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A young Ed Meyercord grew up in New York City, fascinated by ambitions of Wall Street. But under the surface, he always had the itch to run something of his own… He’s now been at the helm of Extreme Networks for over 15 years, proving that the potent combination of ambition and people-focused growth is a winning combo… The reach of Extreme Networks ranges from the Burj Khalifa to Old Trafford, and...

Anna Catalano’s journey from oil industry titans to a prolific board career is truly global. Playing a vital role in BP’s rebranding early in her career was proof-enough that Anna is a special talent in business - backed up by an unparalleled ability to build genuine, lasting business relationships. Today we explore how Anna built a career that spans the globe, developed a unique personal narrativ...

The concept of a sofa in a box is so simple it’s genius - but the real genius lies in how you grow such a business from the ground up. Keiran Hewkin is the CEO & Co-Founder of Swyft, a leader whose success is built upon the ability to embrace failure, break things, and bring a laser-focused vision to life. Join us to explore how Keiran built a brand through bootstrapping, boldness, and brutal...

Penny Lee is one of very few people with a front row seat to a presidential election campaign, the Clintons’ humble intelligence, and the Lehman Brothers collapse in 2008. Her journey spans both sides of the public and private sector equation - having extracted herself from politics, she’s now President and CEO of the Financial Technology Association in the U.S.  Join us on Pivot Points and go beh...

From titans of industry, to innovative underdogs, Jon Lombardo has a knack for combining the power of personal relationships with an eye for the future. That’s how he’s made the leap from LinkedIn to the cutting edge of AI marketing, as Co-Founder of Evidenza. Join us as we draw on Jon’s multicultural experiences, learn to avoid being blindsided in business, and find out why we’re all still underh...

Martin Allen Morales’ career spans industries and companies which most would only dream of working within: Apple, EMI, Disney and Ceviche. But for dreams to be formed, you need imagination - as CEO of the Institute of Imagination he’s empowering kids to reimagine their future just as he did. We’re treated to a journey like no other on Pivot Points this week, as Martin takes us from his upbringing...

Creativity and professionalism are not always polar opposites - Sarah Walker-Smith shows that they’re two sides of the same coin. Between musical and acting aspirations, and leadership within huge businesses like Shakespeare Martineau and Ampa, she’s focused on bringing purpose to her teams and empowering them to be their true selves. Join us on Pivot Points to discover how Sarah overcame impostor...

Rupert Bedell started life as an aspiring engineer, but through roles at Natwest, HSBC, American Express and countless others, he’s morphed into a marketing master. Now taking on the Managing Director role at Fasthosts, he’s pivoted from transforming titans to nurturing a challenger brand… Learn to navigate the ever-changing world of performance marketing, discover the secrets to curating culture,...

Over the course of a remarkable 30-year career, David Boynton has led some of the world's most prominent brands, including L'Occitane, Charles Tyrwhitt, and The Body Shop.  It’s a journey that’s taken him through transformative moments and challenges at every stage, bestowing him with pivotal learnings around leadership, growth, and culture. Join us this week to discover the ‘crucible mo...

Sophie Devonshire’s career could be described as ‘squiggly’, but in business she’s a laser-focused CEO with an infallible eye for marketing and team-building. Drawing on experiences from Coca Cola and Proctor and Gamble, she’s mastered the art of ‘leading with speed’, building purposeful pauses into business, and shaping roles to play into a team’s strengths. Her leadership now is shaped by countl...

Investing in a bankrupt business isn’t usually the most appealing option, but for Andrea Mandel-Mantello, it was a stroke of genius… The Cesare Ragazzi name was known throughout Italy when Andrea took over. Through a strong rebrand, resilience, and passion for improving people’s lives, Andrea’s brand now brings those values to a staggering 26 countries. Join us on Pivot Points to discover how Andr...

Before creating one of the largest gatherings of future makers in the UK, John O’Brien MBE has had an incredible career path, from serving as an army officer to leading major initiatives with the Prince of Wales' charities.  He's now embarked on an ambitious mission to bring together leaders from across sectors to help build a better Britain.  Join me as we explore John’s perspective on...

Piers Linney is a name you’ll know from Dragons’ Den or Secret Millionaire, but his wider career journey paints the fascinating portrait of a multi-talented, resilient and forward-thinking entrepreneur. Currently the Co-Founder of Implement AI, he’s a fascinating individual whose expertise on the role of AI in the future should incite CEOs this year to have a pivotal moment of their own. In this e...

Matthew Wenger’s entrepreneurial story can be traced back to the age of just 8 years old, and from that point, Matt’s journey culminates in his current role spearheading the renewable energy transition. He’s Harvard-educated, musically gifted, and a fantastic CEO of Relevate Power, so join us for this episode of Pivot Points to discover the moments that shaped his path to leadership, and the visio...

This week’s podcast guest is one whose biggest pivot was finding a way for businesses to better fulfil their potential, but shifting from the corporate world to academia - Griffith University’s, Nick Barter. Nick talks Dave through the need for narrative and purpose beyond profit, bringing emotion into decision-making, and why your demography is your destiny. This episode covers: Professor Nick Ba...

When you’re driven by a personal purpose, as Paul Donovan has been, then the focus that you pour into a business becomes so much more powerful. Now in what he describes as his ‘third career’, Paul’s philanthropic endeavours give him the drive to change lives - one such endeavour being The Artis Foundation, of which he’s a Patron. Paul’s illustrious career is studded with fascinating stories of tur...

When you take on leadership in a new business, the people you rely on might not be sitting in the same places you’re used to. Our latest Pivot Points Podcast guest is Baker Tilly International’s CEO, Francesca Lagerberg - a leader whose experience with handling changes within a firm is equally as shrewd as with personal change. Francesca joins Brandpie’s Founder, Dave Allen, to discuss the fusion...

There are few jobs cooler than Chief Executive of the Royal Albert Hall, but with that comes a responsibility to uphold its culture, legacy, and long-term vision. That tall order has been a responsibility and a pleasure for James Ainscough, being a part of the Royal Albert Hall for over a decade. The fascinating pivotal moments he shares with us in this week’s podcast come from both his journey, a...

Hello and welcome to Pivot Points. The podcast that delves deep into the expertise of visionary leaders who’ve successfully taken their business, through a complex pivotal moment to unlock growth.  We’ll share with you how CEOs handle these critical inflection points, from leadership changes, mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures to jumping an ‘S’ Curve or making a category pivot to drive futur...