What happens when a beauty industry powerhouse walks away from the boardroom to build something entirely her own? For Michelle Feeney, it meant defying expectations, embracing uncertainty, and launching a purpose-led brand grounded in decades of experience.

In this episode, Michelle shares the pivotal moment that sparked her leap into entrepreneurship, the challenges of starting over in her fifties, and the quiet doubts she turned into fuel. From frank kitchen-table conversations to redefining success on her own terms, she takes us behind the scenes of a career that’s blended bold vision with hard-won wisdom.

It’s a conversation about bold choices, inner drive, and the power of backing yourself, especially when it’s not the easy option.

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What if the biggest breakthroughs in business don’t come from logic, but from noticing what others overlook?

In this episode, Rory Sutherland unpacks the moment a late-night scroll through economics blogs led him to Nudge, sparking a fascination with behavioral science that would quietly transform global brands. From saving a snack brand with a single word to helping an airline generate millions through a subtle design change, Rory shares the twists, experiments, and happy accidents that redefined how companies speak to their customers.

It’s a masterclass in innovation, risk, and the power of seeing things differently, straight from the man who helped transform marketing with his unconventional insights.

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Before Michael Jordan became a global icon, one unlikely figure made the call that changed everything. In this episode, Sonny Vaccaro shares how a gut instinct, a relentless belief in potential, and a risky pitch inside a boardroom at Nike rewrote the rules of sports marketing.

From nearly walking away after Jordan leaned toward Adidas, to the quiet resolve that kept him in the game, Sonny reveals the turning points, personal battles, and behind-the-scenes moments that led to one of the most impactful deals in sports history.

It’s a revealing look at how conviction, timing, and the courage to challenge convention can leave a legacy far bigger than the game.

Legends and Soles: Business, Creativity and Basketball – a Memoir of an Improbable Life by Sonny Vaccaro (with Armen Keteyian) is out now (£22.00, HarperCollins)

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What does it take to turn a niche idea into a global phenomenon? For Alan Barratt, it meant trusting his instincts, betting on a product his own board doubted, and risking it all on a pivot that made no logical sense, until it did.

In this episode, Alan reveals the behind-the-scenes battles that shaped Grenade’s bold transition from sports supplements to protein bars, the critical moment one unexpected ally tipped the scales, and how a sold-out launch in two hours changed everything.

It’s a masterclass in the power of instinct, risk-taking, and the importance of embracing failure along the way.

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How does a former banker end up leading one of the fastest-growing food brands in Europe? For John Eckbert, it started with a magazine cover, a cold email, and a vision that would eventually reshape the fast-casual dining landscape in the UK and beyond.

In this episode, John takes us through the unexpected journey that led him to Five Guys, from a bold proposal sent through a website form to a game-changing partnership with the Morell family. He opens up about the high-stakes moments, the behind-the-scenes decisions that almost didn’t happen, and the quiet conversations that changed everything.

It’s a conversation about bold transitions, unlikely beginnings, and the power of product obsession in building something people truly love.

IFS - award-winning Asset & Service Management software

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What does it take to steer one of the world’s most iconic sports properties through a high-stakes transformation? For Greg Maffei, it meant navigating tense negotiations, decoding power dynamics, and learning to read the room, sometimes quite literally.

In this episode, Greg unpacks the behind-the-scenes moments that almost derailed the Formula One deal, the trust-building that kept it alive, and what he learned from working alongside legends like Bernie Ecclestone. From reading subtle negotiation cues to betting on bold strategies like Drive to Survive, it’s a deep dive into patience, perspective, and leadership under pressure.

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What happens when a hungry banker decides to transform food delivery? For Will Shu, it meant hitting the streets as Deliveroo’s first rider, facing unexpected challenges, including getting a scooter helmet stuck on his head and navigating a high-stakes antitrust investigation.

In this episode, Will shares the key moments that shaped Deliveroo’s journey, from its humble beginnings with just three restaurants to becoming a global force. He opens up about early missteps, the mindset needed to push forward, and why staying obsessed with the customer experience made all the difference.

IFS - award-winning Asset & Service Management software

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What does it take to disrupt an entire industry? For Danny Winer, it meant ignoring conventional wisdom, challenging the biggest names in retail, and taking a multimillion-dollar gamble on a single Super Bowl ad. 

In this episode, Danny shares the unexpected turns that led him from entertainment to entrepreneurship, the moment Gordon Ramsay’s team came calling, and how he built a brand by going against the grain.

It’s a masterclass in risk, resilience, and knowing when to seize the moment, even when the odds are stacked against you.

IFS - award-winning Asset & Service Management software

👉 Reimagine your operations at https://hppod.co/ifsai

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Step inside the moments that shaped the world’s biggest brands in The Room Where It Happened, a brand-new podcast hosted by Jake Humphrey.

Each episode sees the guest take us back inside a room and a moment that changed the course of their careers. With unprecedented insight on the pivotal decisions, unexpected turns, and behind-the-scenes moments that propelled companies to global recognition - and the lessons learned along the way from the people who were right in the middle of it all.

The Room Where It Happened is your front-row seat to the conversations that shaped history, offering a rare glimpse into the defining moments of top entrepreneurs and industry leaders.

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