The UK is ranked last in Europe for bathing water quality. With a small team and limited resources, how have a ‘bunch of surfers from Cornwall’ got parliament to listen and launch a commission on England’s chemical cocktail of stinking sewage?

Today’s guest on All About Business is Giles Bristow, CEO of Surfers Against Sewage, a water reform charity that’s been around for over three decades.

In this episode, we discuss the dangers of not taking sustainability seriously, how to get the government to sit up and listen and why community lies at the heart of every charitable brand.

Giles Bristow is the CEO of Surfers Against Sewage, a marine conservation charity. Founded in 1990 by a group of surfers in Cornwall, SAS is a powerful environmental movement that addresses a range of ocean-related issues. Giles joined SAS in 2023 and has over 20 years of experience in environmental advocacy.

01:31 Introduction

02:22 What are the problems with the UK's oceans?

08:32 Recent environmental changes

10:41 Why can't water companies solve this?

13:38 Time for systemic change

16:45 Voters against floaters

31:31 Giles' advice for effective campaigning

36:42 Circular economies

38:53 Plastic - it's everywhere

40:40 How to lobby - transparency and connections

45:52 Just Stop Oil – Are they effective?

50:22 Helping businesses become more sustainable

53:55 Community and brand

59:19 Interview round

Links

Check out SAS’s website

Follow Giles on LinkedIn

Follow James Reed on LinkedIn

All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: https://www.reed.com/?utm_medium=AABshownotes.This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk

What should you do if you have a brilliant business idea but don’t have the funds to bring it to life?

In today’s episode of All About Business, I'm joined by venture capitalist Sasha Kaletsky. Sasha is the co-founder of investment firm Creator Ventures which he started with his cousin Caspar Lee. They have injected millions of dollars into digital tech companies in six short years.

In this episode, we explore how to craft the perfect pitch, how social media is shaping our economy, and how you can use simple AI tools to scale your business quickly.

Sasha Kaletsky is the co-founder and Managing Partner at Creator Ventures, a firm that invests in technologies shaping the digital landscape.

Before founding Creator Ventures, Sasha gained extensive experience in private equity, technology, and consulting. He started at Bridgepoint in private equity, contributed to the launch and expansion of Uber, and worked as a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group.

Timestamps

01:58 Introduction

02:31 Creator Ventures

17:37 Setting up in the United States

18:48 CEOs becoming creators

20:35 Building companies with AI

25:51 The future social landscape

29:28 Uber

31:12 The network effect

34:04 The secret behind a 5-Star passenger rating

35:09 What makes a good pitch

39:18 How Sasha determines future markets

41:12 Presenting to VCs

42:39 Due diligence

43:20 How to pitch to Sasha

43:53 Working with family

47:06 When due diligence fails

49:15 How companies can make better use of AI

54:53 Interview round

Links

Send Sasha your pitch

Check out Creator Ventures

Follow James Reed on LinkedIn

All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: https://www.reed.com/?utm_medium=AABshownotes

This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk.

How can you use psychology to quickly go from struggling employee to productivity machine?

Today’s guest on All About Business is Octavius Black CBE, the co-founder of MindGym, a corporate learning company that merges behavioural science with leadership development to turn struggling teams into powerhouses of productivity.

In this episode, we discuss the psychology behind high performance, why most leadership programmes are a waste of time, and the psychometric test that can predict your team’s future.

Octavius Black CBE is the founder and executive chair of MindGym, a company that delivers corporate learning and development programmes through 90-minute training sessions known as workouts.

Octavius has also co-authored several books that provide actionable insights and techniques to improve mental fitness and overall wellbeing.

In recognition of his contributions to business, Octavius was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2023.

Timestamps

00:41 The origin story of MindGym

03:50 The 90-minute learning revolution

07:11 Coaching and performance improvement

13:24 The importance of belonging and inclusion

19:43 HR challenges and innovations

27:42 Addressing workplace stress and wellbeing

30:15 Five conditions for thriving at work

35:39 The role of feedback in the workplace

41:54 The importance of emotional self-regulation

49:06 The future of AI in talent development

Links

Sign up for MindGym

Read Octavius’ book

Follow Octavius Black on LinkedIn

Follow James Reed on LinkedIn

All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at:

https://www.reed.com/?utm_medium=AABshownotes

This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk

How would a Jeweller who has become a favourite amongst the royal family start from scratch in 2025?

In this episode of All About Business, James interviews Kiki McDonagh, a fifth-generation jeweler renowned for her work with high-profile clients including Princess Diana and the current Princess of Wales. They discuss how she transformed the perception of fine jewellery, making it more accessible and encouraging women to buy for themselves. She shares insights into her design inspiration, the evolution of her brand, and the importance of business strategies such as starting small, maintaining strict financial oversight, and building customer trust.

Celebrating 40 years in the industry, Kiki outlines her future plans, including expansion into the American market.

Timestamps

03:26 Designing with passion and innovation

05:21 Building a brand and customer relationships

14:32 Navigating the luxury market

20:26 The impact of social media and online sales

26:36 Advice for aspiring jewellers

31:53 Building trust and brand identity

38:37 Challenges and opportunities in the jewellery industry

49:18 Expanding into the American market

53:03 Looking forward: Future plans and reflections

Links:

Follow James Reed on LinkedIn

All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at Reed Global

Visit Kiki McDonagh here

Visit Kiki McDonagh on Instagram

This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo Media

How do you build a brand that not only speaks to a whole generation of women, but also transforms an entire industry?

In this episode of All About Business, I sit down with Sharmadean Reid MBE, the trailblazing entrepreneur behind brands such as WAH Nails, Beautystack and The Stack World.

We discuss her experiences navigating the fashion and tech industries, how the pandemic changed her outlook on business, and the inspiration behind her new luxury beauty brand, 39 BC.

Sharmadean Reid MBE is an entrepreneur, creative consultant and advocate for women’s empowerment. Her work focuses on women’s power, equity and ownership.

Sharmadean launched WAH Nails in 2009 as a place for women to hang out, form friendships and build communities while getting creative nail designs. She also founded beauty booking system, Beautystack in 2017, as well as The Stack World in 2021.

In recognition of her contributions, Sharmadean received an MBE in 2015 from Queen Elizabeth II. She published her first book, New Methods for Women in 2024, and is currently working on her second book, along with a scripted TV show about female founders.

Timestamps

01:30 The birth of WAH Nails

05:54 From nail salon to global brand

10:09 The transition to tech and venture capital

12:08 Building Beautystack

20:10 Challenges and reflections during the pandemic

26:06 The pivot to The Stack World

30:38 Corporate anarchy and women's independence

36:31 Introducing 39 BC

49:25 Future projects and vision

Links

Check out The Stack World

Read Sharmadean Reid’s book

Subscribe to Shamadean Reid’s newsletter

Follow Sharmadean Reid on LinkedIn

Follow James Reed on LinkedIn

All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at:

https://www.reed.com/?utm_medium=AABshownotes

This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk

In December 2020, the UK signed its first post-Brexit trade deal with Turkey, safeguarding a £18.6bn relationship. But how did Turkey become so important for UK business?

In this episode of All About Business, I’m joined by Livio Manzini, Chairman and CEO of Bell Holding, a packaging and services company based in Turkey. We explore Turkey’s secret to efficient manufacturing, why trade wars are bad for everyone, and why ditching the Gregorian calendar might be good for business.

Livio Manzini has been the Chairman and CEO of Bell Holding since 1993. Bell Holding owns packaging and services companies, which includes Reed Recruitment Turkey. Livio is also an Honorary Chair of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Turkey, where he fosters economic relations between countries by promoting bilateral trade, supporting SMEs, and promoting sustainability initiatives.

Timestamps

01:43 Who is Livio Manzini?

08:15 The Gregorian calendar

15:35 Bell Holding, Turkey

21:15 Where the trade war is heading

25:13 Why the US and Europe have failed to compete in manufacturing

27:13 The four-day vs five-day work week

29:26 Livio on tariffs

30:38 Advice for businesses in a fractured world

36:30 Where to find opportunities

38:04 Generational businesses and succession planning

42:41 Advice on starting a dream business

43:43 The relationship between service businesses and manufacturing businesses

46:45 Climate change

Links

Follow Livio Manzini on LinkedIn

Visit Bell Holding's website

Follow James Reed on LinkedIn

All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at https://www.reed.com/?utm_medium=AABshownotes.

This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk

Consistent branding has the power to increase your revenue by up to 20%. But with massive rebrands making headlines for all the wrong reasons, how can you refresh your image without alienating your audience?

In this episode of 'All About Business,' I sit down with David Robertson Mitchell, who spent almost a decade working as a brand consultant for Mercedes’ Formula One team.

We discuss how he helped build Lewis Hamilton’s influential brand with the Mercedes’ Formula One team, the secret to getting your finance director on board with your marketing plans and why Jaguar’s recent rebrand might not be as terrible as you think.

David Robertson Mitchell aka The Brand Rover, is the Founder and Managing Director of dna-rB, a brand consultancy that works with individuals, businesses and sport teams to define brands, support the implementation of brand strategy and help manage reputations. dna-rB specialises in personal and corporate branding, ensuring alignment between a company’s brand and the personal brand of its CEO.

Timestamps

02:43 Branding Mercedes’ Formula One team

07:14 Lewis Hamilton's personal brand evolution

14:12 Branding success stories in sports

17:11 Rebranding challenges and strategies

30:31 The importance of messaging

34:25 Consistency in branding and marketing

39:40 Personal branding strategies

42:42 The CEO brand

52:14 Reputation management

Links

Check out David Mitchell's website

Follow David Mitchell on LinkedIn

Follow James Reed on LinkedIn

All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: www.reed.com

This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk.

With new economic policies forcing UK businesses to tighten their purse strings, how can we keep the UK’s entrepreneurial spirit alive, while also getting the economy back on track?

In this episode of All About Business, I’m joined by Luke Johnson, the serial entrepreneur who spotted some of the UK’s most popular food brands, including Pizza Express, The Ivy and Gail’s Bakery.

We discuss how to spot a winning investment, what the UK should be doing to promote entrepreneurship, and Luke’s five tips for reviving the economy.

Luke Johnson is an entrepreneur known for expanding the Pizza Express brand. He also founded Signature Restaurants, which owned notable restaurants including, The Ivy, and Le Caprice. Luke is currently Chairman of Risk Capital Partners, a private equity firm. From 2015-2021 he wrote a regular column for The Sunday Times where he shared his business expertise.

Timestamps

02:11 Who is Luke Johnson?

06:36 The traits entrepreneurs need to have

07:23 Pizza Express beginnings

11:36 Being a projector

13:40 The British business climate

23:19 Risk Capital Partners

26:03 Gail's Bakery

27:33 Luke's business formula

31:56 How we can encourage entrepreneurship in the UK

36:09 Luke's book and weekly column For entrepreneurs

40:56 Television and the arts

46:04 Future projects with Risk Capital Partners

49:05 Reed Interview Round

Links

Get Luke’s book

Visit Luke’s website

Check out Risk Capital Partners

Follow Luke on LinkedIn

Follow James Reed on LinkedIn

All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: www.reed.com

This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk