In this episode of the How2-Change Words of Wisdom podcast, we journey into the world of innovation and business growth with Steve, an entrepreneurial force known for founding Canalys, a globally recognised tech research firm.

With over 25 years of experience, Steve shares powerful lessons from his ventures, including founding Canalys and launching Canapii, a cutting-edge event management software that grew from Canalys’ own internal needs.

Steve’s most impactful advice centres on what we call "The Idea River" – a metaphor for the iterative process of letting ideas flow and evolve through continuous customer collaboration. Here, customers aren’t merely end-users; they’re partners who actively shape and refine the course of business. Much like a river carves its path over time, a business should adapt its journey, guided by the insights and feedback from those it serves.

Through practical examples, Steve illustrates how listening to customers shaped his approach, inspiring him to build robust solutions that truly address market needs. Rather than operating in a vacuum, he leaned into customer feedback as "nuggets of gold" that would spark each new phase of innovation, ensuring his businesses stayed relevant and valuable in an ever-changing landscape.

This episode captures Steve's commitment to customer-centric growth – from Canalys’ bootstrapped beginnings to Canapii’s AI-driven evolution in event management. His journey reminds entrepreneurs that ideas, like rivers, must be open to redirection to reach their full potential and create lasting impact.

Tune in to learn how The Idea River can guide your own approach to business, and discover why engaging with customers is not only a good practice – it’s the key to sustainable success.

In the complex world of M&A, where strategy often overshadows cultural alignment, Peter Blanc, Executive Chairman of Howden UK & Ireland and Group Head of M&A, believes in balancing both.

With his extensive experience—building Aston Lark into a private equity-backed powerhouse with over 100 acquisitions and now leading Howden’s global expansion—Peter has seen firsthand that M&A is more an art than a science. For him, successful acquisitions require a deep understanding of people, values, and culture alongside the numbers.

Peter likens each acquisition to a “marriage,” where mutual understanding and shared values form the foundation. “You want to know if they snore before you move in together,” he says. It’s a humorous but essential reminder that acquisitions thrive when both parties share similar goals. This approach has helped Howden align with companies whose values resonate with its own, making integration a smoother process and creating genuine long-term value.

Best Advice: Criticise in Person, Praise in Writing

The best advice Peter ever received didn’t come from an M&A textbook but from Phillip Hodson, his former chairman, who taught him to “never, ever criticise in writing.” For Peter, constructive feedback is most effective when delivered face-to-face, allowing for clarity, context, and empathy. Written criticism can be easily misinterpreted, leading to frustration or resentment.

However, positive feedback is another matter. “People love seeing appreciation in writing,” Peter says. A thank-you note, whether in an email or on paper, leaves a lasting impact, boosting morale and reinforcing a positive culture. It’s simple but effective advice that has shaped Peter’s leadership style, grounded in clear, meaningful communication.

How2-Change’s Perspective: Aligning Strategy & Execution – Like Tending a Garden

At How2-Change, we see Peter’s philosophy as fundamental to M&A success. Think of each acquisition as adding a new plant to an established garden. Each business has its own needs, growth patterns, and potential, and adding a new “species” to the garden requires careful placement and attention. Misalignment is like planting an incompatible species—over time, it can hinder the growth of the entire garden. But with careful selection and nurturing, the new additions flourish, adding beauty, resilience, and diversity to the whole.

Podcast Summary: Pip Richardson – The Power of Self-Discovery Through Questions

In our latest How2-Change Wisdom episode, Dan Leyland speaks with Pip Richardson, founder of The Circle Line and former lawyer turned psychotherapist. Pip’s career journey, from City litigator to brand communications leader, and now to supporting professionals in leadership and culture development, has taught her the value of introspective guidance. Today, Pip combines her legal and corporate expertise with her work as a therapist, focusing on helping individuals and teams improve culture, leadership, and team dynamics.

Pip’s Advice: The Empowering Question

For Pip, the most transformative guidance she received was not advice but a question: If you could give yourself a present right now, what would it be? In a challenging personal situation, Pip realised her answer was “the courage of my convictions,” leading her to make bold changes in her life within weeks. This question became the foundation of her approach to therapy and team coaching, where she now emphasises the importance of individuals finding their own answers. Pip explains that empowering questions often carry more impact than direct advice, allowing people to discover solutions that resonate deeply with their unique circumstances.

Application of Pip’s Approach

Pip’s story is a testament to the transformative power of self-inquiry. By asking clients meaningful questions rather than offering prescriptive advice, she helps them connect with their authentic desires and insights. This approach fosters resilience and self-trust, enabling people to navigate change and make decisions that align with their true convictions. Pip’s work illustrates the principle that lasting change often stems from personal insight rather than external directives.

Metaphor: The Compass

Pip’s philosophy is akin to a compass, which points you in the right direction without dictating the exact path. Just as a compass guides you to stay on course while allowing room for personal exploration, powerful questions steer individuals toward clarity and courage without imposing a specific answer. This metaphor captures Pip’s belief that each person’s inner wisdom is their best guide through times of change and decision-making.

How2-Change: Supporting Self-Driven Transformation

At How2-Change, we believe that meaningful transformation is not about following a set formula—it’s about helping organisations discover their unique paths. Whether in pre-sale transformation, integration, or post-integration development, our approach involves asking the right questions to help leaders and teams tap into their own insights, fostering a resilient, adaptable culture that drives sustainable success.

Get in Touch

Inspired by Pip’s perspective? If her insights resonate with you, we’d love to hear from you. The How2-Change Wisdom podcast provides a platform where influential voices share unique guidance on navigating change. If you or someone you know has a perspective that could benefit others, we welcome you to connect with us through our contact page. Join us in exploring the insights that shape impactful transformation journeys.

In this episode of the How2-Change Wisdom podcast, Dan Leyland speaks with Min Bhogaita, a veteran of analytics and technology with a career spanning over 25 years at Deloitte and extensive experience in the startup world.

Min shares his defining career advice: Step outside your comfort zone. This mindset helped him transition from corporate roles, including launching Deloitte’s client-facing cyber and forensic analytics teams, to a portfolio career, and now to his role as Chief Scouting Officer at Nobody Studios.

Here, he helps identify and nurture high-potential ideas for a venture studio aiming to build and exit 100 companies within five years.

Min’s advice to embrace challenges is complemented by his approach to extensive networking. Known as the “go-to” person at Deloitte, he built a broad network that not only opened doors to new roles but laid a foundation for his success in scouting talent and fostering innovation today. His story reflects a philosophy of continuous growth, anchored in courage and connection.

Metaphor: The Bamboo Plant

Min’s career can be likened to the growth of bamboo, which spends years developing a resilient root system before rapidly reaching new heights. His deep connections and proactive networking created a strong foundation, allowing him to adapt quickly and thrive in diverse, dynamic environments.

How2-Change: Transforming Vision into Reality

At How2-Change, we understand that true transformation requires both courage and connections. In pre-sale transformation, integration, and post-integration change, we guide organisations to build solid foundations that support sustainable growth. We ensure that strategies aren’t just plans but become impactful realities.

If Min’s journey resonates with you, we invite you to join the conversation. The How2-Change Wisdom podcast is a platform for those with unique insights on change. Whether you have wisdom to share or know someone who does, connect with us through our contact page. Explore the stories that drive meaningful transformation.

In this episode of the How2-Change Wisdom podcast, Dan Leyland speaks with Min Bhogaita, a veteran of analytics and technology with a career spanning over 25 years at Deloitte and extensive experience in the startup world. Min shares his defining career advice: Step outside your comfort zone. This mindset helped him transition from corporate roles, including launching Deloitte’s client-facing cyber and forensic analytics teams, to a portfolio career, and now to his role as Chief Scouting Officer at Nobody Studios. Here, he helps identify and nurture high-potential ideas for a venture studio aiming to build and exit 100 companies within five years.

Min’s advice to embrace challenges is complemented by his approach to extensive networking. Known as the “go-to” person at Deloitte, he built a broad network that not only opened doors to new roles but laid a foundation for his success in scouting talent and fostering innovation today. His story reflects a philosophy of continuous growth, anchored in courage and connection.

Metaphor: The Bamboo Plant

Min’s career can be likened to the growth of bamboo, which spends years developing a resilient root system before rapidly reaching new heights. His deep connections and proactive networking created a strong foundation, allowing him to adapt quickly and thrive in diverse, dynamic environments.

How2-Change: Transforming Vision into Reality

At How2-Change, we understand that true transformation requires both courage and connections. In pre-sale transformation, integration, and post-integration change, we guide organisations to build solid foundations that support sustainable growth. We ensure that strategies aren’t just plans but become impactful realities.

If Min’s journey resonates with you, we invite you to join the conversation. The How2-Change Wisdom podcast is a platform for those with unique insights on change. Whether you have wisdom to share or know someone who does, connect with us through our contact page. Explore the stories that drive meaningful transformation.

In the first episode of the How2-Change Words of Wisdom series, we featured Robin Horsfall, a former SAS soldier and veteran’s rights advocate. Our podcast, designed to distill life-changing advice from intriguing individuals, focused on Robin’s single best piece of advice: "When in company, never discuss the faults of others; and when alone, contemplate your own faults." But this principle also allows us to draw parallels with one of the most extraordinary stories of survival: the 438-day ordeal of Salvador Alvarenga, who drifted across the Pacific Ocean.

Alvarenga's experience underscores the power of personal resilience in the face of uncontrollable forces. He survived for over a year on the open sea, braving harsh conditions with no human contact and limited resources. When confronted with this immense adversity, there was no point in blaming the sun for its heat or the sea for its vastness. The only productive course was to accept his situation and focus on what he could control—his actions and attitude. This mirrors Robin’s advice to reflect on our own shortcomings rather than focus on others'.

The metaphor is clear: in life, much like in Alvarenga's harrowing journey, it’s easy to blame external forces—the weather, the tides, or the circumstances of our lives. But real progress comes when we stop pointing fingers and start looking inward, focusing on what we can do to adapt, change, and survive. This mindset is vital in personal transformation and change management within organizations.

At How2-Change, we often see this dynamic at play during business transformations and M&A integrations. Blaming market conditions, competitors, or even internal politics may be tempting, but this blame game only hampers progress. The companies that succeed are those that embrace self-reflection, take ownership of their challenges, and navigate change like Alvarenga navigated the open sea—with focus and personal accountability.

Just as Salvador Alvarenga survived by leveraging his inner strength, How2-Change helps businesses thrive by empowering teams to take control of their transformation journeys. We bridge the gap between strategy and execution, ensuring that our clients not only survive but also thrive through times of change with our How2-Change Reality Check(R).

If you’ve been inspired by Robin’s or Alvarenga's story or have your own words of wisdom to share, we’d love to hear from you. We are always looking for guests for future podcast episodes. Get in touch to share your story or recommend someone who has inspired you to persevere and grow.