The Project Future Podcast

33. Joanna Rawbone on Flourishing as an Introvert

How can you flourish as an introvert? 

My guest here in Episode 33 is Joanna Rawbone, a change agent and advocate for introverts. 

In this conversation Joanna explains: 

- How introverts can play to their own strengths

- How introverts rechange differently to extraverts

- Why she looks to demonstrate credibility through assets

- The value of a TEDx talk

- How categorisation can be useful and why it’s not an excuse

- How the extraversion bias can be mitigated

- Why mitigating the extraversion bias should be part of the diversity, equity and inclusion agenda considered by all employers

- Her mission to make an impact within education

Joanna’s best advice is to ‘hold it lightly’.

Enjoy!

32. Jane Hubbard on Solving the People Jigsaw

How can you make the customer experience better? 

My guest here in Episode 32 is Jane Hubbard, the founder of People Jigsaw. 

Jane has enjoyed a vast and varied career, but the thing that consistently shines through is her ability to make the people experience better, for both the customer and the employee. 

Jane explains: 

- Why the midlife crisis is a reflection point

- Where to go from a career pinnacle

- How reflecting can give clarity on your next steps

- How she progressed by making herself redundant

- Why you need a good ‘number 2’

- Why every organisation should invest in their people

- Why working with integrity is a recipe for success

- How you can leverage platforms to improve your offering

- Why it’s important to find kindred souls

- What to do when the phone doesn’t ring 

Jane’s best advice is to learn to touch type. Listen and it will make sense!

Enjoy!

31. Sophie Southmayd on Making a Social Media Splash

How can you make social media work for your business? 

My guest here in Episode 31 is Sophie Southmayd, a digital marketing expert and founder of Sophie Southmayd Consulting.

Sophie and her team are social media experts who take the time to get to know a brand's ethos, creating content with the right tone of voice, all while utilising their expertise in optics for better brand awareness.

Sophie explains:

- How she spotted the opportunity to start her own agency whilst an employee

- What she does on a quiet day to continue growing the business

- Why you should always find out a client’s budget

- How you can establish your social media tone of voice

- The social media etiquette to follow

- Why consistency is key

- How you can manage your community

- Why the metric you should be looking at isn’t followers

- How you can be authentic online

- Why video is non-negotiable…and the top 3 things you need to succeed

Her best advice is not to worry so much.

Enjoy!

30. Zeenat Noorani on the Self-Awareness Journey

How can you improve your wellbeing and mental health? 

My guest here in Episode 30 is Zeenat Noorani, a wellbeing and mental health therapist, coach, author and radio presenter. 

Her mission is “Helping you achieve the life you desire - helping you find and forge your path.” 

Zeenat explains: 

- How a career change went wrong for her

- How she sought to solve a problem she experienced herself

- Why wellbeing and mental health awareness should be more than a tick-box exercise

- How showing weakness can be empowering

- Why you should seek support before hitting rock-bottom

- How making things better starts with your own self-awareness

- Why mindset is key

- Why we’re all on a learning journey

- The balance between accountability and ownership

- How you can get and maintain a 6-pack

- What makes a strong business partnership

- Her vision for wellbeing and mental health as part of the school curriculum

Zeenat’s best advice is to make sure you’re passionate about what you do.

Enjoy!

29. Agatha and Robbie Appleton-Sas on Empowerment Through Digital Communication

How can you bring your audience closer? 

My guests here in Episode 29 are Agatha and Robbie Appleton-Sas of Rån Studio, who use online thinking and visual communication to find the right way to tell your story.

Agatha and Robbie themselves have a quite remarkable story and have done some wonderful things, especially since the pandemic struck.

They explain:

- Why they decided to start a business together

- How they started fast and realised what they could offer as a package

- Why they always focus on people first

- Why digital transformation is about keeping the human aspect

- How stories bring people together

- Why the rules of communication are the same, online and offline

- Why and they decided to help during spring 2020 by offering free social media clinics

- And how it led to a very special opportunity that clarified their mission

- Why they recommend a simple approach to social media

- Why it’s important to be present

- Why the digital opportunity is now!

- And finally, how story and mission are interlinked…and vital to success

Agatha and Robbie’s best advice is to have a good accountant you can trust.

Enjoy!

28. Lee Lam on How Start-ups Prosper

How can you prosper on the start-up journey?

My guest here in Episode 28 is Lee Lam, founder of The UK’s Start-up Partner.

Lee has a wealth of experience in Technology and Financial Services, holding Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff positions, and now helps founders maximise profit margins using smart operational strategies.

Lee explains:

- Why working with start-ups first appealed to her 

- Why working in a big business doesn’t necessarily prepare you for start-up life 

- Why it’s difficult for corporates to blank-page the future 

- How start-ups can disrupt and solve problems quicker than established businesses 

- Why corporates want to invest in start-ups…and how it could dilute your vision 

- Why you need to prepare for growth long before it shows itself 

- Why it can feel like your business is invisible after the initial excitement fades…and how to get through that phase 

- What the best starting point is for a start-up 

- Why, post-Covid, all businesses are start-ups now and how to avoid the post-Covid trap 

- Why the solution is always in finding the right questions to answer 

Lee’s best advice is to get an objective opinion on your start-up idea.

Enjoy!

27. Inna Armstrong on Creating a Global Brand

How can you start building an international brand, even at the early stages of your business? 

My guest here in Episode 27 is Inna Armstrong, a senior executive professional with multinational experience in different countries of the world, a professional speaker and Co-Founder of CleverBooks. 

Inna's current focus is on influencing the change in the education system through a strategic application of innovative EdTech, thus helping educators to embrace 21st-century teaching. 

Inna explains: 

- How there is now an opportunity to start building an international brand from launch 

- Why it’s possible to start internationally rather than with your local market 

- Why you should follow the statistics 

- Why she is a strong believer in strategic partnerships 

- Why creative thinking and collaborating are key skills 

- How CleverBooks gathered information to grow in an unfamiliar market 

- Why business development should be a balance of digital and in-person meetings 

- Why you should think about what you can share to benefit others 

- Why digital technology is the future of education 

- That unless you act, your dreams will just stay as a dream 

Inna’s best advice is to be driven by your ‘why?’ 

Enjoy!

26. Janie van Hool on Growing by Listening

How can you make an impact with your audience through voice communication?

My guest here in Episode 26 is Janie van Hool, founder of VoicePresence Ltd.

Janie helps leaders make an impact by creating a powerful personal presence, enabling them to connect with and inspire their people.

She is also a volunteer listener for Samaritans.

Her forthcoming book, The Listening Shift, is a revolutionary approach to cultural transformation through listening. It is to be published in June 2021.

Janie explains:

- How she realised what she knew could benefit another audience

- How she helps leaders become more effective

- How you can use your voice to help you get to where you want to be

Janie’s best advice is to recognise what you can do best, and use others for things outside of it.

Enjoy!

25. Matt Turner on Disrupting with a Smile

What’s it like starting a business when you’re 18, growing it for a decade and then having to make bold decisions to rebuild it following a global pandemic?

My guest here in Episode 25 is Matt Turner, Founder & MD of Clownfish Events, who took the opportunity to build Clownfish Studios when Covid-19 decimated the events market.

Matt’s story is one of dreams, disruption and daring. You’re witnessing his childhood dream - to run a leading production studio that takes on the industry big boys and makes streaming and filming accessible to all.

Matt explains:

- How he first started running events whilst in school

- What he learnt by saying yes to everything

- How experience has shaped him

- How he made the most of a big break

- How they stood out from the competition

- How they’ve grown with some of their clients

- Why human personality is so important

- Why he’ll continue to break barriers

- Why it’s important to always be yourself

- Why he decided to expand the business by building a state-of-the-art TV studio

- Why it’s important to understand that every problem has a solution

Matt’s best advice is to learn to enjoy the process.

Here is the link to Matt’s 2020 Christmas message which includes the time-lapse video of the studio’s creation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrU-kSLaoIo

Enjoy!

24. Krista Powell Edwards on Being Credible

How do you appear credible in front of your audience?

My guest here in Episode 24 is Krista Powell Edwards, known as The Credibility Expert.

Krista has made it her mission to help individuals, HR, teams and organisations to communicate their credibility, so they know it AND show they know it, to increase their influence and impact.

Krista explains:

- How an interest in performance and achievement developed into a career

- Why perhaps we don’t know what a dog is

- Why self-knowledge is even more important if you’re self-employed

- How to get to the stage where your client’s value what you deliver

- What to do when the phone doesn’t ring

- Why when you’re self-employed nobody can state what you’re worth

- How she grew from working overseas

- The benefits of going out of your comfort zone

- The 4 C’s that will make you appear credible

- Why we should always consider the intended outcome

- Why effective people don’t always have the impact they deserve

- Why you need to communicate your credibility and what you’ve achieved

Krista’s best advice is to completely understand your comfort zones.

Enjoy!