The Success and Ideas Podcast

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

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

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

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

In this episode, Richard talks to a woman who is shaking up the often staid legal world in the City of London. Karen Holden is the founder of 'A City Law Firm' – an award-winning practice that offers legal excellence to its clients, alongside a rare environment for staff that includes forty days a year holiday, and a compassionate working culture. The firm stands in contrast to the often highly demanding and all-consuming culture found at some other City law firms. Karen founded her firm as a place where a working mother - such as she is - could succeed and flourish both personally and professionally. She also carved out a niche for her firm in dealing with issues relating to the LGBTQ+ community, surrogacy, and other similar social issues. In the pocast, Karen talks about the challenges that have shaped the way she approaches her work, and the satisfaction she has gained from her achievements.

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

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

The Success and Ideas podcast, presenter Richard Miron meets some inspiring people who’ve taken risks, overcome obstacles and defined their own paths to personal and professional success. Guests include Levi Roots, who won investment and national fame with his ‘Reggae Reggae’ sauce, a multi-gold medal winning paralympic athlete, and a woman who passed an A-Level at eleven years old and now helps young women get the educational skills they need to succeed. To hear these and other fascinating individuals subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Yvonne Bajela is a strategic investor, who has worked at giants like Goldman Sachs and Mitsui & Co. where she led over $200 million in investments in companies including TransferWise. At only 29 years old, she then became a founding member of Impact X Capital Partners LLP, a venture capital firm focused on investing in underrepresented entrepreneurs across Europe. Yvonne talks about resilience in business, the strength in stepping out of the mainstream, and the urgent need to diversify leadership and boards. You can find Yvonne on Twitter and learn more about her work on Impact X Capital's website. This is an Earshot Strategies production. Get in touch if you're looking to make a podcast!

Wayne Preece is an incredibly driven person. He is the CEO of Hydro Industries, a company that develops technologies to purify and treat water. Their tools have been used around the world, from the US to Sudan. He tells Richard about his drive to deliver clean water to some of the most challenging environments in the world, the toll it can take, and his large ambitious for his business. You can find the video Wayne mentions and more about his company Hydro Industries on their website. This is an Earshot Strategies production. Get in touch if you're looking to make a podcast!

Nimisha Brahmbhatt is only 34 years old, but is already a powerhouse in the world of entrepreneurship. She is the founder of Quantum Global Consultants, a leading consulting firm that works with FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 energy companies on guiding them towards sustainable goals. She tells Richard about where she got her fearlessness from, how to create tangible change in business and why we need to foster success in young people. You can find Nimisha and her work on her website, and learn more about her company Quantum Global Consultants here. This is an Earshot Strategies production. Get in touch if you're looking to make a podcast!

Jon Medved is the CEO of OurCrowd, an Israeli-based investment platform and the most active venture investor in the country. They have invested in about 240 startups and venture funds around the globe. He tells Richard about how he went from protesting the Vietnam war in the Bay area to becoming a tech mogul in the Middle East, how he built his success in Israel's startup culture and how he identifies talent. You can find Jon on Twitter and learn more about his company OurCrowd here. This is an Earshot Strategies production. Get in touch if you're looking to make a podcast!

The Financial Times described Rita Clifton CBE as the 'brand guru'. In her illustrious career, she has worked at multiple high profile branding companies, including Saatchi & Saatchi, Interbrand and BrandCap; and sits on the board of several businesses like John Lewis Partnership and Nationwide Building Society. She talks to Richard about how her childhood shaped her in life and business, what makes leaders like Jacinda Ardern so successful, and the power of role models. You can find out more about Rita Clifton on her website and get her book Love Your Imposter: Be Your Best Self, Flaws and All in a library near you. Things mentioned in the episode: Jacinda Ardernsource This is an Earshot Strategies production. Get in touch if you're looking to make a podcast!

Graham Goodkind is a rare bird - he is a creative who loves to sell. So of course, he built a very successful career in public relations. He is notably the founder of Frank, one of the best agencies in the industry. He tells Richard about some of his most successful campaigns, the importance of teamwork, and applying sport psychology in business. You can find Graham on Twitter and learn more about his company Frank here. This is an Earshot Strategies production. Get in touch if you're looking to make a podcast!

Stevie Spring CBE has had a long and prosperous career working in advertising and media, but also as a trustee for numerous organisations. She is now chair of The British Council and the mental health charity MIND. Stevie talks to Richard about being a board member at 7 years old, seeing her femininity as a suit of armor in the business world where glass walls persist, and how she measures personal vs professional success. You can find Stevie Spring on Twitter. This is an Earshot Strategies production. Get in touch if you're looking to make a podcast!

Are Traasdahl is no stranger to success. He has founded and built up multiple companies, including Tapad, a marketing tech company, which he sold for $360M in 2016. He tells Richard about how he got from a small town in Norway to New York, how he nurtures business ideas, and his now focus on getting rid of food waste in the world through technological innovation. You can find Are Trasdaahl on Twitter and learn more about his company Crisp here. Are mentions "costumer concentration" in the episode. It means: If a significant percentage of a company’s overall revenue relies on a single customer, or a small group of customers, that business may be considered to have a high level of customer concentration. (source) This is an Earshot Strategies production. Get in touch if you're looking to make a podcast!

In this episode, Richard speaks to Guto Harri, who served as Boris Johnson's Director of Communications from February 2022 until Liz Truss became Prime Minister in September 2022. This interview was recorded a year before he took the position at Number 10 Downing Street, and reflects upon Guto Harri's experience as a BBC Political Affairs Correspondent, spokesman for Boris Johnson when he was mayor of London, and his later work for a number of large companies - including News International. This is an Earshot Strategies production. Get in touch if you're looking to make a podcast!

In the Success and Ideas podcast, presenter Richard Miron asks how you define and achieve success by talking to people who have made significant accomplishments in their professional and personal lives. Is it about good ideas, great leadership, luck – a combination of all – or something altogether different? Every episode features a different individual such as Guto Harri who was a senior BBC Political Affairs Correspondent and went on to work for Boris Johnson as his head of Communications. Other episodes feature a variety of different individuals including a hi-tech mogul who is using his experience and acumen to combat global food waste, a financier who has successfully built one of the Middle East’s most successful hi-tech investment models based on crowd-funding, and a woman who learnt both business skills and public service as a child at the kitchen table, that went on to equip her as a leading CEO in the UK. The Success and Ideas Podcast is an Earshot Strategies production