Canny Conversations Podcast by Safaraz Ali

Creating High Performance in business by Safaraz Ali   My go to quote for everything about team work and therefore peer challenge and support is: “we are not a team because we work together,  we are a team because we make each other better”     Each one of us has three key groups of people for leaning on for learning and supporting: Those ahead of us in a specific area Those at the same level as u...

In this second part of Change has Changed, Saf explores if there is a right time for change and the challenges businesses face when they have no choice but to change: the way to manage risk, manage communications and to celebrate the journey too.

In the first part of this 2-part episode, How change has changed. He discusses how it feeds into quality, opportunity, and competitiveness along with the key role of people in making change happen. The insights change brings are fundamental to success, and outlines the signs of a successful business, strong governance, financial control, a clear view on what’s happening on the frontline, valuing c...

Strategic Overview - In this episode, Safaraz demonstrates how the companies’ mission, Changing lives through skills, along with their core values underpin their strategy. This builds on previous episodes but in itself provides a valuable insight into how a business develops a strategy for success.

In this episode Saf once again picks up on the culture and structure that make for a successful business that he began talking about in the last episode, Core Values This time he outlines the 15 skills and traits that build high performing individuals and high performing teams. So, weather you are listening to better understand how to improve yourself or whether you are a business leader looking f...

In this episode Saf talks about The Pathway Group’s core values that underpin their aspiration to change lives through skills and work. He highlights the power of authentically living the company and your own values and how these benefit everyone. From acting with intention through to building trust, The Pathway group behave in ways that are designed to empower the team, the people they support an...

This week Safaraz talks about what the Pathway Group deliver and how the Group’s sustainable growth and success in delivery across the UK is underpinned by strong culture, common aims and language and well defined, well managed systems and processes.

In this first of a new series of the Canny Conversations, we look at the who, the what and the why behind Safaraz Ali and The Pathway Group. Saf tells us who he is helping, his passion, what drives him and why he has chosen this path. He outlines the lessons he's learnt along the way, how to apply them and why this is fundamental to success.

Veteran business journalist Jon Griffin joins Safaraz Ali for a journey down memory lane and a look to the future. Jon, who spent many years as Business Editor with the Birmingham Mail, reflects on changes that have seen the business landscape change almost beyond recognition. Their conversation considers how Birmingham and the West Midlands has coped with the move away from heavy engineering to a...

At the time of the recording Anne-Marie Eden was chief executive of Solihull Moors as they pressed for promotion to the English Football League, the Holy grail of the game. In this conversation Saf and Anne-Marie consider the importance of engaging with the community and diversity. At the time of the recording Anne-Marie Eden was chief executive of Solihull Moors as they pressed for promotion to t...

Anne-Marie Eden is one of a small but growing band of female chief executives in football. She is CEO at Solihull Moors, who at the time of the recording were playing in the National League – one step below the English football league. They discuss the business of football and shares lessons from their professional experiences. In this conversation Anne-Marie and Saf discuss the challenges of runn...

Vince Essex, who has more than 25 years’ experience of aviation, has his feet firmly on the ground when he joins Safaraz for a conversation about the past present and future of flying. They consider how the sector is recovering after having been one of the most badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.   Connectivity is hugely important for economic prosperity and business. Safaraz is joined by Vince Es...

Is resilience an essential prerequisite for anyone looking to go into business? This is the basis of the conversation between Safaraz and his guest, aviation professional Vince Essex. They talk about the many challenges that they have faced and how they have come through.   The importance of resilience and being able to cope with adversity is at the heart of a conversation that is in places highly...

  Safaraz Ali, an employer with hundreds of staff is joined by journalist and trade unionist Tony Adams. They consider how the balance of power in the workplace has changed. Time was when unions with large numbers of members held huge power and in the minds of many too much. But now the pendulum has swung the other way with many people living with insecure jobs on short term and in some cases zero...

Safaraz Ali is joined by journalist and broadcaster Tony Adams to discuss the power of the spoken word and in particular the power of radio. Saf talks about his eclectic tastes in radio and his enthusiasm for grass roots community stations. They talk about how radio has changed and what the future looks like. A topic they touch upon is the huge amount of choice now available to listeners but debat...

There is no shortage of business start-ups. But many unfortunately fail. Ninder Johal and Safaraz Ali have both successfully run and grown businesses. They talk about why many do not get beyond the nursery slopes and what qualities are needed to scale up. They discuss the support that is available and the role of consultants, advisers and non-executive directors in successfully moving to the next...

Ninder Johal, who joins Saf as his guest talks about the business landscape in the English Midlands. Both men have an Asian heritage, but they share their passion for Birmingham and the surrounding area that is now home. They address some telling questions such as whether Birmingham is the UK’s second city by name only and what can be done to raise its profile across the globe. They discuss the jo...

  In a special hour-long conversation Saf meets acclaimed war reporter Lynne O’Donnell, who talks about her experiences working in some of the world’s biggest trouble spots including Afghanistan and Iraq. She shares her fears of the knock-on impact of the war in Ukraine and the conversation explores leadership, diversity and education.   In a special hour-long conversation, Saf meets acclaimed war...

Most businesses hold personal data and a lot of it. This includes data about employees, contractors and customers. Keeping this safe is a must as Safaraz Ali discusses with his guest Chris Woods from the CyberQ group. The cost of not doing so can be devastating both financially and reputationally. In this podcast Saf and Chris look at Cybercrime from the perspective of businesses and larger organi...

Safraz Ali is joined by Chris Woods from the CyberQ Group to talk about keeping safe in the digital world. This is a must listen for tips about how to avoid being another victim of cybercrime. The conversation is full of practical tips that lift the lid on the myth that cyber criminals are always fiendishly clever crooks with brains the size of Jupiter operating from China or Russia. They are more...

Safaraz Ali has been bringing people together for two decades with different networking initiatives. He is joined by Dr Richard Fallon, a scientist by training but now running a business that brings people together. He has set up and leads the technology supply chain that supports the technology sector in Birmingham and the West Midlands. Saf and Richard talk about networks, both formal and inform...

Dr Richard Fallon has a PhD in photonics so who better to join Saf to throw light on technology? They talk about the transition of Birmingham and the West Midlands from one built upon traditional heavy engineering to innovative enterprises based upon the use of technology. He tells Saf that great things are happening in the region and the two men look into the future and what further changes can b...

  Safaraz Ali is in conversation with Paul Cadman, Professor of Entrepreneurship at Birmingham City University, on the topic of ‘Giving Back and the importance of ‘Corporate Social Responsibility.’ Paul is recognised for his charitable fund raising for many good causes including St Basil’s that works with homeless young people and ‘Acorns’ that runs children’s hospices across the West Midlands, su...

 | Safaraz Ali and Professor Paul Cadman who is Professor of Entrepreneurship at Birmingham City University are in conversation about awards. They share their experience of Award programmes and discuss the role that they play in encouraging business and celebrating success.  With many years of experience as an award winner, judge and event’s organiser, Saf has seen awards from all angles, He was h...

The second series of the Canny Conversations Podcast closes with Safaraz retracing his steps and reflecting upon the many topics and issues that have been covered. It will remind listeners to be clear what they mean by best and the challenges of scaling a business. People are central to success and the series has looked at behaviours and why some people are more in need of validation than others....