Podcast appearances and mentions of mini mba

Returning guest and everyone's favourite marketing professor, Mark Ritson, is back. As usual, Mark comes out firing with some no nonsense advice to all marketers. He talks about AI taking over his Mini MBA, leaving Marketing Week, why pricing is the most important P and some rules for creativity. Sit back and soak up the knowledge from Mr Mark Ritson.Timestamps00:00 - Intro01:06 - Why Mark Ritson sold Mini MBA02:12 - Mark Ritson leaving Marketing Week04:19 - Jon's favourite AI use case08:07 - Will AI take over Mini MBA?11:38 - What marketers think is different to what customers think12:58 - Mark Ritson on that Sydney Sweeney ad16:15 - The Creative Dividend: what makes great marketing in 202527:45 - Why marketers need to be involved in the 4 Ps30:30 - Why pricing is so important (and why marketers should be involved)38:28 - The absence of strategy and what to do about it42:38 - What has surprised Mark Ritson most in 202543:09 - Why AI is being marketed so poorly49:58 - The power of synthetic data

“Building an operating rhythm and sticking to it requires energy and fortitude.”   Chief, today I'm going to talk about three important tips to help you bring your operating rhythm to life and to ensure that it is high impact and drives results consistently. I'm also going to talk through three of the most classic problems that executives face when trying to implement a new one or refine an existing operating rhythm.

“To win your people's hearts and minds, you have to have a compelling vision or proposition to offer them.”   This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous CEO guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features George Hunt, Former CIO of the Year. His full episode is titled Winning hearts and minds, technology as a strategy, and the little things of leadership. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

JooBee Yeow joined us on The Modern People Leader to talk about why HR must stop overfunctioning and start diagnosing real business problems—especially when revenue is on the line. We discussed how HR leaders can step out of their silo, challenge assumptions, influence revenue growth, and flip the HR pyramid to prioritize high-impact, strategic work.---- Sponsor Links:

Johnny Campbell drops a bombshell: "Can AI recruit better than humans today? Hundred percent better than humans on average." He's got the data to back it up. Johnny explains why half of all recruiters will be gone within the next decade—and how to be in the half that thrives. Johnny runs SocialTalent and has trained over a million recruiters globally. He survived launching an agency during the 2008 crash and now shares what's coming next. Episode Outline and Highlights [3:35] How Johnny survived launching an agency into the 2008 crash [8:37] "Peak recruiter" happened in 2023—why it's downhill from here [10:41] The bank loan analogy that destroys the case for human interviewers [15:05] The AirPods story—why candidates will accept AI interviews [19:33] UK research: AI persuades people 10x better than humans [28:10] Marc Andreessen's "barbell model"—why the middle dies [31:24] Indian recruiters abandoned email—what WhatsApp means for outreach [36:26] Mercor: Three 21-year-olds built a $2B AI recruiter in 2 years [38:14] The Hudson RPO arbitrage—selling AI to companies that can't use it [52:07] Why recruiters need Johnny's "Mini MBA" Key Takeaways: Your $2 Billion Wake-Up Call: Three 21-year-olds started Mercor two years ago. Now valued at $2 billion. Their pitch: "5 qualified candidates in 5 minutes." They didn't improve recruiting—they eliminated it. Where AI Wins: Johnny breaks recruiting into three parts. Finding candidates? AI wins. Assessment? AI does it better with less bias. But closing deals? That's where humans matter. "There will always be a role for a human advising the business." No Middle Ground: McDonald's hires in 7 minutes with AI. Zuckerberg personally calls candidates. If you're doing "decent recruiting at decent prices," you're dead. Pick a side: tech-powered efficiency or ultra-premium service. The WhatsApp Revolution: Email is dead for recruiting in India. Everyone uses WhatsApp. Johnny's insight: AI will soon predict the best platform per candidate. Agencies sending LinkedIn InMails are playing yesterday's game. Johnny Campbell Bio and Contact Info Johnny Campbell is the co-founder and CEO of SocialTalent. With over 250,000 LinkedIn followers, he's recognized globally as a thought leader on AI and recruitment. Father of 4 boys, avid runner, aspiring youth rugby coach. Johnny on X Johnny on LinkedIn Johnny on Instagram SocialTalent website link SocialTalent on Facebook SocialTalent on YouTube People and Resources Mentioned Mercor website link Glen Cathey on LinkedIn Hudson RPO website link Clay website link ChatGPT  Copilot Gemini Connect with Mark Whitby Get your FREE 30-minute strategy call Mark on LinkedIn Mark on Twitter: @MarkWhitby Mark on Facebook Mark on Instagram: @RecruitmentCoach Subscribe to The Resilient Recruiter

“If you think your people aren't using AI, you would be in denial.”   This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features Kate Newey, HR Chief of Adaptalift Group. Her full episode is titled The secret life of HR professionals, having it all and AI in the workplace. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

“The one analogy I use for technology change programs is that we're trying to upgrade an aircraft whilst it's in flight. This allows people to understand the risk profile.”   In this Best of Series episode, we replay a chat we had in 2019 with George Hunt, former CIO of the Year, on winning hearts and minds, technology as a strategy, and the little things of leadership.

“It's really important to keep a sense of humour, especially if you're in a stressful environment. Show people that you're human.”   This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features Linda Carroll, Chief People Officer, G8 Education. Her full episode is titled Driving business success through the development of your people. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

“HR is such a diverse role. At any given time we see people at their worst, and people at their best. We're expected to be lawyers and are constantly making commercial decisions.”   In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Kate Newey, HR Chief of Adaptalift Group, on The secret life of HR professionals, having it all and AI in the workplace.

“HR has shifted towards partnering with the business as a trusted advisor to the executive team, as people have started to realise the value of human capital.” In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Linda Carroll, Chief People Officer of G8 Education, on driving business success through the development of your people.  

“There's work guilt because you worry that you're not delivering 100%. There's guilt that you're not being the best mum possible. So, it really is guilt on all fronts if you're not careful.”   This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous CEO guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features Nicolette Rubinsztein AM, Professional Board member and author. Her full episode is titled Removing guilt, building female confidence, and overcoming busy-ness. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

This week, we're resharing a top episode from the archive. Originally recorded a year ago, this episode features the one and only Mark Ritson and remains one of our most popular episodes to-date. Enjoy, and we'll be back with new content next week!This episode, Elena, Angela, and Rob are joined by professor, consultant, and columnist Dr. Mark Ritson. Based on his experience as both a marketing academic and practitioner, Mark shares his thoughts on the state of marketing effectiveness in the US, what we can learn from the history of marketing, and the importance of balancing research with active testing to discover marketing strategies that really work.Topics covered:   [04:30] What is marketing effectiveness?[07:30] Why Mark created the Mini MBA[15:00] How AI will change the future of advertising[17:15] Why marketers undervalue TV advertising[21:00] The differences between effectiveness and marketing science[29:30] Marketing fundamentals don't change To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter.  Resources: 2023 MarketingWeek Article: https://www.marketingweek.com/effectiveness-ignorance-american-marketing/ Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. 

“When you develop all three traits, you become bulletproof. You create momentum, confidence, and long-term impact.” Chief, today we dive into what I consider to be a core framework that I've observed after working with hundreds of top-tier executives and CEOs through the podcast and our day job at Chief Maker over a number of years. These three traits keep showing up, without fail, in every high-performing leader I meet. If you don't have these in your toolkit, I can almost guarantee you'll struggle to hit your definition of success.

“You've got to get yourself in a position to exit, and then give yourself the time to exit properly. The biggest advice I give sellers is to not be in a rush to sell.”   This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features Dean Salakas, Former CEO of The Party People. His full episode is titled Being sale-ready, Forecasting like a CFO, and Selling confidently on your terms. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

“There's work guilt because you worry that you're not delivering 100%. There's guilt that you're not being the best mum possible. So, it really is guilt on all fronts if you're not careful.”   In this Best of Series episode, we replay a chat we had in 2019 with Nicolette Rubinsztein AM, Professional Board member and author, on removing guilt, building female confidence, and overcoming busy-ness.  

“You've got to get yourself into a position to exit and then put time on your side. Don't be in a rush to sell, but when you are ready, put a deadline in place for buyers to make an offer.” In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Dean Salakas, former Party People CEO, on Being sale-ready, forecasting like a CFO, and selling confidently on your terms.

Do you think brand purpose is a tired idea that never truly had relevance in the world of branding and business? Or do you believe that having a brand purpose—and activating it in everything you do—is the most effective way to run a successful company?On this show, we've heard compelling arguments on both sides of the debate. So today, we're bringing together four thought leaders to discuss and explore one big question: Is brand purpose dead, or more alive than ever?Jim is joined by:Kory Marchisotto, Chief Marketing Officer of e.l.f. Beauty and President of Keys Soulcare. Kory previously held roles at LVMH, Puig, and Shiseido before joining e.l.f. in 2019.Mark Ritson, former marketing professor, Marketing Week columnist, creator of the Mini MBA in Marketing, and advisor to a range of global brands. Lisa Materazzo, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Ford Motor Company since 2023, following a 20-year marketing career at Toyota.Sara Carter, Global Planning Partner at adam&eveDDB and co-author (with Les Binet) of How Not to Plan: 66 Ways to Screw It Up.Let us know where you stand in the Purpose debate—right here or on social media!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“Imagine any city with 50% job losses, it's a completely different place. I don't see governments getting things ready. It's going to take time.”   This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features Professor Joel Pearson, Director of Future Minds Lab. His full episode is titled Leading in uncertainty, Future-proofing for the AI Revolution, and De-risking innovation. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

“We need to get better, better, better at core. Not newer, bigger, different.”   Chief, today we cover something that is absolutely dominating everyone's thoughts in a hyper-distracted world, and that is cutting out the noise and getting back to strategic intent and focus. Executive teams are under relentless pressure; from technological change, shifting workforce expectations, and increasing compliance, to the ever-present noise of geopolitics and market urgency, it's easy to get pulled in a hundred directions and lose sight of what actually drives value. When leadership spreads itself too thin, focus disappears, risk increases, and performance suffers. Chief, getting back to your core business is more important now than ever. I share the framework I use with Chiefs and boards across the globe to help them identify their true strategic priorities, cut through distraction, and optimise their systems to deliver real impact. Because when leaders waste energy on the wrong things, the business pays the price: in culture, in profit, and in reputation.

“By the time that person's come to work, it's cost them 50 bucks for transport, lunch, coffee. So what is the experience they're going to get going into work for a day, because they could easily just stay at home.”   This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features Brad Krauskopf, Founder & CEO of Hub Australia. His full episode is titled Designing inspiring flexible workspaces for the future, and Building workplace engagement and experience.   You can find the full audio and show notes here:

“I think the internet will be gone. AIs will have all the information and entertainment for us whenever we want.” In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Professor Joel Pearson, Director of the Future Minds Lab, on Leading in uncertainty, Future-proofing for the AI revolution, and De-risking innovation.

“The 80/20 curve also applies to time: 1% of your time produces 50% of all your productivity.”   This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous CEO guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features Perry Marshall, Author and Sales & Marketing Guru. His full episode is titled Redefining the 80/20 Rule, buying time for superhuman productivity, and solving tough problems. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

“When I think about the workplace of the future, it's about the experiences you provide when bringing people together. It's an extension of your brand.”   In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Brad Krauskopf, Founder & CEO of Hub Australia, on Designing inspiring flexible workspaces for the future, and Building workplace engagement and experience.

“80-90% of my job is to engage the business. It's a KPI.”   This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features Ben Marsonet, CEO of Altus Group. His full episode is titled The 6 stages of executive evolution, leading with visibility, and how powerful stories shape culture. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

“Step one, write down 25 things that you really, really want to do in your life. Step two, order the list in importance to you. Step three, put a circle around the top five and cross off the bottom 20. That's how you succeed.”   In this Best of Series episode, we replay a chat we had in 2019 with Perry Marshall, Author and Sales & Marketing Guru, on Redefining the 80/20 Rule, buying time for superhuman productivity, and solving tough problems.  

Joining Shahin and Vinnie is marketing legend, Mark Ritson, Founder of the Mini MBA. From almost buying Kylie Minogue's house, to consulting, and building a global brand, Mark shares with us the journey of his Mini MBA.

“The biggest risk for executives and corporations is distance from the customer. It's the number one thing that will kill you.”   This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features Jack Delosa, Founder & CEO of The Entourage. His full episode is titled Frameworks for success, Building customer connection, and Raising capital from an investor's viewpoint. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

“If you want to know how you actually build a culture, it's through stories you tell of the amazing things that people do inside of the business that make you sit back in awe.” In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Ben Marsonet, CEO of Altus Group, on The 6 stages of executive evolution, leading with visibility, and how powerful stories shape culture.

With AI now more accessible than ever, its impact on learning and educational equity is rapidly evolving. This series will share hidden challenges, real-world use cases, and actionable strategies for navigating the future of AI in education.This is the last of three episodes and focuses on responsible AI use for parents.ABOUT AMBER BERRYAmber Berry is a trailblazer in the field of AI and education, serving as the inaugural Vice President of AI and Strategy for Middle States Association (MSA). In this role, Amber cofounded RAIL: Responsible AI in Learning, shaping the future of accreditation and school improvement. With over 15 years of school experience spanning both public and independent education, she has held positions of increasing responsibility, including Division Head and Director of Teaching Fellows at St. Luke's School in Connecticut.Amber's thought leadership in responsible AI adoption is grounded in her rich educational background. A graduate of Princeton University with a B.A. in French & Italian, she earned her M.A. in Linguistics and Pedagogy from Middlebury College and an M.Ed. in Private School Leadership from Columbia University. Most recently, she added a Mini-MBA in AI for Business to her impressive credentials, amplifying her expertise in leveraging AI for strategic innovation.Amber is a sought-after speaker, an advocate for equitable AI practices, and a member of Excelle Collective for women in educational leadership. At home, she balances her roles as a devoted mom, NFL wife, and active community leader, inspiring others to embrace transformation in every sphere of life.Follow us at @artic.ulating on IG for more of Articulating!

“Too many leaders sit in fancy offices assuming what customers want, and then wonder why their product or service isn't landing.”   In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Jack Delosa, Founder and CEO of The Entourage, on Frameworks for success, Building customer connection, and Raising capital from an investor's viewpoint.

With AI now more accessible than ever, its impact on learning and educational equity is rapidly evolving. This series will share hidden challenges, real-world use cases, and actionable strategies for navigating the future of AI in education.This is the second of three episodes and focuses on responsible AI use for students.ABOUT AMBER BERRYAmber Berry is a trailblazer in the field of AI and education, serving as the inaugural Vice President of AI and Strategy for Middle States Association (MSA). In this role, Amber cofounded RAIL: Responsible AI in Learning, shaping the future of accreditation and school improvement. With over 15 years of school experience spanning both public and independent education, she has held positions of increasing responsibility, including Division Head and Director of Teaching Fellows at St. Luke's School in Connecticut.Amber's thought leadership in responsible AI adoption is grounded in her rich educational background. A graduate of Princeton University with a B.A. in French & Italian, she earned her M.A. in Linguistics and Pedagogy from Middlebury College and an M.Ed. in Private School Leadership from Columbia University. Most recently, she added a Mini-MBA in AI for Business to her impressive credentials, amplifying her expertise in leveraging AI for strategic innovation.Amber is a sought-after speaker, an advocate for equitable AI practices, and a member of Excelle Collective for women in educational leadership. At home, she balances her roles as a devoted mom, NFL wife, and active community leader, inspiring others to embrace transformation in every sphere of life.Follow us at @artic.ulating on IG for more of Articulating!

“You've got to have the wherewithal and the EQ to know when to stick your nose in and ask the questions, and other times to trust and let people get on with it. Noses in, fingers out.”   This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features Angela Tsoukatos, CEO and 20 years executive team member. Her  full episode is titled Pivotal career moments, how to focus on core business, and the most effective ways the Board and C-Suite can work together. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

With AI now more accessible than ever, its impact on learning and educational equity is rapidly evolving. This series will share hidden challenges, real-world use cases, and actionable strategies for navigating the future of AI in education.This is the first of three episodes and focuses on responsible AI use for schools.ABOUT AMBER BERRYAmber Berry is a trailblazer in the field of AI and education, serving as the inaugural Vice President of AI and Strategy for Middle States Association (MSA). In this role, Amber cofounded RAIL: Responsible AI in Learning, shaping the future of accreditation and school improvement. With over 15 years of school experience spanning both public and independent education, she has held positions of increasing responsibility, including Division Head and Director of Teaching Fellows at St. Luke's School in Connecticut.Amber's thought leadership in responsible AI adoption is grounded in her rich educational background. A graduate of Princeton University with a B.A. in French & Italian, she earned her M.A. in Linguistics and Pedagogy from Middlebury College and an M.Ed. in Private School Leadership from Columbia University. Most recently, she added a Mini-MBA in AI for Business to her impressive credentials, amplifying her expertise in leveraging AI for strategic innovation.Amber is a sought-after speaker, an advocate for equitable AI practices, and a member of Excelle Collective for women in educational leadership. At home, she balances her roles as a devoted mom, NFL wife, and active community leader, inspiring others to embrace transformation in every sphere of life.Follow us at @artic.ulating on IG for more of Articulating!

“Being difficult to give feedback to means people will stop giving it completely and you'll have no idea about your true performance and reputation.” In today's minisode, we finish our series on How to Give Feedback and we're going to bring this home by giving you some strategies to implement a culture of feedback within your department or organisation. Remember, as a leader, their performance is also your performance and you've both got to own it, otherwise you risk negatively affecting your track record. Chief, if you haven't listened to Part 1 (preparing like a coach) or Part 2 (tools and strategies), please go back and listen to them first as it will give you some vital context to the final episode.

“Feedback is never done in isolation; there's a whole range of things going on around someone in your team, and so it's really helpful to prepare properly before you give feedback.” Chief, today we are kicking off Part 1 of our How to Give Feedback Series. In today's episode, we are diving into the essentials of preparing to give feedback like an elite sporting coach, as well as some core principles of this process. Feedback is the breakfast of champions of high-performance teams and is vital for personal and team growth. And you, as the leader, are your team's coach, helping to guide them to kicking business goals, ultimately which reflects on you, Chief, and your track record.

“An insight made by the coach is owned by the coach. An insight made by the client (or the person you're giving feedback to), is owned by the client.” In today's minisode, we continue with our series on How to Give Feedback and we're going to talk about how to deliver like a true chief with some specific feedback methods and scripts that might help you bring this process to life.  Chief, if you haven't listened to Part 1 in the series, please go back and listen to it as it will give you some vital context.

“You've got to have the wherewithal and the EQ to know when to stick your nose in and ask the questions, and other times to trust and let people get on with it. Noses in, fingers out.”   In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Angela Tsoukatos, CEO and 20 years executive team member, on pivotal career moments, how to focus on core business, and the most effective ways the Board and C-Suite can work together.  

QFF: Quick Fire Friday – Your 20-Minute Growth Powerhouse!   Welcome to Quick Fire Friday, the Grow A Small Business podcast series that is designed to deliver simple, focused and actionable insights and key takeaways in less than 20 minutes a week.   Every Friday, we bring you business owners and experts who share their top strategies for growing yourself, your team and your small business. Get ready for a dose of inspiration, one action you can implement and quotable quotes that will stick with you long after the episode ends!   In this episode of Quick Fire Friday, Troy Trewin, Founder of Grow A Small Business emphasizes the importance of professional development (PD) for small business owners, advocating for a significant time investment in learning resources like books, podcasts, and online courses. He personally dedicates over 14 hours a week to PD, equating to 1300 hours annually, which helps him generate new business ideas and improve his seven businesses.    Key Takeaways for Small Business Owners: Invest in professional development (PD) through resources like books, podcasts, and online courses. Troy dedicates over 14 hours per week to PD, which equates to 1,300 hours per year and allows him to continuously improve his own businesses and better assist his clients. Be intentional about how you consume PD content. Don't try to multitask - focus solely on the PD material to get the most value. Instead, consume it during "dead time" like driving, cleaning, or light physical activities. Our hero crafts outstanding reviews following the experience of listening to our special guests. Are you the one we've been waiting for? Recommended PD resources include: Mark Whitson's "Mini MBA in Marketing" online course Troy's own "Transform Your Performance" free 2-week online course The "Mid 2024" and "Built to Sell Radio" podcasts Implement strategies to maximize your PD time, such as listening at 1.5x or 2x speed, and utilizing a Spotify Premium subscription to access free audiobooks. Continuously seek out PD opportunities and be open to expanding your knowledge in various aspects of your business, from sales and operations to marketing and team management. The key is to make PD a consistent habit and priority as a small business owner, as it can significantly contribute to your business growth and personal development.   One action small business owners can take: Troy Trewin suggests committing to increasing your weekly professional development (PD) hours. He emphasizes the importance of investing significant time into PD, sharing that he dedicates over 14 hours per week to consuming books, podcasts, and other educational resources. He encourages listeners to ramp up their own PD efforts, as it allows him to continuously improve his own businesses as well as better assist his clients.   Do you have 2 minutes every Friday? Sign up to the Weekly Leadership Email. It's free and we can help you to maximize your time. Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.

“One of the big lessons anyone can take out of COVID was that everyone was forced to live in a world that was out of control and you just had to adapt and respond.”   In this episode, I chat to David Knoff, Antarctic Expedition Leader and author of 537 Days of Winter, on high-stakes risk and crisis management, and being adaptable around your mission.  

“No high performance happens without those three big things, so make sure they're embedded into a new year ahead.”   In today's episode, I've just got three big questions for you. If you can answer these, I think you can make 2025 your best year ever.

In this latest episode of Brand Growth Heroes, we're over the moon (as always) to welcome back one of our favourite guests, Ben Greensmith, Country Manager for the UK and Ireland of Tony's Chocolonely.Since we last chatted to Ben on the show, Tony's Chocolonely has not only achieved impressive sales growth in the UK but has also made remarkable strides in driving positive change within the cocoa industry.In this episode, Ben and Fiona dive deep into the progress Tony's Chocolonely has made, covering:Their growth and performance and market share in the UKExciting new product launches and brand innovationsBut most importantly, the impact of Tony's Open Chain on the Cocoa industry.We also discuss the brand's unique approach to marketing, including:The learnings from their Advent Calendar launchThe UK Sweet Solutions campaign that captured media attentionBalancing awareness of critical cocoa supply chain issues with Tony's playful tone of voice—all while reminding consumers just how delicious their chocolate tastesWhat's happening next?Useful Links:Tony's Chocolonely WebsiteTony's Chocolonely LinkedInBen Greensmith LinkedInFollow Tony's Chocolonely on InstagramFollow Tony's Chocolonely on FacebookIf this episode inspires you to think about new ways to drive business growth, don't forget to click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE on your favourite podcast app and leave a review!You won't want to miss the next episode, in which Fiona Fitz talks with another successful founder of a challenger brand who shares more valuable insights into driving growth. Plus, your small gesture will be truly appreciated.If you find Brand Growth Heroes episodes useful, then imagine spending 12 weeks on a Mini MBA programme run by host Fiona Fitz: The Brand Growth Heroes Mini MBA 2025 powered by Alantra will be open for applications on January 6th.Please don't hesitate to join our Brand Growth Heroes community to stay updated with captivating stories and learnings from your beloved brands on their path to success!Follow us on our Brand Growth Heroes socials: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.Thanks to our Sound Engineer, Gyp Buggane, Ballagroove.com and podcast producer/content creator, Kathryn Watts, Social KEWS.

“Make it your goal in 2025 to not just simplify, but focus. Get more dialed in on just a few things, stuff that will make a difference. Make some hard calls.” In our final episode for 2024, we are going to cover the five big themes from 2024 that are going to be vital in 2025. I'm seeing these 5 themes emerge more and more through the work we do with executives and boards. And what I'm seeing is if we don't all lean in and get better at these five things, life is going to get more difficult and frustrating and we're going to find it harder and harder to win. Chief, the best executives right now are nailing these things. And all the best organisations need people with these five traits right now, more than ever.

“If you spend too much time worrying about the outcome and not about the process, then you just create anxiety and a lack of focus.”   This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous CEO guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features Rob Patterson, Managing Director of Parkins Lane. His full episode is titled Humility, relationships and scaling fast. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

“A CEO client of mine said that when he dies, his to-do list will be full. Not empty, full. In 10 years' time, are you going to look back and be happy with how you spent those 10 years?”   In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Nigel Marsh, Former CEO Leo Burnett and Y&R Brands, Founder Earth Hour, viral TED Talker, Bestselling Author and Podcaster, on following your own path to achieve balance, getting cut-through, and authentic success.

“If you spend too much time worrying about the outcome and not about the process, then you just create anxiety and a lack of focus.”   In this Best of Series episode, we replay a chat we had in 2019 with Rob Patterson, Managing Director of Parkins Lane, on humility, relationships and scaling fast.  

“We built this school. And then over the next 12 months, we ended up building two more schools in other, other villages around. And it completely changed my perspective on what meaningful work is.”   In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Mike Smith, Founder and CEO of Zero Co, on how to build a tribe of loyal customers, creating a better world through business, and personal growth.

“Your brand or your reputation is what people say about you when you're not in the room.”   Chief, today we are going to guide you through the process of mastering the art of influencing stakeholders and partners, such that it catapults you forward (and upwards!) in your career. Stakeholders have a huge impact - negatively and positively - on your career and your personal life whether you like it or not. These people can be your corporate peers, suppliers, customers, board members, executive team members, your boss, the community, media, anyone out there who's got a key stake in what you do. As such, getting buy-in from difficult stakeholders is one of the most important tasks and skills of all senior executives and leaders.

“You're a business leader first, and a HR professional second.”   In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Zaklina Craig of Business NSW, on optimising role design for peak performance, managing differences in confidence between men and women, and navigating the decision to fire someone.

“The danger for CEOs is to allow yourself to be surrounded by people who tell you how good your ideas are. You actually need a balance of people who tell you when you've got something wrong or if you could have handled something in a different way.”   In this Best of Series episode, we replay a chat we had in 2019 with Mike Schneider, the Managing Director of the Bunnings Group, on career diversity, genuine empathy, and the 4Hs of authenticity. 

“The biggest thing a leader can bring to the business is the responsibility to put the right people on the bus. And to have the bravery to say that there's a reason that they need to hop off the bus.”   In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Carolyn Creswell, Founder and MD of Carman's Kitchen, on how to fire people gracefully, doing what you love, understanding menopause and having a genuine work-life balance.