Brave Bold Brilliant

In this powerful episode, serial entrepreneur and property mogul James Martin opens up about his fascinating life and business journey. From being kicked out of school at 14 due to severe dyslexia to running a national tree surgery business by age 18, James shares the real, unfiltered truths behind his incredible track record of building and selling million-pound enterprises.  Dive into an in...

Your business will only grow as strong as the team behind it. One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs and business leaders make is hiring too early, too late, or for the wrong reasons. In this episode of Brave Bold Brilliant, Jeannette Linfoot shares the key principles behind building a high-performing team, recognising the right time to make your next hire, and creating a business that can scal...

Jason Cotta didn’t take the classic corporate route to the boardroom. He left school at 16 with almost no qualifications and started on the very lowest rung of the retail ladder. Today, he is the CEO of Arcturus Group overseeing iconic hospitality brands like Pho, Rosa’s Thai, and Mowgli.  In this episode, Jason shares his fascinating perspective as an "unlikely CEO", breaking down why your career...

Jeannette shares the five transformative traits that separate average business leaders from high performers, offering listeners a raw, honest look at what it truly takes to unlock the next level of success. You’ll Learn Why: High performers accept total accountability for their environment and results, rather than placing blame on external economic forces or their teams. Consistent, repetitive exe...

In this raw and revealing episode, serial entrepreneur Terry Tateossian sits down to discuss the hidden trials of balancing high-stakes business ownership with life-altering physical changes.  Terry shares her profound awakening after a series of stress-induced health crises forced her to confront a massive weight gain, early perimenopause, and an emotional eating disorder. By stepping away from t...

Jeannette goes inside the boardroom to explore why your people are the most valuable asset in your business. Facing tough macroeconomic pressures, global uncertainties, and shifting consumer confidence, leading through turbulent times requires a radical shift in how we approach teamwork. As she explains, high performance doesn't mean working harder. It means aligning behind a common purpose, clari...

Jeannette is joined by entrepreneur Nigel Lovering to discuss his fascinating journey through the business world, and the story of how he transitioned from a chef and master baker to top telecom salesman, and eventually to a high-risk business owner navigating massive market changes.  Nigel uncovers the critical role that strong human relationships, intentional employee trust, and an unshakeable a...

What happens when a business leader looks completely fine on the surface, but is secretly running on empty behind the scenes?  In this episode, Jeannette dives deep into the concept of "silent burnout”, the subtle, creeping exhaustion that happens behind the LinkedIn posts, the boardrooms, and the strategy sessions… You’ll Learn Why: Silent burnout is arguably more dangerous than obvious burnout b...

Juha Järvinen, Chief Customer Officer at Virgin Atlantic, joins Jeannette for a second time to discuss the airline’s latest shift from commercial strategy to end-to-end customer experience. He shares how Virgin Atlantic is maintaining its famous disruptive, entrepreneurial spirit while leaning into cutting-edge technologies like generative AI and predictive pricing.  From navigating massive global...

Running a business or leading a team under pressure can often cause you to become reactive and make decisions based purely on emotion. In this episode, we dive into why having a mentor is the ultimate secret weapon for elite CEOs and business leaders—providing the focus, structure, and calmness needed to navigate difficult times and catapult your success. You’ll Learn Why: A mentor acts as a criti...

Entrepreneur James Ashwood sits down to debunk the glamorous myths surrounding modern entrepreneurship. Drawing from over three decades of a varied corporate and business career and the critical personal turning points that shaped it, James provides a refreshingly candid look at the emotional and financial realities of forging your own path.  From the dark days of pandemic-driven business losses t...

Jeannette breaks down the common misconception that successful leaders and entrepreneurs possess a natural, unshakeable confidence, revealing instead that self-doubt and insecurity affect everyone behind closed doors.  She examines the pressures of modern leadership in a hyper-visible social media age, warning against the traps of perfectionism and comparison that stifle progress You’ll Learn Why:...

Most people only see the success story. The growth. The revenue. The headlines. The scaling. But behind every successful business is a side of leadership that nobody talks about… The pressure. The burnout. The difficult decisions. The loneliness. The systems breaking. The people problems. The constant reinvention required to keep growing. In this special Brave Bold Brilliant compilation episode, J...

In this episode digital optimist, author, and global business executive Chris White joins the show to discuss his expansive 30-year career trajectory, notably highlighting his two decades at Cisco during its monumental growth from $1 billion to $50 billion. Drawing from deep, lived experiences in Silicon Valley and leadership structures across the globe, he breaks down the core concepts of his new...

Jeannette tackles a universal challenge faced by entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and business leaders alike: knowing when and how to build a powerful team. Drawing from her extensive journey as both an entrepreneur and a corporate CEO, Jeannette delivers an honest look at the operational traps that stunt growth and breaks down the strategic signs that signal it is time to hire, the dangers of...

Jeannette is joined by Dr. Guy Sandelowsky, co-founder of the award-winning plant-powered pet food brand, Omni. Guy reflects on the business's phenomenal journey over the past 12 months, detailing how their appearance on Dragons' Den acted as a massive catalyst to 10x their top-line revenue.  From surviving a brutal grilling by Peter Jones to securing backing from Steven Bartlett and Deborah Meade...

Jeannette pulls back the curtain on the "silent collapse" plaguing today's high achievers; leaders who appear successful on the outside but are secretly running on empty.  Drawing from 30 years of business experience, she explores why modern pressures like AI disruption and economic volatility lead to misaligned leadership architecture rather than simple weakness You’ll Learn Why: High performers...

In this moving episode Mark Stewart, film producer and chair of Race Against Dementia joins the show to discuss the personal and professional mission behind the charity founded by his father, F1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart.  Mark shares the heart-wrenching reality of his mother Helen’s battle with frontotemporal dementia and how the family is applying the high-speed, problem-solving mindset of Formu...

Stepping away from the grind of a small business and into the leadership of a multi-million pound enterprise isn't just about working harder—it’s about an identity shift.  This episode explores why the very behaviours that helped you reach £1 million can become the glass ceiling that traps you at £7 million, demanding that leaders prioritise strategy over hustle. From outgrowing early loyalties to...

A veteran of the beauty world, Nick Stenson shares his path from working in a hospital emergency room to finding his passion in his mother's salon. Nick reflects on the intersection of confidence and beauty, his career journey through corporate leadership at Ulta Beauty and Matrix, and the personal resilience he developed during his recent battle with cancer.  He provides deep insights into the im...

Daniel Hoare, founder of Rocket Fuel Strategies, shares his journey from being an Australian sportsperson to becoming a brand strategist in the UK. He discusses the common mistakes founders make when trying to scale, the importance of adding value and theatre to a category rather than just imitating incumbents, and the complexities of localising brands for international markets like the US.  Danie...

Jeannette talks to Rob Ferguson, founder of Ferguson Alliance, about his extensive experience leading both large corporate entities and complex family-owned businesses.  Rob shares the profound personal transformation he underwent after climbing the corporate ladder only to find it unfulfilling, leading him to a sabbatical where he shifted his focus from mere tactics to a purpose-driven life of se...

Jeannette explains why structure, not just hard work, is the ultimate catalyst for business growth. She breaks down her "Align 360" framework, revealing how to eliminate bottlenecks, assign clear ownership through tools like the RACI matrix, and build leadership layers before you think you need them. Whether you're a startup founder or a corporate leader, you'll discover how the discipline of stru...

Are leaders actually ready for the future… or just pretending to be? In this powerful episode of the Brave Bold Brilliant Podcast, Kerensa Jennings shares brutally honest insights from over 30 years at the highest levels of business, from BT Group to the BBC and now advising global organisations on AI, innovation, and transformation. From the realities of digital transformation to the truth about...

If your business has stalled in 2026, the culprit isn't the economy or your competitors—it's likely a lack of clarity and decisive leadership.  In this episode, Jeannette dismantles the "busy-ness" trap that keeps entrepreneurs stuck in neutral. By identifying the three primary growth killers—weak positioning, decision avoidance, and the absence of a strategic plan—Jeannette provides a high-impact...