The Beautiful Business Podcast (The Wow Company)

How do you grow a business from a bedroom startup to a thriving agency? In this episode we’re joined by Simon Barbato, CEO and founder of Mr B and Friends. Simon shares his incredible journey of building an agency, navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the strategic moves that led to significant milestones like acquiring Future Kings and launching a new London office.

Listen as Simon recounts the evolution of Mr B and Friends, how it bolstered its market presence and mastered the art of client engagement. Learn about the critical importance of cultural integration and operational synergy in ensuring successful mergers. Simon's insights into the competitive landscape of new business acquisition, the impact of external factors on client budgets, and the necessity of adapting agency models to emphasise outcomes over inputs are invaluable for anyone in the industry.

Simon also highlights the importance of resilience and patience in agency leadership, the shift toward value-oriented billing, and the joy of fostering a talented team. He passionately discusses the elements that make a business truly beautiful: significant impact, strong relationships, excellent employee experience, and having fun while achieving financial success. Whether you're an agency owner, a business leader, or someone interested in the intricacies of running a successful firm, this episode offers a treasure trove of insights and inspiration.

Takeaways

• Shaking up the traditional agency model is crucial for survival in the industry.
• Culture and leadership are key in integrating an acquired agency.
• Clean financials, strong governance, and a clear positioning are important for agency owners looking to sell.
• Having a growth opportunity and a compelling story can make an agency attractive for acquisition. New business development is tough in the current market, but agencies can still be successful by attracting inbound leads and maintaining a strong reputation.
• The agency model needs to change to move away from commoditising creative services and focus on delivering value and outcomes for clients.
• Resilience and patience are key qualities for agency leaders to navigate the challenges of the industry.
• Outsourcing and technology can be valuable tools in new business development, but they should be used in addition to, not instead of, human interaction.
• Shaking up the agency model requires unlearning old practices, educating clients about new approaches, and continuously fine-tuning the value proposition.
• Beautiful business for Simon means making a meaningful impact, building strong relationships, creating a positive employee experience, and having fun while delivering quality work.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Simon Barbato and Mr. B and Friends

08:24 Shaking Up the Traditional Agency Model

26:29 The Best and Worst Parts of the Acquisition

29:24 Key Considerations for Agency Owners Looking to Sell

31:24 Challenges of New Business Development

35:30 Resilience and Visibility in New Business

48:23 Transitioning to Outcome-Based Solutions

51:48 Shaking Up the Agency Model

01:00:29 Risks and Rewards of Changing the Agency Model

01:06:14 Defining Beautiful Business

In this episode, Katy Howell, founder of Immediate Future, shares her personal and professional challenges, offering listeners a candid insight into her experience with mental health and burnout.

Katy opens up about the pressures of being a people pleaser, which contributed to a toxic work environment, and explores how self-reflection and recognising personal stress triggers were crucial to her recovery. Through therapy, medication, and deep introspection, she learned the importance of relinquishing control and prioritising well-being.

Listeners will hear Katy talk about the challenges around leadership as a female founder of colour and gain valuable lessons on balancing business responsibilities with personal recovery, and the realisation that stepping back from the business is essential for long-term sustainability. The episode dives into the importance of self-compassion, fostering open conversations about mental health in the agency world, and building a supportive community.

The conversation also touches on Katy’s daily practices—yoga, meditation, and creative outlets—that help maintain mental well-being. Empathy, active listening, and nurturing the next generation of agency leaders are central themes, with a focus on enjoying the journey rather than fixating on the destination.

This episode is a must-listen for business owners, founders, and agency leaders who want to build resilience and prioritise their mental health while navigating the demands of entrepreneurship.

Trigger Warning

This episode includes discussions around mental health challenges, including burnout, anxiety, and the use of medication and therapy for recovery. These topics may be triggering for some listeners. If you are feeling overwhelmed or in need of support, we encourage you to reach out to a mental health professional or one of the resources listed in the show notes.

Mind – A leading UK mental health charity offering advice and support to empower anyone experiencing mental health issues.

Website: https://www.mind.org.uk

Samaritans – A confidential support service available 24/7 for people who are feeling distressed or struggling to cope.

Website: https://www.samaritans.org

Phone: 116 123 (free to call)

The Hub of Hope – A national mental health database, bringing together local and national mental health services, making it easier to find help.

Website: https://hubofhope.co.uk

Mental Health Foundation – Offering resources, research, and support for improving mental health across the UK.

Website: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk

NABS – A wellbeing and support service specifically for those in the advertising and media industries, offering free advice and counselling.

Website: https://nabs.org.uk

Business in the Community: Mental Health Resources – Aimed at business leaders, this initiative provides guides, toolkits, and research for improving mental health at work.

Website: https://www.bitc.org.uk/toolkit/mental-health-for-employers

The Sanctuary – A mental health crisis service offering support for those experiencing severe mental distress in the UK.

Website:...

Blair Enns, the visionary behind Win Without Pitching, joins us to chat about how creative professionals approach sales. Sharing his insights from a tranquil mountain village in British Columbia, Blair challenges the traditional sales narrative with integrity-based selling and value-based pricing. With his latest book, "The Four Conversations," Blair encourages shifting from providing solutions to probing with the right questions, setting the stage for those eager to refine their sales strategies in the creative sector.

We tackle the stigma around sales roles, redefining them for experts, advisors, and practitioners. Blair advocates for a shift from sales pitches to advisory roles, focusing on establishing trust and authenticity from the get-go. This approach not only secures more business but also leads to richer collaborations. By maintaining an expert persona throughout, we explore how genuine connections lead to more successful client partnerships.

Explore the nuances of avoiding needy sales dynamics and the significance of listening over persuasion. Blair delves into the power of maintaining authority without desperation, navigating the delicate balance of desirability and desire. Recognising the pivotal "flip" moment, where one transforms from vendor to expert, we discuss how this can shift the entire sales process. Whether you're grappling with the fear of narrowing your focus or striving to become a trusted advisor, this episode offers valuable frameworks to master the art of expertise-based selling.

Blair's new book 'Sell and Price Like the Expert You Are is available here.

Takeaways

• Establishing oneself as an expert in the sales process is crucial for success.
• The sale itself is a sample of the engagement, and the roles are established in this conversation.
• Behaving as an expert in the sales conversation sets the tone for the engagement.
• Not establishing the expert self can lead to decreased odds of winning, higher costs, and a less impactful engagement. The book introduces a new approach to selling based on four conversations: value, qualification, discovery, and closing.
• Shifting from a vendor mindset to an expert mindset is crucial in selling.
• The 'flip' moment, where the client sees the seller as the expert, is a key turning point in the sales process.
• Selling in a tough market requires maintaining confidence and expertise.
• Niching down and focusing on a specific area of expertise can enhance credibility and attract clients.
• Listening is more important than presenting or convincing in sales conversations.

Ever wondered how embracing failure can transform your career? Join us as Amy Sandler, the lead coach and podcast host at Radical Candor, reveals the secrets behind her remarkable journey from academia to executive coaching, and even stand-up comedy and firewalking. Through her personal anecdotes, Amy shares the significance of preparation, community, and intention-setting in overcoming extreme challenges, offering listeners a unique perspective on personal and professional growth.

Discover the foundational principles of Radical Candor and how they've evolved from a digital platform to impactful in-person workshops. Amy, along with insights from co-founder Kim Scott's experiences at Apple and Google, unpacks the delicate balance between caring personally and challenging directly to foster trust and collaboration in any organisation. Learn how these principles can be applied to create a culture of guidance through kind and clear feedback, making it essential not just for managers, but for everyone in the workplace.

Navigating career changes and leadership challenges can be daunting, but Amy’s story of transitioning from secure job roles to becoming a certified instructor for Google's "Search Inside Yourself" program provides invaluable lessons. We discuss the importance of honest feedback, the dangers of "ruinous empathy," and effective feedback models like SBI (Situation-Behavior-Impact). By addressing real-life struggles with identity and perfectionism, Amy offers practical strategies for managing transitions, fostering a culture of trust, and enhancing your leadership and communication skills.

Podcast: RadicalCandor.com/podcast

Book: RadicalCandor.com/the-book

Takeaways

• The principles of radical candor emphasise the importance of care personally and challenge directly in building trusting relationships at work.
• Feedback, both praise and criticism, should be specific, sincere, and focused on helping the individual grow.
• Building safety and trust in workplace relationships requires ongoing communication, asking for feedback, and rewarding candor.
• Coaching-style feedback allows for co-creation of next steps and encourages authenticity and understanding between individuals.
• Overcoming discomfort in giving and receiving feedback involves recognizing the intention to help the individual grow and building a culture of open communication and trust. The importance of expressing care personally and challenging directly in the workplace
• The significance of feedback and understanding intention versus impact
• The behavioural quadrants of radical candor and their impact on workplace dynamics
• The introduction of the new book 'Radical Respect' and its focus on creating respectful workplaces
• The concept of 'beautiful business' as the expression of humanity in the workplace

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Amy's Background

03:05 The Impact of Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence on Leadership and Personal Growth

09:04 Amy's Career Journey and the Importance of Radical Candor

14:02 Understanding Radical Candor: Principles and Application

36:32 Exploring Radical Candor and Workplace Relationships

42:02 Understanding Feedback and Intention vs. Impact

57:17 Behavioral Quadrants of Radical Candor

01:06:21 Introducing 'Radical Respect'

Gulliver Moore, the creative force behind Sunday Treat, takes us on a remarkable journey from electro band music enthusiast to the helm of a thriving agency that collaborates with some of the world's biggest brands, including Google and Revolut. Gulliver shares the secret sauce behind Sunday Treat's success: a strong team culture that values people over rigid goals. Discover how the agency's unique approach—embracing creativity and flexibility while avoiding conventional niching—has propelled them to surpass a million-pound turnover, even in challenging times.

We explore how Sunday Treat flips the script by infusing fun and authenticity into every project, whether it's serious work for the NHS or a lighthearted comedy venture. Gulliver believes that a vibrant work environment not only boosts team morale but also enhances client satisfaction. This episode unravels the agency's shift from traditional corporate communications to more passion-driven projects, highlighting how they maintain a dynamic and engaging atmosphere across diverse projects.

The roller coaster of running an agency is not for the faint-hearted, and Gulliver candidly discusses the trials and triumphs of client attraction and retention. From transparent decision-making to tailoring strategies for each client's unique objectives, we cover it all. You'll gain insight into the strategic use of freelancers, the importance of maintaining strong client relationships, and the emotional highs and lows of the pitching process. Gulliver's story exemplifies the power of intuition, passion, and innovative thinking in navigating the unpredictable world of the creative industry.

We’re back! The Beautiful Business Podcast kicks off Season 3 with a bang to celebrate the launch of the BenchPress 2025 Survey. This season opener dives into the challenges and opportunities faced by agencies in 2024 and what lies ahead in 2025.

In the first episode of Season 3, Chloe and Paul are joined by industry experts Daniel Arhin from The Wow Company and business development advisor Ben Potter to reflect on 2024 and share their predictions for the year ahead.

While 2024 began with optimism, many agencies faced challenges with revenue growth and profitability, influenced by global political uncertainty. However, the recruitment landscape offered a silver lining, with top talent becoming more accessible.

The conversation explores:

• The transformative power of AI: Could it revolutionise agency growth in the same way the internet did?
• Strategic niching and specialisation: Ben Potter explains why agencies need to ditch generalist approaches and focus on their core strengths. By developing niche expertise, agencies can refine marketing, better understand client needs, and boost profitability.
• Reconnecting with purpose: A reminder for agency owners to align with their passion and determine whether to embrace leadership or bring in others to manage operations.

Looking ahead to 2025, we discuss:

• The remote vs. in-office debate.
• Growth strategies amidst the rise in mergers and acquisitions.
• Aligning success with purpose and redefining goals beyond financial metrics.

The episode wraps with actionable advice and a cautiously optimistic outlook for agencies in 2025.

What is BenchPress?

BenchPress 2025 is the UK’s largest survey of independent agency owners, offering key insights to guide you through the year ahead. It’s the ultimate benchmark tool, helping you compare your agency’s performance against others in areas such as hourly rates, profitability, sales, and emerging trends.

How to get involved:

Simply click here and “take part”.

Welcome to the final episode of Season 2 of the Beautiful Business Podcast, brought to you by The Wow Company. This season has been a whirlwind of insightful conversations, inspiring guests, and actionable advice for business leaders and agency owners. In this special wrap-up episode, we’re celebrating the highlights of the year, sharing practical takeaways, and announcing exciting updates for 2025.

Episode Highlights:

• Introducing Paul Bulpitt: The Wow Company’s co-founder, Paul, joins as the new co-host for Season 3. Paul’s deep expertise in business and agency leadership will bring a fresh perspective and dynamic energy to the podcast.
• Reflecting on Key Moments: Hosts Chloe and Paul dive into some of the standout episodes of 2024, featuring practical advice and impactful stories from leaders like Lucy Adams, Katy Howell, Dines from Studio Blup, and more.
• Lucy Adams: Insights on performance management, the well-being agenda, and building people-centred businesses at scale.
• Katy Howell: A heartfelt exploration of burnout and the power of community within the agency world.
• Dines from Studio Blup: A raw and inspiring journey through challenges, redefining success, and the importance of legacy.
• Blair Enns: Game-changing advice on sales dynamics, value-based pricing, and bringing your expert self to every conversation.
• Exclusive Sneak Peek: A preview of the 2025 season, featuring episodes with psychologist Jess Baker on “Super Helper Syndrome” and other exciting guests. Expect more conversations packed with practical insights to help you build a purpose-driven, profitable business.

Practical Takeaways:

• Leadership & Well-being: Key strategies for fostering team well-being without compromising your own.
• Sales & Value: Tips on shifting sales conversations to highlight your expertise and create meaningful client relationships.
• Building a Legacy: How to align your business vision with long-term impact and sustainability.

What’s Next in 2025:

• Season 3 Launch: The first episode of 2025 will coincide with the release of the Benchpress Survey, featuring a panel discussion on agency trends and predictions for the year ahead.
• More Incredible Guests: Look forward to insights from industry leaders, trailblazing entrepreneurs, and experts from a range of disciplines.

Thank you to all our listeners and guests for making Season 2 unforgettable. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share your thoughts or topic suggestions for future episodes. 

For more resources and insights, visit wowco.co.uk/hub 

See you in 2025!

In this episode, Dominic Monkhouse delves into the challenges faced by CEOs leading agencies with fewer than 30 employees. Drawing from his extensive experience, he shares his approach to building a high-performing team that can drive company growth.

Dominic emphasises the need to hire “A players”—the top 10% of available talent for any given role—as these individuals are five to ten times more productive than average employees. He explains why creating a compelling vision is crucial for attracting such talent and how this vision can be a magnet for high achievers looking to make an impact.

He also discusses the art of delegation, advising CEOs to focus on their strengths and outsource tasks they don’t excel at or enjoy. This not only boosts productivity but also ensures leaders are spending their time on activities that truly move the needle.

Dominic doesn’t shy away from the tough conversations either. He highlights the importance of confronting underperformance head-on and setting clear expectations to prevent ambiguity. According to Dominic, 85% of employee engagement is driven by the relationship they have with their direct supervisor or manager, making regular check-ins and honest feedback essential for maintaining a motivated and productive workforce.

The episode also explores how agencies can successfully transition from a small team to a scalable operation. Dominic outlines the necessity of having a strategic plan that prioritises profitability and how regular reflection and adjustment are key to navigating growth challenges.

How do you balance profit with purpose in a high-stakes creative industry? Join us for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the inspiring journey of Dines, the co-founder and creative director of Studio BLUP. From its humble beginnings as a university project to becoming a multi-award-winning creative powerhouse, Dines shares his relentless drive and the personal motivations that fuel his quest to leave a lasting legacy, especially for his son. Learn how resilience and self-awareness have played crucial roles in overcoming the challenges of balancing financial success with a meaningful impact.

Ever wondered what it's like to navigate an acquisition while staying true to your creative vision? Dines opens up about the critical decisions Studio BLUP faced, including turning down lucrative offers to preserve their independence and ultimately joining a larger conglomerate. With candid insights into the internal struggles of maintaining authenticity, hear about the pressures of meeting financial targets and the toll it takes on creative freedom. Gain valuable perspectives on the internal conflict between commercial success and staying true to one's purpose.

Finally, discover how Studio BLUP is rebuilding with a renewed focus on purpose-driven success. Listen as Dines discusses the creation of BLUP Academy, an initiative aimed at inspiring and supporting young creatives. He shares the importance of aligning business goals with a greater cause, offering actionable advice on how to balance financial achievements with making a positive impact. Don't miss this episode filled with lessons on resilience, legacy-building, and the art of making decisions with both the heart and the head.

Takeaways

• Building a successful creative agency requires resilience, self-awareness, and a diehard attitude of never giving up.
• The tension between profit and purpose can arise when trying to build a legacy, and it's important to find a balance that aligns with your values.
• Selling a business can provide financial security, but it's crucial to carefully consider the terms and ensure that the acquiring company shares your ambitions and values.
• Joining a larger group can offer resources and expertise, but it can also lead to conflicts between creative vision and commercial demands.
• Maintaining creativity and innovation can be challenging when financial targets become the primary focus, and it's important to prioritise artistic integrity and the original vision of the business. When a business loses its purpose and becomes solely focused on profit, it's important to reassess and make changes.
• Exiting a group or partnership can be a challenging process, but it can lead to a fresh start and renewed excitement.
• Legacy is about creating work that has a lasting impact and inspires future generations.
• BLUP Academy was created to help students and postgraduates learn and make an impact with their talent.
• Studio BLUP is now thriving, working with purpose-driven brands and focusing on innovation and making a positive impact.

Chapters

00:00 - Building Studio BLUP

13:07 - Navigating Acquisition and Growth in Business

22:59 - Struggling With Business Growth and Pressure

29:45 - Rebuilding Studio BLUP Strategies

42:17 - Building a Lasting Legacy

49:32 - Creating a Legacy Through Beautiful Business

In this special episode of The Beautiful Business Podcast, co-founders and lifelong friends Paul Bulpitt and Peter Czapp take us on a nostalgic and humorous journey through the 20-year story of The Wow Company. From their spirited debate over whose surname should headline the business (thankfully vetoed in favour of “WOW”) to Peter’s childhood stint on TV showcasing his antique elephant collection, their reflections are as entertaining as they are inspiring.

Paul and Peter share how their decision to niche into agencies, consultancies, and tech businesses transformed their company and created lasting impact. They recount the risky yet rewarding adoption of tools like Xero (prompted by a chance encounter at a party) and reminisce about the hilarity of their early days - like celebrating their first client win by blowing the profits on drinks. Their camaraderie shines through, especially in their tradition of Friday walks and pub talks, which have sparked many of The Wow Company’s greatest ideas.

Looking ahead, they discuss their vision of building a “forever business” - one that’s sustainable, people-centred, and purpose-driven. Packed with candid insights, laughter, and a few surprises, this episode is a celebration of what it takes to build a beautiful business - and the friendships that sustain it.

Website: The Wow Company

In this episode of The Beautiful Business Podcast, Lucy Adams, founder of Disruptive HR, joins us to share her revolutionary approach to people management and building exceptional workplace cultures. Frustrated with the lack of innovation in traditional HR models, Lucy founded Disruptive HR to tackle these challenges head-on, and she has since become a leading voice in rethinking how organisations inspire and engage their teams.

Lucy explains why material incentives like bonuses and perks often fall short in creating meaningful connections within organisations and argues that true engagement stems from fostering trust, collaboration, and authentic leadership. Through practical insights and real-world examples, she challenges us to rethink outdated methods and adopt fresh strategies to align with the needs of today’s workforce. For more on Lucy’s perspective, check out her article, “Forget Bonuses: Here’s How to Really Reward People”, which delves deeper into why traditional rewards often fail and what truly drives employee satisfaction.

This episode also delves into Lucy’s personal journey in launching Disruptive HR and her mission to change the way we approach people management. Her insights will inspire leaders to focus less on rules and rewards and more on relationships and genuine connections. With actionable advice and thought-provoking perspectives, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to build a thriving workplace culture that prioritises people over processes.

Sabrina Chevannes is the founder of N0BS, a members’ club for ambitious entrepreneurs that also houses the No Bullsh*t Agency, a full-service creative agency. With over a decade of experience leading her agency, she has worked with major clients like NATO, Sony, and the NHS.

Sabrina’s career is packed with accolades, including being named one of the British Interactive Media Association’s Top 100 Creatives to Watch for two consecutive years . Beyond the agency world, she’s an International Chess Master, a competitive international poker player, and has played chess for England in multiple Chess Olympiads .

She’s also the force behind TEDxShoreditch, an international public speaker who has taken the stage in 12 countries, and a self-development leader at Forbes. On top of that, she’s a bestselling author, a podcaster, and an MBA lecturer .

When she’s not leading her businesses or speaking on stage, you’ll find her spending time with her Chow Chow, Bella .

This Episode Covers:

• Why so many agency owners are struggling – and what they’re doing about it.
• How AI and automation are reshaping the agency space.
• The growing divide between agencies and consultancies – and which model is winning.
• The hidden problem of talent retention and why great creatives are walking away from agencies.
• Why bigger isn’t always better – and how Sabrina pivoted her business to be more profitable and enjoyable.

What You’ll Learn:

• The real reason many agency owners no longer want to run an agency.
• How client expectations have shifted – and why agencies must adapt or fail.
• The biggest mistake agencies make when trying to scale.
• Why niching and authenticity matter more than ever in a crowded market.

Links & Resources:

• Sabrina’s Agency & Members’ Club: N0BS
• Follow Sabrina on Social Media: @SabrinaChevannes
• Learn More About TEDxShoreditch: TEDxShoreditch

About the Guest

Jess Baker is a highly accomplished psychologist, award-winning author, and expert in leadership and personal development. With over 15 years of consulting experience, Jess brings a wealth of knowledge and an impressive set of qualifications (MSc, CPsychol, AFBPsS, CBPB) to her work. Her unique approach combines pragmatic solutions with imaginative thinking, making her a sought-after consultant for tackling complex organisational and leadership challenges.

Jess is the co-author of The Super-Helper Syndrome: A Survival Guide for Compassionate People, which won a prestigious Business Book Award in 2023. The book has been celebrated globally, translated into multiple languages, and continues to inspire compassionate individuals seeking balance and impact in their personal and professional lives.

Throughout her career, Jess has designed and delivered an extensive range of programmes, including leadership development, culture change, talent management, team-building, and employee engagement. Her work spans private and public sectors, where she’s helped leaders and teams thrive in fast-changing environments.

Beyond consulting, Jess’s journey includes lessons from starting a few ventures and experiencing the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. She also gained invaluable insights as a Senior HR Manager in the financial services industry. Her ability to blend real-world experience with psychological expertise allows her to help others navigate the demands of compassionate leadership while maintaining their own well-being.

This Episode Covers

• Understanding the concept of the Dynamic Helper Archetype.
• Exploring the challenges of compassionate leadership.
• Insights from Jess’s book The Super-Helper Syndrome.
• Practical tips for becoming a healthier and more impactful leader.

What You’ll Learn

• What the Dynamic Helper Archetype is and how it influences leadership.
• Key takeaways from The Super-Helper Syndrome book.
• How to balance compassion with boundaries in leadership roles.
• Steps to access free resources and quizzes for self-improvement.

Links

• Website: JessBaker.co.uk
• Dynamic Helper Quiz: Discover your personal Dynamic Helper Archetype and reveal how you can become a healthier, more impactful leader. Takes less than 3 minutes.
• Award-Winning Book: The Super-Helper Syndrome: A Survival Guide for Compassionate People by Jess Baker & Vincent, available worldwide in several languages. Purchase here.
• Free Book Club: Join the free book club with resources like meditations and hot-topic discussions.
• Social Media: Follow Jess on all platforms: @JessBakerPsych

Patrice Gordon is a multi-award-winning professional renowned for her leadership expertise, honed through senior roles at British Airways, Royal Mail, and Virgin Atlantic. Transitioning from Commercial Finance to Commercial Partnerships, she successfully led the largest transatlantic airline joint venture.

Driven by a deep curiosity about psychology and human behaviour, Patrice became an executive coach to empower individuals and organisations. Recognising the central role people play in organisational success, she founded her consultancy, Eminere, offering Executive Coaching, Group Coaching, and innovative Reverse Mentoring programmes designed to remove barriers and foster belonging in the workplace.

Patrice is also a published author, with her book, "Reverse Mentoring: Removing Barriers and Building Belonging in the Workplace," released in November 2022 by Hachette (US) and Little Brown Book (UK), further cementing her position as a leading voice in organisational development and inclusivity.

This Episode Covers

• How reverse mentoring can break down generational barriers and enhance innovation within businesses.
• The surprising impact of psychological safety on workplace dynamics and team effectiveness.
• Why traditional leadership styles may hold back organisational growth—and how to evolve them.
• Real-life insights from Patrice’s experience managing high-profile commercial partnerships at top airlines.
• Practical strategies leaders can use to genuinely promote diversity, belonging, and inclusion.

Links

• Website: Patrice Gordon
• Social media: Instagram, LinkedIn

John "Sinx" Sinclair is an entrepreneur and co-founder of Ustwo, a globally renowned digital product studio celebrated for its cutting-edge work in design, technology, and innovation. Founded  in 2004 alongside childhood friend Matt Miller (Mills), they started working together to explore and build digital products when they were just starting to become a thing.

Ustwo grew rapidly, initially specialising in mobile design, and is now celebrated for its mix of client services, self-developed intellectual property, and joint ventures. Over two decades they have built a culture of trust, collaboration and honesty where everyone can inspire each other to bring out their most creative and considered thinking. They value diversity and inclusion, believing we work better when every individual brings their perspective to the table. 

An award winning agency, Ustwo’s accolades include a BAFTA for the cultural phenomenon ‘Monument Valley’ (launched on the stage of Apple’s WDWC) and were recognised at the Fast Company Innovation by Design Awards. 

A true advocate for innovation and collaboration, Sinx and Mills made a groundbreaking decision in April 2022 to transfer the majority ownership of Ustwo to its employees under an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). This move ensured that 62% of the company is owned by its current and future employees, reinforcing Ustwo’s independence, preserving its values, and unlocking entrepreneurial potential across the organisation. Ustwo employees, or "partners," now share a stake in the company’s success and are represented on the board, driving its future collectively.

This Episode Covers

• How Sinx transitioned from being a hands-on designer to a leadership role, implementing a leadership team, and eventually stepping away from day-to-day operations while maintaining a guiding presence.
• The transition of UsTwo into an Employee Ownership Trust model, how the model works, its implications for the company, and the pros and cons, including its impact on recruitment, client relationships, and the company's independence.
• Navigating the ups and downs of running a creative business, especially during uncertain economic times, the importance of staying engaged, adapting to market trends, and building strategies for sustainability.
• The importance of planning for leadership transitions and career progression to ensure continuity and growth.
• Sinx desire to leave a lasting legacy through UsTwo, focusing on producing impactful work, nurturing people, and proving the viability of the EOT model in creative businesses.
• Clarifying common misconceptions, such as the belief that employees run the company outright, and explaining the role of the trust and board in governance.

Links

• Website: Ustwo
• Social media: LinkedIn

In this episode of Beautiful Business, Chloe speaks with Nils Leonard, co-founder of Uncommon, the creative studio behind some of the most thought-provoking work in branding today. Nils brings a profound understanding of what it takes to build brands that resonate—not through fleeting trends but through meaningful, lasting connections. At the heart of Uncommon’s ethos is the belief that the best brands are built slowly, with intention and purpose, much like the greatest bands in history. This approach challenges the fast-paced, short-term mindset dominating today’s market and invites businesses to embrace longevity and depth.

Throughout the conversation, Nils reflects on his unconventional path—not rebellious, but one of deliberate choices to break from conformity in meaningful ways. He shares his insights on creating brands that people wish existed, highlighting the importance of authenticity and purpose. “You wouldn’t meet a human without purpose,” he says, “so why accept a brand without one?” It’s this vision that has made Uncommon a leader in the creative industry, building work that doesn’t just sell but inspires.

The episode also explores the intersection of creativity and technology, with Nils offering a compelling critique of AI’s limitations. While he acknowledges its efficiency, he argues that the raw human experiences of joy, grief, and ambition are irreplaceable drivers of truly impactful work. This blend of human emotion and purpose, he believes, is what elevates brands from functional to transformative.

This conversation is a masterclass in leadership and creativity, providing invaluable insights for anyone looking to create work that stands the test of time. Whether you’re a brand builder, a business leader, or someone inspired by the power of slow, deliberate growth, this episode offers a vision for what’s possible when purpose meets creativity.

Simon Dixon and Aporva Baxi, the creative masterminds behind DixonBaxi, share their journey of nearly three decades navigating the world of design and branding. Get ready for an engaging conversation that goes beyond conventional business wisdom, as Simon's love for Northern Soul music and Aporva's vintage Nintendo game collection reveal the authentic personalities driving their dynamic leadership. From their early days hopping between global cities to the formation of their core values, we uncover the secrets that have led DixonBaxi to become a beacon of innovation and success.

We delve into the foundational principles that define DixonBaxi's ethos, underscoring the power of humility and clarity in leadership. Simon and Aporva discuss their "do and won't do" list, a guiding tool that has kept their company grounded and principled for 24 years. Through anecdotes and insights, they illustrate how bravery in creativity means more than pushing boundaries—it's about making principled choices and fostering a safe space for clients to explore bold ideas. This is a must-listen for anyone aiming to understand how calculated risks and a steadfast value system can lead to genuine originality and impactful work.

In the latter part of our conversation, we focus on the hacker mentality and the importance of quick execution in the modern creative landscape. Simon and Aporva highlight the democratisation of creativity through platforms like TikTok and YouTube, making it an exhilarating time for new agencies. We also explore their philosophy of building a beautiful business driven by passion and fulfilment, rather than traditional metrics like awards. Their experiences with high-profile clients underscore that it's the process and the joy of meaningful work that truly counts. Join us to learn how DixonBaxi continues to create a balanced, innovative environment that nurtures creativity and celebrates impactful design.

Tim Foster MBE is an Olympic gold medal-winning rower, a former head coach of the Swiss national rowing team, and now Head of Performance for the League Managers Association. Best known for winning gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympics alongside Sir Steve Redgrave, Matthew Pinsent, and James Cracknell, Tim has dedicated his career to understanding high-performance environments—both in elite sport and in business.

After retiring from professional rowing, he successfully transitioned into coaching, guiding athletes and leaders in developing elite mindsets, team culture, and leadership strategies. His insights into trust, accountability, and pressure management offer valuable lessons for business owners, entrepreneurs, and leaders striving to build high-performing teams.

This Episode Covers:

• What businesses can learn from elite sports environments
• How to create a high-performance culture in your organisation
• The five key functions of a great team (trust, conflict, commitment, accountability, and results)
• How to give and receive feedback effectively—without damaging trust
• The psychology of pressure and how top athletes manage it
• Why many business leaders struggle with delegation and letting go
• The transition from elite performer to leader—and why so many fail at it

What You’ll Learn:

• How to build trust and create a culture where healthy conflict is encouraged
• Why accountability is the missing piece in many businesses
• The biggest leadership mistakes and how to avoid them
• Why self-awareness is crucial for long-term success

Links & Resources:

• Connect with Tim Foster MBE: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfostermbe

About the Guest

Lord Mark Price is a celebrated figure in the business world, best known for his contributions to enhancing employee engagement and happiness. As the former Managing Director of Waitrose and former Deputy Chair of the John Lewis Partnership. He is now the founder of WorkL, the leading global employee experience platform helping individuals to work happier and organisations to improve commercial performance by prioritising employee happiness.

Mark is a member of the House of Lords, and serves as a Non-Executive Director of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. His commitment to ethical business practices includes former chairmanship of The Fairtrade Foundation and Business in the Community, as well as his presidency of the Chartered Management Institute. He was also formerly Minister of State for Trade and Investment under David Cameron. 

Mark has written a range of business books on his Six Step Methodology, Employee and Customer Happiness, his new book Happy Economics explores the intricate links between employee engagement and economic performance.

This Episode Covers

The Importance of Workplace Happiness: Happiness at work is essential for driving productivity and commercial success. Organisations with happy employees benefit from lower staff turnover, reduced sick leave, and improved customer service, all contributing to higher profits.

Six Factors of Happiness at Work: To enhance workplace happiness, focus on six critical areas: reward and recognition, information sharing, empowerment, well-being, instilling pride, and ensuring job satisfaction. These factors are foundational to creating a positive and productive work environment.

Culture and Management Matter: Organisational culture and management styles play a significant role in employee happiness. Companies that promote trust, recognition, and empowerment generally see higher levels of employee engagement and satisfaction.

Cost-Effective Strategies for Improvement: Many strategies to improve workplace happiness, such as personalised recognition and empowerment, are low-cost. Implementing these can lead to significant improvements in employee morale and productivity.

Global Perspectives on Workplace Happiness: Globally, workplace happiness varies, with countries like the UK scoring lower compared to developed nations the US. Understanding and addressing cultural differences in workplace practices can help improve overall employee satisfaction and productivity.

Tailored Management Approaches: Recognising individual differences among employees is crucial. Effective management involves personalising support and empowerment to meet the diverse needs and preferences of employees, thereby enhancing job satisfaction and organisational performance.

Links

• Website: WorkL
• Social media: LinkedIn
• Take the free WorkL Happy at Work Survey here

We spoke to James Sancto, CEO of We Make Change. He talks us through how the team built a network of ChangeMakers, connecting skilled people with social enterprises across the world. Listen on to find out how a simple concept has gone on to change the lives of many communities by using volunteer time effectively.  

Hosted by Yiuwin Tsang from the Beautiful Business community team.

This episode we're joined by Olivia Sibony, CEO and Co-Founder of Seedtribe and Co-founder of Impact Amplified. Olivia talks about balancing profit with purpose, and how we should be looking to turn the climate challenge into an opportunity to make better business choices.

Liv is an award-winning entrepreneur (Making the Top 10 UK Women Entrepreneurs 2019, in the Wise100 Top Women in Social Business), a trailblazing ethical investment champion who left a career at Goldman Sachs to launch her foodtech startup, GrubClub, which she sold to Eatwith in 2017.

She went on to launch SeedTribe, a platform focused specifically on connecting “impactful” businesses marrying profit and purpose, with investors.

She is a Board member of UCL's Fast Forward 2030, which aims to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs to launch businesses that address the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, as well as being Vicechair of the Mayor of London's Women in Cleantech Taskforce. 
She is also an advisor for the UK Department for International Trade, enabling more impactful entrepreneurs from around the world to scale their businesses, relocating to the UK.

Liv is driven by the desire to see a world where all businesses marry profit and purpose; she feels that entrepreneurship and meaningful collaboration play a key part in achieving this goal.

Listen to Nick Dean explore the balance between profit and purpose and the idea that if you set authentic values and have the right footing from the start, you will attract the right people and build a strong shared culture, which will ultimately see you succeed. 

Nick is the Managing Director of ADLIB, a 100% employee-owned recruitment agency whose purpose goes far beyond recruitment. B Corp certified since 2019, ADLIB believes that an inclusive workplace will bring engagement, and create an environment of involvement, respect and collaboration, which ultimately drives more business value. ADLIB prides itself on being the trusted partner of its clients, as well as champions of Diversity and Inclusion. 

Marcus joins host Yiuwin Tsang and shares an inspiring story of how not being able to breathe during a nasty bout of COVID led him to pledge to plant one million trees, and ultimately co-found The Million Tree Pledge. He urges us all to be good ancestors and shares the steps businesses need to take to get on the path to net zero carbon emissions.

Marcus Hemsley is the Founder of the digital growth agency, Fountain Partnership, winner of Google's Global Award for Growing Businesses Online. Marcus is also a Founding Member of The Million Tree Pledge. Launched on Earth Day in April 2021, The Million Tree Pledge is a collaborative initiative that’s brought together more than 60 inspiring businesses who have made the bold commitment to plant 41 million trees in the coming years, as well as to each find another two other pledgers, ensuring the initiative grows exponentially. 

Joey Li talks to Yiuwin Tsang about doing good and feeling good, fostering human to human connection, and growing a sustainable purpose-driven business.

Joey is the co-founder and CEO of the social enterprise, Leiho. Leiho is a lifestyle brand whose mission is to provide vulnerable communities with the basic items they need like clean clothes, food and water. Every purchase of a Leiho product helps fund the essentials the team donates to charities and projects around London. Since launching in December 2019, they’ve donated over 10,000 items to over 37 different charities. This is just the beginning. 

Sameer Vaswani chats to podcast host Yiuwin Tsang about how running a successful confectionery manufacturing operation in Lagos, Nigeria led him to want to disrupt the chocolate industry and take on the big brands. B Corp certified Prodigy Snacks was born in 2018 with the mission to reinvent chocolate to be less damaging to our bodies, and to the environment. Join Sameer as he talks about learning leadership lessons, being planet conscious, and creating tasty, healthy, sustainable chocolate.

Sameer is the Co-founder of Prodigy Snacks. He originally started his career as a chef opening his first restaurant at the age of 25. Five years later, without any manufacturing experience, he relocated to West Africa to start a confectionery manufacturing business producing biscuits, candies, gums and chocolate.  After twelve successful years, he sold the business to a multinational before moving back to London in 2016 to start Prodigy because he wanted to effect industry change. 

Sameer continues to tackle the issues in the world of chocolate: health, sustainability, and ethics.

In part two of our chat with Olivia Sibony she shares why businesses shouldn't rush in to help their local communities like ill-informed knights in shining armour, but rather listen carefully in order to deliver value and not just impose what we think is the best thing to do. She also discusses her work trying to create other incentive structures, to better align investors and corporates and other stakeholders to the long-term value of a business, particularly when looking at delivering impact to society and the planet.

Olivia Sibony is an award-winning entrepreneur (Making the Top 10 UK Women Entrepreneurs 2019, in the WISE 100 Top Women in Social Business), a trailblazing ethical investment champion who left a career at Goldman Sachs to launch her foodtech startup, GrubClub, which she sold to Eat With in 2017. 

She went on to launch SeedTribe, a platform focused specifically on connecting “impactful” businesses marrying profit and purpose, with investors.

She is a Board member of UCL's Fast Forward 2030, which aims to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs to launch businesses that address the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, as well as being Vicechair of the Mayor of London's Women in Cleantech Taskforce. 

She is also an advisor for the UK Department for International Trade, enabling more impactful entrepreneurs from around the world to scale their businesses, relocating to the UK. 

Liv is driven by the desire to see a world where all businesses marry profit and purpose; she feels that entrepreneurship and meaningful collaboration play a key part in achieving this goal.

Yiuwin Tsang from the Beautiful Business team chats to Chris Todhunter from Studio Republic about being a purpose-driven agency, the benefits of standing by your values and how employee wellbeing is integral to sustainable success.

Chris is a founder and technical director of the digital and creative agency, Studio Republic. Since starting out from his kitchen table almost 20 years ago, Chris has grown the agency to scoop awards from the likes of The Drum and the Third Sector.

Studio Republic has been a B Corp certified agency since 2019, and now focuses on sustainability and social justice, helping charities, non-profit organisations and ethical businesses with design and development of brand marketing tools, from brand identities to digital campaigns and websites. Their overarching purpose: to be a force for good and create impact in our everyday lives.

Yiuwin Tsang from the Beautiful Business community meets with Lisa Seagroatt, the Founder and Managing Director of HR Fit for Purpose. Lisa’s particular expertise is around helping business leaders and the HR practitioners of the future understand why a healthy workplace culture will future-proof any business in terms of attracting and retaining good talent. 

Lisa is the Founder and Managing Director of HR Fit for Purpose. She launched her HR consultancy business in January 2017 following a mental health breakdown caused by bullying and workplace stress. She previously lectured in HR Management for Capital City College Group and has over 40 clients across the UK and internationally whom she supports with their HR needs.

Yiuwin Tsang from the Beautiful Business team is joined by Tom Hardcastle. Tom is a Senior Partner at social enterprise, Ninety. 

Ninety are innovation experts in the insurance sector. Their clients include Bupa, Direct Line, Generali, Lloyd’s and Zurich and 90% of their distributable profits go to charity. 

On this episode Yiuwin asks Tom the following...

• Ninety donates 90% of distributable profit to good causes, 10% to staff. Those are some eye-opening numbers. How do you ensure the funds create the most impact possible?
• The concept of leveraging impact is a really interesting one, where the level of positive impact can be multiplied through strategic support or deployment of skills/expertise - what kind of leveraging have you seen through Ninety that creates greater impact than the size of donation?
• It's clear that purpose and impact is so important to you personally, why is that? How does that translate into your role at Ninety?

Join us for more interesting discussion in the Beautiful Business Community - www.beautifulbusiness.uk

Yiuwin Tsang from the Beautiful Business team is joined by Gail Hoban. Gail is the co-founder of B Corp certified design agency, Gas Studio.

Gail talks to Yiuwin about how Gas Studio formally donates 5% of time every year to pro bono projects. This approach has many benefits, including how Gas gets to help organisations who are helping others further down the line. And being able to commit that to two or three organisations, means they can support quite a few initiatives with their small team.

Another unexpected bonus is how Gas has expanded its knowledge base and expertise on these special projects, which in turn means Gail and the team have been able to win business in new and interesting areas and benefit from a wider network of contacts.

Listen in to learn more...

Gail Hoban is the co-founder and creative strategist at Gas Studio, a B Corp certified design studio, who advocate design as a tool to encourage access to positive life chances. Gail and co-founder Steve Goodwin believe that design is a powerful tool to reach diverse groups. 

Gas Studio has learned that understanding your community first, helps to build positive campaigns that are believable. 

They work with organisations and charities helping them move past the usual stereotypes and reading abilities to make communications work.

For more interesting discussion, join us at www.beautifulbusiness.uk 

Yiuwin Tsang from the Beautiful Business team is joined by Cathy Moseley. Cathy is The Kernel at Boundless Activated Snacking.

On this week's Beautiful Business podcast, Yiuwin Tsang from the Beautiful Business team is joined by Cathy Moseley. Cathy is The Kernel (😁) at Boundless Activated Snacking.

In the first of three cracking - not to be missed - episodes, Cathy talks about the importance of keeping sight of your goals, looking after your team and why founders need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable... Listen in for this and so much more...

Cathy founded Boundless Activated Snacking in 2017 after she left a job as a commodities trader in the city in search of a new adventure.

Running a busy street food stall, she regularly turned to snacks to keep her fuelled throughout the working day, but being gluten intolerant, she struggled to find anything that wasn't either full of rubbish or that just tasted rubbish. That's when the idea for Boundless was born. She started investigating snacks that would keep her fuller for longer, look after the gut, and most importantly, taste good. She spent months cooking up a storm in her kitchen until she perfected her Boundless activated nuts and seeds range. Boundless is on a mission to make snacking easy, creating tasty, healthy products that are genuinely good to the gut. They take great ingredients and make them better using the art of activation to fully release all the nutrients and enable better digestion.

Boundless Activated Snacking can be found in more than 3000 stores across the UK and 10 international markets, including Germany, Belgium, and Asia. In the last 12 months alone, the online business has seen in excess of 4000% growth, maintaining its spot as Amazon's choice for good health snacks.

James Sancto, CEO of We Make Change talks to us about how achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 will be a good start towards creating a fairer society.  He also tells us why social enterprises are the future of scalable impact, and shares some of the fantastic initiatives We Make Change are supporting. These include era92 Creative, a design agency, who teach young people digital tech skills in the slums of Uganda. Another great cause is Madiba Nature in Cameroon who create eco fishing boats made from waste plastic bottles found in local waterways. These boats have an impact beyond helping to clean up the environment, they also enable fishermen in the local area to sustain their livelihood. Listen in for this and much, much more…

James is the CEO and co founder of We Make Change. We Make Change connect skilled volunteers online with social enterprises across the world, to enable anyone, anywhere to use their skills to support the causes they care about. Since launching, We Make Change now supports a global movement of 25,000 change makers, 700 social enterprises and 10 companies in over 100 countries.

In part two of our interview with Sameer Vaswani, he chats to Yiuwin Tsang about how he overcame many challenges in his pursuit to create the tastiest, healthiest, most sustainable chocolate at B Corp certified Prodigy Snacks. Listen in to hear how his persistence paid off…

Sameer is the Co-founder of Prodigy Snacks. He originally started his career as a chef opening his first restaurant at the age of 25. Five years later, without any manufacturing experience, he relocated to West Africa to start a confectionery manufacturing business producing biscuits, candies, gums and chocolate.  After twelve successful years, he sold the business to a multinational before moving back to London in 2016 to start Prodigy because he wanted to effect industry change. 

Sameer continues to tackle the issues in the world of chocolate: health, sustainability, and ethics.

In the second part of our chat with Marcus, he talks about the importance of finding the right clients and team members to enable your business to succeed, and why following the money won't always get you where you want to go. Sometimes walking away from a client or a prospective employee is the best decision for the ethos of your business - even if it means turning your back on the promise of 800 grand in revenue.

Marcus Hemsley is the Founder of the digital growth agency, Fountain Partnership, winner of Google's Global Award for Growing Businesses Online. Marcus is also a Founding Member of The Million Tree Pledge. Launched on Earth Day in April 2021, The Million Tree Pledge is a collaborative initiative that’s brought together more than 60 inspiring businesses who have made the bold commitment to plant 41 million trees in the coming years, as well as to each find another two other pledgers, ensuring the initiative grows exponentially. 

In this episode, learn how service-based businesses can become carbon-neutral and thrive. 'It's not hard, you just have to commit,' says Nick Dean.

Nick is the Chair of ADLIB, a 100% employee-owned recruitment agency whose purpose goes far beyond recruitment. B Corp certified since 2019, ADLIB believes that an inclusive workplace will bring engagement, and create an environment of involvement, respect and collaboration, which ultimately drives more business value. ADLIB prides itself on being the trusted partner of its clients, as well as champions of Diversity and Inclusion.

Carla Cringle and Imogen Pudduck, founders of FizzPopBANG, a brand employee engagement consultancy, join Yiuwin Tsang from the Beautiful Business team. In this episode, you'll find out FizzPopBANG's top three engagement drivers that will supercharge your business...

Carla and Imogen are on a mission to make the world whistle on their way to work. 10 years ago, they left their jobs as Head of HR and Head of Brand at Red Bull to set up FizzPopBang. Through the work they did at Red Bull, they realised they had the same goal to harness the power that passionate and energised teams can achieve, creating true employee engagement and brand ambassadors through a high-performing, authentic culture.

Whether you're just starting out or scaling your business, there are always lessons to be learned from the journey of one entrepreneur who has been through it all. Join best-selling author Trenton Moss in this episode, as he shares stories and knowledge on how strong values helped him get through the rollercoaster ride that is entrepreneurship. Learn how he traversed the highs and lows of starting, scaling and selling his UX consultancy business.

Trenton is a business leader, trainer, and coach who inspires everyone around him to achieve more than they think they can.

His best-selling book, Human Powered was published last year. It helps you gain all the people skills and EQ you need to succeed. He's the Founder and Head Coach at Team Sterka, a training and coaching business that supercharges client-facing businesses with people skills. Previously, he spent 15 years as Founder and CEO at one of the UK's first user experience consultancies, Web Credible.

What does it really mean to be inclusive? Nicole Green chats to Yiuwin Tsang about how we can create an environment that is welcoming and celebrates the fullness of every person both in the workplace and in our marketing communications. Learn more on this episode!

Nicole co-founded Catch, a B-Corp certified communications agency for impact-driven brands and leaders of high-growth businesses. She is a firm believer that businesses have the power to do good. Catch is an international team of communications consultants working on campaigns spanning food and drink, health, sustainability, and finance to shape conversations and drive meaningful change from campaigning on inclusivity in the period industry to unpicking greenwashing and promoting transparency in supply chains. 

Her background in journalism inspired her career in PR and has seen her develop award-winning media campaigns, strategies, and offer counsel to global business leaders. She is passionate about inclusivity in workplaces and general quality in business, and has a commitment to building a flexible, diverse, and progressive working environment. 

This week, Beautiful Business's co-founder, Peter Czapp, is our host. He is joined by Ellie Hale, Managing Director of The Agency Collective. Ellie became MD of The Agency Collective just over a year ago. This interview explores her motivations, what she's learned about leadership, the challenges she's faced, and how she's overcome them. It's a fascinating insight into what happens when you have a clear purpose that you pursue with passion.

The Agency Collective is an international peer support community for agency owners. A safe place for agency owners to talk about challenges openly.  The Agency Collective also give agency owners an opportunity to build new long-lasting relationships with people who can provide support and leads for future work

Working with a team you love can seem like an impossible feat for many entrepreneurs, but not for Cathy Moseley. Her authentic leadership style has allowed her to create such strong connections with her team that she would go as far as offering up one of her kidneys if needed! During the second part of our interview with Boundless Activated Snacking's CEO, we uncover why having purpose and shared values is vital in building successful teams - something all startups should look at embracing.

'I love our mission. I love our business and passion breeds passion. Energy breeds it. And if people believe and have the same mindset as you, they get swept up with you as well. And I think that's how you build a really good team from start, you know, and from small acorns, oak trees grow.'

Cathy founded Boundless Activated Snacking in 2017 after she left a job as a commodities trader in the city in search of a new adventure.

Running a busy street food stall, she regularly turned to snacks to keep her fuelled throughout the working day, but being gluten intolerant, she struggled to find anything that wasn't either full of rubbish or that just tasted rubbish. That's when the idea for Boundless was born. She started investigating snacks that would keep her fuller for longer, look after the gut, and most importantly, taste good. She spent months cooking up a storm in her kitchen until she perfected her Boundless activated nuts and seeds range. Boundless is on a mission to make snacking easy, creating tasty, healthy products that are genuinely good for the gut. They take great ingredients and make them better using the art of activation to fully release all the nutrients and enable better digestion.

Boundless Activated Snacking can be found in more than 3000 stores across the UK and 10 international markets, including Germany, Belgium, and Asia. In the last 12 months alone, the online business has seen in excess of 4000% growth, maintaining its spot as Amazon's Choice for good health snacks.

In our second interview with Gail Hoban, Co-founder of Gas Studio, she chats to Yiuwin Tsang about taking on a lecturing role after having her daughter; the wonderful effect creative subjects have on kids with learning challenges, and how instead of trying to be inclusive in our communications, we should actually be aiming not to exclude anyone...

Gail Hoban is the co-founder and creative strategist at Gas Studio, a B Corp certified design studio, that advocates design as a tool to encourage access to positive life chances. Gail and co-founder Steve Goodwin believe that design is a powerful tool to reach diverse groups. 

Gas Studio has learned that understanding your community first, helps to build positive campaigns that are believable. 

They work with organisations and charities helping them move past the usual stereotypes and reading abilities to make communications work.

Carla Cringle and Imogen Pudduck are founders of FizzPopBANG a brand employee engagement consultancy. In this episode, they join Yiuwin Tsang to discuss the power and importance of culture when building a beautiful business.

Carla and Imogen are on a mission to make the world whistle on their way to work. 10 years ago, they left their jobs as Head of HR and Head of Brand at Red Bull to set up FizzPopBang. Through the work they did at Red Bull, they realised they had the same goal to harness the power that passionate and energised teams can achieve, creating true employee engagement and brand ambassadors through a high-performing, authentic culture.

In the second of our episodes with Tom Hardcastle, Yiuwin Tsang from the Beautiful Business team finds out how Tom finds, attracts and keeps the right team members at Ninety. Learn how culture and value alignment are at the front and centre of his success, be it in the onboarding of new recruits or when organising intentional team away days. 

Tom is a Senior Partner at social enterprise, Ninety. Ninety are innovation experts in the insurance sector. Their clients include Bupa, Direct Line, Generali, Lloyd’s and Zurich and 90% of their distributable profits go to charity. 

In the second of our episodes with the infatigable Trenton Moss from Team Sterka, Yiuwin Tsang from the Beautiful Business team discovers what emotional intelligence is and why it’s one of the most important skills of business life. Emotional intelligence covers how we understand ourselves and others, what motivates each of us, why we react in different ways and how we learn, collaborate and perform.

Trenton is a business leader, trainer, and coach who inspires everyone around him to achieve more than they think they can.

His best-selling book, Human Powered was published last year. It helps you gain all the people skills and EQ you need to succeed. He's the Founder and Head Coach at Team Sterka, a training and coaching business that supercharges client-facing businesses with people skills. Previously, he spent 15 years as Founder and CEO at one of the UK's first user experience consultancies, Web Credible.

This week Yiuwin Tsang from the Beautiful Business team talks to Natalie Haigh who shares her incredibly powerful mental health story. Natalie’s story has some key learnings for all leaders and high-achievers out there. She talks about how important it is to have realistic expectations of yourself and the people around you and how these qualities allow you to lead people more collaboratively and more compassionately.   

Natalie’s dream is of a better connected, kinder and more accepting world. 

Natalie’s recent work has been in the charity sector where she has volunteered in a number of roles including setting up a new community non-profit. She is passionate about helping others and making a difference.

Previously she was the managing director of Mercury1 who have provided end-to-end software and support solutions using enterprise technology since 2006, and before that her experience was in IT leadership and innovation in the manufacturing sector for Procter and Gamble.

This week Yiuwin Tsang caught up with Matthew Stibbe, CEO of Articulate Marketing, to talk about the journey of certification (B corp, Investors in People) and how going through the process of certification is much more important than the destination.

Matthew talks candidly about how having a purposeful story has been beneficial to Articulate Marketing but that it goes much deeper than a badge for your website. His ethos and values are truly rooted in doing good and giving back and he ensures sustainable development goals are baked into his business planning.

Matthew is a CEO, entrepreneur, marketer, writer, pilot, wine enthusiast, and a geek. He's currently CEO of Articulate Marketing, who provide marketing for ambitious and b2b tech companies. And previously, Matthew was founder and CEO at Intelligent Games, which he sold back in 2000. 

In this week’s Beautiful Business podcast Yiuwin Tsang was joined by Jen Swain, MD of Beatfreeks to discuss the future of work. 

Leaders need to rapidly respond to how our post-pandemic world and increasingly uncertain economic times are changing the shape and expectations of the workforce.

In the podcast, Jen and Yiuwin talk about the the future of work and about how leaders need to have a landscape view of a huge number of areas - from economic growth to thinking about the new generation of employees who may well have very different aspirations and expectations to the generations before them. 

In this week’s edition of the Beautiful Business podcast, Yiuwin Tsang talks to John Gilbert about the journey he’s been on from being made redundant to setting up eski - an award-winning creative media and marketing agency which has the primary goal of achieving social good. 

John became disillusioned with the retail sector and felt that he needed to find new projects which actually meant something. This led him to carve out a more purposeful and focused niche with eski, with the aim to create real impact and purpose, whatever the risks might be along the way. 

John Gilbert is the founder and managing director of eski, a media agency specialising in working with the NHS, charities and purposeful businesses to create social good through campaigns and filmmaking. 

He and his team have produced several national and international award-winning films and campaigns on subjects including mental health, organised crime, sexual exploitation, cancer prevention and domestic abuse. 

In this week’s hugely inspirational podcast, Yiuwin Tsang talks to Nikki Gatenby - author of ‘Superengaged’ and a strategic leader with a huge amount of knowledge on leadership and developing business cultures which promote purpose and change.

In this episode Nikki explains how leaders are in a unique position to galvanise the energy of those around them and therefore have a duty to play their part in making the world a better place. Leaders play a pivotal role in creating and directing positive energy and empowering their teams to create a difference in the world.

Leaders need to avoid the pitfalls of maximising profit at the expense of everything else. They need to focus their energy on creating positive change and giving back.  And the leaders that do that are going to have a competitive edge in the future.

Nikki Gatenby is a non-executive director and cognitive behavioural coach; with a background in developing company culture and engagement to deliver world class results.

Having led multiple successful agencies, with a track record for taking them global, Nikki has removed herself from the day-to-day operations and is now focused on making many other good companies, great.  She does this by being non-exec to the board to develop their strategy, coaching leadership teams to help them to achieve it together - all the while, developing culture right across the organisation.

Nikki is known for combining a no-bullshit approach to business with a passion for helping people be the best version of themselves. When she’s not making life better for her staff, clients and community, she is usually to be found at the top of a mountain or the bottom of the ocean. But not at the same time.

In the latest episode of the Beautiful Business podcast, Yiuwin Tsang caught up with Alison Puente, a corporate communications and sustainable business management specialist for Project Rome. They discuss how, for founders and leaders, self-development becomes part of personal fulfilment. Alison explains why investing in yourself is essential in order to keep developing and evolving your career, regardless of your age or position.

Alison and Yiuwin also discuss how leaders can become change agents, helping to ingrain change management and sustainability in our business thinking.

Alison Puente is an expert in corporate communications, with 25 years of experience working across a range of industries including FMCG, healthcare, retail, technology and utilities. She has led corporate, brand and business-to-business campaigns for organisations ranging from FTSE businesses to start-ups, working with clients including Associated British Foods, Centrica plc, Essity, Grant Thornton, Microsoft, the NHS, Quorn and Taylors of Harrogate/Yorkshire Tea.

This week’s podcast is a special feature-length episode in which Yiuwin Tsang talks to Martin Palethorpe, founder of Unbounded, about the power of conscious leadership.

Conscious leadership emphasises self-awareness, mindfulness, empathy and an ethical and purpose-driven mindset. It requires leaders to be fully present and attentive, to understand and manage their own thoughts and emotions and to connect with others on a deeper level.

Conscious leadership is important because it promotes a more positive and sustainable approach to leadership, one that is focused on the well-being of all stakeholders, including employees, customers, and the environment.

Martin is an experienced Executive Coach and an expert in unlocking the power of the human mind. He is a motivational speaker on Conscious Leadership and founder of Unbounded.

Martin is passionate about inspiring and challenging CEOs & CxOs to be better leaders, to achieve their potential building healthy high-performing teams & responsible organisations. He also inspires many leaders to play their role in the current planetary emergencies. His transformational teaching about the human mind - ‘shifting consciousness’ is at the core of his work.

He is also a former adventurer and ultra-marathon runner, an active yogi and an environmental activist. 

Welcome to this week’s episode of the Beautiful Business Podcast. This week Yiuwin Tsang spoke to Alex Holliman, founder of Climbing Trees about how he and his team are on a mission to create a positive impact for their clients and for the planet.

Alex has successfully created an ‘excellent client service is critical to success’ mantra in his agency team which underpins all of their relationships and projects. He and his team care passionately about the client experience they create.

Alex is also keen to harness the enthusiasm and energy that the next generation of employees brings to the table - he feels there is a real sense of the younger generation leaning into some of the problems that are in the world and actually trying to do something positive about it, rather than just carrying on with the same old 'business as usual'.

About Alex Holliman
Alex is the founder and managing director of Climbing Trees, a B-Corp-certified ethically minded PPC and SEO agency. Previously Alex spent 20 years working for global media giants and independent agencies. Alex is all about trying to do business in a better way and advocating for positive change. And Climbing Trees is working hard towards its goal of becoming net zero and is in the process of planting 1 million trees by 2030, with 265,000 already in the ground. 

In the second of our podcasts with Matthew Stibbe, Yiuwin Tsang delves into what it means to be a truly remote working team and how this has allowed Articulate Marketing to establish a unique employee culture despite them being spread throughout the UK. 

Their remote working principles have also allowed Articulate Marketing to strive for net zero status, a process that is very rigorous, but which Matthew feels all businesses have a responsibility to at least consider and work towards.  

In the podcast, Matthew shares his top tips for going on the net zero journey as well as the pros and cons of setting up a remote working environment for his agency. 

About Matthew Stibbe:

Matthew is a CEO, entrepreneur, marketer, writer, pilot, wine enthusiast, and a geek. He's currently CEO of Articulate Marketing, which provides marketing for ambitious B2B tech companies. Previously, Matthew was founder and CEO at Intelligent Games, which he sold back in 2000. 

This is the second Beautiful Business podcast episode featuring the truly inspirational Natalie Haigh.

Natalie is fast becoming a podcast favourite on Beautiful Business and this week she speaks about the importance of both receiving and offering mentoring at various stages of her career. Natalie talks about the power of mentoring and offers some of the methods she uses with her mentees. She explains her belief that if we can mentor people to fully achieve their potential and succeed, it will be a better result for everybody, and then everyone is going to be healthier and happier.

About Natalie Haigh:

Natalie’s dream is of a better connected, kinder and more accepting world. 

Natalie’s recent work has been in the charity sector where she has volunteered in a number of roles including setting up a new community non-profit. She is passionate about helping others and making a difference.

Previously she was the managing director of Mercury1 who have been providing end-to-end software and support solutions using enterprise technology since 2006, and before that her experience was in IT leadership and innovation in the manufacturing sector for Procter and Gamble.

This week we have our second Beautiful Business Podcast episode with Nikki Gatenby, hosted by Yiuwin Tsang. In her book ‘Better Business on Purpose’ Nikki explains that the day-to-day running of businesses can be all-consuming - but a business without purpose 'is just admin' and your business has the potential to be much more than that. 

In this podcast Nikki talks about the 7 Ps that underpin truly purpose-led businesses, using the PQualizer, a system to help to keep the Ps in balance. And why it’s critical to have a practical framework to help you implement change across your business.

There are loads of great tips and takeaways in this podcast - we hope you enjoy it! 

About Nikki Gatenby:

Nikki Gatenby is a non-executive director and cognitive behavioural coach; with a background in developing company culture and engagement to deliver world-class results.

Having led multiple successful agencies, with a track record for taking them global, Nikki has removed herself from the day-to-day operations and is now focused on making many other good companies, great.  She does this by being non-exec to the board to develop their strategy, coaching leadership teams to help them to achieve it together - all the while, developing culture right across the organisation.

Nikki is known for combining a no-bullshit approach to business with a passion for helping people be the best version of themselves. When she’s not making life better for her staff, clients and community, she is usually to be found at the top of a mountain or the bottom of the ocean. But not at the same time.

For more interesting insight and discussion, join the (free) Beautiful Business community for purpose-driven founders and business leaders at www.beautifulbusiness.uk

This week’s podcast is the second instalment with Jen Swian, MD of Beatfreeks, a creative insight-led engagement agency specialising in scaling brand relevance for clients.

In this episode, Yiuwin Tsang and Jen Swain explore the power of data insights for businesses and why leaders need the pieces between the data to make better decisions. Jen describes how they use insights to create more meaningful campaigns for their clients and deliver better results.


About Jen Swain

Jen is currently the managing director of Beatfreeks and has previously run her own business focusing on coaching and consulting to empower female leaders.

Prior to that she has been in the software and creative agency world for more than 12 years, most recently as Operations Director for a global Tech for Good agency. 

Today we welcome the wonderful Jo Swift  from Greenhouse Communications to the Beautiful Business Podcast. Jo is a fantastic source of knowledge when it comes to talking about purpose and how you can talk about it with authenticity and genuine credibility.

In this podcast, Yiuwin and Jo discuss the noise around purpose at the moment and how cynicism is growing towards businesses that are possibly greenwashing their messaging.

This podcast explains the right reasons to talk about your purpose and how to use metrics and measures of success to understand your impact.

About Jo Swift

Jo Swift is the Managing Director of Greenhouse Communications and is responsible for the thriving, mission-led team in London and Bristol, working on campaigns with environmental and social change at their heart for government, business, NGOs and youth organisations.

In this week’s podcast, Yiuwin Tsang talks to Alex Holliman about building an empowered and loyal team at Climbing Trees and how Alex has put in place real benefits for his employees to help them in both their personal and professional lives. Alex believes in having transparency in your business, particularly in difficult times, so that everyone is aligned with goals and targets. This podcast explains how you build passion and engagement in your team and how that helps grow and protect your business for the future.

About Alex Holliman:

Following a career at top media agencies, Alex founded digital marketing agency, Climbing Trees. Here, he leads a team of search and social experts who share his passion for cultivating a values-led culture. Alex's commitment to sustainability and his desire to build this into every aspect of his business make him a rare breed of agency owner.

In this thought-provoking episode of our podcast John Gilbert, MD of eski and Yiuwin Tsang delve into the transformative power of storytelling and how it can be harnessed to create a compelling documentary that showcases your social impact. We explore how storytelling can be a catalyst for change, igniting empathy, and inspiring action in an increasingly connected and visually-driven world.

Tune in and discover how to elevate your cause, amplify your message, and leave a lasting impact on the world.

About John Gilbert:

John Gilbert is the founder and managing director of eski, a media agency specialising in working with the NHS, charities and purposeful businesses to create social good through campaigns and filmmaking. 

He and his team have produced several national and international award-winning films and campaigns on subjects including mental health, organised crime, sexual exploitation, cancer prevention and domestic abuse. 

This week on the Beautiful Business podcast,  join our host Yiuwin Tsang and guest Alison Puente from Project Rome as they investigate how systems thinking offers a holistic approach to understanding and resolving complex sustainability challenges.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into how systems thinking can inform sustainable business practices, policymaking, and community engagement. Alison highlights the importance of collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches, stressing the need for stakeholders from different sectors to work together in designing and implementing effective solutions.

About Alison Puente

Alison Puente is an expert in corporate communications, with 25 years of experience working across a range of industries including FMCG, healthcare, retail, technology and utilities. She has led corporate, brand and business-to-business campaigns for organisations ranging from FTSE businesses to start-ups, working with clients including Associated British Foods, Centrica plc, Essity, Grant Thornton, Microsoft, the NHS, Quorn and Taylors of Harrogate/Yorkshire Tea.

The Beautiful Business Podcast is bought to you in partnership with:

Krystal Hosting - the UK's premium sustainable web hosting provider

In this episode, Yiuwin Tsang and Jen Swain dive deep into the importance of business leaders being aware of the challenges faced by Generation Z and explore the benefits and challenges of employing this unique generation. Join us as we unravel the untapped potential that lies within Gen Z and how it can shape the future of business.

This episode highlights that embracing the challenges and opportunities presented by Gen Z can yield immense benefits for businesses. By understanding the unique perspectives, talents, and aspirations of this generation, business leaders can create thriving organisations that are well-equipped to meet the evolving demands of the future. So tune in and discover how bridging the generational gap with Gen Z can transform your business!

About Jen Swain

Jen is currently the managing director of Beatfreeks and has previously run her own business focusing on coaching and consulting to empower female leaders.

Prior to that she has been in the software and creative agency world for more than 12 years, most recently as Operations Director for a global Tech for Good agency.

The Beautiful Business Podcast is bought to you in partnership with:

Krystal Hosting - the UK's premium sustainable web hosting provider

Welcome to another insightful episode of the Beautiful Business Podcast. This week our host Yiuwin Tsang welcomes Chieu Cao, Founder and CEO of Mintago and together they dive deep into the art and science of scaling the commercial performance of a business. They explore the key drivers of growth that propel businesses towards unparalleled success.

Chieu shares his experiences and wisdom, explaining why scaling is crucial for sustained success and how it differs from simply growing a business. We discuss the importance of scalability in creating a foundation that can handle increased demand, capitalise on market opportunities, and ultimately drive higher profitability.

Join us for this Beautiful Business podcast episode as we uncover the strategies, tactics, and mindset required to achieve remarkable growth and take your business to new heights.

About Chieu Cao:

Chieu Cao is the founder and CEO of Mintago. Mintago aim to help people be in control of their financial life by providing the tools to make better, more informed financial decisions. The holistic solution is employee-centric, inclusive and unbiased – ending the single cause of employee stress – their finances.

Prior to Mintago, Chieu was also the co-founder and CMO of Perkbox. Europe’s fastest-growing employee experience platform.  Prior to co-founding Perkbox, Chieu established himself as a tech marketing professional leading initiatives for brands including Microsoft, Amazon and Yahoo.

The Beautiful Business Podcast is bought to you in partnership with:

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In this episode of the Beautiful Business Podcast, host Yiuwin Tsang engages in a conversation with Richard Thomson, the CEO of Kaptcha, a visual communications agency. They delve into the world of pro bono projects and their impact on both businesses and teams.

Richard shares the story of their first pro bono project, which was initially driven by the desire to secure more work from an existing client. Despite not achieving the desired outcome with the client, the project became a source of pride and unity for the Kaptcha team. They realised that the reward of making a real impact through their work was more valuable than simply gaining additional projects from clients.

In the podcast, Yiuwin and Richard highlight the importance of choosing the right projects and partners for pro bono work. The emotional pull and human connection within a project can significantly enhance its impact on both the team and the client. They discuss how personal stories and meaningful narratives can create a deeper resonance with audiences compared to generic corporate videos.

The episode also explores the challenges faced when running pro bono projects. Richard emphasises the need for mutual respect and appreciation between the agency and the client. He shares an experience where the team felt their creativity and emotional connection were compromised, leading them to withdraw from the project. The lesson learned is that finding the right people to work with is crucial for the success and fulfilment of pro bono endeavours.

Throughout the conversation, the value of recognition and respect for creative work emerges. Creative individuals thrive on feeling valued and acknowledged for their contributions. The episode concludes by highlighting the intrinsic rewards of pro bono projects that go beyond monetary gains, emphasising the importance of achieving a sense of purpose and impact.

Join Yiuwin Tsang and Richard Thomson as they explore the power of pro bono projects in creating beautiful businesses that make a difference in the world.

About Richard Thomson

Richard Thomson, is the directorial talent behind world-famous BBC icons including Top Gear, Crimewatch, worldwide Formula 1 coverage and Gardener’s World. Bringing these skills to the corporate world, he then launched the multi award-winning HSBC TV.

Today, purpose is at the heart of successful business. And like Richard’s TV shows, Kaptcha harnesses the power of film to tell the engaging stories behind the brands, creating real change in the way audiences – internal and external – feel and think.

The Beautiful Business Podcast is bought to you in partnership with:

Krystal Hosting - the UK's premium sustainable web hosting provider

In this episode of the Beautiful Business Podcast, host Yiuwin Tsang engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Trenton Moss, an inspiring business leader, trainer, and coach, on the topic of leading with empathy. They explore the challenges and benefits of empathetic leadership and how it can transform team dynamics and performance.

Yiuwin and Trenton begin by discussing the meaning of leading from a position of empathy. Trenton emphasises the importance of understanding the inputs of team members, such as their intentions, efforts, and barriers to achieving their goals. By taking the time to comprehend these aspects, leaders can make their team members feel understood and appreciated, fostering a sense of connection and trust.

Yiuwin and Trenton discuss the role of empathy in creating an environment where team members feel safe to be open, honest, and vulnerable. Trenton suggests asking questions that encourage reflection and learning from setbacks, rather than focusing solely on blame or judgment.

The discussion concludes with a focus on managing multiple team members and the potential for constructive tension in the workplace. Trenton highlights the value of diverse perspectives and encourages leaders to foster an environment where differing opinions are welcomed. By encouraging open dialogue and exploring different viewpoints, leaders can leverage empathy to resolve conflicts and arrive at innovative solutions.

Join Yiuwin and Trenton in this episode as they explore the transformative potential of leading with empathy in the pursuit of a beautiful business.

Listen now to gain insights into the power of leading with empathy and learn how understanding and valuing the inputs of team members, creating psychological safety, and encouraging diverse perspectives can contribute to a high-performing and harmonious team.

About Trenton Moss

Trenton is a qualified executive coach and a former Samaritan (where he provided face-to-face and telephone counselling). He previously set up, scaled and then exited (after a successful acquisition) one of the UK’s leading product design and research agencies, Webcredible. He then went on to create Team Sterka.

During his 15 years as Webcredible CEO, Trenton trained, coached and worked with cross-functional teams within some of the UK’s leading brands, helping them become high performing teams.

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In this episode of the Beautiful Business Podcast, host Yiuwin Tsang speaks with  Nicole Green, co-founder of Catch, a communications agency for impact-driven brands and leaders of high-growth businesses. Nicole shares her insights on communicating with integrity in business and emphasises the importance of intentionality and authenticity.

They discuss the idea that businesses have the power to do good and how it is crucial for organisations to integrate their mission and purpose into the core of their operations. Nicole highlights the significance of transparency and honesty in conveying messages to the world and holding oneself accountable.

The conversation delves into the dangers of rainbow and greenwashing. Nicole explains that consumers are increasingly skeptical of such tactics, and when inauthenticity is uncovered, it can cause significant damage to a brand's reputation. She stresses that the motive behind social purpose initiatives should not be driven solely by avoiding negative consequences but by genuinely wanting to make a positive difference.

The episode touches upon the challenges faced by businesses in balancing profit and purpose, acknowledging that while some organisations prioritise doing good, others may prioritise financial gains. However, the discussion also acknowledges the need for collective progress toward aligning business values with societal values.

Nicole offers practical advice to business owners on ensuring integrity in communication. She suggests conducting thorough internal audits and seeking external expertise to gain an evidence-based understanding of where the business stands on various impact-related aspects. Additionally, Nicole encourages leaders to be willing to face criticism and make uncomfortable decisions to drive positive change.

This episode explores the evolving landscape of purpose-driven communication, the importance of integrating values into the fabric of a business, and the challenges and rewards of communicating with integrity in today's society. Listeners are encouraged to embrace authenticity, transparency, and a commitment to continual improvement in order to build beautiful businesses that make a meaningful impact.

About Nicole Green

Nicole co-founded Catch, a B-Corp-certified communications agency for impact-driven brands and leaders of high-growth businesses. She is a firm believer that businesses have the power to do good. Catch is an international team of communications consultants working on campaigns spanning food and drink, health, sustainability, and finance to shape conversations and drive meaningful change from campaigning on inclusivity in the period industry to unpicking greenwashing and promoting transparency in supply chains.

Her background in journalism inspired her career in PR and has seen her develop award-winning media campaigns and offer counsel to global business leaders. She is passionate about inclusivity in workplaces and general quality in business and has a commitment to building a flexible, diverse, and progressive working environment.

The Beautiful Business Podcast is bought to you in partnership with:

Krystal Hosting - the UK's premium sustainable web hosting provider

In this episode of the Beautiful Business Podcast, host Yiuwin Tsang is joined by Chieu Cao, the founder and CEO of Mintago, a comprehensive employee financial well-being solution. The conversation centres around the challenges and key points of growth when scaling a business and how leaders can effectively manage and nurture their teams through these transitions.

Chieu shares his insights based on his own experiences, highlighting the different stages of business growth and the corresponding shifts in relationships and leadership styles. He emphasises the importance of adapting to new dynamics as the business expands, particularly when transitioning from managing directly to managing through people.

The discussion delves into the significance of hiring the right people at different stages of the business's growth. Chieu emphasises the need to transition from hiring generalists to specialists as the company scales. He explains how roles and responsibilities change over time, and it is crucial to have honest conversations with employees about their roles and specialisations to align with the needs of the business.

He advises leaders to focus on what they can control and create a culture of learning and growth. The discussion further explores the link between financial well-being and physical and mental well-being. Cao explains how financial stress can manifest as mental and physical health issues and highlights the need to address financial well-being as a root cause. He encourages leaders to prioritise employee financial health by creating a culture of open communication, actively listening to employees' needs, and providing the necessary resources and support.

Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own leadership styles and consider implementing strategies to foster open communication, address financial well-being, and nurture a positive company culture.

This episode provides valuable insights and practical advice for leaders looking to scale their businesses, effectively manage their teams, and prioritise the well-being of their employees.

About Chieu Cao:

Chieu Cao is the founder and CEO of Mintago. Mintago aim to help people be in control of their financial life by providing the tools to make better, more informed financial decisions. The holistic solution is employee-centric, inclusive and unbiased – ending the single cause of employee stress – their finances.

Prior to Mintago, Chieu was also the co-founder and CMO of Perkbox. Europe’s fastest-growing employee experience platform.  Prior to co-founding Perkbox, Chieu established himself as a tech marketing professional leading initiatives for brands including Microsoft, Amazon and Yahoo.

The Beautiful Business Podcast is bought to you in partnership with:

Krystal Hosting - the UK's premium sustainable web hosting provider

In this episode, host Yiuwin Tsang is joined by Amelia Wrighton, the founder of Suicide&Co, a charity dedicated to supporting individuals affected by suicide-related grief and raising suicide awareness.

Yiuwin begins the episode by acknowledging the sensitive nature of the topic and the significance of addressing mental health concerns in the workplace. Amelia shares her personal journey and the reasons behind founding Suicide&Co. She explains that suicide is a complex issue that affects individuals from all walks of life, and its impact extends beyond personal relationships into professional settings. Recognising this, Amelia emphasises that businesses have a unique opportunity to play a vital role in suicide prevention.

The conversation explores the benefits of investing in suicide awareness for companies. Amelia highlights that small to medium-sized businesses often overlook the significance of mental health support due to limited resources and a focus on day-to-day operations. However, she emphasises that these companies stand to gain immensely from incorporating suicide prevention initiatives into their workplace culture.

Amelia and Yiuwin discuss practical steps that companies can take to implement suicide awareness initiatives within their organisations. They explore strategies such as mental health training for managers, providing access to counselling services, establishing support networks, and promoting a culture of open communication. They also emphasise that investing in suicide awareness is not only the right thing to do but also makes good business sense. They encourage listeners to take proactive steps towards creating a supportive workplace environment that prioritises employee mental health and well-being.

Note: This episode provides general information and insights on suicide awareness. It is important to consult with mental health professionals and specialists for tailored advice and guidance on implementing suicide prevention initiatives within specific organisations.

About Amelia Wrighton

Amelia lost her mother at 19, whilst in her first year of university. The life-changing experience bred a deeper strength and resilience that has driven her forward ever since.

Meeting Emma at work, they realised their shared experience of losing someone to suicide and decided that now is the right time to help others in the same situation. Amelia started her career in research and then moved into marketing, media and new business. Her focus within Suicide&Co is on strategy and operations. 

The Beautiful Business Podcast is bought to you in partnership with:

Krystal Hosting - the UK's premium sustainable web hosting provider

In this week’s episode of the Beautiful Business Podcast, host Yiuwin Tsang interviews Richard Thomson, the CEO of Kaptcha, a Visual Communications Agency. Richard shares his background working in broadcast TV where he directed travel programs and later worked on shows like Top Gear and Crimewatch. He reflects on the profound impact of his travels, particularly his time in India, where he lived in a rainforest and experienced a sense of peace and detachment from the world.

Richard also discusses his time at the BBC, where he felt a strong sense of purpose in informing, educating, and entertaining viewers. He highlights the social impact of his work on programs like Crimewatch, which helped solve cases and make a positive difference in people's lives. He also mentions the influence of Dame Floella Benjamin, a trailblazing black presenter who inspired him and emphasised the responsibility of representation in the media.

The conversation then shifts to Richard's current role at Kaptcha and the importance of purpose in business. He talks about projects with Barclays and Aviva that focused on gender equality and diversity. Through their work, they aimed to raise awareness and promote equal opportunities. Richard explains how these experiences shaped his perspective on equality, giving everyone a voice, and creating a supportive and inclusive culture at Kaptcha.

They discuss the challenges of being a purpose-driven organisation, acknowledging that no business is perfect but striving to make a positive impact regardless. Richard mentions potential criticism and the importance of working with clients who align with their values and are committed to making a difference. He emphasises the significance of having a purpose statement that focuses on serving society and making a positive change in the world, rather than just benefiting oneself and clients.

This episode explores the power of purpose in business, the impact of media representation, and the importance of equality and inclusivity. It showcases Richard's personal journey, his experiences in the television industry, and his mission to create beautiful businesses that make a positive difference.

About Richard Thompson

Richard Thomson, is the directorial talent behind world-famous BBC icons including Top Gear, Crimewatch, worldwide Formula 1 coverage, and Gardener’s World. Bringing these skills to the corporate world, he then launched the multi-award-winning HSBC TV.

Today, purpose is at the heart of successful business. And like Richard’s TV shows, Kaptcha harnesses the power of film to tell the engaging stories behind the brands, creating real change in the way audiences – internal and external – feel and think.

The Beautiful Business Podcast is bought to you in partnership with:

Krystal Hosting - the UK's premium sustainable web hosting provider

In this week's episode of the Beautiful Business Podcast, host Yiuwin Tsang is joined by Tim Evans, Investment Director at Creative UK. Tim has spent the past 15 years helping entrepreneurs build resilient and prosperous businesses, delivering compelling and creative content products and services to the market.

The conversation begins with Tim discussing Creative UK's role as a strategic investment partner rather than just an investor. They only invest in businesses where they can provide value beyond financial capital. Tim emphasises that the kind of support they offer is unique to each business, tailored to their specific challenges, capacities, and ambitions. One of their areas of focus is supporting clients in raising finance through co-investment, equity propositions, and making introductions to their network of investor partners.

Yiuwin and Tim discuss the three essential aspects that businesses need to consider when preparing to raise capital. Tim stresses the importance of having the right founder foundations, including a growth mindset, willingness to seek advice, and being mindful of their limitations. Secondly, businesses should have a product with a clear differentiator and a barrier to entry to stand out in the market. Lastly, they should offer a product or service that is essential rather than a mere "nice to have," demonstrating its meaningful impact on customers' lives.

Throughout the episode, Tim emphasizes the importance of validation, proof points, and clear differentiation in investment pitches. He encourages businesses to back up their claims with evidence to gain investors' confidence and secure further conversations.

In summary, the episode provides valuable insights into how businesses can unlock funding and navigate current challenges while maintaining their unique competitive edge. Tim's expertise as an Investment Director offers valuable advice to founders and entrepreneurs seeking investment opportunities in the creative industry.

About Tim Evans

Tim has been with Creative UK for nearly a decade and oversees all investment activity at the organisation. Tim has spent the past 15 years helping entrepreneurs to take innovative and compelling creative products to market and is passionate about the power of business as an engine for positive social change.

As an investment lead, Tim has secured over 50 investments across equity and debt, working with over 400 creative companies and supporting three exits. His key industry focusses are: SaaS, VFX, Games, Agency and TV Production.

Tim’s prior experience includes running his own production company, the management of Creative England’s equity fund and the programme management of the South West Innovation Network programmes.


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In this week's episode of the Beautiful Business Podcast, host Yiuwin Tsang sits down with Kerry Tottingham, the founder of A Brilliant Thing, a community interest company focused on driving culture change in organisations through coaching, consultancy, strategy, design, and inclusive culture practices. Yiuwin and Kerry discuss the power of collaboration, sharing insights and examples of successful collaborations that have bridged the gap between corporate-driven and not-for-profit-driven cultures.

The conversation covers the challenges of collaboration, especially when bringing together corporate organisations and not-for-profits. They discuss how organisations are realising the benefits of engaging with communities to improve customer engagement, staff commitment, and overall success.

Yiuwin and Kerry discuss the clash of cultures that can arise when collaborating, especially between large corporate entities and smaller community-driven organisations. Kerry emphasises the need for shared priorities and mutual expectations as foundational elements before diving into collaborative projects.

The episode touches upon the impact of company culture and the ripple effect of individual behaviours and actions on shaping the overall culture. The importance of constant learning, embracing new perspectives, and maintaining open lines of communication is highlighted.

In this episode, you will gain a deeper understanding of how collaboration can bridge cultural gaps, inspire positive change, and foster a collaborative culture that thrives on mutual support and shared goals.

About Kerry Tottingham

Kerry Tottingham is the founder and co-director of A Brilliant Thing. She is also a creative facilitator, design thinking and Chartered Management Institute Leadership Coach.

At A Brilliant Thing, Kerry and her team work on promoting collaboration and culture change within organisations. She highlights their passion for connecting people, creating social value, and fostering positive change across sectors.

The Beautiful Business Podcast is bought to you in partnership with:
Krystal Hosting - the UK's premium sustainable web hosting provider

In this episode of the Beautiful Business Podcast, host Yiuwin Tsang once again welcomes Amelia Wrighton, the passionate founder of Suicide&Co. Amelia discusses the often-overlooked issue of dealing with grief in the workplace. She emphasises the lack of clear guidelines and policies for handling bereavement and suicide-related grief within organisations.

The conversation examines the need for systemic changes in the workplace. Amelia reveals how Suicide&Co recognised the gap in supporting bereaved individuals in the corporate world and developed a specialised offering to guide organisations in navigating loss within the workplace.

The key takeaway is the importance of recognising and acknowledging grief as a common experience, with a focus on suicide-related grief that requires attention. She highlights the need for flexible and individualised approaches when it comes to bereavement, which doesn't fit the one-size-fits-all mold. The discussion further explores the role of managers, HR teams, and leaders in creating an open culture where employees feel comfortable discussing their struggles.

Amelia provides actionable advice for both individuals and organisations. She encourages open communication, urges colleagues and managers to ask "Are you okay?" and shares the value of contextually framed questions. She also stresses the importance of ongoing support, beyond the initial shock, and highlights the significance of gestures like sending flowers, messages of support, and facilitating an environment of open communication.

The podcast concludes with Amelia sharing her hope for the future. She envisions workplaces that proactively address grief, with managers trained to spot signs and have open conversations. She hopes to see flexible bereavement policies that accommodate individual needs and comprehensive support memberships for organisations, bridging gaps in knowledge about suicide-related grief. Ultimately, Amelia's vision is for workplaces to be well-equipped to support their employees through one of life's most challenging experiences.

About Amelia Wrighton

Amelia lost her mother at 19, whilst in her first year of university. The life-changing experience bred a deeper strength and resilience that has driven her forward ever since.

Meeting Emma at work, they realised their shared experience of losing someone to suicide and decided that now is the right time to help others in the same situation. Amelia started her career in research and then moved into marketing, media and new business. Her focus within Suicide&Co is on strategy and operations.


The Beautiful Business Podcast is bought to you in partnership with:

Krystal Hosting - the UK's premium sustainable web hosting provider

In this episode, host Yiuwin Tsang sits down with Alistair Wells, founder of Tend Legal, to explore the fascinating journey of building a modern law firm that people genuinely want to work for. Alistair shares his inspiring story of transitioning from a traditional law firm to launching Tend Legal during the pandemic.

They discuss the challenges and opportunities of reimagining a legal practice, emphasising transparency, and embracing authenticity. Alistair reveals how Tend Legal shifted away from hourly billing towards fixed fees and subscription models, creating a better client experience and reducing the pressure on employees.

The conversation touches upon the importance of client alignment, how dressing informally can lead to better client relationships, and why authenticity is at the core of their business culture. Alistair also shares insights on team dynamics, client satisfaction, and the balance between client needs and business growth.

Join Yiuwin and Alistair in this enlightening discussion on how Tend Legal is revolutionizing the legal industry, creating a space where both employees and clients feel valued and understood. Discover the power of authenticity in business and the incredible impact it can have on building a thriving and forward-thinking organisation.

About Alistair Wells

Alistair, founder and director of Tend Legal, is an experienced solicitor with a wide practice covering company, commercial, employment law and dispute resolution.

Before founding Tend Legal, Alistair was a partner at Woodfords Solicitors in South West London, where he built up more than 13 years’ experience advising small and medium sized business on an array of issues ranging from business sales and acquisitions to employee share schemes. Alistair is known for his approachable manner, zen-like calm, and clear commercial legal advice.

With three young children, there isn’t a lot of downtime, but when not working or reading bedtime stories, Alistair can be found listening to dusty old LPs, riding bikes and pretending not to watch cheesy US rom-drams.


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Welcome to this week's episode of the Beautiful Business Podcast, hosted by Yiuwin Tsang. In this enlightening conversation, Yiuwin sits down with Doug Stewart, the CEO of 100Green (formerly Green Energy UK Ltd), to explore his remarkable journey of setting up an ethically driven electricity and gas supplier that aims to transform the way we think about energy consumption in the UK.

Doug shares his personal passion for green energy and the driving force behind 100Green's commitment to ethics and sustainability. Yiuwin and Doug discuss the challenges of managing staff in an industry with a tarnished reputation and the company's determination to make energy a joyous purchase for customers.

We also talk with Doug about the many issues within today’s energy market. Doug sheds light on what sets 100Green apart and how they align their business with core values of honesty, transparency, and equity. They also aim to tackle the energy trilemma, touching on affordability, sustainability, and energy security, and how 100Green's customer-centric approach plays a pivotal role. He also touches on the significance of contributing to charitable causes and the secondary satisfaction of being part of a renewable energy revolution.

Join us for an eye-opening conversation that goes beyond the power grid and into the heart of ethical energy innovation. Doug Stewart's story is a testament to what's possible when ethics, sustainability, and determination converge in the world of business. Discover how one company is changing the energy game and working towards a greener, more ethical future.

About Doug Stewart

Doug spent his formative career at Ford Motor Company in a number of sales and service roles, followed by a move to a start-up IT company and eventually setting up his own business retailing Volkswagens and Audis as a franchised dealer.

Having sold the motor business at the turn of the millennium, Doug found himself in the fortunate position to choose what to do next. The blueprint for his venture was an ethically sound business model that contributed to the wider issues of life through commerce.

The newly deregulated electricity market offered this opportunity and so Green Energy (UK) Ltd, now trading as 100Green,  was born with the express intent of rewarding consumers who took active steps to do something about the wider environmental issues we face. Whilst the business has evolved into the company and brand we see today, these values have remained. 100Green is the UK’s only supplier of 100% green gas and renewable electricity.

The Beautiful Business Podcast is bought to you in partnership with:

Krystal Hosting - the UK's premium sustainable web hosting provider

In this episode of the Beautiful Business Podcast, host Yiuwin Tsang is joined by Kerry Tottingham, co-director of A Brilliant Thing, a social enterprise dedicated to promoting culture change in organisations. Kerry shares her journey from being a jobbing artist to venturing into the world of charity management and ultimately founding A Brilliant Thing. The company focuses on helping organisations develop effective strategies and nurturing a culture of creativity.

Kerry explains the concept of design thinking and its transformative power in guiding organisations through complex challenges and toward innovative solutions. She emphasises the importance of involving all team members in the design thinking process to foster collaboration, creativity, and consensus within an organisation.

The conversation discusses how design thinking can influence company culture. Kerry explains how the process can make creative thinking visible, highlight its value, and lead to cultural changes within organizations. They explore ways to implement design thinking in teams and encourage leaders to involve their teams in the process, ultimately leading to greater buy-in and innovation. Kerry also shares practical examples of how design thinking can be applied in different contexts, from collaborative projects involving multiple organisations to structuring a growing business.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into how design thinking can be a powerful tool for unlocking creativity, fostering collaboration, and shaping a positive organisational culture in any business or non-profit sector. Whether you're a leader looking to enhance your team's problem-solving skills or part of a growing business seeking to streamline operations, this episode offers practical guidance and inspiration for positive change.

About Kerry Tottingham

Kerry Tottingham is the founder and co-director of A Brilliant Thing. She is also a creative facilitator, design thinking and Chartered Management Institute Leadership Coach.

At A Brilliant Thing, Kerry and her team work on promoting collaboration and culture change within organisations. She highlights their passion for connecting people, creating social value, and fostering positive change across sectors.

The Beautiful Business Podcast is bought to you in partnership with:
Krystal Hosting - the UK's premium sustainable web hosting provider

In this episode of the Beautiful Business Podcast, host Yiuwin Tsang sits down with Alistair Wells, co-founder and director of Tend Legal, a law firm dedicated to supporting startups and scale-ups. Alistair shares his insights on running a business with an exit in mind, drawing from his experiences helping businesses through the exit process.

Alistair discusses the importance of having a clear exit strategy from the early stages of your business, emphasising how it can streamline the process and prevent last-minute complications. He shares cautionary tales of businesses that faced unexpected hurdles during their exit due to overlooked details, highlighting the significance of having your "house in order."

The conversation covers strategic partnerships and joint ventures as potential pathways to growth and acquisition. Alistair provides valuable advice on structuring these partnerships, addressing ownership of intellectual property, and planning for potential exits within the partnership.

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on managing teams during the sale of a business. Alistair shares insights on when and how to communicate with employees about impending changes, emphasising the need for a well-choreographed communication strategy to maintain trust and minimise disruption.

Finally, Alistair offers a heartfelt piece of advice to founders embarking on the journey of selling their businesses: be prepared for the emotional toll it may take. He encourages founders to take the time to reflect and recover after the sale, acknowledging the potential feelings of loss and the importance of decompressing before diving into new ventures.

Tune in to this episode to gain valuable insights into running a business with an exit in mind, managing key relationships, and navigating the emotional journey of selling a business. Whether you're a seasoned business leader or just starting your business journey, you'll find practical advice and wisdom in this conversation.

About Alistair Wells

Alistair, founder and director of Tend Legal, is an experienced solicitor with a wide practice covering company, commercial, employment law and dispute resolution.

Before founding Tend Legal, Alistair was a partner at Woodfords Solicitors in South West London, where he built up more than 13 years’ experience advising small and medium sized business on an array of issues ranging from business sales and acquisitions to employee share schemes. Alistair is known for his approachable manner, zen-like calm, and clear commercial legal advice.

With three young children, there isn’t a lot of downtime, but when not working or reading bedtime stories, Alistair can be found listening to dusty old LPs, riding bikes and pretending not to watch cheesy US rom-drams.


The Beautiful Business Podcast is bought to you in partnership with:

Krystal Hosting - the UK's premium sustainable web hosting provider

In the latest episode of the Beautiful Business podcast, host Yiuwin Tsang engages in an insightful conversation with guest Nila Matthews on the topic of finding your optimal self. Nila, a practitioner in the field of neurophysiology and emotional resilience, shares her expertise on how understanding our nervous system and tapping into the concept of "flow" can lead to a more fulfilling and productive personal and business life.

Nila starts by explaining the concept of "flow" as our optimal state of being and consciousness, emphasising that it's not just about going along with the status quo but rather an active process of self-awareness and facing our fears. She introduces the importance of the vagus nerve in our emotional resilience and how it relates to our sense of safety, connection, and creativity.

Yiuwin and Nila discuss different aspects of flow, including how it can manifest during activities like mountain biking or working within a highly engaged team. The conversation delves into practical techniques for achieving an optimal state, such as breathwork, tapping, and emotional release exercises. Nila stresses the importance of understanding how our bodies react to stress and recognising the signs and symptoms as a means to address them effectively.

The episode concludes with a discussion on sustainable performance and the need for individuals and leaders to prioritise well-being in the workplace. Nila emphasises that by addressing accumulated stress and creating a positive energy environment, we can not only enhance our productivity but also ensure a healthier and more fulfilling life.

Listeners are left with valuable insights into the intricate relationship between the nervous system, emotional well-being, and optimal performance, along with practical tips for finding their own path towards self-optimisation and flow.

About Nila Matthews

Nila Matthews is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of award-winning product experience, having worked with renowned companies such as Yahoo! and Sky. Her expertise lies in helping businesses understand the intricacies of customer decision-making processes to enhance user experiences and prioritise customer solutions effectively.

Nila's approach extends beyond traditional methods, as she strives to tap into the intuition and divergent thinking of staff members, fostering disruptive innovation and creativity. She employs a unique blend of both new and ancient techniques, designed to engage the mind and promote flow. Her methods aim to unlock the individuality, intrinsic motivation, and confidence of team members.

Nila has a commitment to demystifying complex scientific and ancient wisdom, making it accessible and applicable to businesses and corporates. Her focus is on uncovering the underlying drivers of behaviour and energy systems, allowing for communication with the unconscious brain and heart, which often guides decisions before the conscious mind even registers them.

The Beautiful Business Podcast is bought to you in partnership with:

Krystal Hosting - the UK's premium sustainable web hosting provider

In this episode of The Beautiful Business Podcast, host Yiuwin Tsang sits down with Megan Taylor, Managing Director of Rise Beyond, to explore her incredible journey from a career in professional dance to a leadership role in the business world. Megan shares her experiences and insights on the challenges and opportunities that come with transitioning to leadership, particularly as a young woman in a predominantly male-dominated field.

Megan's story is both inspiring and relatable as she discusses her initial struggle with imposter syndrome. She candidly shares how she overcame these challenges, discovered her unique strengths, and learned to embrace her differences.

The conversation covers the importance of self-reflection, self-development, and being present in leadership roles. Megan highlights the significance of listening, letting go of rigid agendas, and allowing conversations to unfold naturally to foster trust and meaningful connections.

Yiuwin and Megan explore the dynamics of female leadership teams and how this shift can bring positive changes to organisations. They also touch on the evolving landscape of leadership in a diverse and inclusive world, emphasising the need for authenticity and embracing differences.

Megan concludes with her vision of the future of business and leadership, where diversity, inclusivity, and meaningful conversations are at the forefront. She highlights the role of consultancies like Rise Beyond in driving these positive changes and the importance of owning one's unique qualities in leadership.

About Megan Taylor

Megan joined the founding of RISE in 2015 to develop and run the operations of the start-up consultancy alongside working with key initial clients. Since then she has been instrumental in building the growing business and Community of Practice, and in 2023 took over as Managing Director.

Before RISE, Megan was a professional dancer, teacher and choreographer, setting up and growing a personal & professional development community for dancers in London. It was in this "laboratory" she honed her coaching, facilitation and programme design skills, alongside learning all about founding and growing a community.

Megan brings an energy for moving things forwards, helping groups to not only work to understand what is going on in more depth, but guiding them to try and experiment with new ways of doing things in order to make change happen. 

The Beautiful Business Podcast is bought to you in partnership with:
Krystal Hosting - the UK's premium sustainable web hosting provider

In this podcast episode, host Yiuwin Tsang and guest Nila Matthews from Awakening Flow dive deep into the topic of embracing chaos and how it relates to creativity, impostor syndrome, and building authentic connections.

They share personal experiences and practical strategies for managing stress, fostering vulnerability, and navigating challenging situations.

This insightful conversation provides valuable insights for leaders, managers, and individuals looking to unlock their creative potential and develop meaningful relationships in both their personal and professional lives.

About Nila Matthews

Nila Matthews is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of award-winning product experience, having worked with renowned companies such as Yahoo! and Sky. Her expertise lies in helping businesses understand the intricacies of customer decision-making processes to enhance user experiences and prioritise customer solutions effectively.

Nila's approach extends beyond traditional methods, as she strives to tap into the intuition and divergent thinking of staff members, fostering disruptive innovation and creativity. She employs a unique blend of both new and ancient techniques, designed to engage the mind and promote flow. Her methods aim to unlock the individuality, intrinsic motivation, and confidence of team members.

Nila has a commitment to demystifying complex scientific and ancient wisdom, making it accessible and applicable to businesses and corporates. Her focus is on uncovering the underlying drivers of behaviour and energy systems, allowing for communication with the unconscious brain and heart, which often guides decisions before the conscious mind even registers them.

The Beautiful Business Podcast is bought to you in partnership with:

Krystal Hosting - the UK's premium sustainable web hosting provider

Join host Yiuwin Tsang and special guest Helen Neal from HN Communications as they delve into the world of sustainability in the communication industry. HN Communications, a dynamic sustainability-focused strategic communications agency, has been on an inspiring journey of rapid growth over the last few years. They discuss the reasons behind this growth, which is primarily attributed to businesses realising that sustainability is no longer an add-on but a core component of their strategies, transcending all aspects of their operations.

Helen highlights how sustainability is no longer just a part of a company's mission but an integral aspect of how they communicate, whether it's with consumers or within the business,  and how effective communication about sustainability plays a pivotal role in this shifting paradigm. They also touch upon the influential role of consumers, particularly the younger generation, in driving sustainability and positive change. Helen shares insights from her recent experience at Climate Week in New York and how these younger voices are pushing businesses to be more accountable.

The discussion reveals the importance of embracing transparency in sustainability communication. Helen discusses how HN Communications manages its own sustainability, from reducing travel and offsetting carbon emissions to partnering with organisations that align with their values. The episode highlights the importance of making progress over seeking perfection and outlines the tools and practices that can help businesses become more sustainable and transparent in their communication efforts.

Tune in to explore the world of sustainable communication and learn how businesses can navigate progress and transparency while making a positive impact on the planet and society.

About Helen Neal

Helen Neal is the founder of HN Communications which has been operating since 2017. She has 2- years experience in policy, transport and sustainability. Helen is an advocate of collaboration and kindness in business and is on a mission to help businesses do more good in the world.

HN Communications is an award-wining specialist agency that helps Global businesses and NGOs tell their story, what they believe in and stand for. 

Helen and her team work on global campaigns for international brands in food and drink, automotive, engineering, climate action and business transformation. They are at their happiest when they are helping people and their organisation to do good things in the world. 

The Beautiful Business Podcast is bought to you in partnership with:

Krystal Hosting - the UK's premium sustainable web hosting provider

In this thought-provoking podcast episode, host Yiuwin Tsang discusses the essence of collaboration with special guest Megan Taylor, Managing Director of Rise Beyond. They explore the complex nature of collaboration, shedding light on the misconceptions and challenges often associated with this buzzword.

Megan Taylor emphasizes the importance of revisiting the true meaning of collaboration, highlighting that it's not just about using fancy technologies or working in a harmonious environment. Instead, it's a dynamic, human social process that involves people working together to achieve shared goals. Collaboration can be messy, frustrating, and ever-changing, but it's also immensely rewarding.

The conversation examines the challenges leaders and organisations face when trying to foster effective collaboration. Megan and Yiuwin discuss the need for self-awareness, the impact of power dynamics, and the importance of creating brave spaces for open dialogue. They share insights on how embracing differences, cultivating trust, and navigating conflict are essential for successful collaboration.

Furthermore, the episode explores how these collaboration principles extend beyond internal team dynamics. Megan and Yiuwin discuss how they apply to external collaborations, offering valuable advice for businesses working with clients or partnering with other organisations.

Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of collaboration and walk away with practical insights on how to foster a more effective collaborative environment in their workplaces and partnerships. Learn how to unpack the layers of collaboration and discover the keys to navigating the messy, yet creatively fulfilling world of working together.

About Megan Taylor

Megan joined the founding of RISE in 2015 to develop and run the operations of the start-up consultancy alongside working with key initial clients. Since then she has been instrumental in building the growing business and Community of Practice, and in 2023 took over as Managing Director.

Before RISE, Megan was a professional dancer, teacher and choreographer, setting up and growing a personal & professional development community for dancers in London. It was in this "laboratory" she honed her coaching, facilitation and programme design skills, alongside learning all about founding and growing a community.

Megan brings an energy for moving things forwards, helping groups to not only work to understand what is going on in more depth, but guiding them to try and experiment with new ways of doing things in order to make change happen. 

The Beautiful Business Podcast is bought to you in partnership with:
Krystal Hosting - the UK's premium sustainable web hosting provider

In this episode of the Beautiful Business Podcast, host Yiuwin Tsang sits down with Helen Neal, the founder of HN Communications. Helen shares her extensive background in working with large organisations and offers invaluable insights into her journey from corporate roles to establishing her agency.

Helen spent years working for global giants like Virgin Atlantic and Nissan, where she was closely involved in government relations, policy, and campaigns. Throughout her career, she found herself drawn to sustainability and climate-related issue. Six years ago, Helen took a bold step and founded HN Communications. What prompted this change in her career trajectory? Helen delves into the perfect storm of factors, including her desire to balance her career and motherhood, as well as the realisation that it was time for a change.

As Helen reflects on her journey, she highlights the unique position her agency holds, not having followed the traditional agency mold. This freedom allows them to adapt and create a unique agency tailored to the needs of their clients.

Helen discusses her agency's approach to working with large corporations, emphasising the importance of understanding that even large organisations are composed of small teams. Being small can be a superpower, providing agility and creativity that corporations often desire. She encourages agencies to focus on becoming a seamless part of their clients' team and supporting them in every way possible.

Helen also discusses the power of collaboration between corporations and NGOs and the valuable lessons learned from the transparency and authenticity of the NGO world.

The episode concludes with a discussion on the future of sustainability and the vital role of collaboration between businesses and NGOs in driving meaningful change. Helen's belief in positive progress and the need for accountability will resonate with many of our listeners.

About Helen Neal

Helen Neal is the founder of HN Communications which has been operating since 2017. She has 2- years experience in policy, transport and sustainability. Helen is an advocate of collaboration and kindness in business and is on a mission to help businesses do more good in the world.

HN Communications is an award-wining specialist agency that helps Global businesses and NGOs tell their story, what they believe in and stand for. 

Helen and her team work on global campaigns for international brands in food and drink, automotive, engineering, climate action and business transformation. They are at their happiest when they are helping people and their organisation to do good things in the world. 

The Beautiful Business Podcast is bought to you in partnership with:

Krystal Hosting - the UK's premium sustainable web hosting provider

In this thought-provoking episode, Peter Czapp speaks with renowned finance professor Alex Edmans from London Business School on the intersection of profit and purpose in businesses.

The discussion kicks off with the central question: How can businesses maximise profit while remaining purposeful? Professor Edmans explains the idea that businesses guided by purpose not only contribute positively to society but also make sound economic decisions.

Professor Edmans emphasises the importance of defining a focused and targeted purpose for businesses, debunking the myth of solving all the world's problems. The conversation offers practical guidance on how businesses can authentically define and measure their purpose, with a focus on meaningful key performance indicators. The discussion also explains the role of individuals within businesses, showcasing the power of every individual to create positive change.

The episode deep dives into the relationship between purpose and profit, challenging the traditional mindset that views them as conflicting objectives. Professor Edmans shares compelling research findings that highlight how purpose-driven companies outperform their peers in long-term shareholder returns. The conversation underscores the need for a holistic shift in mindset and metrics, encouraging businesses to integrate purpose seamlessly into their operations.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into how businesses can embark on the journey towards purpose as well as a reflection on the future, envisioning a world where purpose and sustainability become so ingrained in business practices that they no longer require distinct labels.

About Alex Edmans

Alex Edmans is Professor of Finance at London Business School.  Alex graduated from Oxford University and then worked for Morgan Stanley in investment banking (London) and fixed income sales and trading (New York).  After a PhD in Finance from MIT Sloan as a Fulbright Scholar, he joined Wharton in 2007 and was tenured in 2013 shortly before moving to LBS.

Alex’s research interests are in corporate finance, responsible business and behavioural finance.  He is a Director of the American Finance Association, Vice President-Elect of the Western Finance Association, a Fellow of the Financial Management Association, and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. From 2017-2022 he was Managing Editor of the Review of Finance, the leading academic finance journal in Europe. 

The Beautiful Business Podcast is bought to you in partnership with:
Krystal Hosting - the UK's premium sustainable web hosting provider

Join host Yiuwin Tsang and Nikki Lindgren, the founder of Pennock, a female-led agency specialising in helping direct-to-consumer brands in the beauty and lifestyle space, as they discuss Nikki’s journey from the corporate world to launching her own boutique agency. 

Nikki describes the unique challenges and advantages of being a female-led agency, especially in an industry where male-led organisations still dominate the landscape. Nikki discusses how Pennock's focus on beauty and lifestyle aligns with the predominantly female demographic of their target audience, creating a natural connection and understanding of client needs.

The episode also explores Nikki's leadership style and the shift towards more collaborative, reflective decision-making. The importance of calculated and considerate leadership is discussed, drawing from Nikki's experiences in allowing her team the space to self-discover and contribute to the agency's direction. Nikki reveals how Pennock's decision-making SOPs and reflection plays a crucial role in strategic choices, aligning with the agency's ethos of making clients' lives as easy as possible.

Tune in to gain valuable insights into the world of agency leadership, the nuances of being a female leader, and the power of collaborative and reflective decision-making.

About Nikki Lindgren

Nikki Lindgren is a leader in scaling DTC businesses to grow their customer acquisition and revenue through marketing strategies that combine talent, automation, and tools to drive upwards of +65% month-over-month growth for her clients.

As the founder and managing partner of Pennock, Nikki has managed over $100 million in digital media ranging from high-growth tech startups to established household brands. She advises her clients on how to utilize their strategic advantages to drive marketing initiatives that generate impressive ROAS.

Her experience spans search engine marketing, pay-per-click, paid social, display advertising, remarketing/intent-based marketing programs, performance marketing, mobile/video marketing, organic search, app store optimisation, native advertising, and influencer/blogger relationships. 

The Beautiful Business Podcast is bought to you in partnership with:

Krystal Hosting - the UK's premium sustainable web hosting provider

In this episode of The Beautiful Business Podcast host Yiuwin Tsang and Chris Shaw from We Are Atmosphere discuss the dynamics of leadership in today's world, reflecting on the importance of inspiration and authenticity in leading teams. They also explore the challenges leaders face in embracing adaptability. From enthusiastic champions to hesitant neutrals and resistant detractors, Chris sheds light on the spectrum of responses to the urgent need for change in leadership. The urgency, as Chris points out, often gets lost amid the multitude of priorities businesses face, making it essential to effectively communicate the imminent need for adaptation.

The episode also touches on the importance of diversity, and the need for more trailblazers in leadership from under-represented communities. Chris advocates for leaders to continuously revisit and reassess their strategies, using tools like SWOT analysis not as one-off exercises but as living, breathing documents that evolve with the business.

Chris also emphasises the need for leaders to break free from legacy thinking and embrace creativity, fostering environments that encourage thinking beyond quarterly results.

The episode concludes with a vision for future business leaders – a vision that includes more diversity, authenticity, and purpose-driven leadership to create truly beautiful businesses.

About Chris Shaw

Chris is a creative at heart, having spent the last 20 years helping business leaders around the world maximise growth and achieve the results they really want, all against the backdrop of change. During his career, he has built an extensive playbook containing more than 200 unique tools, frameworks and insights all designed to simplify the complex nature of business and facilitate creative thinking.

Having successfully built and exited both a management consultancy and a creative agency in the last 10 years, Chris has used his blend of commercial experience and academic insight to accelerate the growth of organisations in a wide range of sectors including SaaS, Finance, Security, Media, Manufacture, Education, Logistics, Marketing, Travel and Professional Services.

He has recently ventured into the realm of horror fiction having signed a five-book publishing deal in the young adult space. 

In this week’s podcast, Yiuwin Tsang talks once again to Nikki Lindgren and discusses the path of growth her agency Pennock has taken, seeing them grow from 0 to 8 people. 

Nikki shares her early experiences as well as her learnings from creating successful business growth and team culture. 

Listen to the podcast to learn:

• How to scale direct-to-consumer businesses 
• Starting an agency by identifying gaps for clients that aren’t already being fulfilled 
• How to create a culture of curiosity in marketing teams
• How to successfully structure a team in a digital marketing agency
• Building a high-performing team in a fast-paced agency environment
• Remote work culture and flexible scheduling.
• Prioritising team well-being in business growth

About Nikki Lindgren

Nikki Lindgren is a leader in scaling DTC businesses to grow their customer acquisition and revenue through marketing strategies that combine talent, automation, and tools to drive upwards of +65% month-over-month growth for her clients.

As the founder and managing partner of Pennock, Nikki has managed over $100 million in digital media ranging from high-growth tech startups to established household brands. She advises her clients on how to utilize their strategic advantages to drive marketing initiatives that generate impressive ROAS.

Her experience spans search engine marketing, pay-per-click, paid social, display advertising, remarketing/intent-based marketing programs, performance marketing, mobile/video marketing, organic search, app store optimisation, native advertising, and influencer/blogger relationships. 

In this week’s episode of The Beautiful Business Podcast we were delighted to welcome Tomasz Dyl, Founder and Managing Director of GottaBe! Marketing to talk about his experiences of starting an agency at just 17 years of age!

Our host Yiuwin Tsang talks to Tomasz about his experiences in starting out very young, taking risks and learning from mistakes, which has helped build a strong and resilient business today. They discuss how the drive to overcome obstacles and see results kept Thomas going as he tried to bridge the gap between Polish and UK communities and offer unique services in a niche market.  

Listen to the podcast to hear more about: 

• The importance of inclusivity in marketing, particularly in reaching ethnic minority communities in the UK
• The benefits of being an "upstart" brand, open to new ideas and able to adapt to change
• The importance of finding the right people for the right roles in a growing business, especially those who can empathise with the target market
• The importance of being part of the EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) movement and making a difference in people's lives

About Tomasz Dyl

Tomasz founded GottaBe! Marketing, in 2008 and over the years has established it into a leading marketing agency, specialising in providing innovative and tailored marketing solutions to clients in various industries.

In 2022, Tomasz was awarded the ‘Business Leader Award’ at the 2022 South Coast Business Awards, presented to leaders who elevated their business or supported the local community. GottaBe! were also nominated for a further two awards: Small Business of the Year and Business Leader of the Year and in 2023 won ‘Independent Agency of the Year’ at the GG2 Leadership & Diversity Awards.

In this episode of the Beautiful Business podcast, our host Yiuwin Tsang and Chris Shaw from We Are Atmosphere talk about creating disruption in the consultancy world and overcoming challenges in a saturated market. 

Chris Shaw highlights the challenges faced by consultancy businesses in the current economic climate, including standing out and identifying pressure points in clients' businesses. Chris and Yiuwin look at ways in which consultancies can develop strategies for business success as well as future-proofing the business through adaptability and creativity.

Listen to the podcast now to learn more about: 

• The growing importance of sustainability in business, with a focus on purpose-driven approaches and authenticity
• Future-proofing businesses by analysing four areas: society, technology, planet, and ways of working
• Creating scenarios to help businesses adapt to rapid change and recognise opportunities, even if change is too fast to predict
• The importance of adaptability in business, particularly in the face of existential threats like climate change, economic instability, and geopolitical tensions
• The challenges of disruptive change in business, including a lack of time and energy to focus on the future, and a tendency to prioritise short-term goals over long-term planning
• How consultancy leaders should focus on adaptability and being open to new ways of thinking, rather than getting stuck in traditional methods
• The importance of creativity and adaptability in business to stay ahead of new developments and meet sustainability challenges

About Chris Shaw

Chris is a creative at heart, having spent the last 20 years helping business leaders around the world maximise growth and achieve the results they really want, all against the backdrop of change. During his career, he has built an extensive playbook containing more than 200 unique tools, frameworks and insights all designed to simplify the complex nature of business and facilitate creative thinking.

Having successfully built and exited both a management consultancy and a creative agency in the last 10 years, Chris has used his blend of commercial experience and academic insight to accelerate the growth of organisations in a wide range of sectors including SaaS, Finance, Security, Media, Manufacture, Education, Logistics, Marketing, Travel and Professional Services.

He has recently ventured into the realm of horror fiction having signed a five-book publishing deal in the young adult space. 

In this, the second episode with Tomasz Dyl of GottaBe! Marketing, Yiuwin Tsang tackles the issue of diversity and how agencies need to better understand and connect with their multicultural audiences. 

They discuss the strategies needed to build authentic connections with ethnic communities through immersion and understanding nuances, traditions, and challenges. This in turn can provide insights that are crucial for effective marketing.

Listen to this episode of The Beautiful Business Podcast to learn more about: 

• Building relationships and audience focus
• Exploring ethnic nuances in communication: Post-Covid and BLM
• Marketing to ethnic minorities for better ROI: Insights and recommendations
• Multicultural ethnic marketing strategies and collaboration
• The future of multicultural ethnic marketing

About Tomasz Dyl

Tomasz founded GottaBe! Marketing, in 2008 and over the years has established it into a leading marketing agency, specialising in providing innovative and tailored marketing solutions to clients in various industries.

In 2022, Tomasz was awarded the ‘Business Leader Award’ at the 2022 South Coast Business Awards, presented to leaders who elevated their business or supported the local community. GottaBe! were also nominated for a further two awards: Small Business of the Year and Business Leader of the Year and in 2023 won ‘Independent Agency of the Year’ at the GG2 Leadership & Diversity Awards.

In this week’s podcast, our host Yiuwin Tsang was joined by the founder of The Exceptional Leader Academy, Dene Stuart. Dene has a wealth of experience in helping leaders to achieve their full potential and in this podcast shares insights on how to embrace vulnerability, cultivate essential soft skills, and leverage time for sustained success in business. He also emphasises the necessity for leaders to develop self-awareness to navigate uncertainty effectively.

Dene also highlights the often undervalued soft skills in business, stressing their impact on reducing costs and enhancing productivity. The episode examines the challenges of managing and measuring these skills, urging leaders to recognise their tangible impact on businesses of any size.

Listen to the podcast to learn more about: 

• How to embrace vulnerability in your leadership development
• How to develop emotional intelligence and self-awareness and set yourself apart from the majority who don't lead well
• How to better leverage your own time, and delegate tasks for business success
• How to build emotional resilience through mindfulness and self-reflection 

About Dene Stuart

Dene Stuart has over 30 years of commercial, leadership, and management experience, having held director roles within major national and regional media companies.

Managing large teams in multi-site offices gave Dene the broadest possible range of employment, team, motivational, and performance issues to deal with and was the key to his interest in personal development and performance. 

Dene is a licensed behavioural analyst and has a BSc in Management Science from The University of Manchester, Institute of Science and Technology. He is the author of various books including ResourcefulMe and The Thinking Revolution.

In this week’s podcast host Yiuwin Tsang talks to Stephen Moffitt from We Are Atmosphere about building adaptable businesses, overcoming fear of change, and the practical steps you need to take for success.

They discuss the great shift happening in society, driven by technological, climate, economic, and geopolitical changes and how Stephen believes this shift will lead to a very different future than the present, with unpredictable outcomes and challenges for businesses and society as a whole.

This is a wide-ranging episode that covers:

• The long-term impacts of climate change and migration on businesses
• The future of online advertising and privacy concerns
• Adapting business strategies for an uncertain future
• Overcoming fear of change in business - the importance of being creative, communicating better and being explicit about what businesses are doing in response to change

About Stephen Moffitt

Stephen describes himself as an "intrapreneur" and strategic advisor working with companies pivoting toward delivering digital or data products and services. He has experience in starting new digital ventures for both private and public sector organisations across a range of industries, including healthcare, financial services, media and publishing. He also consults on digital transformation strategies to create adaptive businesses that can thrive in uncertainty.

Stephen has a BA in communications from Temple University and a PhD in Law from Birkbeck, where his research was on developing a paradigmatic framework to analyse the disruptions taking place in copyright law. In addition to his academic publications, he has published articles on transformation and data, as well as given talks in North America, Europe and the Caribbean. He is also a published poet and author and his science fiction novel, Sea of Dreams, imagined a future Data Age.

In this week's podcast, join Yiuwin Tsang and Ritam Gandhi, founder of Studio Graphene,  in this enlightening conversation that unravels the layers of B Corp certification, sustainability in digital product development, and the pivotal role they play in shaping the culture of a global agency. 

Listen to this episode to learn more about:

- B Corp certification and its impact on a global agency's culture
- B Corp certification and sustainability in digital product development
- The motivation for pursuing B Corp certification as a force for good 
- The certification journey and the added complexity of being an international business with multiple locations
- How the process has refined their mission and values through external validation, leading to clearer definition and alignment
- How the leadership team's education and openness on sustainability issues has driven employee passion and alignment
- How to drive business growth through sustainability and purpose

About Ritam Gandhi

For a decade, Ritam worked as a consultant for the likes of Accenture and Bank of America and Merrill Lynch before, in 2014, going on to found Studio Graphene – an agency that specialises in developing blank canvas tech products. 

Working with many startups alongside some more established companies, the London-based agency plans, designs and builds amazing tech products for its clients. What’s more, Ritam and the team also use their experience and expertise to help leaders grow their businesses.

On the podcast this week we bring you the second part of our conversation with Dene Stuart, founder of The Exceptional Leader Academy. Hosted by Yiuwin Tsang, this episode looks at how learning to lead before leading others is essential because it lays the foundation for effective leadership. Leadership involves guiding and inspiring others, which requires a deep understanding of oneself, including strengths, weaknesses, values, and goals.

Leading oneself first enables leaders to set a positive example, make sound decisions, and effectively navigate challenges, ultimately earning the trust and respect necessary to lead others successfully.

Dene’s career and experiences make for fascinating and insightful listening. Tune in now to learn more about:

- Leadership development and effective decision-making
- Managing pressure in leadership roles
- Effective communication and leadership
- Leadership skills and delegation for business growth
- Intentional leadership development


About Dene Stuart

Dene Stuart has over 30 years of commercial, leadership, and management experience, having held director roles within major national and regional media companies.

Managing large teams in multi-site offices gave Dene the broadest possible range of employment, team, motivational, and performance issues to deal with and was the key to his interest in personal development and performance. 

Dene is a licensed behavioural analyst and has a BSc in Management Science from The University of Manchester, Institute of Science and Technology. He is the author of various books including ResourcefulMe and The Thinking Revolution.

In our second podcast episode with Stephen Moffitt from We Are Atmosphere,  we look at how to create visionary leadership amidst global uncertainty. Our host, Yiuwin Tsang, and Stephen talk about the critical skills of leaders which include being able to adapt to uncertainty and guide senior teams through the process of envisioning the future and embracing any necessary personal changes. 

Stephen emphasises the delicate balance between visionary and relational leadership during times of change, stressing the significance of shared vision and collaboration among senior leadership teams. Furthermore, he explores the importance of incorporating generational perspectives into business leadership, advocating for the involvement of younger generations in shaping the future of work. 

Listen to this podcast to learn more about:

- The leadership mindset and adapting to uncertainty with a clear vision
- How to create open and adaptive business models
- How to balance visionary and relational leadership
- Why future scenarios and generational perspectives in business leadership are so important
- Why leaders should develop humility and curiosity to effectively navigate change
- Why leaders should prioritise building rapport and gaining insights by talking to people around them

About Stephen Moffitt

Stephen describes himself as an "intrapreneur" and strategic advisor working with companies pivoting toward delivering digital or data products and services. He has experience in starting new digital ventures for both private and public sector organisations across a range of industries, including healthcare, financial services, media and publishing. He also consults on digital transformation strategies to create adaptive businesses that can thrive in uncertainty.

Stephen has a BA in communications from Temple University and a PhD in Law from Birkbeck, where his research was on developing a paradigmatic framework to analyse the disruptions taking place in copyright law. In addition to his academic publications, he has published articles on transformation and data, as well as given talks in North America, Europe and the Caribbean. He is also a published poet and author and his science fiction novel, Sea of Dreams, imagined a future Data Age.

In this podcast episode, Ritam Gandhi, the founder of Studio Graphene, a digital product agency with a unique hybrid model of in-house and outsourced teams, shares his decade-long journey of growing an international agency. The discussion covers various aspects of entrepreneurship, leadership, and team building. 

Hosted by Yiuwin Tsang, the episode provides valuable insights into the process of building and scaling an international agency and how you might go about navigating challenges and fostering a culture of innovation and excellence.

Listen to the episode now to learn more about: 

 - The importance of alignment, passion, and face-to-face interactions in a global work environment
 - The significance of human connection in fostering creativity and building effective working relationships
 - Why making leaders available for impromptu conversations is crucial for maintaining a sense of togetherness and empathy among team members
 - How to build a leadership team and trust others to handle tasks
 - The importance of hiring for attitude and alignment with company values over skill set
 - The importance of creating a sense of belonging among team members across different locations

About Ritam Gandhi

For a decade, Ritam worked as a consultant for the likes of Accenture and Bank of America and Merrill Lynch before, in 2014, going on to found Studio Graphene – an agency that specialises in developing blank canvas tech products. 

Working with many startups alongside some more established companies, the London-based agency plans, designs and builds amazing tech products for its clients. What’s more, Ritam and the team also use their experience and expertise to help leaders grow their businesses.

In this episode of the Beautiful Business Podcast, host Yiuwin Tsang and guest, Gavin Willis, Founder of Search Seven, discuss the intricacies and benefits of balancing profit with purpose in business, particularly through charity partnerships and fundraising. Gavin shares insights and experiences from his journey, offering valuable perspectives on integrating social impact into a business model.

Gavin discusses the evolution of the company's charity initiatives, moving from a profit-based approach to dedicating a minimum percentage of profits to charitable causes. He touches upon the practical aspects of managing events and communities within a marketing agency, including the significance of passion, commitment, and structure in driving social impact initiatives. He shares success stories from past charity events, illustrating how such activities not only contribute to valuable causes but also foster a sense of purpose and unity among team members.

Listen to the episode now to learn more about:

-How to integrate charity partnerships and fundraising efforts strategically into your business model
-How to achieve a balance between profitability and social impact
-How to gain a genuine commitment to social impact from within your organisation
-How to foster team engagement in a remote-first environment through charity initiatives
-How prioritising CSR and charitable work can help attract clients aligned with your values, and foster long-term client retention.

About Gavin Willis

Gavin set up Search Seven in 2011 with a real passion for disrupting traditional search and client services. Gavin sees the company as a vehicle to make a difference, with a vision of giving back at least 7% of profits to charities and community projects every year.

Search Seven specialise in Paid Media and data driven SEO and work with clients and agencies throughout the UK, Europe and Globally to understand their business objectives and put together great search strategies that successfully engage with their target audience on the right channels, and with the right messaging, that leads to great results.

In this episode of the Beautiful Business podcast, host Chloe interviews Nikki Gatenby, a leading figure in the agency world known for delivering outstanding results. Nikki shares her insights on building successful businesses that balance purpose, positioning, people, product, planet, and platforms.

Drawing from her experience transforming Propellernet into a global marketing organisation and SAAS provider, Nikki discusses the key elements of creating a thriving workplace culture that prioritises well-being and innovation. She also explores her passion for AI and its potential impact on the creative industry, addressing both its opportunities and challenges.

As a Non-Executive Director and Cognitive Behavioural Coach, Nikki brings energy, ideas, and execution expertise to help marketing, media, and tech businesses create impact. She works with ambitious founders, board directors, and leaders to develop strategies, realise ideas, and achieve business goals.

Throughout the conversation, Nikki highlights the need for future-focused leadership, urging leaders to take responsibility for their global impact and leave a positive legacy. She advocates for profits to stem from solving the world's problems, not creating them, and stresses the importance of prioritising action over inertia.

Chloe and Nikki also discuss the significance of collaboration between humans and machines, and the need for responsible and ethical use of AI in the workplace. This episode is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the intersection of culture, innovation, and AI in business, and how leaders can build unstoppable forces for good.

Takeaways

• Culture and engagement are crucial for creating a positive and productive work environment.
• Embracing well-being and innovation can lead to better work outcomes and employee satisfaction.
• Non-executive directors and cognitive behavioural coaches can provide valuable guidance and support to agency founders and leaders.
• Future-facing leadership involves being proactive and adaptable in the face of rapid technological advancements, such as AI. AI has the potential to enhance creativity and innovation in the creative industry.
• Collaboration between humans and AI is crucial for maximising the benefits of AI.

Leadership coach, mentor, and entrepreneur Chris Parry shares her journey from punk music enthusiast to founder of the Centre for High Performance Development. With a career punctuated by leading her consultancy to the Sunday Times' top 100 small businesses and its eventual acquisition by IBM, Chris opens up about the trials and triumphs of building a values-driven business. Her story is one of passion, transformation, and the relentless pursuit of purpose, making it a must-listen for aspiring leaders.

Chris dives into what makes an exceptional leader, emphasising the importance of recruiting potential over experience and fostering a developmental culture. She highlights the balance needed between personal well-being, team dynamics, and task completion to avoid burnout and create a positive work environment. With insights into the cognitive, people-oriented, inspiring, and action-focused behaviours essential for effective leadership, this conversation is packed with wisdom for anyone looking to elevate their leadership game.

As we navigate the complexities of modern leadership, Chris offers her take on the pressing challenges of 2024, including AI's transformative impact and the nuances of remote and hybrid work. She underscores the enduring importance of face-to-face communication and effective conflict resolution, sharing practical strategies to manage team dynamics and create a legacy that benefits employees, clients, and the community. This episode is an invaluable resource for leaders at all stages, from startup founders to seasoned executives.

Takeaways

• Leaders should focus on the 'I, We, and It' aspects of leadership, including self-awareness, building strong relationships, and managing tasks effectively.
• Creating a high-performance culture requires valuing diverse talent and understanding what motivates individuals.
• Remote and hybrid working environments present challenges in terms of maintaining productivity, innovation, and employee well-being.
• Leaders should prioritise face-to-face interactions for activities that benefit from in-person collaboration.
• Leadership styles should be adaptable and tailored to individual strengths and the needs of the organisation. Remote and hybrid work have become more prevalent in smaller businesses, and while they can be effective, face-to-face interactions and events are still important for building connections and relationships.
• The future of leadership will involve incorporating innovations in AI, neuroscience, biology, and peer development, while still focusing on the core skills of delegation and motivation.
• Conflict in the workplace is a natural part of human interaction, and it can be managed constructively through collaboration and understanding different perspectives.
• Toxic conflict arises when conflict is not managed properly or when cultural factors contribute to unhealthy dynamics. It is important to create a culture that encourages open communication and addresses conflict proactively.
• Conflict management requires skills such as conceptual flexibility, empathy, and the ability to collaborate. These skills can be developed through training and practice.
• Leaders can manage conflict by creating a clear process for addressing conflicts within teams, giving individuals space to express their perspectives, and encouraging collaboration and problem-solving.
• Emotional management and taking a deep breath can help individuals respond to conflict in a more constructive manner.
• A beautiful business leaves a positive impact on its employees, clients, and community, creating lasting relationships and contributing to personal and professional growth.

Chapters

(03:17 - 04:10) From Punk to Choral Music (53...

In this special edition of The Beautiful Business Podcast, we bring you exclusive insights from BenchPress Live 2025, hosted by The Wow Company at London's iconic Banking Hall. This episode merges the highly anticipated release of Wow's annual BenchPress report with an engaging panel discussion focused on building people-centred businesses.

Join your host, Chloe, alongside expert panellists:

• Mo Kanjilal, author of The Inclusion Journey and Co-founder of Watch This Sp_ce, providing actionable insights into embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) to enhance innovation and profitability.
• Kelly Goodship, Managing Director at The Wow Company, sharing first-hand lessons on building clarity of vision, effective communication, and nurturing a culture that prioritises people and performance.
• Nikki Gatenby, renowned author of Superengaged and Better Business on Purpose, offering practical strategies for creating measurable outcomes through vivid visions and lighthouse metrics.

Highlights from this episode:

• The vital link between DE&I and commercial success - why genuine inclusion attracts talent and drives innovation.
• How to define and communicate your business vision clearly to motivate your team and boost profitability.
• Practical steps to turn key business numbers into 'lighthouse metrics' everyone can understand and support.
• Effective strategies to balance work-life commitments, foster accountability, and promote wellbeing across your team.
• Navigating the remote vs hybrid office debate to maintain a strong company culture and attract top talent.
• Enhancing employee engagement by understanding and supporting neurodiversity within your agency.

Key takeaways:

• DE&I isn’t just a compliance exercise - it’s fundamental to innovation and profitability.
• Clear and continuously communicated visions inspire teams and drive measurable success.
• Profitability should be understood as fuel for growth, benefiting everyone, not just business owners.
• Success in modern business requires flexibility, empathy, and creative approaches to traditional work structures.

Dive into this episode for essential insights and inspiration from industry-leading experts to drive meaningful change in your agency.

Resources:

• The Inclusion Journey by Mo Kanjilal
• Superengaged (Nikki Gatenby)

For more practical tips on building your own Beautiful Business, visit our content hub at wowco.uk/hub.

Ever wondered what it takes to scale a boutique agency into a global powerhouse? Join us for a conversation with Rob Pierre, co-founder of Jellyfish Agency, who shares his extraordinary journey from Trinidad to the UK and the innovative principles that have propelled his success. Discover Rob's unique approach to leadership, which emphasises accountability and aligning capabilities with initiatives rather than traditional job roles. He also opens up about his personal story of cultural adaptation, providing a compelling narrative that intertwines his entrepreneurial spirit with his vision for Jellyfish as the world's biggest boutique agency.

Rob takes us through the fascinating evolution of Jellyfish, from its modest beginnings as an IT consultancy in Surrey to a digital marketing behemoth with over 2,200 employees. We explore pivotal moments like the strategic move to The Shard in London and the ambitious goals set in 2016, reflecting on how these milestones paralleled Rob's personal growth. The journey is not just about corporate success but also about nurturing a business and a family, making this a rich tapestry of professional and personal development.

In the final chapters, Rob discusses the transition from entrepreneurship to legacy, the importance of a clear vision for sustainable growth, and maintaining core traits during expansion. He reveals his transformative leadership philosophy that replaces traditional hierarchies with support networks, fostering a culture of transparency and accountability. Listen as Rob shares his involvement in projects aimed at fostering inclusion and providing meaningful employment opportunities, wrapping up with the essence of building a beautiful business rooted in integrity and purpose. This episode is packed with insights for anyone looking to create a lasting impact in the business world.