Success. Money. Prestige. Why would anyone walk away?

In this episode of Winning, Ian Rosenblatt OBE speaks to Sir Ian Blatchford, Director and CEO of the Science Museum Group, about the risks and rewards of choosing the less obvious path.

From his early years in banking to leading one of Britain's largest museum groups, Sir Ian shares candid insights on career choices, leadership, influence, public scrutiny and the moments that changed the course of his life.

In this episode, he explains:

◼️ Why growth only happens when you're pushed beyond your comfort zone

◼️ How being the first in his family to go to university changed the trajectory of his life

◼️ Why he walked away from a successful career in banking

◼️ The hidden danger of becoming too comfortable in your career

◼️ Why the higher you rise, the less people tell you the truth

◼️ How great leaders stay connected to what's really happening inside their organisations

◼️ Why money alone is a poor guide for making life's biggest decisions

◼️ The mindset that has helped him navigate leadership, change and public scrutiny for over three decades

Music: "Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488. I. Allegro" by Mozart, performed by Mira Ma, Eric Jacobsen and Odyssey Orchestra. Licensed via Epidemic Sound.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

It's a question most of us stop asking after childhood. Lyndsey Simpson thinks that's a mistake. In this episode of Winning, Ian Rosenblatt OBE sits down with the founder and CEO of 55/Redefined to discuss why longer lives are changing everything we thought we knew about careers, ambition, retirement and success.

Lyndsey reflects on a career that has taken her from the world of banking and entrepreneurship to becoming one of the UK's most influential advocates for age inclusion and later-life careers. Along the way, she shares lessons from navigating the financial crisis, leading businesses through periods of uncertainty, challenging conventional thinking and building a company around one of society's biggest untapped opportunities

The conversation covers everything from resilience and leadership to purpose, longevity and why many people may be retiring far too early. Lyndsey also explains why businesses that overlook older workers are leaving talent, experience and value on the table, and why the traditional model of education, work and retirement no longer reflects how most of us will live our lives.

In this episode, you'll learn:

▪️ Why retirement may be one of the most outdated ideas of modern life.

▪️ How to think differently about ambition, reinvention and personal growth.

▪️ What the 2008 financial crisis taught Lyndsey about resilience and leadership.

▪️ Why experience is one of the most undervalued assets in business today.

▪️ How changing your mindset about ageing can change your future.

Whether you're building a business, considering a career change, approaching retirement, or simply curious about what comes next, this is a thought-provoking conversation about possibility, purpose and making the most of the opportunities still ahead.

Matthew Westerman CBE has spent his career operating at the highest levels of global finance, but his story is about much more than banking. In this episode of Winning, Ian Rosenblatt OBE sits down with Matthew to explore the experiences, setbacks and lessons that shaped his remarkable career. From losing his father at a young age to being rejected by firms he desperately wanted to join, Matthew reflects on the resilience, ambition and self-belief required to succeed. Together, they discuss leadership under pressure, the importance of culture, and why the most successful people never stop learning. Matthew also shares why he believes business leaders should embrace mentorship in the same way elite athletes embrace coaches, drawing on his work with Global Mentors GroupThe conversation also explores his time at Goldman Sachs and HSBC, his experiences living and working in China, and his commitment to preserving history through his work with the Imperial War Museum and the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation. This episode explores:▪️ Learning through loss: Why setbacks, rejection and failure often provide the foundations for long-term success. ▪️ The power of mentorship: Why business leaders need coaches and mentors just as much as elite athletes do. ▪️ Leading under pressure: How to make decisions, build culture and inspire teams in high-stakes environments. ▪️ Thinking long-term: Why history, memory and responsibility are essential ingredients of effective leadership.Above all, Matthew shares his philosophy on winning that you can only truly understand success if you've learned how to deal with the consequences of failure.Music: "Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488. I. Allegro | by Mozart, performed by [Mira Ma, Eric Jacobsen, Odyssey Orchestra], sourced via [Epidemic Sound]. Licensed under Epidemic Sound

What happens when one of Britain's most influential religious leaders refuses to accept easy answers?

In this episode of ‘Winning’, Rabbi Baroness Julia Neuberger DBE joins Ian Rosenblatt OBE for a candid conversation about faith, leadership and a lifetime spent challenging convention. From her family's escape from Nazi Germany to becoming one of the UK's first female rabbis, Julia reflects on the experiences that shaped her career and the principles that continue to guide her today. The discussion explores her unconventional route into the rabbinate, her belief in free will over divine intervention, and the role she played in advancing opportunities for women within religious life. Julia also shares her experiences working across healthcare, public policy and the House of Lords, offering a fascinating perspective on how meaningful change happens, often slowly, but sometimes in ways that can transform society.

Along the way, she speaks openly about anti-Semitism, interfaith relations, ageing, end-of-life care and why understanding people matters just as much as understanding ideas. Whether discussing theology, social reform or the realities of leadership, Baroness Neuberger demonstrates the power of combining intellectual rigour with humanity. In this episode, you will learn:

▪️ Why free will, not fate, sits at the centre of Baroness Neuberger's worldview.

▪️ How becoming one of Britain's pioneering female rabbis helped challenge attitudes towards women in religious leadership.

▪️ What years spent working in healthcare taught her about ageing, death and what really matters to people.

▪️ Why change is most effective when it is built on dialogue, curiosity and human connection. Thoughtful, warm and refreshingly honest, this is a conversation about service, conviction and the importance of using the opportunities we have to make a difference.

Thoughtful, warm and refreshingly honest, this is a conversation about service, conviction and the importance of using the opportunities we have to make a difference.

Music: "Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488. I. Allegro | by Mozart, performed by [Mira Ma, Eric Jacobsen, Odyssey Orchestra], sourced via [Epidemic Sound]. Licensed under Epidemic Sound

How does a boy from North London with severe visual impairment go on to become one of the most influential music producers of his generation, shaping global hits and defining the sound of an era?

In this episode of ‘Winning’, Ian Rosenblatt OBE sits down with Sir Robin Millar CBE to explore a remarkable life lived through determination, instinct and an uncompromising pursuit of excellence.

The conversation traces Robin’s unconventional route into the music industry, from early inspiration in blues music to chance encounters that changed the course of his career. He offers a rare insight into the mindset behind producing global artists, explaining why success is as much about discipline, commercial awareness and emotional authenticity as it is about raw talent. From turning down opportunities with the world’s biggest stars to backing his own judgement in pivotal moments, his story is one of conviction and clarity.

In this episode, you will learn about:

▪️ Redefining limitation: How navigating disability built adaptability, confidence and a unique perspective.

▪️ The business behind creativity: Why talent alone is never enough and how marketing and instinct drive success.

▪️ Backing your judgement: The importance of knowing when to say no, even to the biggest opportunities.

▪️ The power of precision: How obsessive attention to detail became a defining competitive advantage.

Whether you are a creative, a leader, or simply curious about the realities behind success, Sir Robin Millar’s story offers a powerful reminder that winning is rarely linear and always deeply personal.

video description: Sir Robin Millar and Ian Rosenblatt seated on a sofa during an interview, with Ian on the left of the screen and Robin on the right, both facing slightly towards each other.

How does a woman from a humble Midlands background, who began her working life in a job centre, rise to become one of the most powerful figures in British financial services?

In this episode of ‘Winning’, Ian Rosenblatt OBE sits down with Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia to discuss her extraordinary journey.

Jayne-Anne shares candid insights into the resilience required to win in male-dominated environments, tracing her grit back to being bullied for her height at a school that had, until shortly before she joined, been all-boys. She also reveals the immense personal challenges she faced, including facing down racism and threats to protect her relationship with her husband, Ashok.

The conversation dives deep into her professional highlights, from her early days at Norwich Union to building the Virgin Money brand alongside Richard Branson. Dame Jayne-Anne also explains why she believes authenticity is the ultimate strategy for success and why true winning is about purpose, not just the financial "score".

In this episode, you will learn:

• The power of resilience: How early school challenges built the strength to lead in finance.

• Changing the rules: Why the "Women in Finance" review was necessary to level the playing field.

• Entrepreneurial lessons: What she learned about marketing and "getting famous" from Richard Branson.

• A new definition of winning: Why purpose and staying true to yourself are more important than any balance sheet.

Whether you are an aspiring leader or a seasoned professional, Dame Jayne-Anne’s story provides a masterclass in how to win by staying true to yourself.

(00:00) Introduction to Dame Jane-Anne Gadhia

(01:20) Early Life and Family Background

(11:57) Career Beginnings and Challenges

(17:11) Navigating Gender and Racial Dynamics

(24:29) Leadership Philosophy and Success

(51:01) Transition to Virgin Money and Entrepreneurial Spirit

(01:01:12) Founding Snoop and Reflections on Career

(01:05:52) Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Dr. Keith R Harris aka “The Fixer” is the investment banker known for orchestrating some of the most high-profile takeovers in football history. In this episode of ‘Winning’, Keith sits down with podcast host Ian Rosenblatt to reveal what it’s really like at the top of the multi-billion-pound world of sports finance.

From his early days playing for Bradford Park Avenue to becoming a managing director at Morgan Grenfell and CEO of Drexel Burnham Lambert International in his early 30s, Keith has always been driven by the "winning gene". He shares the inside story of surviving the ITV Digital collapse, navigating the high-yield "junk bond" era with Michael Milken, and signing the £5 billion "highly confident letter" for Jimmy Goldsmith’s hostile bid for British American Tobacco (BAT).

In this episode, they discuss:

• The "fixer" mentality: Why instinct often beats analysis when billions are on the line.

• Football takeovers: The reality of brokering deals for the world’s biggest clubs.

• Surviving crisis: Navigating the collapse of ITV Digital and the Barings Bank "black hole".

• High-stakes risk: The transition from university poker games to managing global finance

Is space the ultimate "winning" investment? In this episode of ‘Winning’, host Ian Rosenblatt OBE sits down with Mark Boggett, the co-founder and CEO of Seraphim Space, the world’s first and only listed venture capital fund dedicated entirely to space technology.

From being the first person in his family to go to university, to pioneering a trillion-dollar frontier, Mark reveals the mindset required to win in the most challenging investment sector on Earth (and beyond). 
Discover why Mark views dyslexia as his "superpower", how he secured his first VC role by working for free, and why he believes you should "double down" on space tech investment right now.

We dive deep into the future of humanity, discussing:

·      The "broken" entrepreneur: Why the best founders often have a "fault" that drives them to succeed.

·      “Kind of a lonely place”: How mentors can help to ward off the everyday isolation of being a CEO 

·      The lunar race: Why the US is playing catch-up with China and when we can expect a habitable moon base.

·      Venture capital secrets: The $20 million cost of training a VC and when to "wave the white flag" on a failing business.

Subscribe to ‘Winning’ now to get under the skin of what it takes to win at the highest level.

(00:00) – "Kind of a lonely place": The reality of being a CEO.

(02:35) – The Gordon Gekko influence: How the film Wall Street sparked Mark’s ambition to become a stockbroker.

(03:10) – Dyslexia as a superpower: Why thinking differently is an essential advantage in high-stakes venture capital.

(06:42) – The 400 letters: A masterclass in tenacity and how Mark secured his first roles.

(15:24) – Backing yourself: The true entrepreneurial moment when Mark worked for free for six months.

(19:40) – The $20 million training cost: The reality of the "scars" and losses required to become a winning VC.

(22:50) – Waving the white flag: Discipline in venture capital and knowing exactly when to cut your losses.

(46:58) – The "broken" entrepreneur: Why the best founders often have a "fault" that drives them.

(49:40) – The lunar race: Why America is playing catch-up with China on the Moon.

(53:07) – "Double down right now": Mark’s direct advice on the conviction required to win in the space market.

(55:40) – The final frontier: From lunar habitats to the trillion-dollar future of space-based industries.

What does it take to win in the world of high art? In this episode of Winning, we sit down with Rebecca Salter CBE, the first female President of the Royal Academy of Arts, to discuss a career built on radical choices, creative destruction, and a "masterless" journey through Japan.

Rebecca shares the extraordinary story of how she rejected an elite academic path at Oxford University to follow her intuition into art school - a move that caused an "almighty rumpus" at the time. She also reveals the ruthless philosophy behind her process: why she threw her entire degree show into the River Avon and why she believes you must stop being "sentimentally attached" to your work if you want to truly progress.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The power of intuition: Why Rebecca defied her school and caused an "almighty rumpus" by choosing art school over Oxford.
• Creative destruction: The strategy of "losing attachment" to your work, including why she threw her entire degree show into the River Avon.
• Winning as an "oddity": How her unconventional upbringing as a vicar's daughter taught her to thrive in solitude and independent thinking.
• The "Masterless Samurai" mindset: Lessons in resilience from navigating the Japanese art world alone after her mentor’s sudden death.

(00:00) Early Influences and Artistic Journey

(02:55) Navigating Art Education and Career Choices

(06:01) Cultural Exploration in Japan

(09:03) Developing a Unique Aesthetic

(11:54) Challenges and Opportunities in Japan

(14:48) Building a Career as an Artist

(17:48) Reflections on Artistic Growth and Identity

(22:29) The Journey of Selling Art

(24:00) Transitioning from Ceramics to Printmaking

(25:34) Recognition and Emotional Impact of Art

(27:37) Becoming a Royal Academy Academician

(28:44) The Role of the Keeper and Leadership

(30:12) Navigating the Pandemic's Challenges

(35:51) The Summer Exhibition's Historical Significance

(42:08) The Dynamics of the Artistic Community

How do you turn a bold idea into a $7 billion global empire? Producer Judy Craymer reveals the high-stakes secrets behind the Mamma Mia! phenomenon and what it truly takes to win in show business.

In this episode of Winning, we dive deep with Judy Craymer, the visionary producer who saw the potential in ABBA’s music when no one else did. From her early days as an "impoverished producer" to becoming a creative force in Hollywood, Judy shares the grit, instinct, and strategic moves that defined her career.

In this episode, you’ll discover: 

·      The power of instinct: Why Judy left a secure job to work for "zero money" on a film set just to be "where the action is". 

·      Creative ownership: Lessons on owning your brand and rights globally - a strategy learned from legends like Cameron Mackintosh. 

·      Turning "no" into "winning": How the "tough experience" of previous projects like Chess shaped the success of Mamma Mia!. 

·      The business of showbiz: What it takes to raise finance, make deals on your feet, and manage massive 86-piece orchestras.

(00:00) The Early Influences of Arts and Culture

(02:38) Ambition and Networking in the Industry

(14:53) The Journey of Chess

(18:56) Developing Mamma Mia!

(23:36) The Risks of Sharing Ideas

(26:45) Single-Mindedness and Determination

(30:47) The Success of Mamma Mia!

(39:43) Transitioning to Film

(46:33) Casting and Collaborations

(48:45) Reflections on ABBA and Timelessness