Brave Bold Brilliant
by Jeannette Linfoot
Brave Bold Brilliant is where business leaders, entrepreneurs and their teams come to be inspired, challenged and equipped with the tools for growth and success. Here on Brave Bold Brilliant podcast, 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.
Episodes
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Scaling Without Imploding: How to Grow Your Business Without Burning Out
Growth can break things. The customers you prayed for arrive, your systems start creaking, your team feels stretched, and you end up working harder than ever, wondering why success feels so much like chaos. In this episode of Brave Bold Brilliant, Jeannette Linfoot shares how to scale your…
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How Boards Really Choose a CEO | Melissa Reed on AI, Succession & the 3 C’s
Who leads a business is one of the biggest decisions it will ever make. In this episode of Brave Bold Brilliant, Jeannette Linfoot talks to Melissa Reed, Managing Partner at H.I.E.C. For more than 20 years Melissa has helped some of the world’s best-known consumer, retail and luxury businesses...
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Hiring in a Hesitant Market: Who to Hire First
Are you still doing the job of three people while you wait to hire “when things settle down”? In this episode of Brave Bold Brilliant, Jeannette Linfoot explains how UK small business owners can build a brilliant team when hiring confidence is at its lowest point outside the pandemic. ABOUT THE...
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From Collecting Glasses to Managing Director: How Tom James Turned Bill’s Around
What does it take to turn round a much-loved restaurant brand and return it to growth? In this episode of Brave Bold Brilliant, Jeannette Linfoot talks with Tom James, Managing Director of Bill’s Restaurants, about leadership, culture and the brave decisions behind one of UK casual dining’s…
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Staying Bold When UK Confidence Is at Rock Bottom
UK business confidence has fallen to a record low. So should you keep your head down and wait, or is this the moment to be bold? In this episode of Brave Bold Brilliant, Jeannette Linfoot explains why the national mood is not your business strategy. She shares five practical moves to help small...
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From Working-Class Manchester to CEO: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome & Burnout | Jeannette Linfoot
How does a working-class girl from Manchester end up as a CEO of major travel brands? In this episode, Jeannette Linfoot joins Randip Singh on the Unleash Your Inner Leader podcast to share the moments that shaped her 30-year career, and the hard-won lessons on imposter syndrome, burnout and high...
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How Do I Sell My Business? | Jeannette Linfoot
Thinking about selling your business? Here are the 10 steps to selling your business for the price you deserve, from your first "should I?" to handing over the keys. 👇 Most business owners aren't prepared to sell. They wait until they're burnt out, then rush, and rushed sales leave money on the...
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How I Bought Clive Christian Out of Administration | Phil Cole
What does it really take to buy a luxury brand out of administration? Phil Cole, Co-Owner and Managing Director of Clive Christian Interiors, shares how he bought the iconic British kitchen brand in 2022 and saved 66 jobs. Phil joined Clive Christian in 2020 as Global Sales Director. Two years...
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How to Raise Finance for Your Business: Funding Explained Simply
Raising finance for your business doesn't have to feel like a locked room you don't have the key to. In this solo episode, Jeannette Linfoot demystifies business funding: your options, what investors actually want, and how to get fund-ready without losing yourself. Drawing on 30+ years in…
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Good Business vs Sellable Business: Exit Planning Advice | Henry Wells
Thinking about selling your business, bringing in investment or planning your exit? In this episode of Brave Bold Brilliant, Jeannette Linfoot talks to Henry Wells, board and M&A adviser and founder of Garthway Advisory. They look at why so many deals that start fail to complete, and how better...
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The BELIEF Framework From Reset Summit 2026
Belief is your superpower, and in this workshop from RESET Summit 2026, Jeannette Linfoot shows you how to use it. 💥 Recorded live at RESET Summit 2026, this session looks at how belief shapes your confidence, decisions, leadership and results. You'll learn how to spot the limiting beliefs…
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Inside the World of Elite Close Protection with UMBRA Founder Kate Bright
In this episode of Brave Bold Brilliant, Jeannette Linfoot sits down with Kate Bright, Chartered Security Professional, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and Founder & CEO of UMBRA International, to explore what it really takes to protect the world's wealthiest families. Kate shares her…
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The Sphere of Influence: How Your Circle Shapes Your Success
Sphere of Influence: Why the People Around You Decide Your Success In this episode of Brave Bold Brilliant, host Jeannette Linfoot dives into your Sphere of Influence, the people you surround yourself with, and how they shape the version of you that shows up in business, career, and life.…
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Shereen Ritchie: From LEON to Kuvi Hospitality's Coyo Taco UK Launch
Shereen Ritchie built her career from clearing tables at TGI Fridays at 15 to becoming Group CEO of Kuvi Hospitality, and in this episode of Brave, Bold, Brilliant, she reveals how she did it. Shereen Ritchie is the Group Chief Executive Officer of Kuvi Hospitality, a London-based hospitality...
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Lock In, Lock Through, Leadership
If you can't lock in to the task in front of you, how can you possibly lead your team to success? In this episode of Brave Bold Brilliant, Jeannette Linfoot dives into why real leadership starts with your own focus, and why locking in and locking through, even when things get hard, is the...
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Wales Rugby Icon Jonathan Davies CBE: Union, League & Life After Sport
Welcome back to Brave Bold Brilliant, the podcast where we talk to incredible people about their experiences in business and in life, gaining first-hand insight into how they've unleashed their potential to become brave, bold, and brilliant. In this episode, host Jeannette Linfoot sits down with…
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Belief is Your Superpower
Jeannette explores why self-belief is the ultimate superpower for leaders and entrepreneurs, introducing her six-part B.E.L.I.E.F. framework developed over 30 years in business. What You Will Learn Brave: Achieving greatness requires stepping out of your comfort zone and taking action anyway....
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Sir Liam Fox: Trade, Diplomacy & the Coming Water Crisis
🎙️ About This Episode Sir Liam Fox joins Jeannette Linfoot on Brave Bold Brilliant for a conversation spanning medicine, government and global diplomacy. They explore what medicine taught him about leadership and decision-making, how he made high-stakes calls as Defence Secretary, and the…
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10 Steps to Starting a Business in 2026
Jeannette breaks down the exact step-by-step roadmap she would use if she had to start all over again. Moving through five distinct stages—foundations, legal and financial setups, going to market, systems and pricing, and long-term sustainability—Jeannette shares candid lessons and practical...
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Building LEGOLAND, Madame Tussauds & SEA LIFE: Mark "Fish" Fisher's Story
Jeannette talks to Mark “Fish” Fisher to uncover his extraordinary journey from a 16-year-old bear mascot at Alton Towers to the boardroom as Chief Development Officer for Merlin Entertainments. Mark opens up about taking a business to a £6 billion IPO, the harsh realities of navigating global...
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Quit Your Job, Become Your Own Boss
This time, we unpack the real, unvarnished truth behind leaving corporate life to work for yourself—moving beyond the glamourised highlight reels to what making the leap actually requires. Jeannette breaks down the crucial difference between simple workplace frustration and genuine readiness, how...
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Building Luxury Homes in Wales: Andy Green's Journey
Jeannette talks to Andy Green, founder and Managing Director of Greens Construction, to uncover his journey from an unconventional school experience and carpentry apprentice to leading a multi-faceted construction powerhouse. Andy opens up about how leaning into his dyslexia shaped his unique...
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The One Trait Every High-Performing Board Has (That Yours Probably Doesn't)
Jeannette breaks down the single most crucial factor separating high-performing boards from those stuck in stagnation: cohesion built on psychological safety and candid debate. She explores the dangerous trap of artificial harmony, illustrates how real trust accelerates decision-making and...
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Why Successful Leaders Still Sabotage Themselves | Dave Callan (Man Utd, Team Sky, INEOS)
In this inspiring episode, former corporate CMO turned executive performance coach Dave Callan shares how stepping away from high-profile executive roles and embracing extreme endurance challenges transformed his understanding of mindset, leadership, and personal growth. Exploring the…
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Why Leadership at the Top Is the Loneliest Job in Business
Jeannette addresses a topic few leaders speak about openly: the intense isolation and weight of carrying top-level responsibility. Drawing from over 30 years of experience running global businesses, she breaks down why executive loneliness happens, the dangerous path to physical burnout when...
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Katie Partridge: Investment Banking, GCC Business & Female Leadership | Brave Bold Brilliant Podcast
Jeannette welcomes Katie Partridge, CEO of the Sefeera Group and Founder of Johara Global, for an inspiring conversation on power, purpose, and international dealmaking. Drawing from over 25 years of experience across investment banking, asset management, and global advisory, Katie shares her...
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The Power of Time... Don't Waste It! | With Jeannette Linfoot
Jeannette discusses actionable strategies to help busy professionals reclaim their most valuable, non-renewable resource: time. She breaks down a simple four-box priority matrix—categorising tasks by importance and urgency—and introduces the practical "4D" framework (Ditch, Delegate, Delay, Do)....
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How to Build a Brand Through Podcasting with James Burtt | Brave Bold Brilliant Podcast
Podcast strategist, broadcast expert, and entrepreneur James Burtt sits down with Jeannette for a wide-ranging conversation on the true nature of branding, the evolution of content creation, and the power of personal authenticity. From his early career as a Michael Bublé tribute act in Cyprus to...
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Bold Decisions vs Reckless Decisions | How Top Leaders Actually Tell the Difference
Jeannette looks at the critical difference between making bold leadership decisions and falling into reckless ones. She busts the myth that courage is just an innate personality trait, framing true boldness as a learnable skill built on solid data, self-awareness, and emotional calm. Whether you...
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From Homeworking Myths to a 44,000-Advisor Empire | Tricia Handley-Hughes, InteleTravel MD
Jeannette sits down with Tricia Handley-Hughes, Managing Director of InteleTravel UK, Ireland, and UAE, to explore her four-decade career spanning retail, aviation, and home-working. Tricia shares candid leadership lessons on the power of clear communication, the importance of personal branding…
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Why Most Leaders Are Flying Blind (And Don't Even Know It)
Jeannette explores why so many business leaders are unconsciously "flying blind"—making critical strategic decisions without a clear, objective picture of their business’s true health. She breaks down how surface-level success can mask underlying problems, why team dynamics often hide…
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From Classical Percussionist to £20M Immersive Empire: Eddy Hackett's Bootstrapped Business Story | Brave Bold Brilliant
Jeannette sits down with Eddy Hackett, co-founder and executive producer of the Lost Estate, who shares his fascinating journey from training as a classical percussionist to scaling a thriving, multi-million-pound immersive theatre business. He dives deep into the realities of bootstrapping, the...
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The Leadership Skills They Never Taught You (Even With an MBA)
What does it truly take to transition from a great manager to an impactful leader? In this episode Jeannette shares key insights from her 30-plus years of business experience, spanning corporate CEO roles in global travel to managing her current business portfolio. She breaks down the…
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How Adam Stott Built a Multi-Million Pound Business | Sales, Social Media & Scaling Success
In this episode, self-made multi-millionaire, entrepreneur, and business coach Adam Stott sits down to share his remarkable journey from a lost teenager working menial jobs to the founder of an eight-figure education empire. Adam opens up about how discovering sales at age nineteen transformed…
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How James Martin Built a £30M Business Empire After Leaving School at 14 | Entrepreneur Success Secrets
In this powerful episode, serial entrepreneur and property mogul James Martin opens up about his fascinating life and business journey. From being kicked out of school at 14 due to severe dyslexia to running a national tree surgery business by age 18, James shares the real, unfiltered truths…
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How to Build a High-Performing Team & Know Exactly When to Hire | Leadership & Business Growth
Your business will only grow as strong as the team behind it. One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs and business leaders make is hiring too early, too late, or for the wrong reasons. In this episode of Brave Bold Brilliant, Jeannette Linfoot shares the key principles behind building a...
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How to Scale a Business Like a CEO | Leadership Lessons from Costa Coffee, Ole & Steen & Arcturus CEO Jason Cotta
Jason Cotta didn’t take the classic corporate route to the boardroom. He left school at 16 with almost no qualifications and started on the very lowest rung of the retail ladder. Today, he is the CEO of Arcturus Group overseeing iconic hospitality brands like Pho, Rosa’s Thai, and Mowgli. In this...
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What Working With Successful People Has Taught Me | The Habits of High Performers
Jeannette shares the five transformative traits that separate average business leaders from high performers, offering listeners a raw, honest look at what it truly takes to unlock the next level of success. You’ll Learn Why: High performers accept total accountability for their environment and...
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Why Women Over 40 Need To Rethink Health, Fitness & Success | Terry Tateossian
In this raw and revealing episode, serial entrepreneur Terry Tateossian sits down to discuss the hidden trials of balancing high-stakes business ownership with life-altering physical changes. Terry shares her profound awakening after a series of stress-induced health crises forced her to confront…
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Building High-Performance Teams in an Uncertain Economy | Leadership Strategies for Business Growth
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...
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From Rags to Riches: How Nigel Lovering Built Multiple Businesses from Nothing
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…
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Why So Many Leaders Are Burning Out in Silence
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...
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Inside Virgin Atlantic’s Global Expansion Strategy | Juha Järvinen
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…
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Why Mentorship Is the Secret Weapon of Elite CEOs
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...
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From Zero Experience to Building UK Business Giants | James Ashwood on Entrepreneurship
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...
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The Confidence Crisis in Modern Leadership
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...
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The Hidden Cost of Scaling: What Every Leader Learns Too Late
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...
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Catching the Sync: Why Non-Optional Collaboration is Your Business Superpower
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...
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Building a Strong Team & Knowing When to Hire
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…
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The Power of Purpose: How Dr. Guy Sandelowsky 10x'ed His Business
Jeannette is joined by Dr. Guy Sandelowsky, co-founder of the award-winning plant-powered pet food brand, Omni. Guy reflects on the business's phenomenal journey over the past 12 months, detailing how their appearance on Dragons' Den acted as a massive catalyst to 10x their top-line revenue. From...
About this show
Brave Bold Brilliant is where business leaders, entrepreneurs and their teams come to be inspired, challenged and equipped with the tools for growth and success. Here on Brave Bold Brilliant podcast, 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.
Hosted by
Jeannette Linfoot
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