Business Leader

The UK economy is stagnating, productivity is falling and fewer than one in 20 promising businesses goes on to become a large company. So how do we fix this? It is a question that politicians, economists, and investors are struggling to answer. But there are solutions. The Business Leader team - Graham Ruddick, Sarah Vizard, Dougal Shaw and Josh Dornbrack - get together to discuss the state of play and the way forward. In the process they preview the new edition of Business Leader magazine and the Business Leader Summit... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Abrahamovitch founded the Grind coffee brand in 2011 in Shoreditch, east London. Its pink branding made the company stand out in our coffee-obsessed world and it has built a cult following. Grind now has more than 14 physical locations serving coffee and food, as well as a huge roastery where it prepares its coffee. It has also expanded into a direct-to-consumer offer (which sends its compostable coffee pods to homes) and is in supermarkets. Dougal Shaw went to meet David Abrahamovitch at Grind's headquarters in Shoreditch, a stone’s throw away from the original café where it all began, to find out how he built his coffee empire and its loyal customers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LinkedIn is the leading social network for businesses around the world. Now it wants a stake in real-life interactions too. Dougal Shaw has been given exclusive access to its new Experience Centre, which has just opened in central London, where he meets Janine Chamberlin, head of LinkedIn in the UK. The space is designed to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing in the new world of hybrid work. Chamberlin explains her personal remit in the UK, the way LinkedIn has evolved from primarily a recruitment platform into a place for sharing original content, especially in video, the impact of AI – and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Timo Boldt is the founder and CEO of Gousto, the company that sends out recipes in a box for people to cook at home. The business started in 2012 and now has annual revenues of more than £300m. In this episode of the Business Leader podcast, Boldt offers Dougal Shaw a tour of the company’s kitchens in west London where chefs experiment with new recipes. Boldt explains how AI tech has been deeply embedded within Gousto since the outset. He also explains how coaching and mentorship has transformed him as a leader. He is a certified coach, which has helped him spot his own biases and “flex his style”, he admits. And to this day he still sends out up to 100 cold emails and letters a year asking people to mentor him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nicola Hodson is the chairman of IBM in the UK and Ireland and one of the most senior women in tech. IBM has a long legacy in pioneering technology. It’s working closely right now with British businesses to implement artificial intelligence, while also working at the cutting edge of Quantum computing. In this episode of the Business Leader Podcast, Nicola Hodson and Dougal Shaw discuss what could happen next, including how the Wimbledon tennis tournament and a football club looking to improve its talent scouting operation are already using the new technology... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The turnaround of Sainsbury's under Justin King is one of the most famous in UK corporate history. This episode of the Business Leader Podcast is the story of how it happened. When King arrived as chief executive of Sainsbury's in 2004 the supermarket chain was in crisis. It had gone from the biggest food retailer in the UK to the third biggest behind Tesco and Asda, and sales were still falling. By the time King stood down in 2014, Sainsbury's sales had grown by more than 50 per cent, profits had tripled and the brand had been revitalised. More than a decade on, King now looks back on the story with more candour and insight than ever before, including the story behind his rivalry with Tesco and chief executive Sir Terry Leahy. With Graham Ruddick For more Business Leader case studies and masterclasses check-out www.businessleader.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever feel like you're stuck in a loop, doing the same things but hoping for different results? In this episode of the Business Leader Podcast, Josh Dornbrack sits down with Duncan Wardle, former head of innovation and creativity at Disney, to explore how breaking the mould can transform a business. From his humble beginnings as a Disney coffee boy to orchestrating some of the company’s most iconic creative campaigns, Wardle shares his toolkit for fostering innovation. Learn how exercises like “yes and” and “what if” can unlock your team’s creativity, build collaboration, and propel your business into a new dimension. Whether you’re leading a team or looking to spark change, this is a masterclass in creativity and a guide to thinking differently. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Serial entrepreneur Marcia Kilgore has scored several hits in beauty and wellness since the 1990s, including Bliss Spas (sold to LVMH), FitFlop sandals and the Soap & Glory bath range (sold to Boots). Since 2016 she’s been working on Beauty Pie, a membership club that lets people buy cosmetics online, bypassing traditional retailers. This is her most disruptive concept to date. Beauty Pie currently has 200 employees in the US and UK and annual revenues of $100m. In this episode of the Business Leader Podcast, Kilgore shares the secrets to her success, including how to develop original consumer products and hire the right people... With Dougal Shaw Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the biggest debate in the modern business world: working from home versus working in the office. But do you know all the sides to the argument and the latest developments? In this special episode of the Business Leader Podcast, Graham Ruddick, Sarah Vizard, Dougal Shaw and Josh Dornbrack get together to discuss the history of the debate, who is on both sides of the battle, and what the research actually shows. Then they take a vote - based on what they have learned, which side is winning? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melanie Smith is the chief executive of the NEC Group, the owner of the NEC in Birmingham, the largest event venue in the UK. Before that she ran Ocado's retail business with Marks & Spencer and started her career with McKinsey. Originally from New Zealand from a family with little business background, Smith has fought her way to the top of the business world. In this episode we cover the "extraordinary" Blackstone conference where Smith gets to meet and learn from other chief executives, why she has the best job in Britain, why private equity ownership is better than being listed on the stock market, the opportunities that HS2 will bring to the economy, the challenges of M&S/Ocado and why she walks hundreds of miles on her own in some of the remotest parts of the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jordan Schwarzenberger is just 27 years old but one of the most sought-after creative thinkers in the business world. He dropped out of university to join Vice and LADbible, before setting up his own social media talent agency. He was then talent-spotted himself to join the large agency YMU. He was a C-suite executive at age 20. Schwarzenberger went on to co-found Arcade Media and manage the Sidemen. The Sidemen are a YouTube collective that is the biggest in the UK with more than 130 million followers. It includes KSI, the man behind Prime drinks. As well as making entertainment shows, the Sidemen have branched into areas like food products (Sides) and a vodka brand, all under Schwarzenberger’s guidance. In this episode of the Business Leader podcast, Jordan Schwarzenberger joins Dougal Shaw to share his advice on how to connect with Gen-Z and stand out on social as a business leader. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You may not have heard of Zenobe, but it is working on technology that could change the world. Zenobe is a British unicorn - a company valued at $1 billion or more - that is developing technology that will benefit our children and our grandchildren's generations, according to co-founder James Basden. Donald Trump, the US president, may have caused uncertainty for fast-growing technology businesses, but he won't stop the energy revolution. In this episode of the Business Leader Podcast, James Basden joins Graham Ruddick to talk us through the story behind one of the UK's fastest-growing companies and one that could be key to driving long-term economic growth Zenobe is on Business Leader's list of Great British Billion-Pound Businesses. To see the full list, brought to you in association with Deutsche Bank Wealth Management, click on the link below https://www.businessleader.co.uk/great-british-billion-pound-businesses/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who is the leader behind the turnaround of Marks & Spencer? And what does he think are the challenges still ahead? In part two of our interview with Stuart Machin, the chief executive of Marks & Spencer, he discusses his leadership style and why he has concerns about the UK economy and government in 2025. Marks & Spencer is probably the best-known business in Britain. But when Stuart Machin joined in 2018 it had been struggling for years. Since then he has led an extraordinary turnaround of the high street retailer. This is the story of how he did it, in his own words. In part one of this interview, Stuart Machin discussed his strategy and approach for M&S. You can find that via the link below: https://www.businessleader.co.uk/podcasts/business-leader-podcast/stuart-machin-turn-around-marks-spencer-part-one/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marks & Spencer is probably the best-known business in Britain. But when Stuart Machin joined in 2018 it had been struggling for years. Since then he has led an extraordinary turnaround of the high street retailer. This is the story of how he did it, in his own words. Stuart Machin, the chief executive of M&S, talks to the Business Leader Podcast about how M&S is changing its shops, products, and, crucially, the culture within the business. One thing stands out – how much he obsesses over the detail (no-one buys more men's clothes from M&S than him). That is not easy given M&S has more than 60,000 employees, nearly 1,500 shops, annual revenues of £13bn and pre-tax profits of £673m in its last financial year. In part one of this two-part special, Stuart Machin discusses his strategy and approach for M&S. In part two, we will look at his career in retail, why he has such passion for the sector and what he thinks are the challenges ahead... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What can a comedy legend teach you about business? Plenty. In this episode, John Cleese reveals how creativity isn’t just for the arts — it’s a vital skill for problem-solving, strategy and innovation in business. Drawing from a fascination with creativity that spans five decades, Cleese shares how “play” and the “tortoise mind” can unlock ground-breaking ideas, why interruptions kill creativity, and how trust in leadership fosters innovation. Packed with practical tips and humour, this conversation will inspire you to think differently and tackle your biggest challenges with fresh ideas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Best-selling author, behavioural scientist and hypnotist Paul McKenna explains the powerful role that manifestation can play in business success and debunks some myths. From Sir Richard Branson's game-changing Virgin Atlantic vision to practical exercises that rewire your brain for achievement, McKenna shows how "manifesting" is simply strategic planning in disguise. In this episode, you will learn how to harness this science-backed approach to overcome challenges, fuel innovation and achieve your biggest goals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Docusign made its name in the early 2000s by pioneering the idea of e-signatures in digital contracts. Since then it has grown into a multi-billion dollar tech company. The technology came into its own during the Covid-19 pandemic, helping businesses to keep running when everyone worked remotely. However, that dramatic spike in demand ultimately unsettled the company. Thygesen joined from Google in late 2022 to steady the ship. He’s finding growth by revolutionising the world of digital contracts once more, but this time harnessing the power of artificial intelligence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What are the news stories, issues and trends that will matter to businesses in 2025? In this special episode, the Business Leader team - Graham Ruddick, Sarah Vizard, Dougal Shaw and Josh Dornbrack - get together to share what they have been hearing from business leaders, what they are looking forward to in 2025 and what they want businesses to stop doing in the year ahead The episode includes: -What the turmoil in financial markets means for UK businesses and why it matters -Why 2025 could be a tipping point for Elon Musk and Tesla, as well as the back-to-office debate -What next for AI in 2025 -Plus, why Sir Andy Murray, Andy Farrell and Arsenal are on our minds... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is being in the details, micro-managing and following your instincts the key to building a business? Has an obsession with professional managers blinded us to what really matters in founding and scaling a business? Welcome to the debate about founder mode v manager mode, which was started by Brian Chesky, the co-founder of Airbnb, and Paul Graham, the co-founder of Y Combinator. Will Shu, the chief executive and co-founder of Deliveroo, is an ideal person to ask about this. He founded Deliveroo, the online delivery service, in 2013 alongside Greg Orlowski. 12 years later he is still the chief executive. But Deliveroo is now a very different business. It is worth more than £2bn, listed on the London Stock Exchange and has had highs and lows. How does he think a founder should run a business? In this episode of the Business Leader Podcast, Will Shu looks back on building Deliveroo, how his role has changed, how he strives to keep a start-up culture at the heart of the company, and his own views on the founder mode v manager mode debate. Shu also says what he wishes he had done differently in building Deliveroo - and the answer may surprise you…. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What will the business world look like in 2025? What do big investors think about the UK and UK businesses? Are they optimistic or pessimistic about 2025 given the fall-out from the UK Budget and the election of Donald Trump in the US? Business Leader's editor-in-chief Graham Ruddick gathers three of the biggest investors in UK businesses to discuss these key questions for 2025. The investors are: -Jeremy Taylor, the chief executive of Lazard Asset Management -Gervais Williams, the head of equities at Premier Miton -Kiran Nandra, the head of equities at Jupiter Asset Management Happy New Year to all our listeners from everyone at Business Leader! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.