Be inspired
You donât tend to act unless youâre inspired. And time is precious. So here are ideas and thoughts worth making a little time for.
Articles
The Great Manager Training Robbery: Five Maxims For Better Development
Ten years ago, Michael Beer co-authored a bombshell article called "The Great Training Robbery." It exposed the hundreds of billions of dollars wasted on ineffective workplace training and education. The authors werenât shy about who to blame: "By investing in training that is not likely to yield a
Articles
Five Tips For Curing Overnight Leader Syndrome
Thereâs really not a lot thatâs innate about achieving business outcomes through other people. Based on working globally with thousands of managers and leaders for decades, Iâm convinced that achieving work outcomes through humans is a craft that can be mastered. Evidence has been piling up in favor
Conversations
Ezechi Britton MBE, incoming CEO of the UK's Centre for Finance, Innovation, and Technology
How are organisations and investors doing managers a disservice? In this episode, Ezechi Britton MBE, incoming CEO of the UK's Centre for Finance, Innovation, and Technology (CFIT), tells us how. He also talks about how he acquired leadership skills at an early age, what good managers are like and what they need to thrive, leadership lessons from Star Trek, and the dangers of immediacy at the expense of playing the long game. Ezechi received an MBE for his services to work in diversity, inclusion and young people. He is a founding member and outgoing CTO of Impact X Capital Partners LLP. He was recently appointed as a Trustee for Crisis and is the Chairman of Uome. Previously he was CEO and co-founder of Code Untapped, and CTO and co-founder of Neyber, which was acquired by Salary Finance. CFITâs establishment was a key recommendation of the 2021 Kalifa Review of UK Fintech. HM Treasury and the City of London Corporation have committed a combined ÂŁ5.5 million seed funding for CFIT to support the next stage of scaling for UK-based firms and to contribute to the UK remaining a global leader for financial innovation.
Guides
Five dilemmas with one common denominator: knowing when to stop
Simon Devonshire is a serial entrepreneur, investor, NED and chair. He has worked in very big corporates like O2 and for start-ups. His career has given him the chance to observe the repeat behaviours common to successful entrepreneurs and leaders. In this guide, he shares some of these observations, with an emphasis on knowing when to stop.
Conversations
Brigitte West, Executive Director of Product at DrDoctor
Brigitte West is Executive Director of Product at DrDoctor and Co-Founder of Health Tech Hive, a network of change-makers who are building technology solutions to the worldâs biggest health challenges. In this episode, Brigitte talks about: - Her pivot to a coaching style of leadership - Giving honest feedback and holding oneself â not just others - to a high bar - A non-linear career based on a curious mindset - Her toolkit for staying resilient in the face of adversity - Being the only woman in the room at times; and - Her top three tips for leadership success At DrDoctor, which is used by over 25 million patients, Brigitte leads the Product & Design Teams. Their product is the UK's leading patient engagement platform, ensuring the right patient âis in the right place âat the right time. Health Tech Hive, the global network she co-founded, comprises 500 change-makers from across health tech, working together to solve some of the worldâs biggest health challenges.
Guides
Celebrating neurodiversity and the power of small changes
Over the past decade Michael Barton has educated and inspired thousands of people on the power of neurodiversity. He is autistic himself and has written three books on the subject and contributed to numerous others. He focuses on the positive aspects of autism, relating its traits to those displayed by some of the most successful people in history.
Conversations
Gillian Harrison, CEO of Whitefox Technologies
Gillian was appointed CEO in 2009 and is responsible for the strategic direction and overall management of the group. She joined Whitefox in 2007 with a dual role as General Counsel and Head of South American Business Development, where she was instrumental in developing the strategy for the ethanol business.
Guides
Practical tips and techniques to thrive, rather than survive
Keith Goddard is an Occupational Psychologist and Sports & Exercise Psychologist. He uses his expertise to help people, teams and organisations achieve extraordinary things - be it in the boardroom or in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. He's regularly called upon to develop and deliver well-being, resilience and change programmes.
Conversations
Petra Felgen, Managing Director, CEWE UK & Ireland
In this episode of Manageable Conversations, Petra Felgen, Managing Director of CEWE UK and Ireland, talks about: - The importance of being challenged by your team - How management practices need to keep up with shifts in business strategy - Managing transitions from countries and roles within the same organisation - The opportunity and challenge of localisation vs globalisation - Engaging everyone in the process of innovation Petra has spent nine years at CEWE, most of which as head of international marketing, based in the company's headquarters in Germany. Previously she spent 15 years in brand and marketing roles, including nine years at Saatchi & Saatchi. CEWE is Europeâs leading photo printing company, headquartered in Germany. The Group operates across Europe, supplying award-winning products to retail partners in 21 countries. For more, follow Manageable Conversations on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and tune in to insights and advice straight from business leaders.
Conversations
Chia-Lin Simmons, CEO of LogicMark
Chia-Lin Simmons is the CEO of LogicMark and an early leader in AI and IoT. In this episode, Chia-Lin talks about: - What she means by her personal brand of âkindness leadershipâ - Being a futurist as part of managing career transitions - The value of code-switching and thinking like a startup and a large company - Why vision fit is more important to her than culture fit - Misunderstandings with AI and its human dimension - Finding time to focus on others and self-heal As a tech veteran with more than 25 years of experience founding and leading companies (and working at places like Google, Samsung, AOL and Audible), Chia-Lin has helped rebrand and shift LogicMark to become a leader in the care economy.
Conversations
Richard di Benedetto, President of Aetna International
Since 2013, Richard di Benedetto has been EVP of Aetna International, a health benefits business that's now part of one of the world's largest firms, CVS Health. His division serves 800,000 or so members in nearly every country in the world. He's passionate about making quality healthcare more accessible and empowering people to live healthier lives.
Conversations
Stuart Connolly, CEO of CloudMargin
Stuart Connolly is CEO of CloudMargin, a fast-growing FinTech founded in 2014 to enhance collateral management solutions for the financial services industry. Stuart was previously Group CEO for TriOptima and a Managing Director in the Securities Division of Goldman Sachs in London and New York. In this episode, Stuart talks about: - Learning from failure that was a consequence of over-confidence in his abilities - His experience of successfully transitioning from Goldman Sachs, where he spent 18 years, to leading much smaller firms - How he reins in his tendency to want to be a "control freak" - Ways he stays motivated and gets the best out of others - How he's fostering a collaborative culture
Conversations
Gillian Harrison, CEO of Whitefox Technologies
Gillian was appointed CEO in 2009 and is responsible for the strategic direction and overall management of the group. She joined Whitefox in 2007 with a dual role as General Counsel and Head of South American Business Development, where she was instrumental in developing the strategy for the ethanol business.
Conversations
Helena Gaunt, The Principal at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
Helena Gaunt is the Principal at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. She began her career as a professional oboist, before moving into academia. She then transitioned into strategic leadership roles, serving as Vice Principal and Director of Innovation at Londonâs Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Here, Helena pioneered the use of coaching to boost creative output, a practice she continues to develop in her current role. In this episode, we discuss: - The discipline of presence - The culture and practice of ensemble working - Why we should all be paying more attention to the ways in which we breathe
Conversations
Taylan Turan, CEO, Retail Banking, HSBC Wealth & Personal Banking
Are you fully present in every meeting? Taylan Turan, CEO of Retail Banking at HSBC Wealth & Personal Banking, explains how this habit helps him stay resilient and be respectful of others. In this episode, we also discuss: - His style of leadership - Judging people not by their actions but rather their intentions - The power of frameworks and framing problems before taking action - Being intentional with curiosity and personal connections - Navigating complexity by being confident and not complacent - What we can learn from three tips he has for his daughter Based in London, Taylan is a member of the global executive committee of HSBC Wealth & Personal Banking. He has responsibility for a diverse portfolio including the Strategy Office, Retail Banking Customer Segments, International Business and Retail Banking Products, Payments, Marketing, Physical and Digital Channels and Data, Analytics and CRM. Taylan also serves as a non-executive director of HSBC Asset Management. Since joining HSBC in 2009, he's held a number of global, regional and country roles at the bank. Prior to HSBC, he held senior executive roles at Citigroup and Barclays across a number of markets including Turkey, Russia, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Conversations
Erich Gerth, CEO of RBC BlueBay Asset Management
Erich is CEO of BlueBay Asset Management, ultimately a part of RBC, which is one of the world's biggest banks by market value. Erich also oversees the Non-North American business of RBC Global Asset Management. In this episode, he talks about: - Countering imposter syndrome - Transparency as part of inclusive management - Growth mindset and learning from mistakes - Autonomy vs micro-management - Continuous professional development
Conversations
Charles Wookey, Ex-CEO of A Blueprint for Better Business
Charles is the founding CEO of A Blueprint for Better Business, an independent charity that acts as a catalyst for change in business. Blueprint helps businesses realise their true long term potential: to serve society, respect people, rediscover their purpose and thereby earn a fair and sustainable return for investors. In this episode, Charles talks about: - Moving on as CEO - Ways in which he's improved as a leader - What it means to be a purpose-led organisation - How managers need to be with their teams - Managing change using Charles Handy's S-curve Charles initially qualified as an accountant with KPMG in London. He moved to the House of Commons as Clerk to the Trade and Industry Select Committee and subsequently worked as senior research officer at the Institute for Fiscal Studies. He went on to become assistant general secretary of the Catholic Bishopsâ Conference of England and Wales, where he was principal advisor to the Bishops on domestic public policy issues.
Conversations
Neta Meidav, CEO of Vault Platform
Neta is the Co-Founder and CEO of Vault Platform, a pioneer of 'trust-tech', a new category of ethics-enabling workplace technology designed to foster trust. Googleâs AI focused fund, Gradient Ventures, is a lead investor, along with Illuminate Financial, a VC firm backing companies that solve problems in financial services.
Conversations
Mark Billige, CEO of Simon-Kucher & Partners
Mark Billige is CEO of Simon-Kucher & Partners, the global consultancy firm operating in around 30 countries world-wide. Simon-Kucher delivers revenue and profit growth for clients by optimising pricing, sales, and marketing strategies. Mark is considered one of the worldâs leading experts in pricing and monetisation strategy, advising CEOs and company boards, as well as leading private-equity firms. He's a guest lecturer for MBA programmes at the worldâs top business schools. In this episode, we discuss how it is to be a co-CEO, the support network that helps him cope, differences in expectations between the generations and building culture in a high-growth global organisation.
Conversations
Mark Makepeace, CEO of Wilshire
Mark is CEO of Wilshire, the global investment management, advisory and data firm. He was previously the founding CEO of what has become FTSE Russell, one of the world's leading providers of financial market data. In this episode, Mark talks about: - Breaking through as an outsider - Seeking help when you're stuck - The power of inclusion and community - Adapting with humility - The player-coach continuum
Conversations
Andrew Whitehead, CEO of Protean Electric
Andrew took on the CEO role in November 2019 after spending 10 years as COO. He is responsible for developing operations, product development and future strategy to exploit opportunities in the fast-growing smart mobility and electric vehicle markets.
Conversations
Luca Schnettler, CEO of Qumata
In this episode of Manageable Conversations, Luca Schnettler, CEO of Qumata, the Insurtech scaleup, talks about: - Bluntness as a sign of respect rather than rudeness - Owning your truth if you want to lead rather than be led - How an ecosystem of advisors helped him gain credibility - Dedication to hard work as the route to success - How failure showed him the importance of focus In his late teens, Luca moved from Germany to the UK to study and ended up leaving university without a degree at the age of 19. He did this to found Qumata based on the conviction that entrepreneurship was the way for him to have an impact on the world. He has since raised $30m from investors who have backed him and the business. Founded in 2017, Qumata is on a mission to transform insurance risk assessments with a faster way to access individual health risks. Its proprietary solutions are used by life and health insurers worldwide to help them create a faster, cheaper and more customer-centric underwriting journey.
Conversations
Petra Felgen, Managing Director, CEWE UK & Ireland
In this episode of Manageable Conversations, Petra Felgen, Managing Director of CEWE UK and Ireland, talks about: - The importance of being challenged by your team - How management practices need to keep up with shifts in business strategy - Managing transitions from countries and roles within the same organisation - The opportunity and challenge of localisation vs globalisation - Engaging everyone in the process of innovation Petra has spent nine years at CEWE, most of which as head of international marketing, based in the company's headquarters in Germany. Previously she spent 15 years in brand and marketing roles, including nine years at Saatchi & Saatchi. CEWE is Europeâs leading photo printing company, headquartered in Germany. The Group operates across Europe, supplying award-winning products to retail partners in 21 countries. For more, follow Manageable Conversations on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and tune in to insights and advice straight from business leaders.
Conversations
Pia Heidenmark Cook, Ex-CSO at IKEA
Pia is a Non-Executive Director at BUPA, Origin Materials and MAX Burgers. She was formerly Chief Sustainability Officer at Ingka Group, the largest IKEA franchisee. IKEA is the world's leading home furnishing retailer. In this episode, Pia talks about: - Her transition from a high-profile global role at IKEA - Driving the sustainability agenda alongside other priorities - Leadership qualities that enable change - Diversity and inclusion Pia enjoys splitting her time between board, advisory and keynote speaking roles across the world. She advises several professional services and private equity firms on sustainability, and speaks on sustainability and business transformation. Pia held the position of Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA/Ingka Group between 2017 and 2021, and worked at IKEA for 13 years. While there she developed and implemented the Ingka People & Planet Positive strategy, established measurable goals, and embedded these in business plans as well as budgeting and financial investment processes.
Conversations
James Hollow, CEO and Founder of Fabric
James Hollow is the Founder and CEO of Fabric, a Strategic Design and Sustainability consultancy based in Japan. In this episode, James talks about: - The power of vulnerability and not knowing everything - Healthy reflective practices in business - What being âinclusive by designâ means as a leadership principle - The importance of making values tangible through behaviours - His experience leading businesses and people in Japan for decades James leads Fabric with a focus on entrepreneurship, regenerative business practices, and brand strategy. He has extensive experience working with global brands including Apple, Amazon, Unilever, P&G, and Salesforce, as well as being an advisor to leading startups scaling in Japan, a mentor for 500 Startups, and Chair of the Board of Trustees at British School in Tokyo. In 2022, James was awarded an Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to education and the wider community in Japan.
Conversations
Tonner Jackson, CEO and Co-Founder of Course Studio
Tonner Jackson is CEO of Course Studio, which he co-founded in 2020. The business is on a mission to change the learning landscape by helping entrepreneurs and organisations design, launch, and scale high-impact online learning experiences. From locations across North America, Course Studio's teams have experience of designing some of the worldâs most trafficked online classes for individuals like Malcolm Gladwell, Chris Hadfield, Steph Curry and Thomas Keller.
Conversations
Natasha Frangos, Managing Partner at haysmacintyre
Natasha Frangos is Managing Partner at haysmacintyre. She specialises in advising ambitious, scaling businesses operating in the UK and globally in the creative, media and technology industries. In this episode, Natasha talks about: - What's kept her at the same firm for over two decades - Challenges faced by earlier-stage businesses and the importance of prioritisation - Ways in which her firm is integrating AI and other technologies - How she manages the demands of the role and what's non-negotiable in her life - The value of open communication and addressing difficult conversations in the moment - What she advises new joiners to focus on and her top tips for managers of others Natasha is on INvolveâs global Empower Role Model Lists 2024, which recognises exceptional leaders who are driving inclusion for people of colour in business. She has been honoured as one of Brummell Magazineâs 30 Inspirational Women Champions of Diversity, Woman of the Year â Practice (National) at the Women in Accountancy and Finance Awards in 2020 and Businesswoman of the Year at the Great British Businesswoman Awards in 2021.
Conversations
Ruth Kelly, Chair of Thames Freeport and Water UK
In this episode, Ruth Kelly, Chair of Thames Freeport and Water UK, and ex-Secretary of State for Education and Skills, talks about: - Trust in organisations - The value of managers spending time with members of their teams each week - Developing soft skills - Being visible and connected across your organisation - What organisations can do to support managers - Learning continuously to address gaps in skills and knowledge Between 1997 and 2010, Ruth was a member of UK parliament, holding several government positions including Secretary of State for Education and Skills. In 2004, she became the youngest woman ever to be part of the UK Cabinet. After leaving parliament, Ruth held leadership roles at HSBC Asset Management and St Maryâs University, Twickenham.
Conversations
Petr Baron, CEO of tbi bank
Petr Baron is CEO of tbi, the challenger bank that is one of the most profitable in Southeastern Europe. In this episode, Petr talks about: - The importance of authenticity - Seeing the teacher in everyone - Algorithms and hacks that free him up to create value - Protecting ourselves from digital noise - Seeking out problem-solving partners - Ways in which banks need to change Petr belongs to a new wave of entrepreneurial bankers leveraging deep knowledge of the financial ecosystem. In a career spanning over 20 years, he's held a variety of senior banking roles across Europe, culminating in leading tbi for the past seven years. With a customer base of two million, tbi is a mobile-first challenger bank in Southeastern Europe and a regional leader in alternative payment solutions. It focuses on helping SMEs grow their businesses and making consumers' lives easier through innovative financial products.
Conversations
Ian Constance, CEO of the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK
Are you comfortable challenging others and being challenged in return? Ian Constance, CEO of Advanced Propulsion Centre UK, talks about this motto of his and why it's easy to say and hard to implement. In this episode, Ian talks about: - Getting the best from people by not telling them what to do - Insights from working around the world, including China - Adapting from a global career at Ford to leading a small not-for-profit organisation - The importance of discipline in coping with the pressure of the role - What he learned about leadership from Alan Mulally, ex-CEO of Ford Ian joined the Advanced Propulsion Centre as CEO in September 2015. Prior to this he worked with Ford Motor Company in Detroit, where he was most recently Global Chief Engineer for Large Cars. Ian has held positions globally in the automotive industry with over 25 yearsâ experience. Prior to working in the US, he spent six years at Fordâs Asia Pacific HQ, first in Bangkok and then in Shanghai. During an unprecedented period of growth and change in that part of the world, he was responsible for delivering many well-known Ford products into manufacturing plants, joint ventures and markets throughout the region.
Conversations
Mike Brennan, CEO of Tootoot & Stribe
Mike is Co-Founder and CEO of two organisations. The first is Tootoot, the world's first reporting app for young people in schools, enabling them to report on mental health or bullying concerns. The second organisation is Stribe, an employee engagement platform that enables organisations to connect with their people to make them feel happier and safer.
Conversations
Robert Pickering, Ex-CEO of Cazenove
What's a no-nonsense leadership style and how do incentives affect culture? In this episode of Manageable Conversations, Robert Pickering, ex-CEO of Cazenove, the last independent British investment bank, talks about: - His no-nonsense leadership style and what helped him succeed as a leader - What CEOs should do above everything else - How he coped with challenging transitions - Ways in which incentives affect culture - How delegation and empowerment served him - Tips for managers to succeed with their teams Robert joined Cazenove in 1985, having previously qualified as a solicitor with Allen & Overy. His recently published book, Blue Blood, is a first-hand account of Cazenoveâs evolution during his time there. Robert headed Cazenove's corporate finance department from 1998 and became the firmâs first chief executive in 2001, playing a key role in its development from a private stockbroking partnership into a leading investment bank and wealth manager. He negotiated and led the firm's highly successful joint-venture with JP Morgan before leaving the firm in 2008 to pursue a career as a consultant and non-executive director.
Conversations
Ian Trenholm, CEO of Care Quality Commission
Ian Trenholm is CEO of the Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator of health and social care in England. Ian emphasises the value of leading with curiosity, consistency and ârelentless personal dissatisfactionâ. He also talks about hiring people who scare him and the opportunity that comes from investing in those who arenât performing as well as they could, rather than those who are already doing well.
Conversations
Brigitte West, Executive Director of Product at DrDoctor
Brigitte West is Executive Director of Product at DrDoctor and Co-Founder of Health Tech Hive, a network of change-makers who are building technology solutions to the worldâs biggest health challenges. In this episode, Brigitte talks about: - Her pivot to a coaching style of leadership - Giving honest feedback and holding oneself â not just others - to a high bar - A non-linear career based on a curious mindset - Her toolkit for staying resilient in the face of adversity - Being the only woman in the room at times; and - Her top three tips for leadership success At DrDoctor, which is used by over 25 million patients, Brigitte leads the Product & Design Teams. Their product is the UK's leading patient engagement platform, ensuring the right patient âis in the right place âat the right time. Health Tech Hive, the global network she co-founded, comprises 500 change-makers from across health tech, working together to solve some of the worldâs biggest health challenges.
Conversations
Jennifer Nuckles, CEO at R-Zero
Jennifer Nuckles is Chairperson & CEO at R-Zero, the biosafety technology company dedicated to making indoor spaces safer, healthier and more productive. In this episode, Jennifer talks about: - Being kind rather than nice - How Chief Marketing Officers can become CEOs - The danger of vanity metrics - Being a role model for her daughters - Playing to people's strengths - Getting out of your comfort zone Jennifer has over 25 years of experience leading and accelerating revenue growth and profitability for companies including high-growth, venture-backed and public companies. Prior to R-Zero, Jennifer was Executive Vice President and Group Business Leader at SoFi, and Chief Marketing Officer of HealthTech leader Doctor on Demand and social gaming giant Zynga. R-Zero combines the power of UV-C light, IoT-connected hardware and sensors, and AI to enable organisations to create safe shared environments for education, healthcare, corporate, and public sector communities to thrive.
Conversations
Nabila Salem, President of Revolent Group
Nabila is President of Revolent Group, which creates cloud talent that can thrive in niche technology markets. She's also on the Board of Tenth Revolution Group, the parent company of Frank Recruitment Group, Revolent Group and Rebura. Nabila was recognised in Management Today's 35 Women Under 35 List 2019 and selected as Globant's Inspiring Executive UK in 2021. Under Nabilaâs leadership, Revolent has won multiple awards including Diversity Employer of the Year at the Computing Women in Tech Excellence Awards for two consecutive years. In this episode, Nabila shares her thoughts on: - Leading and sustaining a truly diverse organisation - Being empathetic as a leader, caring and listening to others - Positive and negative role models - Getting ahead through continuous learning - Resilience as a leader
Conversations
Cat Agostinho, Co-Founder of Imagen Insights
Cat Agostinho is the Co-Founder of Imagen Insights, which offers organisations Gen Z insights within 72 hours. She is on a mission to support young people and provide them with opportunities regardless of their background. Cat has co-created a business and a culture that champions inclusivity, and caters for different languages, disabilities and social factors. In this episode, we discuss: - Putting culture first - The co-founder dynamic - Transparency within teams - What managers have to gain from listening to a new generation of employees
Conversations
Dominic Allon, CEO of Pipedrive
In this episode of Manageable Conversations, Dominic Allon, CEO of Pipedrive, the global unicorn CRM, talks about: - Ways he enables his team - Why leadership requires solitude - How to be the best version of yourself every day - Embracing vulnerability and a coaching style - Why culture change needs to be approached with humility Dominic has a long and successful track record of leading large, global organisations, and driving business transformation and growth. Prior to joining Pipedrive in 2021, he was Senior Vice President and General Manager for Intuitâs QuickBooks international business. Before that he spent 10 years at Google, including three years as the Managing Director of Google Hong Kong, as well as many years on Google UKâs leadership team. Founded in 2010, Pipedrive is an easy-to-use, effective CRM that's driving the growth of more than 100,000 businesses worldwide. Pipedrive is headquartered in New York and has offices across Europe and the US.
Conversations
Bruce Daisley, Ex-Twitter VP and #1 bestselling author
Bruce Daisley is one of the UKâs most influential voices on fixing work. His first book, The Joy of Work, was a Sunday Times number 1 bestseller, ending 2019 as the UKâs top selling business hardback of the year. Previously he spent over a decade running Twitter and YouTube in Europe (the latter at Google). Bruce runs the Apple #1 Business Chart topping podcast Eat Sleep Work Repeat on work culture. His second book, Fortitude, about how we think about resilience incorrectly, is out in August 2022. In this episode, Bruce shares his thoughts on: - The value of enthusiasm and intellect over experience and seniority - How to tackle the burnout epidemic through the lenses of scarcity and slack - The need to challenge orthodoxies around resilience
Conversations
Ezechi Britton MBE, incoming CEO of the UK's Centre for Finance, Innovation, and Technology
How are organisations and investors doing managers a disservice? In this episode, Ezechi Britton MBE, incoming CEO of the UK's Centre for Finance, Innovation, and Technology (CFIT), tells us how. He also talks about how he acquired leadership skills at an early age, what good managers are like and what they need to thrive, leadership lessons from Star Trek, and the dangers of immediacy at the expense of playing the long game. Ezechi received an MBE for his services to work in diversity, inclusion and young people. He is a founding member and outgoing CTO of Impact X Capital Partners LLP. He was recently appointed as a Trustee for Crisis and is the Chairman of Uome. Previously he was CEO and co-founder of Code Untapped, and CTO and co-founder of Neyber, which was acquired by Salary Finance. CFITâs establishment was a key recommendation of the 2021 Kalifa Review of UK Fintech. HM Treasury and the City of London Corporation have committed a combined ÂŁ5.5 million seed funding for CFIT to support the next stage of scaling for UK-based firms and to contribute to the UK remaining a global leader for financial innovation.
Conversations
Andy Clark, CEO of EdenTree
Andy Clark joined EdenTree as CEO in September 2020. He was previously CEO at HSBC Global Asset Management (UK) for eight years and, before that, he held sales-focused leadership roles at DWS Investments and Fidelity International. He has more than two decades' experience in the investment management sector.
Conversations
Tony Jamous, CEO & Founder of Oyster
Tony Jamous is the CEO and Founder of Osyter, the automated global employment platform that removes barriers to remote work and distributed hiring. Oyster is the second Unicorn that Tony has founded. In this episode, Tony talks about: - What he means by sustainable leadership and what caused him to embrace it - Achieving higher performance without taxing yourself and others as much - Setting the bar high and being ready to be disappointed - When to use your heart rather than your brain - How he enables a fully remote organisation with people in 60+ countries - The importance of connecting in person at a deeper level with others in the team Tony is passionate about empowering talented individuals from emerging economies through access to global career opportunities. Before launching Oyster with co-founder Jack Mardack in early 2020, Tony was the co-founder and CEO of Nexmo (now Vonage). Oyster is a fully distributed organisation driven by the mission to create a more equal world of work. The platform enables people-centric hiring anywhere in the world with reliable, compliant contracts, payroll, and great local benefits and perks.
Conversations
Pieter Van de Velde, Founding Partner at Ninepointfive
Pieter is an entrepreneur with a proven track record in tech start-ups and corporate venturing. He's currently Founding Partner at Ninepointfive, a venture capital firm that co-invests with Europe's top-tier corporations to take tech-based startups to maturity. In this episode, Pieter talks about: - How leadership evolves with the scale of the organisation - The benefits of diversity in the leadership team - Managers as sources of energy for teams - The way mentorship helped him overcome fear and become commercial - Balancing long-term vision with step-by-step implementation
Conversations
James Tye, Ex-CEO of Dennis Publishing
James became CEO of Dennis in 2006 and has transformed the company from its traditional print publishing roots to one of the most dynamic international media companies. His ambition is to grow a global business comprising award-winning brands that inspire, inform and entertain audiences of today and the future.
Conversations
Graham Cooke, Founder and Ex-CEO of Qubit
Entrepreneur and FTSE100 Non Executive Director, Graham Cooke has been developing internet-based products for the past 20 years. He joined Google in 2005 as one of the earliest European employees working on the Google Ad Platform and Google Analytics. After Google, he founded Qubit, a leading SaaS company in the e-commerce space, providing AI-personalised shopping recommendations to over one billion users per month across more than 300 leading brands. He sold Qubit to Coveo Solutions in 2021 and remains a strategic advisor at Coveo. In this episode, Graham charts the development of the latest iteration of the internet, which he's written about in his book called Web3: the end of business as usual. He argues it will entirely change how we come together to create products, content and services. He believes it will have massive implications for all managers. He also unpacks the value of user-centric design for organisations and teams, rather than just products.
Conversations
Dannie Lynn Fountain, Global Inclusion Lead at Google's #IamRemarkable
Dannie Lynn Fountain is a passionate storyteller who helps companies focus on people. By day, she works at Google hiring the worldâs most talented software engineers. By night she supports clients and brands with HR-focused diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies. Dannie is a five-time author and in her latest book, Ending Checkbox Diversity, she rewrites the story of performative allyship in corporate America. In this episode, we discuss: - Duality of DE&I, contrasting authentic and performative actions - Growing people as a growth strategy - Being CEO by night and what that means for you - Integration of work and life as opposed to finding that elusive balance - How she prefers feedback in writing due to autism/ADHD
Conversations
Ambre Soubiran, CEO of Kaiko
Ambre is the CEO of Kaiko, a fast growing data provider in the blockchain space. She acquired the French start-up a few years ago and recently raised over $20m from investors to expand into North American and Asian markets. She has no doubt she and her team are building a billion dollar company, but only with the right culture and values.
Conversations
Janthana Kaenprakhamroy, Founder and CEO of Tapoly
Janthana Kaenprakhamroy is the Founder and CEO of Tapoly, the award-winning Insurtech business. Tapoly provides on-demand insurance for SMEs and freelancers. Prior to founding Tapoly in 2016, Janthana was Director, Internal Audit at UBS Investment Bank. During her banking career of 15 years, she also worked at J. P. Morgan and Deutsche Bank. In this episode, Janthana talks about: - How her life circumstances have shaped her leadership style - The importance of self-awareness and how she's changed over time - How sheâs been helped by not being afraid to try things out and fail - The importance of setting clear expectations of others and giving candid feedback - The need for managers to take personal responsibility for team performance
Conversations
Sabine VanderLinden, CEO of Alchemy Crew
Sabine is the Co-Founder and CEO of Alchemy Crew, a venture lab. They help global financial institutions unearth new sources of growth through partnerships with disruptive start-ups and growth ventures. They also help their ventures access growth funding from investors. Sabine is an expert in InsureTech and disruptive technologies, which she teaches at Bayes Business School.
Conversations
Georgina (Twink) Field, CEO & Founder of White Marble
In this episode, Georgina (Twink) Field, CEO and Founder of White Marble, the investment marketing consultancy, talks about: - Her early experiences of good and bad management - The value of self-reflection and restraint as a leader - Characteristics of a high-performance culture and how sheâs fostering it - How functions like marketing break down silos and can cut through in organisations - Tips for managers to get the best from their teams Twink founded White Marble in 2014 after a 15-year career working in the marketing functions of asset management companies. She was named Marketing Leader of the Year at the 2022 Investment Week Investment Marketing and Innovation awards. White Marble is an investment marketing consultancy. They define, develop and implement marketing strategies for asset and wealth managers, giving them access to integrated thinking spanning a range of marketing disciplines. As CEO, Twink spearheads the growth and vision for White Marble, while working directly with clients. Her core area of focus is corporate and competitive positioning, from brand and sustainability strategy to proposition articulation.
Conversations
Chris Rowley, CEO of The Risk Advisory Group
In this episode, Chris Rowley, CEO of The Risk Advisory Group, talks about: - How he became CEO and ways he copes with the demands of the role - The importance of consistency of leadership, including having difficult conversations - Why leaders would be mad to rely only on their instincts rather than seek help - Expectations of younger generations and the need for investment in people from the outset - The value of agility and challenging the status quo within organisations Chris has over 20 yearsâ experience helping clients grow their businesses while protecting their brands, assets and people. He's managed over 500 different investigations on behalf of clients, who value his expertise in identifying and mitigating regulatory and reputational risks. More recently, Chris led the growth of his firm's investigations and intelligence business in the US and other new markets. Risk Advisory is a leading global, multi-disciplined risk management consultancy. They equip corporate decision-makers and their advisors with meticulously sourced, consistently fresh, local intelligence to make the right commercial decisions.
Guides
Five dilemmas with one common denominator: knowing when to stop
Simon Devonshire is a serial entrepreneur, investor, NED and chair. He has worked in very big corporates like O2 and for start-ups. His career has given him the chance to observe the repeat behaviours common to successful entrepreneurs and leaders. In this guide, he shares some of these observations, with an emphasis on knowing when to stop.
Guides
Having greater impact on screen in virtual meetings
Edie Lush is a journalist and communication trainer. She's also an expert in digital communication. This is a very practical guide outlining how to best meet over the screen, so important these days. She helps you find out more about what the best set-up is, what physical and vocal techniques are most helpful, and how to communicate in a way that is memorable. Whether you need to inspire your team or a client, this guide will help you.
Guides
The three stages on the journey to becoming expert
Roger Kneebone is an author and Imperial College professor who directs its Centre for Engagement and Simulation Science. He researches what experts from different fields can learn from one another. His first career was as a surgeon. He then changed direction twice: he became a GP and then an academic.
Guides
The benefits of being a connector within organisations
Martin Kilduff is a professor at UCL School of Management. In his research, he focusses on the importance of social network connections between people and the ways those connections help or hinder in their job performance, career, and their lives more generally.
Guides
Understanding and bridging generational differences in teams
Dr Eliza Filby is a writer, speaker and researcher who specialises in what she calls 'Generational Intelligence', helping organisations understand generational shifts within politics, society and the workplace. Her writing has been published in The Times, The Mail Spectator, Guardian and the Financial Times. She published her first book 'God and Mrs Thatcher' in 2014 and is currently writing about ageing in the 21st century.
Guides
Celebrating neurodiversity and the power of small changes
Over the past decade Michael Barton has educated and inspired thousands of people on the power of neurodiversity. He is autistic himself and has written three books on the subject and contributed to numerous others. He focuses on the positive aspects of autism, relating its traits to those displayed by some of the most successful people in history.
Guides
Navigating challenging times using your North Star
Minter Dial is a thought-leader, author, consultant and professional speaker on topics such as leadership, brand and digital strategy with a specialisation in digital transformation. Prior to this, he had an international career at L'Oréal, including being head of Redken Worldwide and on the Executive Committee worldwide of the L'Oréal Professional Products Division.
Guides
The power of unpredictable brilliance in leadership
Itay Talgam is an orchestral conductor who now teaches leadership to Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits and universities. He speaks at conferences around the world, including TED, Google's Zeitgeist, and the World Economic Forum at Davos. Drawing on his experience as a 'conductor of people' he strives to create human harmony through cooperation.
Guides
Measuring and fostering diversity in organisations
Suhair Khan works within the international creative industries to drive meaningful impact. In over a decade at Google, her work has spanned arts and culture, early stage product design, sustainability, strategy and innovation. She has led global projects with artists, cultural institutions, fashion brands and the creative sector for Google Arts & Culture. In 2020, she founded the non-profit platform openended.design to support artists, designers, and creative technologists.
Guides
Using Purpose, Authenticity and Delivery in leadership
James Ashton is an author, podcaster and speaker. He writes and speaks on business and leadership. He's spent years interviewing leaders across sectors and continues to discuss the art of leadership. In this guide, he outlines how you combine Purpose, Authenticity and Delivery in order to become an effective leader.
Guides
Understanding and overcoming procrastination
Fuschia Sirois is a professor at Durham Universityâs Department of Psychology. She is particularly interested in how procrastination, perfectionism, loneliness and traits linked to negative mood adversely affect health, and the qualities that play a role in improving well-being.
Guides
Exploring the nature and power of a coaching style
Farley Thomas is the Co-Founder of Manageable. He is also a CEO coach and adviser. He's run global business units and functions at one of the world's biggest banks. In this guide, he shares his views on why a coaching style is important, what it is and how to acquire it.
Guides
Identifying and acting on your priority values as a team
Dr Mandeep Rai is the author of The Values Compass: What 101 Countries Teach Us About Purpose, Life and Leadership. She is a global authority on values, working with companies, institutions, and individuals around the world. She has travelled to more than 150 countries and reported as a journalist for the BBC World Service Reuters, amongst others.
Guides
Practical tips and techniques to thrive, rather than survive
Keith Goddard is an Occupational Psychologist and Sports & Exercise Psychologist. He uses his expertise to help people, teams and organisations achieve extraordinary things - be it in the boardroom or in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. He's regularly called upon to develop and deliver well-being, resilience and change programmes.
Guides
The importance of being cognitively flexible in a world full of distractions
Naomi de Barra is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist who is excited about bringing great psychology to the workplace, to make businesses and people more productive. She has almost 20 years of business experience in FMCG, Pharmaceuticals, Recruitment and Healthcare. Her areas of interest are Neurodiversity, Leadership and Selection and Assessment.