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
251
John Cleese: How creativity can be applied to b...
As an entrepreneur, creativity is key. And who better to hear from than the king of creativity himself, Mr John Cleese. John has lived a lifetime of creativity and there is so much that we mere business folk can learn from him, including his secret process. Key takeaways: What we can learn from children about creativity Our emotional facilities aren’t helped by modern living John Cleese’s secret process There’s no such thing as a mistake The importance of rehearsal Resting for creativity
45 min
252
Beauty Pie: Meet The Forrest Gump Of Serial Ent...
Marcia Kilgore is a serial entrepreneur in the truest sense of the term. Not content with creating one globally renowned brand, Marcia is responsible for Bliss Spa, Soap and Glory, FitFlop, Soaper Duper and now Beauty Pie. But how did she become Queen of Startups?Key takeawaysWhat set her on her entrepreneurial pathThat urban legend about Jean-Claude Van DammeHow LBMH wooed herStopping your brand getting watered downLearning to deal with the big companiesLifting the lid on the beauty industry
58 min
253
Basecamp: The One Stop Shop For Remote Working
Do you work successfully remotely? If you haven’t figured it out yet, or you’re looking for a better way to work remotely, then listen to Ruby on Rails creator and Basecamp co-founder David Heinemeier Hansson share his thoughts on all things remote working.Key takeaways: How Ruby on Rails came about Why he trod the entrepreneur path The inspiration behind Basecamp Working remotely with Basecamp The impact of the pandemic on our attitudes to remote working The drawbacks of remote working
58 min
254
Pleo: The Startup That Became A Major European ...
Pleo was founded in early 2015 by fintech veterans Jeppe Rindom and Niccolo Perra. You may have a good understanding of who Pleo are, but how much do you know about their actual journey?Key takeaways: The trials of naming your company The inspiration and motivation for starting Pleo The purpose, values and vision for Pleo Raising money before having an Alpha or Beta in the market Going through leadership development process as a leadership team Find what makes you happy in life - don’t settle
47 min
255
Bulb: Starting The UK’s Fastest Growing Private...
Do you want to cut your carbon emissions to zero and save money on your energy bills? Today’s guest is the co-founder of Bulb, the UK’s biggest supplier of green energy, Hayden Wood. So what does it take to build Britain's fastest growing company? Key takeaways: The genesis of the idea for Bulb Angel investors and EIS Struggling to get customer sign ups Developing as a leader and giving employees autonomy Handling the pandemic and pivoting on a sixpence The importance of company mission in recruiting
48 min
256
GoCardless: Finding The Hockey Stick Growth Curve
Ever wonder how entrepreneurs without a specific idea go on to found a unicorn startup from their bedrooms? This episode is for you. Today’s guest is one third of the British equivalent of the PayPal mafia, Hiroki Takeuchi, co-founder and CEO of GoCardless.Key takeaways: The hardest part of starting a business The hockey stick growth curve How to mentally prepare to fundraise When co-founders leave the business Choosing a CEO and building a leadership team The future vision for GoCardless
53 min
257
Charity: Water: From Club Promoter To Clean Wat...
Most people would consider raising $500m in 13 years, bringing clean drinking water to 11 million people a success. Most people aren’t Scott Harrison. Scott is a former club promoter turned CEO of Charity: Water, who says he’s just getting started. Key takeaways: From nightclub promoter to charity founder Creating a hyper transparent charity The three pillars on which Charity: Water was founded How he’s innovating the charity sector Why apathy is his biggest challenge Don’t be afraid of hard work
63 min
258
Karma & Olio: Capitalists Can Care About The En...
Have you seen the volume of food waste increase in your household throughout the pandemic? Chatting all things food waste on this episode of Secret Leaders are Saasha Celestial-One, COO and co-founder of Olio and Hjalmar Ståhlberg Nordegren, CEO and co-founder of Karma. Key takeaways: Impact of COVID-19 on food waste Breakdown in food charitable chains The recession and the food waste issue Earth overshoot day Building communities through food waste Starting an impact company
45 min
259
Superior: Delving Into The Murky Science Of Racism
Angela Saini may not have the battle scars, nor learned the painful lessons that you, our audience, have become accustomed to hearing on Secret Leaders, but what she has to say might be even more pertinent for you. Because Angela is an expert speaker on the topic of racism.Key takeaways: Why science is a murky world The grandmother hypothesis Debunking COVID related racial myths Why you shouldn’t argue with racists on Twitter Recognising the bias within yourself
50 min
260
Secret Sales: the naked truth behind their entr...
Sach Kukadia shares his journey with Secret Sales, from startup through to sale, to buying it back, to selling it again. And he is brutally honest. Because not every successful startup stays that way. Key takeaways: The idea behind Secret Sales and the business model that inspired itThe Secret Sales journeyThe impact of Brexit on the sale of Secret Sales How business deals happen in the real worldRebalancing his life post Secret SalesThe lesson of greed for his future businesses
46 min
261
One Billion Happy: Learning To Be Happy In A Pa...
Learning to be happy is hard enough. Learning to be happy in the middle of a pandemic should be nigh on impossible. Not so, according to Mo Gawdat, former Chief Business Officer of Google [X], serial entrepreneur and author of “Solve for Happy: Engineering Your Path to Joy” (2017). Key takeaways: Why a business partner is more important than the business The impact of Solve For Happy Happiness is predictive Consumerism is destroying our planet Comparing COVID to Tetris
50 min
262
BrewDog: From Salty Sea Dog to Rebellious Beer ...
Wondering if you should start your entrepreneurial journey during a pandemic? Draw inspiration from James Watt, founder of the rocket ship brewery and brand valued at over $1 billion, BrewDog.Key takeaways: From rebellious child, to quitting law, to making beer Overcoming the first disastrous yearFanvestors - advocate ambassadors AKA equity punk investors Developing the next generation of leaders from within the company The importance of culture fit when hiring Managing Brewdog through the pandemic
45 min
263
allplants & Mindful Chef: Keeping The Nation Fe...
If you’re an entrepreneur wondering how your food business is going to survive the pandemic, then you need to listen to this episode with the founders of two brilliant brands, Mindful Chef and allplants. Key takeaways: The positive impact of Covid-19 on the food industry How to increase volume of production while ensuring employees are social distancing Issues of sourcing new suppliers to meet demand How to manage overnight growth Maintaining the culture of the company with so many new employees
53 min
264
Stride.VC: Funding and Financing During A Pandemic
If you’ve been caught out raising money for your startup during this complicated time, then you’ve come to the right place. Get advice about funding from Stride.VC founder Fred Destin. Key takeaways:The reason he’s not investing in new startups currently Revenue based financingThe role of VCs and venture capital during a global crisisGrowth plans for startups experiencing short term rocketing of demandWhere founders should be conserving or spending capitalLinks:http://stride.vc/
50 min
265
Slack: How to Work Remotely and Stay Productive...
We’ve invited Cal Henderson back onto the podcast because his company, Slack, is one of only a few companies that aren’t in a tailspin currently. They’re scrambling to keep up with demand, what with the majority of the world having to work from home. Key takeaways Slacks features that enable greater productivityTracking the impact of the virus around the worldHow Slack enables distributed workLooking after your mental health when isolatedThe importance of great internal communications when WFH
44 min
266
Tech Will Save Us & Koru Kids: Educating Childr...
If you’re wondering how you’re going to hold down a full time job while working from home AND educating your kids, then you need to listen to Koru Kids founder Rachel Carrell and Tech Will Save Us co-founder Bethany Koby. Key takeaways How Covid-19 has impacted their investment and distribution channels Why the whole childcare system needs an overhaul Why innovation is key to pivoting and ultimately survival The spotlight on the ed-tech space Why you need to create rhythms to suit your family
47 min
267
Ali Parsa and Dr Rangan Chatterjee: The Global ...
Join Ali Parsa (CEO and founder of Babylon) and Dr Ranjan Chatterjee as they discuss what the world is going to be like when the dust settles at the end of this pandemic - what the business and social impact of the coronavirus on society might be. Key takeaways: Accessibility to health careComparison of prevention versus cureWhat global healthcare might look like in the future The consequence on our health of shutting down societyWhat you can do in isolation to look after yourselfLinks:https://www.secretleaders.com/ali-parsa https://www.secretleaders.com/the-future-of-healthcare https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/feel-better-live-more-with-dr-rangan-chatterjee/id1333552422?mt=2
48 min
268
Deliveroo: The Rise Of The Delivery Unicorn Com...
We’ve all been there - back from a hard night’s boozing and hungry. Most of us would eat some toast and hit the hay, but most of us aren’t Will Shu, founder and CEO of Deliveroo. Key takeaways:The genesis of DeliverooHow Deliveroo was funded and its expansion internationallyThe idea behind Additions and the challenges they’ve overcome with itHow Deliveroo has revolutionised the eating out economyHis thoughts on the gig economyThe challenge of being a CEO when he’s not a professional executive
57 min
269
Planet Organic, Hassle, Skimlinks & Seedcamp: F...
Joining us for a conversation on female leadership and equality for International Women’s Day, are Reshma Sohoni, co-founder of Seedcamp. Renée Elliott, founder of Planet Organic. Alex Depledge with her startup Hassle. And Alicia Navarro, founder of Skimlinks. Why not every business should take VC fundingThe toughest moments of their entrepreneurial journeys so farTheir different perspectives on funding and financing a businessHow to choose your role modelsLinks:https://www.secretleaders.com/reshma-sohonihttps://www.secretleaders.com/alicia-navarrohttps://www.secretleaders.com/alex-depledgehttps://www.secretleaders.com/renee-elliot
74 min
270
Allbright: Connecting women, what’s the worst t...
If you found the film ‘The Holiday’ so inspirational it kickstarted a business that you went on to sell for over £50 million, then you’re in good company. Because that’s what Debbie Wosskow, co-founder of AllBright and former CEO of Love Home Swap did.Key takeaways:Why her first business Mantra was a 7 year business educationWhy is her mantra ‘what’s the worst thing that can happen?’The story behind Love Home SwapWhat you need to do to survive as a sole founderFounding Allbright
50 min
271
LoveFilm: Selling to Amazon - The Deal From Bot...
Listen to ‘the subscription guy’ William Reeve and VC Jedi, Simon Cook discuss the ins and outs of one of the most complicated business sales in recent history - when LoveFilm sold to Amazon. Key takeaways:Building up LoveFilm and plonking flags in EuropeWhy competition drives business forward and sparks innovationWhy they teamed up with Amazon to defeat NetflixLessons learned - venture debt, paying attention to working capital and why raising venture capital is the worst thing a business can doLinks:https://www.secretleaders.com/william-reevehttps://www.secretleaders.com/s01e15-simon-cook
64 min
272
OakNorth: The pathway to building a unicorn wit...
Today’s guest has been a high achiever since he was a kid. Some child geniuses burnout before they achieve great things, not Rishi Khosla, co-founder of OakNorth.Key takeaways:Working with Jack Welch at GEEstablishing the family office of Lakshmi Mittal Meeting Peter Teal and Elon MuskBuilding Copal with business partner Joel, brick by brickMeeting Son at SoftBank and how he pitched himWhy only 5% of unicorns are profitable
40 min
273
Alain de Botton: Finding Answers to Life’s Tric...
Have you ever wondered what the meaning of life is? Well, today’s guest, Alain de Botton, philosopher and founder of The School of Life, has wondered the same thing too. Key Takeaways:How his upbringing shaped his early existenceThe School of Life and its inspirationHow to cope with crippling anxiety in your workThe connection between food and our state of mindHow the School of Life can help your businessWhy his deepest fear is catastrophe
49 min
274
Mumsnet and Jo Malone: Lifting the Lid on Life ...
Today, sharing the live stage and their entrepreneurial experiences are Jo Malone CBE, the eponymous perfumier and Justine Roberts CBE, founder of Mumsnet. We chat about:The hardest moments of their entrepreneur experience The difficulty of finding funding for your startup, when you’re femaleWhy your equity in your business is your golden ticketThe difficulty of achieving a work life balance Entrepreneurialism needs to be taught in schoolIf they had a do over, what they would do differently
54 min
275
FabFitFun: Creating A Celebrity Swagbag Subscri...
Founded in 2010 in the USA by Co-CEOs brothers Dan and Michael Broukhim and Editor-in-Chief Katie Echevarria Rosen Kitchens, FabFitFun is a lifestyle membership.Key takeaways: How FabFitFun came to fruitionWhy newsletters are making a comebackExploring finance options to fund the businessThe future for FabFitFunThe self doubts and personal challenges that each founder facesWhat they’d change if they could do overWhy you should never underestimate the importance of company culture
45 min