Anatomy of a Leader with Maria Hvorostovsky

Do you dream of becoming a CEO, or want to be a better one? Well, if you don't enjoy the pressure, don't become a CEO, warns my guest, Philip Mountford. Phil is a CEO, Chairman, and NED, who has led fashion retail giants like Hunkemoller, Moss Bros and Versace. He fell into the fashion industry after a motorbike accident put a stop to his dreams of going to the Olympics - and soon enough, he discovered where his talents lay. Phil tells me about: 1. Rebranding Hunkemoller 2. Out-strategizing Victoria’s Secret 3. Making Hunkemoller profitable 4. Failing as a CEO If you’re interested in taking a peek behind the executive curtain, or are an aspiring CEO looking for tips, then tune in! Timestamps: 00:00 - Trailer and Introduction 00:43 - Unpacking Leadership: Definition and Purpose 04:00 - Being a Chameleon Leader 13:56 - Leaving a Lasting Legacy 18:58 - Retail Landscape and Strategies for Inclusivity 30:49 - Dealing with Public Scrutiny 38:57 - An Unexpected Love Affair: Career Transition 48:01 - Evolving CEO Roles: Leading with Vision 52:33 - Advice for Aspiring CEOs 56:03 - The Art of Decision-Making Philip Mountford: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/philipmountford Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philip.mountford/ X: https://twitter.com/P_Mountford Website: https://www.hunkemoller.co.uk/ Maria Hvorostovsky: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com/ Podcast filmed, edited and produced by: https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com Need help HIRING – https://www.hvosearch.com/ Give us a Review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Expectations of the office have changed. That typical dreary, depressing office block with uniform cubicles - who wants to go there? No one. So who’s out there, trying to change that? My guest is Gaby Hersham, the co-founder of Huckletree, a network of community-driven and design-led workspaces which aims to challenge the typical workspace model. She believes that a well-designed workspace can profoundly impact your work and mindset for the better. Gaby tells me about conceptualising Huckletree, leading a physical office business through COVID-19, and the future of flexible spaces. We discuss why working from the office is beneficial in helping with innovation, creativity and productivity, and she shares her thoughts on why your colleagues shouldn’t be like family, as well as balancing work and family life, and overcoming “mum guilt”. Gaby also sheds light on the unique struggles women entrepreneurs face, and the power of asking for what you want, whether in business or life. Tune in if you’re interested in hearing about the potential of flexible workspaces, want to reimagine your approach to work and productivity, or just want to hear a badass woman entrepreneur’s story. Timestamps: 00:00 - Trailer and Introduction 01:08 - Being a “Passionately Curious” Leader 09:22 - Conceptualising Huckletree: Creating a Home for Innovation 12:31 - Working Smarter, Not Harder 14:25 - COVID-19: Shifting Mindsets for the Better? 18:36 - The Future of Flexible Spaces 24:24 - Designing Workspaces for Innovation 28:56 - Work and Team: Different Roles for Different Spaces 29:56 - Work, Family Life, and Mum Guilt 44:12 - Being a Woman Entrepreneur: People-Pleasing, Gender Bias and Imposter Syndrome 54:25 - Don’t Ask, Don’t Get 59:54 - Business Lessons Gaby Hersham: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gabriela-hersham-26b12565 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielahersham/ X: https://twitter.com/gabrielahersham Website: https://www.huckletree.com/ Maria Hvorostovsky: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com/ Podcast filmed, edited and produced by: https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com Need help HIRING – https://www.hvosearch.com/ Give us a Review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Why are you obsessed with money? Do the rich have an obligation to right some wrongs? Is interviewing Andrew Tate commendable? And are you a misogynist if you don’t believe in the gender pay gap? These were the ‘small’ questions I asked Rob Moore, a property developer, multi-millionaire, money expert, and host of the Disruptors podcast. We dive into the topic of money - having it, not having it, and understanding it, as well as Rob’s opinions on whether the rich have an obligation to distribute wealth downwards. There’s no denying that Rob likes to stir the pot, but does he do it for clickbait or because he’s truly misogynistic, amoral, and avaricious? We debate on whether it’s moral to give a platform to people like Andrew Tate, and whether denying the existence of the gender pay gap is misogynistic. If you want to see a heated discussion on Money, Power, and Feminism, then tune in. What do you think? I want to hear from you too. This episode is sponsored by HVO Search:https://www.hvosearch.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 - Trailer and Introduction 07:05 - Why is Rob Obsessed with Money? 14:40 - What Does Money Mean to You? 19:26 - Money and Happiness 34:19 - Money Matters and Wealth Distribution 40:44 - Clickbait Content: How Far is Too Far? 48:27 - Elephant in the Room: Interview with Andrew Tate 55:28 - Taking Accountability on Public Platforms 01:03:22 - The Gender Pay Gap 01:12:53 - Influence of Jordan Peterson & Andrew Tate 01:23:24 - “Male Energy”: What Defines Masculinity? 01:28:10 - Feminism: Equity vs. Equality Rob Moore: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robmoore1979Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robmooreprogressive/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/robprogressive?lang=en Website: https://robmoore.com/ Progressive Property: https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/ Maria Hvorostovsky:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvoTwitter: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky Podcast filmed, edited and produced by: https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com SUBSCRIBE, COMMENT AND GIVE IT THE THUMBS UP

My prayers are with everyone affected. Here are links to charities that you can support: American Friends of Magen David Adom (Red Star of David) https://afmda.org/ Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALMEP) https://www.allmep.org/ CARE (Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere) https://www.care.org/ Doctors without Borders https://rb.gy/2j26r Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) https://www.pcrf.net/ United Hatzalah https://israelrescue.org/ UNRWA https://www.unrwa.org/

What does it take to build a thriving community-driven business? I speak with Rollo Millership, a visionary entrepreneur, community advocate, and the founder of Nourished Communities, a business committed to transforming ordinary local shopping into extraordinary community-led experiences. Rollo tells me about his mission to build strong communities around local producers, promote sustainable food systems, and make wholesome food accessible to all. We'll delve into Rollo’s thoughts on leadership, from the power of saying no, and forcing people (and yourself) off the clock. Rollo’s business is all about fostering meaningful connections, sustainability, and getting people to love food again, so if that’s something you’re interested in, this episode is a must watch. Timestamps: 00:00 - Trailer and Introduction 11:23 - Leading from a Young Age 19:30 - Focusing on Business Processes 23:28 - Building Local Supply Chains 27:52 - Lessons Learned and Embracing Mistakes 34:15 - Building the Right Team 37:58 - Leadership Qualities and Learning Paths 39:00 - Finding Balance Through Time Off 43:29 - Future Plans: Nourishing Communities 45:15 - Curated Hampers and Local Sourcing 46:42 - Online Growth Strategy Rollo Millership: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rollo-millership Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nourishedcommunities/ Website: https://www.nourishedcommunities.com/ Email: rollo@nourishedcommunities.com Maria Hvorostovsky: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky Podcast filmed, edited and produced by: https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Are you struggling with a toxic boss? Or have you realised you might be one? Kate Waterfall Hill is a leadership coach and TikTok creator of Linda the toxic boss having started her career at a marketing agency, becoming an MD at the tender age of 29. Pivoting from working with ‘big fish’ companies such as Ford, Virgin, and Vodafone to becoming a coach helping leaders of SMEs become great leaders through an intuitive, personalised, and empathetic approach. We talk about how to spot and deal with toxic bosses and how not to become one yourself. Kate shares her tips about how to define your values, how to foster a good company culture, and how to create an “evidence pack” to boost your confidence. If you’re a boss who thinks your leadership style could do with some improvement, or a team member who wants to respectfully address concerns with your boss about how you work together, then tune in. Timestamps: 00:00 - Trailer and Introduction 01:19 - Inspiration Behind Linda the Toxic Boss 10:58 - Spotting and Dealing with a Toxic Boss 14:55 - Understanding Your Core Values 24:58 - Changing Expectations of Leaders 40:40 - Building Confidence through Self-Reflection Kate Waterfall Hill: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-waterfall-hill/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katewaterfallhill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katewaterfallhill/ Website: https://www.waterfallhill.co.uk/ Maria Hvorostovsky: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.comBooks: The Intentional Leader by Tim Hebert - https://amzn.to/3LG6kdE The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier - https://amzn.to/3rmMBsM Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Dr Julie Smith - https://amzn.to/46tQyKZ Podcast filmed, edited and produced by: https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Take the quiz - https://stan.store/mariahvo Are you feeling trapped in your current job, but not quite ready to throw in the towel? In a world where quitting often bears a negative stigma, it's crucial to understand what you're persevering for. This week’s video will introduce you to the Five C’s quiz I’ve created for you - Clarity, Challenge, Control, Career Growth, Culture - which will help you to understand your professional motivations better. I hope this video will help you to get out of career limbo, and discover whether your job is worth the grit, whether it's a stepping stone to your dreams, or a roadblock to your potential. If you're at a professional crossroads and unsure whether to seize that new role or stick with your current position, this video is for you! Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 01:30 - Rethinking Quitting: What Are We Gritting For? 02:49 - The Five C’s 06:34 - Staying or Going: How Do You Decide? Want 1:1 coaching? Email me on advice@hvosearch.com Links to books: Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away By Annie Duke - https://amzn.to/3EIMFWJ Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth - https://amzn.to/48dUm4H Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal - https://amzn.to/3sRgYYx Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life by Nir Eyal - https://amzn.to/3PiqdZl 8 Rules of Love: How to Find it, Keep it, and Let it Go by Jay Shetty - https://amzn.to/3PG0FH5 Maria Hvorostovsky: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com Podcast filmed, edited and produced by: https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

How can an Olympic champion’s mindset help you to succeed in your professional life? In this week’s episode, I speak to Grace Prendergast, a former sweep rower who boasts 15 national championships in the premier category, Olympic gold, five world championship titles, and won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the coxless pair. We talk about trial and error before specialising, and that dabbling in her teenage years helped Grace decide on a career path. The life of a professional athlete is demanding - both physically and mentally. Grace explains that learning how her specific brain worked helped her to manage her emotions, become more self-aware, and enjoy small moments of satisfaction. Grace also establishes that there are no superstars in rowing - it’s all about teamwork. She talks about “productive conflict” and why you need it to improve, as well as valuing diversity in your team. If you’re curious about how an athlete’s mindset can help you in life, whether you want tips on knowing yourself, want your team to be the best, or what it feels like when you finally achieve your life’s ambition, then this episode is for you! Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 02:03 - Who is Grace Prendergast? 06:18 - Dabbling in Different Sports 12:48 - Making Sacrifices and Difficult Decisions 15:23 - The Olympics: Achieving Your Life’s Ambition 23:43 - Coping, Self-Awareness, and Mindfulness 28:18 - We’re All in This Together: Rowing as a Team Effort 31:33 - Productive Conflict 34:13 - Bringing out the Best in Your Team 47:13 - Individual Responsibility in Rowing 50:33 - Transitioning from Rowing Grace Prendergast: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-prendergast-493106198/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/graceprendergast.nz/ Grace's Book Recommendation: Will it Make the Boat Go Faster? by Harriet Beveridge & Ben Hunt-Davis https://amzn.to/3ZbIjRe Maria Hvorostovsky: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com Podcast filmed, edited and produced by: https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com SUBSCRIBE, COMMENT AND GIVE IT THE THUMBS UP

Can't wait for you to watch Season 6 coming out next Tuesday! Follow me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com Podcast filmed, edited and produced by: https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com/ Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com

As the summer draws to a close, Clara jolts awake from a terrible dream realising she is stuck in her life. On a quest for a new beginning, and with the help of the AI narrator, will Clara find her voice? As we wrap up the summer holidays - here is a fun ‘silent movie’ inspired episode for you. For the best experience head over to YouTube to watch it with this link: https://youtu.be/lTi5LNL4Odg I’ll see you in September as we resume our regular show with some very exciting new guests! Follow me:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com Podcast filmed, edited and produced by: https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com/ Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com Subscribe / follow the show - it really helps us to be discovered