Grant Thornton UK

Alternatively Speaking

Business EN ↓ 6 episodes

Alternatively Speaking — the new podcast from Grant Thornton that dives into the healthy tensions redefining modern business. Each month, we unpack the real trade-offs leaders grapple with: strategy vs. risk, purpose vs. performance, ambition vs. sustainability. Through candid conversations and practical insight from industry experts, we help listeners cut through the complexity, challenge assumptions, and discover smarter, more alternative ways to lead. If you’re ready for deeper thinking, sharper decisions, and perspectives that push the conversation forward, this is the podcast for you. Alt...

Author

Grant Thornton UK

Episodes

Bored of the board? | Alternatively Speaking #6 04.06.2026 24:10

In this episode, host and broadcast journalist Samantha Simmonds is joined by Jodi Balfe, Principal at Cinven, and Barry Gamble, experienced Chair and Non-Executive Director, to ask: are boards really fit for today’s pace of change? They explore the tension between process and impact, why a culture of openness and genuine debate is critical to better decision-making, and how diversity of thought c...

Four generations, one workplace. Clash or catalyst? | Alternatively Speaking #5 07.05.2026 34:00

This is Alternatively Speaking, the Grant Thornton podcast where we explore the healthy tensions that shape modern business. In this episode, host and broadcast journalist Samantha Simmonds brings together three people with different career experiences – Gen Z Co-founder Ben Jeffries, millennial audit partner Ant Thomas, and Gen Z audit associate Kirsty Miller – to ask: is friction between generat...

AI strategy: does scrappy speed beat corporate caution? │ Alternatively Speaking #4 01.04.2026 34:00

This is Alternatively Speaking, the Grant Thornton podcast where we explore the healthy tensions that shape modern business. In this episode, host and broadcast journalist Samantha Simmonds is joined by two leaders with deep expertise in AI, technology, and digital transformation. Together, they explore one of the most pressing dilemmas for every organisation today: should you move fast and invest...

Is a crisis mindset holding businesses back? | Alternatively Speaking #3 26.02.2026 24:35

This is Alternatively Speaking. The Grant Thornton podcast where we explore the healthy tensions that shape modern business. In this episode, host and broadcast journalist Samantha Simmonds is joined by Business Psychologist Dr Susan Kahn and Head of Financial Services to unpack how business leaders can navigate crisis mindsets, build a culture of sensible risk-taking, and shift from fear to...

Piers Linney and Carolyn Hicks talk purpose, profit and leadership | Alternatively Speaking #2 21.01.2026 25:08

This is Alternatively Speaking. The Grant Thornton podcast where we explore the healthy tensions that shape modern business. In this episode, host and broadcast journalist Samantha Simmonds is joined by entrepreneur and investor Piers Linney and transformation leader Carolyn Hicks to ask: can purpose truly drive profit, or does one come at the expense of the other? They discuss the clash...

Political Promises v Business Reality | Alternatively Speaking #1 02.12.2025 29:21

This is Alternatively Speaking. The monthly Grant Thornton podcast where we explore the healthy tensions that shape modern business. In this episode, host and broadcast journalist Samantha Simmonds is joined by experts in areas of policy, business, and entrepreneurship to explore whether the government can truly deliver for business without compromising its broader responsibilities. Guests for th...