Founder-Led Culture, Rapid Change & People Strategy in the Age of AI | Jo Knowler | Leading Minds Revealed | EP 114

In this episode of Leading Minds Revealed, host Michael Apollo sits down with Jo Knowler, Head of People & Talent at SBE Media Group, to explore how leaders can build resilient teams in fast-changing, founder-led and AI-driven workplaces. From team culture to learning environments, neurodiversity, adaptability, and leadership under rapid growth — Jo brings deeply human insights from the front lines of scaling brands like Supercar Blondie and SBX Cars. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Welcome to Leading Minds Revealed 00:32 – Introduction & episode setup 01:11 – Meet Jo Knowler: Head of People & Talent 02:10 – Frank the office dog joins the conversation 02:57 – Building teams in the age of AI 03:24 – Why long-term planning is disappearing 05:09 – AI reshaping roles and recruitment 06:09 – No AI experts: test, learn, evolve 07:12 – Rethinking hiring & CVs 08:35 – Gamification and neurodiversity in recruitment 09:18 – Human-centered talent strategies 10:14 – Skills & attributes leaders look for 11:07 – Feedback, adaptability & being thick-skinned 12:22 – Why stubbornness slows growth 14:06 – Rapid change & agility 15:42 – IT and People merging under one leader 16:48 – Founder-led businesses: why Jo thrives 18:09 – Trust, strategy & leadership partnership 19:33 – Where founders get stuck 20:48 – Balancing vision with stability 22:00 – Finding the “adult in the room” 23:21 – Structuring communication 24:19 – Culture, training & growth 25:29 – Transparency from day one 27:04 – Weekly communication rhythms 28:23 – Cross-functional collaboration 29:46 – Clarity & psychological stability 30:34 – Recruiting with honesty 31:35 – Engagement, happiness & retention 32:38 – Listening, empathy & solving problems 33:56 – Coaching & career development 35:17 – Creating learning pathways 37:07 – Rapid innovation & knowledge sharing 39:15 – Turbo Talks & internal learning 41:00 – AI tools, law, and internal education 42:11 – Keeping teams aligned across regions 43:46 – Masterclass in internal learning 45:30 – Leadership lessons from bad managers 47:47 – Showing up consistently as a leader 49:18 – Presence over reactivity 50:52 – Repairing relationships after conflict 51:49 – Support systems & recharge 53:20 – Boundaries, parenting and switching off 55:07 – Book club, community & self-care 57:00 – Intentional wellbeing for leaders 59:39 – How to connect with Jo 01:01:30 – Window-shopping luxury cars 01:02:31 – Closing & next episode preview 01:03:04 – Subscribe for more 🎧 CALL TO ACTION 👉 If this episode inspired you, subscribe for more leadership conversations. 👍 Like the video, leave a comment, and tell us what resonated most. 🔔 Hit notifications so you never miss an episode. 📩 Share it with someone who needs it today.