Episodes
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Can AI revolutionise the way your business operates, or even redefine entire industries?
This special episode of Curious Leadership was recorded as a live panel at the CEO Summit 2025, where Dominic was joined on stage by guests Neil Marley, Kevin Bradley, Pedro Arriaga, and John Readman to explore how AI is driving business productivity and innovation across various sectors.
Neil reveals how Neologik pivoted from its roots in training technologists to harnessing AI for document automation, a strategic shift mirroring the evolving job market. Kevin brings a unique perspective on Omegro's strategic growth within Constellation, while Pedro shares how AI has supercharged productivity at his facilities management platform, Pego. John shares insights on AI's transformative role in digital marketing, moving beyond predictive analytics to empower data-driven decision-making at Modo25.
Our panellists offer their perspectives on how businesses can navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, balancing the human role of integrating it into teams, and how to align employee mindsets with technological advancements.
Hear about the rapid evolution of software development and how agile methodologies can accelerate innovation, including advice on overcoming tech debt, enhancing user interaction through voice prompts, and the competitive edge offered by quick MVP development and AI-driven platforms.
As AI continues to shape industries, we explore the need for education to prepare the next generation with skills in question formation, philosophy, ethics, and domain-specific expertise.
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Elaine Jobson is a dynamic CEO, board director, and culture strategist with over 30 years of experience scaling fitness and wellness brands across Australia, Africa, Asia, and Europe.
As CEO of Jetts Fitness, she spearheaded the Management Buyout (MBO), restoring the brand to private ownership and founder-driven leadership. Under her guidance, Jetts has flourished, expanding into new markets and repositioning for sustainable, high-performance growth.
Elaine’s passion for values-driven, high-performing cultures is at the heart of her leadership philosophy. Her book, High Performance Through Happy People, captures her insights on building thriving teams that deliver exceptional results.
A sought-after keynote speaker, Elaine energises audiences at industry conferences, leadership summits, and corporate events, sharing expertise on leadership, culture strategy, franchising, and team performance. Known for her sharp operational and commercial acumen, Elaine is a proven leader in strategic growth, franchising, and culture transformation - making her one of the most impactful figures in the industry today.
In this episode, Dominic uncovers how the implementation of a Net Promoter Score (NPS) should be a business philosophy rather than just a survey. With Elaine providing insights on identifying detractors through customer feedback, the importance of delivering what she calls “brilliant basics”, and the significance of empowering her club managers and staff to enhance customer service to create a positive culture.
Elaine also shares the rapid growth and expansion of the Jetts Fitness brand, their franchise model, commitment to good profit, the evolving perception of fitness as a means for mental health, and looks ahead at opportunities in the global fitness market, particularly in emerging territories like India.
Discover
How Leadership Drives Growth: Strong leadership is essential for managing growth, stabilising operations, and adapting to changing business environments.
How to Build a Positive Culture: A happy, engaged workforce leads to higher performance and better organisational outcomes. Culture is a key driver of long-term success.
How Metrics Can Improve Performance: Tools like customer satisfaction scores provide valuable insights and help businesses refine their services to meet customer needs, fostering loyalty.
Opportunities in Emerging Markets: Expanding into new markets with growth potential requires strategic planning, market understanding, and partnerships to capitalise effectively.
How Scalable Business Models are Key: Structuring businesses to scale - for instance, through franchising or other replicable models - enables sustainable growth and adaptability across regions.
Book recommendations:
Elaine’s book High Performance Through Happy People is out now
Dominic’s book Mind Your F**king Business is out now
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Missing episodes?
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Joseph Michelli is an internationally sought-after speaker, author, and organisational consultant who transfers his knowledge of exceptional business practices in ways that develop joyful and productive workplaces with a focus on customer experience. His insights encourage leaders and frontline workers to grow and invest passionately in all aspects of their lives.
A Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Nielson BookScan, and New York Times #1 bestselling author. Joseph’s most recent book, All Business Is Personal, features proven strategies for boosting customer loyalty, engagement, and sustainable growth, and offers insights leaders can apply across industries to create high-performing, customer-focused organisations.
Joseph holds the Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association (NSA). He is a member of the Authors Guild, an editorial board member for the Beryl Institute's Patient Experience Journal (PXJ), and is on the founders' council of CustomerExperienceOne. Other achievements include winning the Asian Brand Excellence Award and being named as one of the Top 10 thought leaders in Customer Service by Global Gurus. He received his master's and doctorate from the University of Southern California.
In this episode, Dominic explores the intersection of AI and human interaction, questioning the ability of AI to replicate genuine human care and creativity, and the complexities of customer experience, loyalty, and referrals. With Joseph advocating the necessity for CEOs to be passionate and unreasonable in their pursuit of exceptional customer service. He explores strategies for activating referrals, the importance of emotional engagement, and the design of customer journeys that foster loyalty.
Joseph shares his insights on the transformation of patient experience in US healthcare, and the innovative approach that led One Medical to being acquired by Amazon. Emphasising the importance of redesigning processes to enhance care delivery, he highlights the cost reduction achieved through proactive health management and the role of technology in creating human-centric services.
Discover
The Power of Emotional Connection in Business: Building an emotional connection with customers, beyond merely offering a product or service, fosters loyalty and helps establish a strong brand identity.
The Importance of Customer Experience: Exceptional customer experience can significantly impact a business's success. By fostering emotional connections and going beyond basic transactional value, businesses can create loyalty and referrals among their customer base.
Word-of-Mouth as a Powerful Marketing Tool: Customer referrals play a crucial role in business growth. Companies that focus on delivering exceptional experiences often benefit from organic word-of-mouth promotion, resulting in reduced sales and marketing costs.
Balancing Cost-Cutting with Customer Experience: While reducing costs is a strategy some businesses consider, focusing solely on cost can lead to commoditisation. Prioritising customer experience and value can differentiate a business and create long-lasting success.
The Influence of Net Promoter Score (NPS): Net Promoter Score is a useful metric for understanding customer loyalty and satisfaction. By asking customers how they found the business, insights can be gained that highlight the importance of customer recommendations and the overall impact of positive experiences.
Book recommendations:
Joseph’s book
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James Dawson and Richard Doherty are seasoned professionals from the fintech and financial services industries, each bringing decades of expertise to their respective fields.
James Dawson, founder of Humble Technology, has over 21 years of experience in fintech. His career has been dedicated to addressing and overcoming the challenges fintech startups face in sales. James believes that many fintechs fail not due to a lack of funding but because they rely too heavily on relationship-driven sales rather than employing proven, science-backed methodologies. As a former Head of Europe at OpenFin, a leader in desktop interoperability, James successfully built high-performing teams and developed his own sales techniques. To share his strategic insights, James created the Fintech Sales FastTrack programme - a framework designed to help startups establish predictable and scalable revenue systems. In addition to his fintech achievements, James also owns Humble Grape, a wine bar and merchant that imports high-quality wines from 600 small vineyards across 22 countries, exemplifying his entrepreneurial versatility.
Richard Doherty, meanwhile, leads the technology practice for Asset & Wealth Management at Publicis Sapient, a prominent consultancy in financial services and digital business transformation. With over 20 years of experience in technology and financial services, Richard specialises in helping firms align their technological initiatives with business strategies. His expertise lies in implementing large-scale technological changes, including system overhauls, data transformations, and technology-focused innovations. Richard advises business leaders on building future-ready operating models that leverage technology to drive innovation, generate revenue, cut costs, and mitigate risks. By collaborating with both business and technology stakeholders, Richard fosters alignment that enables firms to ensure sustainable and expedited transformation in highly competitive markets.
Together, James and Richard exemplify leadership and innovation in their fields, uniting expertise in sales strategy, technology, and enterprise transformation to shape the future of fintech and financial services.
In this episode, Dominic explores methodologies used by founder-led sales to scalable sales operations. Learning that in the early stages of business development, a relentless focus on an initial product offering is essential. For example, for Amazon it was books and for Google it was search functionalities - even though their objective was expansion and market domination.
With James and Richard emphasising the importance of aligning sales strategies with marketing efforts, they encourage leaders to nurture a growth-oriented mindset among sales personnel. Hear their insights on the complexities of building successful sales engines that can withstand the rigours of today's competitive landscape.
Discover
Business Growth and Focus: Successful companies often start by focusing on a single, straightforward offering before expanding into larger and more complex operations. This focus is essential in the early stages to build a sustainable foundation.
Sales Transition Challenges: Transitioning from founder-led sales to scalable, enterprise-level sales processes is a significant challenge for businesses, especially in the fintech sector. It requires a particular skill set and mindset to scale sales effectively from small to large operations.
Collaborative Expertise: Leveraging the collaboration of industry experts with diverse professional backgrounds, such as consulting and financial services, can help scale businesses by addressing complex challenges and driving transformation.
The Importance of...
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Mike Hicks' connection to investing in mid-market companies dates back to 1994, when he worked at the EBRD, contributing to the creation of the first private equity fund in Romania. After overseeing a joint venture between Creditanstalt Investment Bank and Advent International, he developed a keen interest in enhancing investor-management interactions, dedicating over 20 years to this pursuit.
In 2010, Mike founded Catalysis, following several years of leading a similar practice at Grant Thornton. With the support of skilled colleagues, he has managed over 375 projects since the company's inception, Mike advocates the importance of coachability and partnership in navigating the complex landscape of mid-market firms.
In this episode, Dominic explores the myths and realities of private equity as Mike dismantles common misconceptions about management and investment partnerships. Highlighting the nuanced dynamics between investors and business leaders, he explains that in smaller companies, collaboration often trumps the fear of management changes.
Discover
The Role of Private Equity in Business Growth: Private equity plays a crucial role in providing funding for businesses, particularly those lacking tangible assets for traditional bank loans, such as tech companies. It serves as an alternative to the UK's shrinking bank funding market by offering equity, facilitating business growth, and providing management teams a pathway to personal wealth.
Misconceptions About Private Equity: Management teams often face misconceptions about private equity investment. Some assume operations will continue unchanged, while others fear losing control to investors. In truth, investors aim to add value and collaborate for improvements without seizing control of the business.
Team and Organisational Alignment: Aligning the management team’s capabilities with the business's needs is crucial. This match depends on the business model's complexity, market conditions, and growth goals. Businesses often require guidance to optimise their leadership teams to effectively meet these demands.
Governance and Strategy in Management: Effective governance should balance strategy formulation and operational execution without overwhelming management. Boards should prioritise maintaining this balance to ensure alignment with value creation rather than focusing solely on financial oversight. Keeping boards small and focused helps avoid operational inefficiencies.
Mistakes in Scaling Businesses with Private Equity: Common mistakes in scaling businesses post-private equity deal include neglecting due diligence insights, misunderstanding strategy, underestimating organisational inertia, confusing change activity with results, hastily making key personnel decisions, and suffering from unbalanced governance. Avoiding these pitfalls is essential for the success of private-equity-backed ventures.
Higher Multiples with Demonstrated Scalability: Businesses that can demonstrate scalability, such as sustainable growth and robust operational capacity, are more likely to attract higher multiples and favourable responses from investors during deals, highlighting the importance of long-term strategic planning.
Book recommendations:
Rory Sutherland - Alchemy
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Kat Thorne is a positive habits international keynote speaker, teacher and consultant. Her life story of workaholism, breakdown and burnout inspires global audiences to make one small habit change. Former Global Commercial Director & CEO, after losing everything in 2016 due to a health scare, she had no choice but to start again. Kat now works with organisations, leaders and individuals around the world to create one small positive habit change that actually results in increased well-being & resilience.
Kat says “Burnout, anxiety, and stress are at an all-time high. People are the most important asset. The better people look after themselves, the better they perform in all areas of life. The result? A healthier, happier and high-performing work and home life”.
In this episode, Dominic explores how small changes can have a monumental impact on our personal and professional lives, with Kat challenging the outdated notion of separating work from home life, emphasising how intertwined they really are. An advocate of how quality rest shapes his energy levels and daily performance choices, Dom explains the impact of technology on his mood and productivity, highlighting the delicate balance between connectivity and wellbeing.
We also explore how positive habits can transform work environments, and the power of how small yet consistent changes can improve team dynamics, health, and productivity. From breaking the cycle of multitasking in meetings to achieve genuine engagement, this episode provides actionable insights for both personal and professional growth. Whether it's encouraging kids to embrace creativity without screens or finding simple ways to be present, you'll come away with a toolkit for fostering meaningful change in every area of your life.
Discover
The Power of Morning Routines: Establishing a positive morning routine, like waking up early and dedicating time to self-care, can lead to significant improvements in both personal well-being and professional performance. Starting your day with intention sets a positive tone for everything that follows.
Small Changes, Big Impact: Implementing small, positive habits - such as engaging in just 10 minutes of physical activity each day - can be transformative. These manageable changes can lead to increased energy, improved mood, and greater productivity in both personal and work life.
Integrating Personal and Professional Life: Recognising the interconnection between personal habits and professional success is key. By fostering positive habits in your personal life, you can enhance your performance, satisfaction, and effectiveness at work.
Mindful Technology Use: Be mindful of how and when you consume information, especially through technology. Checking your phone or emails immediately upon waking can inject unnecessary stress and negativity into your day. Instead, create a morning practice that supports a positive mindset.
Overcoming Resistance to Change: While making positive changes, you may encounter resistance or negativity from others. Understand that this is a common challenge, and focus on the long-term benefits of your new habits. Staying committed despite external pressures can lead to profound personal growth and transformation.
Book recommendations:
Dominic’s book Mind Your F**king Business is out now
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Keith Ferrazzi, founder of Ferrazzi Greenlight, is a pioneering executive coach, thought leader, and New York Times #1 bestselling author. For over two decades, he’s transformed Fortune 500 companies, unicorn startups, and governments by challenging teams to break silos and embrace "teamship" over leadership. As the leader of the Greenlight Research Institute, Keith drives innovation in team performance and collaboration. His Radical Innovators Collaborative unites bold thinkers for groundbreaking ideas and best practices. A prolific writer featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and more, Keith’s books include Never Eat Alone, Leading Without Authority, and the cutting-edge Never Lead Alone. In 2024, he received the prestigious Coaches 50 Award, honouring the world’s top executive coaches. Beyond coaching, he’s a philanthropist and strategic investor committed to driving meaningful social impact.
In this episode, Dominic explores innovative collaboration methods such as co-elevation and constructive conflict, the need for a shift from individual resilience to collective team resilience and the potential of AI in shaping future team structures. Keith shares anecdotes from coaching executive teams and the insights gained from his research on high-performing teams, highlighting the importance of collaboration, feedback, and a culture of candour in achieving team success. Hear his thoughts about moving away from traditional hierarchical models to more fluid, self-managed teams, advocating for a culture of openness and shared responsibility.
Discover
Shift from Leadership to Teamship - Leaders are encouraged to empower their teams to self-manage rather than controlling or micromanaging by transitioning from a traditional leadership model to "teamship" - where responsibility is shared across the team. This helps dismantle silos within organisations, fostering collective accountability and better performance.
Candour Over Conflict Avoidance - Radical transparency and open feedback are critical for high-performing teams. Avoiding conflict often leads to mediocrity, while embracing candid and constructive feedback leads to innovation and trust. Practical tools like "candour breaks" and stress testing enable teams to comfortably critique ideas and improve collaboration.
Asynchronous Collaboration and Agile Practices - Traditional meeting-centric collaboration methods are inefficient. Harnessing asynchronous collaboration (e.g., collecting input via shared documents) and agile sprints can make decision-making faster and more inclusive. This modern approach aligns team efforts around Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and prevents siloed working.
Redefining Teams Beyond Org Charts - Teams aren’t merely those on the organisational chart. Instead, they should be built dynamically around specific goals or KPIs. For example, solving a sales issue may require involvement from marketing, product, and finance—not just the sales department. This approach reduces finger-pointing and fosters cross-functional ownership.
Practices for Building Resilient and Celebratory Teams - High-performing teams focus not only on achieving results but also on maintaining team well-being. Practices like monthly "energy checks" ensure team members support one another during challenging times. Additionally, celebrating successes creates a culture of positivity and enhances morale. Peer-to-peer recognition is particularly impactful and energising.
Book recommendations:
Andrew McAfee - The Geek Way
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It was a daily grind of ‘win the work, do the work, get paid for the work, only to have to find more work to replace the work’ that led David Hart (known as the ‘Agency to SaaS guy’) to sell his agency and embark on a new SaaS business.
After founding digital agency Codegent in 2004, by 2014, after acquiring another agency, Thin Martian, David felt like he was on the treadmill to nowhere. In 2016, he launched SaaS business, ScreenCloud, which hit 8 figures in ARR after only six years and continues to see strong growth year-on-year. The switch has created significant financial value for him and his co-founders, investors and staff.
David now advises other agencies and early-stage SaaS founders on scaling their own products, He sits on five boards as a NED and is the author of Productized: Stop Selling Time and Transition to Selling SaaS.
In this episode, Dominic uncovers the strategies and mindset shifts necessary to transform a service-oriented business into a thriving SaaS company. We explore the contrasting dynamics of hiring and growth between the agency and SaaS models and the critical role of building an experienced team to achieve rapid expansion. David lays bare the exhilarating yet daunting task of burning through investment to scale revenue, the importance of aligning with market needs and avoiding the pitfalls of launching products without demand.
Discover
Start by Testing Your Idea: Before creating a product, it's important to make sure people actually need it. You can do this by asking potential customers questions that get to the heart of their problems. A good product should either help people make money, save money, or solve an important issue they worry about.
Moving from Services to Products: David transitioned from running a company offering services to selling a product. This shift allowed his business to grow faster and become easier to scale compared to offering services.
Spending Money to Grow: To grow a software business like ScreenCloud, David had to spend money up front, especially to get new customers. Investors encouraged him to spend boldly to grow quickly, even if the business wasn’t immediately profitable.
Focusing on One Thing Is Key: David realised that trying to create multiple products at once made it hard to succeed. Instead, focusing on creating one strong product helped him and his team direct their time, energy, and resources more effectively.
Learning from Early Failures: Before ScreenCloud, David worked on many products that didn’t succeed. He learned that talking to potential customers early on and finding out if they’d actually pay for a solution are critical steps to avoid wasting time and money on ideas that won't work.
Book recommendations:
April Dunford - Sales Pitch & Obviously Awesome
Rob Fitzpatrick - The Mom Test
David’s book Productized is out now
Dominic’s book Mind Your F**king Business is out now
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Maria Ross, a keynote speaker, author, strategist, and empathy advocate, believes cash flow, creativity, and compassion can coexist. Founder of Red Slice, she advises organisations on leveraging empathy for better engagement. She authored ‘The Empathy Dilemma: How Successful Leaders Balance Performance, People, and Personal Boundaries’ and hosts ‘The Empathy Edge’ podcast. A dynamic speaker, Maria has addressed top conferences like TEDx, The 3% Conference, and Salesforce, with her insights featured in outlets such as MSNBC, NPR, Forbes, and Huffington Post.
In this episode, Dominic explores empathy's role in leadership and business success. With Maria explaining how empathy can be cultivated, especially in education, and addresses the challenge of balancing empathy with performance. Maria introduces the five pillars of empathetic leadership - self-awareness, self-care, clarity, decisiveness, and joy - offering a framework to enhance empathy while ensuring high performance. They explore effective leadership, the role of decisiveness, joy, and empathy in workplace culture, and how leaders can make tough decisions without causing team stress.
Discover
Balance Empathy with Action: Empathy doesn’t mean avoiding tough decisions. Instead, it’s about acting compassionately while staying focused on goals. Gathering different perspectives helps make thoughtful choices, but avoid overthinking - decisiveness keeps progress on track.
Clarity and Transparency Build Trust: Clear communication is essential. Whether setting boundaries, making decisions, or solving problems, being explicit about your intentions reduces misunderstandings and creates trust. Explaining your rationale helps others feel heard and valued, even if they don’t agree with your decisions.
Empathy Can Be Learned and Strengthened: Empathy is a skill that can grow with practice. Similar to building a muscle, environments that promote listening, curiosity, and collaboration can nurture this ability. Making an effort to understand others’ experiences leads to stronger connections and better outcomes in every aspect of life.
Empathy Drives Problem-Solving and Innovation: Empathy allows you to understand others' needs, fears, and motivations, which can lead to better solutions in any situation. Empathy isn’t just about relationships - it’s also a catalyst for better decision-making and innovation.
Book recommendations:
Rob Volpe - Tell Me More About That
Dr. Adam Dorsay - Super Psyched
Robin Dreeke - Unbreakable Alliances
Anna Liotta - Unlocking Generational Codes
Maria’s books The Empathy Dilemma &
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Kaihan Krippendorff is a world-renowned business strategist, innovation authority, and CEO of Outthinker Networks - a powerhouse of chief strategy and innovation leaders shaping the future of business. A former McKinsey consultant, he’s heralded as one of the top 30 global thinkers in strategy and innovation by Global Gurus and Thinkers50, with a proven track record of helping organisations generate over $3 billion in transformative growth.
The bestselling author of six books, including Outthink the Competition and Driving Innovation from Within, Kaihan’s latest work, Proximity, is a Next Big Idea Club must-read endorsed by thought leaders like Adam Grant and Malcolm Gladwell. He’s a go-to voice for innovation and strategy, regularly writing for Harvard Business Review and Fast Company and hosting podcasts like Outthinkers and The Chief Strategy Officer.
Kaihan has partnered with global giants like Microsoft, IBM, Procter & Gamble, and JP Morgan, while teaching at top institutions like Wharton Executive Ed and NYU. A sought-after speaker and media contributor, he inspires audiences worldwide, blending his global perspective and multicultural insights from his base in Miami, Florida.
In this episode, Dominic explores the intricacies of strategic thinking and the critical distinction between strategic planning and true strategy. With Kaihan highlighting the growing importance of proximity in value creation, focusing on how businesses can innovate closer to the moment demand arises. They also examine the shifts in various industries including the evolution of defence technology, the disruptive impact of 3D printing on manufacturing, the need to rethink inventory and production processes, and how AI is reshaping information delivery.
Discover
Proximity as a Strategic Advantage: How businesses can achieve competitive advantages by creating value closer to the time and location where demand appears. Examples include Coca-Cola's Freestyle machines and advances in 3D printing for customisable solutions.
Strategic Insights from Ancient Principles: The 36 strategic patterns derived from ancient Chinese fables, such as “Seize the Deer in the Headlights Moment” and “Embrace What’s Been Abandoned,” which empower businesses to outthink competitors and exploit overlooked opportunities
Shifting from Planning to Creation: Traditional strategic planning processes and shifts in focus toward narrative-driven strategy, emphasising the power of constraints in sparking innovative ideas.
Sustainable Innovation in Multiple Industries: How proximity can lead to both environmental and business advantages. Real-world examples of sustainability-driven innovations include hydroponic farming and lab-grown meat, to eliminating waste in production and inventory management.
Book recommendations:
Bruce Greenwald - Competition Demystified
Marcus Collins - For The Culture
Dr. Sandra Matz - Mindmasters
Kaihan’s books Proximity and The Art of the Advantage are out now
Dominic’s book
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James Kerr is a writer, coach, and consultant who specialises in leadership, culture and mindset in high-performing teams. His global bestseller, 'Legacy' has been described by The Daily Telegraph as “the modern version of Vince Lombardi’s guides to coaching”, saying that "for those searching for genuine keys to team culture, it is manna from heaven".
James has worked with Tier One Special Forces, the English Premier League, international cricket, Formula One, America’s Cup, Major League Baseball, and Olympic pathways. He has guest lectured at Westpoint Military Academy, Sandhurst and Eton College and written for the BBC, Independent, Times and Guardian. His corporate clients have included Google, Spotify, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey & Co, Adidas, and Arc'teryx.
In this frank discussion, Dominic explores the synergy between individual leadership and collective vision, and the critical role of cultural evolution in maintaining relevance and potency. James shares how the iconic “Sweeping the Shed” mantra, revolutionised team culture at the All Blacks, and how these principles can be applied beyond the rugby field into business and everyday life.
Discover
The Role of Values in Sustainable Success: By embracing values such as humility, responsibility, and respect, the All Blacks created a foundation for long-term success, demonstrating that values-driven cultures outperform talent-driven ones.
The Power of Rituals and Symbols: The enduring significance of the Haka demonstrates how rituals and symbols can reinforce identity, unity, and purpose within a team.
Leadership Across Domains: The principles of leadership and cultural excellence are universal and can be applied across diverse fields, demonstrated by James’ work in sports, military, and business.
Neuroscience and Leadership: The interplay between neuroscience and performance underpins how understanding the brain's responses to fear and confidence can inspire leaders to strike a balance between challenges and support, fostering growth and accountability.
Book recommendations:
Viktor Frankl - Man's Search For Meaning
Daniel Kahneman - Thinking, Fast and Slow
Daniel Coyle - The Culture Code
Jim Collins - Good To Great
James' book Legacy is out now.
Dominic’s book Mind Your F**king Business is out now.
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A message from Dom about some exciting changes coming to the podcast from next week.
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In this conversation, Ben Hunt-Davis shares insight into what drives and empowers an Olympic gold-winning team. A Former Olympic rower turned successful entrepreneur, Ben is the author of the acclaimed book Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?
Tune in for invaluable insights from Ben’s illustrious rowing career, recounting the journey from consistently finishing at the bottom to clinching Olympic gold. Discover the transformative power of team alignment and purpose, the crucial role of feedback and trust, and the non-negotiable importance of shared goals—whether in sports or business.
This episode delves into the details of team dynamics, the impact of clear communication, and the courage to embrace discomfort for the sake of improvement. Tune in, and let’s make your business unstoppable!
Takeaways
Finding team alignment and purpose.Fostering a culture that values collective success over individual glory.The pivotal role of clear goals and regular feedback in driving continual improvement.Everyone brings different strengths and life situations to the table. Leveraging those differences to optimise performance.Embracing open, honest feedback as a tool for growth, even when it’s uncomfortable.Timestamps
(00:00) Title with Ben Hunt-Davis.
(01:05) Coining A Phrase.
(03:10) Uni Drop Out To Full-Time Athlete.
(08:01) How Clear Expectations Lead To Gold.
(11:27) Helping A Team Get Clarity and Purpose.
(13:52) Team Dynamics.
(17:44) Constructive Conflict.
(19:09) Improving Focus and Learning.
(22:34) Helping Others Improve With Uncomfortable Truths.
(25:19) Difficult Real-Life Scenarios.
(27:02) Quick Fire Questions.
(32:58) People a bit better inspire relatable progress.
(33:54) Dad advises but feels unqualified for career guidance.
About Ben Hunt-Davis
Ben is an experienced performance coach, facilitator and world-class keynote speaker. Ben has spent the last 20+ years specialising in translating his Olympic-winning strategies into everyday business success.
Specifically focusing on leadership and team development, Ben has designed and run training courses, conferences and events for more than 100 different organisations.
Ben and executive coach Harriet Beveridge published the best-selling book Will It Make The Boat Go Faster? in 2011. Their real-world application of Ben’s rowing crew’s strategies, habits, and mindset is world-renowned. The performance principles underpinning their story still shape the philosophy of our business today. Ben is an expert in galvanising executive teams and organisations behind a shared ‘Crazy Goal’.
Ben consistently leads and inspires teams to deliver exceptional results. He is a three-time Team GB staff member at the Summer Olympics and chair of organising committees for two international rowing events in the UK.
Follow Ben Hunt-Davis
Website: https://willitmaketheboatgofaster.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benhuntdavis?originalSubdomain=uk
X: https://x.com/olympianben
Books by Ben Hunt-Davis
Will It Make The Boat Go Faster
Book Recommendations
James Holland books - https://griffonmerlin.com/
Mentioned in this episode:
Get Mind Your...
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In this conversation, Chris Fenning – communications expert, coach and author – deep dives into transforming workplace communication. Tired of inefficient meetings? Chris suggests empowering all participants to take charge, seeking clarity on agendas, and addressing distractions head-on to boost engagement.
Chris offers his unique perspective on communication, including his methods for delivering impactful updates and simplifying complex topics. From his advice on honing email effectiveness to his insights on intertwining leadership skills with everyday exchanges, Chris offers valuable tools for ensuring your message is heard loud and clear.
Listen and get practical tips on breaking down the barriers to effective communication in the workplace and how to leverage AI's potential. Chris shares book recommendations and a fresh outlook that will leave you inspired. Whether you're an intern or an executive, this episode promises actionable strategies to revolutionise how you connect and convey your ideas. So, let's jump in and learn how to mind your f**king business more efficiently!
Takeaways
Clarity is key for clear communication.Shared responsibility for effective and efficient meetings.How to handle distractions and bring conversations back politely.Positive problem solving to demonstrate competence.Top tips for effective email communication.Goal, Problem, Solution Communication Model.Public Speaking vs. Communication Fundamentals.Timestamps
(00:00) Be More Effective in Communication with Chris Fenning.
(00:17) Early Life Crisis Leading To Comms.
(04:36) Learning How To Teach.
(06:48) Clear, Concise, and To-The-Point Methodologies.
(09:20) Asking The How.
(11:40) Goal, Problem, Solution.
(14:08) Safety in Mediocracy.
(18:16) Psychological Safety in Leadership.
(19:09) Delivering Bad News.
(21:05) Effective Emails and AI.
(26:55) Clear Communication in Questions.
(29:32) When Should Comms. Be Taught?
(32:42) Teaching Across Levels.
(34:41) How To Do Meetings Differently.
(39:35) Quick Fire Questions with Chris Fenning.
(41:40) Book Recommendations.
About Chris Fenning
Chris Fenning helps us master our communication at work. He helps experts talk to non-experts, teams talk to executives, and much more. Chris's practical methods are used in organisations like Google and NATO, and have appeared in the Harvard Business Review. He is also the author of multiple award-winning books on communication and training that have been translated into 16 languages.
Find out how Chris can help you at www.chrisfenning.com
Follow Chris Fenning
Website: https://chrisfenning.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-fenning/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmIXD8AIH-LUV-B1V5KJ4Ww
Books by Chris Fenning
The First Minute: https://chrisfenning.com/books/#the-first-minute
Effective Emails: https://chrisfenning.com/books/#effective-emails
39 Ways to Make Training Stick:
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Today we are re-sharing one of our most controversial episodes so far, with the man who's been called the UK's Most Hated Sales Trainer, Benjamin Dennehy.
Benjamin joins Dominic as they discuss the art of selling and the common misconceptions about sales. This is truly a sixty-minute conversation that will change how you look at sales!
Benjamin explores the importance of self-confidence, being in control, and understanding the motivations behind prospects' questions. He emphasises the need for salespeople to focus on having meaningful conversations and helping prospects discover their needs rather than pushing products or services.
He also highlights the importance of hiring and training salespeople effectively and challenges the traditional sales approach of show up, throw up, and hope for the best. In this conversation, the UK's Most Hated Sales Trainer shares his unconventional approach to sales and prospecting.
He emphasises the importance of getting prospects emotional and focuses on the purpose of a prospecting call. He also discusses the need for consultative selling and the importance of asking probing questions. The conversation covers topics such as the future of cold calling, the myth of 'people buy people,' and the risks and rewards of entrepreneurship.
Takeaways
Sales is the art of conversation and enabling prospects to discover their needs.Good salespeople are self-confident and in control, while poor salespeople often beg and plead.Salespeople should focus on understanding the motivations behind prospects’ questions and avoid making assumptions.Hiring and training salespeople effectively is crucial for success in sales.The traditional approach of show up, throw up, and hope for the best is ineffective. The purpose of a prospecting call is to get the prospect emotional.Consultative selling requires asking probing questions and understanding the prospect’s pain points.Cold calling will become more challenging with the rise of AI, but there will still be a need for skilled salespeople.The myth that ‘people buy people’ is not entirely true; people buy people who are like them.Entrepreneurship requires taking risks and being willing to fail.Success in sales is about mastering a methodology and continuously improving.Salespeople should focus on critical thinking, communication, and emotional control.It’s important to know when to quit and when to persevere in business.Timestamps
(04:00) Book Recommendations and the Misconception of Sales Books
(07:19) Why the UK's Most Hated Sales Trainer is Hated
(09:08) The Problem with Traditional Sales Approaches
(23:19) The Art of Asking and Answering Questions in Sales
(28:44) Creating Comfort and Lowering Walls in Sales Conversations
(31:25) Getting Prospects Emotional: The Purpose of a Prospecting Call
(33:44) Consultative Selling: Asking Probing Questions and Understanding Pain Points
(35:42) The Future of Cold Calling and the Rise of AI
(39:03) The Myth of 'People Buy People'
(45:49) The Risks and Rewards of Entrepreneurship
(50:40) Mastering a Methodology: Continuous Improvement in Sales
(51:33) Critical Thinking, Communication, and Emotional Control in Sales
(59:51) Knowing When to Quit and When to Persevere in Business
About Benjamin Dennehy
He’s been called the UK’s most hated sales trainer and the GOAT of cold-calling; Benjamin Dennehy is an engaging and entertaining trainer and speaker. He will shake up your thinking about your role and function in sales with humour, insight and psychology.
Benjamin is The UK’s Most Hated Sales Trainer, but why?
Marketing of course. He made it up. There is no international body that measures hostility towards sales...
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In this special episode, we hear from Dominic and other industry experts (Michelle Hulse, Director of Revenue Operations at PAX8, Paweł Nicał, a pioneering RevOps expert from Poland) from the UPGRADE'24 conference.
Revenue Opertions is at the heart of this panel discussion. Listen in to how aligning sales, marketing, and finance creates a seamless customer journey. Michelle shares examples from PAX8 and how they revolutionised their lead handling with data-driven strategies. Dominic provides a walk through of the strategic implementation of OKRs and how RevOps can drive sustainable growth without the need for constant funding. Paweł discusses the critical metrics for RevOps success and the role technology plays in this unified approach.
Real-world examples are shared of optimising sales performance, leveraging AI for operational efficiency, and the philosophical underpinnings that make RevOps a game-changer across industries—from SaaS to any business with a recurring revenue model. Whether RevOps is a buzzword or the future of strategic alignment, this discussion reveals its undeniable impact on business agility and growth.
Takeaways
Collaboration is Key: Revenue Operations joins the dots between Marketing, Sales, and Customer Experience providing a seamless workflow instead of silos.Strategic Growth through OKRs: Objectives and Key Results are significant for structuring tasks and teams.Tech and Innovation in RevOps: pioneering technology tool 'Clay,' which integrates various data sources and automates processes, enabling "all bound" operations.AI can automate data collection, but humans will always lead creative strategic decisions.Timestamps
(03:35) Panel Introductions from Karol Popa: UPGRADE’24
(05:31) What is Revenue Operations?
(08:51) Is RevOps A New Way Forward or Just A Buzzword?
(13:53) When To Bring RevOps Into Business.
(18:03) Example of RevOps Teams in Pax8.
(22:13) Silo Focus Needs To Align.
(23:37) Steps To Start With RevOps In Your Business.
(26:33) Different Functions In A RevOps Team.
(29:00) Strategic Growth Opportunities.
(34:21) Aligning Teams With Data.
(38:03) Real Impact and KPIs.
(44:19) Segmentation of Ideal Partner Profile.
(49:16) Technologies For Effective RevOps.
(55:37) AI in Revenue Operations.
(58:22) Boldest Experiments Within RevOps.
(01:03:39) Use RevOps To Drive Innovation & Strategic Change.
About UPGRADE'24
The UPGRADE'24 conference took place on 21-22 November 2024 in Wrocław, Poland. Organised by ITCorner, the event focused on the technology sector and catered to business owners and C-level executives in the IT industry.
The conference addressed strategies for adapting to market changes, methods to enhance business growth and profitability, and opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange with industry leaders. Attendees participated in talks, workshops, and panels designed to help businesses stay competitive during rapid technological transformations.
For more information about UPGRADE'24, please visit www.letsupgrade.pl or search for #UPGRADE'24 on social media platform.
Follow UPGRADE'24
Website: https://letsupgrade.pl
About Dominic Monkhouse
Founder of Monkhouse & Company, Elite Business Coach and CEO Mentor, author of two smash hit books 'Mind Your F**king Business' and 'F**k Plan B’ and Host of the Top 2% Global Podcast 'Mind Your F**king Business’; Dominic Monkhouse is on a mission to demystify business growth. As a Founder and CEO, he has a track record scaling up award-winning technology service businesses and has been called ‘Britain’s best boss’ for his habit of...
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In this conversation, Kevin Dutton explores the fascinating world of cognitive flexibility and how adaptability in decision-making can pave the way to success in business. Known for his groundbreaking work on psychopathy, Dr Kevin Dutton is a British psychologist now working down at the University of Adelaide in Australia. He's the author of a number of books including, Flipnosis: The Art of Split Second Persuasion, Wisdom of Psychopaths, and A Good Psycho's Guide to Success (co-authored with Andy McNabb).
Kevin shares his unique perspective on psychopathic traits, likening them to a mixing desk of personality settings. We'll delve into his thoughts on "precision-engineered psychopathy," the benefits of certain psychopathic traits in professions, and the crucial distinction between "good" and "bad" psychopaths. From humorous anecdotes to profound insights, this episode is packed with thought-provoking discussions. Whether you're curious about how low empathy scores impact leadership or how Kevin's fearless nature led him to the brink of risk-taking, this conversation promises to enlighten and entertain.
Takeaways
Cognitive flexibility is crucial and the importance of adapting decision-making strategies.Precision-engineered Psychopathy can be advantageous in specific professions, from surgeons to CEOs.Decoupling emotion from behaviour in difficult conversationsUnpack the distinctions between harmful and beneficial psychopathic traits.Empathy types and their impact.Psychopath Quiz: Test where you fall on the psychopathy spectrum with Kevin’s personality test!Timestamps
(00:00) Being a Good Psychopath with Kevin Dutton.
(04:17) Public understanding of psychology.
(05:19) Why study psychopaths?
(08:03) Kevin’s upbringing and journey.
(13:08) Defining “psychopath”: traits and stereotypes.
(18:12) Hot empathy and cold empathy.
(20:40) Quiz: Are You A Psychopath?
(26:21) Measuring psychopathic personality.
(28:07) Training traits and emotion regulation.
(33:42) Tips for making difficult conversations in business.
(37:49) Quick Fire Questions.
(45:41) Book Recommendations.
About Kevin Dutton
Professor Kevin Dutton, PhD, FBPsS, is one of the world’s foremost authorities on psychopaths. Having spent the last twenty years at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, he was appointed in 2022 as Australia’s first Professor of the Public Understanding of Psychology at the University of Adelaide. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society.
Kevin is the author of the acclaimed bestsellers Flipnosis: The Art of Split-Second Persuasion, The Wisdom of Psychopaths: Lessons in Life from Saints, Spies and Serial Killers, The Good Psychopath’s Guide to Success (with Andy McNab), and Black and White Thinking: The Burden of a Binary Brain in a Complex World. The Wisdom of Psychopaths saw him awarded a ‘Best American Science and Nature Writing prize, and Black and White Thinking was nominated by the Big Ideas Club as one of the must-read non-fiction titles of 2021.
Kevin’s work has been translated worldwide into over twenty-five languages, and his writing and research have been featured in Scientific American, New Scientist, the Guardian, the Times, Psychology Today, the New York Times, the Wall St Journal, the Washington Post, Newsweek, Slate, USA Today among other publications. He regularly publishes in leading international scientific journals and speaks at conferences around the world.
Alongside his academic commitments, Kevin also consults in the elite sport, business, and military sectors and often appears on radio, TV, and podcasts. He also co-hosts the podcast Psycho Schizo Espresso with Iron Maiden front man, Bruce Dickinson.
Find out more about Kevin and his...
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Summary
In this conversation, Matt Phelan, the co-founder of the Happiness Index and author of "The Business Case for Happiness" and "The Happiness Index, " shares valuable insight into measuring emotions in the workplace. Matt challenges the old business adage, "If you can measure it, you can manage it," emphasising that understanding and supporting employee happiness leads to better performance.
Listen to this entrepreneur’s story, which led to pioneering the integration of happiness metrics in workplace culture. Highlighting Richard Branson's belief that employees come first, Matt introduces his data-driven approach to fostering workplace happiness and its significant impact on business outcomes.
The episode explores the complex relationship between measuring and managing happiness and the importance of emotional well-being in the workplace. Matt also offers book recommendations and practical advice for enhancing happiness at work, making this a must-listen for any leader eager to disrupt the norm and prioritise employee satisfaction.
Takeaways
Mythbusting the business concept, “If you can measure it, you can manage it.”Understanding the correlation between happiness and productivity.Professor Jeremy Dawson’s fascinating NHS hospital research.Breaking down the Employee Net Promotor Score questions.Debating in the office or work-from-home models.Pixar’s global emotions framework.Chapters
(00:11) From digital agency to workplace happiness with Matt Phelan.
(03:48) The Happiness Index V1
(05:54) Measure it and understand it better.
(07:52) Changing the value prop.
(09:23) Defining happiness as an understandable business metric.
(13:26) Employee Net Promoter Score questions.
(17:23) TED Talk - Super Chickens.
(20:22) Solving different problems from client to client.
(24:31) Are happier employees more productive?
(27:01) Happy Hospitals vs. Unhappy Hospitals.
(28:53) In The Office or Work From Home?
(31:40) Building Relationships.
(34:08) Quick Fire Questions with Matt Phelan.
(39:18) Book recommendations.
About Matt Phelan
Matt Phelan is the co-founder of the Happiness Index, an organisation that aims to understand what makes people happy at work and how that relates to their work performance. He is a self-confessed proud geek and a supporter of decent people.
Matt’s career started when he founded a digital marketing agency called 4Ps Marketing when he was 25 years old. After driving this agency to immense success, Matt and his partners sold the company and opted to double down their investment to go again.
The Happiness Index is a SAAS platform that helps organisations measure their key employee engagement and happiness drivers.
Follow Matt Phelan
Website: https://mattphelan.co.uk/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewphelan/
X: https://twitter.com/MatthewPhelan
Happiness and Humans Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7h6wCWnjsgOIZSR6h0DKbq
Book Recommendations
Freedom To Be Happy: The Business Case For Happiness by Matt Phelan
The Happiness Index by Matt Phelan
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Summary
Farley Thomas, the co-founder and CEO of Manageable joins today’s conversation and shares his revolutionary insights on empowering organisations through highly skilled management.
Farley highlights the incredible impact of upskilled, confident, and competent managers on organisational success, and why traditional training methods often fall short, diving into the practical approaches his company adopts and drawing fascinating parallels between language learning and workplace skills training.
Farley also unpacks the critical importance of practice and real-world application in management training, supported by eye-opening examples and personal experiences. From the harmful effects of untrained management on employee well-being to innovative solutions like the Leadership Capacity Profile, this episode is packed with actionable insights that challenge conventional leadership development, advocating for early-career focus and continuous learning that can transform the future of work.
Takeaways
The concept of Empowerment and the importance of skilled management.Ineffectiveness of traditional training and the importance of practice over theoretical knowledge.The Impact of poor management on employees and Manageable’s approach on managers training.Differences between Managers and Leaders.Evaluating leadership capacity- a hypothetical scenario for discovering leadership potential among contributors.Skill development and behavioural change through practice.Redefining leadership and management roles- reallocating training resources towards early career managers.Timestamps
(02:15) Introducing Farley Thomas - the Concept of Empowerment and effective management in organisations.
(14:01) Traditional Training vs. Practical Application.
(18:01) The five principles of Manageable’s effective training programs- the importance of data-driven efforts, bite-sized training, social learning, live sessions, and role models.
(24:00) The impact of Poor Management on Employee Well-Being.
(28:00) Effective Leadership and Management Practices (Manager vs. Leader).
(34:01) Continuous learning and resource allocation for early career Managers.
(45:00) Thomas’ personal reflections and business advice (critique of work practices).
(54:02) Book Recommendations
(57:00) Final Thoughts and future vision.
About Farley Thomas
Farley Thomas is the co-founder and CEO of Manageable, the leadership-skills-focused EdTech firm on a mission to give everyone the gift of a great manager.
Prior to founding Manageable in 2020, Farley established a highly successful executive coaching and leadership advisory practice in 2014. He has been advising and coaching CEOs and their teams across diverse industry sectors ever since.
The core of his previous corporate experience was gained at HSBC, where he was CRO at HSBC Asset Management for over a decade, ultimately setting up and leading teams in over 30 countries worldwide. He has consistently been trusted to develop new initiatives, products and markets.
Follow Farley Thomas
Website: https://www.manageable.works
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farleythomas/
Manageable Conversations Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/manageable-conversations/id1586790766
Book recommendations
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Summary
In this conversation, Marques Colston, a former NFL player transitioned to leading the boardroom playbook, dives into the dynamic world of sports and business ventures. Marques discusses his innovative investments in the sports value chain, including sports medicine, technology, and fan engagement. The conversation covers Marque's insights on the socioeconomic impact around stadiums, the rising popularity of lacrosse, and his hands-on approach to parenting. He also opens up about coaching his son's football team and the importance of instilling resilience in his children.
Marques also shares his football crossover strategy to finding sustainable and scalable investments, his philosophy on team dynamics, and the challenges athletes face when transitioning from professional sports. From founding Champion Venture Partners to raising a $100 million fund, Marques Colston's story is a testament to innovation and resilience.
Takeaways
Marques’ investment portfolio focuses on the sports value chain.From athlete to investor, Marques seamlessly transitioned from the field to venture capitalism.Marques introduces his three levels of awareness—self, peripheral, and situational.Understanding team dynamics and individual roles can maximise collective performance.A focus on democratising investments, making it more accessible for others.Marques shares his parenting approach to build resilience.Chapters
(00:00) From Football Field to Business Strategy with Marques Colston.
(03:43) Run down of Marques Colston’s 10-year football career.
(06:13) Introducing Champion Venture Partners, a fund that invests in sports companies.
(07:00) Democratising private investments for average investors.
(12:51) Humble beginnings and embracing challenges to strengthen growth.
(14:37) Sports teach resilience and self-awareness through adversity.
(16:59) Marques Colston’s career highlights include consistency.
(20:04) Motivation as an internal standard.
(21:50) Transitioning from professional football to next career.
(23:36) Early career investments built skills and confidence for the next steps.
(30:16) Evaluating scalability and sustainability of businesses.
(35:37) Creating access to opportunities in alternative investments.
(37:27) Changes to opportunities in the pandemic.
(40:10) Taking football team experience into executive coaching.
(45:12) Culture and leadership impact performance and rewards.
(46:06) Quick fire questions with Marques Colston.
(49:12) Book recommendations.
About Marques Colston
Marques Colston is a former NFL star now leading wins in the business field of venture capitalists. He is a Founding Partner at Champion Venture Partners, a fund dedicated to innovative investment opportunities that generate meaningful returns in the sports ecosystem.
Marquesis humble about his outstanding 10 year career as a wide receiver for New Orleans Saints. He was the Saints all time leader in receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns, and he played a key role in their super bowl victory in 2009. Since stepping off the field, he's seamlessly transitioned into the world of business applying the same Creating Separation mindset that defined his football career.
Over the last 15+ years, he has become a trusted leader in business strategy, private equity, and sports business, driving sustainable growth for companies across various sectors. He's passionate about supporting athletes in navigating the shift from professional sports to business, creating a pathway and holding the door open for those coming up behind him.
Marques wants to democratise investment capability, or the ability of people to invest in early-stage businesses. His current $100 million fund
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