The Smarter Podcast with Emily Austen

Today’s guest has spent the last decade shaping one of London’s most iconic cultural brands into something bigger than nightlife. Caitlin McAllister is the Managing Director of Ministry, where she’s helped transform the business from a legendary nightclub and record label into a multifaceted empire spanning shared workspaces, wellness, global touring, publishing, and even fragrance. With a backgro...

Today’s guest is someone who truly embodies what it means to juggle it all with grit and grace. Erin Dana Lichy was selling real estate developments in New York before she turned 23, went to grad school at NYU for sustainable development, and then threw herself into entrepreneurship—learning the hard way when her first business failed, but using that experience as her “real business school.” Fast...

Today’s guest is Jodie Harrison – founder of brand consultancy Fell and Scar, and now Chief Brand Officer at Rapha. Before that, she held senior roles at Belstaff, shaping the identity of some of fashion’s most distinctive brands. In this episode, we talk about what it really means to build a brand with soul, the power of emotional storytelling, and the bold decisions that come with stepping away...

Today’s guest is Alessia Pasin – Managing Director at Huishan Zhang, one of London’s most exciting luxury fashion houses. In this episode, we talk about her journey from corporate consulting to high fashion, the realities of leading a global brand, and how she balances business strategy with creativity. Alessia shares what it’s really like behind the scenes of a luxury label, the power of intuitio...

Today’s guest is chef Kate Austen – the winner of The Great British Menu 2024, and someone who knows a thing or two about pressure. In this episode, we talk about what it takes to walk away from a steady job in pursuit of something bigger, the mental and physical toll of competing on national TV, and what happens when you go from working behind the scenes to suddenly being in the spotlight. Kate s...

Today’s guest is someone who truly redefined the fitness accessories space. Natalie Holloway is the co-founder of Bala, the brand that turned ankle weights into must-have wellness accessories and became a global movement along the way. After burning out in advertising, Natalie and her husband Max swapped agency life for a sabbatical – and ended up creating one of the most design-forward, purpose-d...

Today’s guest is one of those people who makes you sit up, take notes, and seriously question why we’re still doing things the way we are. Tash Grossman is the founder and CEO of Slip , the B2B startup transforming dull, forgettable digital receipts into powerful post-purchase marketing tools. She's a former management consultant who swapped client decks for startup chaos—and did it with the clari...

This week’s guest is someone who understands that good marketing isn't just about campaigns—it’s about people. Jo McClintock is the VP of Brand & Marketing at Trainline, and one of the most commercially creative marketers working in tech today. From launching new customer segments at Screwfix in her early twenties to repositioning Moonpig as a modern gifting destination, Jo’s built her career...

Today’s episode is a deep dive into grit, gut instinct, and the kind of entrepreneurial vision that reshapes an entire industry. Vanita Parti launched Blink Brow Bar in 2004 — back when threading was virtually unheard of on the British high street, let alone in department stores. What started as a single chair tucked between lingerie rails in Fenwick has since become a nationwide brand, credited w...

Today’s guest is someone who has built a career not just on killer plots—but on a deep understanding of what it means to be human. Gregg Hurwitz is the bestselling author of 26 thrillers, the creator of the Orphan X series, and a writer whose work spans everything from comics and screenplays to Shakespearean tragedy. Yes, really. He holds a master’s from Oxford in exactly that. Gregg has written f...

Today’s guest is someone I’ve been so excited to speak with: Sabina Nawaz . Sabina is a global CEO coach, TED speaker, and now, the author of the brilliant new book You're the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be and Others Need . With decades of experience coaching senior leaders in over 30 countries — from Fortune 50 companies to nonprofits and government agencies — Sabina has seen it all whe...

Today’s guest is one of the most quietly powerful women in the entertainment industry — and someone who has shaped the careers of some of the most influential names in British media, music, and culture. Mary Bekhait is the Global CEO of YMU, the talent management powerhouse behind household names in TV, sport, music, digital, and literature. Her journey from a freelance music journalist and record...

Meet Ashley McDonnell – Global Brand Leader at Puig From a Dior exhibition at 16 that lit the spark, to now shaping the future of luxury at Puig, Ashley McDonnell has taken one of the most intentional – and impressive – routes through the luxury industry. Raised in rural Ireland, she set her sights on Paris early and carved her own path through the French “Grande École” system, earning her place a...

This week’s guest is a cultural powerhouse. Candace Bushnell — the woman behind Sex and the City — didn’t just write a column; she sparked a global phenomenon that redefined modern womanhood on screen and beyond. But her story doesn’t stop with Carrie Bradshaw. In this candid, wide-ranging conversation, Candace opens up about legacy, longevity, and what it really takes to build a lasting career in...

My guest today is the brilliant and endlessly creative Dylan Lauren , founder and CEO of Dylan’s Candy Bar — a business she launched in 2001 that has since become one of the most iconic and joyful retail experiences in the world. You’ve probably seen the rainbow-striped stores, the oversized lollipops, the celebrity fans, or the jaw-dropping candy displays that look more like pop art installations...

Amanda shares her path from liberal arts student to Wall Street analyst, private equity investor, and later brand builder for Supergoop! and Olaplex. She emphasises her passion for merging creative brand storytelling with hard commercial discipline. At Supergoop!, she helped convert sunscreen into a daily wellness staple by innovating formulas like the iconic “Unseen” and focusing on mission drive...

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Will Pearson is the co-founder of the hugely successful Ocean Bottle. Will's mission is simple; he wants to save the ocean. Will and I chatted about big time partnerships, slow growth, how to find a co-founder, being purpose led, shutting out the virtue signalling noise and what the reality of the future looks like. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Zoë Zimmer, was born and raised in London. At fifteen, she started modelling, and seven years later transitioned into working as a photographer. Self-taught, she initially started working in fashion and portrait photography while living between London and Los Angeles. More recently she turned her talents to design, launching her label, The 87. We chatted about the 'right' amount of work, nav...

Eliza is a start-up owned by Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT). The website uses an affiliates-based publishing model and has, since October 2023, increased its Instagram followers by 173% and more than trebled its followers on TikTok. One of its content formats, developed on TikTok, has had more than 100 million views. When she took on the role as MD, Hannah's brief from one of the biggest...

Michelle has an amazing CV. Michelle was promoted to be Vice President, Global Communications of MAC Cosmetics following their acquisition by Estée Lauder Companies. She led the growth of MAC Cosmetics, turning it into the world's biggest make-up brand. Under Michelle's direction, legendary MAC AIDS Fund was launched. Michelle then set up her own company, Floral Street, a modern British...

Maria Hatzistefanis is a huge success story. A best selling author (with 3 books!), cast on Dragon's Den Greece, Founder of Nip & Fab and Rodial, Maria is flying the flag for successful entrepreneurialism. We had an honest and open chat about her success, how she did it, what she still wants to do, and what's she's learned on the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...

Jess and Sidney chatted to me about disrupting a dusty category, working together as best friends, the best piece of advice they've ever been given about building a business, challenges in the industry and how they work out their roles and responsibilities within the business. More about the brand from the founders; There’s always been murkiness surrounding how fine jewelry is made. Growing up in...

Samuel McKnight MBE is a hairstylist known for his work with celebrities including Princess Diana, Kate Moss and Lady Gaga, and for his collaborations with fashion houses like Chanel, Fendi, Balmain and Burberry. In the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic, Sam launched his new product line, which has gone from strength to strength. We sat down to discuss indulgence in nostalgia, the best advice Charlo...

Pip Durell is a former Vogue stylist and Tatler editor, starting her own label, With Nothing Underneath, to create the perfect shirt after finding herself adjusting men's tailoring for her own use. We chatted extensively about not being cool kids, early experience, how Pip learnt her talents, hard graft and working in an actual cupboard. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.