40 Minute Mentor

“Fundraising can be exhausting, so it’s really important to spend time with the right people who just won’t waste your time [...], pay attention and ask the right questions.” Today’s 40 Minute Mentor is Avion Gray, Co-Founder and CEO of Belong, a new wealth-building platform. Avion started her career in investment banking, before working as Head of Product & Commercialisation at industry-leading POS systems and merchant service provider Clover, where she oversaw the launch and expansion of the business in the US and across Europe. Following her deep drive to do something that she could bring every aspect of her being to, Avion is now building Belong, together with Co-Founder and behavioural economist, Samantha Rosenberg. Having only recently come out of stealth, Avion and Samantha have already built incredible traction in the market, including having raised the largest pre-seed round ever raised by female Founders in Europe. We unpack all that and much more in today’s episode. Episode chapters: ➡️ Avion’s upbringing & education being the biggest equaliser [03:57] ➡️ Finding her entrepreneurial spirit [07:00] ➡️ Career foundations [09:00] ➡️ Clover’s expansion to the US and Europe [11:30] ➡️ Taking the leap into entrepreneurship [14:20] ➡️ The paradox of wealth [16:40] ➡️ More about Belong [18:32] ➡️ Nick Hungerford’s mentorship [24:18] ➡️ The sacrifice for entrepreneurship [29:07] ➡️ Raising the biggest pre-seed round in Europe [32:23] ➡️ Practical advice for wealth building [37:40] ➡️ Audience Question: How would you describe Belong’s culture? [41:42] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Avion: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aviongray/?originalSubdomain=uk ➡️ Find our more about Belong: https://www.be-long.co/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“[Having bootstrapped] we get to control our destiny, we can move as quickly as we want and we can go where we want and don’t have to be accountable.” Today’s 40 Minute Mentor is Gurinder Dhillon, Founder of Otto Car, London’s largest community of PCO drivers and Europe’s largest provider of electric vehicles to private-hire drivers. Having recently partnered with Gurinder and Otto Car to deliver a very exciting search for them, it was extra special to sit down with Gurinder and find out more about his incredible journey with Otto Car - from one Toyota Prius in a West London garage to one of the fastest growing startups in Europe…all completely bootstrapped. In amongst the shared ups and downs of scaling a bootstrapped business, Gurinder shares invaluable advice for anyone thinking of starting their own entrepreneurial journey. Episode chapters: ➡️ The cost of entrepreneurship [04:18] ➡️ Gurinder’s upbringing and route into entrepreneurship [07:16] ➡️ Early startup experience [09:40] ➡️ Eternal optimism & navigating failure [13:06] ➡️ Otto Car’s origin story [14:32] ➡️ Losing 75% of revenue in one day - Otto Car’s pivot [17:44] ➡️ Advice on pivoting [19:14] ➡️ Building a business around love [23:22] ➡️ Gurinder’s vision for the future [26:00] ➡️ The benefits & reality behind bootstrapping [28:12] ➡️ Hiring advice [30:30] ➡️ Audience question: What would you do if you wouldn’t have followed the entrepreneurial route? [37:00] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Gurinder: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gurinder-dhillon/ ➡️ Find our more about Otto Car: https://ottocar.co.uk/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“There are days when you wake up and think ‘this is it - we’re going to be the next Google’ and then you wake up the next morning and feel like it’s all over and you’re going to fail.” Today’s 40 Minute Mentor is former VC investor turned serial entrepreneur, Greg Marsh. Following his time as an investor with Index Ventures, Greg went to build pioneering luxury accommodation marketplace, onefinestay, which became a global success with over 700 people and an exit via acquisition by Accor Hotel in 2016 - a deal worth more than $200m. But it didn’t take long for Greg to throw himself back in the Founder seat. In today’s episode, we discuss his career to date in detail, plus find out more about his latest venture, Nous - the smarter way to save on household bills. Episode chapters: ➡️ Growing up in west London and finding his call as an entrepreneur [03:08] ➡️ Becoming an Investor [04:37] ➡️ The origins of onefinestay [10:11] ➡️ Underestimating the difficulty of scaling a business [11:26] ➡️ The collaborative nature of entrepreneurship [13:43] ➡️ Building a support network around you [16:33] ➡️ The emotional rollercoaster of being a Founder [18:46] ➡️ Taking hiring seriously [21:12] ➡️ Why Greg jumped back into the Founder seat [24:59] ➡️ More about Nous [29:26] ➡️ Building traction in a difficult market [34:56] ➡️ Advantages of being a second time Founder [37:23] ➡️ Audience Question: What practical advice do you have for making your money work harder in difficult times? [42:34] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Greg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gmarsh/ ➡️ Check out Nous: https://www.nous.co/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Entrepreneurship feels like a process of torture sometimes because no matter how hard you try and how much you work and how many evenings or weekends that you sacrifice, you’re still only at the very bottom of the hill.” Today’s 40 Minute Mentor is Deirdre O’Neill, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial & Legal Officer at women’s health startup, Hertility. With a background in corporate law and VC law, Deirdre took the leap into entrepreneurship in 2019, alongside twin sister Dr Helen O’Neill and Dr Natalie Getreu. Since then, the three Co-Founders and their team have been revolutionising the future of reproductive healthcare, by pioneering unique diagnostic testing. In this episode, we get a full behind-the-scenes look into their build so far and where the future might take them… Episode chapters: ➡️ Growing up in Cork [07:30] ➡️ Why she feels more like a lawyer now than ever before [10:33] ➡️ Hertility’s origin story [13:14] ➡️ Breaking into a heavily regulated space [18:30] ➡️ Normalising talking about fertility & women’s health [20:27] ➡️ Fundraising & why crowdfunding is a great option [23:11] ➡️ Leaning into pregnancy as a Founder [29:05] ➡️ Why the best talent is focusing on purpose [31:52] ➡️ Are you choosing a steamboat or a speedboat? [33:15] ➡️ Hertility’s team culture [35:23] ➡️ Audience Question: How do you navigate conflict with your Co-Founder and twin sister [40:13] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Deirdre: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deirdre-o-neill-a8bb6a14/ ➡️ Check out Hertility: https://hertilityhealth.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“If we’re not seeing outcomes, we need more visibility. Does visibility mean someone being physically in front of you? Probably not.” Today’s 40 Minute Mentor is Natasha Ratanshi-Stein, the Founder of Surfboard - the next generation planning tools for customer service teams. Before building Surfboard, Natasha spent several years as an Operator and Investor, including her roles as Principal at Piton Capital and Chief of Staff at Bulb. We had a fascinating chat with Natasha, exploring her unique career journey and her mission to make work more human with Surfboard. Episode chapters: ➡️ Her upbringing in Canada [03:56] ➡️ Moving into VC [05:34] ➡️ Why she wishes she had Operator experience before moving into VC [11:02] ➡️ Becoming Chief of Staff at Bulb [12:45] ➡️ Advice for aspiring Chiefs of Staff [16:33] ➡️ When to hire a Chief of Staff [20:02] ➡️ More about Surfboard [22:15] ➡️ Getting customer traction early [30:00] ➡️ Flexible working [34:16] ➡️ Audience question: What are your future aspirations with Surfboard? [39:50] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Natasha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-ratanshi-stein-%F0%9F%8F%84%F0%9F%8F%BC%E2%80%8D%E2%99%80%EF%B8%8F-69333723/ ➡️ Check out Surfboard: https://teamsurfboard.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I think we over index on the significance of education at the cost of other important parts of the social mobility conversation.” This week’s 40 Minute Mentor is Gary Izunwa, Co-Founder and CEO of Tangent. Tangent is an employee referral platform that makes referrals accessible to everyone and NOT just the privileged few with the best networks. Prior to Tangent, Gary worked at LinkedIn and the British Council leading programmes for ‘Generation UK’, a multimillion pound campaign, committed to social mobility. Most recently, Gary has also been named in the 2024 class of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for Social Impact. In today’s episode, we’ll explore his career to date, the journey of building Tangent and the power of mentorship and social mobility… Episode chapters: ➡️ Reframing mistakes & failure [02:39] ➡️ Growing up with an entrepreneurial mind [05:24] ➡️ A successful early career at LinkedIn [07:49] ➡️ Taking a 80% salary cut to drive social mobility [13:36] ➡️ Starting Tangent - the origin [16:44] ➡️ Harsh learnings from building without your customer [23:29] ➡️ The power & gaps of recruitment referrals [29:26] ➡️ Closing social mobility gaps [32:40] ➡️ Gratitude complex of socially mobile people [37:32] ➡️ Audience question: Building your personal brand on LinkedIn [44:40] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Gary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyizunwa/ ➡️ Check out Tangent: https://www.jointangent.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“You work so hard for something you’ve dreamt of for so long and then you achieve it and it’s nothing like you imagined it would be…” This week’s 40 Minute Mentor is Lottie Whyte, Co-Founder and CEO of MyoMaster, the home of sports recovery and a brand on a mission to unlock every athlete’s greatest performance. If you’re an avid BBC Dragons Den watcher, then you’ll have seen Lottie and her Co-Founder and husband, Joe, on the most recent series, where they won an incredible £100,000 investment from Gary Neville and Sara Davies. In today’s episode we not only discuss this latest impressive milestone in Lottie’s journey, but also look back on humble beginnings at their kitchen table and Lottie’s successful career in PR and advertising. Episode chapters: ➡️ Lottie’s upbringing and early influences [02:24] ➡️ Becoming the youngest board member at M&C Saatchi [04:22] ➡️ MyoMaster’s origin story [09:01] ➡️ The power of resilience & fundraising advice [13:20] ➡️ Why VC investment isn’t for everyone [14:48] ➡️ Why Dragons Den & the behind the scenes scoop [16:39] ➡️ Winning over Gary Neville and Sara Davies [21:04] ➡️ Building on the Dragons Den momentum [22:12] ➡️ Advice for applying to Dragons Den [24:51] ➡️ Balancing wellbeing and entrepreneurship [26:13] ➡️ Audience question: How do you navigate being business partners, a married couple and parents with Joe? [31:10] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Lottie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lottie-whyte-07205918/ ➡️ Check out MyoMaster: https://myomaster.com/ ➡️ Watch MyoMaster on Dragons Den: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZsJjuo-QnU ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“It’s never felt easy. There’s never been a single day where it’s felt easy. The winds are always hardwired for various reasons, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a lot of fun.” This week’s 40 Minute Mentor is Morgan Fowles, CEO of popular sustainable activewear and athleisure brand, TALA. If you’ve been listening to 40 Minute Mentor for a while, you would have already come across TALA, when we caught up with Founder, Grace Beverley in Season 5. In this episode, we find out more about Morgan’s career in fashion, including her exec role at Thomas Pink Shirtmaker, COO at SPOKE and how she became CEO of TALA in 2023. Episode chapters: ➡️ Growing up across the pond & Morgan’s love for fashion [04:47] ➡️ A career in fashion [06:37] ➡️ Advice for any successful COO [11:13] ➡️ Breaking into the fashion industry [16:54] ➡️ Joining TALA and progressing to CEO [19:47] ➡️ More about TALA [21:40] ➡️ Founder and CEO relationship [28:00] ➡️ Making £1m in revenue in an hour [31:00] ➡️ Hiring for TALA [37:35] ➡️ The future of sustainability in fashion [40:32] ➡️ Audience question: What would you change about the fashion industry? [43:25] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Morgan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morganfowles/ ➡️ Listen to Grace Beverley’s 40 Minute Mentor episode: https://jbmc.co.uk/podcasts/scaling-a-purpose-driven-business-whilst-creating-balance-with-grace-beverley/ ➡️ Check out TALA: https://www.wearetala.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“They say all the best businesses in the world have nearly died three times. It’s an inevitable journey you go on when you're creating a high growth business.” This week’s 40 Minute Mentor is Radha Vyas, Co-Founder and CEO of adventure travel startup, Flash Pack. Flash Pack is on a mission to create 1 million friendships through connecting solo travellers in their 30s and 40s to go on adventure trips they'll never forget. Since inception, Flash Pack has been on an incredible journey - reaching £20m turnover with a team of 60. However, with Covid hitting the travel industry the hardest, and with countless refunds from their customers, Flash Pack’s revenue quickly dropped down to zero. Fast forward to today, Radha and the Flash Pack team are quickly exceeding pre-Covid goals, have raised £5m for their expansion in the US and now have a team of 70, spread across the globe. In today’s episode, we’ll dive into every part of Radha’s journey to date and the crucial lessons she’s learned from rebuilding Flash Pack. Episode Chapters: ➡️ Radha’s entrepreneurial aspirations from an early age [4:45] ➡️ Starting Flash Pack off the back of a first date [10:08] ➡️ From idea to early-stage startup - the lessons learned [16:15] ➡️ How a selfie in Brazil became an accelerator for Flash Pack [20:43] ➡️ From flying high to an abrupt stop with Covid [27:07] ➡️ Navigating Founder life & being married to your Co-Founder [34:04] ➡️ Rebuilding after Covid - Flash Pack 2.0 [37:21] ➡️ An honest reflection on building a diverse team [39:20] ➡️ Hiring for values fit vs culture fit [42:14] ➡️ Audience question: Where is next on your travel list? [45:33] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Radha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/radha-vyas-flashpack/ ➡️ Book your next trip with Flash Pack: https://www.flashpack.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Sometimes entrepreneurship is about bending the odds of success and being willing to take on the risk even though it doesn’t make much sense. It’s about going ahead anyway and changing the odds yourself.” In our first episode of Series 11 of 40 Minute Mentor, we’re joined by Richard Robinson, Founder and CEO of Robin AI. Robin AI is a leader in legal AI and empowers legal teams and lawyers all over the world to make contract processes effortless. In today’s episode you’ll find out how Richard has built Robin AI from ideation to 100+ employees, 72+ global customers and $32 million raised to date. Episode Chapters: ➡️ From growing up in Birmingham to starting Robin AI [4:51] ➡️ Becoming a debate champion [6:51] ➡️ From lawyer to Founder [9:06] ➡️ Building an AI legal assistant: Robin AI’s origin story [14:20] ➡️ Building one of the most diverse companies in Europe [17:58] ➡️ The changes in the legal sector [21:40] ➡️ The future of AI in 2024 and beyond [25:14] ➡️ Securing $32 million in fundraising [27:40] ➡️ Why you shouldn’t have to convince investors [29:29] ➡️ The impact of picking the right investors [30:52] ➡️ Hiring advice: Why you shouldn’t add that additional interview round [35:06] ➡️ Audience Question: What do you want the law industry to look like in ten years from now? [39:57] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Richard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardgrobinson/ ➡️ Find out more about RobinAI: https://www.robinai.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Sometimes entrepreneurship is about bending the odds of success, and just being willing to take on the risks…” Welcome back to Series 11 of 40 Minute Mentor - your pocket-sized career mentor. We’ve got 13 weeks of non-stop mentorship from some of the best in the industry, coming up for you. Before we kick off the series with our first 40 Minute Mentor next week, we thought we’d share a few soundbites with you of what’s to come… In this series trailer, you’ll hear from: ⭐ Gary Izunwa, Co-Founder & CEO of Tangent ⭐ Morgan Fowles, CEO at TALA ⭐ Natasha Ratanshi-Stein, Founder of Surfboard ⭐ Radha Vyas, Co-Founder of Flash Pack ⭐ Richard Robinson, Founder &CEO of Robin AI And this is only the start of it. For even more pocket-sized mentorship, make sure you 🔔 subscribe and tune in every Wednesday morning for the latest episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“We scaled way too fast…and the result was that we mis-hired quite a lot. It was not a sustainable way to scale.” This week’s 40 Minute Mentor is Peter Specht, General Partner at Creandum, one of the leading early stage VCs that have invested in over 120 companies, of which 20 are unicorns today. Following career chapters at Rocket Internet Group, Google and Bain, Peter joined the firm as Investment Manager in 2017, as one of the firm’s first hires in the DACH region, building out its Berlin hub. Now based in London, Peter primarily focuses on investing into SaaS and B2B marketplaces, with notable investments led for Factorial, CarOnSale, cargo.one, Timberhub, to name a few. With such a wealth of experience across markets, there’s lots for us to discuss in this final VC feature episode… Episode Chapters: ➡️ The deal he is most proud of: A Unicorn story [2:03] ➡️ Explore in the early days, specialise later on [6:06] ➡️ Scaling lessons from Lazada [9:01] ➡️ Moving into VC [10:40] ➡️ Creandum’s origin story [12:17] ➡️ Multi-local presence and adapting to global markets [15:52] ➡️ The growing Tech scene in Spain [18:35] ➡️ A Deep dive into the London ecosystem [21:34] ➡️ Rising through the ranks & becoming General Partner [25:18] ➡️ Advice for Founders perfecting their pitch [30:04] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Peter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pspecht/ ➡️ Find out more about Creandum: https://creandum.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Team sports are a great proxy for working in companies, where often the power of the collective is way stronger than any individual.” This week’s 40 Minute Mentor is Davor Hebel, Managing Partner at Eight Roads Ventures, the global VC firm backed by Fidelity. Eight Roads backs and partners with game-changing tech and healthcare companies across Europe, Asia, Israel and the US. The platform has 50+ years of venture investing experience, $11bn in AUM, over 300 portfolio companies and they’ve had 60+ IPOs. Reflecting on 18+ years in venture capital, Davor shares tonnes of insights in today’s episode, including… Episode Chapters: ➡️ His proudest deal to date [1:51] ➡️ A realistic view on how many companies raise VC funding [3:25] ➡️ Growing up in Croatia with athletes turned educators [6:02] ➡️ Making the move from consulting to VC [10:37] ➡️ The challenges of a multi-faceted role [12:27] ➡️ Expecting things to go wrong in the Startup world [14:13] ➡️ Characteristics of a great Investor [16:19] ➡️ The history of Eight Roads Ventures [21:58] ➡️ Successful portfolio companies & exits [24:06] ➡️ How to really impress a VC [26:10] ➡️ Entrepreneurs at the heart of company culture [29:27] ➡️ Evolution as a leader and investor [31:22] ➡️ Predictions for the Tech ecosystem in 2024 [32:49] ➡️ Young Generation in Tech survey findings [34:34] ➡️ The impact & future of AI [37:24] ➡️ Opportunities in VC [38:40] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Davor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davorhebel/ ➡️ Find out more about Eight Roads Ventures: https://eightroads.com/en/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“If you’re not ready to commit to VC for at least 10 years, it’s just not worth trying…” This week’s 40 Minute Mentor is Masha Bucher, Founder & General Partner at Day One Ventures. The firm backs Founders from AI and Climate, to future of work and Deeptech, helping customer obsessed and mission-driven Founders win, by harnessing the power of storytelling. With a background in communications and PR, Masha is pioneering a new model in VC by spearheading public relations in Day One Ventures portfolio, which is one of the many topics we dive into in today’s episode… Episode Chapters: ➡️ Busting a big VC myth [2:52] ➡️ Growing up with a winning mentality [5:24] ➡️ The outcome of going viral on Twitter, now X [7:37] ➡️ Life as Head of Comms in VC [9:22] ➡️ Scaling her PR Consultancy [11:19] ➡️ Finding and owning her niche [13:13] ➡️ The investment thesis of Day One Ventures [14:29] ➡️ The power of patience and listening to yourself [16:51] ➡️ A deep dive into assessing culture [19:47] ➡️ Tips for early stage Founders [21:11] ➡️ What turns a good pitch into a great one [24:15] ➡️ A culture built on love, freedom and truth [27:35] ➡️ The value of working with Day One Ventures [31:49] ➡️ Making a habit of building your personal brand [38:03] ➡️ Trusting your intuition [41:37] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Masha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mashadrokova/ ➡️ Find out more about Day One Ventures: https://dayoneventures.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“You need to figure out what you really need. Not just the role now, but looking at the future and at the competencies you need in your organisation. Figure out how you build a very complementary team, rather than having people who are all the same.” This week’s 40 Minute Mentor is Sandra Schwarzer, VP C-Suite/Board & EU Talent/Community & Insights Team leader at Index Ventures. Sandra works with Founders and executive teams on people related issues, including talent strategy, culture and DE&I, and advises Index’ portfolio on their most senior hires. Before joining Index, Sandra has had a really varied career, including being a headhunter, leading the Global HR, Security & Facilities functions at Open Society Foundations, George Soros’s $23bn private philanthropy, and led INSEAD’s Career Services. In today’s episode, we unpack the realities of transitioning careers, the complex relationship between recruitment, culture and organisational strategy, and we bust some VC myths along the way. Episode Chapters: ➡️ Why VC is far from transactional [2:01] ➡️ Growing up in East Berlin [3:20] ➡️ Stand out moments from her earlier career [10:56] ➡️ A passion for people [14:25] ➡️ Lessons from being a headhunter [16:19] ➡️ Her perception of VC & why she joined Index [18:54] ➡️ The power of relationship building in VC [20:13] ➡️ How to transition from headhunting to VC [22:54] ➡️ A deep dive into the Index structure [26:01] ➡️ Working with Founders who own their story [29:36] ➡️ Hiring top talent: secrets to success [34:04] ➡️ Getting to know candidates outside of work [39:22] ➡️ Retaining talent in uncertain times [41:19] ➡️ Working with headhunters - the recipe for success [44:54] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Sandra: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwarzer/ ➡️ Find out more about Index Ventures: https://www.indexventures.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“This is not necessarily a one-way transaction. Look at fundraising like it’s dating. The VC you’re going to choose, you’ll be stuck with for quite some time, so don’t play games and be honest, the whole way through…” This week’s 40 Minute Mentor is the brilliant Abhishek Lahoti, Head of Platform at Highland Europe, a growth stage Venture Capital firm based in Geneva and London. Within his role at Highland Europe, Abhishek’s focus is to build a strong network of advisors and experts to help the portfolio scale at pace. In today’s episode, we won’t just take a deep dive into the role of Head of Platform, but also discuss Abhishek’s earlier career at Dropbox, how and why he made the move into VC and his advice for Founders navigating this current market. Episode Chapters: ➡️ The most challenging part of being a VC [1:56] ➡️ Reflections on his years at Dropbox [5:30] ➡️ Moving into VC [8:16] ➡️ Transitioning from Operator to VC [11:17] ➡️ Advice for breaking into the world of VC [12:50] ➡️ A deep dive into the role of Head of Platform [17:45] ➡️ Highland Europe’s investment thesis & portfolio [20:04] ➡️ Treating your investors like dating [21:03] ➡️ Team culture & hiring at Highland Europe [24:21] ➡️ The US vs UK Tech markets [27:07] ➡️ Founder advice for expanding into Europe [31:36] ➡️ The biggest mistakes in fundraising pitches [32:53] ➡️ Waterfall resolutions and the power of networking [34:12] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Abhishek: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alahoti/ ➡️ Find out more about Highland Europe: https://www.highlandeurope.com/ ➡️ Read the European Expansion Playbook: https://sapphireventures.com/blog/a-startups-guide-for-opening-european-operations/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The whole industry is full of very successful people who have had this very standard path. It’s hard to look at your own [different] background and put yourself on an even level with them.” This week’s 40 Minute Mentor is the brilliant Hannah Leach, Partner at Houghton Street Ventures and Co-Founder of VentureESG. Hannah moved into the venture space after a squiggly career in and around the venture and entrepreneurship ecosystems, including building accelerator programs, teams within Scaleups and starting her own company or two… In this episode we explore Hannah’s route into VC, the partnership between Houghton Street Ventures and the London School of Economics, why VC funding isn’t always the best route to scaling a business, and how VentureESG is supporting the ecosystem with meaningful ESG integration. Episode Chapters: ➡️ Redefining the ‘traditional’ path into VC [04:47] ➡️ Her squiggly route into VC [06:52] ➡️ A love for building communities [09:34] ➡️ Biggest lessons from Founder life [12:19] ➡️ The power of vulnerability and authenticity [13:47] ➡️ The challenges of transitioning into VC [17:54] ➡️ Understanding where you are adding value [19:52] ➡️ Advice for pivoting into VC [21:00] ➡️ Life at Houghton Street Ventures [23:10] ➡️ The do’s and don’t of VC pitching [26:50] ➡️ The power of a unique thesis [29:43] ➡️ Raising a first-time fund [30:55] ➡️ The drive behind building VentureESG [33:40] ➡️ Collaboration over competition [36:40] ➡️ The future of ESG [38:04] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Hannah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahleach/ ➡️ Find out more about Houghton Street Ventures: https://houghtonstreet.com/ ➡️ Discover VentureESG: https://www.ventureesg.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I think 2024 is a great opportunity to back fantastic people and get more attention on things that are undervalued or don’t get enough attention to invest in.” Described as the ‘Queen of British VC’ by Fortune magazine, we are kicking off our new VC feature series with the brilliant Eileen Burbidge MBE. Eileen is a Founding Partner at Passion Capital, the pre-eminent early-stage technology venture fund based in London, where she backed some of the most successful Tech businesses, including Monzo Bank, Marshmallow, and many more. She is currently also Director at Fertifa, the UK and Europe’s leading reproductive benefits provider. Outside of Passion and Fertifa, Eileen has also served as the UK Treasurer's Special Envoy for FinTech for 8 years, was Tech Ambassador for the Mayor of London’s office and served on the former UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s Business Advisory Group. Eileen has extensive operational and investment experience, from roles at Tech giants including Yahoo!, Skype and Apple, so there is plenty to dive into in today’s episode. Episode Chapters: ➡️ Her proudest moment of backing Monzo Bank [2:11] ➡️ Busting the biggest myths in VC [4:33] ➡️ Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago & her perception of ‘diversity’ [7:59] ➡️ Falling in love with Tech and working at Apple [11:33] ➡️ Shazam V Skype: A Tech standoff [15:24] ➡️ Being one of the first employees at Skype & reflections on being fired [17:04] ➡️ Leadership lessons from Niklas Zennström [20:31] ➡️ Journey from Operator to VC [24:00] ➡️ Her early stage investment thesis & focusing on people [27:56] ➡️ Indexing on integrity & trust when assessing Founders [30:59] ➡️ Stepping into interim CEO roles [34:46] ➡️ Why she feels like the board let Tom Blomfield down & succession plans [38:04] ➡️ Stepping back into an executive role at Fertifa [42:26] ➡️ Hiring advice for Founders [47:15] ➡️ Taking a hard look at ourselves to improve DE&I [49:21] ➡️ What to look forward to in 2024 [51:59] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Eileen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eileenburbidge/ ➡️ Find out more about Passion Capital: https://www.linkedin.com/company/passion-capital/ ➡️ Explore the work of Fertifa: https://www.fertifa.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Founders often don’t have someone outside of the business that they can be really vulnerable with…that’s where an advisor can help.” For our final episode in our career spotlight feature series, we’re taking a deep dive into an increasingly popular, yet often unspoken about role - the advisory role. To help us cover the ins and outs of the role, how you can land your first gig and the benefits to Founders, we’re joined by JBM Principal, Marina Maxwell and Chris Seigal, Advisor to D2C brands. So, whether you’re already an advisor, you’re starting to think about making the move into advisory work or you’re a Founder thinking about making this hire - this episode will cover some of the most frequent questions we get asked. Episode chapters: ➡️ What is a Startup advisor? [3:42] ➡️ The rise and power of advisory roles [6:02] ➡️ From side-hustle to full-time advisor [8:44] ➡️ The rewards and benefits [9:39] ➡️ What to expect from the day-to-day [11:57] ➡️ How Founders benefit [14:28] ➡️ Positioning yourself when starting out [17:26] ➡️ Being transparent and navigating pricing [18:43] ➡️ Working with headhunters [22:00] ➡️ The value of high-quality advisors [25:24] ➡️ Ready to hire? Advice for Founders [29:44] ➡️ Building a curious culture [31:18] ➡️ Hone the pitch, build momentum, gain confidence [33:28] ➡️ Navigating imposter syndrome [35:24] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ For more career mentorship, follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbm-consulting-ltd/?viewAsMember=true ➡️ Find out more about our team and mission here: https://jbmc.co.uk/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“You need to be able to own what you do have, but even more so, what you don’t have.” Following last week’s episode on building a stand-out CV and personal brand on LinkedIn, we’re now focusing on the next crucial stage in the recruitment process - the interview. Very often, the interview stage can feel quite daunting, but a lot of it comes down to preparation and doing the work upfront. In today’s episode, we’ll hear from our wonderful JBM team who lift the curtain on the secret to nailing the interview stage and share some of the most common mistakes they see people make, when it comes to interviews. So, whether you’re job hunting right now or starting to think about the next step in your career, this episode will help set you on the right path… Episode chapters: ➡️ Different methods to prepare for an interview [1:05] ➡️ Communicating your strengths [2:21] ➡️ Getting your questions answered [4:19] ➡️ Bringing relevant experience to the table [5:48] ➡️ Getting the basics right [06:55] ➡️ A reminder on working with your headhunter [07:25] ➡️ Focusing on the human side in interviews [08:17] ➡️ Key skills for Startups [08:48] ➡️ The power of curiosity: a non-negotiable [10:54] ➡️ How to let the conversation flow [13:21] ➡️ Do you feel drained or energised? [13:59] ➡️ Every failure is a redirection [16:58] ➡️ Common interview mistakes [18:45] ➡️ The biggest faux pas: Yes it happens! [20:23] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ For more career mentorship, follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbm-consulting-ltd/?viewAsMember=true ➡️ Find out more about our team and mission here: https://jbmc.co.uk/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices