Change Makers: Leadership, Good Business, Ideas and Innovation

Resilience is the new currency of leadership. In a world where misinformation spreads faster than facts, brands, leaders, and governments are being tested like never before. In this episode of Change Makers, we speak to Ben LaBolt, former White House Communications Director and now President at BPI. With experience spanning the West Wing, City Hall, and global boardrooms, Ben shares insights into how organisations can navigate today's fractured media landscape. At the heart of our conversation is BPI's Resilience Index - groundbreaking research revealing what separates the brands that survive and thrive from those left vulnerable to misinformation and public mistrust. Drawing on lessons from politics and the private sector, Ben offers a blueprint for how leaders can strengthen their communications and build lasting reputational resilience.

As the world marks another International Women's Day, we're still asking the same question: why aren't there more women in politics? In 2024, nearly half the world's population held elections, yet we saw the slowest rate of growth in female representation in two decades. What's holding us back? In this episode of Change Makers, Edie Lush speaks to two powerhouse politicians from opposite sides of the Atlantic: U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan, a Democrat and the first woman to represent Pennsylvania's 6th District in Congress, and Baroness Sandip Verma, a Conservative peer in the UK House of Lords and former chair of the UN Women's national committee for UK.  From breaking barriers in male-dominated spaces to tackling issues like gender bias, childcare, and online harassment, these two leaders share their insights on what it takes for women to rise in politics - and how we can create more opportunities for the next generation. It's a conversation about leadership, resilience, and why progress for women is progress for everyone.

What does it take to deliver fair and meaningful growth? Joining Michael today on Change Makers is Kate Willard OBE – government-appointed envoy for the Thames Estuary and a champion of fair growth. Kate's career has been anything but conventional. From starting out  as an actress and director to working in post-Soviet Eastern Europe, her journey is one of bold decisions and a deep commitment to making a difference. Now, as Chair of the Thames Estuary Growth Board, Kate is on a mission to unlock the potential of one of the UK's most vital economic regions – driving innovation, attracting investment, and ensuring that growth is both sustainable and fair, ultimately creating 1.3 million jobs, one million homes, and £190 billion in economic value. In this episode, she and Michael discuss why fair growth matters, what it takes to make it a reality, and how her diverse career has shaped her leadership today. Content warning: This podcast episode contains strong language which may not be suitable for all audiences

What if history had taken a different path? In the latest episode of Change Makers, Michael Hayman speaks with Jeff Nussbaum - communications expert, author, and Partner at Bully Pulpit International. Jeff has worked at the highest levels of politics, serving as Senior Speechwriter and Special Assistant to President Joe Biden, and advising leaders like Vice President Al Gore and Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle. They sat down at Benjamin Franklin House in London - the world's only surviving home of the Founding Father - to discuss Jeff's latest book, Undelivered: The Never-Heard Speeches That Would Have Rewritten History.  Join them as they explore Jeff's insider perspectives on the White House, uncover lessons from history's untold speeches, and discover how the right words at the right time can change the world.

We're delighted to introduce a brand new series of Change Makers: Science Shaping the Future, where we'll be exploring how today's leading scientists are transforming the world around us – from our daily lives to our careers, and tackling the planet's biggest challenges. Our first guest is Dr. Angela Naef, Chief Research and Development Officer at Reckitt, the global leader in hygiene, health, and nutrition whose products touch the lives of billions of people every day. With an exceptional career in biotech and health sciences, Angela is at the forefront of Reckitt's mission to drive innovation that not only addresses today's health challenges, but shapes the future of healthier lives worldwide. In this episode, Angela shares her journey in science and the power of curiosity and creativity in innovation. She discusses the role of AI in boosting productivity, the value of diversity of thought, and her mission to empower young women to pursue STEM careers. We'd like to extend a special thanks to Condé Nast for hosting this interview.

In this episode of Change Makers, Michael Hayman sits down with Bradley Akubuiro, Partner at Bully Pulpit International (BPI), to discuss an exciting new chapter as Seven Hills joins the BPI family. This transatlantic partnership is set to create a powerful force for change, with Bradley stepping into the role of co-host for future episodes, bringing fresh insights from both sides of the Atlantic. Bradley reflects on lessons from his early days working with civil rights icon Reverend Jesse Jackson and shares insights into BPI's roots in the 2008 Obama Presidential campaign. With a mission to make meaningful change possible – from addressing diversity and equity challenges to navigating the political forces shaping corporate responsibility, this conversation explores how business leaders can inspire trust, drive progress, and make an impact across borders.

How do we support refugees to thrive in their second home? That's the question we're answering in a special edition of Change Makers, hosted by the fantastic journalist and broadcaster Edie Lush. For the first in a new series of the podcast exploring some of the most pressing issues of our time, Edie speaks with three campaigning voices for refugees about why it matters to ensure that we support refugees with human-centred policy and ensure that they can play an important role in the UK's social and economic story. Amos Schonfield is the founder and CEO of Our Second Home – a charity that Seven Hills has been supporting for the past 18 months. It is a youth movement aimed at empowering refugees and asylum seekers to flourish here in the UK and build the next generation of leaders. Amos shares the family history that makes this cause personal to him and what he believes we can all do to help reshape the narrative around refugees. Taban Shoresh OBE is founder of The Lotus Flower and a refugee who escaped the Kurdish genocide as a child. Today, she supports survivors of conflict and displacement through projects focused on education skills training, peacebuilding initiatives for women and income-generating projects. A former Change Makers guest, she returns to share her story of coming to the UK and why she believes it's more important than ever for us to be welcoming to refugees.  Lord Alf Dubs is a Peer in the House of Lords and a long-time refugee campaigner, who came to the UK on the Kindertransport from Czechoslovakia, following the Nazi invasion of his birth country in 1938. Having first appeared on Change Makers in 2021, he joins us again to reflect on how Britain has changed in terms of its attitudes over the past 75 years and why he continues to make the case for refugees even at the age of 91. We hope you enjoy this episode and something different to our usual offering. We'll be exploring further vital issues alongside Edie in the new year, so look out for much more. Seven Hills has been fundraising for Our Second Home since 2023, raising more than £2000. Help us to reach our target to support the next cohort of refugee leaders by donating here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/sevenhills-oursecondhome

In the the final episode of Goldman Sachs Stories of Generation Growth, Michael Hayman and Charlotte Keenan reflect on what we've learned throughout our the series with seven incredible Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses alumni. From the importance of personal stories and purpose-driven leadership to the shared challenges in accessing talent and finance, each interview revealed critical lessons that highlight both the strength and the needs of the small business landscape in the UK. Generation Growth: The Small Business Manifesto was designed by the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK programme to amplify the voice of small businesses and give them a platform to share their insights on the challenges they face. The opinions and views expressed in the report and on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the institutional views of , or constitute a recommendation from, Goldman Sachs or its affiliates.

In the final alumni episode of Change Makers: Stories of Generation Growth, in partnership with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Byron Dixon OBE, CEO of Micro-Fresh®, discusses what it takes to build a global brand with purpose. Micro-Fresh® is known for its unique antibacterial technology which extends product lifespans, preserves freshness and promotes sustainability across 50+ major footwear, home textiles, hospitality and healthcare brands. Generation Growth: The Small Business Manifesto was designed by the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK programme to amplify the voice of small businesses and give them a platform to share their insights on the challenges they face. The opinions and views expressed in the report and on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the institutional views of , or constitute a recommendation from, Goldman Sachs or its affiliates.

We're joined this week by Alice Rivers-Cripps, the founder of Posh Totty Designs, which has been serving Brighton, Britain and many more places besides with original hand-crafted jewellery for 20 years. Alice joins Michael Hayman and Charlotte Keenan to share her journey, which started on a soul-searching trip in Mexico and today, sees her run "a destination company for personalised gifts" where she employs an almost all female team of 50. She outlines the ups and downs of that journey, how she has remained committed to the values her business was founded upon and the challenges she has faced in securing the talent she needs to grow Posh Totty Designs to become the largest jewellery workshop in the south of England. Generation Growth: The Small Business Manifesto was designed by the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK programme to amplify the voice of small businesses and give them a platform to share their insights on the challenges they face. The opinions and views expressed in the report and on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the institutional views of , or constitute a recommendation from, Goldman Sachs or its affiliates.

This week, Michael is joined once again by Charlotte Keenan, Managing Director, Head of Corporate Engagement International at Goldman Sachs, as well as CEO of Forster Communications, Amanda Powell-Smith. Forster is a specialist consultancy, supporting organisations in ensuring they approach sustainability with authenticity. They discuss why this is a challenge for so many leaders, particularly in the small business space, and why a sustainable mission is important for business growth.  Generation Growth: The Small Business Manifesto was designed by the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK programme to amplify the voice of small businesses and give them a platform to share their insights on the challenges they face. The opinions and views expressed in the report and on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the institutional views of , or constitute a recommendation from, Goldman Sachs or its affiliates.

In this episode of Change Makers, Michael Hayman sits down with sporting legend and disability rights advocate, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, at the iconic London Stadium on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - home of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. During their conversation, Tanni reflects on her extraordinary career as one of Britain's most celebrated Paralympians, with 11 gold medals and 30 world records to her name. She shares the personal stories behind her successes, revealing the grit, determination, and resilience it took to reach the pinnacle of elite sport. Beyond the track, Tanni discusses her lifelong advocacy for disability rights and the importance of continuing to fight for equality and justice.

“You've got to keep changing and evolving." Today's Change Makers is a lesson in adapting to change as you grow your business, as we're joined by Naynesh Karia for the latest episode of our collaboration with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Stories of Generation Growth. Naynesh is co-founder of Food Attraction, the manufacturer behind brands including on-the-go hot snacks Jake & Nayns. A Leicester-based family business that has constantly found itself evolving and finding opportunities in new markets, Naynesh speaks with Michael Hayman and Charlotte Keenan about his journey, knowing when to disagree with your family, and how you ensure those family values are the foundation of your company's culture. Generation Growth: The Small Business Manifesto was designed by the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK programme to amplify the voice of small businesses and give them a platform to share their insights on the challenges they face. The opinions and views expressed in the report and on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the institutional views of , or constitute a recommendation from, Goldman Sachs or its affiliates.

A passion for her product and bringing it to as many women as possible is what drives the latest guest in our Change Makers collaboration with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses programme, Stories of Generation Growth. Darcy Laceby is co-founder of Absolute Collagen, the UK's best-selling collagen drink, and a business with an incredible growth story. Hear all about it from Darcy, alongside Michael Hayman and Charlotte Keenan, as they explore what gave her the passion to go from university student to startup founder and recognition as one of the UK's brightest young entrepreneurs. Generation Growth: The Small Business Manifesto was designed by the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK programme to amplify the voice of small businesses and give them a platform to share their insights on the challenges they face. The opinions and views expressed in the report and on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the institutional views of , or constitute a recommendation from, Goldman Sachs or its affiliates.

In this week's Stories of Generation Growth, Michael Hayman is joined by Goldman Sachs' Charlotte Keenan, alongside Gori Yahaya, founder of UpSkill Universe – a training provider dedicated to helping businesses bring key skills to their workforce.  In this discussion, Gori shares how he works to support organisations to adapt to the changing nature of skills requirements, connecting businesses with talent who can help to supercharge their growth and maximise their use of emerging technologies like AI.  Generation Growth: The Small Business Manifesto was designed by the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK programme to amplify the voice of small businesses and give them a platform to share their insights on the challenges they face. The opinions and views expressed in the report and on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the institutional views of , or constitute a recommendation from, Goldman Sachs or its affiliates.

For the first episode of Stories of Generation Growth, Michael Hayman is joined by Head of the Office of Corporate Engagement International and 10,000 Small Businesses UK at Goldman Sachs, Charlotte Keenan, alongside Roni Savage, Founder and Managing Director of award-winning engineering and environmental consultancy, Jomas Associates.  Together, they explore Roni's business journey over the past 15 years, establishing and growing one of the UK's leading environmental and engineering consultancies. What has enabled her growth? Where has she faced challenges? What can other business leaders learn from her resilience? Generation Growth: The Small Business Manifesto was designed by the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK programme to amplify the voice of small businesses and give them a platform to share their insights on the challenges they face. The opinions and views expressed in the report and on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the institutional views of , or constitute a recommendation from, Goldman Sachs or its affiliates.

In this episode of Journeys of Discovery, Michael Hayman sits down with Petroc Trelawny, classical music broadcaster, and the voice behind BBC Radio 3's Breakfast programme.  Petroc reflects on the influence of music and music performance, classical and otherwise, on identity and emotions, and discusses his new book, Trelawny's Cornwall, a part history, part memoir, which explores the past, present and future of the region.

“Rather than marching into global warming and unemployment, we can create our world the way we want.” That's the message of our guest Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, who says: “If we imagine that world, we can create that world. Imagination can make it happen.” As a pioneer of microfinancing with Grameen Bank, the Nobel Peace Prize winner has alleviated poverty for tens of millions of people and given them an economic lifeline, with small loans that look to bring out the entrepreneur in everyone. His ethos is driven by a view of human nature that is innately good, and a world view that critiques our economic structures as having suppressed people's natural selflessness and creativity. This interview is a story of how when a big idea takes hold, the impossible really does become possible.

Joining Michael on Change Makers is Shevaun Haviland, Director-General of the British Chambers of Commerce, with a clarion call for renewed confidence in ‘Brand Britain'.  On the roof of the Corinthia hotel in the heart of the capital, Shevaun shares her vision for revitalising the country's self-image, and the importance of public-private partnerships in driving economic growth.  Shevaun spoke to Michael about her extensive experience across the public and private sectors, and how she has always maintained the belief that  the UK remains the best place in the world for starting and growing a business. And in the week of a General Election, Shevaun remains optimistic about Britain's potential, no matter the result. She emphasises the importance of playing as a team, attracting inward investment, and showcasing the best of what Britain has to offer.

Joining Michael on Change Makers is Rick de Blaby, the CEO of Get Living. Get Living are the build-to-rent pioneers, with a mission to change renting for the better. With almost 4,000 homes across three neighbourhoods in London and Manchester and four more on the horizon in the next two years, this is a 10-year story about where we belong and community at the heart of happy living. One of those neighbourhoods is East Village London – the site of the Olympic Village in 2012 – and where Michael joins Rick for this conversation.

Change Makers returns and we're joined by former Deputy Prime Minister and co-founder of Haymarket, Lord Heseltine. Michael paid a visit to the spectacular Thenford Arboretum and Gardens for this inspiring conversation with a beast of the political jungle. Lord Heseltine remains as sharp today as he was at the dispatch box, even aged 90 and with his famous blonde mane now a snowy white.  From the lemonade stand that made him to how Liverpool changed him, and the legacy he sees for himself, you'll hear honest insights into the life of one of the UK's most consequential public figures in the 20th century. Did he really try to bring down Thatcher? Why does he think Brexit was a century-defining mistake? And is this political titan in fact a more reserved figure than his public persona emits? You can listen to this episode through all your usual podcast platforms, or watch it on our website changemakers.works to see the full beauty of Thenford Gardens and the three surprise guests who tried to disrupt the fun!

Michael is joined by George Clarke, the architect, TV presenter, lecturer and writer, best known for his work with Channel 4, including The Restoration Man and George Clarke's Amazing Spaces.   Growing up on a Sunderland council estate, George was inspired to become an architect, spending summers on building sites with his grandfather.   While studying at Newcastle University School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, and London's Bartlett School of Architecture, George supported himself by renovating people's homes in his spare time, before turning his attention to TV and programmes that demonstrate the opportunity of space and the vital importance of the home.

We are excited to bring you the second episode of Journeys of Discovery – Change Makers' collaborative series with the Royal Philharmonic Orchesta. Over the course of these interviews, Michael explores fundamental questions about what it means to be human that accompany nine incredible concerts. This week, the themes are Freedom and Redemption, and our guest Katy Emck OBE, knows a thing or two about both of those. As Founding Director of Fine Cell Work, Katy speaks to Michael about how she is helping to transform the lives of prisoners and ex-prisoners through needlework. Prisons can be “places of soul, spirit and connection”, says Katy. Rather than carrying out their sentences “full of rage and self hate”, prisoners should be permitted to embark on a journey of “self understanding and self acceptance”. Craftwork in prisons is common, but Katy feels there is something about the intense focus of needlework that provides a much needed “release from the here and now”. Whilst momentarily being transported out of their cell's confinement, prisoners are also developing a skill, creating something they can be proud of, and generating income. This positions them with the self belief to rebuild meaningful, independent, crime free lives once they have finished their sentences. There is no better depiction of Katy's belief in the power of freedom and redemption than her favourite song by Nina Simone, ‘I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free', which she describes as the ultimate song about freedom, release and the longing we all have to break free of inhibition and to be connected. Through needlework, Fine Cell Work is opening one of the few doors of opportunity available to prisoners – allowing them both a glimpse of freedom, and a chance for redemption.

For our guest this week, there are 10,000 stories behind her message but perhaps above all, one reason to listen. For a message that is determined, optimistic and empowering, that is: “this next decade will be the best of my life yet”.  Charlotte Keenan is the Managing Director of Goldman Sachs' 10,000 Women initiatives – providing women entrepreneurs around the world with business and management education, mentoring and networking, and access to capital.  Alongside its sister programme 10,000 Small Businesses, which is committed to stimulating small business growth, it gives her a ringside seat into the importance of entrepreneurs to the economy and insights into how gloomy times for growth might glow again with the feel good factor of progress and potential realised. 

Cécile Reinaud is the founder of Seraphine, the international maternity label worn by the stars. From Kate Winslet to Kate Hudson to  Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge.  Launched as a single store in 2003, over the next 15 years Cécile scaled the company and grew turnover to £18 million by 2018. Exporting to more than 30 countries around the world and winning two Queens Awards for Enterprise along the way.  After exiting the business last year, Cécile has taken on roles as European Co-Chair of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women with a mission to empower women to start, grow, and sustain successful businesses. Michael and Cécile are also joined later in the episode by Xavier Mufraggi, CEO of YPO.  YPO is a global leadership community of more than 30,000 CEOs in 142 countries. Its members are those who have achieved significant leadership success at a young age.  Combined, their businesses contribute to over $9 trillion in annual global revenue. YPO supports them by fostering peer learning and inspiration as a community driven by values of open sharing and trust. 

Andy Haldane is the Chief Executive of the RSA: the Royal Society of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce, and the former Chief Economist of the Bank of England.  From 'Chicken Licken' warnings about inflation rates, to predictions of V-shaped recoveries, he's had little trouble in capturing the imagination with economic outlook - having been described by the Spectator as a "brilliant real world observer." Andy joined the RSA in 2021, which he describes as an "enlightenment institution" that has provided him with new tools to tackle cross-sector issues, in order to affect long lasting change. 

Sian Sutherland is the co-founder of A Plastic Planet, the campaign group supporting one single goal: to ignite and inspire the world to turn off the plastic tap. It's a straight talking message that looks to reject the information and greenwashing around plastic, increasing the use of materials that nature can handle, and eliminating those it cant.  Through a three-pronged framework to 'reduce, refill and replace', A Plastic Planet is a call to action to business, media and policy makers to pull the plug on production in an industry which, if it were a country, would be the world's fifth largest polluter.  It's a story of a campaigner for whom the words 'why not' are not in her vocabulary and whose tip for life is: 'We have a duty to be joyful. We are the lucky ones.'

Brett Wigdortz is the founder and CEO of Tiney, the startup offering what it calls an ‘Amazon-type solution for childcare', which he founded after seeing how difficult it was to find reliable childminding options as a father of three. Before turning his attention to early years education, Brett founded and spent 15 years as the CEO of Teach First, a world renowned charity focused on incentivising new graduates to get into teaching, which he led to become the largest recruiter of graduates in the UK. If there's a theme here, it's about backing the next generation, children, citizenship, society and beyond.

Michael Hayman's guest today is Rebecca Ryan, the futurist and founder of Next Generation Consulting, with a mission to help individuals and organisations develop foresight, to create brighter futures. Described as a "human spark plug", Rebecca looks at the signals to establish the future trends of our economies, supporting people to prepare rather than predict. It's about using strategic foresight to prepare for the unknown.  Listen now to hear their discussion about the road ahead, and Rebecca's advice on how to think like a futurist. 

Elisa Moscolin is Executive Vice President of Sustainability for Sage, the integrated accounting, payroll and payment systems market leaders supporting the ambition of the world's entrepreneurs.  With a mission to transform the way people think and work, and enable organisations to thrive, Sage grew from a small business itself to one of the UK's most successful scaled up stories, and a member of the FTSE100 with 11,000 employees around the world.  But if you thought this was where Elisa's story began, you'd be wrong. It begins with a trip to Ecuador at age 16, which Elisa said changed her life and made sustainability her mission.

Jason Knights is Managing Director of Ground Control, the fast-growth external maintenance business and biodiversity expert committed to enhancing and improving the physical environment.  He recently penned a piece for Fast Company making the $5 trillion case for improving biodiversity and the essential role that businesses can play in addressing the challenge. It's an ambition propelling the rapid growth of Ground Control through an environmentally friendly approach to commercial landscaping and fostering new approaches to protect the natural environment.

Change Makers is delighted to bring you the first episode in a brand new series with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: Journeys of Discovery. This major new season with a great deal of creative expression, focuses on three core questions: What does it mean to be human? What is our place in the world? What are we dreaming of? All fundamental issues humans have pondered for centuries, and composers have attempted to answer through music.  Over the course of nine conversations, we explore fundamental questions about what it means to be human that accompany nine incredible concerts. The first theme of the season is Awakening. And while Wagner, Grieg and Strauss provide the soundtrack, Michael will be joined by Kamal Ahmed, Co-Founder and Editor-in-chief, The News Movement, to offer the commentary. Listen now to hear Kamal's words of reflection there from his outstanding memoir, The Life and Times of a Very British Man, and a very personal take on his own journey of discovery. With special thanks to our audio partners at RODE, and to the BBC for providing the soundtrack, Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra. Find out more and book tickets for the RPO's Journeys of Discovery series at rpo.co.uk/journeys.

After 12 years running Twitter in Europe and YouTube in the UK, Bruce turned to writing and speaking about one of the topics of our time, the modern workplace. His first book, The Joy of Work, was the Sunday Times number one business best seller and draws on the experiences of psychologists, neuroscientists, and workplace experts to understand how we can improve our jobs. It was to go on to inspire the creation of his podcast, Eat, Sleep, Work, Repeat.  Now, his attention is on the topic of resilience in fortitude, and unlocking the secrets of inner strength. Bruce seeks to disprove the myth that only extraordinary people are successful, and demonstrate how we can draw on those around us to empower ourselves and build our inner strength. Never in the history of resilience, has someone become more resilient by being told to be more resilient. Listen now.

“Black economic empowerment relies on thinking bigger than you may have ever imagined before. Much bigger.”  These are the words of Michael's guest today, Eric Collins, and are contained in his new book, We Don't Need Permission. It's a clarion call to change the world for good, and it's far more than the words of an author; because this is the story of an economic activist. Eric's career highlights include successfully building the value of companies including AOL, Time Warner and SwiftKey; working on President Obama's Small Business Administration Council for underserved communities; as well as being named by Powerlist as one of the most influential black people in Britain and by the Financial Times in the UK's Top 100 BAME leaders.  Now CEO of the London based venture firm Impact X, Eric has built a business with a double bottom line mission to advance progress and social mobility for underrepresented founders, and to generate returns for investors by funding the undiscovered and creating the extraordinary.  If you're looking for the story of business as a force for good, this is it. Listen now. 

It's 10 years since the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. To celebrate, Change Makers is delighted to welcome one of our greatest ever Olympians, who many say is one of the trailblazers that paved the way for the world class athletes representing Team GB today.   Duncan Goodhew MBE scored gold in the 100 metre breaststroke in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, in a dramatic nail biting finish that went down to the wire. It marked a remarkable transformation for a young man who described himself as “drowning” during his time at school, struggling with the challenges of dyslexia.    In a story of resilience and ambition, Duncan overcame the odds to become one of the most recognisable British sporting figures of the 20th century, and lives by the motto, you're only as good as your worst day.    Listen to his conversation with Michael now. 

Bella Lack is a conservationist, campaigner, writer, filmmaker, board director and foundation ambassador. It's an impressive CV for the most storied of careers, but in Bella's case, she's achieved it all before most people have even got going with their own careers. At only nineteen, Bella has carved out a name for herself as an inspirational and respected environmental campaigner. Her first book, Children of the Anthropocene, tells stories from young people at the heart of the climate crisis, and received plaudits, including the former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, and the legendary environmentalist Jane Goodall, among many others. It's been described by the Green Party MP Caroline Lucas as an inspirational manifesto for change, and the naturist Steve Backshall as a remarkable and important book, adding that Bella can change the world.

Taban Shoresh is founder of the Lotus Flower, the non-profit empowering vulnerable women and girls affected by conflict and humanitarian crises, and an ambassador for the Global Youth Movement, One Young World.  Taban's remarkable story started in Kurdistan, where her family were amongst the many persecuted by Saddam Hussein's regime in the Kurdish genocide. Her horrific ordeal saw Taban imprisoned at the age of just four and later, narrowly escaping a mass live burial. Coming to the UK as a refugee in 1988, Taban built her life here, later moving into asset management. But in 2014, amidst the persecution of the Yazidis by Islamic State, she turned her attention to humanitarian aid and peace-building, supporting survivors of genocide, and women and girls displaced by conflict. Listener discretion advised: this week's episode includes references to challenging issues, including genocide, sexual and domestic abuse.

Michael Hayman welcomes Dr. Grace Lordan; an economist, Professor of Behavioural Science and founding director of The Inclusion Initiative at the London School of Economics. Grace's research has been conducted throughout her career with a singular objective: to establish why some individuals succeed in life and others do not. She is an expert on the effects of bias discrimination and technology changes and sits on the UK Government Social Mobility Task Force and the Women in Finance Charter's advisory board. The Inclusion Initiative is a research centre established in 2020, aiming to bring behavioural science insights to firms to allow them to enhance the inclusion of all talent. It also provides studies, measurement frameworks and training to create more inclusive business leaders in the UK. Last year, Grace published Think Big, Take Small Steps and Build the Future You Want, a practical framework for aspiring business leaders on how to use behavioural insights to achieve the future that they seek.

Cheryl Giovannoni is CEO of The Girls Day School Trust (GDST), a cohort of 25 independent schools that encourage girls to learn without limits. With alumni including Olivia Colman, Helena Bonham Carter, Afua Hirsch, Miriam Margolyes, and Mary Beard, among many others, the Trust schools look to develop character beyond curriculum and individual progression for each of its students. The GDST was founded in 1872 by four pioneering women and Suffragettes, Mrs Maria Grey, her sister Miss Emily Shirreff, Lady Stanley of Alderley and Miss Mary Gurney. They believed that girls should be entitled to the same academic education as their brothers. Today, with 19,000 students and almost 4000 staff, the Trust has doubled down on its commitment to work with future generations of women who will change the world for the better, for us all. Cheryl joins Michael on Change Makers to discuss the education landscape in the UK today, the power of learning to shape lives, and leadership lessons from her career in advertising as well as education ahead of her speech at the National Coalition of Girls Schools' Global Forum in Boston, next week.

Michael speaks to Romi Savova, the founder and CEO of PensionBee, the company bringing pensions into the 21st century. Romi's story is one that begins in Bulgaria and has taken her to the London Stock Exchange, via South Africa and the US, with stops at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley on the road to entrepreneurial success. Founded in 2015 to provide savers with a low-cost, easy-to-use and transparent pension plan, PensionBee today serves 800,000 customers, helping them to be pension confident and put their money towards a better future.

Michael is joined by Tom McGillycuddy, co-founder of CIRCA5000, describing itself as “the investment platform of the human future.” With a vision of a thriving planet in the year 5000, the company asks us to question whether people will be included in that future. And the answer to a certain human future? Impact investing.  CIRCA5000 offers its customers the chance to invest in the sustainable businesses enriching the planet. Launched in 2019 as tickr, alongside business partner Matt Latham, the company now has more than 150,000 investors and has had its own purposeful credentials recognised through B Corp status.

Joining Michael this week is Greg Hoffman, the legendary former Global Chief Marketing Officer of Nike. During almost 30 years with the company, Greg led three Olympic campaigns and worked with global superstars from LeBron James to Serena Williams. He described his approach to brand building as seeking out the day dreamers and taking them seriously, recognising that visionary ideas come not only from ingenious individuals but from whole cultures of innovation. It's an approach that drove the ideas behind some of the most famous marketing campaigns in history and a story that is told in Greg's new book, Emotion By Design, described by BT Sport's Jake Humphrey as “the ultimate playbook to unleashing creativity.”

In 1947, as the then HRH Princess Elizabeth celebrated her 21st birthday, she said: "I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service." 75 years later – an unprecedented 70 of which have been spent on the throne – Her Majesty has left an indelible mark as the defining figure of the United Kingdom's modern history. In June, we will be celebrating that legacy and a lifetime of service with the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. The centrepiece of this landmark moment is the People's Pageant, described as a "once in a lifetime, awe inspiring spectacle filled with wonder, warmth, wit and wow factor." Rosanna Machado is a specialist in the coordination of large scale events and the CEO of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee pageant. She joins Michael on Change Makers to share how the pageant will bring to life iconic moments from the Queen's reign, as well as bringing people together from all over the country, as it showcases our changing society over the past 70 years.

Michael Hayman's guest today believes we should all be more curious, not judgmental, and that confidence is silent while insecurities are loud. Advice from Milan Kocic, the head of Sixth Sense at Hexagon, which is on a mission to enable an autonomous and sustainable future.    Milan joins Michael to discuss Sixth Sense, a new open innovation platform where ambitious scaling startups can connect with world class companies to solve some of humanity's biggest challenges – and it's a big opportunity. Hexagon's technologies are used to manufacture 90% of aircraft, 75% of smartphones and 95% of every automobile produced worldwide. 

Host Michael Hayman is joined by Jan Büchsenschütz, co-founder and CMO of RIIICO, a software and AI business aiming to transform the manufacturing industry by delivering cutting edge interactive digital twins of production assets.    A team of engineers, designers, and inventors of reality simulation software; RIIICO aims to set new standards in computer vision, while creating software that is fun to use and easy to work with. Its technology helps manufacturers to manage their factories and accelerate their digital transformation, and its cutting-edge technology is why it was chosen by Hexagon's Sixth Sense open innovation platform as one of the members of its inaugural startup cohort. Through Sixth Sense, RIIICO has been provided with the tools to scale and roll out its vision to more companies around the world.

Albert Einstein, Whoopi Goldberg, Keira Knightly, Pablo Picasso, and Sir Richard Branson may be notable in their own right, but they also share the condition of dyslexia. For years it's been portrayed as an obstacle but for Michael's guest, Kate Griggs, it presents the opportunity of a superpower for life. Kate is a campaigner and the founder of Made by Dyslexia, a leading voice in global advocacy for what she calls the superpower of dyslexia, now in its fifth year. That means disrupting the world's thinking and campaigning for the unique and important skills of people with dyslexia. It's a challenge that Kate has made a lifelong mission and is driven by her own experiences of growing up and the difference identifying a dyslexian made to her own education. With a TED talk that has garnered almost 400,000 views, and Kate's latest book, This is Dyslexia, she aims to redefine and reshape how it's shaped our past and how harnessing its powers is vital to our future.

Joining Michael Hayman on Change Makers is Kim Polman, co-founder and chair of Reboot the Future, a fellow of the Aspen Institute and co-founder and chair of the Kilamanjaro Blind Trust.  Reboot the Future is a foundation aimed at transforming how people connect to themselves, each other and the planet. Its work is powered by one golden rule; to treat others and the planet as you would wish to be treated. Kim describes this call to action as the only universal principle the world shares and uses it as a roadmap for the conversations and campaigns that will lead to a more sustainable world.  It is this ethos that inspired the book she co-curated Imaginal Cells: Visions of Transformation, a collection of essays from thought leaders and change agents including, Al Gore, Muhammad Yunus and her husband, Paul Polman.

Joining Michael Hayman on Change Makers is Gina Badenoch, the social entrepreneur with a dream to enable social and economic mobility, to build a more inclusive society.  With a primary focus on fostering equality for the visually impaired, through the companies she has founded – Capaxia and Ojos Que Sienten (Sight of Emotion – she creates experiences that change mindsets, to overcome the prejudices that exist between talent, potential and companies.  It is an approach that has seen Gina recognised as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and an Ashoka Fellow, with a changemaking ethic inspired by her quote for life: “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

Jenny Costa is the founder and CEO of Rubies in the Rubble, the food business that sees wonder where others see waste. Since launching in 2012, Rubies in the Rubble with Jenny at the helm has become one of the pioneering voices in food sustainability, with an award-winning range of “gooder” condiments created from products that would otherwise go to waste. With a brand that is now stocked nationwide, in just a decade the company has saved more than 350,000 individual pieces of fruit and vegetables from the bin, taking food diamonds in the rough and turning them from rubble into rubies.

Alex Wright is the co-founder of Dash Water; the soft drinks brand doing its bit to cut food waste by saying yes to produce that others say no to. Its mission is to make drinks that taste good while raising awareness about food waste: “one bashed up berry, curly cucumber and lopsided lemonade at a time.” Five years on from its launch, Dash Water is a rising star in the soft drinks industry, sold in more than 6000 UK stores and 20 international markets. But this isn't just a story of drinks sector disruption, it is an entrepreneurial endeavour with a purposeful heart, driven by wonky fruit and a commitment to change.

Building the operating system behind a better future in healthcare is the mission of our guest today, Melissa Morris, the CEO and Co-Founder of Lantum.  Lantum is a total workforce platform for healthcare organisations, reducing spend and empowering healthcare staff. Through its unique end-to-end platform, it has helped to modernise how healthcare organisations connect with the workforce and fix what Melissa describes as “the broken system” of NHS staffing. Recognised as one of the of the UK's top female tech leaders and healthtech innovators, this is the story of a founder with a mission to support the NHS and other healthcare organisations find the people they need, when they need them.