40 Minute Mentor

Season 14 of 40 Minute Mentor has been one of our most special seasons yet, and in this short wrap-up episode, James reflects on the pocket-sized mentorship moments throughout this season and over the last 14 seasons. In this season alone, we’ve had some incredible guests joining us, and we covered everything from Co-Founder dynamics, High Performance, the realities of hyper-growth, AI and the importance of diversity in leadership. If you haven’t caught up on Season 14 yet, or you’re new to the podcast, make sure you dig through the archives of over 310 episodes. In today’s episode, you’ll also find out more about what’s next for 40 Minute Mentor and how you can get even more involved and benefit from our pocket-sized mentorship in 2026…. 🔍 Find out more: ✨ Subscribe to our 40 Minute Mentor emails ✨ Follow JBM on LinkedIn ✨ Subscribe to the 40 Minute Mentor YouTube channel 🎧 You may also like: Alex Depledge MBE on taking a Founder’s Mind into the Government & why the UK is a great place to scale Shimona Mehta on scaling Shopify Plus to $1B & transitioning into the CEO role at F11 Murvah Iqbal on scaling one of Europe’s fastest-growing startups and disruption a billion dollar industry with Hived Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it really take to build and scale Startups in the UK, even when the odds feel stacked against you? Find out from today’s 40 Minute Mentor, Alex Depledge MBE, serial entrepreneur, Co-Founder and CEO of Resi, and Entrepreneurship Advisor to the Chancellor of the Exchequer - the first time an entrepreneur has ever sat at the heart of the UK Treasury. After co-founding Hassle.com and scaling it to £8m in revenue across four countries in just two years, Alex sold it for €32m and not long after decided to jump straight back into the Founder seat. This time with Resi, the UK’s largest residential architectural firm, using technology to help solve the country’s housing challenges through extensions and renovations. In today’s episode, Alex shares her journey from growing to building category-defining companies, why resilience and stoicism have shaped her leadership style, and why she believes the UK is brilliant at starting businesses, and we’re just about to see the next wave of change with doubling down on Scaleups. 📚Episode Chapters: ➡️ Building resilience early on [05:20] ➡️ Choosing yourself & changing the narrative [08:20] ➡️ Why the UK is a great place for Startups [14:40] ➡️ Going again and building Resi [16:50] ➡️ Inside the Treasury [24:10] ➡️ The biggest blockers for UK Scaleups [28:30] ➡️ What changed in the Budget & why it matters for Founders [30:50] ➡️ The emotional cost of entrepreneurship [39:30] 🔍 Find out more: ✨ Connect with Alex ✨ Find out more about Resi ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? ⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also like: Talent Predictions for 2026: How to attract and hire the best talent in the year ahead with Amplified People Group’s Sophie Graci, Zach Rose, James Adams and Lisa Crane Behind The Doors Of Number 10 Downing Street with Sam Gyimah Downing Street, Death Threats and DE&I with Baroness Oona King Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does the hiring landscape really look like for 2026, and how can founders attract and retain exceptional talent in a market that’s evolving faster than ever? Continuing on from Wednesday’s episode on People Predictions for 2026, James Mitra is joined by more Amplified People Group team members, Sophie Graci and Zach Rose from JBM, James Adams and Lisa Crane from Foundation Partners, to unpack the biggest shifts shaping the talent market heading into 2026. From the rise of player-coach leaders, to the renewed importance of human connection in an AI-enabled world, the team share their front-line insights on how founders can scale smarter, avoid costly hiring mistakes, and stand out to top candidates. They also dive deep into the growing role of fractional talent, why alignment and clarity are still the most underrated parts of hiring, and how candidates can differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive market. If you're hiring in 2026, or gearing up for your next role, this conversation is full of practical and actionable advice. 📚Episode Chapters: ➡️ The biggest shifts in hiring throughout 2025 [03:20] ➡️ The most common hiring mistakes [07:30] ➡️ Employer brand & attracting the best talent [12:30] ➡️ Fractional hiring - and when it doesn’t work [17:20] ➡️ Scaling in 2026: Advice for founders preparing to grow [34:00] ➡️ How candidates can stand out in a competitive market [37:00] 🔍 Find out more: ✨ Find out more about Foundation Partners ✨ Find out more about JBM ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? ⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also like: People Predictions for 2026: The Future of Leadership and High-Performing Teams with Amplified Group’s Sophie Matthews, Nat Falconer, Mikael Nilsson and Logan Black Alan Cairns on hiring in hyper-growth & a guide to culture and performance Neda Sahebelm & Carla Hoppe: How to make fractional hiring & careers work Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does the year ahead really hold for leaders, founders and people teams? In this special 40 Minute Mentor roundtable, James Mitra is joined by Amplified Group’s people experts, Sophie Matthews, Nat Falconer and Mikael Nilsson from Foundation Partners, and Logan Black from Unleashed, to explore the biggest people and talent trends shaping 2026. From leaner organisations and the rise of fractional talent, to more focus on high-performing cultures, the team unpack what high performance will actually look like next year, and why middle managers may become the most influential layer in your organisation. If you’re looking to scale your team, embed new technology or simply want no-BS guidance on hiring and retaining top talent, then this episode is for you. 📚Episode Chapters: ➡️ The rise of leaner and more efficient teams [05:10] ➡️ AI hype vs reality [12:00] ➡️ Defining high performance [25:45] ➡️ The biggest people challenges heading into 2026 [31:00] ➡️ What top candidates are really looking for [35:00] ➡️ Bold people predictions for the year ahead [40:00] 🔍 Find out more: ✨ Find out more about Foundation Partners ✨ Find out more about Unleashed ⭐Enjoyed this episode? ⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also like: Murvah Iqbal on scaling one of Europe’s fastest-growing startups and disruption a billion dollar industry with Hived Tamara Lohan MBE on scaling the iconic Mr & Mrs Smith travel brand from idea to exit Andrew Richardson on building high-performing businesses & leadership teams with Amplified Group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it take to build one of Europe’s fastest-growing startups in a legacy industry? Find out from today’s 40 Minute Mentor, Murvah Iqbal, Co-Founder and CEO of Hived, the UK’s first customer-centric, all-electric, tech-enabled parcel delivery company designed for modern e-commerce. Long before raising a $42 million Series B and rolling out an 100% electric fleet across eight UK cities, Murvah was captaining Manchester City’s women’s youth team, running marketing for her family’s fast-food chain, and hustling entrepreneurial ideas. Today, she leads a team transforming parcel delivery through world-class technology, operational excellence and a relentless belief that there had to be a better way. This episode is a masterclass in leadership grit, co-founder dynamics, building high-performing teams, and scaling a moonshot idea from two founders on bikes to millions of parcels delivered for some of the UK’s biggest brands. 📚Episode Chapters: ➡️ Transferrable skills from football to entrepreneurship [06:05] ➡️ The Silicon Valley spark that led to building Hived [08:00] ➡️ Co-Founder dynamics & complementary strengths [13:00] ➡️ From bikes to millions of parcels delivered [15:00] ➡️ Fundraising realities [24:00] ➡️ Scaling hiring and culture [30:00] 🔍 Find out more: ✨ Connect with Murvah ✨ Find out more about Hived ⭐Enjoyed this episode? ⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it really take to build an inclusive, high-performance culture in a fast-growing scaleup? Today’s 40 Minute Minute Mentor is Alan Cairns, serial Chief People Officer and most recently CPO at GoCardless, the FinTech helping over 100,000 businesses get paid on time through bank payments and open banking. With 30+ years across operations, people and talent, Alan has led some of the UK’s most recognisable brands through intense growth and change, from Chapter 11 restructuring and mass redundancies to category creation and hyper-growth. In today’s episode, he shares candid lessons from his journey from mechanical engineering to CPO and COO, and unpacks what high performance actually looks like in practice. 📚Episode Chapters: ➡️ From mechanical engineering to People & Talent [01:20] ➡️ The power of delegating and letting go [05:00] ➡️ What great Founders have in common [10:40] ➡️ CPO skills & building trust in the C-Suite [14:00] ➡️ Moving from CPO to COO [20:00] ➡️ What high performance really means [32:00] ➡️ What makes or breaks culture in hypergrowth [39:00] 🔍 Find out more: ✨ Connect with Alan ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? ⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also like: Shimona Mehta on scaling Shopify Plus to $1B & transitioning into the CEO role at F11 Jevan Soo Lenox on building AI-first cultures & high-performing teams at fast-growth Unicorn WRITER Dinika Mahtani on going from Operator at Uber to backing early-stage startups at Cherry Ventures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s 40 Minute Mentor is Shimona Mehta, CEO at F11 - the one-stop platform for digital advertising. Prior to joining F11, Shimona spent 6 years at Shopify, working across the Revenue function and becoming Managing Director of EMEA, where she built the rocketship commercial offering Shopify Plus from 0 to $1 billion. It doesn’t take a lot of digging through Shimona’s CV or many conversations with her to see that the underlying drive to the great career she’s built is her passion for building high-performing teams. In this candid live recording, we discuss the powerful lessons Shimona learned on scaling sustainably, and why humility, clarity and trust are the true accelerators of growth. 📚Episode Chapters: ➡️ Scaling Shopify Plus to $1B [04:10] ➡️ The biggest challenges of hyper-scale growth [07:00] ➡️ How Shimona progressed so quickly at Shopify [13:20] ➡️ Why choosing the right people opens every door [14:00] ➡️ Why F11 and the art of taking over as CEO [19:10] ➡️ A playbook for high-performing teams [32:00] ➡️ Why diverse leadership teams win [37:30] 🔍 Find out more: ✨ Connect with Shimona ✨ More about F11 ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? ⭐️Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s 40 Minute Mentor is Duncan Clark, Head of EMEA at Canva, the world-leading visual-communication platform on a mission to empower the world to design. Before joining Canva, Duncan co-founded Flourish, the data-storytelling platform used by newsrooms and organisations worldwide to bring data to life. Duncan’s journey from data journalist at The Guardian to first-time founder, selling to Canva, and now leading EMEA, is packed with lessons on building sustainably, scaling with trust, and staying true to your mission. 📚Episode Chapters: ➡️ Duncan’s path into journalism [01:35] ➡️ First-time Founder lessons [10:00] ➡️ Scaling lean & staying profitable [17:10] ➡️ Selling to Canva & building Canva EMEA from scratch [18:45] ➡️ Culture & Leadership at scale [29:30] ➡️ Hiring for impact [35:00] ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? ⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s 40 Minute Mentor is Asi Sharabi, Co-Founder and CEO of Wonderbly, the world’s leading personalised publishing company. Founded in 2012, Wonderbly is on a mission to inspire boundless self-belief in children through clever and sophisticated personalisation. Over the last decade, Asi and the team have gone from strength to strength, raising money from some of the biggest investors in the industry, winning multiple awards, growing the team and shipping over 10 million books. In this episode, Asi opens up about the reality behind this fast-growth journey, from raising capital to taking back ownership and scaling the team while keeping a strong culture at the core. 📚Episode Chapters: ➡️ The moment it all started [02:00] ➡️ Hypergrowth & fundraising lessons [10:00] ➡️ Building a high-performing culture without burning people out [13:30] ➡️ Why proximity still matters in a remote world [23:20] ➡️ Selling to Penguin Random House [26:30] ➡️ The hard side of being a Founder [32:20] 🔍 Find out more: ✨ Connect with Asi ✨ More about Wonderbly ✨ Asi’s book recommendation ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? ⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s 40 Minute Mentor is Thomas Plantenga, the CEO of Vinted - Europe’s largest secondhand marketplace and Lithuania’s first-ever unicorn. What started as a small Lithuanian startup in 2008 has evolved into a fast-growth business with millions of users, 2,000+ employees and a €5 billion valuation. In today’s conversation, Thomas shares the ins and outs of his journey with Vinted, how it became such a global success, the biggest leadership lessons he learnt along the way and what’s next for the business with the launch of Vinted Ventures. If you’re a founder or operator navigating scaleup challenges, this episode is a masterclass in turnaround strategy, culture building and leading with humility. 📚Episode Chapters: ➡️ Early years & the call that changed everything [07:30] ➡️ Realising Vinted was in trouble [16:00] ➡️ Spotting the first signs of growth [20:00] ➡️ The hardest leadership lessons [23:00] ➡️ The art of hiring at scale & psychological safety [27:00] ➡️ Launching Vinted Ventures [36:40] 🔍 Find out more: ✨ Connect with Thomas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-p-19651414/?originalSubdomain=lt ✨ More about Vinted: https://www.vinted.co.uk/ ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? ⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s 40 Minute Mentor is Jevan Soo Lenox, the Chief People Officer at WRITER, a leader in agentic AI for the enterprise. Founded in 2020, WRITER helps businesses launch products faster, run deeper financial research and clinical trials. The high-growth startup is backed by some of the best investors, including Balderton, Radical Ventures, ICONIQ Growth, Salesforce Ventures, Adobe Ventures, and many more. Before joining WRITER, Jevan already held multiple CPO roles in hyper-growth businesses, including Blue Bottle Coffee, Stitch Fix and inistro. In today’s conversation, Jevan shares a masterclass on the modern people function - from building AI-first cultures and scaling people teams globally, to hiring with self-awareness and building high-performing cultures. If you’re a Founder, Operator or People leader building a hypergrowth culture or looking for ways to embed more AI into your teams, this episode is packed with valuable insights for you. 📚Episode Chapters: ➡️ From McKinsey to AI - Jevan’s career path [03:00] ➡️ Finding a calling in People & Culture leadership [04:00] ➡️ What makes a truly great Chief People Officer [09:30] ➡️ How technology and AI are transforming the People function [16:45] ➡️ Inside WRITER: culture, values and what “AI-first” really means [18:40] ➡️ When to hire your first CPO [23:00] ➡️ How to hire exceptional leaders [34:40] 🔍 Find out more: ✨ Connect with Jevan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jevansoolenox ✨ More about WRITER: https://writer.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Season 14 of 40 Minute Mentor! In today’s episode, we’re joined by Claire Davenport, a seasoned tech operator whose career spans investment banking at Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan, Chief of Staff at Skype, CEO roles at VoucherCodes, HelloFresh UK and Not On The High Street, as well as board and angel investing. Today, Claire is a prominent figure in the Tech world as a NED, COO at Multiverse and Angel Investor. She is also a staunch advocate for women leaders, having founded WITSEND, a fast-growing network for C-Suite women in tech. In this conversation, Claire shares candid lessons on leading in a crisis, making the leap to CEO, landing your first non-exec role, retaining top talent, and the real state of gender balance in executive leadership. 📚Episode Chapters: ➡️ From banking to ops - Claire’s pivots & biggest lessons [08:12] ➡️ The hardest chapter [13:00] ➡️ Becoming a CEO [16:00] ➡️ How headhunters can help your career advancement [18:00] ➡️ What great C-level leadership looks like [22:00] ➡️ How to land your first board seat [24:13] ➡️ Attracting & retaining top talent [29:30] ➡️ The power of peer mentorship & community [33:00] ➡️ Women in leadership roles - the progress & gaps [35:30] 🔍 Find out more: ✨ Connect with Claire: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-davenport-online/en ✨ More about Multiverse: https://www.multiverse.io/en-GB ✨More about WITSEND: https://www.witsend.online/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also like: Where Are They Now: Sophie Adelman On Building A Community For The Curious Levelling The Playing Field: A Social Mobility Special From TopGun to Boardroom with Chris Severson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Season 14 of 40 Minute Mentor! We’re so excited to kick off the season this Wednesday, and with that, the launch of episode 300! Before we get into this new season, here is a short preview of the brilliant conversations we’ve got lined up for the coming 10 weeks. If you’re new to 40 Minute Mentor, don’t forget to hit subscribe so you’re the first to hear about new episodes. And don’t forget to dive into our archives of nearly 300 episodes of pocket-sized mentorship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this 40 Minute Mentor bonus episode, you'll hear directly from your Host, James Mitra, as he recaps another brilliant 10 weeks of mentorship. James shares some of his own highlights from this season and shares more about our upcoming plans. If you haven't caught up on this season yet, make sure you scroll back through Season 13...and our 250+ episodes in the archives. 📣 Don't forget to check out our season sponsors: ✨ Capsule - the neo-broker powered by cutting-edge API technology, redefining insurance for high-growth scaling businesses. Capsule streamlines the insurance process, removing manual hassle and delivering tailored solutions that evolve with your business. If you’re a venture-backed startup looking to outsource the buying and management of your insurance, head over to www.capsulecover.com to find out more. ✨Foundation Partners - an Amplified People Group business, reinventing how ambitious, early-stage companies access People & Talent support. They offer a fully flexible, fractional People & Talent team with specialist skillsets and hands-on delivery that starts driving impact in just 2 weeks. As a 40 Minute Mentor listener, you can book a FREE 1-hour advisory call with a Managing Partner. Just head to www.foundationpartners.co.uk/contact and reference 40 Minute Mentor. ⭐ Enjoyed this season? ⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Adriana Restrepo, Co-Founder of crypto FinTech, Deblock. Before building Deblock, Adriana spent 3 years at Revolut, overseeing People Operations and holding the COO role. While she never expected to step into a Founder role, today, Adriana is building the world’s safest account for seamless management and exchange of crypto and cash, ensuring users truly own their money. In this episode, you’ll hear more about the significant lessons she learned during her time at Revolut, the secret sauce that’s helping her build and scale Deblock, their impressive funding to date and what the future holds for Deblock and the Web3 space. Episode Chapters: ➡️ From Corporate life to fast-paced Revolut [04:30] ➡️ Fundamental lessons from Revolut [11:30] ➡️ Taking the leap into entrepreneurship [14:00] ➡️ Building Deblock [17:00] ➡️ More about today’s sponsor [20:00] ➡️ Co-Founder dynamics & building a team [22:00] ➡️ Celebrating wins [23:30] ➡️ Fundraising & growing a diverse team [26:20] ➡️ The impact of a great COO [35:00] ➡️ The future of Deblock & Crypto [40:30] 🔍 Find out more: ✨ Connect with Adriana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianarestrepo ✨ More about Deblock: https://deblock.com/en-FR 📣Learn more about today’s sponsor: Today’s episode is sponsored by Foundation Partners, an Amplified People Group company. Foundation Partners is reinventing how ambitious, early-stage companies access People & Talent support. They offer a fully flexible, fractional People & Talent team with specialist skillsets and hands-on delivery that starts driving impact in just 2 weeks. As a 40 Minute Mentor listener, you can book a FREE 1-hour advisory call with a Managing Partner. Just head to www.foundationpartners.co.uk/contact and reference 40 Minute Mentor. ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: Zeynep Yavuz: Investing In Fintech, Crypto & Emerging Markets with General Catalyst Simone Maini: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome & The Future Of Crypto with Elliptic Scaling Teams & Building a High Performing Culture – A Roundtable Discussion with Amplified Group’s Dr Andy Meikle, Anouk Agussol & Andrew Richardson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by the leadership team of Amplified People Group - Dr Andy Meikle, Anouk Agussol and Andrew Richardson. Together, they answer some of the burning questions leaders ask them: from navigating the messy world of people, talent and culture to early-stage blind spots, the UK’s employment landscape and practical tips on embedding AI in your teams. 📚 Episode Chapters: ➡️ Common oversights when building culture [05:00] ➡️ The importance of values and expectations [11:00] ➡️ Building a transparent culture [12:30] ➡️ Authenticity in leadership [16:40] ➡️ More about today’s sponsors [18:00] ➡️ Navigating employment law challenges [19:20] ➡️ The difficulties of letting people go [22:00] ➡️ Building high-performing cultures [29:00] ➡️ Embedding AI [30:00] 🔍 Find out more: ✨ More about Amplified Group: https://www.amplifiedgroup.com/ 📣Learn more about today’s sponsor: Today’s episode is sponsored by Foundation Partners, an Amplified People Group company. Foundation Partners is reinventing how ambitious, early-stage companies access People & Talent support. They offer a fully flexible, fractional People & Talent team with specialist skillsets and hands-on delivery that starts driving impact in just 2 weeks. As a 40 Minute Mentor listener, you can book a FREE 1-hour advisory call with a Managing Partner. Just head to www.foundationpartners.co.uk/contact and reference 40 Minute Mentor. ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: Andrew Richardson: Building high-performing businesses & leadership teams with Amplified Group Anouk Agussol: Why HR is dead Tamara Lohan MBE: From idea to exit – the scaling story of the iconic Mr & Mrs Smith travel brand Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Tamara Lohan MBE, Co-Founder and CEO of boutique hotel travel specialists Mr & Mrs Smith. Tamara founded Mr & Mrs Smith together with her husband James in 2002. Since then, the pair have been on an incredible journey, including scaling the business to over 1.5 million members worldwide, growing their distributed team, being awarded with an MBE for their services to the British travel industry, getting B Corp certified and being acquired by Hyatt in 2023. In today’s episode, you’ll find out what it takes to build such an iconic brand and lots of actionable mentorship on how Tamara transitioned from CTO to COO and CEO. 📚 Episode Chapters: ➡️ Childhood influences and early aspirations [05:20] ➡️ The idea that sparked Mr & Mrs Smith [08:00] ➡️ Challenges in the early days [13:00] ➡️ Transitioning from CTO to COO [19:30] ➡️ Transforming Leadership & navigating Covid [20:00] ➡️ Learn more about today’s sponsors [24:00] ➡️ Building an iconic brand [28:00] ➡️ Hiring lessons [32:00] ➡️ Building a remote culture [35:00] ➡️ The resilience of the travel industry [38:00] 🔍 Find out more: ✨ Connect with Tamara: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaralohan ✨ More about Mr & Mrs Smith: https://www.mrandmrssmith.com/ 📣Learn more about today’s sponsor: Today’s episode is sponsored by Foundation Partners, an Amplified People Group company. Foundation Partners is reinventing how ambitious, early-stage companies access People & Talent support. They offer a fully flexible, fractional People & Talent team with specialist skillsets and hands-on delivery that starts driving impact in just 2 weeks. As a 40 Minute Mentor listener, you can book a FREE 1-hour advisory call with a Managing Partner. Just head to www.foundationpartners.co.uk/contact and reference 40 Minute Mentor. ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: Simon Franks: The truth behind exiting to Amazon and investing in hyper growth Startups with Redbus Ventures Radha Vyas: From £20m revenues to bankruptcy & rebuilding Flash Pack 2.0 Ben Stephenson: Building A Remote-First Startup Disrupting Travel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Simon Franks, multi-exited entrepreneur, Managing Partner of early-stage firm, Redbus Ventures and the Founder of Franks Family Foundation, the UK-based charitable organisation. Simon’s career has been filled with building and scaling some of the most successful businesses in Europe, including as a Founder and now Investor. Today, he doesn’t just back brilliant businesses like Perkbox and Cleo, but his main focus has been his philanthropic pursuits, through Franks Family Foundation, initiating and developing projects in South East Asia. Tune in to today’s episode to hear Simon’s first-hand experience of building and scaling high-performing teams and hugely successful businesses, plus hear tons of advice on what sets great Founders apart. 📚 Episode Chapters: ➡️ Early career reflections [06:30] ➡️ Building the European Netflix with Lovefilm [09:45] ➡️ The true feelings behind the exit to Amazon [15:20] ➡️ More about today’s sponsors [17:10] ➡️ Transitioning into VC [20:00] ➡️ The pitfalls of generic business advice [24:00] ➡️ Why you need to fail fast [27:00] ➡️ Patterns in successful Founders [29:30] ➡️ Making a real impact [34:50] 🔍 Find out more: ✨ Connect with Simon: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/frankssimon ✨ More about Redbus Ventures: https://redbus.uk/ ✨ More about Franks Family Foundation: https://www.thefff.org/ 📣Learn more about today’s sponsor: Today’s episode is sponsored by Foundation Partners, an Amplified People Group company. Foundation Partners is reinventing how ambitious, early-stage companies access People & Talent support. They offer a fully flexible, fractional People & Talent team with specialist skillsets and hands-on delivery that starts driving impact in just 2 weeks. As a 40 Minute Mentor listener, you can book a FREE 1-hour advisory call with a Managing Partner. Just head to www.foundationpartners.co.uk/contact and reference 40 Minute Mentor. ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: Nicky Goulimis & Nico Barawid: The serial entrepreneurs stopping scams & building Tunic Pay differently Lessons Of Resilience: Scaling Love Koffee To Exit and Living Through Made.com’s Collapse with Dimple Patel, CEO of Trouva Greg Marsh: A $200m+ exit with onefinestay to helping you save on household bills with Nous Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Nicky Goulimis and Nico Barawid, the Founders of early-stage FinTech Tunic Pay, the only fraud vendor designed specifically for scams. Prior to building Tunic Pay, Nicky scaled Nova Credit, the credit infrastructure and analytics company that enables businesses to grow responsibly by harnessing alternative credit data. And Nico built Casai, which was Latin America's largest short-term rental operator. With so much experience in building successful FinTech ventures, this episode is a great listen for anyone thinking about starting a FinTech, or for anyone currently in the thick of scaling. 📚 Episode Chapters: ➡️ Entrepreneurial traits from an early age [12:00] ➡️ Why FinTech [16:20] ➡️ Key lessons from early ventures [18:30] ➡️ More about today’s sponsors [23:20] ➡️ Building teams without the vanity metrics [26:00] ➡️ Flipping the script on ‘failing’ [29:00] ➡️ The future of Tunic Pay [32:30] ➡️ Taking the time to find investors [34:40] ➡️ Using AI in startups [39:00] 🔍 Find out more: ✨ Connect with Nicky: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickygoulimis?originalSubdomain=uk ✨ Connect with Nico: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicobarawid?originalSubdomain=uk ✨ More about Tunic Pay: https://www.tunicpay.com/ 📣Learn more about today’s sponsor: Today’s episode is sponsored by Capsule, the neo-broker powered by cutting-edge API technology, redefining insurance for high-growth scaling businesses. Capsule streamlines the insurance process, removing manual hassle and delivering tailored solutions that evolve with your business. If you’re a venture-backed startup looking to outsource the buying and management of your insurance, head over to www.capsulecover.com to find out more. ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: Sho Sugihara: Financial Inclusion & Finding Your Purpose As A Founder Avion Gray: Raising the largest pre-seed round as a female Founder in EuropeDr Ben Maruthappu: Saving the UK Government £1 million every day by building Cera – the UK’s largest HealthTech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Dr Ben Maruthappu, Founder and CEO of Cera - the UK’s largest HealthTech and one of the fastest-growing startups in Europe. We’ve all come across the headline of increasing pressures on the NHS and especially hospitals. Cera is revolutionising Healthcare, using technology and AI to shift care from hospitalisation to patients’ homes, creating a more sustainable model for an ageing population. In today’s episode, you’ll hear all about Cera’s origin story, how they have implemented AI so early on and why they’re still just scratching the surface of what’s possible within Healthcare. 📚 Episode Chapters: ➡️ From Medicine to Entrepreneur [04:45] ➡️ Innovation within the NHS & common misconceptions [08:30] ➡️ The personal origin story behind Cera [12:30] ➡️ Early challenges [17:00] ➡️ More about today’s sponsors [21:50] ➡️ Leveraging AI in Healthcare [23:15] ➡️ Getting more people interested in a career in care [28:30] ➡️ The importance of getting hiring right [33:00] 🔍 Find out more: ✨ Connect with Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahibenmaruthappu?originalSubdomain=uk ✨ More about Cera: https://ceracare.co.uk/ 📣Learn more about today’s sponsor: Today’s episode is sponsored by Capsule, the neo-broker powered by cutting-edge API technology, redefining insurance for high-growth scaling businesses. Capsule streamlines the insurance process, removing manual hassle and delivering tailored solutions that evolve with your business. If you’re a venture-backed startup looking to outsource the buying and management of your insurance, head over to www.capsulecover.com to find out more. ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: Dr Sonia Szamocki: The Future of Collaborative Healthcare with 32Co James Collier: How modern diets are failing us and Huel’s incredible growth journey Where Are They Now: A Lesson in Resilience & Pivoting with James Lo, Co-Founder of Ethos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by James Collier, a registered Nutritionist, Co-Founder of Huel and author of his brand new book, ‘Well Fed: How modern diets are failing us (and what we can do about it)’’. In today’s episode, you’ll hear about Huel’s growth journey, James’ new book and plenty of simple nutrition advice for you to implement in your day-to-day, no matter how busy you are. 📚 Episode Chapters: ➡️ From bodybuilding to nutrition [03:30] ➡️ Starting & growing Huel [09:00] ➡️ Health challenges & bouncing back [18:00] ➡️ More about today’s sponsors [24:20] ➡️ Five pillars of nutrition & the benefits of eating together [25:00] ➡️ Debunking diet myths [34:00] 🔍 Find out more: ✨ Connect with James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamescollierrnutr/?originalSubdomain=uk ✨ More about Huel: https://huel.com/ ✨ Grab your copy of ‘Well Fed’: https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/well-fed-how-modern-diets-are-failing-us-and-what-we-can-do-about-it-james-collier?variant=53486729855355 📣Learn more about today’s sponsor: Today’s episode is sponsored by Capsule, the neo-broker powered by cutting-edge API technology, redefining insurance for high-growth scaling businesses. Capsule streamlines the insurance process, removing manual hassle and delivering tailored solutions that evolve with your business. If you’re a venture-backed startup looking to outsource the buying and management of your insurance, head over to www.capsulecover.com to find out more. ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: Rhiannon Lambert: The truth about diets & nutrition advice for busy execs Dr Rupy Aujla: The accidental business that helps millions of people eat healthier every day Vivien Wong: Building Little Moons from a family business to a viral global brand Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor bonus episode, we’re introducing our brand new partnership with Ethos, the next-generation expert network using AI to match industry leaders with earning opportunities. Tune in to find out why we decided to partner with Ethos and more about what James Lo is building, who it is for and why this is such an exciting opportunity for experts. Plus, there’s a special offer up for grabs for you, so you really don’t want to miss it! 🔍 Find out more: ✨ More about Ethos: https://app.askethos.com/refer/s0k23bl401cb ✨ Connect with James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yfjameslo?originalSubdomain=uk 🎧 You may also enjoy: James Lo: From protesting on the streets of Hong Kong to raising £1.5m pre-seed for Mana Vivien Wong: Building Little Moons from a family business to a viral global brand Zeynep Yavuz: Investing in FinTech, Crypto & Emerging Markets with General Catalyst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Vivien Wong, Co-Founder of Little Moons, the popular mochi ice cream brand. Vivien started her career in banking before spotting an opportunity in 2010 to bring mochi ice cream to Europe with her brother Howard. Fast-forward to today: Little Moons is a viral brand which launched in big retail brands in the UK and internationally, and has a team of over 200. Tune into this episode to learn about Vivien’s journey from the early days of building Little Moons at the family kitchen table to the global brand it has become today. 📚 Episode Chapters: ➡️ The origin of Little Moons [08:00] ➡️ Launching into retail [15:00] ➡️ Tips for entering international markets [19:40] ➡️ Find out more about today’s sponsor [21:00] ➡️ Going viral on TikTok [22:00] ➡️ The biggest leadership lessons [28:30] ➡️ Hiring advice [32:00] 🔍 Find out more: ✨ Connect with Vivien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivien-wong-07804123?originalSubdomain=uk ✨ More about Little Moons: https://littlemoons.com/ 📣Learn more about today’s sponsor: Today’s episode is sponsored by Capsule, the neo-broker powered by cutting-edge API technology, redefining insurance for high-growth scaling businesses. Capsule streamlines the insurance process, removing manual hassle and delivering tailored solutions that evolve with your business. If you’re a venture-backed startup looking to outsource the buying and management of your insurance, head over to www.capsulecover.com to find out more. ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: Adrienne Adhami: How to make decisions in a world of endless choice Simmy Dhillon: From Google to building the fastest growing healthy meal subscription business with Simmer Deirdre O’Neill: Breaking taboos and transforming women’s health with Hertility Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Rafel Jorda Siquier, Founder and CEO of Open Cosmos, the UK-based satellite company on a mission to monitor and combat climate change. Founded in 2015, Open Cosmos delivered its first satellite in record time with a team of just five people. Since then, the business has scaled to over €100 million in satellite contracts, a team of over 130 employees in Spain, Portugal, Greece and the UK, and $50 million in Series B funding from leading Investors. In today’s episode, you’ll find out more about Rafel’s journey into entrepreneurship, lessons from scaling such a successful business and the important role of satellites in combatting climate change. 📚 Episode Chapters: ➡️ A surprising route into aerospace engineering [03:15] ➡️ The origin story of Open Cosmos [07:30] ➡️ The huge impact of data [11:30] ➡️ The decision not to fundraise straight away [14:15] ➡️ More about today’s episode sponsors [18:30] ➡️ Scaling the team & attracting high-performers [23:40] ➡️ Spotting great talent & Rafel’s secret weapon [31:30] ➡️ Using data to tackle climate change [39:50] 🔍 Find out more: ✨ Connect with Rafel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafaeljorda?originalSubdomain=uk ✨ More about Open Cosmos: https://www.open-cosmos.com/ 📣Learn more about today’s sponsor: Today’s episode is sponsored by Capsule, the neo-broker powered by cutting-edge API technology, redefining insurance for high-growth scaling businesses. Capsule streamlines the insurance process, removing manual hassle and delivering tailored solutions that evolve with your business. If you’re a venture-backed startup looking to outsource the buying and management of your insurance, head over to www.capsulecover.com to find out more. ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: Steve Etherton: Building the NASA of the Ocean with DEEP Pierre Paslier: Making Packaging Disappear with Earthshot Prize Winners Nopla Adrienne Adhami: How to make decisions in a world of endless choice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To kick off 40 Minute Mentor’s Season 13, we’re joined by Adrienne Adhami, leading wellbeing coach, podcast host and author. Listed as one of the ‘Top 25 Black Entrepreneurs to watch’ by HSBC and UKBBS, Adrienne is a trailblazer inspiring individuals and organisations to reach their full potential. In today’s episode, we won’t just explore Adrienne’s incredible career to date but also discuss her latest book ‘Decision That Matter’ in detail. 📚 Episode Chapters: ➡️ The power of storytelling [04:50] ➡️ Career milestones and pivots [12:00] ➡️ Her new book: Decisions That Matter [21:20] ➡️ Find out more about today’s sponsor [24:40] ➡️ Understanding & unblocking analysis paralysis [25:40] ➡️ Intentional decision making [27:30] ➡️ Overcoming procrastination [34:15] ➡️ Redefining success for every season [41:20] 🔍 Find out more: ✨ More about Adrienne: https://adrienneadhami.com/ ✨ Get a copy of “Decisions That Matter”: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/460246/decisions-that-matter-by-adhami-adrienne/9781529925494 📣Learn more about today’s sponsor: Today’s episode is sponsored by Capsule, the neo-broker powered by cutting-edge API technology, redefining insurance for high-growth scaling businesses. Capsule streamlines the insurance process, removing manual hassle and delivering tailored solutions that evolve with your business. If you’re a venture-backed startup looking to outsource the buying and management of your insurance, head over to www.capsulecover.com to find out more. ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: Raj Kaur Khaira: How ethical AI will change the world Helen Tupper: Building a squiggly career Elizabeth Uviebinené: Building the Headspace for Journaling Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ahead of launching Season 13 of 40 Minute Mentor next week, we thought we'd give you a preview of some of the pocket-sized mentorship you have to look forward to. Haven't subscribed yet? Make sure you do so now to be the first to hear about our next episode launching! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, our final episode of our VC feature series, we’re joined by Pooja Sikka, General Partner at KHP Ventures. KHP Ventures is a collaboration between King’s College London, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The fund offers equity investments with Healthcare expertise for groundbreaking MedTech and digital startups. In today’s episode, you’ll find out more about Pooja’s squiggly career into Venture, and KHP’s brand new mental health immersion programme. 📚 Episode Chapters: ➡️ A career in Healthcare [04:00] ➡️ Pooja’s squiggly journey into Venture [08:30] ➡️ Opportunities in Healthcare [14:35] ➡️ Building strong relationships with Founders [20:00] ➡️ The crucial skill of spotting talent [25:00] ➡️ Launching a new Mental Health fund [30:00] ➡️ Advice for Mental Health startup Founders [38:00] ➡️ The importance of authenticity in pitching [44:00] ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: Vegard Medbø: Building a portfolio valued at $4.8B with Antler George Robson: Becoming a Partner at Sequoia at the age of 25 Molly Alter: Starting early in VC & building a transatlantic focus in vertical AI with Northzone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Vegard Medbø, Co-Founder and COO at Antler, the global early-stage fund helping entrepreneurs go from zero to one. Before founding Antler, Vegard spent his early career in the Coastal Ranger Command of the Norwegian Armed Forces and at McKinsey, where he worked with the world’s top energy companies, helping them apply machine learning to renewable and non-renewable energy. Since founding Antler, the team have invested in over 1,000 companies addressing meaningful challenges and opportunities across six continents. 📚 Episode Chapters: ➡️ Lessons from the Military [04:00] ➡️ The beginnings of Antler [09:00] ➡️ More about Antler’s successful portfolio [12:00] ➡️ Lessons from the beginning of Antler that still hold true today [15:00] ➡️ The perfect Founder for Antler [18:00] ➡️ International expansions [20:00] ➡️ Why you need optimism as a Founder [25:00] ➡️ Predictions for the next decade in Tech [31:30] ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: Bonus: Corinne Thompson on preparing for your fundraise George Robson: Becoming a Partner at Sequoia at the age of 25 Molly Alter: Starting early in VC & building a transatlantic focus in vertical AI with Northzone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this final 40 Minute Mentor VC bonus episode, we’re joined by Corinne Thompson, Founder of Ecap Financial. Today’s episode follows a slightly different format, with Corinne sharing a quick-fire checklist for you next fundraise. From the key metrics and data points investors really care about, to the biggest red flags and crucial questions Founders should ask their potential investor - this episode will equip you with everything you need to keep in mind as you’re raising your next round. 📣Learn more about today’s sponsor: Today’s episode is sponsored by ECAP Financial, your trusted partner for fractional CFO services for companies looking to fundraise or go through an M&A process. Whether you’re a Founder looking to raise investment, planning for an exit, or navigating financial challenges, ECAP Financial, led by the brilliant Corinne Thompson, helps scaleups secure the right funding at the right time. 💡 Check out their latest fundraising course here: https://fundraising-academy2.teachable.com/p/fundraising-academy 💡 Don’t forget to follow them on YouTube for even more advice: https://www.youtube.com/@ecapfinancial/videos ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: Bonus: Corinne Thompson on preparing for your fundraise George Robson: Becoming a Partner at Sequoia at the age of 25 Molly Alter: Starting early in VC & building a transatlantic focus in vertical AI with Northzone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by George Robson, Partner at Sequoia, the fund helping daring Founders build legendary companies from idea to IPO and beyond. From Investment Banking to Revolut and becoming a Partner at Sequoia at the age of 25, George’s CV is nothing but impressive and minutes into today’s episode, you’ll understand where his incredible drive and entrepreneurialism comes from. 📚 Episode Chapters: ➡️ The impact of education [03:30] ➡️ Foundations in Investment Banking [08:30] ➡️ Joining Revolut & lessons learned [16:00] ➡️ Navigating cultural fit [18:00] ➡️ More about our sponsors [20:20] ➡️ Joining Sequoia & investment approach [21:45] ➡️ What makes a great Founder [28:30] ➡️ Common mistakes during pitches [31:30] ➡️ Sequoia’s Arc Program [33:45] ➡️ The future of VC & the European ecosystem [36:00] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with George here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgerobson/ ➡️ Learn more about Sequoia: https://www.sequoiacap.com/ 📣Learn more about today’s sponsor: Today’s episode is sponsored by ECAP Financial, your trusted partner for fractional CFO services for companies looking to fundraise or go through an M&A process. Whether you’re a Founder looking to raise investment, planning for an exit, or navigating financial challenges, ECAP Financial, led by the brilliant Corinne Thompson, helps scaleups secure the right funding at the right time. 💡 Check out their latest fundraising course here: https://fundraising-academy2.teachable.com/p/fundraising-academy 💡 Don’t forget to follow them on YouTube for even more advice: https://www.youtube.com/@ecapfinancial/videos ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: Molly Alter: Starting early in VC & building a transatlantic focus in vertical AI with Northzone Dinika Mahtani: From Operator at Uber to backing early-stage startups at Cherry Ventures Corinne Thompson: Preparing for your fundraise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This 40 Minute Mentor VC feature season, we’re bringing you a special three-part bonus feature, brought to you by Ecap Financial and their Founder, Corinne Thompson. In today’s episode, Corinne shares helpful advice for setting up your company and team for an exit. We’ll discuss: ✅ What it actually means to “set up for an exit” as a Founder ✅ When you should start thinking about preparing for an exit ✅ The do’s and don’ts of navigating the transition 📣Learn more about today’s sponsor: Today’s episode is sponsored by ECAP Financial, your trusted partner for fractional CFO services for companies looking to fundraise or go through an M&A process. Whether you’re a Founder looking to raise investment, planning for an exit, or navigating financial challenges, ECAP Financial, led by the brilliant Corinne Thompson, helps scaleups secure the right funding at the right time. 💡 Check out their latest fundraising course here: https://fundraising-academy2.teachable.com/p/fundraising-academy 💡 Don’t forget to follow them on YouTube for even more advice: https://www.youtube.com/@ecapfinancial/videos ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: Bonus: Corinne Thompson on preparing for your fundraise Molly Alter: Starting early in VC & building a transatlantic focus in vertical AI with Northzone Dinika Mahtani: From Operator at Uber to backing early-stage startups at Cherry Ventures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Molly Alter, Partner at Northzone, the multi-stage fund partnering with Founders from Seed to Growth, across Europe and the US. Molly started her career in VC in 2016, straight out of Harvard University. Since then, Molly has worked with some of the biggest funds in the industry, including Insight Partners and Index Ventures. Now, at Northzone and back in New York, Molly focuses on vertical SaaS and AI, across early and growth stages. In today’s episode, we dive into her career in VC and her transatlantic focus. 📚 Episode Chapters: ➡️ A foundation in theatre & first entrepreneurial ventures [04:00] ➡️ Joining VC early on [09:00] ➡️ Characteristics needed in VC [14:45] ➡️ Advice for getting into VC [20:00] ➡️ Why Northzone [21:30] ➡️ Focusing on SaaS & AI [24:00] ➡️ Advice for Founders currently fundraising [28:30] ➡️ US vs European market [32:00] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Molly here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-alter-3ab1159a/ ➡️ Learn more about Northzone: https://northzone.com/ 📣Learn more about today’s sponsor: Today’s episode is sponsored by ECAP Financial, your trusted partner for fractional CFO services for companies looking to fundraise or go through an M&A process. Whether you’re a Founder looking to raise investment, planning for an exit, or navigating financial challenges, ECAP Financial, led by the brilliant Corinne Thompson, helps scaleups secure the right funding at the right time. 💡 Check out their latest fundraising course here: https://fundraising-academy2.teachable.com/p/fundraising-academy 💡 Don’t forget to follow them on YouTube for even more advice: https://www.youtube.com/@ecapfinancial/videos ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: Dinika Mahtani: From Operator at Uber to backing early-stage startups at Cherry Ventures Nicolas d’Audiffret: How To Build A $2 Billion Unicorn In Under 3 Years Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This 40 Minute Mentor VC feature season, we’re bringing you a special 3-part bonus feature, brought to you by Ecap Financial and their Founder, Corinne Thompson. In today’s episode, Corinne helps us take it all the way back to the beginning of the fundraising journey. We’ll discuss: ✅ The key steps you need to follow before your investor meeting ✅ Figuring out when the time is right to start fundraising ✅ What to keep in mind when choosing between VCs, angels or alternative funding routes ✅ How to mentally prepare for the fundraising journey ahead 📣Learn more about today’s sponsor: Today’s episode is sponsored by ECAP Financial, your trusted partner for fractional CFO services for companies looking to fundraise or go through an M&A process. Whether you’re a Founder looking to raise investment, planning for an exit, or navigating financial challenges, ECAP Financial, led by the brilliant Corinne Thompson, helps scaleups secure the right funding at the right time. 💡 Check out their latest fundraising course here: https://fundraising-academy2.teachable.com/p/fundraising-academy 💡 Don’t forget to follow them on YouTube for even more advice: https://www.youtube.com/@ecapfinancial/videos ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: Dinika Mahtani: From Operator at Uber to backing early-stage startups at Cherry Ventures From Operator To VC – Busting Industry Myths with Rosie Barnett, Principal at Delin Ventures Catherine Lenson: From Being The First Female Managing Partner at SoftBank to Building a Portfolio Career Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Dinika Mahtani, Partner at Cherry Ventures, the early-stage VC firm led by a team of entrepreneurs with experience building fast-scaling companies, such as Zalando and Spotify. Prior to her move into VC, Dinika was an Operator, working across Banking, UberEats EMEA and Uber’s JUMP e-bike product in the UK. She also served as Director of Finance and Operations at ClimateTech startup, Kaluza. Today, we take a trip back down memory lane, discussing those fundamental years as an Operator and how she made the move into VC. It’s a conversation filled with mentorship for Founders and anyone considering the VC route as their next career step. 📚 Episode Chapters: ➡️ From Banking to Uber [06:30] ➡️ Key lessons from her time at Uber [11:30] ➡️ Moving into VC [15:30] ➡️ More about today’s sponsor [23:30] ➡️ Looking for raw ambition [24:30] ➡️ Going from Principal to Partner [27:30] ➡️ Promoting and hiring more diverse talent [30:00] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Dinika here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinika-mahtani-0a2494158/ ➡️ Learn more about Cherry Ventures: https://cherry.vc/ 📣 Learn more about today’s sponsor: Today’s episode is sponsored by ECAP Financial, your trusted partner for fractional CFO services for companies looking to fundraise or go through an M&A process. Whether you’re a Founder looking to raise investment, planning for an exit, or navigating financial challenges, ECAP Financial, led by the brilliant Corinne Thompson, helps scaleups secure the right funding at the right time. 💡 Check out their latest fundraising course here: https://fundraising-academy2.teachable.com/p/fundraising-academy 💡 Don’t forget to follow them on YouTube for even more advice: https://www.youtube.com/@ecapfinancial/videos ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: Masha Bucher: Harnessing the power of storytelling in VC with Day One Ventures From Operator To VC – Busting Industry Myths with Rosie Barnett, Principal at Delin Ventures VC & Fundraising Advice – Series 6 Best Bits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re revisiting our popular episode with Ian Hogarth, Co-Founder and former CEO of Songkick, Partner at Plural Platform and Chair of the UK AI Safety Institute. In this episode, we talk about his rollercoaster ride with Songkick and how mentorship got him through the worst days, and what led him to building Plural, an early-stage platform dedicated to investing in Europe’s next-generation of tech companies with global ambitions. 📚 Episode Chapters: ➡️ Lessons from being a first-time CEO [11:00] ➡️ Why some hires can completely change your business [14:30] ➡️ Grief & stepping away from Songkick [19:15] ➡️ Jumping back into the Founder seat with Plural [24:40] ➡️ Why Plural isn’t following the traditional VC model [28:15] ➡️ What it takes to be an incredible Founder [32:50] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Ian here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianhogarth/ ➡️ Learn more about Plural: https://pluralplatform.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: Michelle You: From Exiting Songkick to tackling the climate crisis Sophie Adelman: Creating access to opportunities for everyone Eleanor Kaye: Making VC more accessible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re revisiting our popular episode with the brilliant Alice Bentinck MBE, Co-Founder of Entrepreneur First and author of “How to be a Founder”. Frustrated by a business landscape that found latent talent shackled by predetermined career paths, Alice set out to challenge cultural norms when she co-founded Entrepreneur First in 2011 – an accelerator that celebrates and invests in talented, ambitious individuals and looks to match-make Co-Founders to launch successful businesses. In this episode, Alice shares everything from her early career to challenging the norms of entrepreneurship and backing diverse talent. 📚 Episode Chapters: ➡️ The Birth of Entrepreneur First - [04:50] ➡️ Overcoming early challenges & building for growth [07:50] ➡️ Investing in Talent [17:00] ➡️ The Co-Founder dynamic [25:00] ➡️ Diversity & Inclusion in Tech [28:45] ➡️ Building Diverse Teams [32:30] ➡️ The importance of mentorship [42:00] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Alice here: LinkedIn ➡️ Learn more about Entrepreneur First: https://www.joinef.com/ ➡️ Get a copy of Alice’s book: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/how-to-be-a-founder-9781399411608/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: Amali de Alwis: Embracing a non-linear career Gary Izunwa: Driving Social Mobility through Referrals with Tangent Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon: Changing the face of STEM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hiring market has seen some major shifts over the past few years, and as businesses continue to navigate economic changes, evolving workplace trends, and shifting candidate expectations, staying ahead of these trends has never been more important, than in 2025. In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re diving deep into the key hiring and talent trends for the year ahead. You’ll hear from some of the JBM and the wider Amplified People Group teams who share their insights on how the Hiring and Talent market is shaping up for the year. We’ll be answering questions like: ➡️ How is the hiring market shaping up compared to 2024? ➡️ What new trends are we seeing, and what are candidates and clients asking more about? ➡️ What are our top predictions for hiring in 2025? Whether you're a Founder planning your next big hire, a talent leader navigating an evolving workforce, or a job seeker looking to understand the market, this episode is packed with insights to help you stay ahead. ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: How to successfully build a fractional career with Ben Sanders From layoffs to lemonade with Abadesi Osunsade The future of flexible work with Molly Johnson-Jones Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How are your New Year’s resolutions coming along? Research shows that most of us drop our New Year’s resolutions by the second Friday in January. As we’re approaching the end of January, we’re resharing some of the best wellbeing and healthy habits advice we’ve received on the podcast from subject matter experts: Dr Rupy Aujla, Founder of The Doctor’s Kitchen Rhiannon Lambert, leading Nutritionist and best-selling author Nikki Wicks, CEO of global fitness brand, The Body Coach Lottie Whyte, Founder of Myomaster, a pioneer in recovery and wellness solutions. 📚 Episode Chapters: ➡️ Building better habits through nutrition [02:00] ➡️ What a well-balanced diet actually looks like [10:40] ➡️ Balancing a busy lifestyle & exercising [16:30] ➡️ Building simple habits first [19:15] ➡️ Nurturing a healthy relationship with food [22:15] ➡️ The truth behind diets [24:30] ➡️ Costs of eating healthier [34:45] ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: The accidental business that helps millions of people eat healthier every day From the kitchen table to £100k investment on Dragons Den with MyoMaster The Truth About Diets & Nutrition Advice For Busy Execs Building An Accidental Global Fitness Brand Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Lo, one of our most popular 40 Minute Mentors and Co-Founder of Ethos, joins us for today’s 40 Minute Mentor, Where Are They Now feature. A lot has happened since the last time James came on the podcast. In today’s episode, we dive into every twist and turn in his journey since building and eventually exiting education platform, Mana, all the way through his latest venture - Ethos, the opportunity engine for humanity, currently in stealth. 📚 Episode Chapters: ➡️ Pivoting & exiting Mana [02:00] ➡️ Digging deep for resilience during challenging times [06:00] ➡️ Jumping back into the Founder seat & building Ethos [10:00] ➡️ Learning from previous mistakes [18:00] ➡️ Fundraising advice [23:00] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Listen back to James’ original episode: 40 Minute Mentor ➡️ Connect with James here: LinkedIn ➡️ Learn more about Ethos: Ethos ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: Catherine Lenson: From Being The First Female Managing Partner at SoftBank to Building a Portfolio Career Zeynep Yavuz: Investing In Fintech, Crypto & Emerging Markets Gary Izunwa: Driving Social Mobility through Referrals with Tangent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Elvidge, Co-Founder of UK-focused solar energy company, Synth Solar, joins us for today’s 40 Minute Mentor, Where Are They Now feature. In today’s episode, Tom shares the ins and outs of his transition from being an Operator to founding Synth Solar, and all the key lessons he’s learned on that journey. Plus, Tom gives us an exclusive sneak peek into what’s to come and why now is a great time to get into the energy sector. 📚 Episode Chapters: ➡️ Transitioning from Operator to Founder [01:25] ➡️ Advice for Operators making the transition [07:50] ➡️ Aspirations for the future [11:00] ➡️ Hiring plans & why solar energy [15:15] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Listen back to Tom’s original episode: 40 Minute Mentor ➡️ Connect with Tom here: LinkedIn ➡️ Learn more about Synth Solar: Synth Solar ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🎧 You may also enjoy: Cleo Sham: From Operator to VC Where Are They Now: Anouk Agussol Marta Krupinska: Saving the planet through carbon removal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anouk Agussol, Founder of Unleashed, an Amplified People Group business, joins us on today’s 40 Minute Mentor Where Are They Now series. Following her initial appearance on the show, in Season 9, Anouk joins us today to share how Unleashed has evolved since almost going into administration and being acquired by Amplified People Group. Plus, she shares actionable advice on building high-performing teams in 2025, and beyond. 📚 Episode Chapters: ➡️ The Evolution of Unleashed - [01:50] ➡️ Joining Amplified People Group - [05:10] ➡️ Growing as a Leader - [15:20] ➡️ Building high-performing teams - [22:10] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Listen back to Anouk’s original episode: 40 Minute Mentor ➡️ Learn more about Unleashed & the upcoming open cohort: Unleashed ➡️ Learn more about Amplified People Group: Amplified People Group ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy New Year and welcome back to 40 Minute Mentor! For our first episode of 2025 we’re taking one last chance to look back on the fantastic year of pocket-sized mentorship we’ve had. At the end of last year, we asked YOU to vote for your favourite 40 Minute Mentor of 2024. 🌟 For the first time ever, we collected votes across three categories: 🏆 Top VC of the year 🏆 Best topic covered 🏆 Best 40 Minute Mentor of the year Tune in to find out who the big winners are for each of the categories. ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Listen through 260+ episodes in our archives: https://jbmc.co.uk/40-minute-mentor/ ➡️ Follow JBM on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbm-consulting-ltd/ ➡️ Find out more about Amplified People Group: https://www.amplifiedgroup.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before the 40 Minute Mentor team heads into hibernation until 2025, your Host, James Mitra shares a short festive message with you. Tune in to hear some of James’s favourite moments on the podcast this year and some of the biggest milestones the JBM team have achieved this year. 🥂 Happy Holidays from all of us at 40 Minute Mentor, JBM, and Amplified People Group! 🥂 See you for more pocket-sized mentorship in the New Year! ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Listen through 260+ episodes in our archives: https://jbmc.co.uk/40-minute-mentor/ ➡️ Follow JBM on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbm-consulting-ltd/ ➡️ Find out more about Amplified People Group: https://www.amplifiedgroup.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the final episode of Season 12 of 40 Minute Mentor, we are looking back on the last 10 weeks of pocket-sized mentorship and revisiting some of James’s favourite moments. If you haven’t fully caught up on this season yet, or you’re a brand new listener, make sure you check out each of the episodes after this roundup episode and our 40 Minute Mentor archives of 260+ episodes. ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Listen back to all of Season 12: https://jbmc.co.uk/40-minute-mentor/ ➡️ Follow JBM on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbm-consulting-ltd/ 🔔Find out more about today’s sponsors Today’s episode is brought to you by the Leadership Unleashed Open Cohorts. Leadership Unleashed Open Cohort is your chance to join a diverse cohort of leaders from different organisations, industries, and parts of the world to build the most critical behaviours and transform into a high performer. Split into seven remote workshops, the Open Cohort follows a coaching-led approach where you’ll be actively involved and turn your learnings into habits in your day-to-day. To find out more about the programme and how you can sign up for the next cohort starting in January, get in touch with Logan and Anouk at [email protected] ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“[We’re] actually using TikTok in a positive way. The whole reason we exist is to combat misinformation, which there is a lot of on TikTok, but it can be used positively.” In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Jas Schembri-Stothart, Co-Founder of luna, the world’s first digital health companion for teenage girls. Working with leading health and education institutions, Jas and her Co-Founder Jo Goodall are building a digital companion enabling teenage girls to have a healthier and happier teenhood. To date, the app has over 100k members in over 100+ countries, was featured as app of the day across app stores and has seen them raise £1.2 million from Octopus Ventures, Syndicate Room and prolific Angel Investors. In today’s episode, we uncover all the highs and lows along the way so far… Episode Chapters: ➡️ Foundation in consulting [05:50] ➡️ Deciding whether to get your MBA [08:30] ➡️ The Origin story behind luna [11:30] ➡️ Growing through community [19:30] ➡️ More about Leadership Unleashed [21:20] ➡️ Spending to grow & hiring mistakes [23:00] ➡️ VC vs Angel Investment [27:20] ➡️ Getting to know Gen Z & Generation Alpha [33:20] ➡️ Embracing Founder Communities [41:30] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Jas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasschembri/ ➡️ Find out more about luna: https://weareluna.app/ 🔔Find out more about today’s sponsors Today’s episode is brought to you by the Leadership Unleashed Open Cohorts. Leadership Unleashed Open Cohort is your chance to join a diverse cohort of leaders from different organisations, industries, and parts of the world to build the most critical behaviours and transform into a high performer. Split into seven remote workshops, the Open Cohort follows a coaching-led approach where you’ll be actively involved and turn your learnings into habits in your day-to-day. To find out more about the programme and how you can sign up for the next cohort starting in January, get in touch with Logan and Anouk at [email protected] ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“If you’re not learning something new every day, even if it’s the smallest thing, you can start to almost become stationary. Find ways to push yourself out of the limits of what you feel comfortable with.” In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Dr Dupe Burgess, Founder & CEO of Bloomful. Launched in 2021, Bloomful is a HealthTech on a mission to close the gender health gap and improve access to gynae care for women, globally. Dupe and her team have been on an incredibly successful journey so far, having reached over 4,000 women with their first triage tool in just a few weeks and receiving equity-free funding from both, Google and KPMG. With a background in medicine, working at some of the busiest NHS hospitals in the UK and strategy consulting at BCG, Dupe brings a wealth of first-hand knowledge and experience to tackle the problem Bloomful is solving today. Find out more in today’s episode… Episode Chapters: ➡️ Upbringing and landing in a medical career [04:15] ➡️ Spending eight years in the NHS [08:15] ➡️ Transitioning from being a Doctor to a Big 4 strategy consultant [12:15] ➡️ Bloomful’s origin story [18:20] ➡️ More about Leadership Unleashed [21:30] ➡️ Closing the gender health gap [23:00] ➡️ Securing investment early on [28:00] ➡️ The importance of storytelling in fundraising [31:15] ➡️ Hiring for the sake of hiring & other lessons learned [33:50] ➡️ Advice for growing your personal brand on LinkedIn [38:00] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Dupe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dupeburgess/ ➡️ Find out more about Bloomful: https://www.bloomful.io/ 🔔Find out more about today’s sponsors Today’s episode is brought to you by the Leadership Unleashed Open Cohorts. Leadership Unleashed Open Cohort is your chance to join a diverse cohort of leaders from different organisations, industries, and parts of the world to build the most critical behaviours and transform into a high performer. Split into seven remote workshops, the Open Cohort follows a coaching-led approach where you’ll be actively involved and turn your learnings into habits in your day-to-day. To find out more about the programme and how you can sign up for the next cohort starting in January, get in touch with Logan and Anouk at [email protected] ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“It’s really important to sell your business when there’s still a lot of growth left. You really shouldn’t be looking to sell it at its absolute peak.” In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Mary Bonsor, Founder of Flex Legal, a bespoke online platform created to connect law students with law firms and in-house legal teams on a flexible on-demand basis. Mary has been on an incredible journey from Lawyer to LegalTech Entrepreneur, driving diversity and social mobility with Flex Legal. Alongside her successful build of Flex Legal to exit, Mary has been named Management Today’s 35 under 35, won Entrepreneur of the Year at the Women in Law Awards and was also an Entrepreneurship category winner at the European Women of Legal Tech Awards. In today’s episode, we’ll dive into her journey of building Flex Legal, all the lessons she learned along the way and her step away from the CEO role through her exit, 7 years into the journey. Episode Chapters: ➡️ Becoming a lawyer & the initial idea for Flex Legal [07:00] ➡️ Entrepreneurship - a behaviour or a skill you can learn? [09:00] ➡️ From concept to business - the evolution of Flex Legal [14:00] ➡️ Find out more about Leadership Unleashed [15:00] ➡️ Transitioning from Lawyer to Tech Founder [17:15] ➡️ Finding Product-Market-Fit & navigating pivots [20:15] ➡️ Hiring lessons [28:15] ➡️ Navigating Covid & the route to exit [33:00] ➡️ Transitioning out of the CEO role [35:30] ➡️ Social Mobility in the Legal space [38:15] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Mary on LinkedIn ➡️ Find out more about Flex Legal 🔔Find out more about today’s sponsors Today’s episode is brought to you by the Leadership Unleashed Open Cohorts. Leadership Unleashed Open Cohort is your chance to join a diverse cohort of leaders from different organisations, industries, and parts of the world to build the most critical behaviours and transform into a high performer. Split into seven remote workshops, the Open Cohort follows a coaching-led approach where you’ll be actively involved and turn your learnings into habits in your day-to-day. To find out more about the programme and how you can sign up for the next cohort starting in January, get in touch with Logan and Anouk at [email protected] ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Feedback is the only way you will develop as a Leader. It is the only way people develop, full stop.” If you’ve been following JBM’s journey or been listening to 40 Minute Mentor for a while now, you will know that we’ve recently joined forces with Amplified People Group - the people services supergroup, supporting tech companies from inception to IPO. That’s what makes today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode so special. In this episode, we are joined by Andrew Richardson, Amplified People Group’s Co-Founder and Director. Not only will you find out the ins and outs of JBM’s acquisition and what the future holds for the Group, but we also cover Andrew’s impressive career journey, why VC simply wasn’t for him and where his passion and love for Sales really comes from. Episode Chapters: ➡️ Upbringing in an entrepreneurial environment [04:00] ➡️ Foundation in recruitment & joining La Fosse [10:30] ➡️ The power of mentorship in Andrew’s early career [12:20] ➡️ Growing a passion for Sales & why it’s such a good grounding for anyone’s career [15:20] ➡️ More about today’s sponsor [20:00] ➡️ Moving from Recruitment into VC [21:00] ➡️ The challenges of building a new fund [23:15] ➡️ The beginning of Foundation Partners & the evolution to Amplified Group[28:00] ➡️ Fractional support for early-stage Founders [33:50] ➡️ The hallmark of success [38:00] ➡️ Building a high-performance business & attracting the right talent [40:50] ➡️ Why feedback is so important [46:00] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Andrew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-richardson-34404b33 ➡️ Find out more about Amplified People Group: https://www.amplifiedgroup.com/ 🔔Find out more about today’s sponsors Unleashed, an Amplified Group business, is the people and culture expert for leaders who do business differently. Trusted by the most progressive businesses, the Leadership Institute-accredited Unleashed Development Programmes harness the power of community learning, helping leaders develop the skills, behaviours and relationships they need to cultivate high performance across organisations. Find out more about Unleashed here or get in touch at [email protected]. ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“People think VC is about chasing the next big thing…but actually, it’s not about making quick money. It’s about the long game and deep relationships.” We often talk to Investors on 40 Minute Mentor, but today we’re taking a deep dive into an increasingly important role within VC, the Platform role. To help us explore what a Platform role can look like, why it’s so important and how you can get into the role, we’re joined by Leah Sutton, Chief Portfolio Talent Officer at Balderton and Charlotte Van Reyk, VP of Platform at Lightspeed. On top of taking a deep dive into Platform, we also discuss Charlotte and Leah’s incredible careers before VC and their predictions for 2025. Episode Chapters: ➡️ From Google to VC [08:30] ➡️ Act like an owner and think like an entrepreneur [12:00] ➡️ Building businesses through People roles [13:20] ➡️ Lessons from scaling high-growth businesses & navigating Covid [18:40] ➡️ More about today’s sponsors [21:45] ➡️ Learning resilience from parenthood [23:30] ➡️ Squiggly routes into VC [26:30] ➡️ Biggest misconceptions about VC [31:30] ➡️ Relationships vs Networks [34:30] ➡️ Day-to-Day of a Platform Leader [36:40] ➡️ Advice for moving into VC and Platform roles [41:20] ➡️ Trends & predictions for 2025 [51:00] ➡️ A podcast recommendation [56:30] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Charlotte: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-van-reyk-8a4481b5 ➡️ Connect with Leah: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/leahsutton ➡️ Find out more about Lightspeed: https://lsvp.com/ ➡️ Find out more about Balderton Capital: https://www.balderton.com/ 🔔Find out more about today’s sponsors Today’s episode is sponsored by Foundation Partners, an Amplified People Group business. Growing technology companies don’t have the financial resources, capacity or experience to tackle the challenges of scaling a business and driving performance. A world-class People, Culture & HR operation is instrumental for this. Foundation Partners have built a blended service, so companies get the experience and support - both strategically and day-to-day - they need to build an exceptional business. Find out more: https://www.foundationpartners.co.uk/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I have more than 70% of equity in the business. Unfortunately, female Founders are actually encouraged to give up more equity in the early stages, which I would have never agreed with…” The fashion industry is the third most polluting industry in the world. Today’s 40 Minute Mentor is on a mission to change that. We are joined by Eshita Kabra, Forbes 30 Under 30 and Founder and CEO of By Rotation. Often dubbed as the Instagram for fashion rental, By Rotation has achieved amazing milestones to date, including building a community of over half a million like-minded Rotators, saving over 100k meters of textile waste from going to landfill in 2023, and raising £2.55 million in seed funding. We cover all the highs and lows along the way and Eshita’s exciting plans for the future. Episode Chapters: ➡️ Growing up as a third culture kid [03:40] ➡️ Why the leap into entrepreneurship [09:00] ➡️ Finding the right people & navigating Covid [12:45] ➡️ More about how By Rotation works [18:00] ➡️ Learn more about today’s sponsor [20:00] ➡️ Purpose vs Profit & By Rotation’s environmental impact [21:30] ➡️ Prioritising equity over huge fundraises [22:55] ➡️ Fundraising advice [28:00] ➡️ Landing big partnerships & famous ambassadors [33:00] ➡️ Hiring traps to avoid [35:45] ➡️ Expanding into the US market [38:20] ➡️ A podcast recommendation [41:45] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Eshita: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eshitakabra ➡️ Find out more about By Rotation: https://byrotation.com/ 🔔Find out more about today’s sponsors Today’s episode is sponsored by Foundation Partners, an Amplified People Group business. Growing technology companies don’t have the financial resources, capacity or experience to tackle the challenges of scaling a business and driving performance. A world-class People, Culture & HR operation is instrumental for this. Foundation Partners have built a blended service, so companies get the experience and support - both strategically and day-to-day - they need to build an exceptional business. Find out more: https://www.foundationpartners.co.uk/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices