Business Leader

She turned £6k into a £1bn business 21.07.2026 45min

£6,000, 399 meetings and one idea. Mia Drennan, founder and CEO of GLAS, turned a gap in bank-led loan administration into a global platform for servicing institutional debt that manages over $850 billion assets under management. GLAS, Global Loan Agency Services Limited, is now valued at over £1 billion. On this episode of the Business Leader Podcast, host Sir Richard Harpin unpacks how she bootstrapped her way to a successful business without giving up a single share until 2022, how she scaled it internationally and how to encourage more female-founded unicorns.Subscribe to the Business Leader Podcast and sign up to our free weekly newsletter at businessleader.co.uk/newsletters. Business Leader is a membership community for ambitious CEOs and founders of mid-sized UK companies, designed to help them grow with purpose through strategic support, peer-to-peer learning, expert coaching, and high-impact events. Sign up for our Business Leader newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Loveholidays CEO: From Covid to £350m revenue and the road to IPO 14.07.2026 43min

Donat Rétif joined Loveholidays in December 2019 — just three months before Covid shut down global travel. In this episode of the Business Leader Podcast, the CEO of the UK's largest online travel agent for package holidays talks to Sir Richard Harpin about how he not only survived that crisis but used it to triple the size of the business, build one of Britain's most impressive tech-driven growth stories, and put Loveholidays on course for an IPO. Also, what it's really like to run a private equity-backed business — and he advises CEOs to never deviate from your North Star.Subscribe to the Business Leader Podcast and sign up to our free weekly newsletter at businessleader.co.uk/newsletters. Business Leader is a membership community for ambitious CEOs and founders of mid-sized UK companies, designed to help them grow with purpose through strategic support, peer-to-peer learning, expert coaching, and high-impact events. Sign up for our Business Leader newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barclays CEO Venkat: business turnaround, cancer, capital requirements and an £800m crisis 05.07.2026 44min

C.S. Venkatakrishnan — known as Venkat — took over as Barclays CEO in 2021, inheriting a bank with a share price under pressure and no shortage of sceptics. Four years on, profits are up, returns are up, and Barclays has committed to returning over £15 billion to shareholders by 2028. In this episode of the Business Leader Podcast, host Sir Richard Harpin asks the Barclays chief executive to unpack the strategy behind one of the UK's most closely-watched banking turnarounds. Venkat shares his lessons from 22 years at JP Morgan and working with Jamie Dimon, the inside story of Barclays' 2024 restructuring, why he believes the UK's Consumer Credit Act of 1973 is holding back consumer lending, and what banks should — and shouldn't — be liable for when it comes to motor finance, heat pumps and solar panels.He also opens up about being diagnosed with cancer four months into the top job, working through treatment, and the leadership lessons that got him — and Barclays — through it.Subscribe to the Business Leader Podcast and sign up to our free weekly newsletter at businessleader.co.uk/newsletters.Business Leader is a membership community for ambitious CEOs and founders of mid-sized UK companies, designed to help them grow with purpose through strategic support, peer-to-peer learning, expert coaching, and high-impact events. Sign up for our Business Leader newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seams Impossible: How Nadine Merabi built a £40m fashion brand 30.06.2026 46min

Manchester-based Nadine Merabi played Hockey professionally for England, bought a £250 sewing machine from Argos and taught herself how to sew. With no formal training she sold a collection to Selfridges and from there she stitched together a £40 million luxury fashion business. She talks candidly with host Sir Richard Harpin about the resilience needed to build a business from scratch —the only thing standing in entrepreneurs’ way is themselves. Merabi pivoted during covid into a Darcie pyjama line, which was worn by celebrities and still makes up a significant proportion of sales, but she draws the line at loungewear. She reveals why growing 800% in a year was her biggest mistake and what it taught her about culture and leadership. And her why her mantra has shifted from "pressure makes diamonds" to "planning makes profit". Also, she explains how her decision to hire a CEO frees her up to focus on what she does best: giving women confidence. Subscribe to the Business Leader Podcast and sign up to our free weekly newsletter at businessleader.co.uk/newslettersBusiness Leader is a membership community for ambitious CEOs and founders of mid-sized UK companies, designed to help them grow with purpose through strategic support, peer-to-peer learning, expert coaching, and high-impact events. Sign up for our Business Leader newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The CEO who doubled Blue Light Card membership in 3 years 23.06.2026 41min

Alidad Moghaddam, CEO of Blue Light Card the UK's leading discount platform for frontline and emergency service workers, talks to Sir Richard Harpin about what he's learned on his journey as a first-time chief executive and from his experiences in a private equity environment. Blue Light Card has grown from a small startup founded by a serving police officer into a platform supporting more than six million frontline workers. From expanding into Australia, to building a high-performance culture rooted in radical candour and mission-driven hiring, Alidad offers tips for any business leader scaling a business. He shares the lessons he learned helping grow Trainline and taking it to a successful IPO, what the perspective of an angel investor taught him, and why culture matters most during periods of mergers and acquisitions. He explains why being clear about the strategy and vision, defining the operating model and making the difficult calls early are key to success.Subscribe to the Business Leader Podcast and sign up to our free weekly newsletter at businessleader.co.uk/newslettersBusiness Leader is a membership community for ambitious CEOs and founders of mid-sized UK companies, designed to help them grow with purpose through strategic support, peer-to-peer learning, expert coaching, and high-impact events. Sign up for our Business Leader newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Little Moons went from family bakery to TikTok star 16.06.2026 37min

Vivian Wong, co-founder of Little Moons, shares the unfiltered story of building the UK's most talked-about mochi ice cream brand — from a small family bakery to a £27mn pound run rate overnight.Vivian talks to Sir Richard Harpin, founder of Homeserve, about how a single TikTok video sent shoppers queuing outside Tesco at 7am, and why ten years of groundwork meant Little Moons was ready to seize the moment rather than be consumed by it. She reveals her learnings from a costly factory mistake — and the sunk cost fallacy that nearly upended the business. Vivian also shares the personal catalyst that made her start the business, the reality of co-founding with a sibling, and how she now lives by a simple rule: no regrets.Themes covered:Why owning your manufacturing is a genuine competitive advantage in the FMCG worldHow Vivien bootstrapped Little Moons for 12 years before taking private equity investmentWhen and how to bring in a professional CEOThe difference between a coach and a mentor, and why you need bothBusiness Leader is a membership community for ambitious CEOs and founders of mid-sized UK companies, designed to help them grow with purpose through strategic support, peer-to-peer learning, expert coaching, and high-impact events. Sign up for our Business Leader newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vinted nearly went bust, now it's worth €8 billion 09.06.2026 37min

Vinted wasn't an overnight success. The game-changing decision that saved it from failure? Making selling completely free. Adam Jay, CEO of Vinted's Marketplace arm, talks to Sir Richard Harpin about how he helped perfect the Vinted playbook and rolled it out into 26 markets worldwide – France was the first success story.Adam reveals the mistakes made along the way, the pivots that mattered, and the leadership lessons every founder and CEO needs to hear. Drawing on his experience at Boston Consulting Group and Expedia, he breaks down how Vinted transformed from a struggling startup into a profitable, fast-scaling platform now valued at €8 billion. Themes include:Why removing seller fees was the turning point for Vinted's growthHow to scale a marketplace business across multiple international marketsWhat CEOs can learn from failure, pivoting, and resilienceWhy joining an external board of directors can sharpen your leadershipVinted's mission to make second-hand items the first choice globally Business Leader is a membership community for ambitious CEOs and founders of mid-sized UK companies, designed to help them grow with purpose through strategic support, peer-to-peer learning, expert coaching, and high-impact events. Sign up for our Business Leader newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Humble Crumble went from viral video to stores across London 02.06.2026 38min

Kim Innes, the founder of the dessert brand Humble Crumble, recounts her extraordinary business journey to Sir Richard Harpin. It begins with tough shifts at a vendor's stall in Spitalfields market in east London and ends with a chain of successful shops devoted to her product, the fruit crumble pudding. She didn't get it right at first in the market stall, she explains. She was too fixated on exotic flavours and she hadn't yet started to cook live on site, creating those appetising aromas. She also had to learn, as a small brand, how to leverage social media though a series of posts that went viral. These cooked up huge demand and people began to seek her out, including the Royal Family. Though looking back, she thinks she could have approached it in a smarter way. She also shares with Harpin her plans for the future, which include a possible move into retail environments like supermarkets.Business Leader is a membership community for ambitious CEOs and founders of mid-sized UK companies, designed to help them grow with purpose through strategic support, peer-to-peer learning, expert coaching, and high-impact events. Sign up for our Business Leader newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to build an AI startup in the UK 26.05.2026 46min

Nnamdi Emelifeonwu left a top London law firm to set up one of the UK’s fastest-growing legal tech companies. He talks to host, Sir Richard Harpin, about how building a tool to help his visually impaired colleague to navigate complex legal documents led to co-founding Definely. It is an AI-powered legal tech platform designed to help lawyers access definitions, clauses and key information instantly without leaving the Word document they’re working on. It is used by some of the world’s leading law firms and global businesses and is now integrated into Anthropic’s Claude. Nnamdi shares the reality of becoming a founder, the challenges of raising investment, and how solving one deeply personal problem evolved into a multi-million-dollar AI business. Themes include:The future of AI in the legal industry Building a startup from scratch Entrepreneurship, risk and resilience Scaling a B2B company Expanding into the USStarting a business in the UKBusiness Leader is a membership community for ambitious CEOs and founders of mid-sized UK companies, designed to help them grow with purpose through strategic support, peer-to-peer learning, expert coaching, and high-impact events. Sign up for our Business Leader newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From €2.5bn to €16bn: How Sephora redefined beauty retail 19.05.2026 51min

Chris de Lapuente, former Executive at LVMH and CEO of Sephora, played a pivotal role in scaling the business from €2.5bn to €16bn during his 13 years at the helm of the beauty retailer. He first met host Sir Richard Harpin at Procter and Gamble and shares reflections on their training which led to many successful business leaders. Chris describes how he grew Sephora, expanded globally and learned to be adaptable, as well as the mistakes that define his journey. Also, what is it like to work with Europe’s richest man and CEO of LVMH, Bernard Arnault?Topics covered:Procter and GambleWork-Life balanceTransformationExpansionRetail brands and experienceHigh-performing teamsLVMH and Bernard ArnaultTips for Scaling businessesBusiness Leader is a membership community for ambitious CEOs and founders of mid-sized UK companies, designed to help them grow with purpose through strategic support, peer-to-peer learning, expert coaching, and high-impact events. Sign up for our Business Leader newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Using AI to fight cyber risk 12.05.2026 43min

Jonathan Spry, co-founder and CEO of reinsurance startup Envelop Risk, talks to Sir Richard Harpin about how cyber-attacks are now inevitable for modern businesses — and how business leaders can mitigate the risks. From ransomware and Black Swan events to AI-generated threats, Jonathan reveals how his company uses AI and advanced analytics to model catastrophic cyber scenarios for insurers around the world. He also shares how he scaled a Bristol-based B2B business, raised major investment and built competitive moats. Also, how many Jonathans has he hired? Topics covered:InsuranceArtificial IntelligenceB2BSalesCyber attacksBlack SwanGeopoliticsInvestmentQuantum ComputingLeadershipHiring talentLondon and IPOBristolMentoringBusiness Leader is a membership community for ambitious CEOs and founders of mid-sized UK companies, designed to help them grow with purpose through strategic support, peer-to-peer learning, expert coaching, and high-impact events. Sign up for our Business Leader newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The art of the possible: Scaling to £240M 05.05.2026 38min

If something isn’t working in your business – at what point do you say – let’s adapt and change course? Sir Richard Harpin talks to Kai Feller, the co-founder of Bark.com, the online marketplace that connects you to a local gardener or event planner. Kai Feller had a make-or-break moment and changed his business model in response. After that the company grew by 200 percent over three years and Kai sold it for £240 million. How did he pivot so successfully and how important is harnessing AI for the future of businesses? Also Kai Feller recommends reading Stephen Covey's book "The 7 habits of highly effective people" and he compares notes with Richard about buying the local village pub.Topics covered:LeadershipBuilding and scaling a businessArtificial IntelligenceInternational expansionManaging peopleWork/Life balanceLocal pubBusiness Leader is a membership community for ambitious CEOs and founders of mid-sized UK companies, designed to help them grow with purpose through strategic support, peer-to-peer learning, expert coaching, and high-impact events. Sign up for our Business Leader newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can BT beat the odds? 28.04.2026 46min

BT's chief executive, Allison Kirkby, talks to Sir Richard Harpin about how her working class upbringing and training at Procter & Gamble set her up for becoming CEO. Kirkby built her reputation as a straight-talking turnaround leader and since taking the top job at BT, over two year’s ago, she’s been cutting costs, reshaping the leadership team, and trying to bring clarity to the business. As its first female CEO in 180 years, she is bringing back BT as a brand and is determined to return the company to growth. Kirkby says more needs to be done to encourage British investment in the UK stock market and reveals what it is like having Sunil Bharti Mittal, the Indian 'telecoms tiger', as the company's biggest shareholder and board member.Business Leader is a membership community for ambitious CEOs and founders of mid-sized UK companies, designed to help them grow with purpose through strategic support, peer-to-peer learning, expert coaching, and high-impact events. Sign up for our Business Leader newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How the UK was Omazed 21.04.2026 39min

Omaze's co-founder and CEO Matt Pohlson learnt the art of storytelling in Hollywood and used it to build a £200m revenue, for-profit, prize-draw business. He tells Sir Richard Harpin how two near-death experiences made him more determined to grow the company and how intuition is more powerful than he realised. The sweepstake specialist is a rare example of a business idea born in the US that found success when it moved to the UK, but why does the UK not match the US's growth-mindset? Also, Pohlson gives his top three tips for founders.Business Leader is a membership community for ambitious CEOs and founders of mid-sized UK companies, designed to help them grow with purpose through strategic support, peer-to-peer learning, expert coaching, and high-impact events. Sign up for our Business Leader newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'Value people - especially those closest to the customer' 14.04.2026 39min

Mitie may not be a household name, but its services are woven into the fabric of British life. It outsources key government services, including everything from facilities management of hospitals and data centers to security services for events. Its Chief Executive, Phil Bentley, who previously led British Gas, tells Sir Richard Harpin that the key to his success is 'managing your energy and the energy of those around you.' He says "the people who count the most, are those closest to the customer". As the CEO of a FTSE 250 company, Phil Bentley explains why the London equity market is valued lower than Amsterdam's and why the government needs to promote investment in Britain. He believes a leader's purpose is to make decisions and take risks, even if you make mistakes. Also, how is his company using technology and AI to fight retail crime which costs the UK £4.2bn a year?Business Leader is a membership community for ambitious CEOs and founders of mid-sized UK companies, designed to help them grow with purpose through strategic support, peer-to-peer learning, expert coaching, and high-impact events. Sign up for our Business Leader newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From £500 To Millions: The Mindset That Changed Everything 07.04.2026 39min

Harry Stebbings gave up on his law degree in 2015 to take a chance on podcasting – a novel idea back then. He was an early mover in the world of entrepreneurship podcasting and built up a large, loyal following. But just as important, he explains to Sir Richard Harpin, were the guests he was meeting from the worlds of business and investment. He used his contacts to start the 20VC fund, named after his podcast. It raised $400m in 2024, becoming one of Europe’s largest VC funds. Stebbings explains how podcasting sharpened his skills as an investor, and what he looks for when scouting for entrepreneurial talent.Business Leader is a membership community for ambitious CEOs and founders of mid-sized UK companies, designed to help them grow with purpose through strategic support, peer-to-peer learning, expert coaching, and high-impact events. Sign up for our Business Leader newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I can't quit" - Olivia Jenkins built a jewellery brand in honour of her mum 31.03.2026 44min

At the height of Covid in 2021, Olivia Jenkins felt her life was in "the perfect storm". Foremost in her mind was the loss of her mother, to cancer. It was at this moment that she decided with her partner (and now fiancé) Jack, that they would start a jewellery business, named after her mother. Jewellery was an area she was passionate about and had some retail experience in. She developed stylish and hard-wearing stainless steel products designed to work well with activewear. She was able to tap into the wellness industry boom and by 2026 her annual revenues would be close to £12m. Olivia explains to Sir Richard Harpin how she overcame imposter syndrome to build the business and reveals the lessons she has learnt along the way, covering everything from product development, to trade shows, external investment and marketing spend.Business Leader is a membership community for ambitious CEOs and founders of mid-sized UK companies, designed to help them grow with purpose through strategic support, peer-to-peer learning, expert coaching, and high-impact events. Sign up for our Business Leader newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I don't like being switched off" - Stuart Machin, CEO of M&S, on work-life balance 26.03.2026 25min

Stuart Machin, CEO of Marks and Spencer, talks to Sir Richard Harpin at the Business Leader Summit about leadership and encouraging "positive dissatisfaction". He also says he doesn't like to use the c word - cyber - as that was one of the hardest things he and the company have ever gone through. He gives a run through of his typical morning as a CEO, how he walks the floors of stores and the secret of protecting the magic of M&S whilst modernising the rest.Business Leader is a membership community for ambitious CEOs and founders of mid-sized UK companies, designed to help them grow with purpose through strategic support, peer-to-peer learning, expert coaching, and high-impact events. Sign up for our Business Leader newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'From €200m to €24bn - How I built a global glass empire' 24.03.2026 46min

Gary Lubner, the former CEO of Belron, discusses his journey scaling the vehicle glass giant from a value of €200 million to €24 billion over 23 years. Lubner explains to Richard Harpin how the company achieved global dominance through strategic acquisitions, a standardised operational model known as 'The Belron Way', and the iconic "Autoglass repair, Autoglass replace" jingle – which Richard sings along with him! Lubner reflects on his upbringing in apartheid-era South Africa, which instilled a deep sense of social responsibility and influenced his people-centric leadership style. Business Leader is a membership community for ambitious CEOs and founders of mid-sized UK companies, designed to help them grow with purpose through strategic support, peer-to-peer learning, expert coaching, and high-impact events. Sign up for our Business Leader newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rentokil CEO: ‘This industry is unglamorous but gets in your blood’ 17.03.2026 49min

After just over 12 years as CEO of global pest firm Rentokil Initial, Andy Ransom shares what he has learned as he prepares to step down. In that time the share price has quadrupled and profits breached $1bn. Ransom discusses how he progressed from a working-class background to a legal career at ICI, where he took charge of a legal case in the US that cemented his reputation. When he joined Rentokil, it was involved in many business areas, from parcel delivery to laundry. One of his first decisive actions, he explains to Sir Richard Harpin, was to focus the business on pest control. Ransom explains how he prides himself in being a deal-maker and has used a strategy of M&A to grow the global business and make it more efficient through operational “density”. He also discusses the challenges of cracking North America, which is responsible for half the global pest-control market. Business Leader is a membership community for ambitious CEOs and founders of mid-sized UK companies, designed to help them grow with purpose through strategic support, peer-to-peer learning, expert coaching, and high-impact events. Sign up for our Business Leader newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.