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Strategy & Tragedy: CEO Stories with Steph Melodia (stephaniemelodia)

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DateTitreDurée
07 Aug 2024The Debrief: Kenny Ewan, WeFarm | The rise & fall of a buzzy scale-up00:12:24

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

In this shorter episode, Steph Melodia shares her reflections on last week's interview with Kenny Ewan, the Founder & ex-CEO of WeFarm, now director at Nesta Studio.

Tune into hear what stuck with Steph from the interview and the key lessons to highlight for all you entrepreneurs!

-

Want more?

Follow Steph:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

14 Aug 2024EP38: "I WILL GIVE YOU MONEY to get rid of a spreadsheet!" | Marla Shapiro, HERmesa00:33:47

Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/strategyandtragedy

Marla Shapiro is the founder of HERmesa, the 2X nominated Angel Group of the Year - an angel investing syndicate supporting female founders. She is also the winner of the UKBAA 2023 Diversity Champion award.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

💸 How to get started with angel investing
💸 The ROI of investing in women (why female founders are simply "a better bet")
💸 Marla's path into impact investing
💸 Top tips for fundraising founders

Join the HERmesa angel investor syndicate and start impacting gender equality here: https://hermesa.co.uk/new-investors


Want more?

Follow Steph:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/
 
🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517


🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

21 Aug 2024The Debrief: Marla Shapiro, HERmesa | Funding female founders + savvy fundraising strategies00:32:34

In this shorter episode, Steph Melodia shares her reflections on last week's interview with Marla Shapiro of HERmesa, the angel investing syndicate for female founders.

From solving the gender disparity in fundraising to business advice and top fundraising strategies, Steph shares her reflections on last week's interview with the trailblazing leadeer. 

Tune into hear what stuck with Steph from the interview and the key lessons to underscore for all you budding or early-stage entrepreneurs!
 
-
 
Want more?
 
Follow Steph:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/
 
🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/
 
🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

04 Sep 2024EP40: AMA | Scaling a business, exit strategies, thoughts on AI & more00:13:17

Stephanie Melodia answers your questions! Tune into this special solo episode to hear how she'd do things differently with Bloom, how to successfully exit a business, thoughts on AI, and more.

Want your question featured next time? Make sure to follow Steph on Instagram here: https://instagram.com/stephmelodia/

-

Want more?

Follow Steph:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/videos

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

28 Aug 2024EP39: 20 MILLION PACKS SOLD | Success & failure with Mike Stevens, Co-Founder & ex-CEO of Peppersmith00:50:16

Mike Stevens is the exited founder of Peppersmith, the confectionery brand you'll  recognise on supermarket shelves, in coffee shops and in health food stores. 

Responsible for a total of over 20 MILLION of packs sold worldwide, Mike led the company from its inception to a successful exit, achieving over £4M in annual retail sales from the likes of Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Morrisons, Whole Foods... 

Mike is also the bestselling author of The Direct-to-Consumer Playbook and now advises challenger brands looking to scale.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

🌿 The genesis of Peppersmith at Innocent HQ, Fruit Towers
🌿 Selecting a Co-Founder, the key traits to look for, and transitioning away from co-founding team to solo founder-led scale-up
🌿 The importance of product development, solving a real customer need, and building a business around a high-frequency purchase rate
🌿 Practical realities of finances (paying a team while scaling) and privilege in entrepreneurship
🌿 The Peppersmith exit journey and steadying the ship during the biggest turmoil the brand experienced

PLUS: 
👉 Most common missteps for early-stage founders
👉 Perspective on the investment landscape for consumer brands
👉 From a successful exit to winding down a failed business

Building a D2C brand? Purchase Mike Stevens bestselling book, 'The Direct to Consumer Playbook' here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1398605425/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk

-

Want more?

Follow Steph:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

11 Sep 2024Entrepreneurship education is BROKEN - so I fixed it | Ranbir Arora, Co-Founder & CEO of OneDay00:44:28

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

Ranbir Arora is the Co-Founder & CEO of edtech scale-up, Oneday, on a mission to democratise entrepreneurship. Tune into this episode to hear about...

🚀 Serial entrepreneurship
🚀 Finding a deep pain point 
🚀 Building an international edtech platform...  
🚀 And cultivating a solid team culture as it scales 
🚀 PLUS! Ranbir's *spot-on* formula for entrepreneurial success!

Ready to go from "one day" to Day 1 with Oneday? Start your entrepreneurial journey here: https://www.oneday.org/

-

Want more?

Follow Steph:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/videos

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

30 Sep 2024The Debrief: Pippa Harman, Renude | Entrepreneurship & grieving: how loss puts business into perspective00:12:17

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

Steph Melodia shares her reflections on last week's interview with Pippa Harman, Co-Founder of Renude - the world's first dermatologist-approved AI skin advisor.

One of the most unique parts about Pippa's entrepreneurial story is the theme of loss; Pippa lost her father during a company fundraise, and even had a funding round pulled due to the sudden loss of an investor's partner. It's inevitable to go philosophical here, but the silver lining to such real tragedies is how Pippa's managed to see the light in the dark, and how these devastating losses actually help put business into perspective. (When you're running a company it can feel all-consuming. This is a reminder there is more to life than business!)

Shoutout to fellow Strategy & Tragedy guest, Emily Cummin, and her app Untangle (https://untanglegrief.com/) to support people going through bereavement.

Have you endured a similar tragedy amidst building a company? Want to share your views? Get in touch via social below:

🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/

🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/

 

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

16 Sep 2024The Debrief: Ranbir Arora, OneDay | Meta entrepreneurship, delusion + resilience00:16:48

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517


Steph Melodia shares her reflections on last week's interview with Ranbir Arora, serial entrepreneur and now Co-Founder & CEO of edtech scale-up, Oneday (https://www.oneday.org/)


From finding a deep pain point in a very meta way (a serial entrepreneur helping other entrepreneurs succeed), how this clear mission helps foster a positive culture as the team scales, and of course Ranbir's attitude to success; delusion + resilience.


Let me know what resonated with you from my interview with Ranbir. Get in touch via social below:


🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/

🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/


🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

02 Sep 2024The Debrief ft. Johnny Khaira: Top Takeaways from Mike Stevens of Peppersmith00:27:57

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

Steph Melodia and special guest, Johnny Khaira, share their main reflections and top takeaways on last week's interview with Mike Stevens, Co-Founder of Peppersmith - the beloved mints brand with 20 million packs sold on supermarket shelves, coffee shops, and health stores.

Tune in to hear what resonated with them both as they debrief on last week's interview.

Let us know your thoughts! Follow on social:

🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/

🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/


🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!


18 Sep 2024EP42: Simon Squibb: Hard work is A LIE | HelpBnk00:51:36

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

Simon Squibb is the founder of HelpBnk (https://helpbnk.com/). He is also a serial entrepreneur, content creator, and investor.

Simon started his first company when he was homeless at 15 years old, and sold his last company, Fluid, to PwC. He has since invested in over 70+ startups, and is now on a mission to help 10 million people achieve their dreams.

Pre-order Simon's new book 'What's Your Dream?' via the link below:

https://www.waterstones.com/book/whats-your-dream/simon-squibb/9781529935578?_gl=1*1lxtfik*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTI1MzgwMDUzMi4xNzI1Mzg5NDM1*_ga_P4C39TQPV3*MTcyNTM4OTQzMy4xLjAuMTcyNTM4OTQzMy4wLjAuMA..

I'd LOVE to know, what resonated most with you here? 

Join the conversation: 

Follow Steph on social media:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: 
https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: 
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

25 Sep 2024EP43: Navigating fundraising through grief | Pippa Harman, Renude00:32:37

✋ TW: Content features themes of grief and bereavement.

Pippa is a formulation chemist turned beauty tech entrepreneur. She is now the Co-Founder of Renude, the AI personalisation platform for skincare on a mission to help people feel great in their bare skin. Renude offers personalised routines based on AI image analysis and a B2B plug-in solution for skincare retailers and brands to offer trusted, accurate recommendations to their customers.

In this interview, Steph and Pippa talk about...

💟 Transitioning from full-time employment to becoming a beautytech founder
💟 How Marcia Kilgore inspired Pippa to become an entrepreneur
💟 Successful co-founder pairings (including the very serendipitous chance encounter that connected Pippa to her Co-Founder, Catherine)
💟 Navigating fundraising through grief and the surprising healthy perspective gained from the most tragic of experiences

Learn more about Renude here: https://renude.co/

Join the conversation: 

Follow Steph on social media:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

16 Oct 2024EP46: My acting career made me a better entrepreneur | Nikki Wheeldon, VocoLab00:49:19

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

From dancing at the London Olympics to a 2X exited founder, Nikki Wheeldon is now mentor for Small Business Britain and speaker coach at VocoLab.

In this episode, Steph and Nikki discuss:

🎭 The resilience required for entrepreneurship from Nikki's acting career
🎭 The story of two business exits
🎭 Key lessons from business (including when to draw the line!)
🎭 The confidence to unapologetically take up space and the subconscious ways we diminish ourselves

Learn more about Nikki here: https://linktr.ee/nikkiwheeldonhq

Want more?

Follow Steph:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/videos

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

23 Sep 2024The Debrief: Simon Squibb | Failed politician? Privileged white man? Or modern-day messiah?01:01:08

Stephanie Melodia debriefs on last week's Simon Squibb interview with panellists Thomas Panton, Danielle Wallington, and Cosmin Golache - including what resonated with them the most from the conversation, what surprised or shocked them, and their hot takes on Simon Squibb's philosophy as it relates to entrepreneurship and changing the world.

The panellists:

👉 Thomas Panton: serial entrepreneur, former pro athlete, and an early Strategy & Tragedy interview guest himself! (Listen to EP06 for the interview)

👉 Danielle Wallington, founder of Flock Here, a social app that connects women who WFH to places to work from + people to work with - described as a combination of Booking.com and Tinder for co-workers!

👉 Cosmin Golache, an early-stage entrepreneur and founder of Waiterful, a platform connecting diners and waiters.

Agree/disagree with any of us? Join the conversation:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/videos

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

02 Oct 202450K followers, $3k passive income & $1M+ biz from LinkedIn ALONE! Anthony Pierri, Fletch PMM01:14:39

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

Anthony Pierri is a partner at Fletch PMM. He helps early stage B2B founders position their products and translate that to homepage messaging. And that's all he does.

In this episode, Steph and Anthony discuss:

👉 The power of honing in on your niche
👉 Creating repeatable processes for scale
👉 Best practices in brand positioning for B2B startups
👉 Personal branding and dealing with trolls
👉 How to blow up on LinkedIn

Learn more about Fletch PMM here: https://www.fletchpmm.com/
Follow Anthony Pierri here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonypierri/

Join the conversation:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/videos

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

09 Oct 2024EP45: Nailing Dragons' Den | Gina Farran, Glaize00:34:00

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

Gina Farran is the banker-turned-entrepreneur and star of BBC's Dragons' Den. She is the Founder & CEO of Glaize, a tech-enabled D2C brand producing made-to-measure gel manicures that are chip-free, long lasting and vegan. Easy to apply, even easier to remove.

In this episode, Steph and Gina discuss:

💅 Going viral on TikTok
💅 Finding validation early on
💅 Behind the scenes of Dragons' Den
💅 Sales lifecycles
💅 And so much more!

PLUS! Get 15% OFF your order! Use the code STRATEGY15 https://glaize.co/

Want more?

Follow Steph:

🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

08 Oct 2024The Debrief: Anthony Pierri with Liz Painter of Comma Comma00:56:39

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

Steph Melodia and Liz Painter debrief on last week's interview with Anthony Pierri of Fletch PMM, who has built up a highly profitable service-based business by honing in on one niche, to one customer segment, doing one thing, promoted on one channel!

Naturally, in this episode, Steph and Liz debrief on the power of niching down; what that does to your creativity in the process (how to avoid going stale); and what resonated most with us about marketing, personal brand, messaging, and strategy.

Tune in and get involved in the conversation! Send us a message via social:

🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

14 Oct 2024The Debrief: Gina Farran, Glaize | How to set yourself up for success as a first-time founder00:34:29

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

In this solo debrief episode, Steph Melodia shares her main takeaways from last week's interview with Gina Farran, the Founder & CEO of the innovative nail brand, Glaize.

From a career in corporate to taking the plunge, tune into hear what stuck with Steph from the interview and the key lessons to underscore for all you budding or early-stage entrepreneurs!

Want more?

Follow Steph:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/
 
🎬 Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/
 
🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

21 Oct 2024The Debrief: Nikki Wheeldon, VocoLab | The case for lifestyle businesses00:15:04

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

In this shorter solo episode, Steph Melodia shares her key takeaways from last week's interview with former actor and now serial entrepreneur, Nikki Wheeldon of VocoLab.

Tune into hear what stuck with Steph from the interview and the biggest lessons to underscore for all you budding or early-stage entrepreneurs!

-

Want more?

Follow Steph:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/
 
🎬 Watch the interviews on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/
 
🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

23 Oct 2024EP47: AI is the only thing that will get us out of this mess | Nigel Morris00:54:39

Managing international teams? Get a demo of Deel here: https://bit.ly/4f6yef1

Nigel Morris is an AdLand legend, top angel investor, chairman of The Upside and IDX, and sits on the boards of Landvault,  Profitwheel, and Actioncy Tech.

He also works with leading AI businesses including Synthesia, Faculty, and Metica. Finally, he is the President & Trustee of Working Options in Education, a unique charity for youth employability.

Phew!

Tune into this episode to hear Nigel's takes on the UK economy, how AI will revolutionise productivity, and pearls of wisdom from the top strategist.

Want more?

Follow Steph:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

30 Oct 2024DON'T GET A JOB; GET AN OCCUPASSION | Cynthia Davis CBE, Founder & CEO Diversifying Group00:44:00

Managing international teams? Unburden yourself with Deel, the all-in-one Global People Platform. From cross-currency payroll to expense tracking, from EOR to consolidated HR compliance, get a demo of Deel here: https://bit.ly/4f6yef1

Cynthia Davis is the multi-award winning Founder & CEO of Diversifying Group, a social change organisation that helps talent and employers live the definitions of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion. In addition to her role as leader of Diversifying Group, Cynthia also sits on numerous boards. She has won countless industry awards in the tech and diversity arenas, with the most notable being her CBE from King Charles III.

In this episode Steph and Cynthia discuss:

👑 Why DEI isn't just about minorities
👑 The importance and the benefits of a diverse team
👑 How to actually drive change when it comes to DEI in the workplace
👑 How soon startups need to prioritise DEI (+ practical tips to start sooner than later!)
👑 Great examples of employers doing well when it comes to diverse workforces
👑 Cynthia's experience as a board member
👑 Plus practical productivity tips from this multi-hyphenate power woman 🔥 

Need to prioritise diversity in your teams? Speak to Diversifying Group: https://www.diversifying.com/

Want more?

Follow Steph on social media:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

06 Nov 2024EP49: "We almost had the NETFLIX of Europe" | Simon Franks, Co-Founder of LoveFilm and Partner at Redbus Ventures00:53:31

Managing international teams? Unburden yourself with Deel, the all-in-one global people platform. From cross-currency payroll to expense tracking, from EOR to consolidated HR compliance, get a demo of Deel here: https://bit.ly/4f6yef1

Simon Franks is the co-founder of LoveFilm, the DVD rental company, which sold to Amazon for £200M back in 2011. 

This was only one of multiple business exits, as in 2005 he also sold Redbus Film Distribution to Lionsgate for £20M. This business was the UK’s fastest growing company between 2000 and 2004, with a growth rate of 280% - it was also behind famous movies including Bend it Like Beckham!

Simon then went on to start Redbus Ventures, an early-stage venture firm, with investments in the likes of PerkBox, Cleo, Lick, and Wild.

Now Simon is also working on philanthropic projects in South East Asia, focused on international development, foreign aid, and is a strong promoter of entrepreneurialism as a means of addressing economic problems.

Tune in to hear Steph & Simon discuss...

🎥  Lessons from a successful 3X exited founder 
🎥  Tips for fundraising founders (and founders about to exit) inc. RedBus Ventures' thesis for pre-seed to seed rounds
🎥  Money attitude and insights into the lifestyles of the wealthy (hint: there's always another level)
🎥  Transitioning from corporate to entrepreneurship to venture capital & philanthropy. (Simon calls himself "the reluctant venture capitalist").
🎥  How entrepreneurialism can be a force for good
🎥  Plus, of course: how we almost had the Netflix of Europe...

Want more?

Follow Steph on social media:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

Subscribe to the podcast:
🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

10 Nov 2024The Debrief: Simon Franks ft. Josh Hanning + Daniel McCoy Andrade | Profit vs purpose, and entrepreneurialism as a force for good00:30:29

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

Stephanie Melodia hosts Josh Hanning, Founder & CEO of Hanubu - an acquisition platform for the automotive aftermarket - and Daniel McCoy Andrade, startup BD & messaging strategist.

In this debrief episode, we discuss...

- Could we have *actually* had our own Netflix?
- Profit & purpose: is it one or the other? 
- Business exits, share options, wealth 
- Entrepreneurialism as a force for good 
- Failed politics + outside thinking for problem-solving

Other podcast episodes mentioned in this conversation:
- EP21: Daniel Hegarty, Habito: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ccUscX1U5AkFelntshArs?si=e1849e328f4a4f6e
- EP39 Mike Stevens, Peppersmith: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7wPkrCT1uT9ugEBmrRFkHJ?si=7358a395dccb47f8
- EP42: Simon Squibb, HelpBnk: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1mv433hntZHuxfANqn31BV?si=5ea09e027a63448c

If you haven't already, watch / listen to the full Strategy & Tragedy interview with Simon Franks below:
🎥 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgV5QGEJxmo&t=261s
🎧 https://open.spotify.com/episode/1qeqceG9qfAw2cU0TzyGPB?si=ab88af52e48940cd

-

Want more?

Follow Steph on social media:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

13 Nov 2024EP50: Top 10 Rules of Entrepreneurship00:19:18

Are you one of the 24 MILLION people who want to become an entrepreneur?

Learn the 10 Commandments of Entrepreneurship in under 20 minutes from Top 20 Female Founder, Stephanie Melodia.

Leave a comment on what resonated most with you. I wanna hear from you!

Follow Steph on social media:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
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🤍 About Steph:
As ex-CEO of an award-winning marketing agency, Stephanie now hosts the Strategy & Tragedy podcast, advises MBA students with Oneday, and continues to serve as VC scout for Ada Ventures. She is also a public speaker for events such as opening keynotes, company-wide conferences, team offsites, and senior leadership training. She has spoken at large enterprises including WeTransfer, LinkedIn, Xero, Harvey Nash Group, Web Summit, and more - leaving audiences feeling inspired, motivated, and energised.

20 Nov 2024EP51: “We gave out free condoms!” | Hannah Chappatte, Founder & CEO of HYBR00:36:50

Managing international teams? Unburden yourself with Deel, the all-in-one global people platform. From cross-currency payroll to expense tracking, from EOR to consolidated HR compliance, get a demo of Deel here: https://bit.ly/4f6yef1

Hannah Chappatte is the Founder & CEO of HYBR, the UK's #1 Accommodation Platform on TrustPilot with press featured in the likes of The BBC, the Evening Standard, and The Times.

In this episode, Steph and Hannah discuss:

🏡  Going from idea to validation (on both sides of a marketplace startup)
🏡  MVP as proof of concept with monetisation
🏡  Scrappy financing - grant funding and taking advantage of furlough to build team
🏡  The importance of storytelling in pitching 
🏡  Growth hacking (how HYBR got their first 100 customers)

Student or parent looking for your next rented home? Check out HYBR here: https://dashboard.hybr.co.uk/marketing/students

Want more?

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🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

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27 Nov 2024"I made £42M from my kitchen!" Meet the 58-year-old collagen queen, Maxine Laceby of Absolute Collagen00:39:50

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

Maxine Laceby is the 58-year-old Co-Founder of Absolute Collagen, a D2C beauty product created in the kitchen with her daughter, Darcy Laceby, now worth over £42M. Maxine is a force to be reckoned with and stands as an exemplary pro-age entrepreneur.

In this episode, Steph and Maxine discuss:

💛  The story behind a wildly successful beauty product
💛  The mistakes - and lessons - learnt along the way
💛  Finding the "goldilcoks" of investors
💛  Founder mental health - from managing anxiety to building confidence
💛  Gender inequities and pro-age mission as a 58-year-old entrepreneur

See what all the fuss is about and discover the award-winning collagen supplements from Absolute Collagen here: https://www.absolutecollagen.com/

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04 Dec 2024"We were 24HRS away from being homeless" | Dimple Patel - ex-Trouva, ex-Love Coffee, now CEO at NatureMetrics00:44:42

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

Dimple Patel is the 3X exited BAME female founder (and graduate of Cambridge, Yale AND Harvard!!) Recognised as a Top Asian in ImpactTech UK 2024, Dimple is the ex-CEO of Trouva, and now CEO at NatureMetrics, a world-leading intelligence platform for biodiversity. 

In this episode, Steph and Dimple discuss:

- Dimple's early influences
- Going from the trading floor at the finance day job to cleaning toilets at the weekend with her first business, Love Coffee
- The Trouva chapter: her journey to CEO, secrets of a high-performing team, and scale-up lessons from the ecomm furniture's rapid growth
- Sales & marketing tips for techie products
- Taking risks and making mistakes (including how she and her family were a white-knuckling 24 hours away from homelessness!)

Learn more about NatureMetrics here: https://www.naturemetrics.com/

Want more?

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02 Dec 2024The Debrief: Maxine Laceby ft. Anna Pearce-Roberts + Mike Stevens | Starring in the AC campaign, risk tolerance in entrepreneurship & more00:23:19

Stephanie Melodia hosts The Debrief as part of the Strategy & Tragedy podcast, this time debriefing on the Maxine Laceby interview - Co-Founder of the £42M valued Absolute Collagen - with panellists Anna Pearce-Roberts, and Mike Stevens.

Anna Pearce-Roberts is the host of the Her Shift Podcast and founder of Cordelia & Co, a luxury makeup artist business. She also starred in an Absolute Collagen campaign herself! Dubbed, the girl in the yellow swimsuit.

Mike Stevens is serial entrepreneur, advisor to consumer brands, founder of Peppersmith, and former guest of Strategy & Tragedy (listen to EP39 here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7wPkrCT1uT9ugEBmrRFkHJ?si=4d22f5927e754119)

In this episode, we discuss...
💛 Early product-market validation and Maxine getting her friends to sign NDAs!
💛 The importance of being a truly *consumer first* business
💛 The role that LUCK has to play in success
💛 Stratospheric growth and getting investors for the *opposite* reason to most!
💛 How much age has to do with risk tolerance and having no fear... 👀

I'd LOVE to know, what resonated most with you here? 
Join the conversation: 

Follow Steph on social media:
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🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hnNWDxhbQTY

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

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09 Dec 2024The Debrief: Dimple Patel | Nature or Nurture?00:24:43

Some people are just built different ...or are they?

Tune into this solo episode where Stephanie Melodia debriefs on last week's interview with the Cambridge, Yale, *and* Harvard-educated 3X CEO, Dimple Patel. 

Join the conversation: 

Follow Steph on social media:
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🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

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11 Dec 2024Get ready for 2025 with Simon Alexander Ong, Life Coach of the Year00:33:38

Simon Alexander Ong is a life coach, business strategist, international keynote speaker, author of Energise, and 2019's Life Coach of the Year. 

Simon’s work has got him invited to speak on Sky News, BBC Radio London and LBC Radio; his insights have also been featured in the likes of Huffington Post, Forbes, Virgin and The Guardian.

In this episode, Steph and Simon discuss:

- Energy management vs time management - including the SEVEN different types of energy!
- Deep life advice to achieve your goals, and the difference between motivation and inspiration
- Plus, my favourite: embracing a real-life vision board

For more, check out Simon's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCERgudp8-SGp2yyqfR-5jhw

Want more?

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16 Dec 2024The Debrief: Simon Alexander Ong | Energise & visualise for 2025 success00:16:18

Solo episode debriefing on last week's interview with Simon Alexander Ong - life coach, business strategist, international keynote speaker, author of Energise, and 2019's Life Coach of the Year. 

Get involved in the conversation!

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🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

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18 Dec 2024Top 5 Entrepreneur Interviews of 202400:55:54

Top 20 Female Founder, Public Speaker, Mentor, and Podcast Host/Presenter, Stephanie Melodia, shares the Top 5 interviews of 2024 featuring her key takeaways and best soundbites from each episode.

Get involved in the conversation!

Follow Steph on social media:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

Subscribe to the podcast:
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NuiaWjWsOXpsFx2euglVe
🎧 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strategy-tragedy-ceo-stories-with-steph-melodia/id1711083280
🎧 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL3N0cmF0ZWd5YW5kdHJhZ2VkeS9mZWVkLnhtbA?sa=X&ved=0CAMQ4aUDahcKEwigy7m4mKOCAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQNg
🎧 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0239e1a6-027c-41c5-b80a-f51d80f49eb0/strategy-tragedy-ceo-stories-with-steph-melodia

🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

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08 Jan 2025HELLO 2025! Exclusive reveal: new guests + mantras for your best year ahead00:25:42

Top 20 Female Founder, Keynote Speaker, Growth Consultant & Mentor,  Stephanie Melodia, exclusively reveals some of the new guests coming in 2025 and some mantras to help you make the most of the new year.

Get involved in the conversation.

Follow Steph on social media:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

Subscribe to the podcast:
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NuiaWjWsOXpsFx2euglVe
🎧 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strategy-tragedy-ceo-stories-with-steph-melodia/id1711083280
🎧 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL3N0cmF0ZWd5YW5kdHJhZ2VkeS9mZWVkLnhtbA?sa=X&ved=0CAMQ4aUDahcKEwigy7m4mKOCAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQNg
🎧 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0239e1a6-027c-41c5-b80a-f51d80f49eb0/strategy-tragedy-ceo-stories-with-steph-melodia

🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

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15 Jan 2025Britain's Strongest Woman comes back STRONGER: "My own investors tried to destroy me" | Joanna Montgomery, Founder & CEO of Little Riot00:54:57

Joanna Montgomery is the Founder & CEO of Little Riot - behind the viral internet phenomenon "Pillow Talk,” a wristband that picks up your heartbeat and sends it in real time to your loved one, now used in over 70 countries.

Joanna has also spoken at TEDx and WIRED Conference. Fun fact: she's also Britain's former Strongest Woman!

In this interview, Steph and Joanna discuss:

👉 What it's like to have your product go VIRAL
👉 Achieving product validation early on
👉 The bittersweet experience of COVID-19
👉 Investor red flags and the disastrous story that nearly ended the company
👉 PLUS: Why you SHOULDN’T do a crowdfunding campaign!

Learn more about Little Riot here: https://www.littleriot.com/

Want more?

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🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

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05 Feb 202560% of startups FAIL after losing a Co-Founder: How Daniel Botcherby of Kalda bounced back00:37:49

Daniel Botcherby is the Co-Founder & CEO of Kalda, the world's first LGBTQIA+ mental wellbeing app that provides self-guided therapy programs and daily reflection journaling. Formed in Antler and grown in Unrest, two top accelerators in the UK, Daniel recounts his rocky early-stage founder journey in this vulnerable interview.

Steph and Daniel discuss:

🏳️‍🌈 Early stage problem/solution validation 
🏳️‍🌈 Antler and Unrest accelerator experiences
🏳️‍🌈 The *new* MVP = Minimal Pathway to PMF!
🏳️‍🌈 The importance of an advisory board
🏳️‍🌈 Recovering from co-founder fall out

Try Kalda for FREE here: https://www.kalda.co/

UPDATE: Since recording, Kalda raised £300k as part of their round led by Growth Impact Fund. Now Kalda is working to deliver their groundbreaking therapy to over 200,000 individuals in the next 2 years. Follow their journey here: https://www.instagram.com/kalda.app/

-

Get involved in the conversation:

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20 Jan 2025The Debrief: Joanna Montgomery, Little Riot | PLUS! Some Blue/Red Monday Happiness00:42:31

Join Steph for this solo episode debriefing on last week's interview with Joanna Montgomery, the Founder & CEO of Little Riot and creator of the viral sensation, Pillow Talk.

Steph also shares your answers from social media on what makes you HAPPY! As it's Blue Monday (Red Monday in the US) here's to injecting a bit of positivity in your world today.

Get involved in the conversation!

Follow Steph on social media:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

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23 Jan 2025"I nearly gave up" | Behind the scenes of podcasting | S&T x The Millennial Entrepreneur crossover00:51:50

Podcasters Stephanie Melodia and Sina Sadrzadeh sit down for this special crossover episode of Strategy & Tragedy // The Millennial Entrepreneur, where they discuss...

🎙️ The behind-the-scenes of podcasting
🎙️ Unexpected surprises and lessons learnt
🎙️ Funny stories along the way
🎙️ The mission of their shows

We'd love to hear from you! What did you think of this episode?

Leave us a comment and follow us on social:

🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

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29 Jan 2025"Karren Brady is my hero!" | Lamees Butt, Co-Founder & CEO of RISER00:38:16

Lamees Butt is the Co-Founder & CEO of RISER, the video-led AI career matchmaking app that puts the manager at the forefront of the job hunting process. Think Bumble, for your next boss.

She's also the host of the In Her Shoes podcast, on a mission to change the sad statistic that only 9% of the C-suite in the UK is filled by women. The show is in the Top 10 of UK podcasts, listened to in 64 Countries.

Tune in to Lamees and Steph discuss...

- Lamees' serial entrepreneur journey
- Why Lamees never thought she'd be a founder again
- Looking up to Baroness Karren Brady
- Fundraising vs growth and red flags to watch out for with angel investors
- Marketplace model prioritisation at pre-seed
- Helping female founders actually make progress

Ready to make your next career move? Download RISER for free here: https://riserapp.co/

See you at the Canva x RISER event in London on 12th Feb? RSVP here: https://events.canva.com/canvaxriser

Follow Steph on social media:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

12 Feb 2025How to FINALLY start your business in 2025 | Overcoming the top blockers to entrepreneurship00:16:47

Thinking of starting your own business? Entrepreneur coach, Stephanie Melodia, shares her advice for overcoming the most common blockers to entrepreneurship including the mental barriers and practical challenges.

Did any of this resonate with you? join the conversation:

Follow on social media:
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🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/

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19 Feb 2025"I raised £150k from a RAYA date!" | Georgie Hyatt's startup story with Rotaro00:36:39

Georgie Hyatt is the Forbes 30 Under 30 Founder & CEO of ROTARO, the fashtech platform that worked with luxury brands & retailers to power their circular fashion revenue streams through rental & resale before consolidating with My Wardrobe HQ.

In this interview, Steph and Georgie discuss: 

👗 How insights from working at trends forecasting agency sparked Georgie’s lightbulb moment
👗 Getting early validation for Rotaro and testing different business models
👗 Practical lessons learnt the hard way including shareholder agreements (Tip: use Safe note ASA agreements!) 
👗 Fundraising and dealing with investors pulling out at the last minute (after 8 months of negotiations!) 
👗 Biggest business challenges including redundancies and burning out as an overwhelmed founder
👗The importance of personal values


Want more?

Follow on social media:
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🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

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26 Feb 2025From DEATH THREATS at Fox News to building a £50M fund: Nell Daly gets REVENGE00:44:25

TW: Themes of abuse and gun violence

Nell Daly is a social worker turned venture capitalist as Co-Founder of Revenge Capital, a £50M sector-agnostic, global impact fund that invests into overlooked founders and their big disruptive ideas. She describes herself as an advocate for underdogs and works with policymakers to help build a more just, free, inclusive and humane world.

In this episode, Steph and Nell discuss:

❤️‍🔥 Starting a fund NOT coming from the world of finance
❤️‍🔥 Nell's experience in media and what led to her "going dark"
❤️‍🔥 Overcoming adversity and practical tips on how to be the outlier
❤️‍🔥 How her training as a psychotherapist makes her a better investor
❤️‍🔥 The power of manifesting, and what to watch out for
❤️‍🔥 The importance of dreams and working towards your purpose
❤️‍🔥 What her VC fund, Revenge Capital, is looking for in fundraising startups

Fundraising? Apply for investment here: https://b1jxsdtzi9t.typeform.com/revengecapital?typeform-source=revenge.capital


Get involved in the conversation:

Follow on social media:
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🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/

🎬 Watch the interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

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24 Feb 2025The Debrief: Georgie Hyatt + Fundraising tips from VC scout00:14:20

Join Steph for this solo episode debriefing on last week's interview with Georgie Hyatt, Founder & CEO of Rotaro.


PLUS! Fundraising tips, tricks and traps to avoid if you're looking to get investment for your startup.


Get involved in the conversation!

Follow Steph on social media:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend 🤗

05 Mar 2025STEAL PayPal’s growth strategy 🚀 Scale your startup with the GOAT of GROWTH: Matt Lerner00:54:55

Matt Lerner is the Founder & CEO of SYSTM, an online program to help startups find their big growth levers. 

Before founding SYSTM, Matt was a Partner of 500 Startups, an early-stage VC fund, where he built & ran a seed-stage growth program for the portfolio companies achieving an average growth of 250% in 12 months. Prior to 500 Startups he was marketing director at PayPal, coming from the birthplace of startups: Silicon Valley.


In this interview, Matt and Steph cover...

🚀 What's wrong with "saving time"
🚀 Nailing your core value proposition
🚀 80:20? Nah. Identify the 10% that will drive the 90%.
🚀 What's NSM and why does it matter?
🚀 The power of good questions.
🚀 Team JFDI vs DFTU

And *SO* much more!


Find your big growth levers: https://www.systm.co/

Want more?

Follow Steph on social media:
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🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

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03 Mar 2025The Debrief: Nell Daly | Squiggly careers, fundraising, and the power of connections00:21:30

Join Steph for this solo episode debriefing on last week's interview with Nell Daly of Revenge Capital.

PLUS! Exclusive reveal of the next guest...


Get involved in the conversation!

Follow Steph on social media:
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10 Mar 2025STOP SAVING TIME! The Debrief: Matt Lerner, ex-PayPal00:13:51

Join Steph for this solo episode debriefing on last week's interview with Matt Lerner of SYSTM.

Listen to the Anthony Pierri interview to learn more about articulating your core value proposition here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/16KEMPnzJV1GabDtAmzwsw?si=4a35fa1d75a14ec6

Or watch on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiwWh-IUxJg


Get involved in the conversation!

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🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend 🤗

12 Mar 2025Simon Squibb: “Hard work is A LIE!” (Replay)00:51:36

Serial entrepreneur, content creator, author, and investor, Simon Squibb is the founder of HelpBnk (https://helpbnk.com/) on a mission to make people's dreams come true.

Simon started his first company when he was homeless at 15 years old, and sold his last company, Fluid, to PwC. He has since invested in over 70+ startups, and is now on a mission to help 10 million people achieve their dreams.

Order Simon's new book 'What's Your Dream?' here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/whats-your-dream/simon-squibb/9781529935578


I'd LOVE to know, what resonated most with you from this interview? 

Join the conversation: 

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🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

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https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: 
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

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19 Mar 2025Overcome your FEAR of public speaking - and even monetise it! Top public speaking coach, Alex Merry of MicDrop00:47:26

Alex Merry is a public speaking coach who turns founders into thought leaders. He runs MicDrop, the well-loved public speaking community and training resource. He’s also the author of Make It Count and Former TEDxClapham Founder.

In this episode, Steph and Alex discuss:

🎤 Why public is speaking *so* important for any leader
🎤 How Alex overcame his own fear of public speaking
🎤 What makes a GOOD talk (including the best talk Alex has ever heard!)
🎤 How to actually earn an income from public speaking
🎤 LinkedIn strategy + lessons from going viral
🎤 Behind-the-scenes stories

Curious to join Mic Drop? Mention Steph Melodia for a referral: https://alexmerry.com/micdrop


Get involved in the conversation:

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🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

26 Mar 2025“The Dragon Slayer” making MILLIONS | Lottie Whyte, Co-Founder & CEO of MyoMaster00:58:22

Lottie Whyte is the Co-Founder & CEO of one of the UK’s fastest growing wellness brands, MyoMaster - the home of human optimisation providing world-class recovery products including ice baths, at-home sauna pods, compression boots, and massage guns.

Tune in to hear about…

🚀 What makes Lottie Whyte the outlier (practical advice you can *actually* action)

🚀 Behind the scenes of BBC’s Dragon’s Den - and how Lottie and her co-founder & partner, Joe, received offers from FOUR investors

🚀 Going from 0 to 1 and scaling beyond 

🚀 Consumer growth marketing strategies

🚀 Lessons from mistakes (like retailing in Selfridges)

🚀 The case for the overlooked BAME / female founders 

🚀 Personal brand strategy & the cost of visibility as a female founder

🚀 How to curate your life for unshakeable self-confidence 


Check out MyoMaster here: https://myomaster.com/

Get involved in the conversation:

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25 Mar 2025The Debrief: Alex Merry | Communication & storytelling, how to earn from public speaking plus LinkedIn tips00:22:38

Join Steph for this solo episode debriefing on last week's interview with Alex Merry of MicDrop.


Get involved in the conversation!

Follow Steph on social media:
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01 Apr 2025The Debrief: Lottie Whyte | Controlling the controllable00:17:38

Join Steph for this solo episode debriefing on last week's interview with Lottie Whyte of MyoMaster.


Get involved in the conversation!

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02 Apr 2025Meet the "Canva of AI" | Cien Solon, Founder & CEO of LaunchLemonade01:08:57

The right dev partner can make or break your product. AppUnite embeds with your team to build apps that scale. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3FHeCC0

Cien Solon is the Co-Founder & CEO of LaunchLemonade, described as the "Canva of AI apps." Cien is on a mission to make sure that no one gets left behind in the time of AI.

In this interview, Steph and Cien discuss:

- The practical applications and use case examples of AI
- The feminist importance of women getting into AI
- Cien's career trajectory and biggest lessons learnt

Learn more about LaunchLemonade here: https://launchlemonade.app/


Get involved in the conversation:
🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/
🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

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01 May 2024EP26: "Our house BURNT DOWN - and not a *single* order went out late!" | Charlotte Ayoub, TLC Sport00:38:41

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

From 1984 in Cairo to 2024 in London, Stephanie Melodia interviews Charlotte Ayoub of TLC Sport, the inclusive sportswear brand featured in the likes of Cosmopolitan, The Times, Marie Claire, The Independent, The Guardian, and more.

 

In this episode Steph and Charlotte discuss:

 

🧘🏽‍♀️ Building a body positive brand that connects with women’s empowerment

🧘🏽‍♀️ The importance of product development in line with customer needs

🧘🏽‍♀️ Marketing an anti-trend product in a trend-led industry

🧘🏽‍♀️ Retailer partnerships including lessons from fashion buyer c*ck-ups 

🧘🏽‍♀️ No (wo)man is an island - the importance of a good team

🧘🏽‍♀️ Learning that 'perfect' is the enemy of 'good' - thanks to Black Friday catastrophe!

 

Discover more about TLC Sport: https://tlcsport.co.uk/

 

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🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

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31 Jan 2024EP13: I want really filthy effing rich women | Nina Mohanty, Bloom Money00:47:49

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Nina Mohanty is the Silicon Valley-born, London-bred founder of Bloom Money, the fintech startup that supports migrant communities with the mission of accelerating intergenerational wealth.

 

Bloom Money is also 2X regulated and backed by the likes of January Ventures, Octopus, and Pact VC.

 

Nina Mohanty bucks the trend as a young, female, brown entrepreneur who has backing by top venture capitalists and operates in both the finance & tech fields.

 

In this episode, you'll hear about:

🌍 Nina's upbringing in Silicon Valley and how that shaped her entrepreneurial drive

🌍 How to take care of yourself as a mission-driven founder building such an impactful startup

🌍 Identifying your guiding light in a squiggly career + how to find satisfaction

🌍 Bloom's investor strategy (think about who you're making rich)

🌍 PLUS! What it was like to meet Michelle Obama 😍

 

Discover more about Bloom Money here: https://bloommoney.co/

 

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Follow Steph:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

 

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Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/videos

 

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Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

17 Jan 2024EP11: My business *literally* fell apart | Alex Pitt, Build Your Maverick Business00:56:53

Get access to special perks and support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

In this episode, Steph and Alex take their business brunch chats over to the podcast and discuss...

 

🖤 The highs and lows of entrepreneurship (hint: frustrations vs freedom)

🖤 The danger of "procrasti-planning" (listen to find out more!)

🖤 The importance of authenticity with your brand (business or personal)

🖤 The benefits of working with a business coach

🖤 Money mindset and overcoming limiting beliefs

 

I hope you enjoy this special episode and find business value in the entertaining chat between two friends too!

 

Don't forget to subscribe to listen to weekly episodes 🎧

 

👉🏼 Ready to kick start your side hustle? Get your FREE 7-step action plan here: https://www.buildyourmaverickbusiness.com/kick-start-hustle

 

🎥 Watch the show on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/videos

 

💖 Follow Steph on social:

LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

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13 Dec 2023EP08: Lessons from a 5X serial entrepreneur | Dom Fendius, Kiirsh00:54:22

Dom Fendius, now the Founder & CEO of Kiirsh, is a 5X serial entrepreneur - with the battle scars to show for it!

 

But the truth is, despite experiencing some real tragedies, Dom retains a surprising amount of kindness, patience, and optimism to keep going.

 

In this episode, Dom and Steph recap his venture timeline - from starting a magazine at uni to getting recognition for an exciting fashtech, from going into business with a risky partner, and everything in between.

 

We discuss the realities of entrepreneurship, what to look out for when starting a company, and how to stay positive when the going gets tough. (From one of the happiest entrepreneurs ever!)

 

About Kiirsh:

 

Kiirsh (https://kiirsh.co/) is a mobile-first tool that empowers content creators to monetise their own brands.

 

Interested in the concept? Kiirsh is currently fundraising, so get in touch if you're interested in owning some equity in this exciting startup. 

 

Follow Steph:

 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/stephmelodia/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

 

Watch the video episodes on YouTube:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD7YZDoaGQU&list=PLlV8JoK2z-iiFOW5Gw-FISA6rvBdR853z

 

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE!! 🙏🏼💖

14 Feb 2024EP15: Scott Galloway called me a LOSER | Kristin Cardwell, Sourcerie00:49:12

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

Kristin Cardwell is the Co-Founder & CEO of Sourcerie, the world’s first community-powered intelligence engine. She and her team managed to raise £1.8m in pre-seed funding during one of the toughest times ever, but it was not without its trials & tribulations! (Tune in for all the tea ☕😏)

 

As a fierce feminist too, Kristin is also a co-founder of Alma Angels (https://www.alma-angels.com/), and advisor to Women for Women International (https://womenforwomen.org.uk/)

 

In this episode, you'll hear all about:

 

🎢 The transition from corporate to startup

👯‍♂️ How Kristin met her Co-Founder, and how they cultivate a successful working relationship

😩 The trials & tribulations of pre-seed funding during a touch macroeconomic environment

🎓 The benefits of a top education (Kristin studied at NYU Stern and her Co-Founder, Alex Beyer, is ex-Cambridge and MIT - okuurrrr)

😍 What it was like to be taught by Scott Galloway!

 

Learn more about Sourcerie here: https://sourcerie.co/

 

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03 Jul 2024EP35: Capital as a force for good | Mandy Nyarko MBE, Startup Discovery School00:40:34

Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/strategyandtragedy

 

Mandy Nyarko MBE is the Co-Founder of Startup Discovery School & Managing Partner of Sahara Impact Ventures.In this episode, Mandy shares:

👩🏾‍💻 Her story from bank cashier to investor, now fund manager and trailblazing impact leader👩🏾‍💻 The power of spirituality and manifesting (which goes hand in hand with effort, hustle, hard work!)👩🏾‍💻 Her work to achieve net zero in the fight against climate change 👩🏾‍💻 The agricultural landscape and how this is negatively impacting African women👩🏾‍💻 The importance of resilience - keep getting back up!Learn more about Startup Discovery School here: https://www.startupdiscoveryschool.com/

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🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

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06 Mar 2024EP18: 4 KIDS, 3 EXITS, 2K MEMBERS, ONE WOMAN | Emmie Faust, Female Founders Rise00:53:04

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Emmie Faust is the 3X exited entrepreneur-turned-angel-investor, now Founder of Female Founders Rise - the supportive and inspiring resource for female founders to help them succeed with their businesses.

 

Emmie invests exclusively in female founders and her portfolio includes ONEWAYX, RunYourself, and Mamma Wellbeing among others, as well as her role with Ventures Together.

 

In this episode, Steph and Emmie discuss:

 

✊ The impact of motherhood on self-confidence✊  Female role models, including Emmie's first powerhouse boss!✊ The power of mindset shifts in order to serve a more personally fulfilling mission✊  How entrepreneurship can lead to financial freedom, and why women need to consider this path for empowerment✊ Angel investing, including Emmie’s portfolio and what she looks for in a deal (hint: numerology features!!)

 

Learn more about Female Founders Rise here: https://femalefoundersrise.com/

 

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24 Jan 2024EP12: Our exit collapsed at the last moment | Tom Adeyoola, investor, advisor, ex-Founder of Metail00:54:43

Access special perks by supporting the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

Tom Adeyoola is the exited founder of Metail, the leading virtual try-on platform, now advisor, investor and Co-Founder of Extend Ventures and Capital Angel Network.

 

In this episode, Steph and Tom discuss:

 

🎙 Tom's journey leading up to Metail, and how he secured investment (including "£10k from a random guy at the top of the gherkin" LOL 🤣 )🎙 His exit story and big lessons learnt along the way - including a huge deal collapse right near the end 😫 🎙 Tom's grieving process and appreciation for health now 🙏 🎙 How he's promoting diversity in investment and what he looks for now as an investor 🤑 🎙 The importance of TIMING! ⏰ 

 

PLUS! What Tom has in common with TV celeb Richard Ayoade 😂 

 

Hope you enjoy listening to this episode and that you can take away a nugget of wisdom from Tom Adeyoola's story that helps you in your own entrepreneurial endeavour. If you liked this one, please rate & review the show! (Oh, and don't forget to subscribe to weekly episodes of course! 😉)

 

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Download the latest report from Extend Ventures on Diversity Beyond Gender (UK 2023), here: https://www.extend.vc/reports

 

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Thanks to our supporters at 50Pros.com, the no-noise platform where you can find highly-vetted partners in the creative industries. Learn more here: https://www.50pros.com/

 

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Follow Steph on social for more updates:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

 

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cCqckngoEeE

 

Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

29 May 2024EP30: Top 10 Lessons From an Award-Winning Agency Founder & CEO00:11:10

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

Stephanie Melodia founded Bloom, an award-winning marketing consultancy, in London of 2017.

Last summer, she announced the closure of her successful business, and - in this episode - she recounts what happened, and reflects on what went right, and what went wrong.

 

(After all, Strategy & Tragedy is about sharing *both* the highs and lows of business, the reality behind closed doors, the ugly truth behind the glossy veneer, and - most crucially - the lessons learnt from the experience. None of this is to put anyone off entrepreneurship, instead it's about empowering early-stage entrepreneurs to go in with eyes & ears wide open, learning from other people's mistakes who are a few steps ahead of you. Tune into Episode ZERO to hear more!)

 

What you'll learn in this solo episode:

🥀 What led Steph to ultimately close the Bloom chapter🥀 Top 10 business lessons - 5 things that worked + 5 things that didn’t 🥀 Being "allergic" to stagnation, the concept of control, and importance of progress🥀 The importance of carrying out a “pre-mortem” exercise on your own business. 🥀 Embracing a portfolio career post-Bloom

 

I'd LOVE to know, what resonated most with you here? Join the conversation: 

Follow Steph on social media:

🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/

🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

 

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🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

24 Apr 2024EP25: From SANDY BALLS to 3x exits and 20x investments | Richard Hadler, Founders Capital00:44:27

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Richard Hadler is the 3x exited co-founder of Founders Capital, angel investor in 20 companies (including Spacegoods, Odin, Freja) and author of 'Marketing: The Bottom Line.' 

 

In this episode, Steph and Rich discuss:

 

🚀 Hiring strategies

🚀 Lessons from a D2C cocktail brand

🚀 The role of boards and gaining diverse perspectives 

🚀 Rich's role as an advisor, helping to provide a helicopter view to gain perspective

🚀 Leaning into your entrepreneurial gut instinct

 

Learn more about Founders Capital here: https://www.founders-capital.com/

 

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🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

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25 Oct 2023EP02: I got the CEO of HEIGHTS to invest | Varun Bhanot, Magic AI00:36:05

Varun Bhanot is the Co-Founder & CEO of MAGIC AI, a connected fitness product that combines physical hardware with fitness technology to provide tailored workouts - just like your very own, at-home personal trainer.

 

Following a career in corporate law, Varun took a severe pay cut to join the founding team at Hubble HQ to learn the ins & outs of startup life. This entrepreneurial ambition combined with his own health in decline birthed the business idea for MAGIC, the smart home fitness system.

 

After many highs and lows, MAGIC is now stocked in Selfridges with press coverage in the likes of the Evening Standard, SheerLuxe, The Times and TechNation. Varun and his team are going from strength to strength following a successful fundraise - including angel investment from the likes of former CPO of Spotify, CEO of JustPark, former GM of Stripe, CEO of OLIO, former President of Citymapper, CEO of Heights, Dan Murray-Serter, Co-Founder of Signal AI and the former CMO of Tough Mudder - during one of the hardest times to secure venture capital investment.

 

Tune in to hear how he did it and learn the valuable lessons along the way.

 

Enjoy the show and don't forget to subscribe!

31 Jul 2024EP37: “I had lunch with BILL GATES” | From buzzy scale-up to shutting the business | Kenny Ewan, Founder & ex-CEO, WeFarm, now Director at Nesta Studio00:34:02

Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/strategyandtragedy

 

Kenny Ewan is the Director at Nesta’s Mission Studio, the venture studio creating impactful solutions for the UK’s most pressing problems, from obesity to climate change. He is a highly experienced entrepreneur who led Wefarm from idea stage to become the world’s largest farming network with over 3.5 million users, 120 employees, and $35m in venture capital.

 

In this episode, Steph and Kenny discuss:

 

🌱 The importance of focus for early customer adoption🌱 Baking in product network effects to + proactively driving growth🌱 How validation changed the game at the heady heights of a buzzy startup🌱 Venture capital funding - what sort of business should raise and when it goes wrong🌱 Due diligence in fundraising 🌱 And much more!

Learn more about Nesta here: https://www.nesta.org.uk/project/mission-studio/-

Want more?

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🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

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06 Dec 2023EP07: I SLEPT with my co-founder | Heinin Zhang, yhangry00:46:48

Heinin Zhang, co-founder of private chef hire platform, yhangry, recounts the highs and lows of her entrepreneurial journey; from CO-LIVING with her co-founder during lockdown, to going on BBC's Dragons' Den; from all their bookings drying up, to getting accepted to the lauded Y Combinator startup accelerator in San Fran 🎢

 

In this episode, Steph and Heinin discuss:

🍣 Heinin's transition from a corporate career in finance

🍣 Co-founder relationships (nothing like living together to bring you closer!!)

🍣 Overcoming setbacks like lockdowns and bookings drying up

🍣 The strategies that have paid off for her business. (Hint: MIC influencer marketing still works 😉

 

I hope you enjoy this episode of Strategy & Tragedy and PLEASE SUBSCRIBE!! 🙏🏼💖

 

Learn more about yhangry here:

https://yhangry.com/

 

💸 Use the code HEININ or simply click below to get £60 off  your next order 💸

https://yhangry.com/booking/ref/heinin

 

Follow Steph:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/stephmelodia/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

 

Watch the video episodes on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD7YZDoaGQU&list=PLlV8JoK2z-iiFOW5Gw-FISA6rvBdR853z

22 May 2024EP29: B2B SaaS growth strategies with Justin Fitzpatrick, ex-Duedil (now FullCircl), Outpost Advisors00:59:36

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

Justin Fitzpatrick, the co-Founder & ex-CEO of Duedil, now FullCircl post-merger. Justin is now Founder of Outpost Advisors, the firm that helps PE- & VC-backed B2B software companies accelerate profitability.

 

In this episode, Justin and Steph discuss:

👉 The unexpected way Justin met his co-founder 👉 Key lessons learnt from scaling the B2B SaaS DueDil, which raised a combined $53.4 million in funding across 11 rounds👉  Evolving B2B SaaS growth strategies - including 'slowing down to speed up' and overcoming painfully long buying cycles with enterprise clients👉 The importance of UI and investing in your product👉 The "wildcard" choice of Justin's university degree (tune into find out what he majored in!) and how it's helped him now👉 The importance of value proposition refinement when it comes to effective business development.

Are you a leader at a B2B software company curious to learn more about boosting profitability? Connect with Justin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-fitzpatrick-83a783/

 

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🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

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19 Jun 2024EP33: “I started a £10M ARR business when I was 20” | Mark Chaffey, Co-Founder & CEO of hackajob00:27:25

Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/strategyandtragedy

 

Mark Chaffey is the Co-Founder and CEO of hackajob, the candidate-centric platform for tech talent that puts the power back in the hands of the job seekers. 

 

He co-founded the business straight out of university aged 20 and now leads the HRtech scale-up with $35M in Series B funding under his belt, a team of 150 staff, and turning over £10M ARR with world domination firmly on the cards!

 

Key points in this episode you'll hear about:

🚀 Biggest challenges as a young entrepreneur & first-time CEO 🚀 The sales strategy that took this business to $10M ARR 🚀 Expanding to the US and dangers of hiring too fast 🚀 Where Mark turns to for guidance & inspiration 🚀 Fundraising journey - 78 meetings to get to 5 term sheets - including a deal falling through at the last minute 😱

 

“This is NOT the TechCrunch article”

 

Learn more about hackajob here: https://hackajob.com/

 

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🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

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10 Jan 2024EP10: I started my first business when I was THIRTEEN! Geoff Wright, Tembo00:44:15

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Geoff Wright is the CTO of Tembo, the only place in the UK where you can go to get a complete picture of your property purchasing power.

 

His path leading up to this position was anything but ordinary. Entrepreneurial as a kid, Geoff forged his own, alternative path. Instead of doing the usual by completing his studies, going to uni, and getting a job, Geoff realised he could make money doing what he loved...

 

Of course, there were lots of lessons along the way - the kind you DON'T get taught at school!

 

Ultimately, what Geoff has developed a deep appreciation for - across his various ventures and positions in eventual employment - is THE PROBLEM.

 

The bigger the problem, the more your customers will want it. The more painful the problem, the more they'll pay for it. And the more they'll forgive you flaws. (Particularly helpful in the early days when the tech is somewhat lacklustre!)

 

Tune into Geoff's fascinating story to hear how he went from schoolboy dropout to seasoned entrepreneur and now C-suite at a fast-scaling proptech.

 

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Discover more about Tembo, the online digital mortgage broker focused on helping first-time buyers, movers & remortgagers overcome the affordability gap: https://www.tembomoney.com/

 

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Follow Steph:

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LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

 

Watch the episode on YouTube:

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Support the show on Patreon:

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15 Nov 2023EP04: I TURNED DOWN VC FUNDING (and what GaryVee is REALLY like off camera!) | Graham Hussey, Dream Factory00:43:37

From interviewing startup founders in the back of a van to being interviewed himself in one of his very own studios, this episode is NOT one to miss!

 

Graham Hussey recounts his entrepreneurial journey including a failed business which made £3 profit, the early days of Startup Van, and how he built Dream Factory to a flourishing 350-member business with various locations and multiple revenue streams.

 

In this episode, Graham and Steph discuss topics such as:

  • Monetisation inc. pricing strategies and multiple revenue streams
  • How to foster a positive team culture in a fast-growing company
  • Taking external investment - when it makes sense to take other people's money
  • The importance of market research (picking up the buzzer and calling people!)
  • Scrappy inspiration (how to achieve your goals in creative ways)
  • What GaryVee is *really* like off-camera!

 

Discover more about Dream Factory here:

https://www.dreamfactory.ventures/

 

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Watch the episodes on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD7YZDoaGQU&list=PLlV8JoK2z-iiFOW5Gw-FISA6rvBdR853z

 

20 Mar 2024EP20: SPECIAL SOLO EPISODE | Top FOUR Lessons in Entrepreneurship00:11:58

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

In this special solo episode I wanted to reflect on the different conversations I’ve had with entrepreneurs over the past 20 episodes, and share with you the most common themes and top lessons learnt that have come up on the show so far… Tune into to find out what they are!

 

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24 Jul 2024The Debrief: Saasha Celestial-One, Olio | Successful expansions, co-founder relationships, serial entrepreneurship & more00:22:23

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In this shorter episode, Steph Melodia shares her reflections on last week's interview with Saasha-Celestial One, the Co-Founder & COO of the sharing app, Olio.

 

What started out as a food-sharing app has now artfully grown into the go-to solution for all unused household items. A lot easier said than done; they managed to expand their offering without losing sight of their core mission in sustainability & circularity.

 

Tune into hear what stuck with Steph from the interview and the key lessons to underscore for all you budding or early-stage entrepreneurs!

 

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22 Nov 2023EP05: Ex-NASA engineer pushed out of OWN company | Melissa Chambers, Sitehop00:48:56

Inspirational Womxn of the Year, Melissa Chambers shares her strategies and tragedies in business - from being pushed out of her own company during a time of personal polycrises, to running a successful cybersecurity business that built the world's fastest nanosecond encryption latency. Yup.

 

In this episode, Melissa and Steph discuss topics such as:

  • Hiring and firing - what to do when one bad apple spoils the bunch
  • The importance of contracts (hint: it's worth it to pay a lawyer) 
  • Founder resilience and how to cope setback after setback

 

Learn more about Sitehop: https://www.sitehop.co.uk/

 

Follow Steph:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/stephmelodia/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

 

Watch the episodes on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD7YZDoaGQU&list=PLlV8JoK2z-iiFOW5Gw-FISA6rvBdR853z

09 Oct 2023START HERE | EP00 Introduction00:06:38

Tune in and subscribe to Strategy & Tragedy: CEO Stories with Steph Melodia, the new business podcast which spotlights the highs, the lows, the strategies and tragedies of what it *really* takes to build a successful business today.

 

***THANK YOU GIFT DETAILS BELOW***

About Strategy & Tragedy

This podcast is created based on three core beliefs:

 

1. The world of entrepreneurship has been overly glamorised

...and the truth is that building a business is often far from glamorous! Within this is the belief that often the best lessons can come from our biggest mistakes. So the interviews presented to you here on this show are raw, authentic, warts 'n' all accounts of the trials & tribulations of start up and scale up life.

 

2. There is no rule book when it comes to entrepreneurship.

Whether you took business studies at school or invested in an MBA, the truth is nothing compares to doing it for real. That's why these interviews are kept as down to earth as possible, sharing real world accounts (which I think also just so happen to make for the best stories!)

 

3. There has been a significant shift in the business landscape

...particularly for early stage tech, and now is the time to learn from others who have been there, done that so that you can shortcut your path to success. We've seen the rise and fall of some glorified unicorns, it's harder than ever before to raise venture capital investment, and huge world events have shaped our macroeconomic environment.

 

This all means that there's been a natural reckoning which is weeding out the tourist entrepreneurs and discouraging unorthodox business strategies. The silver lining to all of this is that the bar being raised means that we'll have better players in the space, many of whom I hope are listening to this exact podcast and coming on to that.

 

Upcoming guests include Simon Squibb, Nina Mohanty, Thomas Panton, Heinin Zhang, Charlotte Morley, Dom Fendius, Varun Bhanot... and many, many more incredible leaders.

 

***THANK YOU GIFT***

As your reward for being an early adopter and subscribing to my new business podcast, I am pleased to partner with Hussle, the singular fitness platform that enables access to gyms, pools, spas and health apps to help you work out in the most flexible way possible, and Huggg, who made the gifting possible.

 

FREE GYM + SWIM PASS: https://launch.huggg.me/super/25Z7mbFc90D7l2o

Select from your preferred location across 200 plus gyms nationwide. T&Cs apply.

 

Thank you all so much again for being here right from the very beginning.

 

Please subscribe and enjoy the show!

 

03 Apr 2024EP22: Our merger was a fashion FAUX PAS | Vanessa Jacobs, Circulo00:45:23

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

Vanessa Jacobs is the exited Co-Founder of The Restory, a luxury aftercare service named as one of Walpole’s Brands of Tomorrow in 2019. She is now on her third venture with Circulo, harnessing her passion & expertise in the circular economy space to deliver her mission of reducing fashion waste.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

👗 Converting a personal pain point into a viable business

👗 Putting the customer first via a concierge MVP (think "mechanical turk")

👗 Startup pivots and increasing success with each new business venture

👗 How demand and funding and all the good stuff *still* doesn’t equate to huge success IF you haven’t got your unit economics nailed!

👗 Biggest lessons learnt from a sour marriage...

 

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21 Feb 2024EP16: We were HOURS away from a $30M deal collapse | Nick Telson-Sillett, exited DesignMyNight, now Co-Founder of Trumpet00:50:00

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Nick Telson-Sillett is the exited Co-Founder of DesignMyNight (acquired for $30M) and now Co-Founder of Trumpet, a buyer enablement tool that enables sales teams to drive revenue.

 

In this episode, Steph and Nick discuss:

🎺  Founder journey from leaving the day job to growing a $30m biz🎺  Exactly when and why he raised external funding (plus comparisons between VCs vs angels vs bootstrapping)🎺  The importance of your first 10 hires as you grow🎺  What worked for DesignMyNight 10+ yrs ago vs now (hint: it's free!)🎺  How to exit - practical financial tips and the metrics to focus on🎺  What Nick now looks for as an angel investor (via Horseplay Ventures)🎺  How building in public has helped his personal brand (and how to encourage team members to do the same!)🎺  The trendy new term in sales, "buyer enablement"

 

Learn more about Trumpet's digital sales rooms here: https://www.sendtrumpet.com/

 

 

Follow Steph:

🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

 

 

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/videos

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

 

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28 Feb 2024EP17: My failed business made me a BETTER investor | Mona Tiesler, tokentus00:39:57

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Mona Tiesler is an investor at tokentus, a leading VC firm in the German blockchain ecosystem, where she invests in startups that leverage blockchain technology globally.  She has several years of experience in venture capital, and has been involved in pre-seed to Series A deals across Europe, USA, UAE and Asia.

 

With a background in strategy consulting, venture building, and entrepreneurship, Mona has a passion for supporting innovators who are building the decentralized future of the internet. She has co-founded and led companies in Fintech, Edtech, and Foodtech, and has an MBA from INSEAD. 

 

In this episode, Mona and Steph discuss:

🌐 How to re-invent yourself while navigating huge career changes

🌐 The mental reframe required when facing rejection (after rejection, after rejection... )

🌐 Practical tips on learning the key skill *every* entrepreneur needs; SALES!

🌐 The importance of strategy and how each step helps the next

🌐 PLUS! What Mona looks for now as an investor

 

Mona is passionate about breaking down barriers to access - both for fundraising founders and equalising gender opportunities. In-line with her mission, Mona is a member of Global Women in VC, the world's largest community for women in venture capital to connect, collaborate, and create opportunities for each other. Discover more here: https://www.women-vc.com/

 

Mona is also the Co-Founder of Distributed Funding, a platform for underrepresented founders in the Web3 space to submit pitch decks and a short survey in just a few minutes. Learn more here: https://roomy-tailor-258.notion.site/Distributed-Funding-b49508c6d2484d62b3c0ca1ab286a132

 

Fundraising? Learn more about what tokentus looks for in their investments here: https://tokentus.com/targets

 

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe, rate, review, and share it with a friend!

 

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Follow Steph:

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13 Mar 2024EP19: "It's entrepreneurship or STRIPPING for me!" | Anu Obe, To All My Black Girls00:40:53

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

Anu Obe is the Founder of To All My Black Girls, a D2C ecomm business that specialises in naturally textured hair extensions for Afro-Caribbean hair types.

 

In this episode, Steph and Anu discuss:

 

👩🏾‍🦱 The importance of self-belief and optimism - your reality is not your identity!

💜 Having a clear mission, identifying a gap in the market, and solving one fatal customer problem

👩🏾‍🦱 The idea of whether or not entrepreneurship is for everyone?! 

💜 The power of self-confidence, and where that came from for Anu

👩🏾‍🦱 The top books that impacted Anu the most. (Hint: one of them is a religious text).

💜 How Anu went about finding her very first customers

 

Learn more about To All My Black Girls here: https://toallmyblackgirls.com/

 

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🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

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03 Jun 2024ES1: Los TOP 4 lecciones del emprendimiento | Episodio solo especial00:11:58

En este episodio especial, Stephanie Melodia reflexiona en las varias conversaciones con empresarios de los últimos 20 episodios.

 

Escucha para descubrir las TOP lecciones del empresarialismo!

 

(¿Puedes adivinar cuales son?)

 

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'Estrategía y tragedía' es el podcast de Stephanie Melodia, orador y fundadora Top 20 en el Reino Unido, donde entrevista empresarios, inversores, y expertos relacionados al mundo de startups. El propósito fundamental de este show es compartir las mayores lecciones de los grandes errores que otros han cometido - otros que están en unos pasos mas adelante de ti - para que puedes aprender de ellos, y tener la mayor posibilidad de éxito con tu negocio.

También esperamos que puedes encontrar inspiración de estas anécdotas, y terminar los episodios sintiendo que tu vision es completamente posible realizar.

 

Quieres más? Sigue Steph en las redes:

 

🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/

🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

 

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🙏🏼 Apoya el podcast con Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

🎧 No olvides en subscribir y compartir con tu amigo empresarial!

27 Mar 2024EP21: "It 3X the business and HALVED the CAC!" | Daniel Hegarty, ex-Habito, Founder & CEO of Communion00:43:02

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

Daniel Hegarty is the Founder & ex-CEO of Habito, the proptech scale-up which raised <$90M in venture capital, and now Founder & CEO of Communion, the mobile-first fintech on a mission to help people build a financial buffer against the world and fix their relationship with money.

 

In this episode, Steph and Daniel discuss:

 

👉 The power of brand & the importance of storytelling

👉 Having the balls to take big, brave bets

👉 Founder mental health, especially as an introvert 

👉 How entrepreneurship can make a difference to people’s lives

👉 Solving the anxiety of personal finances with Communion - from being at the whim of capitalism to galvanising yourself with a tiny act of defiance every day.

 

Learn more about Communion here: https://www.communionsaves.com/

 

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20 Dec 2023EP09: My tech team let me DOWN | Tanya Saha Gupta, Resale Future00:53:36

Access special perks by supporting the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

Tanya Saha Gupta is the Founder & CEO of Resale Future, a fashtech SaaS product that enables fashion brands to add a P2P resale platform to their e-commerce store.

 

(Shoppers can easily resell their garments; the retailers get a cut where it would otherwise be sold on Depop, Vestiaire Collective, Vinted or eBay, and; it encourages everyone to get involved in the circular economy - win win win!!)

 

In this episode, Steph and Tanya discuss:

👗 The transition from cushty corporate life to uncertain entrepreneurship. (Hint: Tanya was pretty savvy about the steps she took);

👗 The impact of fast fashion, how the circular economy can help, and what we can all do to minimise our carbon footprint;

👗 The lessons learnt from Resale Future's early days, including a tech team that disappointed, and Tanya figuring things out the hard way.

 

Hope you enjoy listening to this special fashtech episode! Did you learn something new? Do you feel inspired by Tanya's story? Then hit the subscribe button to support the show and stay in the loop for new episodes published weekly 😉

 

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Are you a fashion brand keen to generate revenue from the circular economy AND reduce your carbon footprint? Discover more about Resale Future here: https://www.resalefuture.com/

 

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Follow Steph:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/stephmelodia/

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

 

Watch the episode on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/videos

 

Support the show on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

10 Apr 2024EP23: Meet the Tina Turner of finance! | Norma Cassius, Think Like a Bank00:47:47

Norma Cassius is a Money Management Consultant and Psychotherapist with 20+ years' experience in the financial Sector and 17+ years' as a qualified Psychotherapist in Harley Street, London.

 

Our finances and mindset are so intertwined that it makes perfect sense that Norma has combined her financial and psychotherapy expertise with her mission to help people manage both their money and their mindset.

 

Norma has successfully helped hundreds of people and delivered financial education talks to over 16,000 individuals in 2024 alone.

 

In this episode, Steph and Norma discuss:

 

💸 Norma's background, including the influence of her Jamaican parents and raising three kids under the age of 6 while working part-time

💸 How Norma discovered her "ikigai" and now living her best life in her 60s

💸 The fundamentals of money management including financial language and basic terminologies💸 The links between personal finances and your mental health

💸 How to take the leap into entrepreneurship financially

💸 How to use money as an empowering tool

 

Learn more about Norma Cassius here: https://www.normacassius.com/

 

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🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

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07 Feb 2024EP14: Meet the black rose in a concrete jungle | Andy Ayim MBE, Angel Investing School01:10:09

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

Andy Ayim MBE is the Founder of Angel Investing School which has trained 500+ angels who have invested $5M globally - including the Black Angel Group spun out of Google's Black Network which has invested over $3.5M in 30+ startups.

 

Andy has personally invested in 17 startups, including Farmlend, Patch and Unplugged, with 70% of his angel investment portfolio led by diverse founders.

 

In this episode, Steph and Andy discuss:

 

👼 The importance of relationship-building in a "humanistic" approach to investing

👼 The education gap that Andy and his team are plugging with Angel Investing School

👼 Red flags to watch out for while doing your due diligence (both as a fundraising founder and as an investor looking to make a deal)

👼 Impact and happiness beyond the buzzwords. (Hint: embrace your authentic self and do good in the world) 

👼 The concept of “second mountains” - and how the loss of Andy’s dad played a part in his self-development

👼 Optimising our limited time with pressure-free habits (leaning into what feels right and embracing the ebbs & flows with heart)

👼 On getting an MBE and the assumed credibility to build a trustworthy position - especially for someone educating financial literacy

 

Learn more about Angel Investing School here: https://angelinvestingschool.com/

 

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🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

 

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🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/videos

 

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🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

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🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

 

26 Jun 2024EP34: "I built the Clueless wardrobe" | Bianca Rangecroft, Founder & CEO of Whering00:45:01

Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/strategyandtragedy/

 

Bianca Rangecroft is the Forbes 30 Under 30 Founder & CEO of Whering, the AI-enabled digital wardrobe and personal styling app with the mission of upending the buy-use-dispose model by helping Gen-Z fashionistas get the most out of their wardrobe.

Bianca has raised over £2.5 million in venture capital and now has 14 full-time employees, 150 brand partners and - most importantly - over 4M users.In this episode, you'll hear about:👗 Bianca's experience on BBC's Dragons Den👗 Going from scrappy bootstrapped startup to lean, mean, metric-focused scale-up machine👗 Hire slow, fire fast: the mindset shift needed with talent and most overlooked aspect of dismissing staff👗 Successful growth hacks with viral marketing (organic social done right!)👗 The power of networking and Bianca's advisory board for life👗 PLUS! What Victoria Beckham had to do with Whering!Download the app here: https://whering.co.uk/

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🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

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11 Jul 2024ES2: Las 10 lecciones de emprendimiento de la fundadora de agencia premiada | Stephanie Melodia, Bloom00:11:11

Acceda a ventajas especiales en Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

Stephanie Melodia fundó Bloom, una consultora de marketing galardonada, en Londres en 2017.

 

El verano pasado, anunció el cierre de su exitoso negocio y, en este episodio, cuenta lo que pasó y reflexiona sobre lo que salió bien y lo que salió mal.

(Después de todo, Strategy & Tragedy se trata de compartir *tanto* los altibajos de los negocios, la realidad detrás de puertas cerradas, la fea verdad detrás del barniz brillante y, lo más importante, las lecciones aprendidas de la experiencia. Nada de esto es (Para disuadir a cualquiera de emprender, se trata de empoderar a los emprendedores en etapa inicial para que entren con los ojos y los oídos bien abiertos, aprendiendo de los errores de otras personas que están unos pasos por delante de usted. ¡Sintonice el Episodio CERO para escuchar más!).

Lo que aprenderás en este episodio:

 

🥀 ¿Qué llevó a Steph a cerrar finalmente el capítulo de Bloom?🥀 Las 10 mejores lecciones de negocios: 5 cosas que funcionaron + 5 cosas que no 🥀 Ser "alérgico" al estancamiento, al concepto de control y a la importancia del progreso🥀 La importancia de realizar un ejercicio “pre mortem” en tu propio negocio. 🥀 Adoptar una carrera profesional en cartera después de Bloom

Me encantaría saber, ¿qué es lo que más te resonó aquí? Unirse a la conversación: 

 

Siga a Steph en las redes sociales:

   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/

   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

🎬 Vea el episodio en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/

 

🙏🏼 Apoye el programa en Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

🎧 ¡No olvides suscribirte, opinar y compartir con un amigo!

08 Nov 2023EP03: Forbes 30U30 on hustle culture, resilience, and navigating feast & famine | Bobby Idogho, Radically Digital00:54:55

Bobby Idogho is a Forbes 30U30 Founder of Radically Digital.

 

In this episode, Bobby shares how he developed his resilience muscle, how he navigates the “feast & famine” cycle of agency life, and how his background helped propel him further in life.Please enjoy this episode and subscribe to the show!

12 Jun 2024EP32: Delivering 1 BILLION people a moment of calm | Liv Ferdi, TRIP Drinks00:41:16

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

Liv Ferdi is the Co-Founder of TRIP, the UK’s number 1, best selling CBD drinks brand stocked in 25,000 stores around the UK including the likes of Selfridges, Ocado, Boots, Planet Organic, Harrods… Also in chains like The Ivy, Brewdog, Leon, Benugo, AND is the exclusive CBD supplier to Soho House!

TRIP holds 88% UK market share, has raised £10M in external investment and hired a team of 50 staff!Tune in to hear about:

💛 The benefit of coming in from the outside - from Liv's career in corporate legal to FMCG founder and the advantage of fresh perspectives💛 How to win in becoming *category-defining* - even when you’re not the first💛 How TRIP overcame performance marketing challenges as a CBD brand💛 Building a 'cool' brand that respects the customer 💛 Cultivating an authentic, mission-driven business💛 PLUS Strategy & Tragedy exclusive new announcement!

Get 20% off your TRIP order with the S&T podcast code: TRIPCALM20 Shop online here: https://drink-trip.com/collections/all or in-store at various retailers

Want more?

 

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🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

29 Nov 2023EP06: The ex-ATHLETE solving climate change | Thomas Panton, Canopey00:38:15

Who would guess being a professional swimmer and climate activist would make you a successful startup founder?

 

Thomas Panton, Co-Founder & CEO of Canopey, embodies ALL the characteristics of a true entrepreneur. Determined, passionate, strategic, charismatic, and insightful, Thomas was always bound to be a success.

 

In this episode, Steph and Thomas discuss the following themes:

  • How athleticism applies to entrepreneurship
  • The solutions for climate change
  • Founder mental health and mindset
  • Entrepreneurship is not for everyone (and that's ok!)

 

Learn more about Canopey here: https://canopey.com/

 

Follow Steph:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/stephmelodia/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

 

Watch the episodes on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD7YZDoaGQU&list=PLlV8JoK2z-iiFOW5Gw-FISA6rvBdR853z

17 Apr 2024EP24: AI, winning teams, and overcoming a "warm intro" in VC | Ziv Reichert, LocalGlobe00:47:03

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

Ziv Reichert is a VC Partner at LocalGlobe, the seed stage venture capital firm behind the likes of Citymapper, Wise and Zoopla.

 

In this episode, Steph and Ziv discuss:

 

💰 Top tips on getting a busy investor's attention

💰 A VC’s perspective on the fundraising environment ("we’re an easy scapegoat")💰 What gets Ziv excited as an investor (top themes and specific breakdown of favourite companies)💰 How Ziv tries to stay ahead of the curve and cultivate a futurist "crystal ball" mindset

💰 The key ingredients for startup success 

💰 Thoughts on AI

 

Learn more about LocalGlobe here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/localglobe/

 

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Follow Steph:

 

🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/

🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

 

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/videos

 

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

05 Jun 2024EP31: "I'm solving the world's most PAINFUL pain point!" | DEATHTECH founder, Emily Cummin of Untangle Grief00:40:11

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

Emily is the Founder of Untangle, the go-to app for all of life's hard events. From sorting the mess of paperwork after a bereavement, to finding a community of other grief-stricken individuals, Untangle is there to help everyone get through the tough times. Featured in the Evening Standard and boasting <500k followers, Untangle is going from strength to strength as they now embark their new crowdfunding campaign.

But of course, it wasn't always that successful... In this episode, Steph and Emily discuss:

 

👼 Building a business around lived experience vs the market opportunity 👼 The validation process and data-driven tests along the way👼 Emily's accelerator experience and reason for choosing Zinc👼 Decision-making around tech stack for new startup (hint: Emily went with OTS)👼 Finding PMF (product-market fit)

 

Untangle is crowdfunding! Get in on the action here: https://untanglegrief.com/coowners-club/

 

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Follow Steph:

🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/

🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

 

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/videos

 

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend! 

08 May 2024EP27: Meet the REAL Obi-Wan of Business | Farhan Lalji, LTV Capital00:50:40

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

Farhan Lalji is the Founder & General Partner of LTV Capital, a platform for emerging managers & investors in world-changing ventures. He is also a Teaching Fellow at London Business School and Entrepreneur in Residence at King’s College.

 

In this episode, Steph and Farhan discuss:

 

📈 The UK as a player on the global stage

📈 Thoughts on venture capital scout networks (and who’s doing well)

📈 When his business got acquired *during* a crowdfunding campaign (hint: it was a bit awks)

📈 His view from the boardroom table (he sat on EIGHT!!)

📈 Privilege in entrepreneurship

📈 How to successfully pivot

 

For more information on what Farhan is building, take a look at https://medium.com/ltv-capital/ltv-capital-so-why-the-lion-8071d3ec7dfb

 

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Follow Steph:

🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/

🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

 

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/videos

 

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

15 May 2024EP28: Unlock NEXT-LEVEL confidence through visualisation | Maya Raichoora, Remap00:51:17

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

Maya Raichoora, the CEO and Co-Founder of Remap Mental Fitness, who envisions a world where mental fitness is as common as physical fitness. She helps CEOs, athletes & performers become the top 1% in their field through the power of visualisation.

 

Tune in for an interactive visualisation exercise and all of the below...

 

🧠 MAYA'S STORY:

✨ From being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis to being the most healthy and confident she’s ever been

✨ Self-confidence as a young brown woman without formal qualifications

✨ Her philosophy around 'compassionate discipline'

 

🧠 SCIENCE:

✨ The neuroscience behind visualisation

✨ Study examples in sport

 

🧠 RISKS:

✨ The difference between 'being confident' and 'having confidence'

✨ Avoid breaking promises to yourself at all costs!

✨ The trap of falling into victimhood

 

🧠 PRACTICAL TIPS:

✨ How to make space to practise visualisation

✨ How *detachment* to your current state can help achieve your desired identity

✨ Physical behaviours: look people in the eye, pause before you speak, stand a little taller

✨ Treat your time as valuable currency

 

Discover more here: https://www.remapmentalfitness.com/

 

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Follow Steph:

🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/

🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

 

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/videos

 

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

18 Oct 2023EP01: I made HISTORY on BBC’s Dragons’ Den | Charlotte Morley, thelittleloop00:49:12

Charlotte Morley is the Founder & CEO of thelittleloop, the UK's first shared wardrobe for kids. (https://thelittleloop.com/)

 

Founded in 2019, Charlotte has achieved some enormous successes (like making history on BBC’s Dragons’ Den, winning the Junior Design and Made for Mums awards consecutively, negotiating a groundbreaking retail partnership with John Lewis, securing external investment as a solo female founder, and reducing the environmental impact of children's clothes by 80%) as well as some serious lows (like co-founder break-ups, investor rejections, last-minute let-downs, disappointments... )

 

If anyone knows the true GRIT behind entrepreneurship, it's Charlotte. Mission-driven, strategic, empathetic, warm, smart, and extremely likeable - Charlotte has all the ingredients of a successful business leader.

 

Tune into the full episode to hear her story and how she made it through those tough times.

 

Hope you enjoy this episode and don't forget to subscribe!

17 Jul 2024EP36: My HIPPIE upbringing made me a MISSION-LED entrepreneur | Saasha Celestial-One, Olio00:48:00

Access special perks on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

Saasha Celestial-One, the Co-Founder of Olio, the carbon negative sharing app with over 7M members & counting which has succeeded in saving our planet from 181,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.

 

In this episode, you'll hear about:

♻️ How Saasha met her Co-founder - and how they now cultivate a successful relationship♻️ The benefits of serial entrepreneurship, including increased risk tolerance, trained instinct, and practical lessons learnt ♻️ Following customer demand in the evolution from a niche food-sharing app to now all things for local communities♻️ Team or market: can you win with a great team in a downturn?♻️ The personal tragedies that can affect you in your business journey (💔)

 

👉 Have items in your household you'd like to share with your local community? Download the Olio app: https://olioapp.com/en/

 

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Follow Steph:

🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/

🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/

 

🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/videos

 

🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

 

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

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