40 Minute Mentor

That's a wrap on Series 10! And what a 12 weeks it has been. We have been joined by some incredible Founders and leaders, who have been refreshingly vulnerable, sharing the highs and lows of their entrepreneurial journeys, with lots of wisdom and mentorship shared along the way. From building the Uber of volunteering, to changing the world with ethical AI, we have covered SO much in our tenth series and hope you have enjoyed it as much as we have. Thank you so much for all your support along the way - today your host, James Mitra, reflects on this latest series and what we have coming up next... ⭐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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Every business that I’ve founded has been on the brink of disaster, and one of the big lessons is that the business you started is never the business you end up with.”And just like that, we have made it to the final episode of Series 10 of 40 Minute Mentor.For our series finale, we’re joined by multi-exit Founder, Investor, board advisor and author - the brilliant Debbie Wosskow OBE. We cover a range of topics with Debbie, including her whirlwind journey as an entrepreneur - building and exiting incredible businesses, including PR and marketing consultancy Mantra (sold in 2007), Love Home Swap (sold in 2017) and AllBright (exit in 2022). All the way to today and her latest ventures - WJV LLP, a boutique investment and strategic innovation firm, championing diversity, wellness and economic empowerment, and The Better Menopause, empowering women’s performance at midlife through science-backed products. Debbie shares some truly candid insights from her journey as a Founder, including: ➡️ Growing up in an entrepreneurial family [04:20] ➡️ Early beginnings selling scrunchies [06:30] ➡️ The power of being a “simple” entrepreneur and controlling margins [07:07] ➡️ Bringing business & entrepreneurship into schools [08:33] ➡️ A brief stint in management consulting & building her first business at 25 [11:36] ➡️ How a Christmas film inspired the start of Love Home Swap [13:37] ➡️ Serendipity and combining purpose with profit [15:35] ➡️ Reflections on having fun, making money and not working with ar$eholes [17:17] ➡️ Finding the resilience to keep getting back into the Founder seat [19:55] ➡️ Making the shift from operational CEO to board advisor [21:34] ➡️ Self-doubt, exhaustion, relationship strains: Founder realities [22:55] ➡️ Finding comfort in a routine when things are falling apart [26:39] ➡️ Building a network for women, by women - the early days and growth of AllBright [29:00] ➡️ Building WJV LLP and going beyond angel investing [33:20] ➡️ Putting women’s health top of the agenda & building The Better Menopause [36:54] ➡️ Driving awareness at pace and supporting women through the menopause [40:22] ➡️ Realities of building a business to exit & the conflicting emotions you’re left with as a Founder [41:45] ➡️ Audience question: Being remembered for the future of female entrepreneurs [46:45] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Debbie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiewosskowobe/➡️ Find out more about WJV LLP: https://www.wjv-llp.com/about-us➡️ Find out more about The Better Menopause: https://thebettermenopause.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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Paying people well and giving them lunches when they come to the office can be really good… but the best people are motivated by their growth and development.” For the final Monday episode of Series 10, we're joined by Steve Coulson, Founder and CEO of Kitt - the business that creates and manages custom HQs for the world’s most vibrant brands. Before Kitt, Steve built B2B parking platform and B2C app, JustPark, to 50,000+ locations and 5m+ drivers. Today, we discuss Steve’s entrepreneurial journey and the lessons learned along the way, including: ➡️ From investment banking to Startup life [1:12] ➡️ Entrepreneurial environment & his upside down career [04:35] ➡️ Leaving JustPark and Kitt’s origin story [07:50] ➡️ The deafening silence of entrepreneurship [11:12] ➡️ From serving startups to the biggest brands in the world [13:49] ➡️ Building momentum & early lessons learned [14:55] ➡️ Navigating the pandemic and finding silver linings [18:44] ➡️ The post-pandemic rush and revisiting fundraising [22:52] ➡️ Unpacking the future of the office [25:30] ➡️ Creating an amazing space for your team & culture [28:52] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-coulson-1521a743/ ➡️ Find out more about Kitt: https://www.kittoffices.com/en/ ➡️ Hear more from Kitt’s Co-Founder & COO, Lucy: https://jbmc.co.uk/insights/coo-secrets/coo-secrets-with-lucy-minton-co-founder-coo-at-kitt/ ⭐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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“We live on an ocean planet, and we have this strange relationship where we assume it’s all been discovered, but it actually hasn’t…” For the penultimate week of this Series of 40 Minute Mentor, we’re joined by Steve Etherton, President EMEA of DEEP - an international research and development organisation who aim to become the NASA of the ocean. Having placed Steve Etherton with DEEP, when they were still in stealth mode, we’re so excited to finally be able to welcome him to the podcast and find out about DEEP’s mission to radically advance how humankind access, explore and inhabit underwater environments. Before joining DEEP, Steve spent 12 years in the British Army and a decade growing one of Africa’s fastest growing FinTechs. Tune in to discover: ➡️ Finding the balance between entrepreneurship and the rest of life [03:35] ➡️ Starting his career in the Military & leadership lessons [06:51] ➡️ Transitioning out of the Army [08:02] ➡️ How Africa’s rocketship FinTech began and went on to raise $90 million [09:25] ➡️ Figuring out what type of COO you want to be [10:59] ➡️ DEEP’s mission to make humans aquatic [13:24] ➡️ Coming out of stealth mode & learnings from early build [18:04] ➡️ Tackling the climate crisis [21:10] ➡️ Developing underwater habitats [24:46] ➡️ Being driven, fearless and curious: an insight into DEEP’s culture & hiring practices [26:49] ➡️ Evolution of leadership styles [30:24] ➡️ Audience question: Understanding the oceans, a note for underwater living sceptics [32:48] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-etherton-91190a24/ ➡️ Find out more about DEEP: https://www.deep.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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I want to create my own space. I don't want to have to fit into someone else's whitewashed marketing… I want to create fashion that shows people like me.” In this week’s 40 Minute Mentor takeover, Samuel Tholley. Founder of Hidden Pages, is joined by Rosette Ale, Founder of Revival - a sustainable fashion label redesigning discarded clothes into contemporary designs for a cleaner and cooler planet. Samuel and Rosette know each other from university and have a really insightful and refreshing conversation in today’s episode, covering the following topics: ➡️ The start of Revival and the mind of a young entrepreneur [01:31] ➡️ Challenges of entering the fashion world [04:49] ➡️ Mentorship, crowdfunding and being bold [07:34] ➡️ Fostering a good mentor mentee relationship [12:06] ➡️ The importance of representation and breaking down barriers [15:02] ➡️ Diversifying the fashion industry [17:59]➡️ Shifting diversity from a tick box exercise [19:52] ➡️ Accessibility to sustainability & mentality shifts [21:42] ➡️ Doing your part towards living more sustainably and saving the planet [25:46] ➡️ Where to follow Revival & Rosette’s journey [31:38] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Sam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-tholley-758135105/ ➡️ Connect with Rosette: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosette-ale/ ➡️ Find out more about Hidden Pages: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hidden-pages/ and https://www.instagram.com/_hiddenpages/?hl=en ➡️ Find out more about Revival: https://www.revivalldn.com/ PLUS! If you want to hear more from Samuel and Hidden Pages, listen to his episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_-blY_kUQ ⭐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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“You’ll make mistakes but that doesn’t matter - it’s all about speed and growth, but at some point you’ll have to go and clean up the room.” Today’s 40 Minute Mentor is Nicolas Brusson, Co-Founder & CEO of BlaBlaCar - the world’s leading community-based travel app enabling 26 million active members a year to share a ride in 21 countries. BlaBlaCar’s environmentally and human-friendly mobility network saves 1.6M tons of CO2 and enables 120M human connections every year. On top of leading BlaBlaCar, Nicolas is also an investor in many mission-driven brands, such as Ankorstore, Home Exchange and Dust, to name a few, so there is plenty to unpack in today's episode, including: ➡️ Becoming a father and closing a $10 million fundraising round [4:41] ➡️ Missed opportunities and keeping up with competition [06:42] ➡️ Bringing entrepreneurship into schools [09:55] ➡️ From Physics to VC and Entrepreneurship [12:32] ➡️ Rebuilding after mass layoffs [14:55] ➡️ The main lesson from the ups and downs of startup life [17:03]➡️ Advert: More about Kitt [25:29] ➡️ The origin and evolution of BlaBlaCar [26:39] ➡️ The shift in the sharing economy and building the ‘Airbnb for cars’ [29:00] ➡️ Recognising and surviving different phases of the business [32:35] ➡️ The danger in doing too many things, a turning point for BlaBlaCar [34:47] ➡️ Becoming a multi-model platform, expanding the carpool idea [36:46] ➡️ Navigating Covid without layoffs [37:39] ➡️ Reshaping and evolving your company culture [40:30] ➡️ ️Questioning company values and when they’re more than just a word on a wall [42:26] ➡️ Creating a culture of mentorship [43:50] ➡️ Audience question: The future of BlaBlaCar [46:54] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Nicolas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolasbrusson/ ➡️ Find out more about BlaBlaCar: https://www.blablacar.co.uk/ ➡️ More about our sponsors, Kitt: https://www.kittoffices.com/en/ ⭐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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I'm not surrendering to the peaks and troughs of social ways, acceptance and rejection. I'm standing firm in my core principles.” Today's podcast episode is a special one - it's a Hidden Pages' takeover. In this episode, Samuel Tholley, Founder of Hidden Pages is joined by Faith Locken, Founder and CEO of We Rise In - an award-winning business network with the mission to inspire, elevate and develop the careers of black professionals. Tune in to discover: ➡️ We Rise In: on a mission to improve diversity at senior levels [2:46] ➡️ How frustration led to Faith’s first startup [6:09] ➡️ George Floyd and the resurgence of Black Lives Matter [From 7:35] ➡️ Finding mentorship in different forms [9:11] ➡️ Building resilience on the lonely Founder journey [12:39] ➡️ Mental barriers and supporting families in the black community [14:47] ➡️ Backing yourself to work on your side hustle [19:20] ➡️ Being passionate and discovering your why [26:19] ➡️ Accountability and shining a light on reverse mentorship [27:11] ➡️ Scaling We Rise In [29:44] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Sam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-tholley-758135105/➡️ Connect with Faith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faith-locken-710b2263/➡️ Find out more about We Rise In: https://www.werisein.co.uk/➡️ Find out more about Hidden Pages: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hidden-pages/ and https://www.instagram.com/_hiddenpages/?hl=en🎧PLUS! If you want to hear more from Samuel and Hidden Pages, listen to his episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_-blY_kUQ ⭐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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I think we are scared of AI in the same way that we’ve been scared of many technological inventions when we’ve been on the forefront of something big.” Today's 40 Minute Mentor is the incredibly inspiring Raj Kaur Khaira, Co-Founder and COO of AutogenAI, a business that is leveraging large language models and text generating AI to combat the expensive business problem of writing and answering bids, tenders and proposals. Raj is also an acclaimed author, lawyer and campaigner and Founder of the world’s first global directory of South Asian therapists. Over her career so far, she has worked for over 20 Startups, so there is loads to unpack in today’s very refreshing and candid conversation. Tune in to discover: ➡️ Being an overachiever and reframing failure [05:12] ➡️ Why fundraising is not a success signal [07:16] ➡️ Dealing with rejections and building resilience [12:31] ➡️ Leaving Accenture to pursue law and operations [20:27] ➡️ The golden email template, getting CEO’s to notice you [21:54] ➡️ The origin of AutogenAI [26:33] ➡️ Why you shouldn’t be sceptical of the power of (ethical) AI [29:41] ➡️ The importance of building a low ego environment in your team [33:51] ➡️ Advice for anyone wanting to join AutogenAI [37:06] ➡️ Eradicating sexist tradition in South Asian cultures through the Pink Ladoo Project [40:21] ➡️ Finding the balance between action and change, avoiding activist burnout [41:57] ➡️ Audience question: Ruthless prioritisation and juggling many roles [44:18] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Raj: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raj-khaira/ ➡️ Find out more about Autogen AI: https://autogenai.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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“What the murder of George Floyd taught me is that if you don't spend time changing how the people within the system think, you'll never fundamentally change the system.” To recognise and celebrate this year’s Black History Month, we are kicking off a special three-part series, where we once again partner up with Samuel Tholley, Founder of Hidden Pages. If you're a loyal 40 Minute Mentor listener, you will have come across Samuel already and there will be plenty more from him over the next three weeks. Before his podcast takeover next week, we wanted to revisit one of the most inspiring episodes we have recorded to date, with the brilliant Baroness Oona King. Oona was the second black woman elected into British Parliament, and is currently the VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Snap Inc.Following some highlight snippets from her 40 Minute Mentor episode, you’ll also hear some reflections on what Black History Month means, facilitated by Samuel - special thanks to Karine, Michael, Gafar, Matthew and Prisca for their contributions.Tune in today to discover: ➡️ The reality of being a black woman in parliament [02:03] ➡️ Taking action and changing the status quo [05:29] ➡️ Losing her seat in parliament [07:49] ➡️ Death threats and thank you notes - the scary reality of life as an MP [09:45] ➡️ What the murder of George Floyd taught her about changing the system [12:50] ➡️ What you can do internally to spot equity and inequity [13:16] ➡️ Shifting the burden of DE&I from minority to majority groups [14:48] ➡️ Understanding and celebrating Black History Month [15:45] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Oona: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oona-king-sheher-00ba8414/ ➡️ Snap Inc.’s Diversity Annual Report 2023: https://diversity.snap.com/ ➡️ Oona’s full 40 Minute Mentor episode: https://jbmc.co.uk/insights/40-minute-mentor/downing-street-death-threats-and-dei-with-baroness-oona-king/ ⭐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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Immigrants start businesses that add to the local economy and we are very excited to be a growth engine for that.” Today's 40 Minute Mentor is the brilliant Nina Mohanty, Co-Founder of Bloom Money, a FinTech bringing familiar financial services to migrant communities. Nina created Bloom Money based on her own lived experiences, as a child of immigrants and having relocated to multiple countries herself. Today, we’ll discover what led her to entrepreneurship, riding the ups and downs of an early-stage startup and her very candid insights into her own fundraising experience: ➡️ Her struggle with hustle porn and hustle culture [06:04] ➡️ Growing up in Silicon Valley and starting her career in FinTech [08:37] ➡️ Bloom Money’s origin story [15:50] ➡️ Fixating on the losses and under-celebrating the wins [20:02] ➡️ The recipe for burnout, a lesson in Founder wellbeing [22:00] ➡️ The future of Bloom Money & reaching more communities [24:46] ➡️ Fundraising stories and advice for fellow Founders [29:06] ➡️ Advice for getting into FinTech & making the industry more inclusive [36:11] ➡️ Why she has a difficult time with referrals [37:34] ➡️ Audience question: Making financial literacy a priority for all [42:41] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Nina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninamohanty/ ➡️ Find out more about Bloom Money: https://bloommoney.co/⭐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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“It doesn't matter where you come from or what school you went to, or whether you went to university. There are Founders out there, building incredible businesses, no matter what their backgrounds.” In celebration of International Podcast Day, (and our 200th podcast episode!) JBM Founder , James Mitra, and Head of Marketing and 40 Minute Mentor Producer, Hannah Urbanek, chat all things 40 Minute Mentor… From the early days of building the podcast, to shining a light on the biggest lessons along the way and how podcasting has become a fundamental part of our business. Tune in to unravel the ins and outs of business podcasting, including: ➡️ Breaking the traditional industry rules, why 40 Minute Mentor was born [00:52] ➡️ Providing an ‘access all areas’ to mentorship from incredible Entrepreneurs [03:06] ➡️ Reflecting on our podcast growth [04:15] ➡️ From ad-hoc to a smooth running machine, BTS moments [06:07] ➡️ Shining a light on gender equality, diversity & underrepresented Founders [07:31] ➡️ Hannah’s biggest learnings from 200 episodes [10:28] ➡️ Podcasting as a fun, unique form of business development [13:10] ➡️ When James met his footballing hero and things didn’t go to plan… [16:51] ➡️ Milestone moments: Inspiring Founders and huge download growth [19:04] ➡️ Building the ultimate brand awareness tool, a marketing plan essential [21:53] ➡️ The challenge of capturing listeners in a saturated market & advice for aspiring podcasters [28:18] ➡️ Fancy being a podcast guest? Here’s how to stand out [31:42] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmitra-jbm/ ➡️ Connect with Hannah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahurbanek/ ➡️ Follow JBM: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbm-consulting-ltd/?viewAsMember=true ⭐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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Becoming financially free but not being a Unicorn, is still success.” Today's 40 Minute Mentor is Nick Telson, exited Founder of DesignMyNight, Co-Founder of Trumpet, Angel Investor and Podcast Host of the popular Pitch Deck show. With so many hats to wear, we loved diving into Nick’s story and career from starting at L’Oreal to scratching that entrepreneurial itch by building DesignMyNight to 100+ employees with minimal angel funding and finally returning to the Founder seat to disrupt B2B sales. There is SO much to unpack from Nick's impressive story, from his views on failures to what it really feels like to exit and start again, and so much more: ➡️ Having ‘failure moments’ and the glorification of entrepreneurship [02:37] ➡️ Growing up with a creative brain and unconventional paths [03:50] ➡️ The idea of DesignMyNight from the streets of NYC [06:46] ➡️ From side hustle to exit [10:55] ➡️ More about JBM [18:13] ➡️ Round 2 of Founder life: Trumpet’s origin story [19:21] ➡️ Being VC backed and hiring principles [22:17] ➡️ Building in public and fundraising journey [23:52] ➡️ Fundraising advice [34:35] ➡️ Hiring advice for securing your initial team [37:09] ➡️ Applying to and joining Trumpet [39:50] ➡️ Audience question: Making the startup world more inclusive [42:25] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicktelson/ ➡️ Find out more about Trumpet: https://www.sendtrumpet.com/?ref=linkedin ➡️ Listen to Pitch Deck: https://www.nicktelson.com/podcast ⭐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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Never underestimate the power of a rant, if you’re going to do something about it.” In today’s bite-sized 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by fellow podcaster and good friend of JBM, Amardeep Parmar, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of BAE HQ. Amardeep has been on an incredible journey - from being a Tech consultant in 2020, to setting a New Year’s resolution which made him the second fastest writer to gain 50,000 followers on Medium.com. Now, he’s inspiring, connecting and guiding British Asian Entrepreneurs with BAE HQ. Today, Amardeep shared more about his journey and the crucial lessons he has learned along the way, including: ➡️ His traditional journey and accidental entrepreneurship [00:55] ➡️ Questioning your identity as a Founder [04:51] ➡️ A New Year’s resolution turned career [06:26] ➡️ Advice for aspiring writers [08:32] ➡️ How a rant with a friend paved the foundations for BAE HQ [10:05] ➡️ Scaling a not-for-profit and navigating the corporate landscape [12:34] ➡️ Connecting people for mutual success [15:26] ➡️ The secret sauce of community building [16:28] ➡️ A selection of stand out stories from BAE HQ [22:51] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Amardeep: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amardeepsparmar/ ➡️ Find out more about BAE HQ: https://www.thebaehq.com/ ➡️ Listen to the BAE HQ podcast: https://www.thebaehq.com/podcasts ➡️ James Mitra on BAE HQ: https://www.thebaehq.com/podcasts/episode-51-james ⭐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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"You can have the best idea in the world with a bad team and you get nowhere, and you can have a really good team with a bad idea and you’ll probably make it into a good idea.” Doctor to Startup Founder... That’s not something we get to say a lot, so buckle in for today's episode! This week’s 40 Minute Mentor is Dr Sonia Szamocki, Founder and CEO of 32Co, the HealthTech revolutionising access to specialised healthcare services, by connecting general clinicians with a network of specialists. Sonia's very impressive journey has taken her from Oxford to a career as a clinician to jumping into the Founder seat, building the future of collaborative healthcare. She has grown 32Co 5x since April last year, and has recently secured £2.36 million in seed funding, led by Balderton Capital. Tune in to today's chat, to find out: ➡️ Podcast recommendation: Black Women Working [00:13] ➡️ Why being a Founder isn’t all that glamorous [05:02] ➡️ Growing up in the Netherlands and becoming a Doctor [06:02] ➡️ 32Co’s origin story [13:10] ➡️ From an idea during Covid to growing a marketplace [22:50] ➡️ Navigating false starts & the importance of a great team [26:18] ➡️ Hiring advice & recruiting your first exec [29:00] ➡️ The importance of getting Co-Founder matching right [36:45] ➡️ Bootstrapping vs VC funding [38:05] ➡️ Healthcare & AI [41:00] ➡️ Audience Question: Why there shouldn’t be more Doctors moving into Founder seats [44:32] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Sonia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sonia-szamocki-a01790a9/ ➡️ Find out more about 32Co: https://www.32co.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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"When you’re aligned on vision, values and strategic direction, you can achieve anything…” In this week’s bite-sized startup mentorship episode, we’re joined by Charlene Chen, JBM Board Advisor, COO of AZA Finance and Co-Founder of Operations Nation. Charlene is not only a brilliant COO, but also happens to be our very first 40 Minute Mentor guest, back when we started the podcast in 2019. In today’s episode, you’ll learn more about: ➡️ Charlene’s squiggly career to COO [01:06] ➡️ A full overview of the COO role [03:27] ➡️ The evolution and expansion of the COO role [07:05] ➡️ The essential skills any COO needs [09:26] ➡️ Making the leap from Head of Ops to COO [14:04] ➡️ Common challenges COOs face [16:16] ➡️ Building effective relationships across the C-Suite [22:13] ➡️ Resources any aspiring COO should check out [26:20] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Charlene: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlenechen/ ➡️ Find out more about Operations Nation: https://operationsnation.com/ ➡️ Check out this year’s Ops Fest: https://operationsnation.com/events/international-ops-fest ➡️ Secure your seat at the annual cONference: https://lu.ma/cONference2023 ⭐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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"There's some horrible sacrifices in the first few years to get it to a place where it's got to survive..." Today's 40 Minute Mentor epitomises what it means to be Tech for Good. We’re joined by Sanjay Lobo MBE, the Founder & CEO of OnHand - the all-in-one tool to engage your team in volunteering and environmental action. Dubbed the ‘Uber of volunteering’, OnHand lets employees learn and take action on the issues that matter. You may even recognise Sanjay from his recent appearance on BBC's Dragons’ Den, where he successfully secured investment from FOUR dragons. Here’s what we talk about in today’s episode: ➡️ Finding his path to entrepreneurship [04:02]➡️ Moving from law into tech [06:58]➡️ How Parkinson's disease became Chapter 1 of the OnHand story [11:05]➡️ Engaging employees in volunteering and environmental action [13:45]➡️ The significance of a great team in a scaling business [15:08]➡️ Managing stress and pressures as a Founder [16:38]➡️ Business benefits of company-wide volunteering opportunities [22:08]➡️ Advert: More about JBM [25:36] ➡️ A Behind the Scenes look at Dragons’ Den [27:10]➡️ Working with the Dragons after the show [29:31]➡️ Advice for other Founders looking to get on Dragons’ Den [31:13] ➡️ Dealing with increased media attention [32:29] ➡️ Applying to OnHand [35:10] ➡️ Audience Question: Advice for anyone starting their volunteering journey [38:51] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Sanjay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjaylobo/ ➡️ Find out more about OnHand: https://www.beonhand.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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains topics of mental health and suicide attempts, that may be harmful or traumatising to some audiences. If you’re affected by any of the topics discussed, please make sure you reach out to the helplines listed below. ⚠️ Suicide is a major public health problem, with far-reaching social, emotional and economic consequences. According to the World Health Organisation, there are currently more than 700,000 suicides per year worldwide. Following yesterday’s World Suicide Prevention Day and to play our part in breaking the perceived taboo of speaking about suicide, we’re releasing this special episode with clips from our conversation with Clarke Carlisle. Clarke is a former professional footballer, mental health advocate and ambassador for the mental health charity Mind. He has had an illustrious football career, having played for a number of top clubs, including Leeds United, Watford and Burnley, and winning three caps for England under 21s. Alongside all of this success, however, Clarke also had to deal with plenty of hardship, including serious injuries, his battle with depression and attempted suicide. In today’s episode, Clarke shares more about his own experience with depression and suicide and his advice for anyone struggling with their mental health. ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Tune into the full episode with Clarke here: https://jbmc.co.uk/insights/40-minute-mentor/from-the-premier-league-to-mental-health-advocate-with-clarke-carlisle/ ➡️ More about the work Clarke and Carrie are doing: https://www.clarkeandcarrie.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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Everything I have done has centred around teams and individuals, and how do you get the most out of them…” Today’s 40 Minute Mentor is the brilliant Catherine Lenson, Angel Investor, Founder, Venture Partner at LocalGlobe and CEO of Andante Advisory. Catherine has had a hugely successful career, having spent her formative years at UBS and becoming the first female Managing Partner at SoftBank. Today, Catherine is the Founder and CEO of Andante Advisory, a boutique consultancy firm which operates as a trusted partner to senior executives and leading organisations on Culture, People and Purpose. She is also a Venture Partner at LocalGlobe, an angel investor in early-stage tech companies across the UK, US and Israel, and is the UK’s first Fair Play facilitator. Tune in to today’s episode to discover: ➡️ Reliving her days when a rogue trader almost brought down UBS [03:32] ➡️ The privilege of entrepreneurship [05:29] ➡️ From her love for music to Cambridge and ending up in London [06:39] ➡️ Scaling from 20 to 500 people in four years [10:04] ➡️ Becoming the first female Managing Partner at SoftBank [13:34] ➡️ Building a portfolio career [16:49] ➡️ Angel Investing and joining LocalGlobe [24:39] ➡️ Common culture mistakes [32:32] ➡️ Fair Play and creating more equality in the household [36:47] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Catherine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-lenson/ ➡️ Find out more about her work: https://www.catherinelenson.com/ ➡️ Find out more about LocalGlobe: https://localglobe.vc/ ⭐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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The most impactful piece of advice I got early on in my career was - You need to grow where you're planted.” In today’s bite-sized 40 Minute Mentor episode, we take a deep dive into a core component of any successful startup - the Go-To-Market (GTM) Strategy. To guide us through the essential components of building and executing a GTM strategy, we’re joined by Tarun Gidoomal. Tarun has led some of Europe’s most notable tech Scaleups, including Next Jump, where he led its international expansion to reach £3bn GMV, and more recently, at Ankorstore, where as UK GM he established its footprint in the UK as it became one of Europe’s fastest growing tech unicorns. Today, Tarun shares more about: ➡️ His upbringing and career to date [01:30] ➡️ The fundamentals of a GTM Strategy [03:40] ➡️ Examples of successful GTM Strategies and mistakes made [06:38] ➡️ Getting buy-in across the team [10:31] ➡️ Questions to ask to assess your team culture [12:53] ➡️ The most impactful career advice he’s received [14:37] ➡️ Startup life and dealing with burnout [17:11] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Tarun: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarungidoomal/ 🤫 P.S - It’s your FINAL chance to vote for us in this year’s Great British Podcast People’s Choice Awards. 🏆1. Click here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting 2. Type in '40 Minute Mentor' 3. Job done ✅ Your nomination would mean the world to us, so thank you in advance! 💙 ENTRIES CLOSE 5th SEPTEMBER ⭐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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Founders are made to look like superheroes. They get up at 4am, meditate, take ice baths, work 100 hours a week… I think it's a super unhealthy culture." Today's 40 Minute Mentor shines a light on the realities of Founder life, and his passion for reframing how the world sees and perceives credit. We are excited to welcome Tim Chong, Co-Founder and CEO of Yonder, to the podcast. Yonder is on a mission to build a credit experience that empowers young people to live their best lives and build responsible spending habits, at the same time. Tune in to today’s episode to discover: ➡️ The unhealthy culture surrounding Founder life [03:53] ➡️ Growing up around computers and the influence on his tech journey [05:25] ➡️ Exploring the world and creating high impact as a consultant [07:33] ➡️ Pivoting from consultant to Founder [10:17] ➡️ How a revolutionised economy in Kenya started the story of Yonder [15:02] ➡️ How Yonder is supporting young people and their social lives via credit spend [21:35] ➡️ Tuning in to Founder interviews to scope out early stage challenges [26:50] ➡️ How to keep going during an economic downturn [29:57] ➡️ Selling the long-term thesis to win over investors [35:40] ➡️ The significant impact of early hires and Yonder’s culture [39:58] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Tim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-chong/ ➡️ Find out more about Yonder: https://www.yondercard.com/ 🤫 P.S Has our podcast ever made you feel something? Like properly made you stop and FEEL the feels... Maybe it has opened your eyes to a new industry? Maybe it has inspired you to start your own venture? Or maybe it has you nodding along as you relate to so many of the challenges that our Founders have faced.... 🤝 Connecting, human to human, with our audience is absolutely paramount to our work behind the scenes at 40 Minute Mentor, which is why we would (shamelessly) love to have your vote in this year's Great British Podcast People's Choice awards. 🏆 1. Click here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting2. Type in '40 Minute Mentor' 3. Job done ✅ Your nomination would mean the world to us, so thank you in advance! 💙(VOTES CLOSE 5th SEPT) ⭐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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The traditional definition (of a Generalist) has been a ‘Jack of all trades’, which often comes with a negative connotation.” In today’s bite-sized 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Milly Tamati to explore the rise of the Generalist. Milly is not only a Generalist, but a Community builder and Founder of Generalist World. Before leaning into all things Generalist, Milly built businesses all over the world, including co-owning a hostel in Thailand, a wine tour in Australia and an illustration agency in the UK. Today, we explore: ➡️ The making of her Generalist skill set [01:33] ➡️ Defining what a Generalist really is [03:53] ➡️ Specialists vs Generalists [05:34] ➡️ Ending the “Jack of all trades” narrative [08:15] ➡️ Framing your Generalist career to employers [09:47] ➡️ The Generalist World community [13:05] ➡️ Quality over quantity in community building [15:43] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Milly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-tamati/ ➡️ Check out Generalist World: https://www.generalist.world/ 🤫 P.S Has our podcast ever made you feel something? Like properly made you stop and FEEL the feels... Maybe it has opened your eyes to a new industry? Maybe it has inspired you to start your own venture? Or maybe it has you nodding along as you relate to so many of the challenges that our Founders have faced.... 🤝 Connecting, human to human, with our audience is absolutely paramount to our work behind the scenes at 40 Minute Mentor, which is why we would (shamelessly) love to have your vote in this year's Great British Podcast People's Choice awards. 🏆 1. Click here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting 2. Type in '40 Minute Mentor' 3. Job done ✅ Your nomination would mean the world to us, so thank you in advance! 💙 ENTRIES CLOSE 5th SEPTEMBER. ⭐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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“We had one month to refinance the business, or lose our home….” Today’s 40 Minute Mentor is Dimple Patel, exited Founder, Advisor and CEO of Trouva - the leading global marketplace for independent boutiques. With roots at Goldman Sachs, Dimple’s story is one of endless resilience, having navigated recessions, a major re-brand that almost cost her her home, a global pandemic and multiple acquisitions, including Made.com’s collapse. In today’s episode, we dive into all of the above, plus: ➡️ Growing up on a Council Estate [05:00] ➡️ Joining Goldman Sachs during a recession and amid mass layoffs [07:12] ➡️ Exploring entrepreneurship as a first-time Founder in a recession [09:38] ➡️ Going from side hustle to full-time Founder [11:47] ➡️ Spotting burnout and the importance of routine rest [14:01] ➡️ Freedom vs Security as a first-time Founder [15:00] ➡️ The decision that almost led to the loss of her house [17:19] ➡️ Exiting her business and navigating what’s next [20:00] ➡️ Making the shift from COO to CEO of Trouva [27:48] ➡️ The collapse of Made.com and leading with kindness [30:24] ➡️ Roulette question: Working as a Venture Partner and the Founders she backs [40:13] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Dimple: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimple-patel-uk/ ➡️ Find out more about Trouva: https://www.trouva.com/ 🤫 P.S Has our podcast ever made you feel something? Like properly made you stop and FEEL the feels... Maybe it has opened your eyes to a new industry? Maybe it has inspired you to start your own venture? Or maybe it has you nodding along as you relate to so many of the challenges that our Founders have faced.... 🤝 Connecting, human to human, with our audience is absolutely paramount to our work behind the scenes at 40 Minute Mentor, which is why we would (shamelessly) love to have your vote in this year's Great British Podcast People's Choice awards. 🏆 1. Click here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting2. Type in '40 Minute Mentor' 3. Job done ✅ Your nomination would mean the world to us, so thank you in advance! 💙(You have until 5th Sept!) ⭐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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“If you don't work well with other teams, everyone else's problem will become a product problem.” In today's episode, we’re taking a deep dive into the world of Product… To do so, we’re joined by Product legend, James Routledge, VP of Product at Converge. James has tons of experience, including helping a NASDAQ business go from 100 million to $250 million revenues and working with 400 person Series B businesses. The role of the CPO has evolved significantly over the last few years, so we loved getting a first-hand account of the past, present and future of Product roles, including: ➡️ His own impressive career in Product [01:08] ➡️ The top 3 skills great Product people need [02:59] ➡️ Scope and responsibilities in your product journey [05:42] ➡️ The power of mentorship in Product roles [08:54] ➡️ The evolution of the CPO and putting customers first [12:28] ➡️ Working cross-functionally as a CPO [17:18] ➡️ UK vs USA Product roles [25:49] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesroutledge/ ➡️ Find out more about Converge: https://www.converge.io/ 🤫 P.S Has our podcast ever made you feel something? Like properly made you stop and FEEL the feels... Maybe it has opened your eyes to a new industry? Maybe it has inspired you to start your own venture? Or maybe it has you nodding along as you relate to so many of the challenges that our Founders have faced.... 🤝 Connecting, human to human, with our audience is absolutely paramount to our work behind the scenes at 40 Minute Mentor, which is why we would (shamelessly) love to have your vote in this year's Great British Podcast People's Choice awards. 🏆 1. Click here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting 2. Type in '40 Minute Mentor' 3. Job done ✅ Your nomination would mean the world to us, so thank you in advance! 💙 ENTRIES CLOSE 5th SEPTEMBER. ⭐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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“So many people are suffering from a lack of knowing who they are and what their worth is, so they downplay and restrict it to a job role.” Welcome back to 40 Minute Mentor, and a brand new series… Kicking off Series 10, we’re joined by one of the most requested guests on the podcast - the brilliant Andy Ayim, MBE. You may have come across Andy through his DE&I work in tech, or his angel investing training programs at the Angel Investing School, which empowered over 350 new angels. Andy has also invested in over 17 Startups himself, including some of which have been featured on this podcast, such as Patch and Unplugged. In today’s episode, we unpack his own journey to entrepreneurship and demystify angel investing once and for all: ➡️ Shaking off imposter syndrome and backing yourself [04:09] ➡️ How growing up in a multicultural melting pot shaped his path [06:34] ➡️ His path to starting the Angel Investing School [10:24] ➡️ Making angel investing more accessible [14:09] ➡️ Who the Angel Investing School is for [16:37] ➡️ The biggest driver of wealth creation and beginning your journey in investing [20:02] ➡️ Andy’s biggest investment mistake [21:39] ➡️ Angel syndicates and investing with as little as 1k [24:30] ➡️ Assessing pitches and controlling your risk [28:31] ➡️ Choosing between Angel or VC investment as a Founder [33:24] ➡️ Receiving an MBE and driving DE&I in the industry [38:07] ➡️ Fundraising advice and common Founder mistakes [41:41] ➡️ Audience Questions: Untapped opportunities and emerging trends [44:06] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Andy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyayim/ ➡️ Sign up to the Angel Investing School: https://angelinvestingschool.com/ 🤫 P.S Has our podcast ever made you feel something? Like properly made you stop and FEEL the feels... Maybe it has opened your eyes to a new industry? Maybe it has inspired you to start your own venture? Or maybe it has you nodding along as you relate to so many of the challenges that our Founders have faced.... 🤝 Connecting, human to human, with our audience is absolutely paramount to our work behind the scenes at 40 Minute Mentor, which is why we would (shamelessly) love to have your vote in this year's Great British Podcast People's Choice awards. 🏆 1. Click here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting2. Type in '40 Minute Mentor' 3. Job done ✅ Your nomination would mean the world to us, so thank you in advance! 💙(You have until 5th Sept!) ⭐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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"One doesn't leave the best job in the world for anything less than an opportunity that can genuinely, if we're lucky, save the planet." As we’re kicking off Series 10, we’re also introducing our Monday Startup spotlight series. In our first instalment, we’re joined by a familiar face - Marta Krupinska, Co-Founder and CEO of carbon removal startup, CUR8. Marta has previously come on the podcast, in Series 7, when we talked about her Founder journey and her role with Google for Startups - find a link to the episode below. Since then, Marta has jumped back into the Founder seat and chats to us about: ➡️ The opportunity of a lifetime that made her step down from Google for Startups [01:07] ➡️ Returning to the world of entrepreneurship and the privilege it holds [05:40] ➡️ Building with the scientific community [07:45] ➡️ Fundraising as an experienced entrepreneur [10:21] ➡️ Building the future of carbon removals [13:29] ➡️ Joining the CUR8 mission [15:28] ➡️ What we can all do to save the planet [18:26] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Marta: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martakrupinska/➡️ Find out more about CUR8: https://cur8.earth/ ➡️ Listen to Marta’s previous 40 Minute Mentor episode: https://jbmc.co.uk/insights/40-minute-mentor/scaling-lessons-with-google-for-startups-uks-marta-krupinska/ 🤫 P.S Has our podcast ever made you feel something? Like properly made you stop and FEEL the feels... Maybe it has opened your eyes to a new industry? Maybe it has inspired you to start your own venture? Or maybe it has you nodding along as you relate to so many of the challenges that our Founders have faced.... 🤝 Connecting, human to human, with our audience is absolutely paramount to our work behind the scenes at 40 Minute Mentor, which is why we would (shamelessly) love to have your vote in this year's Great British Podcast People's Choice awards. 🏆 1. Click here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting 2. Type in '40 Minute Mentor' 3. Job done ✅ Your nomination would mean the world to us, so thank you in advance! 💙 ENTRIES CLOSE 5th SEPTEMBER ⭐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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Successes, mistakes and lessons learned… We cover all of the above and more in our BRAND NEW series of 40 Minute Mentor…coming to a set of headphones near you, next week! Inspiring conversations with category-defining Founders, CxOs and Investors, who have been through it all…the good, the bad and the in between, along the way. Resilience. Angel Investing. Burnout. Saving the planet. Plus, SO much more.... Get a little taster of what's to come this series, in today's trailer. Series 10, we are ready.....are you? 🌟 Make sure you hit the 'subscribe' button, to be the first to know about Episode 1 launching next week! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"She comes to the table with no judgement and all curiosity and allows me to explore in a way that I do my best thinking because I feel safe to do it.” This week is the final episode in our mentorship feature series, and what a four weeks it has been! In this series finale, James and Hannah are joined by the dynamic duo of Tess Cosad and Chloé HC. Tess is the Co-Founder and CEO of Béa Fertility, the ambitious FertilityTech startup, focused on democratising access to safe, affordable fertility treatment. Chloé is an accomplished product leader and coach with over 10 years experience working directly with CEOs and founding teams to shape vision, drive strategy and deliver day to day execution from Seed to Series B. Tess and Chloé have been friends for many years after meeting at University, and although their careers went in different directions, they stay connected with their friendship ultimately evolving into one of mentorship. We can’t wait for you to hear all about their highs and lows, and feel their energy throughout, where we discover: ➡️ From uni friendship to tackling loneliness as a Startup Founder [04:07] ➡️ Hopping between the friend zone and mentor zone [05:36] ➡️ Setting topic boundaries for a smoother mentorship process [08:08] ➡️ The beauty of working in different backgrounds and having different perspectives [10:39] ➡️ Unlocking business decisions as a mentor, from a bench in New York [14:11] ➡️ Putting your ego aside to navigate disagreements [18:15] ➡️ A no-judgement, all-curiosity approach to mentorship [22:11] ➡️ Finding a connection and being challenged in a safe space [29:56] ➡️ How to positively un-couple and move on [34:36] ➡️ Helping you find your voice, without being over-mentored as a female Founder [35:51] ➡️ Assessing the power dynamic and nature of relationship with a prospective mentor [39:20] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Tess: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tess-isabelle-cosad/ ➡️ Connect with Chloe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chlo%C3%A9-hajnal-corob-97a3407b/ ➡️ More about Béa Fertility: https://beafertility.com/ ➡️ More about Resonate coaching: https://resonatecoaching.co/about 🤫 P.S Has our podcast ever made you feel something? Like properly made you stop and FEEL the feels... Maybe it has opened your eyes to a new industry? Maybe it has inspired you to start your own venture? Or maybe it has you nodding along as you relate to so many of the challenges that our Founders have faced.... 🤝 Connecting, human to human, with our audience is absolutely paramount to our work behind the scenes at 40 Minute Mentor, which is why we would (shamelessly) love to have your vote in this year's Great British Podcast People's Choice awards. 🏆 1. Click here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting 2. Type in '40 Minute Mentor' 3. Job done ✅ Your nomination would mean the world to us, so thank you in advance! 💙 ⭐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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"What I try to do is listen to the problem, understand how it fits stuff I've seen before, then relate how I think it'll play out…” In this week's 40 Minute Mentor episode, we're joined by a mentorship duo connected by their love and passion for the startup world. Peter Nixey - serial entrepreneur and OG of the UK Startup scene, joins us together with his mentee, AJ, who has been the CEO of the invite-only community, Foundrs. Peter founded Clcikpass.com which raised investment from YC and several angels, before selling the company to Yola.com. His most recent ventures include Copyin, a platform for progressional communities built entirely in email and Intentional.io - a day planner that focuses you on managing your time, rather than your tasks. AJ has been the CEO of Foundrs for the past two years and is soon moving on to start his own company that will support others looking to build communities like Foundrs. From structuring sessions with pre-set agendas, to open conversations around personal life challenges, this episode explores the real ins and outs of a solid mentorship relationship, including: ➡️ Evolving from community check-ins to full-scale mentorship [04:25] ➡️ The importance of agendas and time management [06:13] ➡️ The power of pushing back AND being open to feedback, as a mentee [09:06] ➡️ Using previous problems to tackle current challenges [12:50] ➡️ Overlapping topics and progression to propel the mentor relationship [14:39] ➡️ Allowing space for emotionally charged conversations [20:48] ➡️ Opinions vs shared experiences from a serial entrepreneur [23:54] ➡️ From PhD dropout to a mentorship awakening [28:57] ➡️ The significance of community in the Startup world [32:02] ➡️ Providing value from both sides of the mentor relationship [35:09] ➡️ Being a cheerleader and staying inquisitive on your mentorship journey [36:38] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with AJ: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-foundrs/ ➡️ Connect with Peter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peternixey/ ➡️ More about Foundrs: https://www.foundrs.co/ ➡️ More about Intentional.io: https://intentional.io/ ⭐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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🤫 P.S Has our podcast ever made you feel something? Like properly made you stop and FEEL the feels... Maybe it has opened your eyes to a new industry? Maybe it has inspired you to start your own venture? Or maybe it has you nodding along as you relate to so many of the challenges that our Founders have faced.... 🤝 Connecting, human to human, with our audience is absolutely paramount to our work behind the scenes at 40 Minute Mentor, which is why we would (shamelessly) love to have your vote in this year's Great British Podcast People's Choice awards. 🏆 1. Click here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting 2. Type in '40 Minute Mentor' 3. Job done ✅ Your nomination would mean the world to us, so thank you in advance! 💙 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“You want someone who's lived that same experience, and hopefully they can pass on what worked for them, but also what didn't work for them.” The golden mentorship moments keep on coming as we head into episode two of our new mentorship feature series. This week, James and Hannah are joined by Ashleigh Tennent, Founder of the coaching platform, More Happi and Lisa Rodwell, the CEO of Daye, the company bridging the gender gap in medical research and innovation. Together, the four discuss how to find your perfect match in a mentor and a coach and how to nurture those relationships, including: ➡️ Blossoming from colleagues to mentorship and friendship [04:54] ➡️ The value of trust in building a mentor relationship [07:17] ➡️ The art of not wasting time [09:11] ➡️ Balancing a range of roles, as a mentor [10:38] ➡️ Finding common ground to rocket your relationship [13:47] ➡️ Paying it forward and the benefits of ‘reverse’ mentorship [15:26] ➡️ Respecting busy lifestyles and managing expectations [19:00] ➡️ Navigating conflict and misunderstanding [22:11] ➡️ Using missions or problems to hook in a prospective mentor [27:48] ➡️ Mentor vs Coach, what’s the difference? [29:27] ➡️ Reflections and advice for aspiring mentees and mentors [33:23] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Ashleigh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleightennent/ ➡️ Connect with Lisa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisarodwell/ ➡️ More about More Happi: https://morehappi.com/ ➡️ More about Daye: https://www.yourdaye.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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Do it because you care. Find out who you are, where you can be most useful, and how you want to go about it, but only do it if you care.”Mentorship can truly change people’s careers and lives. We’re big believers in the power of mentorship, it’s why we started this podcast! In this brand new feature series, we’ll take a deep dive into the different forms and shapes of mentorship and answer some of your most common questions, e.g. How do you approach a mentor? How do you manage the day to day? When do you know it’s time to part ways? And to change things up even more this series, we’re also not just have one but two hosts. For the first time ever, James, JBM Founder and resident 40 Minute Mentor host, will be joined by our Head of Marketing and Podcast Producer, Hannah Urbanek. In our first episode, we’re joined by Varun Vassanth and his mentor, former 40 Minute Mentor and Founder of Patch, Freddie Fforde. We dig deep into their mentorship relationship and uncover: ➡️ Naturally falling into the mentor-mentee relationship [03:54] ➡️ The impact of an informal approach to mentorship [06:12] ➡️ What mentorship can mean to different people [09:09] ➡️ Crafting a virtual board of stellar advisors [12:35] ➡️ Separating mentorship from management and respecting boundaries [14:55] ➡️ Building mutual respect for effective mentorship [17:52] ➡️ Instilling mentorship to drive your company culture [21:50] ➡️ Parting ways [28:53] ➡️ The do’s and don’ts of mentorship [31:40] ➡️ Being selective about the advice you’re giving as a mentor [36:06] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Freddie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/freddiefforde/ ➡️ Connect with Varun: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varunvassanth/ ➡️ More about Patch: https://www.patch.work/ ➡️ Check out Freddie’s previous episode: https://jbmc.co.uk/insights/40-minute-mentor/feature-series-freddie-fforde/ ⭐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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“If you can be very clear in articulating what you are trying to do, why the world needs it and why you are the best person to work on it, the money will follow.” And just like that, we come to the end of our 40 Minute Mentor VC feature series. BUT, before we kick off our next series, we have one more VC mentorship packed episode in store for you…. Today, we’re joined by Yvonne Bajela, Partner at LocalGlobe and Latitude, and Venture Partner at Impact X Capital. Yvonne talks about her journey from Goldman Sachs to VC, her first investment and the formative influence her father had on her career. Having invested over £200m across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Yvonne has backed some of the most category-defining Founders, including the teams behind Unicorn InsurTech, Marshmallow and OG FinTech Unicorn, Wise. Tune in to discover: ➡️ The influence her late father had on her career [03:28] ➡️ The success story of her investment in Marshmallow [09:04] ➡️ Local Globe’s investment thesis [13:07] ➡️ Building a founder-investor relationship for the long-haul [14:07] ➡️ Characteristics she looks for in Founders she invests in [16:18] ➡️ Common mistakes she sees Founders make [18:21] ➡️ Closing the funding gap for under-represented Founders [20:58] ➡️ Navigating the current fundraising climate [22:45] ➡️ Building a successful board of advisors [24:57] ➡️ Motherhood and returning to VC [27:28] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Yvonne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonnebajela/ ➡️ More about LocalGlobe: https://localglobe.vc/ ➡️ More about Latitude: https://latitudeventures.vc/ ➡️ More about Impact X Capital: https://www.impactxcapital.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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“It’s a really great time if you want to learn how to be a disciplined Investor and to really be able to hunt down the best Founders and best opportunities.” In the final part of our bite-sized VC feature series, Rosie Barnett, Principal at Delin Ventures, talks to us about navigating the current landscape and shares tangible advice for any Founders, looking to fundraise. This episode is jam packed with advice - no matter, if you’re a Founder looking for investment or an aspiring VC, looking to get a foot in the door. Have your notebooks ready and if you haven’t already, make sure you catch up on the previous 3 parts of this feature series. ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ More about Rosie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosie-barnett-672329134/ ➡️ Check out Delin Ventures: https://www.delinventures.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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“If you think there’s something that needs to be changed in the world, I think that starting a company is the best and easiest way to achieve that change.” For our penultimate episode in this VC feature, we’re joined by Suranga Chandratillake OBE, former engineer and entrepreneur, now General Partner at Balderton Capital, one of Europe's leading early stage technology venture capital firms. Before joining the world of VC, Suranga founded blinkx, an intelligent video search engine, which he took public and reached a peak market cap of $1bn. Now mainly investing at Series A, Suranga has backed some huge names in the industry, including Tessian, Wayve and Beauty Pie. Tune in to this week’s episode to find out more about: ➡️ How Bill Gates sparked his curiosity for entrepreneurship [05:23] ➡️ His Silicon Valley inspired business, bllinkx [07:40] ➡️ Building a business from 0-$200m a year [10:06] ➡️ Overcoming common Founder challenges [13:12] ➡️ Transitioning from Founder to Investor [16:47] ➡️ Why empathy is so important [20:26] ➡️ Helping Founders change the world at Balderton Capital [23:21] ➡️ Red flags when assessing Founders [27:10] ➡️ Advice for Founders on building healthy habits, while spinning many plates [32:23] ➡️ Championing diversity in the VC ecosystem [37:27] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Suranga: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suranga-chandratillake-6a839363/ ➡️ More about Balderton Capital: https://www.balderton.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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Spend some time with the team to shadow and see what they actually do day to day, before you join. It’s invaluable because it gives you an opportunity to try before you buy.” In part 3 of our bite-sized ‘Operator to VC’ feature, Rosie Barnett, Principal at Delin Ventures, talks to us about making the transition to VC. We hear the criteria Rosie looked at when deciding which VC to join and the crucial steps she took to adapt to the new industry. She also shares some of the great communities she’s a part of and why immersing herself ahead of becoming a VC has been so helpful. For even more resources to check out, make sure you tune into episode 2, which has a full list of podcasts, newsletters and reading materials for you to check out: https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/11fd722f-4096-45f5-bd6e-62327f8088ce/shows/6ef8fc38-9e69-482e-bf6c-3c1489829886/episodes/62416790-27dd-4dee-a7d3-b4ad50f74f70/ ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ More about Rosie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosie-barnett-672329134/ ➡️ Check out Delin Ventures: https://www.delinventures.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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“If you have the passion to solve a problem, you will find a way to solve it, no matter what comes in your way.”Next up in our VC feature series, we’re joined by Zeynep Yavuz, Partner at General Catalyst. General Catalyst is a top-tier VC that invests from early stage through to growth equity stages, having backed some of the world's biggest tech companies, including Airbnb, Warby Parker and Stripe. Having grown up in Turkey with entrepreneur parents, Zeynep saw first-hand that a more mature VC ecosystem in the country could have been really transformational for Founders in the area. To be a part of that change, she now focuses on FinTech and Crypto investments on a global scale, and particularly with a focus on emerging markets. In today’s episode, we dive more into Zeynep’s journey, her advice for Founders and the future of VC, including: ➡️ VCs unlocking ambitious risks [04:41] ➡️ Building products from 0-1 as an Operator [07:52] ➡️ The importance of diversity of thought in VC [09:26] ➡️ Why venture should be recession proof [11:30] ➡️ Advice on getting into VC [13:42] ➡️ How to stand out when interviewing with General Catalyst [16:03] ➡️ Why emerging markets [17:18] ➡️ Why Founders need to know and convey their ‘Why’ in pitches [19:59] ➡️ Investment process at GC [21:15] ➡️ Changes in the market [22:24] ➡️ Common mistakes Founders are making [24:49] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Zeynep: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zeynep-yavuz-72362379/ ➡️ More about General Catalyst: https://www.generalcatalyst.com/ ➡️ The Finstack Newsletter: https://finstack.substack.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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Founders want to work with investors who can understand what they are going through.” Welcome back to week two of our popular VC feature, where we’re joined by the biggest movers and shakers in the industry, with stellar mentorship for anyone looking to get into VC and guidance for any Founders currently fundraising. We’re back today with another bite-sized episode with Rosie Barnett, Principal at Delin Ventures. In today’s episode, we’re focusing on practical advice for Operators transitioning into VC. Not only does Rosie share the benefits of making the move, but she also shares the skillset needed to make it work and tons of resources that will help along the way - some of which we've linked to in the section below. ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ More about Rosie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosie-barnett-672329134/ ➡️ Check out Delin Ventures: https://www.delinventures.com/ ➡️ Acquired podcast: https://www.acquired.fm/ ➡️ Big Picture Medicine podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5707RPmWOJkVZyUHNRSUfS ➡️ Invest Like The Best podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/22fi0RqfoBACCuQDv97wFO ➡️ This Week In Startups podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/this-week-in-startups/id315114957 ➡️ Pietro Invernizzi’s blog: https://pinver.medium.com/ ➡️ Out-Of-Pocket newsletter: https://www.outofpocket.health/ ➡️ Exec Sum newsletter: https://www.execsum.co/ ➡️ Wall Street Prep: https://www.wallstreetprep.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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The most successful companies are the ones that went against what is considered the status quo.”In our inaugural episode of our latest VC feature series, we’re joined by someone who is inspired by Founders that don't see limits in what could be achieved with the help of technology…Today, we’re joined by Sasha Vidiborskiy, a quantum physicist turned VC Partner at Atomico. Atomico is a $5bn+ AUM VC fund, investing in ambitious tech Founders at Series A and beyond, with a particular focus on Europe. Founded in 2006, Niklas Zennstrom, former CEO and Co-Founder of Skype, Atomico has partnered with over 100 ambitious teams, including those at Klarna, Supercell, MessageBird, Pipedrive, Hinge Health, Ben, and many more. In today’s episode, we dig into Sasha’s background, his move into VC and tons of advice for aspiring investors, including: ➡️ The effects of sending out rejections [05:36] ➡️ An overlooked area in VC [07:43] ➡️ From electrical engineering and quantum physics to VC [09:13] ➡️ A taster of Founder life & lessons for investors [14:54] ➡️ Why Atomico & how Sasha works with Founders [19:09] ➡️ The Partner role explained [26:10] ➡️ Pitching advice for Founders [29:01] ➡️ Purposeful investments that get a good return [33:24] ➡️ Advice for aspiring Investors [37:47] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Sasha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vidiborskiy/ ➡️ More about Atomico: https://atomico.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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“You can still have an incredibly successful business, without it being a triple decker Unicorn.” This week we’re launching another series of our popular VC feature, where we’re joined by the biggest movers and shakers in the industry, sharing exclusive market insights, mentorship for anyone looking to get into VC and guidance for any Founders currently fundraising. Alongside our Wednesday episodes, we are also launching four bite-sized episodes on Monday, taking a deep dive into one of the biggest trends we’ve seen in VC - Operators becoming Investors. To bring this to life, we’re joined by Rosie Barnett, Principal at Delin Ventures. In today’s episode, we dive into Rosie’s background as a Physician, why she decided to move into VC and she busts some very common industry myths. ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ More about Rosie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosie-barnett-672329134/ ➡️ Check out Delin Ventures: https://www.delinventures.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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Community for me has always been - What is our purpose? Why do we exist? What's it all for? Why does it even matter?”There are two popular topics that come up time and time again when we interview our 40 Minute Mentors and when we speak to JBM clients and candidates. These topics are: Building communities and sticking to your purpose. In this week’s episode, we’ve rounded up some of the best advice from our most recent Series, including: ➡️ Vanity metrics vs Impact - Nikki Wicks, CEO of The Body Coach [00:41] ➡️ Meaningful exchanges over numbers - Abadesi Osunsade, Founder of Hustle Crew [03:28] ➡️ Staying true to yourself throughout the journey - Simmy Dhillon, Founder of Simmer [05:23] ➡️ The dark side of social media - Sue Fennessy, Founder of WeAre8 [06:13] ➡️ Fixing problems with purpose-driven solutions - Nader AlSalim, Founder of Gaia [07:29] ➡️ Bringing change-makers into your network - Pierre Paslier, Co-Founder of Notpla [09:13] ➡️ Tapping into what your community wants - Alice Pelton, Founder of The Lowdown [10:46] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ For the full Series 9 episodes, check out our 40 Minute Mentor archives: https://jbmc.co.uk/insights/category/40-minute-mentor/ ➡️ And for more mentorship, make sure you follow JBM on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbm-consulting-ltd/ 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with 40k+ loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on [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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TW: This episode includes conversations around eating disorders and extreme quick fixes that are not recommended or endorsed. If you are struggling with the topics covered, please seek professional help. "A Mediterranean style diet can be more effective than anti-depressants." The nation's health is arguably the worst it's been in generations, and that predominantly comes down to our relationship with food…. What if everyone knew the truth about fad diets? Are calories actually to blame? Is plant-based the way to go? In today's final episode of our wellbeing feature, we're joined by Rhiannon Lambert, one of the UK’s leading nutritionists, a Sunday Times bestselling author and chart-topping podcast host. We chat about Rhiannon's career defining pivot and realistic, tangible nutrition advice for the busiest Execs, including: ➡️ Pursuing a Music career at the age of 17 [03:04] ➡️ The toxicity of body image in the limelight [07:08] ➡️ Her pivot into nutrition and becoming a Founder [11:16] ➡️ Opening her Harley Street clinic [14:45] ➡️ The making of her 'Food For Thought' podcast [22:48] ➡️ Tangible nutrition advice for the busiest professionals [28:57] ➡️ How parents can help tackle childhood obesity [32:57] ➡️ Making healthy and affordable choices in a cost of living crisis [35:30] AND spoiler alert, you CAN have chocolate after breakfast.... ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ More about Rhiannon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhitrition/ ➡️ Check out Rhitrition: https://www.rhitrition.com/ 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on [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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Most people listening need to understand that the government is not coming to save us. There is not going to be a huge pension when we retire. What you have is what you will have.” With interest rates on the rise, and the cost of living higher than ever, all of us are feeling the strain of financial stress… To help us get money smart and enhance our financial wellbeing, we’re joined by Vivi Friedgut, the Founder of Blackbullion - a financial wellbeing platform that equips young people with financial skills for life and improves access to funds. Blackbullion is currently available to over 1 million students at almost 50 partner universities and colleges across the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The platform includes resources covering spending habits, loan calculators and shines a light on schemes, such as buy now pay later. At a time where the world has never needed to be more money smart, Vivi brings her infectious energy to this week's episode, where we dive into: ➡️ Being raised financially savvy and the idea behind Blackbullion [03:46] ➡️ What to expect from the Blackbullion platform [07:40] ➡️ Navigating a slow sector in a fast moving world [13:23] ➡️ The relentless early days as a Founder [16:03] ➡️ The hurdles and advantages of female Founders [22:48] ➡️ Making your money work for you & other actions to take [25:14] ➡️ Financial wellbeing advice for students [27:01] ➡️ Closing the financial literacy gap [29:05] ➡️ Simple but effective money tips to utilise right now [36:22] ➡️ Running a 11-month fundraise and dealing with 78 rejections [37:52] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ More about Vivi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivifriedgut/ ➡️ Check out Blackbullion: https://www.blackbullion.com/ 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on [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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Everybody has something, everybody is travelling through this thing called life, and life is not all sunshine and rainbows.” Did you know, around 12 billion working days globally, are lost every year to depression and anxiety? These staggering stats find us amidst a mental health crisis, and a huge demand for increased support for employee wellbeing… What gives you energy? And what takes it away? What boundaries do you set? Figuring this out is at the heart of wellbeing for this week’s 40 Minute Mentor, Sançar Sahin, Co-Founder of Oliva, a platform that provides proper mental health care for employees. How is Oliva different? They provide on demand therapy, coaching, classes and content to help your people show up feeling their best AND doing their best work… all in one platform. After all, what is a successful company without healthy employees? Our mental health, much like Founder life, is full of ups and downs, and we are continuing the conversation around wellbeing in today’s episode, where you’ll uncover: ➡️ The journey from marketing to disruptive Founder [05:14] ➡️ Building more than a SaaS solution [11:22] ➡️ Digging deeper to reveal employee struggles [15:24] ➡️ Combining technology and people [17:23] ➡️ How Oliva can enhance your employees wellbeing [22:09] ➡️ Pivotal moments of realising you’re burnt out [26:55] ➡️ Looking after your mental health as a Founder and looking after your team [33:16] ➡️ Wellbeing benefits that actually make a difference [36:25] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ More about Sançar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sancarsahin/ ➡️ Check out Oliva: https://www.oliva.health/ 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on [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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“When people and companies are on the verge of burnout, then it’s just this busyness epidemic.” You’re in a cabin, in the middle of no-where, for 3 nights. And your phone has been locked away, until you leave. It’s just you, nature, and your mind. This is not the start of a horror movie script. Although being without our phones can be a super scary thought… Today, we’re kicking off our new wellbeing feature series with Hector Hughes, the Co-Founder of Unplugged. Unplugged are solving the busy, burnout, can't-put-my-phone-down problem, one cosy cabin at a time. Did you check your phone as soon as you woke up this morning? Are you a sucker for checking work emails when on a wholesome escape in the sun? …Then today’s episode is perfect for you, as we discuss: ➡️ Celebrating failure as a Founder [08:50] ➡️ What to expect from your Unplugged stay [10:20] ➡️ Small steps to take to unplug in everyday life [14:58] ➡️ Offering Unplugged to your team [16:36] ➡️ The broad lens of burnout and recovery [19:25] ➡️ Building better relationships with technology [27:18] We hope this episode will inspire you to switch off and tune back in next week for another episode in our wellbeing feature. ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ More about Hector: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hector-hughes-10082195/ ➡️ Book your Unplugged stay here: https://unplugged.rest/ 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on [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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we approach 1 million downloads and wrap up Series 9 of our 40 Minute Mentor podcast, we wanted to reflect on the brilliant career mentorship we received over the last 12 weeks. From building a bootstrapped global fitness brand, to the end of HR, a CBD drink phenomenon to mental health and football, we really covered a spectrum of golden nuggets in the world of startups and scaleups. Not to mention some candid life lessons along the way. In today’s episode, we hear the very best moments from this series, with some spectacular insights into all things Founder life and beyond, including: ➡️ Why you should stop searching for happiness [03:47] ➡️ How playing poker is like being a Founder [04:21] ➡️ Diversity & privilege in politics [05:10] ➡️ Layoffs are not personal, don’t be ashamed [07:15] ➡️ Overdose & mental health stigma [08:10] ➡️ Get a tech career on your own terms [09:14] But that’s not goodbye for now, as we are back next week with our special series, on all things mental health and wellbeing. ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ More about JBM on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbm-consulting-ltd/ ➡️ Check us out online: https://jbmc.co.uk/ 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on [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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Hiring the wrong people teaches you more about your culture than hiring the right people...” Did you know a third of women in the UK do not have easy access to contraception? And 80% of those who are using contraception have reported side effects… Following her own experience of having devastating side effects of being put on the wrong contraception, today’s 40 Minute Mentor, Alice Pelton, decided to take matters into her own hands. That’s why she started The Lowdown - the UK’s leading sexual and reproductive health platform, used by over 2 million women. Featured in the likes of Grazia and The Times, The Lowdown is a contraception review, advice and prescriptions platform, on a mission to change women’s health. In today’s episode, Alice shares candid insights into her own contraception journey and being a female Founder, including: ➡️ Her 10-year journey to find the right contraception [05:00] ➡️ The historical ‘un-sexy’ part of medicine and building the Lowdown [08:59] ➡️ Challenges of being a solo female Founder [10:30] ➡️ What nobody teaches you about fundraising [11:48] ➡️ Working with Angels vs VCs [16:18] ➡️ More about our sponsors, Alchemist [18:10] ➡️ Misconceptions about investors [19:20] ➡️ Building communities [22:11] ➡️ Learnings from hiring mistakes [25:23] ➡️ What she looks for when hiring for The Lowdown [27:53] ➡️ Navigating the ‘chat’ around contraception with children [32:33] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ More about Alice: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-pelton/ ➡️ Check out The Lowdown: https://thelowdown.com/ 💙 A big thank you to our Sponsors: Alchemist - an industry leading learning and development company, whose learning journeys and experiences help organisations who want to grow, change or transform by putting the learner first to optimise organisational performance. To learn more about Alchemist and see how they work with some of the most innovative companies in the world, head over to https://thisisalchemist.com/40minutementor/ to find out more. 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on [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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There won’t be many Founders out there who weren’t affected by the roller coaster weekend of the SVB collapse. Even if you weren’t banking with SVB yourself, the chances are high that your clients, investors or suppliers were. Although we all got to breathe a sigh of relief with HSBC acquiring SVB, many questions remain: Why did SVB collapse? How did we get to this outcome and who was behind it all? What happened behind the scenes during this weekend? To answer all of this and more, we’re joined by the person who was front and centre, Dom Hallas, the Executive Director of UK tech lobby group, The Coalition for a Digital Economy - Coadec. ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Dom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dom-hallas/ ➡️ Find out more about Coadec: https://coadec.com/ 💙 A big thank you to our Sponsors: Alchemist - an industry leading learning and development company, whose learning journeys and experiences help organisations who want to grow, change or transform by putting the learner first to optimise organisational performance. To learn more about Alchemist and see how they work with some of the most innovative companies in the world, head over to https://thisisalchemist.com/40minutementor/ to find out more. 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on [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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Poker teaches you resilience, because it’s a complete rollercoaster. It is very humbling, it’s a bit like running a startup. Experience outweighs theory, just like being a Founder.” From wanting to be an entrepreneur since the school yard days, to a self-set mission of building two billion pound brands in his 30’s, today’s guest is no stranger to the rollercoaster life of startups. And he’s never had a job. This week’s 40 Minute Mentor is James Mishreki, Founder of popular skincare brand Skin + Me and sustainable consumer goods startup, Life Supplies. James shares so much advice from his professional poker playing days to navigating the collapse of SVB. We chat about: ➡️ His wish for entrepreneurship to be taught in schools [02:33] ➡️ How poker can prepare you for Founder life [05:27] ➡️ Lessons from launching his first Startup [09:36] ➡️ Falling into the beauty industry [11:41] ➡️ The challenges going from software to D2C [15:36] ➡️ More about our sponsors, Alchemist [20:05] ➡️ Educating the planet on re-fillable products [20:38] ➡️ Being born to create, and chasing big goals [24:53] ➡️ The rollercoaster ride following the collapse of SVB [32:55] ➡️ The power of collaborations [35:03] ➡️ The motivational video that kicked him into gear [39:48] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ More about James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmishreki/ ➡️ Check out Skin + Me: https://www.skinandme.com/ ➡️ Check out Life Supplies: https://lifesupplies.com/ 💙 A big thank you to our Sponsors: Alchemist - an industry leading learning and development company, whose learning journeys and experiences help organisations who want to grow, change or transform by putting the learner first to optimise organisational performance. To learn more about Alchemist and see how they work with some of the most innovative companies in the world, head over to https://thisisalchemist.com/40minutementor/ to find out more. 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on [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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No matter whether you’re negotiating your salary, promotion, a new project or a deal with a client or investor - today’s episode will help you get it across the line. For this 40 Minute Mentor bite-sized episode, we’re joined by Selena Rezvani, award-winning journalist, coach, speaker and author of ‘Quick Confidence’. Ahead of her book launching on May, 9th 2023, Selena shares with us some easy to follow mentorship on: ➡️ The fundamental pillars of building your confidence ➡️ What makes someone a great negotiator ➡️ The GPS framework which will help you navigate your next negotiation ➡️ How to deal with difficult negotiations ➡️ Plus, what to do when you don’t get the outcome you wanted ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Selena: https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenarezvani/ ➡️ Get a copy of her book ‘Quick Confidence’ out on May 9th: https://www.selenarezvani.com/books 💙 A big thank you to our Sponsors: Alchemist - an industry leading learning and development company, whose learning journeys and experiences help organisations who want to grow, change or transform by putting the learner first to optimise organisational performance. To learn more about Alchemist and see how they work with some of the most innovative companies in the world, head over to https://thisisalchemist.com/40minutementor/ to find out more. 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on [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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains topics of mental health and suicide attempts, that may be harmful or traumatising to some audiences. If you’re affected by any of the topics discussed, please make sure you reach out to the helplines listed below. ⚠️ “Nothing prepared me for that loss of identity that I had without football.” Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a professional footballer in England? And what life looks like once you decide to retire from your career in sport? In this week’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Clarke Carlisle, former professional footballer, mental health advocate and ambassador for the mental health charity Mind. Clarke has had an illustrious football career, having played for a number of top clubs, including Leeds United, Watford and Burnley, and winning three caps for England under 21s. Alongside all the successes, Clarke also had to deal with plenty of hardship, including serious injuries, his battle with depression and attempted suicide. Clarke has been refreshingly open about his professional and mental health journey, and shared with us: ➡️ The misconceptions that come with being a professional footballer [03:17] ➡️ His biggest failure and biggest success all wrapped up into one [07:21] ➡️ Why football needs to be treated more like a workplace [09:45] ➡️ Signing his first professional football contract [14:23] ➡️ Winning his England U21 caps [17:29] ➡️ More about our sponsor, Alchemist [22:10] ➡️ Bouncing back from a setback [23:22] ➡️ Why you need to stop searching for happiness [29:14] ➡️ Retirement from professional football [31:42] ➡️ Attempting suicide and ongoing mental health battles [36:26] ➡️ Advice on opening up about your mental health [45:29] ➡️ Improving mental health at work [48:29] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ More about Clarke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarke-carlisle-and-carrie-carlisle-765aa749/ ➡️ Check out the work Clarke & Carrie are doing: https://www.clarkeandcarrie.com/ ➡️ Mind Charity: https://www.mind.org.uk/ ➡️ Mental Health Foundation - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk ➡️ The Samaritans can be reached on 116 123 ➡️ And for local help and support, call the Mind Infoline at 0300 123 3393 or text 86463 💙 A big thank you to our Sponsors: Alchemist - an industry leading learning and development company, whose learning journeys and experiences help organisations who want to grow, change or transform by putting the learner first to optimise organisational performance. To learn more about Alchemist and see how they work with some of the most innovative companies in the world, head over to https://thisisalchemist.com/40minutementor/ to find out more. 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on [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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If there’s one thing that became obvious during the pandemic and the various different lockdowns, it’s the importance of human connection. But what happens to us when we get disconnected from our peers? How do we build actually lasting connections? And what are the best ways for team leaders to facilitate and create opportunities for human connection in an increasingly hybrid world? To answer all of these questions, we’re joined by Simone Heng, a human connection specialist and author of ‘Secret Pandemic: The Search for Connection in a Lonely World.’ ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Simone: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simone-heng-speaker/ ➡️ Get a copy of her book ‘Secret Pandemic - the search for connection in a lonely world’: https://simoneheng.com/ 💙 A big thank you to our Sponsors: Alchemist - an industry leading learning and development company, whose learning journeys and experiences help organisations who want to grow, change or transform by putting the learner first to optimise organisational performance. To learn more about Alchemist and see how they work with some of the most innovative companies in the world, head over to https://thisisalchemist.com/40minutementor/ to find out more. 🏆 Want to partner with us? Do you want to get your brand in front of leading Startup Founders, Investors and C-Suite decision-makers, and attract some of the sharpest talent in the Startup/Scaleup scene? Get in touch with our Head of Marketing and Producer, Hannah to find out more about how we can co-produce content that will help you stand out and engage with over 40,000 loyal monthly listeners. You can reach her on [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 on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices