Episodes
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With seventy percent of online buyers abandoning their shopping before checkout, how can you create a frictionless customer journey that only takes ten seconds?
In this episode of All About Business, James Reed speaks to customer experience expert Todd Unger.
Todd reveals why most customer journeys don’t work, how low-cost AI can help you understand your customers better, and the hit Ariana Grande song that could transform your approach to customer experience.
Todd Unger is the Chief Experience Officer at the American Medical Association, overseeing membership, marketing and customer experience initiatives. His book, the ten-second customer journey explains how you can rapidly convert customers online, drawing on Todd’s 30 year career in marketing and customer experience.
02:00 Meet Todd Unger: Chief Experience Officer
03:27 The evolution of Customer Experience
08:04 The four points of CXO
10:50 The importance of frictionless experience
18:07 Building effective digital services
24:10 Building a culture of testing and experimentation
26:17 The role of AI in modern testing
26:44 AI's impact on the 10 second customer journey
28:03 Leveraging technology partners for AI
34:29 Practical applications and future of AI
45:17 Customer experience advice for entrepreneurs
48:27 Reed interview round
Follow Todd Unger on LinkedIn
Visit Todd Unger’s website: https://www.toddunger.com/
Buy Todd Unger’s book
Follow James Reed on LinkedIn
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: www.reed.com
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
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Being a socially conscious business is becoming more and more important, but can it really help you grow your brand long-term?
In this episode of All About Business, James Reed sits down with Centre for Social Justice CEO and proud Leeds native, Andy Cook. They explore the unseen world of philanthropy, why small charities are often more powerful, the best interview questions to ask future employees, and the steps you can take to become a brand locals love.
Andy is CEO of The Centre for Social Justice, an award-winning organisation that aims to solve Britain’s most pressing social issues through political change. Hailing from Leeds, Andy founded another award winning charity that helped disadvantaged youth across the Midlands. Since then, he’s become an advisor to several leading philanthropists and CSJ has been awarded social policy Think Tank of the Year for the last 2 years.
1:56 - Introducing Andy Cook - CEO for the Centre for Social Justice
2:48 - The Centre for Social Justice
8:43 - The five areas of help that affect Society
9:58 - The Big Give
13:38 - The importance of giving people opportunities
16:56 - The power of smaller charities
19:04 - Where do donations go and how to make the process better
21:07 - Should businesses engage more with philanthropy?
25:35:00 - The Kickstart Program
27:40:00 - Finding a balance between education and employer's needs
31:36:00 - The Centre for Social Justice Foundation
34:36:00 - Why businesses should be more involved in the education system
38:18:00 - How you can help
40:10:00 - Reed interview segment
41:50:00 - Wrap up and final thoughts
Find out more about the CSJ
Follow Andy on LinkedIn
Register for the Green Match Fund
Donate to a cause you care about
Follow James Reed on LinkedIn
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: www.reed.com
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to get your brand heard, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
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Talent and customers aren’t just looking at the product or service your company provides. They’re choosing organisations with purpose over those who only prioritise profit.
In this episode of 'All About Business,' James is joined by Becky Willan, CEO of Given, part of Anthesis. They explore the importance of implementing purpose into the heart of your business,, the impact of ESG and sustainability on brands, and practical steps for organisations to align profit with meaningful societal impact. Becky shares her journey from working at Body Shop to founding Given, and discusses how companies like John Lewis and Lloyd's Banking Group are navigating purpose-driven transformations.
01:31- Introduction
02:26- Meet Becky Willan
03:13- Defining Purpose in Business
03:48- The Journey of Given
07:41- Implementing Purpose in Organisations
11:32- Case Study: John Lewis Partnership
20:31- Case Study: Lloyd's Banking Group
24:01- Advice for Entrepreneurs
29:54- Evidence of Purpose-Driven Business Success
31:25- Purpose vs. Philanthropy: Understanding the Difference
33:52- Reed's Purpose-Driven Philanthropy Model
34:54- Steps to Implementing Purpose in Your Organisation
36:44- The Importance of Employee Engagement and Culture
40:14- Challenges and Pitfalls in Purpose-Driven Organisations
42:54- Case Study: Centrica's Purpose Transformation
49:49- IKEA's Purpose and Philanthropy
51:35- Personal Reflections and Future Aspirations
53:56- Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Find out more about Given
Follow Becky on LinkedIn:
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All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: www.reed.com
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
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What if there was a model your business could use to smash your targets faster? And with a team of no more than 10?
In this episode of All About Business, James speaks to Alex Day, Managing Director of Big Give. Alex explains how his small team of ten has managed to raise hundreds of millions of pounds for charity. They also discuss how technology is transforming the charity sector, why philanthropy is good for business, and the psychology behind giving money away.
Alex Day is Director of Social Impact at Reed and Managing Director of the Big Give, the UK’s biggest match funding charity.
Every year, Big Give runs a variety of match funding campaigns, including the Green Match Fund, Kind2Mind and the Christmas Challenge. Since 2008, they’ve raised over £300 million for charities all over the world.
Timestamps
00:00- Intro
02:31- How Big Give's Match Funding Works
03:38- The Psychology Behind Match Funding
05:38- Campaigns and Themes of Big Give
08:18- Digital Transformation in Charity Fundraising
12:53- Running a Lean and Effective Team
16:37- Engaging Big Figures in Philanthropy
23:42- Identifying Your Passion for a Cause
25:16- Setting Ambitious Goals
27:37- The Importance of Ambition in Social Impact
29:26- Supporting Smaller Charities
30:50- Innovative Match Funding Strategies
31:59- The Contagious Nature of Generosity
32:32- The Christmas Challenge Campaign
34:18- Philanthropy in Business
37:18- The Philco Model
41:33- Quickfire Round
43:38- Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Links
Visit the Big Give website: https://donate.biggive.org/
See what difference you can make: Big Give Christmas Challenge 2024
Double the difference this Christmas NOW
Follow James Reed on LinkedIn
Follow the Big Give on LinkedIn
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: www.reed.com
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
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Authenticity. It can be the difference between a thriving business and losing your audience. Gone are the days when having a good enough product was enough to drive growth, and with so much competition out there, having a brand that people believe in is non-negotiable.
In this episode of All About Business, James Reed sits down with father-daughter duo Molly and Philip King of Ireland’s family-run festival, OtherVoices.
Starting in a tiny church in Dingle, it grew to become a hotly-anticipated event. It’s hosted some of the biggest names in music, including Kate Tempest, Arlo Parks and Amy Winehouse and is now watched by millions across the globe.
They explore the ins and outs of working with family, how to use digital media to build a brand and, despite massive growth, how they’ve managed to stray true to their original vision.
Timestamps
01:55- Family Dynamics in Business
02:27- Building an Authentic Brand
03:57- The Role of Culture and Trust
08:23- The Evolution of Other Voices
10:35- The Digital Transformation
14:33- The Growth of Other Voices
20:39- Maintaining the Core Ethos
23:32- Navigating the Pandemic
24:30- The Birth of Other Voices Courage
25:21- Live Performances in Iconic Locations
26:51- Challenges and Triumphs in the Music Industry
28:59- Spotting and Nurturing Talent
33:13- The Unique Experience of Performing in Dingle
38:04- Ireland's Edge: Bridging Art and Science
42:18- Quickfire Round
45:47- Conclusion and Farewell
Watch Other Voices live on YouTube
Follow Other Voices on Instagram
Follow Other Voices on Tik-Tok
Follow James Reed on LinkedIn
Find a creative job you love
Find out about the Big Give Christmas Challenge
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: www.reed.com
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
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One thing that’s on pretty much every business owner's mind is the advent of AI, what it means for your business, and how you can use it to get ahead of your competitors.
But AI is only one piece of the digital business puzzle…
In this episode of All About Business, James Reed CBE speaks to Oli Green, a trailblazing entrepreneur who has started and acquired multiple businesses across the digital landscape.
He reveals the key areas every business should be focusing on when it comes to digitisation and explains why he was able to raise a substantial amount of funding in just a few short weeks.
About the guest
Oli Green is CEO of Brave Bison, a digital advertising and technology services company. Brave Bison bought Social Chain in 2023, a social media agency founded by Steven Bartlett that has worked for global brands such as KFC and LinkedIn. Oli is also Chairman of Tangent, a company that helps enterprises build future ready digital experiences, products and capabilities with a focus on People, Planet and Purpose.
02:21 Digital First Approach
03:18 Emerging Trends in AI
04:47 Challenges in Recruiting AI Talent
06:45 Improving Digital Experiences
08:46 Social Media Strategies
09:55 Brave Bison's Four Divisions
17:18 Acquisition Strategies
24:36 Integration Challenges
29:18 Working with Family
37:41 Public Company Benefits
40:19 Conclusion and Future Vision
Connect with Oli on LinkedIn
Follow Brave Bison on LinkedIn
Follow James Reed on LinkedIn
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: www.reed.com
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
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At a time when consumers are fed up of ads (and advertisers), how can you connect with your target customers and stop them hitting the ‘skip now’ button?
In this episode of All About Business, James Reed is joined by award-winning director and veteran ad-man Paul Weiland OBE. He’ll share how some of Britain’s most well-loved ads were created, how to navigate the often tricky client/agency relationship and answers the question every marketer wants to know: how to create a profit-growing campaign everybody loves.
Paul is a writer, producer and director whose credits include Blackadder and Mr Bean.
He’s also directed 1000s of popular TV ads, most notably, the Gary Lineker Walkers ads.
In 2015, he received an OBE for his services to advertising and the creative industries.
02:24- Paul's Journey into Advertising
05:33- Early Career and Breakthroughs
09:01- Directing Commercials and Building a Reputation
20:14- The Walkers Crisps Campaign
25:47- Celebrity Endorsements in Walker's Ads
26:09- The Power Struggle with Supermarkets
28:15- What Makes a Good Client?
29:58- The Evolution of the Gary Lineker Campaign
31:58- The Importance of Continuity in Advertising
36:10- The Changing Landscape of Advertising
42:06- From Ads to Feature Films
45:11- Advice for the Next Generation
48:19- Reflections and Future Outlook
Discover how to connect with your customers online with our Digital Marketing Course
Interested in watching one of Paul’s movies? Check them out here
Follow James on LinkedIn
Watch the hand-built by robots ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fXV6KzhBbM
Watch the infamous Gary Lineker ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuKgMSUU6-c
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: www.reed.com
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
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We often hear that we need to strive for a more diverse workforce. But what if just having diversity as your goal does more harm than good?
In this Episode of 'all about business', James is joined by Dr. Heather Melville, OBE CMgr CCMI FCBI, to explore how inclusive business practices can drive growth, retain talent, and align organisational values with commercial strength. They shed light on understanding different needs and demographics within the workplace that go beyond mere diversity so you can make impactful cultural changes to help your business thrive.
Heather is a Trustee and Senior Advisor, the Chancellor of York University and a Partner at Stork and May. She’s also the Chair and Non-Executive Director of CMI Women, where she empowers and develops women in leadership. In 2017, she was awarded an OBE for services to Business and Gender Equality, which is why she’s the perfect person to talk to us about building an inclusive business.
02:25 Defining Inclusivity in Business
03:58 Challenges and Misconceptions in Diversity
06:55 Practical Steps for Inclusivity
10:57 Leadership and Inclusivity
17:09 The Cost of Ignoring Inclusivity
22:59 Real-World Examples and Stereotyping
26:23 Gender Pay Gap and Organisational Accountability
27:33 Creating Fair and Equitable Workplaces
27:59 Inclusive Hiring Practices
29:23 The Importance of Leadership in Inclusion
30:17 Employee Advocacy and Organisational Response
31:00 Personal Experiences with Leadership
36:12 Balancing Work and Personal Life
44:45 Recruitment Strategies and Positive Action
48:16 Looking Forward: Future Goals and Reflections
50:45 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Follow Healther on Linkedin
Follow Heather on X
Follow James Reed on Linkedin
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: www.reed.com
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
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Welcome to 'all about business' with me, James Reed.
Every episode, you’ll hear the highs and lows of what it means to be a true business leader to empower you to implement smarter, more meaningful strategy in your business or career.
