40 Minute Mentor

"One doesn't leave the best job in the world for anything less than an opportunity that can genuinely, if we're lucky, save the planet."  As we’re kicking off Series 10, we’re also introducing our Monday Startup spotlight series.  In our first instalment, we’re joined by a familiar face - Marta Krupinska, Co-Founder and CEO of carbon removal startup, CUR8.  Marta has previously come on the podcast...

Successes, mistakes and lessons learned… We cover all of the above and more in our BRAND NEW series of 40 Minute Mentor …coming to a set of headphones near you, next week! Inspiring conversations with category-defining Founders, CxOs and Investors, who have been through it all…the good, the bad and the in between, along the way. Resilience. Angel Investing. Burnout. Saving the planet. Plus, SO muc...

"She comes to the table with no judgement and all curiosity and allows me to explore in a way that I do my best thinking because I feel safe to do it.” This week is the final episode in our mentorship feature series, and what a four weeks it has been! In this series finale, James and Hannah are joined by the dynamic duo of Tess Cosad and Chloé HC. Tess is the Co-Founder and CEO of Béa Fertility, t...

"What I try to do is listen to the problem, understand how it fits stuff I've seen before, then relate how I think it'll play out…” In this week's 40 Minute Mentor episode, we're joined by a mentorship duo connected by their love and passion for the startup world.  Peter Nixey - serial entrepreneur and OG of the UK Startup scene, joins us together with his mentee, AJ , who has been the CEO of the...

“You want someone who's lived that same experience, and hopefully they can pass on what worked for them, but also what didn't work for them.” The golden mentorship moments keep on coming as we head into episode two of our new mentorship feature series.  This week, James and Hannah are joined by Ashleigh Tennent , Founder of the coaching platform, More Happi and Lisa Rodwell , the CEO of Daye, the...

“Do it because you care. Find out who you are, where you can be most useful, and how you want to go about it, but only do it if you care.” Mentorship can truly change people’s careers and lives.  We’re big believers in the power of mentorship, it’s why we started this podcast!  In this brand new feature series, we’ll take a deep dive into the different forms and shapes of mentorship and answer som...

“If you can be very clear in articulating what you are trying to do, why the world needs it and why you are the best person to work on it, the money will follow.” And just like that, we come to the end of our 40 Minute Mentor VC feature series.  BUT, before we kick off our next series, we have one more VC mentorship packed episode in store for you….  Today, we’re joined by Yvonne Bajela , Partner...

“It’s a really great time if you want to learn how to be a disciplined Investor and to really be able to hunt down the best Founders and best opportunities.”  In the final part of our bite-sized VC feature series, Rosie Barnett , Principal at Delin Ventures , talks to us about navigating the current landscape and shares tangible advice for any Founders, looking to fundraise.  This episode is jam p...

“If you think there’s something that needs to be changed in the world, I think that starting a company is the best and easiest way to achieve that change.” For our penultimate episode in this VC feature, we’re joined by Suranga Chandratillake OBE , former engineer and entrepreneur, now General Partner at Balderton Capital , one of Europe's leading early stage technology venture capital firms.  Bef...

“Spend some time with the team to shadow and see what they actually do day to day, before you join. It’s invaluable because it gives you an opportunity to try before you buy.”  In part 3 of our bite-sized ‘Operator to VC’ feature, Rosie Barnett , Principal at Delin Ventures , talks to us about making the transition to VC.  We hear the criteria Rosie looked at when deciding which VC to join and the...

“If you have the passion to solve a problem, you will find a way to solve it, no matter what comes in your way.” Next up in our VC feature series, we’re joined by Zeynep Yavuz , Partner at General Catalyst .  General Catalyst is a top-tier VC that invests from early stage through to growth equity stages, having backed some of the world's biggest tech companies, including Airbnb, Warby Parker and S...

“Founders want to work with investors who can understand what they are going through.” Welcome back to week two of our popular VC feature, where we’re joined by the biggest movers and shakers in the industry, with stellar mentorship for anyone looking to get into VC and guidance for any Founders currently fundraising. We’re back today with another bite-sized episode with Rosie Barnett, Principal a...

“The most successful companies are the ones that went against what is considered the status quo.” In our inaugural episode of our latest VC feature series, we’re joined by someone who is inspired by Founders that don't see limits in what could be achieved with the help of technology… Today, we’re joined by Sasha Vidiborskiy , a quantum physicist turned VC Partner at Atomico .  Atomico is a $5bn+ A...

“You can still have an incredibly successful business, without it being a triple decker Unicorn.”  This week we’re launching another series of our popular VC feature, where we’re joined by the biggest movers and shakers in the industry, sharing exclusive market insights, mentorship for anyone looking to get into VC and guidance for any Founders currently fundraising.  Alongside our Wednesday episo...

"Community for me has always been - What is our purpose? Why do we exist? What's it all for? Why does it even matter?” There are two popular topics that come up time and time again when we interview our 40 Minute Mentors and when we speak to JBM clients and candidates. These topics are: Building communities and sticking to your purpose.  In this week’s episode, we’ve rounded up some of the best ad...

TW: This episode includes conversations around eating disorders and extreme quick fixes that are not recommended or endorsed. If you are struggling with the topics covered, please seek professional help.   "A Mediterranean style diet can be more effective than anti-depressants." The nation's health is arguably the worst it's been in generations, and that predominantly comes down to our relationshi...

“Most people listening need to understand that the government is not coming to save us. There is not going to be a huge pension when we retire. What you have is what you will have.” With interest rates on the rise, and the cost of living higher than ever, all of us are feeling the strain of financial stress…  To help us get money smart and enhance our financial wellbeing, we’re joined by Vivi Frie...

“Everybody has something, everybody is travelling through this thing called life, and life is not all sunshine and rainbows.” Did you know, around 12 billion working days globally, are lost every year to depression and anxiety?  These staggering stats find us amidst a mental health crisis, and a huge demand for increased support for employee wellbeing… What gives you energy? And what takes it away...

“When people and companies are on the verge of burnout, then it’s just this busyness epidemic.” You’re in a cabin, in the middle of no-where, for 3 nights. And your phone has been locked away, until you leave.  It’s just you, nature, and your mind.  This is not the start of a horror movie script. Although being without our phones can be a super scary thought… Today, we’re kicking off our new wellb...

As we approach 1 million downloads and wrap up Series 9 of our 40 Minute Mentor podcast, we wanted to reflect on the brilliant career mentorship we received over the last 12 weeks.  From building a bootstrapped global fitness brand, to the end of HR, a CBD drink phenomenon to mental health and football, we really covered a spectrum of golden nuggets in the world of startups and scaleups. Not to me...

“Hiring the wrong people teaches you more about your culture than hiring the right people...” Did you know a third of women in the UK do not have easy access to contraception? And 80% of those who are using contraception have reported side effects… Following her own experience of having devastating side effects of being put on the wrong contraception, today’s 40 Minute Mentor, Alice Pelton , decid...

There won’t be many Founders out there who weren’t affected by the roller coaster weekend of the SVB collapse. Even if you weren’t banking with SVB yourself, the chances are high that your clients, investors or suppliers were. Although we all got to breathe a sigh of relief with HSBC acquiring SVB, many questions remain: Why did SVB collapse? How did we get to this outcome and who was behind it al...

“Poker teaches you resilience, because it’s a complete rollercoaster. It is very humbling, it’s a bit like running a startup. Experience outweighs theory, just like being a Founder.”  From wanting to be an entrepreneur since the school yard days, to a self-set mission of building two billion pound brands in his 30’s, today’s guest is no stranger to the rollercoaster life of startups. And he’s neve...

No matter whether you’re negotiating your salary, promotion, a new project or a deal with a client or investor - today’s episode will help you get it across the line.  For this 40 Minute Mentor bite-sized episode, we’re joined by Selena Rezvani, award-winning journalist, coach, speaker and author of ‘Quick Confidence’.  Ahead of her book launching on May, 9th 2023, Selena shares with us some easy...

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains topics of mental health and suicide attempts, that may be harmful or traumatising to some audiences. If you’re affected by any of the topics discussed, please make sure you reach out to the helplines listed below. ⚠️    “Nothing prepared me for that loss of identity that I had without football.”  Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a professional f...