commercial opportunities. Enter Arcade Media and its Co-Founder, Jordan Schwarzenberger.

Jordan’s savvy representation has seen The Sidemen launch three fast-growing businesses: fried chicken restaurant Sides, premium alcohol brand XIX Vodka and the official Sidemen membership club, Side+. The group also has an estimated following of over 138.7 million subscribers and an estimated 37.9 billion views.

In this exclusive interview, we talk to Jordan about the lessons business leaders learn from content creators, speaking to the biggest brands in the world, developing his leadership style and much more.

Here's what we discussed:

• For those who may not know, could you explain who The Sidemen are? (00:25)
• Could you give us an overview of your career to date? (04:06)
• Where do you think your can-do attitude came from? (12:54)
• Did you always have an entrepreneurial spirit? (16:17)
• You’re in the room the some of the biggest brands in the world. Do you ever get intimidated or have imposter syndrome kick in? (19:01)
• Could you give us an idea of how many people work behind the scenes for The Sidemen? (23:03)
• You’re still very young but have had to manage a number of teams. How have you changed and developed your leadership style? (26:47)
• Could you tell us about your funding journey? (30:21)
• The creator economy is growing rapidly, despite still being in its infancy. What do you see as the risks creator economy? (33:39)
• What lessons do you think business leaders could learn from the creator economy? (40:05)
• The Good News Postcard: Are you happy with what you've achieved to date and where do you see yourself in 5 years time? (44:36)
• What makes a great business leader? (47:24)

Thanks to Ben from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Making the trip to meet with John Caudwell, founder of the Caudwell Group – which included mobile phone retailer Phones4u – at his house in Mayfair, showed just how far this young “ginger curly-haired boy” from the streets of Stoke-on-Trent has come.

We talk to John about his career, his new book Love, Pain and Money: The Making of a Billionaire, selling his baby, why anyone could do a better job than some of our politicians, and much more.

Here's what we discussed:

• Could a business like Phones4u exist today? (03:00)
• If we went back to speak to a young Caudwell and told him that one day he will become a billionaire, and help over 65,000 children through Caudwell Children, what would your reaction be? (04:19)
• Could you tell us about the early years of building the Caudwell Group? (06:12)
• When you were losing money at the Caudwell Group, did any part of you think that it was time to pack it in and admit failure? (08:04)
• The Caudwell Group was known for having great talent. How did you manage to retain that talent? (09:54)
• When you exited the business in 2006, was it a difficult decision or did you have your heart set on selling? (11:34)
• Did you have any seller’s remorse after exiting your business? (13:19)
• Some people believe it’s best to prepare for a sale from when you first start your company, but others believe that it can become a distraction while building a business. Which approach do you believe is best? (15:13)
• The Caudwell Group was well known for its company culture. In a world of working from home, do you think it would be difficult to build a similar culture today? (17:02)
• What are your thoughts on the trend of companies raising a lot of money, with wild valuations, before even turning a profit? (19:19)
• What is your prognosis for the UK economy currently? (20:56)
• There’s a train of thought that billionaires should be brought into discussions about policy, and the delivery of those policies because they aren’t affected by a four- or five-year campaign cycle like politicians are. What are your thoughts on that? (23:27)
• Do you feel you've been successful? (24:51)
• You’re a big advocate of sustainability, and you put your money where your mouth is with your developments such as 1 Mayfair. You also famously predicted the 2008 financial crisis before it happened. Looking at sustainability and what is going on in the governments around the world at the moment, what do you think the future holds? (27:12)
• How did you find the experience of writing your book, Love, Pain and Money: The Making of a Billionaire? (30:06)
• The Good News Postcard: What has been your most challenging moment and how have you overcome it? (31:52)
• What is one fact about you that people can't find online? (33:27)
• What makes a great business leader? (34:19)

Thanks to Denis from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.