Business Without BS

EP 395 - Can big business actually change the world or is it all just PR? Andy speaks to Lucy Parker, Senior Advisor at Brunswick and co-author of The Activist Leader, on why CEOs need to stop playing it safe and start thinking like activists. From Gordon Brown’s task force to boardrooms at Maersk and Walmart, Lucy shares how companies can bridge the gap between profit and purpose, and why the future belongs to leaders with a backbone.*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*Spotify Video Chapters:00:00 BWB with Lucy Parker01:19 Andy's Intro03:04 Quickfire - Get To Know Lucy09:47 Lucy's Current Role at Brunswick10:25 Big Business Addressing Societal Issues14:27 Challenges and Misconceptions About Big Business22:44 Big Businesses Making a Positive Impact28:19 The Role of Regulation and Policy in Business35:11 The Future of Business and Societal Change44:51 Developing a Sustainable Mindset45:35 The Role of Leadership in Sustainability45:59 Challenges and Responsibilities of Modern Business49:16 The Complexity of Global Issues49:40 The Journey Towards Net Zero51:02 Transparency and Accountability in Business01:07:33 The Importance of Data in ESG01:13:40 Activist Leadership in Business01:23:18 The Power of Storytelling in Leadership01:26:12 Wrap Upbusinesswithoutbullshit.meWatch and subscribe to us on YouTubeFollow us:InstagramTikTokLinkedinTwitterFacebookIf you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.meBWB is powered by Oury Clark

EP 394 - This week Andy meets Bernard Savage who leads professional services business development consultancy - size ten and half boots.We have a wide running chat about how AI means that now, more than ever, professional services firms need to embrace sales. Luckily it’s also going to free up their time to do it.I’m not sure he persuaded Andy that sales wasn’t a dirty word. But we definitely buy into his rallying call that if you just do the same things as everyone else, then, well you are not going to stand out and your business will die.Straight talking advice indeed.*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*Spotify Video Chapters:00:00 BWB with Bernard Savage01:19 Andy's Views on Bernard04:02 Quickfrie - Get to Know Bernard06:33 The Reality of Professional Services12:45 Networking and Business Development21:17 Client Relationships and Commerciality25:15 Evolving Business Development Strategies25:53 Impact of AI on Professional Services26:24 The Dominance of London in Professional Services27:41 The Importance of Client Relationships30:28 The Role of LinkedIn in Professional Networking33:06 Regional Differences in Professional Services35:33 Northern England: Challenges and Opportunities48:38 Balancing Authenticity and Professionalism51:24 Wrap Upbusinesswithoutbullshit.meWatch and subscribe to us on YouTubeFollow us:InstagramTikTokLinkedinTwitterFacebookIf you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.meBWB is powered by Oury Clark

EP 393 - June's BOB quiz lineup sees Elizabeth Varley from the Department of Business and Trade, Silent Disco Company founder and CEO Toby Burns, and ex-Special Forces author and speaker Sarah Furness tackle topics including climate change, office nap pods, AI-created content, team-building exercises, and mandatory lunch breaks. Strap in!Chapters:00:00 Introduction to the Business or Bullshit Quiz00:42 Climate Change: Business or Bullshit?04:21 Office Nap Pods: A Good Idea?06:29 AI Created Content: Boon or Bane?09:43 Team Building Exercises: Effective or Awkward?13:20 Mandatory Hour-Long Lunch Breaks: Yay or Nay?businesswithoutbullshit.meWatch and subscribe to us on YouTubeFollow us:InstagramTikTokLinkedinTwitterFacebookIf you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.meBWB is powered by Oury Clark

EP 392 - This week we meet Sarah Furness, whose self described superpower is being “just enough of a bitch”. If you want to know what she means by that, stop reading and start listening.Sarah was the first female helicopter pilot to lead special forces missions in Iraq.These days she is bringing battlefield hardened insights to business problems, helping leaders to create healthy behaviours and environments in threatening or stressful situations.It’s a wide ranging conversation, covering everything from gender roles and sexism to mindfulness under extreme pressure and something called disco leg. But our main focus was on psychological safety and why it is important in the military and business.As Sarah says, “The only way we can learn from a mistake is if we talk about it, and we can’t talk about it if you’re punished for it”.The bit about disco leg is right at the end, if you want to skip to that to find out what it means.*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*Spotify Video Chapters:00:00 BWB with Sarah Furness01:16 Andy's Intro02:33 Quickfire: Get to Know Sarah07:53 Sarah's Journey: From Military to Mindfulness17:05 The Power of Mindfulness in High-Stress Situations24:47 Learning from Failure: Military Insights for Business31:14 Creating an Optimum Environment for Psychological Safety32:02 Encouraging Bravery in Leadership32:13 Vulnerability in Leadership34:28 Navigating Shame and Self-Compassion38:01 Self-Awareness and Inner Work in Leadership43:48 Gender and Leadership: Moving Beyond Stereotypes49:47 Customer-Centric Business Practices52:20 Lessons from Military Leadership01:01:16 The Importance of Humor and Camaraderie01:02:25 Top Tips for Founders and Entrepreneurs01:06:06 Wrap Upbusinesswithoutbullshit.meWatch and subscribe to us on YouTubeFollow us:InstagramTikTokLinkedinTwitterFacebookIf you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.meBWB is powered by Oury Clark

EP 391 - This week we are joined by Toby Burns, immersive events pioneer and the man behind Silent Disco.He has some quite spicy things to say about how the UK treats entrepreneurship and flags an innovation that he would love to see the UK copy from China.Yep, we should copy China.You’ll have to listen in to find out how and why. But you will also get some real nuggets of business wisdom (in handy catch phrases). Such as “innovate or evaporate”, “diversify or die”.Most importantly, if you want to create continued success you need to create a great customer experience at every touchpoint.Let us know what you think in the comments.*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*00:00 BWB with Toby Burns01:16 Andy's intro to Toby01:58 The Silent Disco Business Model03:57 Toby's Early Career and Family Business07:02 Customer Service and Business Philosophy14:16 Property Investments and Business Strategy16:55 Innovations and Future Plans30:16 The Turning Point: Scaling a Business31:01 Innovating in the Entertainment Industry32:52 Customer Service and Business Processes39:14 The Impact of Taxes on Business48:11 Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis54:15 Advice for Young Entrepreneurs01:03:12 Toby's Ultimate Party Line-Upbusinesswithoutbullshit.meWatch and subscribe to us on YouTubeFollow us:InstagramTikTokLinkedinTwitterFacebookIf you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.meBWB is powered by Oury Clark

EP 390 - Something a little different this week. We took BWB on the road to meet James Duckenfield, CEO of Glass Pharm and tour their state of the art facility for growing pharmaceutical grade cannabis.We learnt a lot of fascinating stuff - including that the only way that you are likely to die from cannabis, certainly medical cannabis, is if someone accidentally drops a ton of it on your head.Furthermore, this remarkable growing system is not just leading the way for growing medicinal cannabis, but its carbon negative approach and techniques are breaking new ground for horticulture in general.Listen in and learn.*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*Spotify Video Chapters:00:00 BWB Live at Glass Pharms00:47 Andy & Medical Cannabis01:43 The UK Cannabis Conversation02:57 Tour of Glass Pharms Facility06:44 Cannabis Cultivation Techniques13:24 Regulations and Licensing18:59 Product Demonstration and Quality Control24:39 BWB with James Duckenfield CEO25:51 Medical Cannabis in the UK27:12 Public Perception and NHS Policies28:06 Cannabis and Chronic Pain29:31 Cannabis and Mental Health30:33 Global Cannabis Policies31:16 Personal Experiences with Cannabis32:28 Challenges in the Cannabis Industry33:09 The Endocannabinoid System35:24 Regulatory Hurdles42:01 Future of Medical Cannabis49:33 Wrap Upbusinesswithoutbullshit.meWatch and subscribe to us on YouTubeFollow us:InstagramTikTokLinkedinTwitterFacebookIf you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.meBWB is powered by Oury Clark

EP 389 - This week we meet Elizabeth Varley. As founder and former CEO of Tech Hub she has played a pivotal role in shaping London’s Tech scene. In her role with the UK Government’s Global Entrepreneur Program she continues to influence our start and scale up business culture today.As you’d expect she has a lot of hot tips for founders, some of which we weren’t expecting. Such as “undergoing therapy will make you a better leader”.Fantastic chat from someone who is able to come at your business growing pains in unexpected ways.*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*Spotify Video Chapters:00:00 BWB with Elizabeth Varley01:26 Andy's intro to Elizabeth02:18 Elizabeth's Early Career and Lessons Learned09:28 Elizabeth's Role in the Global Entrepreneur Program13:13 Challenges and Opportunities in Global Expansion21:41 Brexit and Its Impact on Entrepreneurs23:55 Fostering the UK Ecosystem24:22 International Investment Trends26:27 Opportunities in Sustainability27:56 The AI Hype and Reality29:23 Journey to Becoming a Deal Maker32:34 Founding Tech Hub38:53 The Importance of Therapy for Founders44:44 Advice for Entrepreneurs47:43 Wrap Upbusinesswithoutbullshit.meWatch and subscribe to us on YouTubeFollow us:InstagramTikTokLinkedinTwitterFacebookIf you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.meBWB is powered by Oury Clark

EP 388 - May's quiz round up sees Daniel Priestley and Fernando Sordo Madaleno play the game to see if they think Brexit, Crowdfunding, Lobbying, Client Lunches, Paying for Top Talent and Diversity Quotas and are business or just complete tosh!*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*Spotify Video Chapters:00:00 Welcome to Business or Bullsh*t00:53 Meet the Guests: Daniel Priestley and Fernando Sordo Madaleno01:18 Brexit: A Mexican Perspective03:05 Architectural Challenges and Talent05:08 Lobbying and Government Collaboration08:13 Angel Investing08:50 Flexible Working in Architecture09:41 Crowdfunding and Diversity Quotas11:35 The Importance of Client Lunchesbusinesswithoutbullshit.meWatch and subscribe to us on YouTubeFollow us:InstagramTikTokLinkedinTwitterFacebookIf you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.meBWB is powered by Oury Clark

In this engaging conversation, Akshat Rathi, a senior climate reporter at Bloomberg and author of "Climate Capitalism," shares his inspiring journey from aspiring scientist to impactful storyteller. He emphasizes the necessity for climate solution investments in developing nations to transition away from coal. Akshat discusses the role of economic incentives in climate action and reveals practical steps SMEs can take to cut emissions. His optimistic view on climate journalism sheds light on success stories and the importance of rigorous reporting in combating misinformation.

EP 386 - This week we revisit our chat with Thomas Robson Kanu, who pivoted from a top level premier league and international football career into entrepreneurship, setting up family business the Turmeric Co.Based on a formula that he and his father developed to aid his recovery and pain relief (he was pain free in six weeks of consistent consumption) Thomas is now taking the same drive that fuelled his paying career into business.We talk about:Why so many superficially healthy drinks on our shop shelves contain so little nutrition and so much sugar that you might as well have a coke and enjoy itWhy it is so difficult to get natural remedies into the mainstream (hint, it’s to do with moneyAndWhy f**king up every day is the route to successIt’s a fascinating chat especially when you hear the drive and ambition for the Turmeric Co to emulate the global success of health drinks from a previous century (yes, we are talking about Coca Cola).*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*Spotify Video Chapters:00:00 BWB with Thomas Robson-Kanu00:32 The Birth of The Turmeric Company01:52 Andy's Intro 02:10 Thomas's Journey from Football to Entrepreneurship04:20 Challenges and Rewards of Professional Sports07:53 The Power of Natural Remedies16:01 Launching a Health Brand25:27 Clinical Studies and Health Benefits34:11 The Importance of Health and Nutrition35:41 Challenges in the Juice Industry37:12 Manufacturing and Shelf Life39:42 Business Growth and Strategy43:39 Consumer Trends and Functional Beverages52:32 The Reality of Juice Products58:18 Quickfire - Get To Know Thomas01:03:07 Wrap Upbusinesswithoutbullshit.meWatch and subscribe to us on YouTubeFollow us:InstagramTikTokLinkedinTwitterFacebookIf you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.meBWB is powered by Oury Clark