Anatomy of a Leader with Maria Hvorostovsky

“Flexible working is our nemesis. It’s embarrassing that our collective imagination has only been able to tweak the 9 to 5 working day” said Lizzie Penny and Alex Hirst founders of Hoxby and co-authors of Workstyle Revolution: A revolution for wellbeing, productivity and society, a Sunday Times Bestseller. When I found out about Lizzie’s and Alex’s book Workstyle - I knew immediately I had to have them on the show, as their perspective throws another light on why hybrid and flexible working has been baffling HR Directors and leaders everywhere.  Hoxby is a purpose-led organisation born out of the necessity to create ‘a happier, more fulfilled society through a world of work without bias’. They employ more than 1,000 diverse freelancers who all work remotely across 30 countries and have been a case study in how to create digital first, successful, collaborative, productive and happy teams without a physical office. In Episode 40 Lizzie, Alex and I talk about the perils of presenteeism, disrupting the outdated 9 to 5 model, diversity and inclusion, the dark side of autonomy and how to tackle it. Their book Workstyle Revolution is a beacon of hope in our burnout culture, an alternative to the massively outdated 9 to 5. If you are an HR Director, CEO or are grappling with employee engagement - this is a must watch / listen. ------------------------------------- WORKSTYLE ------------------------------------- LIZZIE PENNY LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizziepenny/ IG :​​https://www.instagram.com/lizzietheworkstyler/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lizzie_penny ALEX HIRST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhirst/ IG:https://www.instagram.com/alextheworkstyler/ WORKSTYLE & HOXBY https://www.workstylerevolution.com/ https://hoxby.com/ BUY THE BOOK https://bit.ly/3VJp0vJ ------------------------------- FOLLOW ME ON ------------------------------- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Need help HIRING - head over to - http://www.hirewithmaria.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW. The best review will get a mention in the next episode!

Rhian Stephenson is a nutritional therapist, naturopath and founder of ARTAH - a brand of natural supplements with science backed ingredients that help support skin, gut health, hormone balance, sleep, stress and mood. She knows first hand the impact ill health has on the body. She was a very sickly child, but once the root cause of her illness was discovered, this breakthrough changed her life forever. You might remember the early days of Psycle back in 2014. She was its first CEO of the London branch redefining the fitness industry into something we do for fun. In Episode 39 we talk about Rhian’s own health journey, what inspired ARTAH, the exclusion diet, cycle synching, pregnancy, how an optimal diet is different for men and women, and so much more. This is a conversation, I will be rewatching many times to make sure it all sinks in. ------------------------------- WE DISCUSS ------------------------------- 02:38 - Why is health so important to you? 10:44 - What was it like working at Psycle? 13:50 - Is wanting to lose weight motivation enough? 16:02 - What’s the best way to lose weight? 18:02  - What is more important, diet or exercise? 19:57 - Social aspect of eating and dieting 22:31 - Is there such a thing as a good diet? 23:14 - Alcohol 37:11 - Diet as punishment 43:34 - Differences between men and women, cycle synching 01:02:18 - What’s your mission with Artah? 01:03:50 - How does health affect leadership? 01:09:39 - Hardest thing about running a business 01:10:46 - Advice to younger self 01:12:07 - Impossible question ------------------------------------- RHIAN STEPHENSON ------------------------------------- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhian-stephenson-nd-003a9a22/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhianstephenson/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/rhianstephenson?lang=en-GB ARTAH: —-------- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artahhealth/?hl=en Website: https://artah.co/ ------------------------------- FOLLOW ME ON ------------------------------- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Need help HIRING - head over to - http://www.hirewithmaria.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

TRAILER Rhian Stephenson is a nutritional therapist, naturopath and founder of ARTAH - a brand of natural supplements with science backed ingredients that help support skin, gut health, hormone balance, sleep, stress and mood. She knows first hand the impact ill health has on the body. She was a very sickly child, but once the root cause of her illness was discovered, this breakthrough changed her life forever. You might remember the early days of Psycle back in 2014. She was its first CEO of the London branch redefining the fitness industry into something we do for fun. In Episode 39 we talk about Rhian’s own health journey, what inspired ARTAH, the exclusion diet, cycle synching, pregnancy, how an optimal diet is different for men and women, and so much more. This is a conversation, I will be rewatching many times to make sure it all sinks in. ------------------------------------- RHIAN STEPHENSON ------------------------------------- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhian-stephenson-nd-003a9a22/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhianstephenson/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/rhianstephenson?lang=en-GB ARTAH: —-------- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artahhealth/?hl=en Website: https://artah.co/ ------------------------------- FOLLOW ME ON ------------------------------- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Need help HIRING - head over to - http://www.hirewithmaria.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Dan Murray-Serter is certainly one of the most interesting, curious and deep thinking entrepreneurs I have ever met. Having failed with a fashion tech startup Grabble, he and his business partner did a lot of soul searching for their next venture and Heights (the coolest supplement brand) was born. Deeply purpose and values led, Heights created an engaged community of extremely loyal followers who are not only consumers of the product, but investors in the company as well. In Episode 38, Dan and I touch on everything from never having enough, consumerism, ageing, neuroplasticity of the brain, being a father, learning from your mistakes, making hard choices, running a business with full transparency and much more. Get your pens and papers out for some great book recommendations too. ------------------------------- WE DISCUSS ------------------------------- 02:18 - Being a ‘walk’ influencer 11:03 - Is there a book in you? 18:09 - Ageing and retirement 24:25  - Where does your interest in health come from? 33:59  - Why is being transparent in business important to you? 35:41 - Why did grabble fail? 41:21 - Company values and hiring 44:58 - How do you know when you’ve hired the right person? 50:22 - How do you decide what to focus on? 54:50 - Is Heights your calling? 57:17 - Neuroplasticity 01:06:50 - Consumerism and having enough 01:13:22 - How has becoming a father shaped you as an entrepreneur? 01:21:05 - The Impossible Question ------------------------------------- DAN MURRAY-SERTER ------------------------------------- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danmurrayserter/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/danmurrayserter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danmurrayserter/ Heights: —-------- Website: https://www.yourheights.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/yourheights Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourheights/ ------------------------------- FOLLOW ME ON ------------------------------- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Need help HIRING - head over to - http://www.hirewithmaria.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Dan Murray-Serter is certainly one of the most interesting, curious and deep thinking entrepreneurs I have ever met. Having failed with a fashion tech startup Grabble, he and his business partner did a lot of soul searching for their next venture and Heights (the coolest supplement brand) was born. Deeply purpose and values led, Heights created an engaged community of extremely loyal followers who are not only consumers of the product, but investors in the company as well. In Episode 38, Dan and I touch on everything from never having enough, consumerism, ageing, neuroplasticity of the brain, being a father, learning from your mistakes, making hard choices, running a business with full transparency and much more. Get your pens and papers out for some great book recommendations too. ------------------------------------- DAN MURRAY-SERTER ------------------------------------- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danmurrayserter/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/danmurrayserter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danmurrayserter/ Heights: —-------- Website: https://www.yourheights.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/yourheights Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourheights/ ------------------------------- FOLLOW ME ON ------------------------------- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Need help HIRING - head over to - http://www.hirewithmaria.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW. The best review will get a mention in the next episode!

Shivani Pau packs a punch in her fast growing podcast A Millennial Mind. She tackles topics such as marriage, independence, grief, terminal illness all told through the mind of a millennial. Shivani is supremely confident, fiercely independent, a strong role model for her generation. In Episode 37 we talk about how to be authentically you, perfectionism, being judged on your looks and quitting your day job to pursue entrepreneurial dreams. Love love love ------------------------------- WE DISCUSS ------------------------------- 02:36 - Why did you call your podcast A Millennial Mind? 03:56 - What did you learn about Millennials that surprised you? 08:35 - Being a perfectionist podcast host 16:10 - How has your background shaped you? 19:19 - How do you deal with people who don’t like you? 22:48 - Vulnerability and insecurity 26:44 - Looks and professionalism 38:10 - Your identity in 5 words 40:29 - Is that why you don’t want to get married? 49:02 - Why did you quit your day job? 55:40 - What advice would you give your younger self? 59:40 - What does leadership mean to you? ------------------------ SHIVANI PAU ------------------------ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shivani-pau-9b7565177/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivani.pau/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shivanipau YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@shivanipau3769 ------------------------------- FOLLOW ME ON ------------------------------- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Need help HIRING - head over to - http://www.hirewithmaria.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Shivani Pau packs a punch in her fast growing podcast A Millennial Mind. She tackles topics such as marriage, independence, grief, terminal illness all told through the mind of a millennial. Shivani is supremely confident, fiercely independent, a strong role model for her generation. In Episode 37 we talk about how to be authentically you, perfectionism, being judged on your looks and quitting your day job to pursue entrepreneurial dreams. Love love love ------------------------ SHIVANI PAU ------------------------ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shivani-pau-9b7565177/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivani.pau/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shivanipau YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@shivanipau3769 ------------------------------- FOLLOW ME ON ------------------------------- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Need help HIRING - head over to - http://www.hirewithmaria.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW. The best review will get a mention in the next episode!

Dr Rhona Eskander is what a strong, bold, and smart entrepreneur looks like. She exudes confidence in herself and in her industry disruptive ‘toothpaste’ Parla so much so that she even turned down investment from a dragon on Dragons' Den. A successful dentist with her own practice Chelsea Dental Clinic, and an influencer with over 100k followers on Instagram and regular TV appearances, Dr Rhona has created her own niche. She is unapologetically glamorous, who in no uncertain terms has been told to tone it down. In this episode #36 we talk about her fighting with society, breaking down stereotypes, her approach to ‘having it all’ and taking over the world. Such a positive and inspiring conversation. I hope it fills you with as much energy as it did me. ----------------------------------------- DR RHONA ESKANDER ----------------------------------------- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drrhonaeskander/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drrhonaeskander Twitter: https://twitter.com/drrhonaeskander YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRhonaEskander Websites: Parla: https://parlatoothpastetabs.com/ Personal: https://www.drrhonaeskander.com/ Dental Practice: https://www.chelseadentalclinic.co.uk/team/dr-rhona-eskander/ ------------------------------- FOLLOW ME ON ------------------------------- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Need help HIRING - head over to - http://www.hirewithmaria.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW. The best review will get a mention in the next episode!

Dr Rhona Eskander is what a strong, bold, and smart entrepreneur looks like. She exudes confidence in herself and in her industry disruptive ‘toothpaste’ Parla so much so that she even turned down investment from a dragon on Dragons' Den. A successful dentist with her own practice Chelsea Dental Clinic, and an influencer with over 100k followers on Instagram and regular TV appearances, Dr Rhona has created her own niche. She is unapologetically glamorous, who in no uncertain terms has been told to tone it down. In this episode #36 we talk about her fighting with society, breaking down stereotypes, her approach to ‘having it all’ and taking over the world. Such a positive and inspiring conversation. I hope it fills you with as much energy as it did me. ------------------------------- WE DISCUSS ------------------------------- 02:22 - Intro - did you always want to be a dentist? 09:09 - Rhona fighting with society 12:33 - Rhona’s early years and growing up 21:34 - How do you handle comments such as ‘don’t look so glamorous’? 25:27 - On motherhood & mental health 34:21 - Rhona’s Dragons' Den Experience with her toothpaste brand Parla 40:38 - Was it a mistake to walk away from the Dragon’s offer? 43:35 - What’s the hardest thing about being a co-founder? 47:10 - How do you handle social media and running a business? 48:51 - Anything you would change about yourself? 52:10 - What does leadership mean to you? 56:48 - The Impossible question ----------------------------------------- DR RHONA ESKANDER ----------------------------------------- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drrhonaeskander/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drrhonaeskander Twitter: https://twitter.com/drrhonaeskander YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRhonaEskander Websites: Parla: https://parlatoothpastetabs.com/ Personal: https://www.drrhonaeskander.com/ Dental Practice: https://www.chelseadentalclinic.co.uk/team/dr-rhona-eskander/ ------------------------------- FOLLOW ME ON ------------------------------- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Need help HIRING - head over to - http://www.hirewithmaria.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

If you are a working parent and haven’t heard of Anna Whitehouse (aka Mother Pukka) you must have been living under a rock. Anna is an author, editor, podcast host and founder of Flex Appeal campaign fighting for flexible working for all. I knew I had to talk to Anna on the show, as lack of flexible working is one of the top reasons women leave the workforce and do not rise through the ranks (something I care about very very much). To be clear her campaign is for everyone, not just women. We talk about how having kids is not a choice, miscarrying at your desk, closing the gender pay gap, the archaic dinosaurs that won’t see the light of day about flexible working, and what you can do to help. Anna is so passionate, she had me in tears at the end, as she talked about her own mother. It triggered me, as how my mother was treated had a massive impact on my approach to work especially about being financially independent. I hope this podcast gives you hope that there are people in your corner fighting to make a change, and that you can make a change too. ------------------------------- WE DISCUSS ------------------------------- 02:06 - How did the idea for FlexAppeal come about? 09:36 - Why do companies insist on not offering flexibility? 15:08 - What made the biggest impact on your campaign? 18:44 - Who are the progressive companies doing this well? 26:54 - What can retailers learn from NHS job sharing? 32:28 - Flexibility is not perfect - it’s a relationship 37:32 - What’s the biggest barrier to women getting ahead in the workplace? 49:50 - Generational trauma 01:00:41 - What can we do to support Flex Appeal? ----------------------------------------- ANNA WHITEHOUSE ----------------------------------------- LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-whitehouse-586623a4/ Website: https://www.motherpukka.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mother_pukka/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mother_pukka ------------------------------- FOLLOW ME ON ------------------------------- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@anatomyofaleader Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Need help HIRING - head over to - http://www.hirewithmaria.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.