Business Leaders

Isabel Garvey is managing director of London’s Abbey Road Studios. Founded in 1931, the globally recognised studio has been home to artists from The Beatles, Pink Floyd and U2 to Kanye West, Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga and Adele. A serendipitous career, from self-described “wild card” at music labels EMI and Warner Music International, to founding a digital media consultancy, Georgestown Consulting Ltd. Since then, she has gained much recognition, named in Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business and speaking at Accenture for International Women’s Day in 2019. In this in-depth conversation, Isabel explains her pioneering role in driving music technology into the future, having launched Europe’s first music tech incubator - Abbey Road Red. She describes the careful balancing act of moving with the times and technology, whilst respecting Abbey Road’s long and iconic history; shares her frustrations with the largely male-orientated engineering industry, and hopes that the next generation of women will see “

Caroline Casey is founder of The Valuable 500. Launched in 2019, the global initiative calls on major corporations to put disability inclusion on the leadership agenda. They now have 334 companies committed to the campaign so far, including Microsoft and Unilever. Registered as legally blind, Caroline hid her disability from colleagues until she “came out as blind” at age 28 whilst working as a global management consultant at Accenture. Since then, she has campaigned with business leaders to reform outdated attitudes towards disability in the workplace; setting up the Ability Awards, speaking on the Ted Talks stage and starring in a National Geographic documentary. In this in-depth conversation, Caroline argues that an “inclusive business creates an inclusive society” as she outlines the full scale of the global inequality crisis; explains the stigma surrounding disability in the corporate world, and how in her opinion, the fear of getting things wrong is holding us back from change; and discusses the boundar

Justin Breen is founder and CEO of public relations firm BrEpic Communications. Launched in 2017, they work with businesses and brands to craft click-worthy stories for local, regional and national media outlets. Prior to this, he was a journalist writing for publications such as The Times of Northwest Indiana. This year Justin published his first book ‘Epic Business,’ where he shares secrets from the world's top entrepreneurs and how he applied this to his own company. In this in-depth conversation, Justin describes how he built his public relations firm from the ground up, using the “three Cs” - content, communication and connection; shares the importance of networking and how he is a “magnet for the right people and purposely repels the wrong people;” explains how his atypical family-centered and non-revenue focussed work ethic, led him to success.

Randy Dewey is president and chief executive of Baylin Technologies, a global wireless communications leader. With headquarters in Toronto, they specialise in radio-frequency products for the upcoming 5G and new satellite constellations LEO and MEO. Prior to Baylin, he founded the executive consulting firm, The Navistone Group. Throughout his c-suite career Randy has built eight companies, held 13 board positions and led many company turnarounds culminating over $1.8 billion in enterprise value. In this in-depth conversation, he describes 5G as the “Ferrari of networks” and how game changing the new LEO satellite constellation is for wireless connectivity. He describes these new systems as pivotal technology for both the developed and underdeveloped countries. Mr. Dewey describes Baylin’s contributions to the world in the fight against the pandemic, and how motivating it was connecting people in times of difficulty; furthermore he discusses the four principles to success shared in his soon to be published boo

Nadim Sadek is Founder & CEO of ProQuo AI, a brand management platform and consultancy. Founded in 2012, their global team uses artificial intelligence to drive brand growth, optimizing brands such as BMW, Chilly’s and Flickr. Previous to ProQuo AI, Nadim founded what became the world’s biggest qualitative research agency, Sadek Wynberg, was Global CEO of Millward Brown’s Qual Network, and then Worldwide Commercial & Strategy Director of Research International. He has also been ‘on the other side’, creating his own brand, ‘Inish Turk Beg,’ winner of the Mobius global award for best new brand in 2008. In this in-depth conversation, Nadim describes how his atypical psychological background aided him in the industry and led to the founding of his “magic lantern” brand management platform; discusses obstacles he faced in his career and how he built himself back up after some turbulence knocked him off course; and explains the journey of his own self-discovery and the importance of ‘real’ entrepreneurs as

Euan Rellie is co-founder and senior managing director of BDA Partners, a global investment banking advisor for Asia. Launched in 1996, he has grown the business to a team of 120 across nine offices in North America, Europe and Asia. Prior to this, Euan held a senior role at Schroders, the UK investment bank. He has been named ‘Dealmaker of the Year’ twice, and recognised as one of the Top 50 Global Dealmakers by M&A Advisor. In this in-depth conversation, he discusses the detrimental impact of current Chinese-US tensions on business globally; describes the unexpected influence of politics on business following international uncertainty such as Brexit and the Trump era, and explains why regardless of current turmoil, he remains optimistic for millennials and the future of business.

Kevin Murray is a business speaker and best-selling author. During his career he has interviewed over 100 chief executives and conducted research into the motivating behaviours of leaders with a specialism in inspired leadership, and has published four books on the topic. He previously ran the UK’s largest PR and Communications group for 20 years and also served as director of communications for British Airways, the Atomic Energy Authority and Bayer. In this in-depth interview, he shares his experiences advising global chief executives, revealing what their biggest unspoken fears are; explains how everyone can master the skills of charisma to boost their effectiveness by learning the ability to be “affective in order to be effective”, a topic he explores in his latest book ‘Charismatic Leadership’; and describes why having leadership throughout an organisation, whether large or small, is vital to success.

Anne Boden is the CEO and founder of Starling Bank. Launched in 2014, the mobile-only app has over 1.5 million customers and is the fastest growing SME bank in Europe. She previously worked at Allied Irish Banks Plc, RBS and Standard Chartered, and received an MBE in 2018 for her services to financial technology. This year, she published her first book titled ‘The Money Revolution’, creating a “jargon-free guide” to taking control of your finances. In this in-depth conversation, she describes her ambition to bring finance and technology together, to change the industry and “rethink the customer experience"; argues that despite their best efforts, major banks are not agile enough to effectively copy their relationship-driven culture; and reveals the bank’s plans for European expansion, starting with their application for a banking license in Ireland.

Wade Eyerly and Dennis Murashko are co-founders of Degree Insurance Co. Wade is the former CEO and co-founder of Surf Air, the world's first all-you-can-fly subscription airline, and Dennis is an actuary and lawyer who served as the general counsel and a senior advisor to Governor Rauner in Illinois. Together they founded the startup in 2017, working to remove the risks of seeking higher education in America by guaranteeing students’ income for five years after they graduate. In this in-depth conversation, they describe how the current financing of education has created generational debt, with the average loan repayment lasting 21 years, consider how individuals from all backgrounds can make better decisions about their futures and aspire to the American Dream by understanding the economic impact of their degree, and explain how colleges will, in turn, see a return on their investment through increasing enrolment and retention rates.

Kevin Gaskell is a serial entrepreneur, adventurer and investor. Early in his career he led iconic car brands Porsche, Lamborghini and BMW to record growth and performance, and was recognised as on the ‘UK’s top 40 leaders under 40’. Since then, he has founded and invested in a number of businesses and overseen the transformational growth of 14 companies, creating over £3 billion in shareholder value. In this in-depth conversation, he describes how leaders can better engage their teams by inviting them on a journey where they have the opportunity to grow their knowledge and skills, expresses his concerns for executives who set aggressive targets instead of focusing on building the “extraordinary” – a topic which he explores in his book ‘Inspired Leadership’ and on international stages as a professional speaker, and compares the process of building a business from startup to market leader, to his epic challenge of breaking the world record for an unsupported row across the Atlantic Ocean.

Daniel Astaire is managing partner at Grosvenor Law. Having practised for over 20 years, he’s worked for a number of blue-chip law firms including Bird and Bird and Clintons before helping to found Grosvenor Law in 2011. Based in Mayfair, the firm specialises in personal and business dispute resolution and works with high-profile individuals and corporations from a range of backgrounds. In a recent case, Daniel represented defendants in claims for fraud and conspiracy to defraud by a former business partner seeking damages in excess of £100 million. In this in-depth conversation, he reveals how the business was built to “speak the language” and understand the needs of affluent clients in the West End of London, he describes the “blood sweat and tears” involved in protecting the legacy of self-made entrepreneurs,  and shares his advice to aspiring lawyers on how to “master your own destiny” by finding an area of law which complements your personality.

Sol Kumin has spent his career in the financial services industry, and is a thoroughbred racehorse owner and philanthropist. A graduate of Johns Hopkins, he began his career in finance at Lazard Asset Management and then Sanford C. Bernstein. In 2005, he joined SAC Capital as managing director and was later chief operating officer. At the end of 2014, he founded hedge fund Folger Hill Asset Management with more than $1 billion from investors, serving as CEO until 2018 when the firm was merged with Schonfeld Strategic Investors. He added the role of chief strategy officer for Leucadia Asset Management LLC and is currently the firm’s co-president. Sol bought his first filly in 2014 and has rapidly become one of the most successful racehorse owners in the US, including Preakness winner Exaggerator, Triple Crown winner Justify, Travers winner Catholic Boy and champion fillies Lady Eli, Monomoy Girl, Midnight Bisou, Uni and British Idiom. In this in-depth interview, he talks about the lasting influence of his firs

David S. Kidder is chief executive and co-founder of Bionic, an enterprise innovation platform. A graduate in industrial design, he made his name as an entrepreneur and angel investor, co-founding Clickable, an online advertising software service, and SmartRay Network, a pioneering mobile advertising business. He is the author of ‘New to Big’, ‘The Startup Playbook’ and ‘The Intellectual Devotional’. In this in-depth interview, he talks about how his writing gives entrepreneurs digestible daily readings to encourage curiosity and help their business brains, argues that when projects are in their growth stage they often have to satisfy customers who don’t yet know what they want, and discusses the way in which business failure has been transformed from the great taboo to an incredibly valuable learning opportunity for entrepreneurs.[Editor’s note: this podcast was recorded in New York on 10th March 2020, before the full scale of the coronavirus public health crisis became apparent.]

Ross Sklar is the CEO of The Starco Group and Starco Brands. He started his career in the oil and gas industry making anti-corrosion chemicals, before pioneering true anti-stick anti-graffiti coatings which coated the largest structure on earth to be coated with an anti-graffiti coating. Ross then went on to make about a dozen acquisitions in a decade that today make up The Starco Group, a diverse collection of industrial household, personal care and food and beverages manufacturers covering almost all consumer categories. Starco Brands was later born from The Starco Group, and organised as a public venture focused on designing and commercialising behaviour-changing technologies and brands. In this in-depth conversation, Ross describes how he built the businesses by focusing on solving large societal problems chemically that would provide significant value to society and stakeholders, he explains his ability to invent and create technology and also his robust acquisition strategy that’s enabled him to grow St

Andrew Powell is Group CEO of route2work. After 11 years in the British Army, including a stint in Special Forces, he worked in consulting and business operations, before moving full-time into coaching and mentoring. He was a director of The Training Room for six years before founding route2work, a digital education, qualification and careers provider with an emphasis on social impact. Andrew also lends his experience and perspective to the Bank of England’s Decision Maker Panel. In this in-depth conversation, he talks about translating the drive and discipline he learned in the Army to a business environment, explains how he’s worked to create an entire “digital ecosystem” in which route2work can match people’s talents and training with career opportunities, and emphasises how important he’s found it to create “down time” in a busy leadership role to be with his family and away from the demands of email and phone calls.

Kerry O’Brien is chief executive of the Young Urban Arts Foundation. For 25 years she has been a recording and performing artist under the name ‘Lady MC’ and has shared producers with Kanye West and Michael Jackson. She has appeared on BBC2’s ‘Dragons’ Den’, BBC3’s ‘Singing With The Enemy’ and Channel 4’s ‘Musicool’, and in 2001/2 she toured the east coast of the USA with TC Izlam and Prince Tafari. In 2008, she co-founded the British DJ and MC Academy and spent three years as its operations director. The following year she set up YUAF, where she remains, while also working as a reiki master and public speaker. In this in-depth conversation, she talks about the power of music to transform young people’s lives, describes the struggles of running a charity against a background of changing governments and financial support, and explains how figures in the voluntary sector can be the key to unlocking the potential inside everyone.

Mark Evans is managing director for marketing and digital at Direct Line Group, one of the UK’s largest insurance companies. Educated at the University of Nottingham, he joined Mars as a fast track executive and spent nine years with the company, managing a selection of brands across confectionary and pet food. He moved to 118118 Media, rising to CEO and monetising their voice and text inventory, then, after a stint as head of customer management at HSBC, joined Direct Line as director of brand portfolio in 2012. Mark quickly moved across to become marketing director then managing director for marketing and digital. In this in-depth conversation, he reflects on learning “the core toolkit” of marketing in his early days, describes how Direct Line “add value” to their market proposition but circumventing commission, and talks about how insurance companies could adapt to a world of autonomous driving.

Nick Wheeler is the founder of menswear retailer Charles Tyrwhitt. Launched in 1986 as a mail-order shirt business whilst still at university, the company now has over 40 stores in the UK, Paris and America and a thriving online business which accounts for 65% of sales worldwide. He is also a non-executive director of The White Company, and was awarded an OBE for his services to retail in 2017. In this in-depth conversation, he reflects on his entrepreneurial ventures – from photography to christmas trees, describes the dangers of losing focus whilst running your own business, and explains the importance of inner self-belief to sell products and “kick down doors”.

Chris Paton is managing director of Quirk Solutions, a management consultancy which advises large brands such as Unilever, Shell, Heineken and Waitrose, as well as the NHS and the Home Office. Chris was a lieutenant colonel in the Royal Marines, and has completed tours in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Northern Ireland. He was also an advisor to the Cabinet and the National Security Council on Afghan strategy. He currently lectures at London Business School for the executive education programme. In this in-depth conversation, Chris argues that businesses need to be less hierarchical and invest more in training to succeed, explains why adhering to tried and tested strategies is often a recipe for disaster, and describes the seven interconnected disciplines that provide the framework for success – whether you’re running a start-up or a multinational.

Andy Whitehouse is chief executive and managing partner of Copperfield Advisory. The New York-based consulting firm serves clients in sectors including insurance, capital markets, health systems and philanthropy. Prior to founding Copperfield in 2017, Andy served as the chief communications officer for IBM, Willis Towers Watson, and McKinsey & Company. He has also served as a government policymaker in the UK and has led teams in the Prime Minister’s Social Exclusion Unit and the Department of Health. In this in-depth conversation, he outlines the challenges faced by government while trying to improve the life chances of disadvantaged groups, discusses the importance of business leaders’ contributions to public life, and evaluates the value of reputation to brands who want to make a positive impact on their communities.