The Talent Show

In this episode of The Talent Show, Virginia Stagni welcomes Jon Slade, the Chief Commercial Officer of Financial Times, who shares an intriguing journey that defies the conventional career path. Despite not boasting an illustrious academic career, Slade's story is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance. His early years were spent in landscape gardening, a pursuit he found deeply sat...

In this compelling episode, we engage with Juliet Riddell, the head of new formats at the Financial Times. Riddell is at the forefront of a revolution in the way news is presented, with an innovative approach that involves the use of video formats to narrate stories through unconventional mediums such as dance, music videos, and data visualisation. She is challenging the traditional boundaries of...

Join us for a captivating conversation with Isabelle Campbell, Vice President of Portfolio in the Product and Technology department at the Financial Times. In this episode, Campbell takes us through her unconventional career trajectory, starting from her roots in English literature, transitioning into accounting, and ultimately landing in her current role. She delves into her mindfulness practices...

In this episode, we sit down with John Thornhill, the Innovation Editor and Tech Columnist at the Financial Times. Thornhill's journey, which began as a graduate trainee at the FT, has seen him report on the market economy in Russia during the tumultuous 1990s and serve as the Asia Editor for the FT. His early experiences writing about UK companies and understanding how the market economy works pr...

Stephen Bush, esteemed columnist and associate editor at the Financial Times, traces his love for journalism and politics back to his formative years. Raised in a household where news was a constant presence, he developed an early fascination with the world of politics, particularly during the Iraq war. His curiosity and passion for writing led him to journalism, where he began his career as an as...

In this insightful conversation, Lindsey Jayne, the Chief Product Officer of the Financial Times, shares her unique journey to the top. Her path, which included a hiatus from university to serve as cabin crew, is as unconventional as it is inspiring. Lindsey delves into her career trajectory, emphasising the significance of engaging with meaningful projects and brands. From the Financial Times to...

In this insightful conversation, Virginia Stagni engages in a thought-provoking dialogue with Finola McDonnell, the Chief Communication and Marketing Officer at the Financial Times. McDonnell provides a deep dive into the intricacies of managing a multifaceted brand like the FT, discussing the delicate balance of amplifying journalistic highlights while ensuring all business sections receive due a...

In this episode of The Talent Show host Virginia Stagni welcomes Katie Martin, the respected markets editor and writer of the Long View column at The Financial Times. Coming from a farming background, Martin has forged an unconventional path into the world of financial journalism, demonstrating the power of determination and a love for the craft. The conversation offers a detailed exploration of t...

In this episode, Virginia Stagni hosts the FT Business Columnist Pilita Clark. Clark, an experienced journalist from a small Australian town, shares her path to global business journalism. Clark's writing spans a broad range of topics, from boardroom dynamics to diversity and career development in the corporate world. Her work is not confined to the desk; she often finds herself meeting extra...

In this insightful episode, we delve into the multifaceted career of Jonathan Black, the distinguished careers columnist for the Financial Times and the director of the University of Oxford's Career Service. Mr. Black charts his journey, which began in the realm of engineering and traversed diverse fields such as computer sales, management consultancy, and publishing, before culminating in his cur...

In this episode, Virginia Stagni welcomes Sophie Martin, the Deputy Chief Financial Officer at the Financial Times, to talk about finance, media and mergers & acquisitions. Sophie shares her journey, expertise and insights, explaining how the Financial Times leverages its infrastructure, playbook and respected brand to foster growth within businesses. They discuss significant recent acquisitio...

Delve into the intricate art of journalistic interviewing with Henry Mance, a distinguished figure in the world of finance journalism. This insightful podcast features Mance's profound expertise on carrying out compelling interviews, underscored by anecdotes from his engagements with influential figures such as Boris Becker, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tyson Fury and Jordan Peterson. From the tradition...

Join us for an inspiring new episode with Tara Lajumoke, the Managing Director of the media consulting start-up within the Financial Times, FT Strategies. Tara highlights the importance of owning your career path as a consultant by sticking to your values, focusing on diversity, and surrounding yourself with the best talent.  After working for McKinsey for eight years, Tara was excited to tak...

On this episode of the Talent Show, Virginia Stagni interviews renowned economist and Financial Times journalist Martin Wolf. They discuss Martin's fascinating journey, from his early career in the World Bank to finding his passion for journalism. He emphasises the importance of authenticity and pursuing a career in areas that interest and excite you. Martin also talks about his personal life, his...

In this episode of The Talent Show, Jo Ellison, Editor of HTSI, provides an insider's look into the intriguing world of luxury journalism and discusses the ever-evolving landscape of the industry. The conversation delves into the editorial strategies employed by How To Spend It (HTSI) at the Financial Times, highlighting the importance of maintaining a balance between compelling content and stunni...

In this compelling podcast conversation, Virginia Stagni engages with Nigel Hanson, a media lawyer with more than a decade of experience as in-house counsel at the Financial Times. Hanson shares his rich career trajectory, from his formative years at Kingsley to his time in legal aid defence, before finally joining the Financial Times after a secondary education in journalism.  Hanson highlig...

In this episode, we speak with Orson Francescone, Managing Director of FT Live. Orson shares his path within journalism, economics and finally arriving into live events. He explains the B2B media revenue streams, the opportunities for businesses, the challenges FT Live faced throughout Covid and how his team overcame them. He ties events with the newsroom and reflects on what is exciting about inn...

In this episode, we speak with Claer Barrett , Consumer Editor at the Financial Times, and author of "What They Don't Teach You About Money."  Claer shares her wealth of knowledge on personal finance, providing valuable insights on how to manage your money and invest in the stock market and beyond. From her early days at the Investors Chronicle to her current role at the FT, Claer has become...

Join us in this episode of the FT Talent Show as we speak with Fiona Spooner, Managing Director of Consumer Revenue Growth at the Financial Times. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Fiona shares valuable insights into the ever-evolving world of media and marketing, also touching on career development, from the challenges of returning to work after maternity leave to the importance o...

In this episode, Dan McCrum, an investigative reporter at the Financial Times, discusses his journey of becoming one of the most renowned journalists in the financial news space, especially after his investigation into the fintech fraud Wirecard, which is considered one of the most significant financial scandals of the past decade. McCrum shares his insights on the essential steps to conducting a...

In this episode of the Talent Show, our guest Alan Smith, head of Visual and Data Journalism, guides you through his career journey, from a degree in geography to making the jump into journalism - passing by a data visualisation team at the UK Statistics Office. Alan promotes the importance of visualising and interpreting data, conveying a narrative beyond just numbers and presenting a micro-story...

Join us for an enlightening episode featuring Virginia Stagni, founder of FT Talent and Head of Business Development at the Financial Times.  Virginia shares her journey of creating FT Talent and the important lessons she has learned along the way. She emphasises the crucial role of being an intrapreneur in any industry, meaning an “entrepreneur in house”, and highlights the importance of div...

Isabel Berwick is the editor of the FT’s “Working It” podcast. She started her career in journalism 23 years ago, and she has slowly transitioned into audio journalism, which she believes is a more intimate and compressed way of delivering information to her audience.  In today’s podcast, Isabel walks us through her career journey and discusses interesting workplace related topics such as int...

Caitlin Clarke, Business Development Director at the FT educates listeners on the meaning of business development in the context of the journalism industry. She explains that business development is the thorough and creative process of bringing ideas to life with the objective of growing a business.  Looking for a new guide to drive innovation and change? The Talent Show is a new podcast...

Showcasing his experience as a Managing Director of the B2B division in the Financial Times along with years of varied experiences in different departments, Nick Fallon guides us through skills and tools needed to integrate businesses in the journalism industry. He focuses on the importance of becoming a “T-shaped” person, having a deep understanding and knowledge in your area of expertise, while...