The Leaders Council – Industry

Dive into the world of cricket and resilience with our exclusive interview featuring Andrew Strauss. Explore his remarkable journey through the highs and lows of the cricketing arena, while also delving into his role as a driving force behind the Ruth Strauss Foundation. Join us as we discuss not only the intricacies of the sport but also how he and his foundation are helping individuals deal with and overcome trauma. A compelling conversation with a cricketing legend awaits.

Discover the essence of leadership in our insightful interview with football legend Geoff Hurst. From his days under the guidance of visionary Alf Ramsay to unexpected tales that shed light on lesser-known facets of his life, Geoff shares the inspirational figures who shaped his journey. Join us to delve into the world of leadership and gain unique insights from a true icon of the game.

Sean Hackemann is a chartered accountant and founder of Specialist Accounting Solutions, a firm of chartered accountants. Sean founded Specialist Accounting Solutions in 2015 and has more than 15 years of experience working as a chartered accountant and business adviser. He is well-versed in leading the finance departments of SMEs, advisory and corporate finance Sean is an experienced webinar presenter on subjects including Business Valuations, and Better Management Information.

Ben Barnard is director at Mossy Rock Ltd, following a successful tenure as head gardener at Upsall Castle. Barnard oversees a team who works to promote chemical free gardening and environmentally friendly outdoor spaces. Ben graduated from Durham University reading Ancient and History and Archaeology, then entered the wine trade for two years managing, buying, and selling wine, before returning to the self employed farming and building game.

Alex Pearmain is the co-founder of One-Fifty Consultancy, a company which provides digital marketing/social media consulting and data products, to drive purposeful digital interactions. Alex boasts years of experience building award-winning social media, service, communications and digital marketing teams for a variety of businesses. After working as head of digital for FIshburn Hedges early in his career, Alex became one of the early UK pioneers of brand social media adoption.

Paul Armstrong is the Founder of HERE/FORTH, the future technology advisory that helps a diverse set of clients (PwC, Coca-Cola, Coutts, O2, P&G, Omnicom Group) navigate new technologies strategically. Paul is also the founder of the TBD Conference (Technology. Behaviour. Data.) Attendees at TBD range from global C-suite execs to brand managers, startup founders to agency leaders, politicians to startups. To find out more about the conference go to: https://www.thetbdconference.com/

Mandana White is the founder and CEO of Smart Grid Forums, a company that works with the engineering sector on innovative event concepts and programmes that inform technical decision-makers.Smart Grid remains close to sector developments and provides live event platforms that function as a catalyst for new ideas and approaches to achieving future energy security. Smart Grid closely monitors the market, conducts depth interviews with technical decision makers, and translates this information into techno-commercial conferences that empower participants to accelerate their implementation plans and deliver exceptional results to their organisations.

Gabriel Dumaka is director of Rising Stars Nursery & Daycare, a nursery based across three sites in north London. He is a highly regarded educator and leaderwho holds a degree in Linguistics and a master’s degree in Education Planning, Economics and International Development. Global Education Plus, the company behind London-based childcare provider Rising Stars Nurseries & Daycare, has launched its new ‘Rising Starlets’ interactive learning platform targeted towards children aged 0-5 and their families.

Luke Arnold founder and director at Hope4u, a consultancy whose purpose is to eradicate poverty and improve financial wellbeing through a range of services designed to tackle the immediate problems that individuals are facing with money and address underlying issues. Luke and Hope4u are in the process of fundraising to establish a new foodbank which will also offer free advisory services.

Mike Hicks is the CEO and founder of Catalysis Advisory Ltd, a company that works with small and mid-market investors, chairs and management teams to inform decision-making and find solutions to issues around strategy, the organisational side of business and getting the best out of people. Mike also sits on the National Advisory Board for Career Ready, a social mobility organisation which looks to prepare young people for the world of work.

Shelley Simone is an entrepreneur and founder of ScaleForEtail, the largest Amazon seller community in the UK. She is an e-commerce specialist having co-founded two high-growth start-ups and sold two Amazon Native brands in beauty and innovative kitchen products. Earlier in her career, Shelley enjoyed a career in the international corporate sphere, working in training and people development for brands such as Swiss International Air Lines, Dell, DHL, BOC UK and Ireland, DSM and BGL Group.

Mark Wilson is the CEO and managing partner at Futurestate Design Co., a business innovation consultancy that helps grow digital companies. Mark co-founded Futurestate Design Co. (formerly Wilson Fletcher) in 2002 and over the years has helped oversee its activities in aiding a diverse set of companies from across the world realise their growth ambitions and overcome challenges. The business supports the four-day working week and has been operating a four-day working model since 2019. Alongside his role at Wilson Fletcher, Mark since on the advisory board of start-up Agate Systems Ltd and is a senior advisor to VentureFounders.

Neil Laughton is a former Royal Marines Commando, helicopter pilot and Special Forces Officer (21 SAS) turned successful entrepreneur. He is the founder and managing director of Laughton & Co Ltd, a training and development consultancy which offers business advisory services, bespoke learning & development programmes and more. Neil’s experience in the business world as well as military leadership enables him to develop people with an adventurous mindset as well as an entrepreneurial one, building confidence and improving performance.

Alistair Corrie is a Chartered Accountant and Agile Consultant. He combines both his professions to help organisations understand and adopt the ways of working which best suit their ambitions. He has applied the Agile Mindset to help HM Government departments, publicly traded international corporations, as well as working pro-bono with organisations like his local police authority. He is the co-Founder of The Corrie Partnership Ltd. In this podcast Alistair explains why we should all pay attention to the potential of Agile. He explains that for Agile to work we must have the right Leadership approach. And he discusses how Agile is a natural way of working which can be adopted with very little effort or cost.

Jane Frankland is the founder The Source Platform (for Women in Cyber), an organisation aimed at helping more women enter the cybersecurity industry. She is also the founder of the IN Security Movement, and owner and CEO of KnewStart. Jane has worked in cybersecurity for more than 24 years, occupying numerous senior roles along the way, including for brands such as Accenture. She boasts a demonstrated history in working with some of the world’s biggest brands and delivering fast revenue growth.

Teresa Clark is the founder and alchemist of The Wellness Revolution, a pioneering culture & employee experience company which helps businesses and organisations improve employee engagement to boost wellbeing and unlock potential. Teresa is a public speaker, facilitator and resilience expert who has overcome moving and traumatic personal experiences to spearhead positive social change. She has 12 years of experience working in the mental health sphere in the criminal justice system, NHS and for charities.

Kevin M Thomson & Chris Masters are co-founders of The WoWW! Business, which puts health and wellbeing into organisations and individual clients through innovative platforms and programmes. Jeanette Phillips is CEO at Flexicare UK Ltd. a care provider who ensure indivduals receive due care in their workplaces, at home or on holiday. Sally Thomson is a partner within The WoWW! Business and a qualified barrister.

Bill Lewis is a published author, professional speaker, coach and advisor to boards, founders, CEOs and leaders.As a forensic accountant and consultant, Bill has carried out due diligence on a multitude of businesses spanning several industries, including engineering, food production, manufacturing, aviation and the service sector. Bill is also involved in charitable concerns, particularly targeted toward helping young people. He formed his own youth charity and in a five-year spell as CEO, it positively impacted the lives of more than 500 people.

Amy Nguyen is a strategist, researcher and writer focusing on the nexus between sustainable business, fashion, finance, and technology. Through her own brand Sustainable & Social, she works as a consultant for a variety of organisations ranging from environmental NGOs and research advisory firms, through to sustainable tech start-ups in the energy and fashion space. As a notable Forbes contributor, Amy’s writing and work has been featured in various other outlets including the Times and Sunday Times, BBC, Vogue, the Guardian and more.

Ben Barnard is director at Mossy Rock Ltd, an organic gardening, landscaping, fencing and property maintenance company. Barnard oversees a team who works to promote chemical free gardening and environmentally friendly outdoor spaces. Having an ever growing team of employees, Mossy Rock has undertaken work for the likes of the NHS, Grupotec Renewables, Freedom Group, ESH Group, Mitie Group and Ripley Castle public gardens, hot houses, and grounds to give a flavour of the diversity of work undertaken by his progressive company.