Secret Leaders with Dan Murray-Serter
This is the entrepreneurial education I wish I’d had. A few years ago, I thought I'd made it as a Founder. My app was topping the charts, I was winning awards, having drinks with the Queen at Buckingham Palace (she laughed at one of my gags, sure), but as my business started to fail, I realised I had so much more to learn. The trouble was I found most business chat too stuffy, surface level or braggy so I started Secret Leaders to get behind the mask of entrepreneurship. I speak with the best Founders and business experts to learn how great companies are built - especially the things that normally get left out, like their mistakes. We cover the most important stuff, from fundraising to hiring, habits to mindset, so you can learn how to build a successful business. And no, you don’t need to get into an ice bath at 5am either...
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Contact: hello@secretleaders.com
226
Bolt: Markus Villig skipped university at 19 to...
Markus Villig was 19 when he decided to spend the $5,000 his parents had saved up for university on starting a business instead. His initial goal for Bolt, then called Taxify, was to solve Tallinn’s (Estonia) taxi problem. By 25 he was the youngest unicorn founder in Europe and had shown that Uber wasn’t going to win everywhere.Key takeaways Building his first company at 17Starting Bolt in the face of UberThe hardest challenges he faced as CEOScaling and fundraising Not diluting the company’s focus
37 min
227
A startup Covid tale: how accuRx got to ⅓ of UK...
You might not have heard of today’s guest or his company, but if you’ve had a Covid jab in the UK (or are going to) there’s a good chance you’ve used their tech. Laurence Bargery is co-founder of accuRx, a healthtech supplier trusted by 99% of GPs, and with ⅓ of all vaccine bookings in the UK now taking place through their systems.Key takeaways Pivoting the business to accuRxDealing with explosive growthStrategically handling 99% market shareMonitoring employee engagement
43 min
228
Insights from 12 world class founders & thinker...
We’ve been making the UK’s number one startup podcast since 2017 and this is our 100th episode. To celebrate, we’re bringing you a bunch of the most powerful stories and insights from some of the amazing guests we’ve had the honour of talking to over the years.In celebration of this milestone, we’re giving away a pair of Apple Airpod Pros to a lucky Secret Leaders subscriber. Entering is super simple and takes just a few seconds - go to www.secretleaders.com/competition to win.Key takeaways How to be a disruptorLay the foundations for success The value of happiness, resilience and a culture of opennessDevelop atomic habitsSupport women in business Be humble
57 min
229
How to land LeBron James & Michael Phelps in yo...
As the captain of the Harvard squash team, Will Ahmed trained and prepared as best he could. But, whatever he tried, his body kept breaking down. He didn't know why so he started researching the human body, devouring medical papers. Now, several years later, those personal frustrations have grown into Whoop, a wearable tech startup you can see on the wrists of NFL players, pro golfers and Navy Seals - despite being consistently told his strategy was wrong.Key takeaways Overtraining in squash led to the founding WhoopHow to actually create a resilient mindsetWhy staying true to your vision is criticalThe importance of authenticity in brand building
44 min
230
Trinny Woodall reveals her surprising, untold s...
Most people recognise Trinny Woodall for being one half of Trinny and Susannah from their breakout TV show: What Not To Wear, but not many people know this side of her story. Trinny is a serial entrepreneur. She was a founder in the dotcom bubble back in the day, and is the founder of soaring makeup startup, Trinny London, which booked £42m of revenue in the last year. What happened? How did she get here?Key takeaways Her partnership with SusannahThe genesis of Trinny LondonFinancing Trinny LondonHow she handled fameCreating a community on social media
48 min
231
Bloom & Wild: building world’s fastest growing ...
How big can a flower company really be? Well, according to Aron Gelbard, Co-Founder and CEO of Bloom & Wild, Europe's fastest growing flower brand, the industry processes over a billion transactions globally every year. But although his startup is leading the charge now, it all nearly failed before it had even begun.Key takeaways Tracking sender and recipient Net Promoter ScoreEmbracing sustainability Fundraising for international expansionBuilding and nurturing culture while WFHThe importance of kindness
44 min
232
Four top female founders reveal what it’s reall...
To mark Women’s History Month, we’re serving you the secret sauce of four incredible female founders: Alice Bentinck, co-founder of Entrepreneur First; Debbie Wosskow, co-founder of AllBright; Saasha Celestial-One, co-founder of Olio; and Tamara Lohan, co-founder of Mr and Mrs Smith.Key takeaways Their toughest moments as entrepreneurs Finding funding as female entrepreneursThe shifting gender balanceTackling imposter syndrome
43 min
233
World’s youngest Dragon, with Michele Romanow, ...
Strap in because our guest today is absolutely fascinating. Born and raised in Canada, Michele Romanow is a serial entrepreneur who’s been building startups since her university days (a cafe which still operates today) followed by a venture in an industry she knew nothing about - caviar - right when the 2008 financial crisis struck. She was the youngest Dragon (on Dragons’ Den) anywhere in the world. Oh, and she’s smashing it with her latest startup, Clearbanc. We hope you enjoy.Key takeawaysStarting her career in caviarFrom Dragons’ Den to ClearbancFinancing ClearbancThe hardest part of being an entrepreneurNever be comfortable
47 min
234
From living on benefits to the American dream, ...
Harry Hurst has come from nothing. “I was a young kid with a family on government benefits living off £600 a month. I was surrounded by people that could afford private school. And from a naive child's perspective, they seemed to have everything that I didn't have when I went home to my reality. But I think that was the formation of Harry Hurst, the hungry, ambitious, immigrant entrepreneur.” Find out how he did it.Key takeaways The origins of Harry Hurst, entrepreneurFounding Skurt and PipeHarry the leader at Skurt v Harry the leader at PipeExperiencing anxietyDon’t hold back on your ideas
45 min
235
Former Monzo CEO Tom Blomfield on falling out o...
Tom Blomfield, now the former CEO of Monzo, knows a little bit about the fintech industry. From raising $1m from crowdfunding in 96 seconds, to how he scaled personally alongside the bank, to building a culture from the very outset, to what made him leave Monzo. Don’t miss this hugely insightful episode - it’s something all entrepreneurs need to hear.Key takeaways: Crowdfunding MonzoBuilding a culture from the startEntrepreneurship and mental healthHis decision process to leave Monzo
32 min
236
Trailer
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237
CERN scientist turned founder - Natural Cycles ...
Before founding Natural Cycles, Dr Elina Berglund was part of the team that discovered the Higgs boson at CERN. From founding an app with her husband, to building the algorithm, dealing with unwanted pregnancies, to her biggest mistakes. Don’t miss Elina sharing her startup journey. Key takeaways:The transition from CERN to contraceptionHow to build trust with the first usersFunding and financing Natural CyclesDealing with unwanted pregnanciesBringing wearable contraception to market
33 min
238
Grace Beverley, 23, author, influencer & founde...
Grace Beverley is not your average 23 year old. She’s Natwest GBEA Young Entrepreneur of the Year & founder of two brands, Tala and Shreddy. Grace is shaking up the archaic business world, with a global reach of over 1.5 million, she’s been named first in Forbes 30 under 30’s retail & e-commerce list. Key takeaways The genesis of Tala and ShreddyBeing an influencerHow her two companies overlapWorking Hard, Hardly WorkingThe gender divide on social mediaWhy you need to define success for yourself
36 min
239
16-year battle to £100m esports team, with Fnat...
From launching Fnatic at uni, Sam Mathews shares his entrepreneurial journey to date. He discusses the transition from Neverland, becoming the CEO of Fnatic, buying his mum out of the company, fundraising on a $130 million valuation and creating an eSports partnership with Gucci.Key takeawaysHow he got his Mum working for Fanatic… and how he bought her outWhy eSports tournaments are held IRLCreating an eSports partnership with GucciFundraising for Fnatic and becoming CEO
45 min
240
From launch to IPO in 4 years, with Lemonade CE...
What made Daniel Schreiber, the outspoken CEO, a law graduate with no prior knowledge of the insurance industry decide to co-found an insurtech startup in 2016, which floated on the New York Stock Exchange just 4 years later, more than doubling in valuation on the first day of trading?Key takeaways The multigenerational Schreiber entrepreneurial mindsetBuilding Lemonade from scratchThe spark of peer to peer insuranceHigh speed execution & financing LemonadeThe insurance industry is politics
50 min
241
Sir Ronnie Cohen: Refugee to father of British ...
From immigrant, to grammar school, to Harvard Business School where he discovered Venture Capital, to setting up Apax Partners, to impact investing. Sir Ronald Cohen’s story is one of humanity and people. A 45-50 year overnight success story. If you want to know more about impact investing, this is an episode not to be missed. Key takeaways Founding Apax Partners Funding Dolly the sheepSocial investment task forceImpact investingSocial investment bankThe B Corp movement
49 min
242
Samantha Moyo - addict-turned-shaman who create...
How do you get sober when AA isn’t working for you? Well, if you’re Samantha Moyo, you found the global sober raving movement, Morning Gloryville. Now, known as Mystic Moyo, Sam has undergone her own transformation, from burnt out business leader, to activist, to mystic secret leader. To find out more, don’t miss this latest episode. Key takeaways: Captain Hello TittiesBuilding Morning GloryvilleThe notion of kindnessRacial and economic injustice is real in businessThe birth of Mystic Moyo
45 min
243
DECIEM - a tale of tragedy and beauty with CEO ...
The massive beauty disruptor, DECIEM, was founded in 2013 by “the beauty world’s most exciting disruptor”, Brandon Truaxe, and co-CEO Nicola Kilner. From the beginning, they weren't like any other cosmetic company, they acted more like a startup incubator launching 10 brands in rapid succession. Key takeaways:Starting DECIEM with BrandonFunding DECIEM with Estee LauderWorking with Brandon before and during 2018Being fired and then regaining control of the companyCommunicating through a crisis
55 min
244
Could a startup solve homelessness? With Beam C...
If you're curious to learn how to use 'Tech for Good' and novel business models to tackle huge social problems - and make some money - don’t miss this incredible episode. Alex Stephany, Founder & CEO of Beam, has taken his particularly bold and ambitious problem-solving mind and turned it towards the massive issue of homelessness.Key takeaways Founding Beam and its business model Tony’s storyFrustrations when running Beam Making money while doing social good Scaling up Beam with tech How to support Beam
48 min
245
HubSpot - how to build a SAAS titan with CEO Br...
If you run a b2b, there’s a high possibility that you’re already a customer of today’s Secret Leader, CEO and founder of HubSpot, Brian Halligan. Don’t miss the inbound marketing legend himself on topics from customer experience to company culture, imposter syndrome to CEO support groups. Key takeaways The what and why of HubSpotNever making the same mistake twiceWartime mode vs peacetime modeHow to nail customer experienceHubSpot culture codeHow to look after your mental health
50 min
246
Tabitha Goldstaub - AI, pivots and losing your ...
Tabitha Goldstaub is a tech entrepreneur, an artificial intelligence industry expert who is chair of the UK government's AI Council, and co founder of CogX, which was before COVID, the biggest AI conference in the world, but has understandably had to pivot to an expert advice platform.Key takeaways Chairing the UK government’s AI councilThe fear that led her to write How To Talk To RobotsThe risks and rewards of AIHer biggest fear in AIThe issue of trustPivoting CogX from physical to virtual
45 min
247
Jim Collins - best business author of his gener...
Jim Collins is an entrepreneurial researcher, however he’s most well known for being a best selling author of multiple books that frankly, if you're listening to this podcast and you haven't read, you've definitely got your priorities all wrong. Key takeaways: Bill LazierWriting Good to Great in the spirit of relationshipsLevel five leadersThe myth of the entrepreneurial temperament His encounters with Steve JobsThe Stockdale paradoxWhy Patagonia is such a great company
65 min
248
Atomic Habits - Little things can transform you...
Atomic Habits by James Clear is one of those books that once you've read it, you start to think about how its ideas can change your reality. So for everything you need to know about habits and how they can help you be the best version of yourself, don’t miss this truly insightful episode.Key takeaways Why habits are universally timeless How Uber was founded on users’ habitsWhat a habit isHow COVID has changed our habitsBad habits that leaders should avoidImportant habits for startups to avoid
41 min
249
Alain de Botton & Anne-Marie Huby: How to do go...
Resi founder, Alex Depledge, alongside guests Anne-Marie Huby of Just Giving & Alain de Botton of School of Life, discuss social enterprise, building for profit companies for good, & the question of whether this does or doesn't make more of an impact on society than charities.Key takeaways Churches don't have the monopoly on doing goodGood capitalism v bad capitalismMaslow’s hierarchy of needsThe core issues with building charitiesHow can we make capitalism workThe effective altruism movement
62 min
250
Arlan Hamilton - from homeless to VC founder in...
We are all for throwing two fingers up at the establishment, and who better to do that than an LGBTQ, black, woman investor? Meet Arlan Hamilton, Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital. Key takeaways:Becoming a venture capitalistFair feedback during fundraisingThe ignorant assumptions VC make about underrepresented foundersPreparing founders for investmentThe power of saying noHow she maintains her mental health
32 min