Speaking Business Podcast

My guest is a former England international rugby player, who has played at the highest level and against elite players such as Jonah Lomu, (and survived!). He won 11 trophies whilst playing with the English and European Champions, Leicester Tigers. Since retiring from playing the sport, he has gained a first-class honours degree in Leadership and Management, followed by an MBA receiving a Distinction. He has gone on to work with other elite organisations that include the SAS and the Premier League. His years of playing elite rugby and working with elite organisations, have given him remarkable insights into the entire life cycle of high performing teams. He has a deep understanding of how high performing teams are made, how they, or individual players can be crushed, and then rebuilt, and how they can go on to develop a sustainable winning mindset and culture. He is passionate about the importance of attitude and culture when it comes to achieving high performance. You cannot buy a culture. Together you have

My guest this week is a world-leading expert on innovation, purpose-driven leadership, and cultivating serendipity. He teaches at New York University, where he directs the CGA Global Economy Program, as well as at the London School of Economics.  Previously, he co-directed the LSE's Innovation and Co-Creation Lab. He is co-founder of Sandbox Network, a global community of young innovators; and co-founder of Leaders on Purpose, an organisation convening leading CEOs and empowering them to integrate profit and purpose. His latest book, The Serendipity Mindset, has been highlighted as a "wise, exciting, and life-changing book" and a "bracing and hopeful antidote to a world addicted to efficiency and control". Please welcome my guest, Dr Christian Busch Bio Dr. Christian Busch is a world-leading expert on innovation, purpose-driven leadership, and cultivating serendipity. He teaches at New York University (NYU), where he directs the CGA Global Economy Program, as well as at the London School of Economics (LSE). P

My guest this week is a business Psychologist and Humourologist who packs a punchline. In the world of elite speakers, how many people have a background as a performer, comedian, TV psychologist, pop star and business guru? Not many! Having had considerable success in all those areas, my guest is now the host of the award-winning Humourology Podcast where he interviews a glittering line-up of guests from the worlds of business, sport, politics and entertainment.  His mission is to show leaders how to drive the success of their business through the scientific application of humour. Paul Boross - welcome to the show. Bio Paul Boross is an inspirational business psychologist and humourologist who packs a punchline. Paul has refined the art of making corporate audiences laugh while they learn, communicating the most vital messages at an emotional level that stays with people, long after the event comes to a close. Drawing on a career that has taken him from primetime TV, music and stand-up comedy to business, con

My guest this week is a multinational CEO having led The Body Shop, Pandora and Conival PLC.  He is also the former Managing Director for L’Oréal UK and Marketing Director for Coca-Cola and Sainsbury’s supermarkets.  With experience covering diverse cultures, channels and products he has a unique perspective and insight on leadership. He gives business leaders concrete tools to make the extraordinary happen with new ways to lead individuals and teams and create consumer first companies that make more money and most importantly Save Tomorrow’s Planet. Please welcome my guest, Jeremy Schwartz. Bio Jeremy Schwartz is a multinational CEO having led The Body Shop, Pandora and Conival PLC, been Managing Director for L’Oréal UK and Marketing Director for Coca-Cola and Sainsbury’s supermarkets. His experience covers a diversity of cultures, channels and products which gives him a unique perspective and insight on leadership for C Suite, country leadership teams and investors worldwide. Specifically, Jeremy has overse

My guest is a globally recognised author, speaker, podcaster, and business consultant. He is a prolific writer and speaker whose work sits at the intersection of marketing, technology, and humanity. He has advanced degrees in marketing and organisational development … holds seven patents … and is a faculty member of the graduate studies program at Rutgers University. He is the best-selling author of nine popular books … including the very first book on influence marketing. His blog, GROW, and podcast “The Marketing Companion” are ranked among the top rated publications in the marketing field. All the way from Tennessee… where his very own bees make honey that wins blue ribbons at the State Fair… Please welcome… Mark Schaefer! Bio Mark Schaefer is a globally-recognised keynote speaker, educator, business consultant, and author. His blog {grow} is hailed as one of the top marketing blogs in the world. Mark has worked in global sales, PR, and marketing positions for more than 30 years and provides consulting ser

My guest is the first female film Director/Producer in the United Arab Emirates. She has written and directed both for film and television. As a working professional, her accolades include being ranked among the Top 50 most powerful personalities in Arab Cinema, and 100 most powerful Arabs under 40 by Arabian Business Magazine. She’s been awarded the Visionary of the Year Award at the Arabian Business Awards and has been Brand Ambassador for Canon Middle East since 2011. She was recently received the Black Swan Award for Women Empowerment - Asia One 2019, and Businesswoman of the Year Award – in the Gulf Business Awards 2020. Please welcome, film producer Nayla Al Khaja. Bio Nayla Al Khaja is the first female film Director/Producer in the United Arab Emirates and is CEO of Nayla Al Khaja Films (previously D-Seven Motion Pictures). In 2007 Nayla also founded The Scene Club, Dubai’s first film club, which now counts over 22,000 registered members.  She has written and directed several films, all presented and a

My guests today co-host a podcast called The Advanced Selling Podcast.     They started this podcast 14 years ago and have over 800 episodes up — and boast a LinkedIn following of 12,000 group members.    They each have their own sales coaching practice and team up every week to deliver tips strategies and attitudes for today’s professional salesperson.  Please welcome Bill Caskey and Bryan Neale. Bio Bill Caskey Bill Caskey is a sales development leader and experimenter who has been improving B2B sales teams and executives since 1990. His philosophies and strategies have fuelled explosive growth in sales and profits for his clients. Bill is passionate about sharing his ideas about selling, business life, money and meaning. But his work expands beyond business-to-business and individual training and coaching. He is the author of Same Game New Rules, Rewire The Sales Mind, The Sales Playbook and Email It! He also co-hosts with Bryan Neale, The Advanced Selling Podcast (iTunes), a weekly podcast counselling sal

My guest is a leading macroeconomist and recognised as a top-100 financial-services influencer.  He is a member of several international think tanks, with a wealth of policy experience working in the private sector and academia and advising market participants, fortune 100 corporations, policy makers and institutions. He worked at the Bank of England, in the Bank’s Markets and Financial Stability divisions and its Centre for Central Banking Studies. He co-founded the independent macro-financial and geo-political advisory firm, Rosa and Roubini Associates with the renowned economist Nouriel Roubini.    Please welcome my guest, Brunello Rosa. BIO Brunello Rosa is a leading macroeconomist, included in the list of the top-100 financial-services influencers in the world by Onalytica, with a wealth of policy experience working in the private sector and academia and advising market participants, fortune 100 corporations, policy makers and institutions. He is a member of the Chief Economists Advisory Board of the Eur

My guest this week is a pioneer in humour-based training. He has spoken at over 2500 main stage events from Texas to Tasmania.  He is also the author of 4 books and markets his own line of stress buster products worldwide. He is a tears-in-your-eyes, laugh out loud speaker. He teaches people to be more resilient and resourceful and coaches businesses on how to enhance productivity and employee enthusiasm through the use of humour. Please welcome to our virtual stage, from his intergalactic headquarters in Portland Oregon, Tim Gard. Bio Tim Gard, CSP, CPAE is a tears-in-your-eyes-laugh-out-loud speaker who teaches people to be more resilient and resourceful and coaches businesses on how to enhance productivity and employee enthusiasm. Talented, innovative and memorable, Tim provides amazing take-home value delivered with his one-of-a-kind presentation style Tim "walks his talk" as a successful business owner himself for more than 20 years. Before starting his business, he worked in the Sales Industry, as well

My guest today is a fashion industry and retail expert having designed for Alexander McQueen, Mulberry, M&S and Topshop. Her high flying, high pressure career, of global travel, enormous responsibility, crazy deadlines, mixing with high profile people, appeared glamorous and successful on the outside. However, underneath she was crumbling. She maxed out and she burnt out.  Today she’s going to share her story of burnout and recovery and how she’s now helping businesses and people to excel without burnout. Please welcome my guest, Marie Oakes.  Bio  Marie Oakes is a fashion industry and retail expert having designed for Alexander McQueen, Mulberry, and M&S. Her high flying, high pressure career, of global travel, enormous responsibility, crazy deadlines, mixing with high profile people, appeared glamorous and successful on the outside. However, underneath she was crumbling. She maxed out and burned out. She went on a journey of self-recovery and learnt how to rewire her brain, regain control of her lif

My guest this week is a British household name, he took over his family’s jewellery business in 1984.  By 1990 he had grown it from 130 stores to 2500. But everything changed overnight in 1991 when, during a speech for the Institute of Directors, he described a Ratner’s sherry decanter as ‘total crap’. In December 2020, he published his latest book called Reinvent Yourself co-authored with Rob Moore.  It shows you how to embrace change, take the unpopular path and become a business chameleon. Voted as one of the top 10 best public speakers, Gerald Ratner will share his story and the rollercoaster ride that he experienced when he had nothing else to lose. Bio Gerald Ratner is best known as the former millionaire chief executive of the major British jewellery chain Ratners Jewellery, when he achieved notoriety after making a speech which caused the company’s bankruptcy. Gerald Ratner based his philosophy of business on his experiences as a boy in Petticoat Lane Market. He observed that “the people who shouted t

Our sponsor, London Speaker Bureau, has been running a series of webinars over the past few months.  These episodes are focussed on sharing advice, support and insights to businesses on how to navigate these troubling and uncertain times. We are lucky enough to have one of those episodes to share with you. Dame Carolyn Fairbairn recently stepped down as the first female Director General of the CBI - the Confederation of British Industry. She was invited to share her point of view on the future role and opportunities women have in the business world today.  This insightful discussion also covers topics such as inclusion in the workplace, digital transformation and international trade.  The discussion is hosted by Producer, Presenter and Interviewer Roy Sheppard. Carolyn Fairbairn Bio As the first female Director-General of the CBI (2015 – 2020), Carolyn Fairbairn has incredible appreciation for the role of women in global business. With her outstanding academic achievements including a BA in Economics from Cam

After 10 years working as a nightclub promoter in New York City, my guest made a decision to change everything about his life. He left America to volunteer on a hospital ship off the coast of Liberia, West Africa, and returned two years later to start charity: water, a non-profit organisation whose mission is to solve the global water crisis. In the 14 years since, charity: water has raised nearly $500 million and brought clean & safe drinking water to 11 million people in 29 countries around the world. Please welcome my guest, Scott Harrison. Bio Scott Harrison spent almost 10 years as a nightclub promoter in New York City before leaving to volunteer on a hospital ship off the coast of Liberia, West Africa as a volunteer photojournalist. Returning home to New York City two years later, he founded the non-profit organisation charity: water in 2006. Turning his full attention to the global water crisis and the world’s 785 million people without clean water to drink, he created public installations and inno

My guest this week has been recognised world-over for five decades as one of the world's most influential lifestyle experts, predicting and creating societal, business and consumer trends; initiating and promoting major events such as London Fashion Week and Green Consumer Week as well as advising major corporations including McDonalds, Tesco, HSBC and Next on women's engagement.   She is the creator of B.Hive, the world's first women's business club in partnership with Regus; was Chair of Viva women's radio and put on the UK's first women's festival, What Women Want and founded SEED, the women's leadership platform based on her global best-seller, The SEED Handbook, the feminine way to do business.  As well as having written several women’s leadership books she also ran her successful US-based new marketing agency, Globalfusion, in Los Angeles and San Francisco. In 2018, she received an OBE for her contribution to business, fashion and women’s empowerment. Please welcome my guest, social scientist Lynne Fran

My guest is the world’s leading educator and motivator for uplifting customer service and Uplifting Service cultures. He helps leaders, teams, and organisations learn how to serve better, care more, and generate new value in the world.  He is author of the book, Uplifting Service, and fourteen other books on service, business and inspiration. For three years in a row, GlobalGurus has rated him the #1 Customer Service Guru in the World.  He is a man on a mission – to uplift the spirit and quality of service and care everywhere in the world – including with us here today, please welcome Ron Kaufman.  Bio Ron Kaufman is the world’s leading educator and motivational speaker for uplifting customer service and uplifting service cultures. He is author of the book, Uplifting Service, and fourteen other books on service, business and inspiration. Ron is rated one of the world’s top twenty-five “Hot Speakers” by Speaker Magazine for his high energy and high content presentations. Ron is a man on a mission – to uplift t

My guest this week has a global reputation for his leading edge thinking about how companies can out-perform in today's highly dynamic and complex business system. He has been a Visiting Distinguished Professor at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan where he formed a powerful partnership with the late, great, CK Prahalad. He is widely acknowledged as one of the world's leading authorities on "competitive disruption" and "game changing strategy". Please welcome my guest this week, Gordon Hewitt. Bio Dr Gordon Hewitt is one of the world’s top business school professors, with a truly global reputation for his leading edge thinking about how companies can out-perform in today’s highly dynamic and complex business system. He has been a Visiting Distinguished Professor at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan where he formed a powerful partnership with the late CK Prahalad. Gordon is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s leading authorities on “competitive disruption” and “game cha

My guest this week is a branded lifestyle portrait, virtual/live event photographer who collaborates with speakers, trainers, consultants and other expert-based business owners to create an emotional connection with their audiences through persuasive visual storytelling.  He is a photographer who thinks like a marketeer. He sets clients up for success beyond the photo sessions by educating them on how to best leverage their image content for every touchpoint across their online presence.   A former television producer, he has over 20 years of production experience, and has been featured as a portrait photographer expert on several NBC Universal daytime shows.   Please welcome my guest this week, John DeMato. Bio John DeMato is a branded lifestyle portrait, virtual/live event photographer who collaborates with speakers, trainers, consultants and other expert-based business owners to create an emotional connection with their audiences through persuasive visual storytelling. John isn’t simply a photographer - he

My guest today is one of the few experts in inter-generational diversity. This is the emerging science and management skill of maximising the engagement, collaboration and productivity within and across the five distinctive generations in today’s workplace. She shares ways to adapt leadership and management styles to get the best out of people.  She provides usable insights and tools to increase collaboration and performance, whilst reducing attrition. And she busts some myths about the youngest talent in the workplace whilst providing practical ways to motivate and engage them. Please welcome my guest, Henry Rose Lee.  Henry Rose Lee is one of very few inter-generational diversity experts helping organisations to improve the contribution and profitable performance of the youngest talent in the workplace today. Author of three books on maximising today’s young talent, (Generation Z and Millennials), Henry busts myths and gives practical hacks for attracting, recruiting, engaging, and retaining your youngest e

My guest this week is the founder of the Secret Salesforce programme. He believes that customer experience is the biggest differentiator over which you have total control and that the human touch can have massive positive impact. He works with leaders and teams primarily in technology and professional services companies to unleash and utilise their hidden resources.  He has worked with various organisations including IBM, Capita, and KPMG helping them to create great customer experience, turn difficult customers into loyal customers and to improve overall communications.   Today we’re going to focus on the customer experience and how you too can harness your resources into a Secret Salesforce.  Please welcome Steve Catchick. Bio Steve Catchick is the founder of The Secret Salesforce Programme and equips businesses to develop a Secret Salesforce of Brand Ambassadors in order to drive engagement, reduce churn and win more business. He has been at the front line of customer service for over 25 years, mostly with

Businesses are rising and falling faster than ever before, and crisis is the new normal. For over 25 years, my guest today has equipped many thousands of people and many leading brands to tap their full creative and psychological powers in response to challenges, crises and threats. Personally, she has turned a six month ’terminal’ cancer prognosis into the most creative six years of her life (so far) by finding solutions she was told did not exist and becoming a Sunday Times bestselling author of three crisis-resolving books. Please welcome author and activist Sophie Sabbage. Bio Businesses are rising and falling faster than ever before, and crisis is the new normal. Sophie Sabbage is a Sunday Times bestselling author who has worked in the fields of human psychology and corporate change for nearly thirty years. She has equipped hundreds of thousands of individuals as well as leading brands to unlock opportunities for growth that they didn’t think possible. Personally, she has turned a six month ‘terminal’ ca