Strategy & Tragedy: CEO Stories with Steph Melodia

🧚‍♀️ Want Steph to mentor you? Apply for 1:1 founder coaching here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1SAXdIlDj-Qvr0lr2r0mrUCDPdFdyTnkUgH2j82zZKsY/editTop 20 UK Business Host, Stephanie Melodia, shares her reflections on 120+ interviews from 2+ years of Strategy & Tragedy. From the top 3 observations of the most successful entrepreneurs interviewed to reflecting on core themes and the most common answer to the traditional closing question, 'What's one tragedy that taught you an unforgettable lesson?'Steph also answers your questions, from avoiding burnout to best & worst advice from guests.Interviews mentioned:Varun BhanotOlivia ParkesThomas PantonJodie CookTimo ArmooMaya RaichooraMike BandarJonny BurchDaniil Scherbakov Deborah WilliamsAnna-Sophie HartvigsenJenny Quigley-JonesLottie WhyteFarah KabirSimon SquibbNick Telson-SillettAuthors and their books mentioned:Energise by Simon Alexander Ong: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57951376-energizeLong Haul Leader by Chris Ducker : https://longhaulleader.com/Stay in touch:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/

I'd LOVE to know, what resonated most with you here? Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/About the show:Entrepreneurship is overly-glamorised, and there’s a lot to learn from the mistakes of others. Strategy & Tragedy keeps it real; sharing the highs & lows, the strategies & tragedies, of other founders who have “made it.” In addition to CEO interviews, we spotlight subject matter experts to help you on your entrepreneur journey. Available on all major streaming platforms, now in the UK Top 20 Business Charts.About Steph Melodia:As ex-CEO of an award-winning marketing agency, Stephanie now hosts Strategy & Tragedy, advises MBA students with Oneday, coaches founders 1:1, and travels the world as an international keynote speaker on her signature subject of ‘Hacking Luck.’ She has delivered impactful sessions for household brand names including Qatar Airways, Soho House, WeTransfer, LinkedIn, Xero, Harvey Nash Group, Web Summit, and more - leaving audiences feeling inspired, motivated, and energised.

🧚‍♀️ Want Steph to mentor you? Apply for 1:1 founder coaching here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchRTqGNNhrN8xph4Gh4RuVJNU_mc31cT8bl08nXRQeM6rd8Q/viewform☕️ Get 25% off artisan half-caff coffee for a guilt-free cup at https://buzzcutcoffee.com/Jonny Burch is a serial entrepreneur, early Deliveroo employee, exited founder, and now runs Near Future, an AI transformation consultancy for product and design teams. As a designer for nearly 20 years, Jonny is the founder of Progression, a career platform for which he raised $6m and exited in 2024, before exploring the AI transformation space by day and tinkering in his product studio by night.In this conversation, Steph and Jonny discuss:👉 Jonny's design background and how it's influenced his entrepreneurial journey👉 Early days at Deliveroo and the unforgettable lessons learnt👉 Finding product-market fit with his first venture - testing lots of ideas and parting ways with initial co-founders before landing on Progression👉 Fundraising for Progression during the pandemic👉 Exiting Progression and the shocking last-minute turn of events👉 Founder life and soul-searching post-exit👉 What Jonny's working on now (hint: it's in AI!)🤖 Keen to accelerate your team’s AI adoption? Get in touch here: https://nearfuture.works/I'd LOVE to know, what resonated most with you from this interview? Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Have you committed any of these seven sins of sales? Or been a victim of one?Hit follow or subscribe, and get in touch! We’d love to hear from you:💌 [email protected]💌 https://www.instagram.com/the.s.word.show/- - - - - - - - - - - -Could you do with some sales training, either for yourself or for your team? Book Tash here: https://trsalesconsultancy.co.uk/Interested in having Steph advise your scale-up on growth strategies or 1:1 founder coaching? See more here: https://www.stephaniemelodia.com/growth-consulting-for-scaleupsWant either (or both) Steph and Tash to speak at your next event? Whether it’s motivating your teams or presenting a keynote, see more on each below:- https://www.stephaniemelodia.com/keynote-speaker-hacking-luck- https://www.linkedin.com/in/tashrebuck/Interested in sponsoring the show? Contact Tash Rebuck on [email protected] or 07961 254 469- - - - - - - - - - - -Where it all started…Tash Rebuck interviewed by Steph Melodia on Strategy & Tragedy👉 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX2Hes_VBk8&t=19s👉 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7n6IwRD35hp3DHHfCJt5uA?si=457aef4dbd5646c9

Want Steph to mentor you? Apply for 1:1 founder coaching here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchRTqGNNhrN8xph4Gh4RuVJNU_mc31cT8bl08nXRQeM6rd8Q/viewformAs a world-leading expert on mindful productivity and systematic curiosity, Anne-Laure Le Cunff is a neuroscientist, entrepreneur and former Googler. She is the creator of learning community, Ness Labs (https://nesslabs.com/) - described as the mindful productivity school for knowledge workers featured in Wired, Rolling Stone and Business Insider. Anne-Laure is also the author of Tiny Experiments you can get your hands on: https://nesslabs.com/bookI'd LOVE to know, what resonated most with you here? Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Get started for free - launch your AI Agents to help you run your business in minutes with LaunchLemonade: https://launchlemonade.app/ 🍋Could you do with some sales training, either for yourself or for your team? Book Tash here: https://trsalesconsultancy.co.uk/Interested in having Steph advise your scale-up on growth strategies or 1:1 founder coaching? See more here: https://www.stephaniemelodia.com/growth-consulting-for-scaleupsWant either (or both) Steph and Tash to speak at your next event? Whether it’s motivating your teams or presenting a keynote, see more on each below:- https://www.stephaniemelodia.com/keynote-speaker-hacking-luck- https://www.linkedin.com/in/tashrebuck/Interested in sponsoring the show? Contact Tash Rebuck on [email protected] or 07961 254 469Hit follow or subscribe, and get in touch! We’d love to hear from you:💌 [email protected]💌 https://www.instagram.com/the.s.word.show/

TW: Themes of abuse and gun violenceNell Daly is a social worker turned venture capitalist as Co-Founder of Revenge Capital, a £50M sector-agnostic, global impact fund that invests into overlooked founders and their big disruptive ideas. She describes herself as an advocate for underdogs and works with policymakers to help build a more just, free, inclusive and humane world.In this episode, Steph and Nell discuss:❤️‍🔥 Starting a fund NOT coming from the world of finance❤️‍🔥 Nell's experience in media and what led to her "going dark"❤️‍🔥 Overcoming adversity and practical tips on how to be the outlier❤️‍🔥 How her training as a psychotherapist makes her a better investor❤️‍🔥 The power of manifesting, and what to watch out for❤️‍🔥 The importance of dreams and working towards your purpose❤️‍🔥 What her VC fund, Revenge Capital, is looking for in fundraising startupsFundraising? Apply for investment here: https://b1jxsdtzi9t.typeform.com/reve...Get involved in the conversation:Follow on social media:🤍 Instagram:   / stephmelodia  🤍 LinkedIn:   / stephmelodia-keynotespeaker  Subscribe to the podcast:🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NuiaWj...🎧 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...🎧 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0...🎧 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/023...Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Tune into my new show with Tash Rebuck: 'The S Word'Every Monday, co-hosts Steph Melodia and Tash Rebuck bring you education and entertainment on all things B2B sales. From cold-calling live on air to critiquing others’ outreach, from how to leverage AI in your sales process to interviewing subject matter specialists.Hit follow or subscribe, and get in touch! We’d love to hear from you:💌 [email protected]💌 https://www.instagram.com/the.s.word.show/- - - - - - - - - - - -Could you do with some sales training, either for yourself or for your team? Book Tash here: https://trsalesconsultancy.co.uk/Interested in having Steph advise your scale-up on growth strategies or 1:1 founder coaching? See more here: https://www.stephaniemelodia.com/growth-consulting-for-scaleupsWant either (or both) Steph and Tash to speak at your next event? Whether it’s motivating your teams or presenting a keynote, see more on each below:- https://www.stephaniemelodia.com/keynote-speaker-hacking-luck- https://www.linkedin.com/in/tashrebuck/Interested in sponsoring the show? Contact Tash Rebuck on [email protected] or 07961 254 469- - - - - - - - - - - -Where it all started…Tash Rebuck interviewed by Steph Melodia on Strategy & Tragedy👉 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX2Hes_VBk8&t=19s👉 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7n6IwRD35hp3DHHfCJt5uA?si=457aef4dbd5646c9

Want Steph to mentor you? Apply for 1:1 founder coaching here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchRTqGNNhrN8xph4Gh4RuVJNU_mc31cT8bl08nXRQeM6rd8Q/viewform- - - - - - From running out of money to building a business worth billions, Sir Richard Harpin is the co-founder of HomeServe, the home repairs and insurance business he started in 1993 before scaling it to a multinational serving millions of customers, listing on the London Stock Exchange, and becoming a FTSE 100 company before being taken private in a multibillion-pound deal.A passionate advocate for entrepreneurship, Richard is the author of 'How to Make a Billion in 9 Steps' - sharing lessons from his journey building one of Britain’s most successful companies.He is also the founder of Business Leader, a growth programme that supports founders of £3m+ businesses, combining CEO coaching and peer forums, powered by the proven 9-Step framework in Richard's book, alongside practical content, masterclasses and company visits so you can focus on what matters and scale with confidence. Richard also invests in founder-led companies.In this episode, Steph and Richard discuss:- Co-founder relationships Richard and Jeremy Middleton's 30+ year partnership worked because of clear role division and mutual honesty, even when Jeremy once told Richard to give up entirely.- Near-bankruptcy to breakthroughDown to their last £10,000, a direct mail campaign with a 3.8% conversion rate saved the business and sparked the HomeServe home insurance model.- Entrepreneurial mindset Copy and improve proven models, bootstrap where possible, avoid growing too fast, and embrace persistence and optimism when your back is against the wall.- Knowing when to step aside as CEOBring in an experienced CEO at the right growth stage, recruit slowly, and let the founder focus on their true strengths (vision, BD, international growth).- Mentorship and persistence pay Richard didn't find his first mentor until 2009, but swears by it — illustrated by cold-calling Nigel Morris and flying to DC the next day to secure a meeting.Other interview mentioned with Jeremy Middleton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q59RqI1GgxE&t=15s- - - - - -I'd LOVE to know, what resonated most with you here? Leave a comment!Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/

Anu Obe is the Founder of To All My Black Girls, a D2C ecomm business that specialises in naturally textured hair extensions for Afro-Caribbean hair types.In this episode, Steph and Anu discuss:👩🏾‍🦱 The importance of self-belief and optimism - your reality is not your identity!💜 Having a clear mission, identifying a gap in the market, and solving one fatal customer problem 👩🏾‍🦱 The idea of whether or not entrepreneurship is for everyone?!  💜 The power of self-confidence, and where that came from for Anu👩🏾‍🦱 The top books that impacted Anu the most. (Hint: one of them is a religious text).💜 How Anu went about finding her very first customersLearn more about To All My Black Girls here: https://toallmyblackgirls.com/

Want Steph to mentor you? Apply for 1:1 founder coaching here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchRTqGNNhrN8xph4Gh4RuVJNU_mc31cT8bl08nXRQeM6rd8Q/viewform- - - - - - -Deborah Williams is the Founder & CEO of The Women’s Association, building a lifelong ecosystem to ensure women and girls have the support they need to reach their full potential at every stage of life.Founded in 2018 after Deborah was "awakened" by research for her dissertation exploring the stories of women in leadership across industries, The Women's Association has grown into a powerful force for gender equality. In this interview, Steph and Deborah discuss:Discovering gender inequality through Deborah's dissertation researchOvercoming self-doubt whilst building a mission-driven organisationThe burden of awareness: when you can't "un-see" injusticeBuilding a lifelong ecosystem vs short-term solutionsEarly intervention: protecting girls' confidence before it's lostThe social trap: connection with anxietyFollow The Women's Association: https://www.thewomensassociation.com/I'd LOVE to know, what resonated most with you here? Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/- - - - - - -About the show:Entrepreneurship is overly-glamorised, and there’s a lot to learn from the mistakes of others. Strategy & Tragedy keeps it real; sharing the highs & lows, the strategies & tragedies, of other founders who have “made it.” In addition to CEO interviews, we spotlight subject matter experts to help you on your entrepreneur journey. Available on all major streaming platforms, now in the UK Top 20 Business Charts.About Steph Melodia:As ex-CEO of an award-winning marketing agency, Stephanie now hosts Strategy & Tragedy, advises MBA students with Oneday, coaches founders 1:1, and travels the world as an international keynote speaker on her signature subject of ‘Hacking Luck.’ She has delivered impactful sessions for household brand names including Qatar Airways, Soho House, WeTransfer, LinkedIn, Xero, Harvey Nash Group, Web Summit, and more - leaving audiences feeling inspired, motivated, and energised.

Want Steph to mentor you? Apply for 1:1 founder coaching here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchRTqGNNhrN8xph4Gh4RuVJNU_mc31cT8bl08nXRQeM6rd8Q/viewformChris Ducker, a leadership speaker, serial entrepreneur, and bestselling author of The Long-Haul Leader, Rise of the Youpreneur, and Virtual Freedom. Known for his straight-talking yet inspiring style, he helps leaders build successful, sustainable careers without burnout. Chris has founded and scaled multiple seven-figure businesses and mentored thousands of leaders and small business owners over a 20+ year career. His work has been featured in major outlets including Forbes, BBC, Entrepreneur, CBS, INC, and Success Magazine. - The guilt trap: why leaders feel bad for resting (and shouldn't!)- The hidden cost of success: burnout during peak performance- The physical reality of burnout: not just feeling tired- Motion vs Momentum: The "busywork" trap- Self-care as strategy, not selfishness- Burnout as warning, not a badge of honourI'd LOVE to know, what resonated most with you here? Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/- - - - - - - - -About the show:Entrepreneurship is overly-glamorised, and there’s a lot to learn from the mistakes of others. Strategy & Tragedy keeps it real; sharing the highs & lows, the strategies & tragedies, of other founders who have “made it.” In addition to CEO interviews, we spotlight subject matter experts to help you on your entrepreneur journey. Available on all major streaming platforms, now in the UK Top 20 Business Charts.About Steph Melodia:As ex-CEO of an award-winning marketing agency, Stephanie now hosts Strategy & Tragedy, advises MBA students with Oneday, coaches founders 1:1, and travels the world as an international keynote speaker on her signature subject of ‘Hacking Luck.’ She has delivered impactful sessions for household brand names including Qatar Airways, Soho House, WeTransfer, LinkedIn, Xero, Harvey Nash Group, Web Summit, and more - leaving audiences feeling inspired, motivated, and energised.

TW: Themes of panic attacks and anxiety disorders discussed- - - - - - - -Want Steph to mentor you? Apply for 1:1 founder coaching here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchRTqGNNhrN8xph4Gh4RuVJNU_mc31cT8bl08nXRQeM6rd8Q/viewform- - - - - - - -Anisha Joshi is an award-winning osteopath, public speaker, author of Heal Your Back, and entrepreneur who has scaled a multi-clinic healthcare business. Featured in the likes of ITV’s This Morning, Anisha has treated elite athletes, celebrities and even royalty. In this interview, Steph and Anisha discuss:- The cost of building a personal brand in 2026, including online trolls, industry backlash, panic attacks, imposter syndrome, and anxiety disorders- Goal-setting, manifesting (does it work?) and how Anisha landed multiple appearances on mainstream TV- Practical advice on leveraging social media as an entrepreneur without overwhelm- Valuable lessons from costly mistakes (including not scaling too quickly)- And more.- - - - - - - -I'd LOVE to know, what resonated most with you here? Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/- - - - - - - -ABOUT THE SHOW:Entrepreneurship is overly-glamorised, and there’s a lot to learn from the mistakes of others. Strategy & Tragedy keeps it real; sharing the highs & lows, the strategies & tragedies, of other founders who have “made it.” In addition to CEO interviews, we spotlight subject matter experts to help you on your entrepreneur journey. Available on all major streaming platforms, now in the UK Top 20 Business Charts.ABOUT STEPH MELODIA:As ex-CEO of an award-winning marketing agency, Stephanie now hosts Strategy & Tragedy, advises MBA students with Oneday, coaches founders 1:1, and travels the world as an international keynote speaker on her signature subject of ‘Hacking Luck.’ She has delivered impactful sessions for household brand names including Qatar Airways, Soho House, WeTransfer, LinkedIn, Xero, Harvey Nash Group, Web Summit, and more - leaving audiences feeling inspired, motivated, and energised.

Book Stephanie Melodia, international keynote speaker, to speak at your next event: https://www.stephaniemelodia.com/keynote-speaker-hacking-luckEmmie Faust is the 3X exited entrepreneur-turned-angel-investor, now Founder of Female Founders Rise - the supportive and inspiring resource for female founders to help them succeed with their businesses.In this episode, Steph and Emmie discuss:✊ The impact of motherhood on self-confidence✊ Female role models, including Emmie's first powerhouse boss!✊ The power of mindset shifts in order to serve a more personally fulfilling mission✊ How entrepreneurship can lead to financial freedom, and why women need to consider this path for empowerment✊ Angel investing, including Emmie’s portfolio and what she looks for in a deal (hint: numerology features!!)Learn more about Female Founders Rise here: https://femalefoundersrise.com/I'd LOVE to know, what resonated most with you here? Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!About the show:Entrepreneurship is overly-glamorised, and there’s a lot to learn from the mistakes of others. Strategy & Tragedy keeps it real; sharing the highs & lows, the strategies & tragedies, of other founders who have “made it.” In addition to CEO interviews, we spotlight subject matter experts to help you on your entrepreneur journey. Available on all major streaming platforms, now in the UK Top 20 Business Charts.About Steph Melodia:As ex-CEO of an award-winning marketing agency, Stephanie now hosts Strategy & Tragedy, advises MBA students with Oneday, coaches founders 1:1, and travels the world as an international keynote speaker on her signature subject of ‘Hacking Luck.’ She has delivered impactful sessions for household brand names including Qatar Airways, Soho House, WeTransfer, LinkedIn, Xero, Harvey Nash Group, Web Summit, and more - leaving audiences feeling inspired, motivated, and energised.Book Stephanie to speak at your next event here: https://www.stephaniemelodia.com/keynote-speaker-hacking-luck

Ready to make one day, day one? Launch and scale your business with the support of 1:1 mentorship and a dedicated community - all while getting an MBA with Oneday: https://bit.ly/stephanie-melodiaWant Steph to mentor you? Apply for 1:1 founder coaching here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchRTqGNNhrN8xph4Gh4RuVJNU_mc31cT8bl08nXRQeM6rd8Q/viewformPadman Vamadevan is the Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer of Astron Health, a platform for personalised cancer treatments. They use molecular insights and advanced research to develop a unique algorithmic approach to give cancer patients more targeted treatment options. This tool helps cancer patients and care teams to not only get proactive, long term cancer care but to also extend remission and stay ahead of recurrence. Learn more here: https://astron.health/In this interview, you'll hear about:- Why Dr. Padman Vamadevan explored entrepreneurship as a better way to solve cancer than staying in the medical field- The learning & unlearning as part of the founder process - and how the Oneday MBA program helped him- Bringing in an external CEO to lead the business Padman founded- Fundraising lessons- And so much more...We'd LOVE to know, what resonated most with you here? Join the conversation: Follow Steph on social media:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/About the show:Entrepreneurship is overly-glamorised, and there’s a lot to learn from the mistakes of others. Strategy & Tragedy keeps it real; sharing the highs & lows, the strategies & tragedies, of other founders who have “made it.” In addition to CEO interviews, we spotlight subject matter experts to help you on your entrepreneur journey. Available on all major streaming platforms, now in the UK Top 20 Business Charts.About Steph Melodia:As ex-CEO of an award-winning marketing agency, Stephanie now hosts Strategy & Tragedy, advises MBA students with Oneday, coaches founders 1:1, and travels the world as an international keynote speaker on her signature subject of ‘Hacking Luck.’ She has delivered impactful sessions for household brand names including Qatar Airways, Soho House, WeTransfer, LinkedIn, Xero, Harvey Nash Group, Web Summit, and more - leaving audiences feeling inspired, motivated, and energised.Book Steph to speak at your next event here: https://www.stephaniemelodia.com/keynote-speaker-resilience-growth-creativity

📕 Buy Timothy Armoo’s book, ‘What’s Stopping You?’ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cheatcodes-Timothy-Armoo/dp/0241719224🔥 RSVP to the ‘What’s Stopping You?’ online event on 10th January 2026: https://live.whatsstoppingyoubook.com/🎤 Book Steph to speak at your next event here: https://www.stephaniemelodia.com/keynote-speaker-resilience-growth-creativity🤍 Want Steph to mentor you? Apply for 1:1 founder coaching here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchRTqGNNhrN8xph4Gh4RuVJNU_mc31cT8bl08nXRQeM6rd8Q/viewform-In this week's episode, Stephanie Melodia interviews Timothy Armoo, entrepreneur, investor, international speaker, and now published author with his new book, ‘What's Stopping You?’ out now.Best known for founding Fanbytes, a Gen Z–focused influencer marketing agency, which he started while at university — and within just five years, scaled it to 80 employees, raised $2M in funding, and won clients including Deliveroo, Samsung and the UK Government - before selling it in an 8-figure deal to Brainlabs in 2022. He has since brokered two more exits, earning him major recognition including being names as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, for one. He’s also committed to social impact with the Fanbytes Fund, backing influencer campaigns for Black-owned businesses.We discuss:- Normalising success through environment: Timo deliberately exposed himself to success by working in luxury hotel lobbies as a teenager, which helped him mentally rehearse and normalise achievement despite growing up on a council estate in South London.- "It's not that deep" mindset: How Timo developed a philosophy of relaxed intensity, treating setbacks (like losing a £500k investment) as manageable rather than catastrophic, which reduced stress and improved decision-making throughout his entrepreneurial journey.- Everything big starts small: His first £5 profit from a tutoring business at age 14 was more significant than his later 8-figure exit because it proved he could execute ideas and make money, establishing the foundation for all future success.- The power of self-talk and belief: Drawing from books like Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz, he emphasizes being intentional about how you describe yourself, avoiding negative self-definitions and building a "chair of belief" supported by multiple evidence points of past wins.- Personal tragedy as motivation: His father's death just before launching Fanbytes became a driving force, giving him perspective that business challenges weren't truly catastrophic and fuelling his determination to make the company succeed as a promise to his late father.-Which part of this interview resonated with you the most?Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Want Steph to mentor you? Apply for 1:1 founder coaching here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchRTqGNNhrN8xph4Gh4RuVJNU_mc31cT8bl08nXRQeM6rd8Q/viewformRecap of the top 5 most streamed episodes of 2025!From investors to subject matter experts, to serial entrepreneurs and exited founders, Strategy & Tragedy is THE top show for entrepreneurs!Listen to the full interviews:Saba Yussouf - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrupDTldEsI&t=168s- https://open.spotify.com/episode/6DkdIF1mxCt81I9WczFRjV?si=08767ae317c94236Tash Rebuck - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX2Hes_VBk8&t=12s- https://open.spotify.com/episode/7n6IwRD35hp3DHHfCJt5uA?si=c3de5acd09b14e84 Lauren Currie- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA0dWLy7Xvo&t=2809s- https://open.spotify.com/episode/5725dA8KDAmuGKSRtP42qc?si=4f8972a134b84e57Jenny Quigley-Jones- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdMg7OSqRdQ&t=77s- https://open.spotify.com/episode/1YzmfqzhQ5tvZCoWsm3abj?si=a59a98a2cbe74251 Ben Coomber- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGeS7eaSj6U&t=2163s - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3fjq6WZVRX4JhYvWPAtrac?si=fffde711aea44fceI'd LOVE to know, which episodes were your favourites of 2025?!Join the conversation: Follow Steph on social media:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/About the show:Entrepreneurship is overly-glamorised, and there’s a lot to learn from the mistakes of others. Strategy & Tragedy keeps it real; sharing the highs & lows, the strategies & tragedies, of other founders who have “made it.” In addition to CEO interviews, we spotlight subject matter experts to help you on your entrepreneur journey. Available on all major streaming platforms, now in the UK Top 20 Business Charts.About Steph Melodia:As ex-CEO of an award-winning marketing agency, Stephanie now hosts Strategy & Tragedy, advises MBA students with Oneday, coaches founders 1:1, and travels the world as an international keynote speaker on her signature subject of ‘Hacking Luck.’ She has delivered impactful sessions for household brand names including Qatar Airways, Soho House, WeTransfer, LinkedIn, Xero, Harvey Nash Group, Web Summit, and more - leaving audiences feeling inspired, motivated, and energised.Book Steph to speak at your next event here: https://www.stephaniemelodia.com/keynote-speaker-resilience-growth-creativity

Ready to make one day, day one? Launch and scale your business with the support of 1:1 mentorship and a dedicated community - all while getting an MBA with Oneday: https://bit.ly/stephanie-melodiaWant Steph to mentor you? Apply for 1:1 support here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchRTqGNNhrN8xph4Gh4RuVJNU_mc31cT8bl08nXRQeM6rd8Q/viewformIn this week's episode, Stephanie Melodia interviews Farah Kabir, the Co-Founder & CEO of HANX, the first condom brand marketed to women. Now encompassing a variety of sexual wellness and weight management products, HANX is connecting the major life stages of women’s health for a 100,000+ strong community. Available online and in retailers such as Sainsbury's, Tesco and Boots: https://www.hanxofficial.com/In this episode, Steph and Farah discuss:- Identifying and validating a market gap - Overcoming *significant* barriers to entry - Customer-led expansion strategy - Fundraising challenges as female founders- Community as marketing cornerstone- Work-life balance strugglesWhat resonated most with you from this episode? Leave a comment below or get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Apply to work with Steph here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchRTqGNNhrN8xph4Gh4RuVJNU_mc31cT8bl08nXRQeM6rd8Q/viewform?usp=headerStephanie Melodia interviews Jodie Jackson, a neuroencoding specialist who trains entrepreneurs to engineer their psychology for success so they can think better, feel better and achieve more, effortlessly. Discover more here: https://jodiejackson.com/masteryourmindIn this week's episode, Steph and Jodie discuss:- How media shapes our psychology- Why you need to do a "media diet audit" NOW - The power of focusing on solutions, not just problems- How to hack your brain's filtering system- Emotional neutralisation, not elimination- Your mind is programmable by designLet us know what resonated most with you from this conversation! Leave a comment or get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Ready to make one day, day one? Launch and scale your business with the support of 1:1 mentorship and a dedicated community - all while getting an MBA with Oneday - where both Stephanie Melodia and Daniil Shcherbakov mentor: https://bit.ly/stephanie-melodiaDaniil Shcherbakov is the Co-Founder & CEO of TonTon Games where he succeeded in raising $1M in pre-seed investment. He is a serial entrepreneur and mentor, a vocal advocate for mental health with refreshing perspectives on all things entrepreneurship. He is also a passionate gamer, startup mentor & lecturer at Cambridge.In this week’s conversation, Steph and Daniil cover:- Daniil’s early entrepreneurial ventures (aged just 19!) - and the lessons learned from the failures- The importance of having a North Star- Bold networking in Silicon Valley- And so much more.Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

65% of startups fail because of founder fall-outs. Nicole Posner is here to put an end to that. She works with Conflict-Avoidant Leaders, helping them to speak up calmly, confidently and courageously in moments that matter. She is also the Creator of The Difficult Conversation Code and author of 'and BREATHE…' (Purchase here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Breathe-Difficult-Leadership-Conversations-Business/dp/1913728927)Other resources mentioned in the interview:Tune into Steph's interview with Alex Merry: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1XXH8jkdZcSVp2FfYeLK62?si=a5c7a02987644fe2Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Ready to make one day, day one? Launch and scale your business alongside an MBA with Oneday, where both Stephanie Melodia mentors: https://bit.ly/stephanie-melodiaSelina Ho is a GTM strategist, founder of Re:Closeted, a conscious fashion consultancy, and host of the Confessions of a Conscious CEO podcast:https://open.spotify.com/show/08wqIjbkYUCbGTKMnOZfGvTune into hear about:Selina's unforgettable $10k mistakeExpertise in GTM and finding product-market fitTurning a side hustle into a fully-fledged businessHeadwinds & tailwinds as a multi-cultural, second-generation female immigrant And moreBook recommended:'Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away' by Annie Dukehttps://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/60097435-quitGet involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Turn your sales conversations into your competitive advantage with Gong.io:https://www.gong.io/demo/?utm_campaign=demo&utm_medium=tpv&utm_source=ceo-st-podcast Nick Telson-Sillett is the exited Co-Founder of DesignMyNight (acquired for $30M) and now Co-Founder of Trumpet, a buyer enablement tool for sales teams.Tune in to hear about...- Side-hustling with DesignMyNight whilst working his day job at L'Oréal- Finding PMF, scaling up, and ultimately selling the biz in The Craziest Exit Day in History™ (you need to listen to the story 👀🫨😂)- Life post-exit - angel investing and starting trumpet 🎺And so much more.Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Turn your sales conversations into your competitive advantage with Gong.io: https://www.gong.io/demo/?utm_campaign=demo&utm_medium=tpv&utm_source=ceo-st-podcast Stephanie Melodia interviews Mike Bandar, founder & CEO of Waybook - an onboarding, training and knowledge tool for businesses to turn what they know into scalable systems, providing a single source of truth for growing teams. He is also the co-founder of Hopper, a social media scheduling tool; the founding partner of Turn Partners, a startup studio, and; owner of ToyBoy Warehouse, the UK’s largest dating site for older women and younger men. Mike Bandar is also a lecturer in Entrepreneurship at UCL and proponent of effectual thinking, especially in entrepreneurship.Watch the full interview where Steph and Mike discuss:- Can entrepreneurship be taught?- Effectual thinking in entrepreneurship- Building the right entrepreneurial environment- Wartime vs peacetime leadership: how Mike has navigated through the inevitable ups & downs of business- Building multiple businesses without EVER having raising external capital- And so much more.Get involved in the conversation - we want to hear from you!🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Ready to make one day, day one? Launch and scale your business with the support of 1:1 mentorship and a dedicated community - all while getting an MBA with Oneday: https://bit.ly/stephanie-melodiaLauren Currie is the 6X serial entrepreneur now founder of UPFRONT, upskilling 10 million women to be more confident and visible. (BOND 10 starts 3rd Nov! https://www.weareupfront.com/)Lauren's work has been featured in The Guardian, Design Week, and Creative Review, She was also awarded an OBE for services to design and diversity. She is also the newly-published children’s book author of 'Taylor Meets The Trick' (BUY HERE: https://the-trick.co/)Tune in to hear Steph and Lauren discuss:🧨 The systemic confidence problem and Lauren's mission to upskill 10M women🧨 "Micro reps" for building confidence and the Taylor Swift confidence strategy🧨 Bias towards action over perfection in entrepreneurship🧨 The problem with tall poppy syndrome🧨 Lauren's new children's book, 'Taylor Meets The Trick'🧨 And much more.Get involved in the conversation - we'd love to hear from you!🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Turn your sales conversations into your competitive advantage with Gong.io:https://www.gong.io/demo/?utm_campaign=demo&utm_medium=tpv&utm_source=ceo-st-podcast Ben Coomber is a multi-award winning high performance coach, bestselling author of 'How to Live an Awesome Life,' and the Founder & CEO of Awesome Supplements. (Strategy & Tragedy listeners get an exclusive 15% off all orders with the code S&T15*: https://awesomesupplements.co.uk/discount/S&T15)Tune into hear about:- Ben's viral open letter calling out health misinformation from Steven Bartlett on his show, Diary of a CEO- Personal brand strategy in 2025, Ben's consistency rule, and lessons building successful businesses in FMCG health- Ben's health crisis pivot, and much more.Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!*Valid for 60 days from episode publish date

Ready to turn your sales conversations into your competitive advantage? Check out Gong.io and see why thousands of revenue teams trust their growth to Revenue AI.https://www.gong.io/demo/?utm_campaign=demo&utm_medium=tpv&utm_source=ceo-st-podcastDigital Voices was named the 13th fastest-growing agency by AdWeek, and is officially the fastest-growing Influencer Marketing agency in the world. Starting out with just £500 personal investment, Digital Voices now turns over more than $20M in annual recurring revenue with 94% ownership retained by founder Jennifer Quigley-Jones, Digital Voices is the only UK-based influencer agency of its scale led by a female CEO. Tune in to hear about...Starting a business aged just 26Revenue-funded growth to $20MThe secret to hyper-scale growthBuilding a proprietary tech platform as a non-technical founderEthics in influencer marketingAnd so much more.Book recommended in the interview:'No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention' by Reed Hastings & Erin Meyerhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49099937-no-rules-rulesOther episode mentioned: Stephanie Melodia’s interview with Daniel Hegarty of Habito:https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ccUscX1U5AkFelntshArs?si=90fb3a71d3e64b08https://youtu.be/ZnZVxTXf27E?si=PJkLa5hoGgQN-kNNGet involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Power up your commercial strategy with AI-powered insights driving every sales decision for predictable revenue growth with GONG: https://www.gong.io/demo/?utm_campaign=demo&utm_medium=tpv&utm_source=ceo-st-podcastIn this week's episode, Stephanie Melodia interviews Yang Li, the Co-Founder of Cosine - a multi-agent AI tool designed to do compound tasks in complex codebases with a 72% SOTA score on SWE-Lancer.In this episode, Steph and Yang cover:Is AI a bubble? And when will it burst? Yang's hot takes Meeting Tom Blomfield, Sam altman, Aaron Levie, and Michael SeibelBest advice for entrepreneurs in AI (hint: building for AI's "mediocre zone")HONEST thoughts on Y CombinatorHow we manufacture luckAnd more.Discover more about Cosine here: https://cosine.sh/Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Power up your commercial strategy with AI-powered insights driving every sales decision for predictable revenue growth with GONG: https://www.gong.io/demo/?utm_campaign=demo&utm_medium=tpv&utm_source=ceo-st-podcastIn this week's episode, Stephanie Melodia interviews Tash Rebuck, the sales expert and founder of TR Sales Consultancy, specialising in B2B sales strategy and training for growth businesses whilst strengthening commercial teams. We cover:👉 The BIGGEST traps people fall into making sales👉 Cold-calling techniques (put to the test LIVE ON THE AIR!)👉 The art of the follow-up - how to get an edge over others👉 How acting helped Tash overcome sales blockers👉 And so much more sales goodness.Learn more about Tash's sales consultancy here: https://trsalesconsultancy.co.uk/Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Crush sales with one tool that puts your LinkedIn & email outreach on autopilot with Dripify: https://try.dripify.com/hdoriziho14rIn this episode, Stephanie Melodia interviews Kat Thorne; the positive habits queen whose high-flying career made her crash & burn, forcing her to reassess how she was treating her own body. She now helps other high-performers achieve success in a sustainable way.Tune in to learn about:👉 The "untouchable" trap - High performers thinking they're superhuman👉 Move your body vs. exercise - The reframing that makes movement more accessible👉 The morning phone trap - Why checking emails immediately isn't effective👉 Success without sustainability fails - The core message about unsustainable success👉 The productivity paradox - How self-care actually improves performance👉 The 80/20 self-promise rule - Building self-respect through keeping commitments to yourselfWant more? Follow Kat on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katthorne/🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Automatically turn long videos into viral shorts in just one click with Opus: https://www.opus.pro/?via=dcec02In this week's episode, Stephanie Melodia interviews Saba Yussouf, exited founder and investor specialising in STEM revolutions - from reinventing food systems to democratising infection prevention and battling environmental threats. As a high-agency venture capitalist, Saba bets on founders who rewrite industries, not rules. Worked with institutions such as Cambridge University, American Express, and Harrods.Steph and Saba cover:- What it means to be high agency, how to get there, and what it looks like in practise- Saba's own entrepreneurial journey and how much market timings can affect success or failure- From founder to investor - how Saba developed her own investment thesis and what she looks for in a deal (Hint: High agency founders for one 😉) - Saba's "unhinged" neuro-backed time management hack- And so much more entrepreneur-focused goodness.Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Automatically turn long videos into viral shorts in just one click with Opus: https://www.opus.pro/?via=dcec02Crush sales with a single LinkedIn & email autopilot tool - Dripify: https://try.dripify.com/hdoriziho14rBest known as the founder of Trunki, the iconic ride-on suitcase for kids, Rob Law turned one of the most famous rejections on BBC's Dragons' Den into a global success, selling over 5 million units across 100+ countries. He scaled up the business over 17 years (winning 120+ awards along the way) and exited in 2023.In this interview, Steph and Rob discuss:- Overcoming setbacks - from ridicule on national TV and a luggage ban - to deeper, personal issues like cystic fibrosis and losing his twin sister aged just 16- GTM strategy, positioning, and growth levers- The failed attempt to create a “tween” version of Trunki that intentional businessmen ended up wanting!- How Rob exercises his resilience muscle- The path to selling Trunki and what life looked like post-exit - Answering the questions he’s NEVER been asked in an interview before- New ventures and advice to his younger selfBook Rob to speak at your event: roblaw.com Help your children go to sleep with zeepy.coGrow your brand on Amazon with aphelion.agencyGet involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

This episode is dedicated to Kieran!Jodie Cook is the Forbes 30 Under 30 Founder of Coachvox, following the 7-figure exit of her own social media agency which she started fresh out of uni. Jodie is a Forbes senior contributor with 19M+ article reads. She has also competed in powerlifting for Team GB 9 times and lived in 35 cities as a digital nomad. (Everything she own fits in one suitcase!)In this interview, Steph and Jodie discuss...- Five surprising ways to achieve your goals- Jodie's business journey and key lessons learnt- The power of manifesting- Playing your ace cards- And so much more.Ready to scale beyond your time? Make the AI version of you at: https://coachvox.ai/Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Mona Tiesler is an investor at tokentus, a leading VC firm in the German blockchain ecosystem, where she invests in startups that leverage blockchain technology globally. She has several years of experience in venture capital, and has been involved in pre-seed to Series A deals across Europe, USA, UAE and Asia.With a background in strategy consulting, venture building, and entrepreneurship, Mona has a passion for supporting innovators who are building the decentralized future of the internet.She has co-founded and led companies in Fintech, Edtech, and Foodtech, and has an MBA from INSEAD.In this episode, Mona and Steph discuss:- How to re-invent yourself while navigating huge career changes- The mental reframe required when facing rejection (after rejection, after rejection...) - Practical tips on learning the key skill *every* entrepreneur needs; SALES!- The importance of strategy and how each step helps the next- PLUS! What Mona looks for now as an investorMona is passionate about breaking down barriers to access - both for fundraising founders and equalising gender opportunities. In-line with her mission, Mona is a member of Global Women in VC, the world's largest community for women in venture capital to connect, collaborate, and create opportunities for each other. Discover more here:https://www.women-vc.com/Mona is also the Co-Founder of Distributed Funding, a platform for underrepresented founders in the Web3 space to submit pitch decks and a short survey in just a few minutes.Learn more here: https://roomy-tailor-258.notion.site/Distributed-Funding-b49508c6d2484d62b3c0calab286a132Fundraising? Learn more about what tokentus looks for in their investments here:https://tokentus.com/targetsEnjoyed this episode? Subscribe, rate, review, and share it with a friend!Want more?Follow Steph:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/videosSupport the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517

Olivia Parkes is the Founder & CEO of Persi, making fashion personalisation actually personal! With Persi, retailers can deliver highly personalised product recommendations based on what each customer owns, loves, and actually wears.In this interview, you'll hear about...👗 The £176K post: How Olivia raised almost £200k from a single LinkedIn post for her female-first cap table👗 Resilience amidst a triple pivot to SEIS disaster recovery👗 Scrappy MVPs and non-technical founder success (before meeting her perfect co-founder match!)👗 Balancing motherhood & startup life (including pitching while pregnant and breastfeeding in the boardroom - normalising what it really takes to make it work as a working mother)👗 And so, so much more inspirational wisdom and practical tips...Discover more about Persi here: https://www.yourpersi.com/Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Stuart Trevor is the founder of AllSaints, the high street brand he launched in 1994 and scaled to £15M turnover business & household brand name. Now, the fashion entrepreneur is on a mission to create the world’s most sustainable fashion brand, clothing brand that doesn't produce any clothes.Discover more here: https://stuarttrevor.com/In this interview, Steph and Stuart cover:🖤 His journey from fashion student to AllSaints founder🖤 How creative constraints led to an *iconic* brand identity🖤 Organic growth without traditional investment🖤 Surviving a near-fatal business crisis🖤 ADHD as an entrepreneurial superpower🖤 Stuart's mission now for sustainable fashion - building "the world's most sustainable fashion brand that doesn't produce any clothes"Get involved in the conversation. What resonated most with you from this interview? What did you learn? What made you go, huh, I never thought about it like that? We want to hear from you!🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Andy Ayim MBE is the founder of Angel Investing School, which has trained over 500 angels who have invested $5,000,000 globally, including the Black Angel Group's run out of Google's Black Network, which has invested over 3,500,000.0 in over 30 startups. Andy himself has personally invested in 17 startups, including Farmland, Patch, and Unplugged with 70% led by diverse founders. In this interview, you'll hear about...💸 From Tottenham to Windsor Castle: Andy's incredible journey from a working-class kid whose dad traveled to neighbouring boroughs just to get him copies of the Financial Times, to receiving an MBE and training 500+ angel investors globally💸 The £10K mistake that changed everything: How Andy's costly early investment blunder (putting more money than he could afford into a startup he didn't understand) led him to create Angel Investing School and democratise access to investment education💸 Why angel investing is "one of the fastest ways to lose money": Andy reveals the non-financial benefits that matter more than returns, and why understanding your intrinsic "why" is crucial before writing any checks💸 The Instagram success secret: How Kevin Systrom's £100K angel investment gave him the runway to pivot from restaurant app "Burbn" to Instagram - and why most startups fail because they don't have time to experiment💸 Silicon Valley vs UK: Why American investors take bigger risks on consumer plays while UK investors stick to "predictable B2B software" - and what needs to change for Britain to compete globally💸 The personal cost of entrepreneurship: Andy opens up about losing his father suddenly, how grief transformed his approach to life and business, and why he now optimises for family time over rapid growth - plus his 7-year digital journal practice that's like "Google Analytics for his personal life"Learn more about Angel Investing School here: https://angelinvestingschool.com/Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Trisha Wing is the Co-Founder & CEO of SuLe (https://www.sule.io/), a first-of-its-kind legal platform supporting startups at every stage of their growth. SuLe is the smart legal hub that cuts legal costs 90%. Book a free call here: https://calendly.com/d/cq55-w8f-wsg/introductory-call?month=2025-07In this interview, Steph and Trisha cover:👩🏼‍⚖️ Jargon-free legal wisdom - from company ownership to IP👩🏼‍⚖️ The most common legal traps to avoid👩🏼‍⚖️ Managing co-founder partnerships👩🏼‍⚖️ Practical help for entrepreneurs👩🏼‍⚖️ Trish's own entrepreneurial journey - from building a tech product as a non-technical founder, meeting her perfect match, and how she fundraised to scale impactDiscover more about SuLe here: https://www.sule.io/ Book a free call here: https://calendly.com/d/cq55-w8f-wsg/introductory-call?month=2025-07Other episodes mentioned in this interview:Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen of Female Invest- Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFx6rPcEAC0&t=2188s- Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ycHdY40jdUmwRKTM28WBe?si=661c5d8936b442beThomas Panton of Endgame Capital (former Canopey co-founder)- Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scpY7W_bOdU&t=267s- Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1OkQX9hzbbzcWNzgkQycZy?si=07cd5caa47154264Share your thoughts:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🍿 Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@stephmelodia/videos🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Get £50 off your Unplugged stay: UPMSTEPHMELODIA50Hector Hughes is the Co-Founder & CEO of Unplugged, the platform for digital detox cabins as featured in The Times, Cosmopolitan, The Telegraph, and Evening Standard with over 12,000 guests served to date.In this interview, you'll hear about:🏕️ The benefits of digital minimalism🏕️ Contrarian takes on the Lean Startup model🏕️ Hector's transformational entrepreneur journey🏕️ The importance of brand positioning (especially in our AI marketing world)🏕️ How a commitment to a vision and even creating friction has paid off🏕️ Fundraising challenges and securing angel investmentGet £50 off your next digital detox with Unplugged using this code: UPMSTEPHMELODIA50-Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Claudia Gasson is a Business Psychologist & Talent Strategist at the psychology-backed culture consultancy, Bailey & French. She is also a seasoned recruiter and former founder, with her own talent consultancy, Ortus.In this interview, host Stephanie Melodia and Claudia cover:- Insights from 10+ years in recruitment (including the top reason people leave their jobs 👀)- The psychology of motivation and how to attract top talent- Practical tips on how employers can increase engagement & reduce burnout- How to create a culture of success - Claudia's own entrepreneurial story (and why running your own business isn't ALL it's cracked up to be... )Want to boost your employee experience? Check out Bailey & French: https://www.baileyandfrench.com/ or connect with Claudia directly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudiagasson/Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/🎥 Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@stephmelodia/videos🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Steve Peralta is the Co-founder of Unmind, helping over 2.5M employees prioritise mental health and build cultures where people thrive. He is also a keynote speaker and coach, helping purpose-driven leaders bring out the best in themselves and their teams.Tune in to hear about:👉 The moment that changed everything for Steve👉 Why human-centred leadership is the way forward in an AI world👉 Connecting mission-driven business with the pressures of VCConnect with Steve here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peraltasteve/Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Thomas Panton is a serial entrepreneur and now Venture Fellow at Endgame Capital, investing in early-stage 'climate-change-denier-proof' tech startups.In this interview, Steph and Thomas discuss:- What happened with the eco marketplace he co-founded, Canopey- The key lessons from Canopey's post-mortem - and how he's applying them to his new stealth startup- Co-founder alignment - red flags / green flags - and the best way to test them- How being a serial entrepreneur has helped him be a better investor now- What Endgame Capital looks for in their investment deals- How to help remove some of the unconscious bias in VC- What makes a 1% founder(Psst! Here's the Matt Lerner interview mentioned in the conversation: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6i0oJnpsNDgW0JF8ZkKu3R?si=652d59ea50d14c30 )Fundraising? Head to Endgame Capital's website, here: https://www.endgamecapital.vc/ or drop Thomas a message here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaspanton/I'd LOVE to know, what resonated most with you here?Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen is an award-winning entrepreneur, bestselling author and TedX speaker. She's listed on the Forbes 30 under 30 list, and closing the gender investment gap with FemaleInvest by educating women on investing and personal finance through educational events, e-learning and strategic partnerships.In this interview, Steph and Anna cover:💰 Why getting more women into investing helps *everyone*💰 What makes women better investors and where they can start💰 Anna-Sophie's founder story, meeting her co-founders, and starting FemaleInvest💰 From the brink of bankruptcy to being listed on Forbes 30 Under 30 - overnight!💰 Top lessons learnt from fundraising $24M - and the biggest surprise💰 Creative marketing tactics💰 And more.Learn more about FemaleInvest here: https://www.femaleinvest.com/en-gbGet involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XFx6rPcEAC0🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

TW: Contains themes of mental health including depression and suicide.Founder of StoryCast®. Leadership Communication Expert. Global Keynote Speaker. Award-Winning Author of GLOW IN THE DARK 💡Mark Leruste helps leaders harness the power of their stories to build trust and inspire action. He’s worked with the likes of Google, Microsoft, and Nike to communicate and connect in a way that resonates and drives real impact.His TED talk, ‘What they don’t tell you about entrepreneurship,’ has amassed 1.3M views, and Steven Bartlett listed it as the number 1 TED Talk every entrepreneur should watch.In this interview, Mark and Steph discuss:🎤 Why storytelling matters🎤 Practical frameworks (like the 3 C's) to help you become a better storyteller 🎤 Inspirational examples from Mark's time at the Movember Foundation🎤 The blurred lines between storytelling and the truth🎤 Entrepreneurship and mental health🎤 And so much more.Transform your story into your most powerful asset through engaging talks,  masterclasses and coaching programmes for business leaders to leverage the power of personal storytelling to connect with their audience, build trust and inspire action with StoryCast®: https://www.storycast.co/Book Mark to deliver a talk to your organisation: https://www.markleruste.com/Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Nina Briance is the Founder & CEO of CULT MIA, the values-driven luxury fashion platform that retails conversation-starting, standout pieces with sustainability and minority-empowerment at its core. In this episode, Steph and Nina discuss:🖤 The marketing mistake that taught Nina an unforgettable lesson🖤 "Your network is your net worth" - the value of connections🖤 How Nina took on the fashion giants - and won🖤 The power of branding (and defending it to investors) 🖤 A specific use case where Cult Mia empowered one of their female designers🖤 And so much more.Comment what resonated with you 👇Discover new designers, support women in business, and shop your next conversation-starting piece all on Cult Mia: https://cultmia.com/Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🎬 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Varun Bhanot is the Co-founder & CEO of MAGIC AI, the at-home personal fitness system crowned one of TIME's best inventions and featured in Sifted's top high-growth startups.In this interview, we replay the first time Steph & Varun sat down to record in 2023, and catch up at the 31:34 mark, on...🪞 What's been the biggest game changer for MAGIC AI🪞 What Varun has now learnt having fundraised more venture capital🪞 Which growth marketing hack has helped them scale faster🪞 How the awards & accolades have impacted the business🪞 Varun's updates now he's a dad!Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemelodia/🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Kim Innes Is the Founder & CEO of Humble Crumble - the country's most loved dessert that went viral! She is also a Forbes 30 under 30 winner of the Everywoman Scale Up award, and one of NatWest x Telegraph’s Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch.In this interview, Steph and Kim cover...🧁 Kim's passion for baking and particular love of crumble 🧁 Applying 'The Lean Startup' principles to a food business🧁 The near-misses and mistakes made along the way🧁 How Humble Crumble unexpectedly went VIRAL🧁 ...and maintained momentum as they grewVisit a Humble Crumble near you: https://www.humble-crumble.com/pages/locationsWhat resonated with you from this interview?Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Meet the first female CEO of a city stockbroking firm; Sam Smith. Founder and ex-CEO of finnCap, Sam is now the Co-Founder of SuperScalers and no. 1 bestselling author of The Secret Sauce: How to SuperScale. In this interview, you'll hear about...🚀 Taking finncap public on the London Stock Exchange during tumultuous times🚀 Top growth levers to go from £1m turnover a year to £1m turnover a week! 🚀 Leadership pitfalls to avoid as you scale your businesses🚀 Balancing a high-powered career with motherhood🚀 What's in the secret sauce of how to SuperScale🚀 How entrepreneurship can be a force for good🚀 Resources for female founders fundraisingAre you ready to scale to £50m & beyond? Learn more about SuperScalers here: https://www.superscalers.world/Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/🎬 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephmelodia/🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

Akash Mehta is the Forbes 30 under 30 CEO of Fable & Mane, an Ayurvedic-inspired hair brand, which he Co-Founded with his sister, Niki, making it the first Indian beauty brand co-founded by siblings. Akash harks from beauty & fashion household names including Burberry, Estée Lauder, and Dior, before launching his own business with Fable & Mane in 2019, now stocked in the likes of Sephora, Selfridges and Cult Beauty.Akash is also a wildlife Conservationist and Ambassador for Jane Goodall, passionate about wildlife and on a mission to save the animals.In this interview, Akash and Steph cover...🐯 How Akash started his successful FMCG brand (including a loan from Papa Mehta!)🐯 How he and his team built a highly-engaged community🐯 Social media mastery from the expert himself🐯 Building a well-loved, purpose-driven brand🐯 Getting stocked in SephoraDiscover more about Fable & Mane here: https://fableandmane.com/Get involved in the conversation:🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/Subscribe to the podcast:🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NuiaWjWsOXpsFx2euglVe🎧 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strategy-tragedy-ceo-stories-with-steph-melodia/id1711083280🎧 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL3N0cmF0ZWd5YW5kdHJhZ2VkeS9mZWVkLnhtbA?sa=X&ved=0CAMQ4aUDahcKEwigy7m4mKOCAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQNg🎧 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0239e1a6-027c-41c5-b80a-f51d80f49eb0/strategy-tragedy-ceo-stories-with-steph-melodia🙏🏼 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=108229517Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!