The Rookie CEO

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In this episode of The Rookie CEO Podcast, we're joined once again by Thom Cakebread to explore one of the biggest questions in business: networking or marketing?

Are they competing strategies, or do the best businesses use both?

We discuss how networking builds trust, how marketing keeps you visible, and why relying on just one could be holding your business back. Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you create more opportunities.

If you've ever wondered where to invest your time and energy, this episode is for you.

Thank you to our sponsors:

IT Manager Services - www.it-ms.co.uk

Fuzzy Logic - www.fuzzylogic.systems

HW Marketing Studio - www.hwmarketing.studio

How do you confidently start a conversation with someone you've never met? In this episode of The Rookie CEO, we're joined by Rachael Bryant, Co-Founder of Your Video Team, who interviews hundreds of strangers every year. Rachael shares her practical tips, confidence-building techniques and real-life experiences to help you overcome awkwardness, build genuine connections and discover why some of the best opportunities in business begin with a simple conversation.Thank you to our sponsors:IT Manager Services - www.it-ms.co.ukFuzzy Logic - www.fuzzylogic.systemsHW Marketing Studio - www.hwmarketing.studio

This week, it's just Fuzz and Hev behind the microphones, diving into a topic that's transforming businesses of every size: automation.

From marketing and operations to customer service and admin, they explore how the systems already available today can save time, reduce repetitive tasks, and help you work smarter, not harder. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or someone who's never touched automation before, this episode is packed with practical examples that any business owner can relate to.

They also introduce the Fuzzy Logic App, discussing how it brings CRM, communication, marketing, automation and more into one simple platform, helping businesses spend less time on admin and more time doing what they do best.

If you've ever felt like there aren't enough hours in the day, this episode is for you.

Thank you to our sponsors:IT Manager Services - www.it-ms.co.ukFuzzy Logic - www.fuzzylogic.systemsHW Marketing Studio - www.hwmarketing.studio

In this episode of The Rookie CEO Podcast, we’re joined by Samantha Spillet, owner of multiple successful businesses employing more than 20 people. Samantha shares the lessons she’s learned throughout her entrepreneurial journey, from the challenges and setbacks to the decisions that helped her grow stronger.Expect honest conversations, practical advice, and relatable stories that every business owner, leader, or aspiring entrepreneur can learn from. If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re getting it right, this episode is a reminder that mistakes aren’t failures—they’re often the greatest lessons you’ll ever receive.Thank you to our sponsors:IT Manager Services - www.it-ms.co.ukFuzzy Logic - www.fuzzylogic.systemsHW Marketing Studio - www.hwmarketing.studio

This week, we’re joined by Zoe Bowles from Agar Bowles Ltd to uncover some of the most common compliance mistakes businesses make.If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Am I actually compliant?” or worrying about what you might have missed, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.Join us as Zoe shares practical advice, clears up common misconceptions, and explains how to stay on the right side of compliance without the overwhelm.Thank you to our sponsors:IT Manager Services - www.it-ms.co.ukFuzzy Logic - www.fuzzylogic.systemsHW Marketing Studio - www.hwmarketing.studio

Welcome back, Rookies! We’re kicking off Season 2 by diving headfirst into the world of TikTok. Love it or hate it, it’s one of the most talked-about platforms for business growth. Joined by Thom Cakebread, founder of Cakeshop Media, we explore the pros, the cons, the myths, and how businesses can actually use TikTok to build a brand that gets noticed.Thank you to our sponsors:IT Manager Services - www.it-ms.co.ukFuzzy Logic - www.fuzzylogic.systemsHW Marketing Studio - www.hwmarketing.studio

What better way to round off the season than with the questions your favourite guests never knew they were asking each other? 🎙️✨For this end-of-season special, we thought we’d finish with something a little different, bringing together the anonymous questions our guests have been leaving behind throughout the season and finally revealing the answers.It’s packed with unexpected insights, honest reflections, and those brilliant “I didn’t see that coming” moments that make the best conversations.Think of it as the perfect season finale: a little wisdom, a few surprises, and a reminder of just how much gold has been shared this season.Don’t worry, we won’t be gone for long… Season 2 is coming very soon.If you found this episode insightful, why not come and meet Fuzz and Hev in person at one of our monthly The Rookie CEO events, or check out our upcoming workshops to support your business and self-development journey.Thank you to our Podcast Sponsor, IT Manager Services: https://it-ms.co.uk

The 60-second intro… the networking moment that somehow feels like a TED Talk and a job interview rolled into one. 🎤😅In this episode, we’re joined again by the brilliant Beth Turner to tackle those inevitable 60 seconds that come with almost every networking event.You know the moment, all eyes on you, brain suddenly empty, and somehow your own business becomes impossible to explain.That’s exactly why we brought in a communication expert.Beth shares practical, powerful tips on what you should really be saying in those 60 seconds, how to make your introduction memorable, and how to speak with confidence without sounding robotic or rehearsed.If networking intros make your palms sweat, this one’s for you.If you found this useful, do visit www.therookieceo.co.uk for more support, workshops, and events.Thank you to our Podcast Sponsor, IT Manager Services: https://it-ms.co.uk

Imposter syndrome… the uninvited business partner none of us asked for. 🎭✨We’ve all felt it at some point, that little voice questioning whether we’re good enough, experienced enough, or even meant to be in the room.In this episode, we’re joined again by Helen Banyard from The Good Stuff to unpack the reality of imposter syndrome and, more importantly, how to tackle it.Helen shares her honest views on why so many business owners experience it, where it really comes from, and how building genuine confidence in your business can help quiet that feeling of being an imposter for good.If you’ve ever questioned your worth despite the evidence saying otherwise, this episode will really hit home.If you found this episode useful, there are still a few tickets left for our upcoming The Rookie CEO workshop at www.therookieceo.co.uk.Thank you to our Podcast Sponsor, IT Manager Services: https://it-ms.co.uk

What if your business was built around your life, not the other way around? 🎥✨In this episode, we’re joined by Ben Bryant from Your Video Team, sharing his journey from simply picking up a camera to building a thriving podcast business.We dive into how adapting his business around the lifestyle he wanted gave him the freedom to grow something that truly works for him, proving that success doesn’t have to follow the traditional blueprint.It’s an honest conversation about creativity, evolution, and building a business that supports your life rather than consumes it.If something in this episode resonates with you, do check out The Rookie CEO workshops at therookieceo.co.uk, held every 3 months to support both your business growth and self-development journey.Thank you to our Podcast Sponsor, IT Manager Services: https://it-ms.co.uk