Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon began on her path to success young. She passed her A level computing at 11 years old, and  became one of the youngest people to receive a masters degree in computing  from Oxford University. By 2013 at the age of 23 she was named young IT professional of the year and just four years later was the youngest scientist ever to be get an  MBE. She's used her success to found an organization called Stemmettes which assists young women and girls who want to work in science, technology, engineering and maths. Richard spoke to her about her the challenges and possibilities of achieving success so early. 

How do you go from writing about business to embarking on a successful career as an entrepreneur? That is a question that Tim Jackson has answered through his experience, initially as a journalist, and then as the founder of a highly successful online auction site. Tim ultimately sold that business and went on to manage a major private equity investment fund. He now runs his own seed fund to support and invest in early stage businesses. But like other aspects of his career, Tim undertakes his role as a potential investor, in his own unconventional way, and at his own pace, as Richard found out when he met up with him in Central London. 

In this episode, Richard speaks to Liz Johnson, a paralympic swimming champion who has participated in - and won - competitions around the world. Liz was born was born with cerebral palsy which affects movement and muscle development, and was taken swimming as a young child as a means of strengthening her body. Her determination in the pool, along with countless hours of practice, led to gold medals in the Paralympics, World Championships and European Swimming Championships. In the podcast she talks about how her mental attitude has helped her achieve success. She also discusses her other work in running an organization that is creating real change and meaningful inclusion within companies, allowing individuals to achieve their potential in the workplace. 

Paul Blair is someone who has moved from the battlefield to the boardroom. He is a former major in the British Army who served around the world, including in combat in Afghanistan. After 20 years Paul left the military but reinvented himself professionally in an entirely different role - as an entrepreneur. His first business venture was inventing and developing an innovative toy for dogs, which he took to the Dragon's Den on TV. He didn't get their backing but he did go on anyway to generate $45 million in sales. Paul is now developing a wearable sport-tech device. In this episode, he tells Richard Miron about his career in the army and how it prepared him for world of business. He also talks about how setbacks have helped him, and the enjoyment of contending with the risks of being an entrepreneur.  

In the second episode of the series, Richard talks to Levi Roots - who made his name and began his route to business success on the TV show 'Dragon's Den' with his 'Reggae Reggae Sauce'. That TV appearance happened when Levi was 48 years old, and followed a life often filled with considerable challenges, from a unhappy home life as a child, to getting into trouble with the law as a young adult. But Levi transformed his life, taking on a new and positive identity while pursuing his dual passions of food and music. He also uses his own story to show others what is possible despite the obstacles that may lay in their path. In his conversation with Richard, Levi Roots speaks frankly of the winding path that has brought him to success and personal contentment. 

The Success and Ideas Podcast is an Earshot Strategies production.

To kick off season 2, Richard talks to a woman who has been at the forefront of British retail for over 30 years, Nayna McIntosh. After making her way through brands like Marks & Spencer and Next, she was notably formative in launching the George at Asda brand, which introduced affordable fashion to supermarkets. But in 2013, she took a leap of faith - or hope - and created her own company. Hope has a mission to provide stylish, comfortable clothing for women who are over 50 of different shapes and sizes and who don’t fit the industry’s target group for what is considered ‘fashionable’.

The Success and Ideas Podcast is an Earshot Strategies production.

Yvonne Bajela is a strategic investor, who has worked at giants like Goldman Sachs and Mitsui & Co. where she led over $200 million in investments in companies including TransferWise. At only 29 years old, she then became a founding member of Impact X Capital Partners LLP, a venture capital firm focused on investing in underrepresented entrepreneurs across Europe. Yvonne talks about resilience in business, the strength in stepping out of the mainstream, and the urgent need to diversify leadership and boards.

You can find Yvonne on Twitter and learn more about her work on Impact X Capital's website.

This is an Earshot Strategies production. Get in touch if you're looking to make a podcast! 

Wayne Preece is an incredibly driven person. He is the CEO of Hydro Industries, a company that develops technologies to purify and treat water. Their tools have been used around the world, from the US to Sudan. He tells Richard about his drive to deliver clean water to some of the most challenging environments in the world, the toll it can take, and his large ambitious for his business.

You can find the video Wayne mentions and more about his company Hydro Industries on their website.

This is an Earshot Strategies production. Get in touch if you're looking to make a podcast!