Business Leader

Dougal Shaw checks-in to a Yotel for a guided tour of the business with CEO Hubert Viriot. The brand is known for its compact, functional but stylish designs. It was started by British entrepreneur Simon Woodroffe, who also founded the Yo! Sushi food chain. Inspired by high-end, long-haul travel and the minimalism of Japanese hotels, he opened the first Yotel at Gatwick Airport in 2007. The idea was successful and expanded to other international airports. Hubert Viriot joined the business as CEO in 2014 with a mission to supercharge the concept with global expansion, taking it into urban areas. It now has 23 hotels in cities around the world, in places like New York, Miami, Singapore, Geneva and Edinburgh. So what's the secret formula for Yotel and how do you scale a new hotel brand? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bruce Bratley has gone from studying for a PhD to building one of the UK's most successful recycling businesses. He founded the waste management and recycling company First Mile in London in 2004. It now has 200 employees, an annual turnover of £50m and helps more than 30,000 businesses around the UK with recycling solutions. Its clients include large companies like Pret, Caffè Nero, Netflix and Amazon, as well as small businesses ranging from clothes stores to restaurants. First Mile collects more than 65,000 tonnes of waste every year using zero and low-emission vehicles and electric cargo bikes, which it takes to recycling centres. Bratley explains to Dougal Shaw how he built the business from scratch as well as offering some tips on how to recycle more intelligently... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Graham Ruddick meets Joe Lister, the chief executive of Unite Group, to hear the story behind how this business went from a student start-up in Bristol to a FTSE 100 company. Unite's unique culture is at the heart of it all... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here are three business leaders who all have one thing in common - they lead US-based, SaaS companies valued at more than $1 billion. SaaS (software as a service) businesses are the lifeblood of the modern economy. Their products help with everything from sales calls and marketing to employee onboarding and supply chain management. These days all companies are awash with data, but artificial intelligence is making it easier than ever to put that data to use. Dougal Shaw speaks to the three CEOs about how they scaled-up their business. He speaks one-on-one with Katherine Kostereva of Creatio, Chet Kapoor of Datastax and Doug Winter of Seismic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Highland Europe was founded on the basis that promising European businesses, including those in the UK, can take on the US tech giants if they get the right funding. In this episode of the Business Leader Podcast, Fergal Mullen, the co-founder of Highland Europe, explains what he looks for in founders and promising businesses (and what he avoids). And why Europe could take on the US by merging the major stock markets across the continent, including London Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julia Pyke is joint managing director of the Sizewell C nuclear plant and she thinks nuclear power has an image problem. She blames a lot of this on The Simpsons cartoon and in particular, the evil character Mr Burns. However, as Pyke explains to Dougal Shaw, she is trying to challenge that stereotype while building Sizewell C in Suffolk, which is due to switch on in the mid-2030s.The UK hasn't turned on a new nuclear plant for three decades. The climate crisis has made nuclear energy more appealing. However, nuclear disasters like Chernobyl and Fukushima still loom large in the public imagination. Pyke explains how she is building a nuclear workforce that is diverse and reflects modern society, while also making the case for the safety of the nuclear industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thomson Reuters is a modern news and information giant. It is worth more than $85 billion (£64 billion) and is one of the leading sources of news around the world. Paul Julius Reuter started Reuters with an office in 1851. Since then it was the first to tell the world about the sinking of the Titantic, the construction of the Berlin Wall and, in more modern times, that Mark Zuckerberg planned to float Facebook on the stock market. It's also won a string of Pulitzer Prizes. However, today, the bulk of the company's revenues comes from law, tax, accounting and other specialists areasIn this episode of the Business Leader Podcast, Graham Ruddick speaks to chief executive Steve Hasker about the story so far and what may come next, including all the work that Thomson Reuters is doing on artificial intelligence Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dougal Shaw takes a trip to the Comedy Store in central London to meet a legend of improvisational comedy, who has a few tricks he can teach businesses. Neil Mullarkey has been performing with the Comedy Store Players every week for three decades. He has also worked closely with Mike Myers, who starred in the Austin Powers films. These days, as well as performing unscripted comedy, Mullarkey runs staff workshops with businesses and coaches individual CEOs, showing how the tools of his trade can help them. So how does improvisational comedy help you get ahead in business? Mullarkey shares tips on teamwork, presentation skills and getting comfortable with spontaneity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Jones was the director of a FTSE 100 company and highly regarded in the business world. But he was concerned he was missing a big opportunity. So, inspired by Warren Buffett, Jones decided to risk his career and launch his own business. It proved to be a great decision. In this episode of the Business Leader Podcast, Andrew Jones tells Graham Ruddick what happened next - he built a new FTSE 100 company of his own...This episode covers:-The story behind London Metric (market capitalisation of £4bn)-Raising money from investors-The wisdom of Warren Buffett-Modern retail and property trends-Negotiating with top entrepreneurs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jake Humphrey has spent years examining the habits of world-class performers. In this episode of the Business Leader Podcast, Graham Ruddick and Josh Dornbrack sit down with the Business Leader columnist and host of the High Performance podcast to find out how you can apply these principles to build high-performing teams and cultures.From managing confidence to maintaining momentum, he offers practical, powerful insights on what drives long-term success and what most leaders get wrong. We also discuss his new podcast, The Room Where It Happened, which gives insight into the conversations that shaped businesses, offering a rare glimpse into the defining moments of top entrepreneurs and industry leaders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Graham Ruddick travels to Bolton, Lancashire, to hear how John Roberts built AO.com into a leading online electricals retailer with more than £1bn of revenue and 12 million customers. AO is one of few online success stories in the UK and it all started with a £1 bet. Since it was founded in 2000, AO's story has included a high-profile stock market flotation, a U-turn on the chief executive position and, as Roberts explains, a rethink on fun. In this episode of the Business Leader Podcast, learn the story behind how a cutting-edge online retailer was built.John Roberts is a supporter of OnSide, a charity that is building and opening youth centres across the UK. You can find out more via the link below:https://www.onsideyouthzones.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a special series for the Business Leader Podcast, Victoria Price is meeting entrepreneurs from around the UK to hear the personal stories behind their success. In the third episode, Victoria Price speaks to Henrietta Rix, the co-founder of Rixo, about building a new fashion brand.Victoria Price is head of private capital at Alvarez & Marsal, the consultancy firm, and has spent over 20 years in professional services in a collection of senior roles. In previous episodes, Victoria Price spoke to Tom Ryder of Applied Nutrition and Clare Roberts, the co-founder and chief executive of Kids Planet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you ready to take a tour of a uniquely British organisation? The Ordnance Survey was founded in the 18th century to protect Britain from Napoleon's armies. Its job is to map Britain in detail. That task didn't change that much for two centuries. But now it's undergone a digital reboot. Dougal Shaw went to meet the CEO Nick Bolton to find out how modern maps are made, which includes the National Geographic Database, the so-called digital brain of Britain. Bolton also explains what it's like working for an organisation that is owned by the government but given a mandate to operate like a business. And he explains how the Ordnance Survey is leading the way with artificial intelligence and wants to deliver "digital dividends for the country”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a new limited series for the Business Leader Podcast, Victoria Price meets entrepreneurs from around the UK to hear the personal stories behind their success. Victoria Price is head of private capital at Alvarez & Marsal, the consultancy firm, and has spent over 20 years in professional services in a collection of senior roles. In the second episode of the series, Victoria Price speaks to Clare Roberts, the co-founder and chief executive of Kids Planet, which has more than 200 nurseries around the UK. The interview explores how a need for flexible childcare inspired the business, being a female entrepreneur and how Kids Planet secured backers such as BGF Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You haven't heard from anyone like Professor Sir Peter Donnelly before. He is a statistician, professor, a knight of the realm and an entrepreneur. Not only has he given a Ted Talk about statistics that has been viewed more than 1.5 million times, but he is now working on genetics tests that could save lives and change the world by helping people understand how predisposed they are to becoming obese or getting certain illnesses. Donnelly left his career in academia to become the co-founder and chief executive of Genomics, which is developing these genetic tests and is one of the fastest-growing businesses in the UK. But this may only be the start of its story... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Graham Ruddick meets Kiki McDonough to tell the story of how she built a luxury jewellery brand which has been worn by the Princess of Wales, the Queen and Princess Diana. But despite gaining worldwide recognition, Kiki McDonough has decided to only have one shop in London. Find out why in the latest episode of the Business Leader Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a new limited series for the Business Leader Podcast, Victoria Price meets entrepreneurs from around the UK to hear the personal stories behind their success. Victoria Price is head of private capital at Alvarez & Marsal, the consultancy firm, and has spent over 20 years in professional services in a collection of senior roles. In this first episode, she speaks to Tom Ryder, the founder and chief executive of Applied Nutrition, who has gone from a scaffolder in Liverpool to the man behind one of the biggest stock market flotations in the UK over the last year. Applied Nutrition listed on the stock market in 2024 with a valuation of £350m. We hear the story behind him growing up in Liverpool, his love of drama, nutrition tips and the one piece of advice he would give to budding entrepreneurs... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do President Trump's tariffs mean for politics, the global economy, businesses and consumers? And what is going on in the corridors of power in the UK?The Business Leader team – Graham Ruddick, Sarah Vizard, Dougal Shaw and Josh Dornbrack – are joined by the political editor of The Times and Business Leader columnist Steven Swinford to cover what you need to know about the tariffs and the meltdown in financial markets.The eyes of the world have been on the US in the last few months since President Trump's inauguration but nothing has held its attention as much as his announcement on tariffs. As businesses countries across the globe scramble to understand how the tariffs will affect them, China has retaliated and more could follow. What will the UK do? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Jobs. Jeff Bezos. Taylor Swift? A new book makes a compelling case for why the world's biggest pop star belongs in the pantheon of business masterminds.In this episode, Josh Dornbrack talks to Harvard Business Review senior editor Kevin Evers to explore the bold strategic decisions behind Taylor Swift's rise, from redefining fan engagement to mastering reinvention in a disrupted industry. Her $2bn Eras Tour wasn't a fluke, it was the product of long-term thinking, relentless innovation and "anti-fragile" leadership. Tune in for sharp insights that will change how you think about strategy, brand and customer connection. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pip Murray founded Pip & Nut in 2013. Her original peanut butter recipe was based on a power snack she developed at home to help her prepare for long runs as a keen jogger. She wanted a natural recipe that avoided additives and palm oil.Her recipe proved such a hit with friends that she saw the potential to turn it into a business idea, believing there was a gap in the market. Peanut butter is, she discovered, a “permitted indulgence” for consumers. Twelve years later, you will find her jars and other products in most supermarkets.The brand has retail sales of more than £25m and employs more than 30 people. Pip Murray explains to Dougal Shaw how she took her idea from the kitchen table to supermarket shelves, through food markets, rigorous product testing and a few failed product ideas along the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Udemy is the San Francisco-based company changing how we learn new skills. Udemy offers online courses ranging from how to use Microsoft Excel to how to build high-performing teams. Now it plans to use new AI technology to provide personalised coaching and training. In the latest episode of the Business Leader Podcast, Graham Ruddick meets Udemy chief executive Hugo Sarrazin to talk about its plans and the challenges of scaling-up a new tech giant Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does Greggs look for in a shop location? What is the state of UK high streets? With more than 2,600 shops in the UK, Greggs is ideally placed to answer these questions. In a bonus episode that follows-up our main podcast interview with Roisin Currie, Graham Ruddick speaks to the Greggs chief executive about shops and high streets... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is the secret behind the success of Greggs? How has this Newcastle-based bakery chain grown into a business with more than 2,500 shops and celebrity fans all over the world? Graham Ruddick travels to Greggs HQ in Newcastle to speak to chief executive Roisin Currie and find the answers... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tired of cookie-cutter LinkedIn posts and empty personal branding advice? In this episode of the Business Leader Podcast, Josh Dornbrack sits down with Amelia Sordell, an online marketing expert and author of The Personal Branding Playbook, to uncover the truth about building a personal brand that actually works.Forget chasing viral fame – Sordell reveals how authenticity, clear goals and strategic content can transform your reputation into a powerful business tool. Whether you're a CEO, founder or just starting your career, you'll learn how to leverage your personal brand to win clients, attract talent and open doors you never thought possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Allica Bank has been Britain's fastest-growing company over the last few years according to a collection of different reports that track this. This growth has been driven by Richard Davies, the chief executive, who arrived at Allica in 2020 from Revolut to what was effectively a blank sheet of paper - the bank had a licence and funding, but its founder had departed and it made only £5m of loans. Since then Allica has been transformed into a thriving digital bank for small and medium-sized businesses. At the heart of this transformation has been an approach inspired by what Davies has learned from his varied career and a book, The Geek Way, that provides a playbook for modern businesses...In this episode of the Business Leader Podcast, Graham Ruddick speaks to Richard Davies about the story behind Allica, why small and medium-sized businesses need a better bank and the outlook for the UK economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 RuddickFor 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 growthZenobe 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 belowhttps://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 aheadThe 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 ManagementHappy New Year to all our listeners from everyone at Business Leader! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of the Business Leader Podcast, Graham Ruddick, Sarah Vizard and Dougal Shaw get together to discuss what they have learned in 2024 and their top business tips. This includes:-The healthy paranoia that drives successful business leaders-How to really be authentic at work and why it matters-Why you should seek to operate below full capacity to perform at your best and why trying to give 110 per cent effort is a management myth-Why the biggest challenge for a business is not overcoming a crisis but the mundane day-to-day grind of just executing your plan-The importance of not just hiring people smarter than you but listening to themFeaturing Simon Arora of B&M, record-breaking cyclist Mark Beaumont, and restaurant chain Hawksmoor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why has Ikea been such a success in the UK? Why did it open its first shop in Warrington, Cheshire? What is "chuck out your chintz" all about? And what does this unique business look for in staff?In part two of our look at how Ikea became one of the biggest retailers in the world, Graham Ruddick speaks to Peter Jelkeby, the chief executive and chief sustainability officer for Ikea in the UK and Ireland, and a man who started his career with Ikea as a forklift truck driver.Then, Graham speaks to Dougal Shaw about what they have both learned about Ikea and the reasons for its success after studying the business. In case you missed it, in part one of our look at Ikea, Dougal Shaw spoke to Jesper Brodin, the chief executive of Ingka Group, the business that runs Ikea shops around the world... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From humble beginnings in rural Sweden in the 1940s, Ikea has grown into one of the best-known brands in the world. But do you know the story behind it?Over two episodes, Dougal Shaw and Graham Ruddick will look at Ikea from two different perspectives for Business Leader. In this first episode, Dougal speaks to Jesper Brodin, the CEO of Ingka Group, the business behind Ikea's global retail operations. They meet at a new store on Oxford Street in London as it undergoes a renovation. In the next episode, Graham will speak to Peter Jelkeby, the CEO of Ikea in the UK and Ireland, to find out how the UK fits into Ikea's global strategy.Ikea is still best-known for its mammoth, out-of-town warehouses and flatpack designs. There's no other business quite like it in terms of the concept. And its size is staggering. Ikea's retail arm employs more than 162,000 people and it generates more than €40bn a year in revenue. But in the past decade this vast company has reinvented itself. Realising it was slow to adapt to the rise of digital shopping, Ikea has been focusing on a new omni-channel strategy, spearheaded by new, smaller, inner-city stores. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fraser Smeaton co-founded MorphCostumes with his brother and a friend in 2009 in Edinburgh. It began as a side-hustle specialising in a particular kind of striking, head-to-toe party costume made of Spandex, the "Morphsuit". An immediate success, the co-founders quit their jobs and the company turned over £1m in its first year. However, by 2014 it was clear the company was becoming a victim of its own success. The product was no longer novel and the business was in real danger of going under. In this episode of the Business Leader Podcast, Fraser Smeaton explains to Dougal Shaw how they were able to reinvent themselves to find success all over again, in a new guise - with lessons for others. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to run a sport? What does the job involve? And how do you end up in a job like that? Simon Brownell is the chief executive of the World Snooker Tour. He is in charge of running the top snooker events and trying to expand the sport's audience around the world. Snooker is a quirky sport in many ways, but its growth in China is extraordinary and many businesses would love to be able to match it. In the latest episode of the Business Leader Podcast we look into Simon Brownell's unusual job, the success in China, how to balance tradition and innovation, and why his biggest challenge is finding table-fitters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kimberly-Clark was founded in 1872 in Wisconsin in North America. It initially operated paper mills and today owns Andrex, Kleenex, Huggies nappies and other well-known consumer brands. More than 150 years after it was founded, the company is still thriving and relevant to consumers. Kimberly-Clark was one of the companies that featured in Jim Collins' definitive business book Good to Great, which looked at why an exclusive collection of companies have been able to deliver extraordinary results over not just the short-term but a sustained period of time. We take a look into the culture of Kimberly-Clark and how it has sustained success. We speak to Dan Howell, the managing director of Kimberly-Clark in the UK and Ireland. The episode covers:-Why health is foundational to success and high performance-How to adapt to changing consumer tastes-The latest thinking on marketing for Andrex and Kleenex Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.