Beyond the Fail

What happens when an entrepreneur, magician, and wealth manager risks it all—twice—and faces financial collapse so severe that he nearly ends up homeless? Howard Whiteson’s story is one of bold decisions, unexpected failures, and a relentless pursuit of success. From performing magic tricks as a child to selling hot tubs, mastering sales training, and making a fortune in wealth m...

In this candid and insightful episode, Andrew Muir Wood pulls back the curtain on his entrepreneurial journey, sharing the highs, the lows, and the pivotal lessons learned along the way. From his early days in corporate consulting—where he helped global tech giants predict the future—to co-founding a design agency, Andrew’s path has been anything but linear. He takes us behind th...

In this illuminating episode, Jez sits down with Bessi Graham, a dynamic entrepreneur, impact investor, and advocate for balancing purpose with profit. Together, they delve into the messy, rewarding world of business — discussing not just the triumphs, but the inevitable setbacks that shape successful ventures. Bessi shares her unconventional journey from hesitating to call herself an entrep...

What would you do if you lost a lawsuit and owed $1 million, with no way to pay it off? In this captivating episode, Henry Woodman shares how he faced exactly that situation and turned what seemed like inevitable failure into a stunning success. From his early entrepreneurial ventures selling switchblades in junior high to creating and scaling a multi-million-dollar content distribution company, H...

In this compelling episode, Arias WebsterBerry opens up about his entrepreneurial journey, sharing the challenges, failures, and triumphs that have defined his path. From his early ventures as a 10-year-old with a dog-walking business to organizing the ambitious Hip Hop 101 Music and Arts Festival, Arias takes us behind the scenes of his rollercoaster ride in the business world. He vividly recount...

In this conversation, Dan Seligman shares his insights on the importance of embracing failure in the entrepreneurial journey. He discusses how failure is often stigmatized, particularly in the UK, and emphasizes the need to share stories of failure to help others learn and grow. Dan reflects on his own experiences in sales and entrepreneurship, highlighting how exposure to failure can lead to pers...

Eric Malka, co-founder of  The Art of Shaving , shares his extraordinary journey from arriving in the U.S. with just $100 to building a multimillion-dollar brand acquired by Procter & Gamble (who own Gillette). His story is a masterclass in resilience, strategy, and leadership. Eric opens up about how life circumstances forced him into entrepreneurship, recounting his first ventures&mdash...

In this episode, we’re joined by David Fradin, a product management expert with over 47 years of experience, having led 75+ products and services across 25 companies and 11 startups. David was classically trained as a Product Manager at Hewlett-Packard, where he learned the principles of product success during a period of rapid 20% annual growth. Later, Apple recruited him to lead the launch...

Noah Healy, founder and mathematician, has faced unexpected resistance and what he believes to be victimization by the US government in his quest to patent his revolutionary market design, Coordinated Discovery Market (CDM). Despite developing a groundbreaking algorithm for price discovery in financial markets, Noah encountered multiple rejections and sudden withdrawals of initial approvals from t...

  What happens when ambition outpaces strategy? Anthony Boyce’s story is a powerful cautionary tale. Driven by a hunger for growth, he rapidly expanded his businesses—taking on multiple ventures, juggling numerous partners, and scaling too quickly. But the cracks soon began to show. Anthony shares how his push for financial success came at the cost of time, freedom, and stability....

In this conversation, Jez and Ken Wentworth explore the themes of business failure, personal growth, and the journey of entrepreneurship. Ken shares his experiences from his early entrepreneurial ventures as a child to his transition from a corporate career at JP Morgan to becoming a fractional CFO. The discussion emphasizes the importance of learning from failures, the impact of customer feedback...

Peter Banigo shares his journey from studying engineering to starting multiple businesses, the impact of the financial crisis, and the influence of relationships on his entrepreneurial ventures. He discusses the significance of belief in oneself and the challenges of managing multiple businesses simultaneously. Peter Banigo discusses his decision to take a break from running multiple businesses du...

In this conversation, Shawn Walchef shares his journey as restauranter and entrepreneur and the importance of storytelling in business. He talks about his experience opening two new restaurant delivery sites during the economic recession and the lessons he learned from struggling to keep it profitable. Shawn emphasises the power of telling your own story and leveraging the internet to reach your a...

Alan shares his proudest moments in business, which involve seeing his employees take ownership and improve the businesses he owns. He discusses the importance of letting go of control and hiring people who are better than him in certain areas. Alan also talks about his transition from being a lawyer to running his own pest control business, highlighting the risk he took and the importance of livi...

  Lisa Rizzo shares her journey as serial entrepreneur and the factors that influenced her decision to start her own businesses. She discusses the role of her family history, personal experiences, and personality traits in shaping her entrepreneurial mindset. Lisa emphasises the importance of understanding the 'why' behind one's actions and using personal struggles as a source of motivation. She a...

In this conversation Andy Semotiuk presents the realities of business failures, resilience, and personal growth. Andy shares his journey from law to the UN, his experiences with Mother Teresa, and the challenges he faced while attempting to manufacture planes in China. The discussion highlights the importance of learning from setbacks, the emotional toll of delivering bad news, and the lessons lea...

In this special end of season episode, Jez reflects on the themes and lessons learned from the past season of the podcast and 31 interviews with business founders, CEOs and entrepreneurs. The three main themes of business failure across the season were: 1) Getting in your own way due to fear and lack of trust, 2) Unexpected events that lead to business downfall, and 3) People issues such as partne...

Lisa Tennant is a seasoned entrepreneur and leader having founded two businesses and led a small charity, and has over 20 years experience. Lisa's story is a testament to the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit that she inherited from her grandmother, a hardworking woman who ran multiple businesses despite numerous challenges. Lisa started her entrepreneurial journey with a laundry business in 2...

Matt Saunders is a seasoned entrepreneur, author and coach with over 15 years of experience in digital marketing, on an enlightening journey from disillusionment with traditional employment to remarkable success in entrepreneurship. Beginning his career as a Freelance Web Designer, Matt quickly realised the limitations of the traditional 9-5 office job and embraced the freedom of freelancing. Howe...

In this insightful episode, Scott Russell takes us on a journey through his entrepreneurial path, shaped by his upbringing in a business-savvy family and early experiences in market trading. From his humble beginnings working on his family’s market stalls as a teenager to navigating the complexities of the business world, Russell's story is one of resilience, adaptability, and continuous learning....

In this compelling episode, Gerald Ratner, the former CEO of Ratners Group, offers listeners a deep dive into his rollercoaster journey in the jewellery business, from soaring heights to devastating lows. Ratner began his entrepreneurial journey under the influence of his parents' values and work ethic, and he passionately discusses whether entrepreneurs are born or made, emphasising the role adve...

In a recent podcast episode, Andreas Klaric, entrepreneur and Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Fuse, who has recently raised $10Million in start-up capital, shared insights from his journey of entrepreneurship, drawing from his diverse background and extensive experience in Wall Street. Growing up in Bolivia, Andreas witnessed first hand the disparities in wealth and opportunity, igniting his passion for...

In this minisode of Beyond The Fail, we hear from Shaa Wasmund MBE, a founder, CEO and best selling author, with 30 years of experience building and exiting seven-figure businesses. She uncovers one of her biggest lessons to date – which is the importance of choosing the right investors and board members. Shaa touches on the need for diversity in the boardroom and the different funding approaches...

In this enlightening episode, serial founder and former CEO Peter Sorgenfrei candidly shares his remarkable journey, navigating the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. From becoming Toyota’s youngest ever Manager to starting companies in US, London and Denmark, Peter's story is one of resilience and transformation. He opens up about facing significant challenges, including being sacked as CEO due...

In this episode, we have the pleasure of hearing from Jannette Anderson, a business development expert with an incredible track record of launching, leading, and mentoring over 250 businesses. Jannette's experience spans nearly four decades, where she's been a corporate trainer, a marketing and entrepreneurship instructor for universities and colleges, and has even made the largest sale in her com...