Stay Connected‘James Reed: all about business’ puts you at the heart of fun, dynamic, candid conversation with business leaders, philanthropists and charitable celebrities as they use their journeys to give clear, actionable advice.
Hosted by James Reed CBE, the Chairman and CEO of Reed Group, you’ll hear the highs and lows of what it means to be a true business leader to empower you to implement smarter, more meaningful strategy in your business or career.
Copyright: © Copyright 2026 Reed Global
A recent YouGov survey found that 82% of managers are ‘accidental'. So, what is an accidental manager? Why are there so many of them, and just how much is it affecting results within your business?
In this episode of All About Business, I sit down with Ann Francke OBE, the CEO of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) which provides training, qualifications and resources for managers.
She reveals her tips for dealing with toxic bosses, how line managers impact employee wellbeing, and the key skills every manager needs to be successful.
About Ann
Ann is CEO of the Chartered Management Institute, an organisation that creates confident leaders through leadership development training, qualifications, and research. She started her career at Procter & Gamble and has held senior executive positions at Mars, Boots, Yell and BSI.
She is an expert on gender dynamics in the workplace and has written a book about how to create a gender-balanced workplace.
Ann also wrote the Financial Times Guide to Management and was named as one of the Top 100 Women to Watch in the 2015 Female FTSE Cranfield report. In 2020, she was awarded an OBE for her services to workplace equality.
Timestamps
02:38 The importance of professional management training
06:56 Key skills for new managers
16:49 The impact of conscious leadership
21:37 Dealing with bad management
31:28 Addressing conflict and toxic behaviour
37:28 The role of line management in organisational success
39:19 Sponsorship vs mentorship
44:56 Examples of effective leadership
48:24 Gender balance and inclusivity in the workplace
51:39 The say-do gap in inclusivity
54:13 The importance of professionalising management
Links
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: www.reed.com
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
How can you use data to increase revenue, improve customer relationships, and make better business decisions?
In today’s episode of All About Business, I speak with Anita Dougall, the co-founder and CEO of data consultancy firm, Sagacity.
Anita started the business in 2005, and since then has helped companies like AA, British Gas, and Moonpig spin their data into business gold.
She reveals how to use data to optimise customer engagement, drive revenue, and resolve the billing issues that could be costing you millions.
About Anita
Anita is the CEO and founding partner of Sagacity, a leading consultancy that specialises in providing data-driven insights to help businesses maximise their returns.
Before co-founding Sagacity in 2005, Anita worked in investment banking. Her experience in financial and commercial roles that relied heavily on technology, led to her becoming an independent consultant, eventually co-founding Sagacity.
In 2025, Anita was recognised on the E2E Female 100 track list, which celebrates the UK’s fastest growing female-led or founded businesses.
Timestamps
00:31 Understanding data
04:55 Improving customer engagement
06:28 Billing and debt collection
20:03 Anita's career journey
30:13 Business growth
37:30 Choosing the right investor
42:46 Recruitment and company culture
45:58 Data usage and permissions
Links
Read about Anita’s recognition on the E2E Female 100 track list
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: www.reed.com
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit www.flamingo-media.co.uk
How do you turn an idea you had at uni into a multimillion-pound enterprise?
UNILAD and LADbible founder, Alex Partridge, started both companies while he was studying at university, and was a millionaire by the time he was 25.
In this episode of All About Business, we discuss the power of social media, the podcast that led to his ADHD diagnosis, and the harrowing court case that almost cost him everything.
About Alex
Alex Partridge is the founder of UNILAD and LADbible, two of the UK's most popular news and entertainment platforms. He has been open about his struggles with ADHD, and has written a book that explores how the diagnosis has impacted his life and career.
Alex also hosts the podcast, ADHD Chatter, where he discusses ADHD with leading experts, celebrities and psychiatrists.
Timestamps
00:43 Alex's early entrepreneurial ventures
03:58 Late-night pizza deliveries
06:19 The birth of UNILAD
09:12 Going viral and building a team
18:08 Challenges and legal battles
22:37 Facing the courtroom: A flashback to childhood anxiety
30:33 Alex’s ADHD diagnosis
40:08 Starting a new career
42:29 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
Links:
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: www.reed.com
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit www.flamingo-media.co.uk
In a world where consumers are obsessed with Temu and SHEIN, how can you attract customers to your high-end brand while staving off competition from cheaper alternatives?
In this episode of All About Business, I speak with Billie-Jo Cronin, the founder of luxury accessories brand, Good Squish.
Billie-Jo and her brother, Phoenix, bootstrapped the company, selling 1,900 units in under a year, while also gaining celebrity endorsements.
We discuss how they grew the company organically through Instagram, why community is central to their brand, and why local production and quality control go hand in hand.
About Good Squish
Good Squish is an independent brand that specialises in hand-stitched accessories made from dead stock fabrics, which helps to reduce waste by repurposing materials that would otherwise go unused. Their products, which include scrunchies, hair pins, keychains and tote bags, feature whimsical and creative designs.
Timestamps
01:26: The Concept of Dead Stock
02:22: The Organic Growth Journey
08:31: Maintaining Quality and Customer Satisfaction
14:56: Expanding Internationally
19:35: Working with Family
23:31 Decision-Making and Idea Curation
24:36: Challenges and Benefits of Collaborations
32:40: Celebrity Endorsements and Organic Growth
36:49 Future Plans
Links
Check out the Good Squish website
Follow Good Squish on Instagram
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: www.reed.com
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
Concern around AI is higher than ever. But could 2025 be ‘make or break’ for businesses who have yet to embrace it?
In this episode of 'All About Business' I talk with sibling duo, Richard and Archie Hollingsworth, founders of Fixer AI.
They discuss their journey from bootstrapping a $5 million agency to spearheading an innovative AI personal assistant tool which they say can give you an hour back every day. They share insights from their transformative stint in Silicon Valley, reflect on the impactful role of AI in modern businesses, and highlight why 2025 is a pivotal year for AI adoption.
Timestamps
04:24 Building Fixer AI
07:00 Success and Growth of Fixer AI
21:05 The Accelerator Experience
30:04 Moving to San Francisco: A Family Decision
31:02 Cultural Diversity in the Accelerator Program
32:13 Lessons from the American Business Culture
33:14 The Power of Being Direct
36:27 Adapting to the American Market
38:05 Building a Strong Team
41:34 Brothers in Business: Trust and Dynamics
44:46 Hiring and Scaling Up
54:09 Future Goals and Reflections
Links
Follow Archie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/archie-hollingsworth-a07168152/
Follow Archie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-hollingsworth-444b8589/
Visit Fyxer.AI:https://www.fyxer.com
Follow James Reed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chairmanjames/
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: www.reed.com
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo Media.
Entrepreneurs often possess traits that drive their success in business. But what if these same traits were also the root cause of deteriorating mental health, and, if left unaddressed, could ultimately lead to the collapse of their entire business?
In this episode of All About Business, I sit down with Jan Gerber, CEO of Paracelsus Recovery, the world’s no.1 exclusive mental health clinic for the rich and famous.
He reveals the traits both entrepreneurs and criminals share, how to foster well-being in the workplace and why mandatory mental health checks might just save your business.
Paracelsus Recovery takes a unique, tailored approach to treating its patients and has extensive experience at treating CEOs, UHNW individuals and those with a public profile.
Timestamps:
03:25 Recognizing Burnout and Mental Health Issues
08:17 The Role of Addiction and Self-Medication
12:46 Entrepreneurial Traits and Their Dark Side
19:48 The Concept of Reparenting
23:27 Balancing Physical Health and Business
28:02 The Importance of Confidentiality in Mental Health
34:09 Understanding the Impact of Information Diet
39:58 Building Trust in Mental Health Services
48:12 The Role of Psychedelics in Mental Health Treatment
53:34 Mental Health Strategies for Business Leaders
01:01:36 Promoting Mental Fitness and Resilience
Links:
Follow Jan Gerber on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerberjan/
Visit Jan Gerber’s website: https://jangerber.com/
Learn more about Paracelsus Recovery: https://www.paracelsus-recovery.com/en
Follow James Reed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chairmanjames/
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: www.reed.com
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo Media
Businessman, philanthropist, a maverick at turning strange ideas into success.
In this very special episode, and in celebration of his 91st birthday, I sit down with my father, Sir Alec Reed.
Sir Alec founded Reed in 1960 from a carpet shop in Hounslow with just £75 in his pocket. Since then, he’s founded several charities, launched a business school and in 2011, was knighted for his services to business and charity.
Born in Hounslow in 1934, Sir Alec Reed left school at 16 and ten years later founded Reed Recruitment, which has grown into the UK’s largest family-owned recruitment company. Today, he shares his insights from over seven decades in business, the lessons he’s learnt along the way and why ideas are the real currency of business.
Awarded the Beacon Prize in 2010 and knighted in 2011, Sir Alec’s flagship charity initiative, Big Give, has raised over £346 million for a variety of causes, including Womankind and Ethopiaid, both of which he also started.
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
02:03 Sir Alec Reed
03:27 Starting Out in Life - Accountant
04:13 Joining Gillette - An Idea Company
04:44 Early Business Ideas - Toy Soldiers
05:43 The Reed Brothers - Printing Business
06:26 Taking The Wrong Course
07:44 A Tremendous Urge to be Self Employed
10:31 Starting An Employment Agency
13:31 Working On Your Own - Undiluted Ideas
16:48 Learning to Raise Alternative Funding
18:45 A Family Business - One Route to Consider - Risks and Benefits
23:43 The End Game - Exits - Inheritance and Selling
25:16 Philanthropy - Foundations and Charities
27:35 Cancer - Selling a Business and Financing a Charity
32:14 A New Approach to Charity - A Social Innovation
34:48 The Big Give
38:36 Looking at Failure as a Road Sign to Change Direction
41:39 Ideas! An Idea a Day as an Exercise
47:51 Wrap Up and Thank You
Links:
Follow James Reed on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chairmanjames/
Find out more about Big Give:https://donate.biggive.org/
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: www.reed.com
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo Media
How can you turn everyday employees into strong leaders who are proud to work for your business?
In this episode of All About Business, I sit down with executive coach and 'Life’s Work' founder, Steph Rix. She explains how you can beat imposter syndrome for good, the difference between leadership and management and how you can use your personal values to become a better leader.
Steph is the Founder and Managing Director of Life’s Work where she provides team, career and Leadership coaching for businesses and individuals.
She has a Masters in Career Development and has been an executive coach for almost ten years.
00:58 Defining Leadership: Self-Awareness and Values
08:08 The Role of Values in Leadership
12:27 Dealing with Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome
17:37 Overcoming Overthinking and Taking Action
23:31 The Importance of Transparency in Organizational Change
28:39 Navigating Difficult Conversations
35:03 Supporting Employee Development on a Budget
40:46 Identifying and Nurturing Potential in Employees
45:20 Final Thoughts and Reflections
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: www.reed.com
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
With over a quarter of UK workers experiencing negative wellbeing because of work, how can you improve your own mental wellbeing, and stop being frazzled for good?
In this episode of 'All About Business,' I sit down with comedian, writer and mental health advocate Ruby Wax OBE.
We discuss how mindfulness can transform your mental health, how businesses can support struggling colleagues and the time Trump left her stranded in Arkansas.
Ruby Wax OBE is an actress, comedian, writer, television personality, and mental health campaigner. In 2017, Ruby founded the Frazzled Cafe, a community based on the power of emotional openness that provides space where anyone can come and be listened to without judgment. Ruby has also released a range of best-selling books, including I’m Not As Well as I Thought I Was in May 2023. Ruby also offers leadership and management training, using workshops and practical exercises to enable business leaders to create trust and rapport and more skilled communication with clients and colleagues.
02:59 The Ruby Wax Brand
06:14 Mindfulness and Personal Growth
15:31 Frazzled Culture and Authenticity
28:24 Connecting with People in Business
31:19 Rickman's Wisdom: Let People Come to You
33:53 Managing Stress and Mental Fitness in the Workplace
35:40 The Importance of Authenticity and Self-Management
39:05 The Power of Community and Connection
43:41 A Hilarious Encounter with Trump
Follow James Reed on LinkedIn
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: www.reed.com
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to get your brand heard, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
How do you keep wildlife business running in the face of social, political and cultural change?
In this episode of All About Business, I speak to Reggie Heyworth, the owner of one of the UK’s biggest wildlife parks. Cotswold Wildlife Park, which was started by his father all the way back in 1969. We discuss how he took over the business from his father, how they kept the animals alive during the pandemic as well as his thoughts on the ‘anti-zoo brigade.’
Reggie grew up in the Cotswold Wildlife Park, a business his father started in 1969, and which has grown into one of the UK’s largest wildlife parks. For several years, he worked as a conservationist on the African continent. In 2012, he returned to the UK to take over the running of the park. He created the park’s famous gardens, and also runs a number of initiatives, including Keeper for the Day, where you can learn about the animals and how they are looked after.
01:13 The Origins of the Wildlife Park
04:03 Early Challenges and Successes
10:29 Modern Zoo Practices and Conservation
21:07 Reggie's Return and Leadership
22:16 Impact of COVID-19 on the Wildlife Park
27:17 Navigating the Reopening Challenges
28:29 Reassessing Business Strategies
32:15 Difficult Decisions During the Pandemic
35:51 Leadership and Team Building Insights
37:44 The Importance of Loving Animals
41:19 Future of Wildlife Conservation
43:23 Creating a Beautiful Environment
47:01 Looking Ahead: Five Years from Now
48:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Visit Cotswold Wildlife Park
Follow James Reed on LinkedIn
All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: www.reed.com
This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
