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My Business Leader Secret

Founders and chief executives reveal the advice that has helped them succeed

Karen Blackett: Listen more in order to lead

Karen Blackett: Listen more in order to lead

The advertising veteran believes that leaders need to listen to those around them to set the right course for the business

Sir Chris Hoy: Make sure you all buy into the same goal

Sir Chris Hoy: Make sure you all buy into the same goal

The Olympic cycling champion has brought lessons from his time in sport to his work in business

Otto Car CEO: ‘Cultural shifts’ are business opportunities

Otto Car CEO: ‘Cultural shifts’ are business opportunities

The auto industry entrepreneur believes smart pivots can be the start button to fire up business success

Hilton EMEA President: Diverse customers need a diverse team

Hilton EMEA President: Diverse customers need a diverse team

The hotel executive believes the hospitality industry needs to be proactive in hiring to reflect society

Sir John Hegarty: See AI as a partner, not a tool

Sir John Hegarty: See AI as a partner, not a tool

The legendary ad exec believes leaders should collaborate with the technology, rather than use it as a tool

Apprentice stars: What Lord Sugar taught us

Apprentice stars: What Lord Sugar taught us

Contestants from The Apprentice reveal the fundamental business lessons they learned from taking part in the TV show

Sizewell C boss: Your workforce should mirror society

Sizewell C boss: Your workforce should mirror society

The woman leading the Sizewell C nuclear plant project explains her approach to building a diverse workforce

PocDoc CEO: Lend your expertise to other businesses

PocDoc CEO: Lend your expertise to other businesses

The healthtech entrepreneur runs a 'Last Friday' club where other leaders can book a session and ask him for advice

Airwallex CEO: Hire for personality traits, not experience

Airwallex CEO: Hire for personality traits, not experience

The fintech entrepreneur explains a key hiring strategy that has helped him scale a global business

Joanna Jensen: Don't avoid the nitty gritty

Joanna Jensen: Don't avoid the nitty gritty

The entrepreneur and angel investor explains a common issue she encounters with start-up founders

GoFundMe CEO: Risk-profile yourself to build your career

GoFundMe CEO: Risk-profile yourself to build your career

The leader of the online fundraising platform says measuring your personal risk appetite is vital for success

Heka founder: Becoming a mother made me a better leader

Heka founder: Becoming a mother made me a better leader

The founder of the employee benefits platform says parenthood has improved her leadership style

Seismic CEO: The best way to grow is never to shrink

Seismic CEO: The best way to grow is never to shrink

The boss of the US tech unicorn says a key part of growing his business involves working hard to ensure that it doesn't lose customers.

Bloom & Wild CEO: See mistakes as an opportunity

Bloom & Wild CEO: See mistakes as an opportunity

The co-founder and CEO of the flower delivery specialist says mistakes with customers can be a chance to shine and even build advocacy

Clarendon Fine Art MD: Make use of reverse mentoring

Clarendon Fine Art MD: Make use of reverse mentoring

The fashion boss turned art gallery executive believes leaders should be open to having younger people coach and educate them

Two Chicks CEO: Be open about who your audience will be

Two Chicks CEO: Be open about who your audience will be

When Alla Ouvarova brough the concept of liquid egg white to the UK, she was surprised by who ended up buying the product

Gousto CEO: Becoming a coach made me a better leader

Gousto CEO: Becoming a coach made me a better leader

Timo Boldt says becoming a coach has helped him to better understand and support employees

Ordnance Survey CEO: Ask three questions before proposing a new business idea

Ordnance Survey CEO: Ask three questions before proposing a new business idea

The CEO of the mapping service says too many would-be entrepreneurs jump in blind without having done enough research

Pip & Nut CEO: How to build luck into your business

Pip & Nut CEO: How to build luck into your business

The founder and CEO of the Pip & Nut food brand explains how you can make your own luck in business

Creatio CEO: Bootstrap first, then raise capital

Creatio CEO: Bootstrap first, then raise capital

Tech entrepreneur Katherine Kostereva explains why you should bootstrap your business idea first, before you seek capital investment

Ikea CEO: Manage challenges, lead from opportunities

Ikea CEO: Manage challenges, lead from opportunities

Ikea's CEO explains a simple concept to help business leaders in times of change and uncertainty

By Rotation CEO: Don't seek early perfection

By Rotation CEO: Don't seek early perfection

Fashion entrepreneur Eshita Kabra-Davies explains why getting feedback from early users is important in building a successful business

DataStax CEO: Business success is all to do with people

DataStax CEO: Business success is all to do with people

Tech CEO Chet Kapoor explains an important lesson he has learned about recruitment and team building

The Folio Society’s CEO: Consider the power of lateral thinking

The Folio Society’s CEO: Consider the power of lateral thinking

Publisher Joanna Reynolds explains how a diagnosis of dyslexia in her 20s helped her to forge her own leadership style.

Barbie mania: Meet the architect behind the branding blitz

Barbie mania: Meet the architect behind the branding blitz

Josh Silverman explains how he orchestrated the marketing drive behind the Barbie film

IBM's UK CEO: Keep your pit crew close

IBM's UK CEO: Keep your pit crew close

Nicola Hodson discusses the importance of building a team of mentors in developing leadership skills

Grind CEO: Reinvent and replace yourself

Grind CEO: Reinvent and replace yourself

David Abrahamovitch, CEO of Grind, discusses the impact of a growing business on the founder

Plusnet director: There's a craving for individuality at work

Plusnet director: There's a craving for individuality at work

Joanna Carman, director of broadband provider Plusnet, explains how she learned to develop an authentic leadership style

MorphCostumes CEO: Learn to build trust quickly

MorphCostumes CEO: Learn to build trust quickly

Fraser Smeaton, co-founder and CEO of MorphCostumes, explains how a formative experience from his youth helped him succeed in business

Monday.com co-CEO:  Failing is part of our success

Monday.com co-CEO: Failing is part of our success

The co-founder and co-CEO of Monday.com explains how an appreciation of failure has driven him to build a multi-billion-dollar company.

Cheeky Panda CEO: 'Wear your brand' to stand out

Cheeky Panda CEO: 'Wear your brand' to stand out

In this instalment of our video series, My Business Leader Secret, we talk to Julie Chen, CEO of Cheeky Panda, which she co-founded with her husband in 2016.

Merchant Gourmet boss: Boring products offer big opportunities

Merchant Gourmet boss: Boring products offer big opportunities

Richard Peake, managing director of Merchant Gourmet, on bringing excitement to 'begrudged' consumer products

Sidemen manager: I was C-suite at 20, it was hard

Sidemen manager: I was C-suite at 20, it was hard

Jordan Schwarzenberger, manager of YouTube sensations The Sidemen, discusses the pitfalls of being a young leader

Uncle Nearest founder: To disrupt a market, you have to understand it

Uncle Nearest founder: To disrupt a market, you have to understand it

Fawn Weaver, the woman behind the Uncle Nearest whiskey brand, shares her personal business advice

The unique funding strategy of a vertical whisky distillery

The unique funding strategy of a vertical whisky distillery

Paddy Fletcher, co-founder and co-CEO of The Port of Leith whisky brand, shares his personal business advice, explaining why he built a vertical distillery

AKQA CEO: Put diversity at the forefront of your business

AKQA CEO: Put diversity at the forefront of your business

AKQA CEO Ajaz Ahmed on diversity in tech and advertising and his sense of responsibility when it comes to representation at work

First Mile CEO: Don't forget the power of internal competition

First Mile CEO: Don't forget the power of internal competition

Bruce Bratley, founder and CEO of First Mile, shares his personal business advice, explaining how the company uses gamification to motivate customers

Anthesis CEO: My hiring tips if you want to scale

Anthesis CEO: My hiring tips if you want to scale

Stuart McLachlan, co-founder and CEO of Anthesis, shares his personal business advice

ClicknClear CEO: The skills to start a business can come from anywhere

ClicknClear CEO: The skills to start a business can come from anywhere

For entrepreneur Chantal Epp, a passion for the sport of cheerleading led to her business breakthrough

Swingers CEO: Use pop-ups to test your big idea

Swingers CEO: Use pop-ups to test your big idea

Indoor, inner city mini golf combined with a boozy night out sounded like a crazy idea, but a pop-up in east London gave it a chance with customers and investors

Hawksmoor CEO: I believe in 'casual professionals'

Hawksmoor CEO: I believe in 'casual professionals'

Will Beckett, co-founder and CEO of Hawksmoor restaurants, shares his personal business advice

Rude Health founder: In-person feedback 'is a gift'

Rude Health founder: In-person feedback 'is a gift'

Camilla Barnard, co-founder of Rude Health, which makes organic, dairy alternative drinks and breakfast cereals, shares her personal business advice

Hims & Hers CEO: Hire people smarter than you

Hims & Hers CEO: Hire people smarter than you

Andrew Dudum, co-founder and CEO of online health and wellness company Hims & Hers, shares his personal business advice

Eventbrite CEO: My leadership style is inspired by rugby

Eventbrite CEO: My leadership style is inspired by rugby

Julia Hartz, co-founder and CEO of the global events marketplace Eventbrite, shares her personal business advice

Motorway CEO on why leaders must learn to 'eat their vegetables'

Motorway CEO on why leaders must learn to 'eat their vegetables'

Tom Leathes, co-founder and CEO of car-selling platform Motorway, shares his personal business advice

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