Evolve to Succeed

Jonnie Jensen is the founder of Team Super Dad and the Hero Academy. He helps busy fathers and husbands strive towards a better life balance by reconnecting with their core purpose, and recover things that have inevitably been lost along their business journeys. Show Notes: (2:40) What is Team Super Dad and the Hero Academy? (6:30) Defining the modern dad (12:10) Measuring personal and professiona...

Tom Quay is the CEO and co-founder of Passenger , a digital customer experience platform that supports more than 70 public transport operators and whose ultimate goal is to drive sustainability by reengaging and revitalising perceptions around public transport, especially bus travel. Show Notes: (2:11) Early beginnings and journey to the founding of Passenger (3:09) So you don't think you were des...

Glenn St John-Colgan, managing director of Augmentas , talks about his years in the civil service, discusses his strong business principles and guides you through the minefield of public sector tendering. Show Notes: (3:10) Working in the civil service and how Augmentas came about (5:33) The changing approach of the public sector (9:25) What does Augmentas do? (11:30) Advice for SMEs applying for...

Nicky Rudd, founder of Padua Communications , demystifies the minefield of PR & communications, talks about working with her husband and how she went from teacher and journalist to business owner. Show Notes: (2:42): Background in teaching and early career in PR (7:14) Maintaining that teaching spirit with monthly free event for business owners (8:16) Career at BBC (12:15) Advantages of volunteeri...

Paul Spiers, founder of The New Principles and Leadership Brand Purpose Institute , talks principled leadership, the essence of entrepreneurialism, and the future generation of leaders. Show Notes: (3:20) What is The New P&L? (7:23) Separating professional and personal values (10:43) Managing the hybrid model of working (12:24) What is self-awareness really? (15:14) Can ruthless leaders learn to c...

Marianne Storey, CEO of mental health charity Dorset Mind , discusses the importance of mental health in a business, how a business leader can implement effective measures for mental health among their team, and provides five pillars for good mental wellbeing. Show Notes: (3:20) Path to becoming CEO of Dorset Mind (5:11) Importance of lived experience (6:03) Battling stigmas around mental health (...

Liz Willingham, founder of Liz Lean PR , on the importance of emotional intelligence, shaking up the business chamber model and handing her daughter the reins to the agency. Show Notes: (3:10) Unconventional beginnings (5:01) Never destined to run own business (5:38) Moment of realisation and birth of daughter (7:39) Affect of entrepreneurship on children (9:36) Moments of doubt/challenges and les...

Alan Mahon, founder of Brewgooder , is on a mission to provide clean drinking water to one million people. He talks about what inspired this project, and discusses the importance of transparency, authenticity and strong principles in both business and life. Show Notes: (3:24) The beginnings of Brewgooder and move towards social purpose (9:07) Destined to start own business and do something with pu...

Serial entrepreneur Jeff Lester talks candidly about his entrepreneurial life, including the 2008 financial crisis, health issues and starting again after losing everything. Show Notes: (3:20) Beginning the journey (6:44) Setting up a themed restaurant, and subsequent problems (8:24) Birth of first child and starting all over again (10:24) New start in property development (12:06) Why I wasn't con...

James Pickles was flying high as a top sales manager, enjoying all the trappings that come with such success. Then, in March 2019, he had a breakdown that left him unable to speak, let alone work. In this podcast, James talks openly about the breakdown and how he used what he learned from it and his subsequent recovery to start a new life as a personal performance coach. Show Notes: 3:06 - The bre...

Katie Street, founder and managing director of marketing and advertising agency Street Agency , talks about starting a second business, four day weeks and the effects her entrepreneurship is having on her daughter. Show Notes: 3:24 - Setting out on her own 6:33 - Dream vs. reality of running your own business 10:37 - The challenges of working in a niche sector 14:51 - The importance of a mentor 16...

Clare Gallie, CEO of Lewis-Manning Hospice Care , talks about the joys and challenges of working in the fundraising sector and reveals the wisdom she's learned from the dying. Show notes: 4:47 - From chemistry to fundraising 7:30 - Support for careers in charities and fundraising 9:42 - Differences between leading a normal organisation vs. charity 12:59 - The challenges of leading in an emotionall...

Martin Smith, managing director of specialist recruitment agency Talent Drive , discusses setting up his first business just before the pandemic hit, the current challenges facing the recruitment sector, and his commitment to personal development. Show Notes: (3:05) Background and starting Talent Drive (6:07) The realities of starting and running your own business (8:21) Building the brand (10:02)...

Cas Paton, founder and CEO of OnBuy.com, on competing with Amazon and eBay and the experience of seeing his company grow by 600% year-on-year for the past three years. Show Notes: (3:34) Founding OnBuy (6:01) Taking a different approach to the likes of Amazon and eBay (8:07) Transitioning the business (10:00) A leap of faith (13:26) The see-saw analogy (16:40) Managing growth (18:51) Challenges an...

Skye Robertson is COO of Escape the City , a company whose mission is to help 1 million people do work that matters to them and the world. She talks entrepreneurialism, the future of work and finding meaning in what you do. Show Notes: (3:52) The story behind Escape the City (6:02) Biggest challenges people face when desiring a career change (8:02) Generational attitudes to work and career (9:53)...

Sue Campbell, founder of Kind2 - an award-winning solid shampoo and conditioner - talks about leaving many years of secure corporate life behind in the pursuit of creating a sustainable product, as well as a brand that lives its values of kindness and good business practice. Show Notes: (00:14) Growing up in Australia, working in New Zealand, Hong Kong and the UK (2:33) Settling in the UK (3:25) M...

Andy Aitken, co-founder of Honest Mobile , on disrupting the mobile phone sector, bold funding techniques and his plans to create the world's first global mobile network. Show Notes: (00:44) Leaving the corporate world to co-found Honest Mobile (4:11) Co-founding a business with an old school friend (7:21) Changing the mobile industry status quo (9:51) Challenges faced in founding Honest Mobile (1...

Chris Palmer, managing director of  AnyTech Solutions  on mentorship, community, and how his childhood drove him to become an entrepreneur. Show notes: (3:08) – From art and design to advertising and IT (14:45) – Starting my first business (16:41) – Being a minority in business (21:10) – Seizing and opportunity vs. strategic planning (23:20) – Lessons learned and challenges overcome (25:30) – Doin...

In this episode, we look back at three articles from the Evolve blog, covering themes of leadership and change management to work-life balance and the importance of prioritising your wellbeing. Show notes: (2:11) Intro to article '10 insights and trends for business leadership in 2021' (2:43) There are no perfect leaders (4:27) A leader must demonstrate what it means to be a good follower (5:01) M...

Kate Chastey took over The Passionate PA in 2010, barely two weeks after its founder passed away. By 2015 Kate was turning over more than £60,000 a year. She discusses the challenges and joys of taking over the reins and how running her own business has transformed her life.

Pip Hare talks about her incredible experience sailing in the Vendée Globe round the world yacht race. She's only the eighth woman in history to finish the race and was the first British skipper to finish this year's edition.

Dan Smith, founder of Fireworx , discusses the nuances of 21st century marketing, the true nature of disruption, and how to raise your brand above the digital chatter.

Over the past 30 years, serial entrepreneur Lyndon Stickley has invested in, grown and eventually sold six companies in a wide range of sectors. He talks company purpose, talent, and finding meaning in work and life. 

Joshua Simons , serial entrepreneur and founder of several highly successful nightclubs and restaurants, including Priva and Chicken & Blues, talks about his entrepreneurial roots and how lessons learned from the 2008 financial crash formed his current success.

The number of UK businesses certified as B Corp recently surpassed 500, and this number continues to grow rapidly. Annie Talboys details what a B Corp is, how to go about becoming one, and the advantages of balancing profit with planet.