From Zero Experience to Building UK Business Giants | James Ashwood on Entrepreneurship

Jeannette goes inside the boardroom to explore why your people are the most valuable asset in your business. Facing tough macroeconomic pressures, global uncertainties, and shifting consumer confidence, leading through turbulent times requires a radical shift in how we approach teamwork. As she explains, high performance doesn't mean working harder. It means aligning behind a common purpose, clarifying roles, and building a culture where a team truly wins together or not at all You’ll Learn Why: A team must operate with the collective mindset of winning together or not at all to achieve true high performance. High performance is not about pushing your people to work harder, but about enabling them to work smarter by doing fewer things right. Great leaders intentionally create white space in their calendars to support their teams and strategically recruit long-term talent. Solid human-to-human relationships are becoming the ultimate business currency in an era dominated by AI and rapid technology shifts. This episode is living proof that no matter where you’re starting from — or what life throws at you — it’s never too late to be brave, bold, and unlock your inner brilliant. Visit https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ for free tools, guides and resources to help you take action now 📩 Want extra support? Email [email protected] to book your free mentoring session with Jeannette. Let’s make your next move your bravest yet. CONNECT WITH JEANNETTE: Jeannette’s linktree - https://linktr.ee/JLinfoot https://www.jeannettelinfootassociates.com/ YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/@braveboldbrilliant LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jeannettelinfoot Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jeannette.linfoot/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jeannette.linfoot/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@brave.bold.brilliant VALUABLE RESOURCES Brave Bold Brilliant - https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ Brave, Bold, Brilliant podcast series - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/brave-bold-brilliant-podcast/id1524278970 ABOUT THE HOST Jeannette Linfoot is a highly regarded senior executive, property investor, board advisor, and business mentor with over 30 years of global professional business experience across the travel, leisure, hospitality, and property sectors. Having bought, ran, and sold businesses all over the world, Jeannette now has a portfolio of her own businesses and also advises and mentors other business leaders to drive forward their strategies as well as their own personal development. Jeannette is a down-to-earth leader, a passionate champion for diversity & inclusion, and a huge advocate of nurturing talent so every person can unleash their full potential and live their dreams. Podcast Description Jeannette Linfoot talks to incredible people about their experiences in business and life, gaining first hand insight into how they unleashed their potential to become Brave Bold Brilliant. From the boardroom tables of big international businesses to the exciting world of entrepreneurs it's all about stepping up to the next level while staying true to yourself. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Jeannette is joined by entrepreneur Nigel Lovering to discuss his fascinating journey through the business world, and the story of how he transitioned from a chef and master baker to top telecom salesman, and eventually to a high-risk business owner navigating massive market changes.  Nigel uncovers the critical role that strong human relationships, intentional employee trust, and an unshakeable appetite for risk play in sustainable business scaling. You’ll Learn Why: Over-delivering too much upfront financial value to a potential client can backfire by creating skepticism. Your highest performing employees should ideally possess skills that completely eclipse your own technical capabilities. Implementing an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) can simultaneously insulate your business from aggressive takeovers while boosting productivity. Authentic common ground—particularly inside shared passions like sport—acts as the ultimate leveller in enterprise networking. This episode is living proof that no matter where you’re starting from — or what life throws at you — it’s never too late to be brave, bold, and unlock your inner brilliance. Visit https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ for free tools, guides and resources to help you take action now 📩 Want extra support? Email [email protected] to book your free mentoring session with Jeannette. Let’s make your next move your bravest yet. CONNECT WITH JEANNETTE: Jeannette’s linktree - https://linktr.ee/JLinfoot https://www.jeannettelinfootassociates.com/ YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/@braveboldbrilliant LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jeannettelinfoot Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jeannette.linfoot/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jeannette.linfoot/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@brave.bold.brilliant VALUABLE RESOURCES Brave Bold Brilliant - https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ Brave, Bold, Brilliant podcast series - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/brave-bold-brilliant-podcast/id1524278970 ABOUT THE GUEST Nigel Lovering is a British entrepreneur, business leader and Managing Director of European Telecom Solutions. Over the course of his career, Nigel has built and led businesses across telecommunications, technology, engineering, and property sectors. His story is one of perseverance, ambition and determination, transforming humble beginnings into a successful entrepreneurial career spanning multiple decades. ABOUT THE HOST Jeannette Linfoot is a highly regarded senior executive, property investor, board advisor, and business mentor with over 30 years of global professional business experience across the travel, leisure, hospitality, and property sectors. Having bought, ran, and sold businesses all over the world, Jeannette now has a portfolio of her own businesses and also advises and mentors other business leaders to drive forward their strategies as well as their own personal development. Jeannette is a down-to-earth leader, a passionate champion for diversity & inclusion, and a huge advocate of nurturing talent so every person can unleash their full potential and live their dreams. Podcast Description Jeannette Linfoot talks to incredible people about their experiences in business and life, gaining first hand insight into how they unleashed their potential to become Brave Bold Brilliant. From the boardroom tables of big international businesses to the exciting world of entrepreneurs it's all about stepping up to the next level while staying true to yourself.

What happens when a business leader looks completely fine on the surface, but is secretly running on empty behind the scenes?  In this episode, Jeannette dives deep into the concept of "silent burnout”, the subtle, creeping exhaustion that happens behind the LinkedIn posts, the boardrooms, and the strategy sessions… You’ll Learn Why: Silent burnout is arguably more dangerous than obvious burnout because it aggressively creeps up on you while you appear perfectly successful on the outside. Conducting a regular personal audit across sleep, diet, exercise, social life, and relationships is vital to catching hidden stress early. Implementing the "4Ds" framework (Ditch, Delay, Delegate, Do) is the fastest way to reclaim control over a chaotic calendar. Reconnecting with your core purpose and establishing non-negotiable boundaries is the key to sustaining your health and becoming a better leader for your team and loved ones. This episode is living proof that no matter where you’re starting from — or what life throws at you — it’s never too late to be brave, bold, and unlock your inner brilliant. Visit https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ for free tools, guides and resources to help you take action now 📩 Want extra support? Email [email protected] to book your free mentoring session with Jeannette. Let’s make your next move your bravest yet. CONNECT WITH JEANNETTE: Jeannette’s linktree - https://linktr.ee/JLinfoot https://www.jeannettelinfootassociates.com/ YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/@braveboldbrilliant LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jeannettelinfoot Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jeannette.linfoot/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jeannette.linfoot/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@brave.bold.brilliant VALUABLE RESOURCES Brave Bold Brilliant - https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ Brave, Bold, Brilliant podcast series - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/brave-bold-brilliant-podcast/id1524278970 ABOUT THE HOST Jeannette Linfoot is a highly regarded senior executive, property investor, board advisor, and business mentor with over 30 years of global professional business experience across the travel, leisure, hospitality, and property sectors. Having bought, ran, and sold businesses all over the world, Jeannette now has a portfolio of her own businesses and also advises and mentors other business leaders to drive forward their strategies as well as their own personal development. Jeannette is a down-to-earth leader, a passionate champion for diversity & inclusion, and a huge advocate of nurturing talent so every person can unleash their full potential and live their dreams. Podcast Description Jeannette Linfoot talks to incredible people about their experiences in business and life, gaining first hand insight into how they unleashed their potential to become Brave Bold Brilliant. From the boardroom tables of big international businesses to the exciting world of entrepreneurs it's all about stepping up to the next level while staying true to yourself. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Juha Järvinen, Chief Customer Officer at Virgin Atlantic, joins Jeannette for a second time to discuss the airline’s latest shift from commercial strategy to end-to-end customer experience. He shares how Virgin Atlantic is maintaining its famous disruptive, entrepreneurial spirit while leaning into cutting-edge technologies like generative AI and predictive pricing.  From navigating massive global industry disruptions with transparency to building unique brand partnerships like their recent loyalty collaboration with Marks & Spencer, Juha outlines how human connection and a willingness to fail remain at the heart of the airline's success You’ll Learn Why: Shifting a brand back to its "playful and brave" roots can win over competitors' most loyal customers. Integrating customer service feedback straight from the frontline is the ultimate driver of corporate creativity and problem-solving. Implementing a culture that tolerates mistakes is essential for a company to truly innovate and grow. Approaching global industry crises with absolute honesty and transparency builds profound respect and confidence among team members. This episode is living proof that no matter where you’re starting from — or what life throws at you — it’s never too late to be brave, bold, and unlock your inner brilliant. Visit https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ for free tools, guides and resources to help you take action now 📩 Want extra support? Email [email protected] to book your free mentoring session with Jeannette. Let’s make your next move your bravest yet. About the Guest – Juha Järvinen Juha Järvinen is the Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic, where he leads the airline’s global commercial strategy, customer growth, partnerships, and innovation initiatives. He also serves on multiple boards including SkyTeam and Future Travel Experience. CONNECT WITH JUHA LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/juha-jaervinen-43a77a7?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_iosInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/juha_bluebreeze Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/share/14iKeQnwrjX/?mibextid=wwXIfr CONNECT WITH JEANNETTE: Jeannette’s linktree - https://linktr.ee/JLinfoot https://www.jeannettelinfootassociates.com/ YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/@braveboldbrilliant LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jeannettelinfoot Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jeannette.linfoot/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jeannette.linfoot/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@brave.bold.brilliant VALUABLE RESOURCES Brave Bold Brilliant - https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ Brave, Bold, Brilliant podcast series - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/brave-bold-brilliant-podcast/id1524278970 ABOUT THE HOST Jeannette Linfoot is a highly regarded senior executive, property investor, board advisor, and business mentor with over 30 years of global professional business experience across the travel, leisure, hospitality, and property sectors. Having bought, ran, and sold businesses all over the world, Jeannette now has a portfolio of her own businesses and also advises and mentors other business leaders to drive forward their strategies as well as their own personal development. Jeannette is a down-to-earth leader, a passionate champion for diversity & inclusion, and a huge advocate of nurturing talent so every person can unleash their full potential and live their dreams. Podcast Description Jeannette Linfoot talks to incredible people about their experiences in business and life, gaining first hand insight into how they unleashed their potential to become Brave Bold Brilliant. From the boardroom tables of big international businesses to the exciting world of entrepreneurs it's all about stepping up to the next level while staying true to yourself.

Running a business or leading a team under pressure can often cause you to become reactive and make decisions based purely on emotion. In this episode, we dive into why having a mentor is the ultimate secret weapon for elite CEOs and business leaders—providing the focus, structure, and calmness needed to navigate difficult times and catapult your success. You’ll Learn Why: A mentor acts as a critical sounding board to combat the isolation and pressure that comes with leading an organisation. Gaining a mentor introduces fresh thinking and alternative approaches that challenge your traditional way of doing things. A great mentor provides essential accountability, supporting you through tough times while calling out your B.S. when you kid yourself. A well-connected mentor can expand your professional horizons by opening doors to entirely new networks and introduction opportunities. This episode is living proof that no matter where you’re starting from — or what life throws at you — it’s never too late to be brave, bold, and unlock your inner brilliant. Visit https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ for free tools, guides and resources to help you take action now 📩 Want extra support? Email [email protected] to book your free mentoring session with Jeannette. Let’s make your next move your bravest yet. CONNECT WITH JEANNETTE: Jeannette’s linktree - https://linktr.ee/JLinfoot https://www.jeannettelinfootassociates.com/ YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/@braveboldbrilliant LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jeannettelinfoot Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jeannette.linfoot/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jeannette.linfoot/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@brave.bold.brilliant VALUABLE RESOURCES Brave Bold Brilliant - https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ Brave, Bold, Brilliant podcast series - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/brave-bold-brilliant-podcast/id1524278970 ABOUT THE HOST Jeannette Linfoot is a highly regarded senior executive, property investor, board advisor, and business mentor with over 30 years of global professional business experience across the travel, leisure, hospitality, and property sectors. Having bought, ran, and sold businesses all over the world, Jeannette now has a portfolio of her own businesses and also advises and mentors other business leaders to drive forward their strategies as well as their own personal development. Jeannette is a down-to-earth leader, a passionate champion for diversity & inclusion, and a huge advocate of nurturing talent so every person can unleash their full potential and live their dreams. Podcast Description Jeannette Linfoot talks to incredible people about their experiences in business and life, gaining first hand insight into how they unleashed their potential to become Brave Bold Brilliant. From the boardroom tables of big international businesses to the exciting world of entrepreneurs it's all about stepping up to the next level while staying true to yourself. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Entrepreneur James Ashwood sits down to debunk the glamorous myths surrounding modern entrepreneurship. Drawing from over three decades of a varied corporate and business career and the critical personal turning points that shaped it, James provides a refreshingly candid look at the emotional and financial realities of forging your own path.  From the dark days of pandemic-driven business losses to the high-stakes world of large-scale event production, he offers invaluable insights on risk tolerance, the psychological shifts required to transition from the corporate ladder to business ownership, and how early childhood challenges can foster the ultimate entrepreneurial trait: taking absolute responsibility. You’ll Learn Why: Entrepreneurship isn't a title given to you; it's a mindset validated by your resilience and results. The appetite for risk changes as you age, forcing a crucial transition from youthful "shooting from the hip" to deeply strategic planning. Corporate leadership and business ownership demand fundamentally different types of pressure, requiring completely unique coping mechanisms. Radically reducing your informational intake during crises is the ultimate tool for strategic focus and execution. This episode is living proof that no matter where you’re starting from — or what life throws at you — it’s never too late to be brave, bold, and unlock your inner brilliant. Visit https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ for free tools, guides and resources to help you take action now 📩 Want extra support? Email [email protected] to book your free mentoring session with Jeannette. Let’s make your next move your bravest yet. CONNECT WITH JEANNETTE: Jeannette’s linktree - https://linktr.ee/JLinfoot https://www.jeannettelinfootassociates.com/ YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/@braveboldbrilliant LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jeannettelinfoot Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jeannette.linfoot/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jeannette.linfoot/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@brave.bold.brilliant VALUABLE RESOURCES Brave Bold Brilliant - https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ Brave, Bold, Brilliant podcast series - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/brave-bold-brilliant-podcast/id1524278970 ABOUT JAMES ASHWOOD: James Ashwood is a British entrepreneur and founder behind major UK business events including Festival of Entrepreneurs, Innovation Zero, Festival of Enterprise, and Venture & Scale Business Events. Over the past 25+ years, he has launched and scaled multiple businesses across advertising, media, film, and events, becoming one of the UK’s leading voices in entrepreneurship and business growth. ABOUT THE HOST Jeannette Linfoot is a highly regarded senior executive, property investor, board advisor, and business mentor with over 30 years of global professional business experience across the travel, leisure, hospitality, and property sectors. Having bought, ran, and sold businesses all over the world, Jeannette now has a portfolio of her own businesses and also advises and mentors other business leaders to drive forward their strategies as well as their own personal development. Jeannette is a down-to-earth leader, a passionate champion for diversity & inclusion, and a huge advocate of nurturing talent so every person can unleash their full potential and live their dreams. Podcast Description Jeannette Linfoot talks to incredible people about their experiences in business and life, gaining first hand insight into how they unleashed their potential to become Brave Bold Brilliant. From the boardroom tables of big international businesses to the exciting world of entrepreneurs it's all about stepping up to the next level while staying true to yourself.

Jeannette breaks down the common misconception that successful leaders and entrepreneurs possess a natural, unshakeable confidence, revealing instead that self-doubt and insecurity affect everyone behind closed doors.  She examines the pressures of modern leadership in a hyper-visible social media age, warning against the traps of perfectionism and comparison that stifle progress You’ll Learn Why: True confidence is rarely a natural talent; it is a muscle built incrementally through practice, trial and error, and continuous repetition. Perfectionism does not exist. Waiting for conditions to be perfect breeds overthinking and hesitation; true growth requires taking massive action while accepting your flaws. To expand a business, a leader must remain visible to clients and teams. This visibility demands the courage to make mistakes publicly and press forward anyway. True leadership confidence does not look like dominating a room or seeking constant external validation. The most impactful leaders speak less but carry deep gravitas when they do. This episode is living proof that no matter where you’re starting from — or what life throws at you — it’s never too late to be brave, bold, and unlock your inner brilliant. Visit https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ for free tools, guides and resources to help you take action now 📩 Want extra support? Email [email protected] to book your free mentoring session with Jeannette. Let’s make your next move your bravest yet. CONNECT WITH JEANNETTE: Jeannette’s linktree - https://linktr.ee/JLinfoot https://www.jeannettelinfootassociates.com/ YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/@braveboldbrilliant LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jeannettelinfoot Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jeannette.linfoot/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jeannette.linfoot/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@brave.bold.brilliant VALUABLE RESOURCES Brave Bold Brilliant - https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ Brave, Bold, Brilliant podcast series - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/brave-bold-brilliant-podcast/id1524278970 ABOUT THE HOST Jeannette Linfoot is a highly regarded senior executive, property investor, board advisor, and business mentor with over 30 years of global professional business experience across the travel, leisure, hospitality, and property sectors. Having bought, ran, and sold businesses all over the world, Jeannette now has a portfolio of her own businesses and also advises and mentors other business leaders to drive forward their strategies as well as their own personal development. Jeannette is a down-to-earth leader, a passionate champion for diversity & inclusion, and a huge advocate of nurturing talent so every person can unleash their full potential and live their dreams. Podcast Description Jeannette Linfoot talks to incredible people about their experiences in business and life, gaining first hand insight into how they unleashed their potential to become Brave Bold Brilliant. From the boardroom tables of big international businesses to the exciting world of entrepreneurs it's all about stepping up to the next level while staying true to yourself. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Most people only see the success story. The growth.The revenue.The headlines.The scaling. But behind every successful business is a side of leadership that nobody talks about… The pressure.The burnout.The difficult decisions.The loneliness.The systems breaking.The people problems.The constant reinvention required to keep growing. In this special Brave Bold Brilliant compilation episode, Jeannette Linfoot brings together some of the most powerful conversations from founders, CEOs, entrepreneurs and business leaders who have experienced the REAL cost of scaling a business. From leadership pressure and burnout…To hiring mistakes, AI disruption, team culture and future-proofing your company… This episode is a masterclass in what it truly takes to build and scale a successful business in today’s world. If you’re a founder, entrepreneur, business owner or leader navigating growth right now — this episode is for you. Chapters:00:00 A Few Brutal Truths EVERY Leader Needs To Hear05:08 The Biggest Mistakes Founders Make With Daniel Hoare11:36 The TRUTH About AI, Leadership & The Future of Business22:56 Stop The Chaos & Scale Faster Featured conversations include insights from: High-growth founders CEOs scaling past £10m Leadership experts Challenger brand builders Business transformation specialists Because scaling doesn’t create problems… It exposes them. 🎙️ About the Host — Jeannette Linfoot Jeannette Linfoot is an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, investor and executive mentor with more than 30 years of global business experience. From humble beginnings in poverty to becoming a globally recognised CEO, Jeannette has built and scaled multiple successful businesses, led international teams across 5 continents and helped thousands of entrepreneurs and leaders unlock their potential. Known for her honest, high-energy and transformational leadership style, Jeannette is passionate about helping people think bigger, lead better and scale with purpose. She is also the founder of Brave Bold Brilliant — a global business movement dedicated to unlocking brilliance in people, teams and organisations. — 🎙️ About the Podcast The Brave Bold Brilliant podcast is one of the world’s leading business and leadership podcasts, featuring raw, honest and inspiring conversations with entrepreneurs, founders, CEOs and world-class leaders. Named “Podcast of the Decade” by Disruptive Media, the show delivers practical insights, powerful stories and transformational leadership lessons for ambitious business leaders. — 🚀 About Brave Bold Brilliant Brave Bold Brilliant exists to unlock the brilliance in people, teams and businesses through world-class leadership development, mentoring and transformational growth programmes. Explore programmes & mentoring:https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/programmes/business-mentoring/  Rise Academy:https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/programmes/rise-academy/

In this episode digital optimist, author, and global business executive Chris White joins the show to discuss his expansive 30-year career trajectory, notably highlighting his two decades at Cisco during its monumental growth from $1 billion to $50 billion. Drawing from deep, lived experiences in Silicon Valley and leadership structures across the globe, he breaks down the core concepts of his new book, Non-Optional Collaboration: Aligning Cross-Functional Teams Across Cultures.  From drawing parallels between the high-stakes synchronisation of rowing sports to navigating corporate silos, psychological safety, and the "mushy middle" of organisational talent, this conversation delivers an essential blueprint on leveraging modern human leadership alongside AI to unlock maximum team output. You’ll Learn Why: True operational synchronisation mimics the sport of rowing, where individual execution must flawlessly align without substitution to move the entire vessel forward. Actively motivating and engaging the "mushy middle"—the 80% of talent sitting between your top and bottom performers—is the ultimate way to drastically scale your business. Leaders inadvertently damage psychological safety when they visually assert themselves as the smartest person in the room rather than facilitating group intelligence. High-fidelity physics metrics are crucial, but sustainable organisational success requires building active, programmatic feedback debriefs modelled after elites like the Blue Angels. This episode is living proof that no matter where you’re starting from — or what life throws at you — it’s never too late to be brave, bold, and unlock your inner brilliant. Visit https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ for free tools, guides and resources to help you take action now 📩 Want extra support? Email [email protected] to book your free mentoring session with Jeannette. Let’s make your next move your bravest yet. KEY MOMENTS [01:05] The fast-paced, high-stakes trajectory of moving Cisco from a $1B organisation to a $50B tech titan [04:44] The personal catalyst behind writing his new book [10:46] A breakdown of the mushy middle [19:04] Chris describes the "flightless, rankless debrief" culture CONNECT WITH JEANNETTE: Jeannette’s linktree - https://linktr.ee/JLinfoot https://www.jeannettelinfootassociates.com/ YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/@braveboldbrilliant LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jeannettelinfoot Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jeannette.linfoot/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jeannette.linfoot/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@brave.bold.brilliant VALUABLE RESOURCES Brave Bold Brilliant - https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ Brave, Bold, Brilliant podcast series - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/brave-bold-brilliant-podcast/id1524278970 ABOUT CHRIS WHITE Chris White is a former Senior Vice President at Cisco, global business transformation leader, and author of Non-Optional Collaboration. Across his career at Cisco, Philips, Bloom Energy, Analog Devices and HP, Chris has led global teams, scaled emerging technologies and driven major business turnarounds. ABOUT THE HOST Jeannette Linfoot is a highly regarded senior executive, property investor, board advisor, and business mentor with over 30 years of global professional business experience across the travel, leisure, hospitality, and property sectors. Having bought, ran, and sold businesses all over the world, Jeannette now has a portfolio of her own businesses and also advises and mentors other business leaders to drive forward their strategies as well as their own personal development. Jeannette is a down-to-earth leader, a passionate champion for diversity & inclusion, and a huge advocate of nurturing talent so every person can unleash their full potential and live their dreams. Podcast Description Jeannette Linfoot talks to incredible people about their experiences in business and life, gaining first hand insight into how they unleashed their potential to become Brave Bold Brilliant. From the boardroom tables of big international businesses to the exciting world of entrepreneurs it's all about stepping up to the next level while staying true to yourself.

Jeannette tackles a universal challenge faced by entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and business leaders alike: knowing when and how to build a powerful team. Drawing from her extensive journey as both an entrepreneur and a corporate CEO, Jeannette delivers an honest look at the operational traps that stunt growth and breaks down the strategic signs that signal it is time to hire, the dangers of ego-driven recruitment, and how to cultivate a high-performing culture built on clarity and trust.  You’ll Learn Why: Wearing every hat is necessary when starting out, but eventually, the founder’s own time becomes the bottleneck for business and team development. If you find yourself constantly overwhelmed by repetitive, low-value operational tasks or actively turning down genuine business opportunities due to a lack of resources, your business is telling you it has reached capacity. Avoid hiring just to look successful with a large corporate hierarchy or large payroll A strong team is built on culture, alignment, and a growth mindset rather than just on-paper qualifications This episode is living proof that no matter where you’re starting from — or what life throws at you — it’s never too late to be brave, bold, and unlock your inner brilliant. Visit https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ for free tools, guides and resources to help you take action now 📩 Want extra support? Email [email protected] to book your free mentoring session with Jeannette. Let’s make your next move your bravest yet. KEY MOMENTS [02:47] — The Founder's Bottleneck [04:47] — The "Chicken and Egg" Hiring Dilemma [06:33] — The Pitfalls of Ego Hiring [08:52] — Working 'On' the Business vs. 'In' the Business CONNECT WITH JEANNETTE: Jeannette’s linktree - https://linktr.ee/JLinfoot https://www.jeannettelinfootassociates.com/ YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/@braveboldbrilliant LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jeannettelinfoot Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jeannette.linfoot/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jeannette.linfoot/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@brave.bold.brilliant VALUABLE RESOURCES Brave Bold Brilliant - https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ Brave, Bold, Brilliant podcast series - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/brave-bold-brilliant-podcast/id1524278970 ABOUT THE HOST Jeannette Linfoot is a highly regarded senior executive, property investor, board advisor, and business mentor with over 30 years of global professional business experience across the travel, leisure, hospitality, and property sectors. Having bought, ran, and sold businesses all over the world, Jeannette now has a portfolio of her own businesses and also advises and mentors other business leaders to drive forward their strategies as well as their own personal development. Jeannette is a down-to-earth leader, a passionate champion for diversity & inclusion, and a huge advocate of nurturing talent so every person can unleash their full potential and live their dreams. Podcast Description Jeannette Linfoot talks to incredible people about their experiences in business and life, gaining first hand insight into how they unleashed their potential to become Brave Bold Brilliant. From the boardroom tables of big international businesses to the exciting world of entrepreneurs it's all about stepping up to the next level while staying true to yourself. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/