Nottingham Business School Business Leaders

Episode 67 Caroline Wayman – Leadership under pressure SUMMARY Caroline Wayman is an accomplished, high-profile leader who – as Chief Executive of the Financial Ombudsman Service – lead the drive to compensate bank customers caught up in the national Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) scandal. Over ten years, her team dealt with two million PPI complaints, forcing the banks to hand over £38bn in compensation to customers who had been wrongly sold insurance policies. In Episode 67 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ Podcast, Caroline tells Visiting Honorary Professor Mike Sassi about the pressures of working in the national news spotlight – and the importance of being guided by a set of core values. INTRODUCTION • Caroline Wayman leads the Global Financial Services practice at PA Consulting • She previously worked at the Financial Ombudsman Service for 22 years, rising from Principal Ombudsman to Legal Director and finally Chief Executive, a position she held for seven years. • At the FOS, she oversaw the handling of two million Payment Protection Insurance complaints. Her workforce grew from 1,200 to 4,500. • Under her leadership, the FOS forced banks to return £38bn in compensation to customers. • Caroline is recognised as an expert in UK consumer issues, governance and leadership. • She has also been a member of the board of the Crown Prosecution Service, • Caroline originally trained as a barrister, after graduating from Nottingham Trent with a degree in law. • Since 2022, she has chaired the board of governors at NTU. LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS from the 67th episode of the NBS Business Leaders’ podcast, with Caroline Wayman • Employ people for their values more than their skills… "We recruited primarily on values [at the FOS] If people have got the right values and behaviours, we can teach them the rest." • It’s important to keep your staff informed as your organisation grows… "How you communicate has to change when you grow, because there comes a point at which you can't just get everybody in a room." • During tough times be able to rely on the people around you… "I learned a lot about the importance of having a really great team." • Develop resilience to handle public scrutiny… "You have to have a thick skin. I don't naturally have a particularly thick skin – but [as CEO at the FOS] I developed one." • Successful leaders often focus on making a difference… "My biggest driving force is the desire to make a difference. I want to feel that I've made something better." • Try to have a ‘customer-centric’ approach… "My job [as CEO at the FOS] was, in large part, trying to help financial businesses to do the right thing for their customers." • Be strategic about your networking… "Networking is not going to conferences and just working the room... it’s about building trust with people." • The best leaders work to create opportunities for other people.. "I'm really passionate about... how, through education, we can open up doors for people. We have to try to help people come through." • Always be guided by your core values… "Leadership has to be values driven. Otherwise, what else guides you?" RELATED LINKS • Caroline Wayman is Global Head of Financial Services at PA Consulting [https://www.paconsulting.com/newsroom/pa-consulting-appoints-caroline-wayman-as-new-global-head-of-financial-services-10-july-2024] • Caroline wrote this piece about financial regulation for the Financial Times [https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ftadviser.com%2Fopinion%2F2024%2F01%2F23%2Fthe-industry-should-do-more-to-educate-customers%2F&data=05%7C02%7Ckatie.niblett%40ntu.ac.uk%7C196d6bbfd2294a3db2f908dd98376a02%7C8acbc2c5c8ed42c78169ba438a0dbe2f%7C1%7C0%7C638834085949774788%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=VCGj8n2JqMnzP4sOFnXdTLB15BfYGHnOmI6ta4gTVdI%3D&reserved=0] • There’s more about Caroline Wayman on her LinkedIn profile [https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fcaroline-wayman-229b8754%2F&data=05%7C02%7Ckatie.niblett%40ntu.ac.uk%7C196d6bbfd2294a3db2f908dd98376a02%7C8acbc2c5c8ed42c78169ba438a0dbe2f%7C1%7C0%7C638834085949790288%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=g5A1Rn3FBC30kTRo%2FhBeL3LVBiNlziCQLURINpGxgkI%3D&reserved=0] If you enjoyed this episode NBS Business Leaders’ Podcast with Caroline Wayman, listen to previous episodes with… • The former CEO of ASOS Nick Beighton [https://www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/academic-schools/nottingham-business-school/business-leaders-podcast?wchannelid=1l32jkbyn6&wmediaid=42pd2445c2] • The Vice Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University Professor Edward Peck CBE [https://www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/academic-schools/nottingham-business-school/business-leaders-podcast?wchannelid=1l32jkbyn6&wmediaid=mo4cs7pm1u] • The CEO of Capital One UK Lucy Hagues MBE [https://www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/academic-schools/nottingham-business-school/business-leaders-podcast?wchannelid=1l32jkbyn6&wmediaid=7t2kqmfiqg]

Episode 66 Dr Marcellus Baz BEM – Building relationships and making a difference SUMMARY Dr. Marcellus Baz BEM is an award-winning social entrepreneur, youth mentor, and the founder of Switch Up and the Marcellus Baz Foundation. Honoured with a British Empire Medal and an honorary doctorate from Nottingham Trent University, Baz has dedicated his life to empowering young people affected by crime, violence, and inequality. Through sport, mentoring, and education, he leads a powerful movement for change across Nottinghamshire and beyond. In Episode 66 of the podcast, Baz shares his journey, the challenges of social enterprise, and how business can be a force for community transformation. INTRODUCTION • Marcellus Baz was born in the Meadows area of Nottingham. His early years were shaped by hardship and violence, with mental health struggles, run-ins with the law and the ever-present pull of gang culture. • He found an escape through a local boxing gym, where he threw himself into training for a professional boxing career. • At the age of 23, his dream was cut short after a knife attack by local gang members left him with life-threatening injuries. He recovered – but never boxed professionally. • He enrolled at college, secured a job at a local sports centre and became a mentor to the young people around him. • In 2014 he set up and registered the Nottingham School of Boxing as a charity. In 2022 he set up the Mansfield School of Boxing. Both organisations are now part of umbrella charity the Marcellus Baz Foundation. • In recognition of his community leadership, Baz was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2017. He was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year’s Unsung Hero in 2016. He received his trophy from HRH The Prince of Wales, Prince William. In 2022 he received an Honorary Doctorate from Nottingham Trent University. • Baz also founded Switch Up – a social enterprise that provides jobs, education, mentoring and counselling to scores of young people in and around Nottingham. • Baz’s Five Pillar Model of help and training has become internationally recognised, inspiring similar programmes across Europe and America. The five pillars are mentoring, counselling, physical activity, education and employability. • Baz is currently bringing together local businesspeople, charities, and public figures to drive social change, under the banner, Uniting Nottz. The group is writing a report about the problems of Nottingham that local MPs have promised to take to Parliament. LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS Eleven leadership takeaways from the podcast conversation with Marcellus Baz 1. Your environment shapes your destiny… "Your environment influences your thinking. Your thinking influences your feelings. Your feelings influence your actions. Your actions influence your habits. And your habits influence your destiny." 2. The best leaders are authentic… “You're a human being, and you can be vulnerable." 3. Understand your ‘Why?’... "Every leader who really has achieved something, understands their inner values, their drivers and why [they do what they do]" 4. Good leaders build relationships across boundaries… "It's about treating people with respect and having that humility… not coming with an ego, not coming with pride." 5. Great leadership is underpinned by moral leadership… “It's really important to be a courageous and authentic leader, to understand what your mission is, and to be able to stick to that." 6. It’s important for leaders to listen… “It’s how you get people invested in your vision." 7. Seek counsel from like-minded people… "Have people with similar values around you… people that are on the same page as you. Having the fellowship of people you can seek counsel from, is really important." 8. Constantly build teams and alliances… “Leadership is about respect, communication, and having a collective mission." 9. Always have hope… “Hope comes from stories of people that have made transformations." 10. Surround yourself with expertise… “If I was going to build a house and I wanted the best roof, I'm not going to go to a vet for advice! I'm going to go to a construction consultant – and the best one." 11. Practice self-reflection… “Always look to yourself. Get to know who you are." RELATED LINKS • The Marcellus Baz Group website is here [https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.marcellusbaz.co.uk%2F&data=05%7C02%7Celeanor.bradley%40ntu.ac.uk%7Ca15469873df34c4fd7eb08dd8619ccdb%7C8acbc2c5c8ed42c78169ba438a0dbe2f%7C1%7C0%7C638814167551509117%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=WDUlm8puoeeCfMsDFX1cv3MQG5V8rKGgv1OP8UMKk%2F4%3D&reserved=0] • In 2018 Marcellus Baz did a TED talk [https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ted.com%2Ftalks%2Fmarcellus_baz_marcellus_baz_bem_your_tribe_is_your_vibe&data=05%7C02%7Celeanor.bradley%40ntu.ac.uk%7Ca15469873df34c4fd7eb08dd8619ccdb%7C8acbc2c5c8ed42c78169ba438a0dbe2f%7C1%7C0%7C638814167551533552%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ZYH3GfEbj%2FHGwlReQZE4Huk%2BMyH4njoj0I8JVgbPuQA%3D&reserved=0]entitled Your tribe is your vibe… • There’s more about the Marcellus Baz story [https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fallianceofsport.org%2Fnews%2Fgreat-coaching-boxing-marcellus-baz%2F&data=05%7C02%7Celeanor.bradley%40ntu.ac.uk%7Ca15469873df34c4fd7eb08dd8619ccdb%7C8acbc2c5c8ed42c78169ba438a0dbe2f%7C1%7C0%7C638814167551549750%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=aSZf9PaDQwIuU1Kjp72IHrkVxwJ%2BB7xGu9B1haQpoyQ%3D&reserved=0] from Sport in criminal justice… If you enjoyed this episode NBS Business Leaders’ Podcast with Dr Marcellus Baz, listen to previous episodes with… • The MD of Via East Midlands and Arc Partnership Dan Maher [https://www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/academic-schools/nottingham-business-school/business-leaders-podcast?wchannelid=1l32jkbyn6&wmediaid=65lqyp8qi0] • The Chief Executive of Nottingham Building Society Sue Hayes [https://www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/academic-schools/nottingham-business-school/business-leaders-podcast?wchannelid=1l32jkbyn6&wmediaid=2efczzzgua] • The Managing Director of Morgan Sindall Sean Bowles [https://www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/academic-schools/nottingham-business-school/business-leaders-podcast?wchannelid=1l32jkbyn6&wmediaid=mjs6ihxp80]

Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ Podcast Episode 65 Dr Anino Emuwa – Why women leaders face unconscious bias SUMMARY Dr Anino Emuwa is an entrepreneur, academic and thought leader. She is also a passionate advocate for women in leadership. In Episode 65 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ Podcast, Dr Anino talks to Visiting Honorary Professor Mike Sassi about the unconscious bias faced by women leaders. She also highlights how AI is reinforcing centuries-old stereotypes – and explains why gender-balanced leadership benefits everyone in society. INTRODUCTION • Dr. Anino Emuwa is a distinguished international management consultant, renowned for her expertise in women's leadership, entrepreneurship, and emerging technologies. • She has more than 25 years of experience spanning corporate banking, consulting, and academia. She has significantly contributed to promoting gender diversity and leadership excellence globally. • She is founder and Managing Director of the Avandis Consulting, a strategy and financial advisory firm based in France, specialising in empowering leaders and entrepreneurs. • Dr Anino is also founder of 100 Women@Davos, a global community of women leaders, collaborating with the World Economic Forum to foster leadership and innovation. • She is also founder of the African Women CEOs Network, a pan-African platform connecting over 500 women CEOs, founders, and entrepreneurs to drive economic growth and leadership. • Dr Anino has served on the board of Nottingham Trent University since 2022. • She has a Doctorate in Business Administration from Nottingham Business School, focusing on women's leadership and entrepreneurship; an MBA from Cranfield School of Management; and a BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics. • She serves on the Expert Advisory Group on Diversity and Inclusion of the Institute of Directors and holds a Fellowship of the Chartered Management Institute. • Dr Anino was born in Nigeria and has lived and worked in six countries. She is fluent in English and French. • Since 2023 she has been a LinkedIn Top Voice (invitation-only group of professional experts, worldwide) on Gender Equity. Her posts are extremely well read. TEN LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS from Dr Anino Emuwa 1. Leadership is about creating value for others… "Leadership is not about personal glory but about driving positive change." 2. Early role models are important… "Growing up with my mother [a senior lawyer], I considered it completely normal that a woman could have a successful professional career." 3. Effective leadership combines assertiveness with empathy… “There’s a misconception that certain leadership qualities like assertiveness and decisiveness are inherently masculine. Research shows that both men and women possess these traits.” 4. Unconscious biases affect perceptions of leadership… "There’s an experiment in schools where children are asked to draw a scientist, an astronaut, or a surgeon… and 90 per cent draw men." 5. Diverse leadership teams perform better… “Studies from organisations like McKinsey have shown that companies with gender-balanced leadership perform better." 6. Despite their qualifications, women face leadership bias… “This unconscious bias means women are often overlooked for leadership roles even when they have the requisite skills and potential." 7. Gender equality impacts societal well-being beyond work… "In more gender-equal societies, even male suicide rates are lower. This shows that inclusivity and balanced leadership have benefits that extend beyond just individual companies." 8. Women must develop robust professional networks... "Women very often do not have the kinds of networks that are essential in business. They frequently end up growing their businesses alone." 9. Everyone should advocate for inclusive AI development… "Unless we’re very careful, AI can institutionalise gender biases from historical data." 10. Women make good leaders… "Women need to be confident in their ability to lead – and I’m passionate about helping them realise that." RELATED LINKS • Dr Anino Emuwa is a LinkedIn Top Voice, for gender equity. [https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fdr-anino-emuwa%2F&data=05%7C02%7Celeanor.bradley%40ntu.ac.uk%7Cde98cc43b604423e505d08dd7ad433f5%7C8acbc2c5c8ed42c78169ba438a0dbe2f%7C1%7C0%7C638801774006964372%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=AavZxFJyQDTQGoHS4Rl5QYFEqZNR%2BznK624%2BKZ8Jgv8%3D&reserved=0] • Dr Anino is a member of the Institute of Directors, where she serves on the Diversity and Inclusion Group. [https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iod.com%2Fresources%2Finclusion-and-diversity%2Fdr-animo-emuwa%2F&data=05%7C02%7Celeanor.bradley%40ntu.ac.uk%7Cde98cc43b604423e505d08dd7ad433f5%7C8acbc2c5c8ed42c78169ba438a0dbe2f%7C1%7C0%7C638801774006986802%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=8dfO3xNhFki3Gzw%2B5gP4qJRWKA%2BIV4xjAD%2BGwWzEaAk%3D&reserved=0] • Dr Anino is an international management consultant. She founded the company Avandis Consulting [https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.everywoman.com%2Fmy-development%2Fday-life-international-management-consultant-dr-anino-emuwa%2F&data=05%7C02%7Celeanor.bradley%40ntu.ac.uk%7Cde98cc43b604423e505d08dd7ad433f5%7C8acbc2c5c8ed42c78169ba438a0dbe2f%7C1%7C0%7C638801774006999504%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=4lr3WOiIILhqgPwlw66Mlfc%2FxLPUZQsk0YVC6Ym2v2g%3D&reserved=0] If you enjoyed this episode NBS Business Leaders’ Podcast with Dr Anino Emuwa, listen to previous episodes with… * City banker Dr Heather Melville OBE [https://www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/academic-schools/nottingham-business-school/business-leaders-podcast?wchannelid=1l32jkbyn6&wmediaid=utfy1p4cho] * The Chair of the English Football Association Debbie Hewitt MBE [https://www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/academic-schools/nottingham-business-school/business-leaders-podcast?wchannelid=1l32jkbyn6&wmediaid=ezag749mo5] * The founder of the School of Artisan Food Alison Swan Parente MBE [https://www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/academic-schools/nottingham-business-school/business-leaders-podcast?wchannelid=1l32jkbyn6&wmediaid=av728r43ez] * The CEO of the Chartered Institute of Management Ann Francke OBE [https://www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/academic-schools/nottingham-business-school/business-leaders-podcast?wchannelid=1l32jkbyn6&wmediaid=tv91d66a60]

Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ Podcast Episode 64 Anton Roe – How the best companies grow their own future leaders SUMMARY Anton Roe first joined the fledgling MHR payroll software company as an apprentice, on a £27-a-week Youth Training Scheme. More than 30 years later, Anton is now the company’s CEO – and MHR software pays the salary of more than three million people across Britain. In Episode 64 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ Podcast, Anton tells Visiting Honorary Professor Mike Sassi about his rise from tech trainee to strategic leader. He passionately believes that chief execs are only as good as the teams of colleagues they build around them. Which is how the best companies nurture talented staff – and grow their own future leaders. INTRODUCTION • Anton Roe is Chief Executive at Nottingham-based HR, payroll and finance technology company MHR International. • MHR manages human resources for companies, councils, universities and Government departments – including Admiral, Trailfinders, Companies House and the National Gallery. • The company employs more than 900 people, has more than 1,400 customers and provides payroll services to more than three million people. • Anton started at the company as an apprentice analyst, on a Youth Training Scheme, back in the 1990s. • He was appointed Chief Exec in 2017 when the company’s turnover was £50m and it employed 600 people. Today turnover has increased to more than £134m – and in 2024 MHR took on a 900th staff member. • In 2021 MHR was granted a prestigious Royal Warrant for the supply of Payroll and HR Systems to the Royal Household. • In 2024 MHR was one of the Sunday Times’ 100 best places to work in Britain. • MHR was founded by John Mills, in 1984, as Midland Software Limited. His daughter Jessica Mills was appointed Chairman in 2021. LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS 1. Strong leadership means everyone understands what you’re trying to do… “We’ve tried to make sure that what we’re trying to achieve and why it’s so important is absolutely crystal clear and people are on that journey with us.” 2. Good leaders tailor communication for different roles in the business… “How we talk to a team of salespeople is not the [same] way we talk to a team of software engineers or consultants.” 3. You can build a successful career within one company by constantly evolving… “If you’re prepared to move with the times, take on board new ideas, not be afraid of change… absolutely you can [build a career in a single company].” 4. Success in leadership depends on trusting and empowering your team… “No manager, no matter how capable they are, can survive if they haven’t built a good team of people around them... All good business leaders surround themselves with people who’ve got skills they don’t have. No person is an island." 5. Effective problem-solvers understand the challenge… “First port of call is to absolutely understand what the problem is before you rush to the solution.” 6. Successful leaders embrace continuous learning… “I needed to push myself into areas that maybe I wasn’t necessarily comfortable with. Also not be afraid to accept that the skills I had were quickly getting out of date.” 7. Long-term investment creates stability and reduces friction in leadership decision-making… “We reinvest 20 per cent of our turnover back into the business… my job is to make sure we spend that money effectively, but we’re constantly moving the company forward.” 8. Don’t be afraid to delay decisions if something isn’t ready… “[On one occasion] I should have had a grown-up conversation about a software project not being ready to be released to customers, rather than worrying about hitting a date. I learned my lesson!” 9. Let passion for your industry fuel your leadership… “I get excited by opportunities… AI is going to present so many opportunities for people to do so many things differently.” RELATED LINKS • Anton Roe is CEO of MHR International. The company website is here… [https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmhrglobal.com%2Fuk%2Fen%2Fabout-us%2Fleadership-team%2Fanton-roe&data=05%7C02%7Celeanor.bradley%40ntu.ac.uk%7C47d25c3207b949fb15c308dd6e259c39%7C8acbc2c5c8ed42c78169ba438a0dbe2f%7C1%7C0%7C638787830063511855%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=BuokUCyTR8qFspMwn9cvl5wyo1tjKLYq8uhEDHn4fDg%3D&reserved=0] • Anton Roe’s LinkedIn profile is here… [https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fantonroe%2F%3ForiginalSubdomain%3Duk&data=05%7C02%7Celeanor.bradley%40ntu.ac.uk%7C47d25c3207b949fb15c308dd6e259c39%7C8acbc2c5c8ed42c78169ba438a0dbe2f%7C1%7C0%7C638787830063530741%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=yFdEtGoZDIhecQG4vSzrxB7bFLZyZe2lCaAitG9pK2g%3D&reserved=0] • Anton Roe’s profile on business website The Org is here… [https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheorg.com%2Forg%2Fmhr%2Forg-chart%2Fanton-roe%3Futm_source%3Dchatgpt.com&data=05%7C02%7Celeanor.bradley%40ntu.ac.uk%7C47d25c3207b949fb15c308dd6e259c39%7C8acbc2c5c8ed42c78169ba438a0dbe2f%7C1%7C0%7C638787830063542966%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=f7PQdShJ%2BRw2DgQlX6sQI5x69954bnIyh4RQJ1SJjos%3D&reserved=0] If you enjoyed this episode NBS Business Leaders’ Podcast with Anton Roe, listen to previous episodes with… • the former VP of Manufacturing at Toyota Europe Marvin Cooke OBE [https://www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/academic-schools/nottingham-business-school/business-leaders-podcast?wchannelid=1l32jkbyn6&wmediaid=zkf4klnhrx] • the former CEO of e-commerce fashion retailer ASOS Nick Beighton [https://www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/academic-schools/nottingham-business-school/business-leaders-podcast?wchannelid=1l32jkbyn6&wmediaid=42pd2445c2] • the Chief Marketing Officer at Boots UK Pete Markey [https://www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/academic-schools/nottingham-business-school/business-leaders-podcast?wchannelid=1l32jkbyn6&wmediaid=5qqpxut795]

Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ Podcast Episode 63 SUMMARY Rob Barker – The importance of rational optimism Rob Barker is an entrepreneur, adviser and investor in the international fitness industry. He started his career as a sales rep with Precor – one of the world’s largest suppliers of gym equipment – rising to the rank of President. He then led the team that sold Precor to American fitness giant Peloton for $420m. Rob is now an investor in, among others, billion-dollar fitness tech company EGYM. In Episode 63 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ Podcast, Rob tells Visiting Honorary Professor Mike Sassi how he stays optimistic, leads by example… and tries to improve his performance by 15 per cent every year! INTRODUCTION • Rob Barker grew up in Maidenhead and was the first member of his family to go to university. He graduated from Nottingham Trent in 1988. • In his teens and 20s, he was an international-standard rower. • Rob started with American fitness equipment company Precor as a sales representative in London. • He went on to hold various leadership roles, including European Managing Director and eventually President of Precor, overseeing global operations and spearheading innovation in fitness and commercial gym equipment. • In 2020, Rob led Precor’s acquisition by Peloton for $420 million. He served as a senior executive at Peloton post-acquisition. • In 2022 he left Peloton to start a new career as investor in, and advisor to, multiple health and fitness technology firms. • He currently works closely with Munich-based EGYM, a billion-dollar fitness tech company integrating AI into health clubs. He also supports Holmes Place, a premium European health club chain. • Rob has relocated to Portugal with his family and is still an enthusiastic endurance athlete, participating in Ironman triathlons LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS Leadership takeaways from Episode 63 of the NBS Business Leaders’ Podcast, with entrepreneur, investor and leisure industry leader Rob Barker. 1. Rational optimism is a leadership mindset… "Rational optimism was the phrase I used all the time – and still do. You need to see things for truly what they are. No sugar coating. But at the same time, always be optimistic that tomorrow is going to be better because of your actions today." 2. Make sure you are surrounded by strong people… "The more senior I got, the more I realized that all of my success was actually in the agency of others... Most successful leaders will surround themselves with people that are better than them – and feel comfortable about it." 3. Candid communication is important… "One thing that was missing at Peloton, is that that didn’t have a culture of candidness that would allow others to come up with a different opinion." 4. Be aware of potential opportunities… "I was working at a leisure centre that had the first gym in Maidenhead. Olympic gold medallist Steve Redgrave opened it… and it was just a squash court, but it was packed! I thought, ‘I'll tell you what the next big wave is in this industry. It's going to be around working out indoors, on machines. I need to get into that.’" 5. Leaders embrace continuous learning… "I created my own training plan, just like a rowing coach would... I started reading marketing books, put myself on the Charter Institute of Marketing, spoke to people and found the gaps [in my learning]." 6. Hard work matters as much as raw talent… "You can always ‘out-work’ people. Including 95% of the people you compete with for jobs.” 7. Successful leaders are visible – and lead by example… "As a leader, you’re always on deck. Your behaviours, your approach, and your actions will always be observed. And the more senior job you get, the higher the radio tower. But you have to start with your own personal performance." 8. Don’t let fear stop you taking big opportunities… "I turned down a job in my earlier career because I was too scared that I might fail. Even though things turned out great, I promised myself I’d never do that again." 9. Always be striving to improve, even when you’re successful… "A lot of people take their foot off the gas when they get to about 30… but if I worked it out that if I just got better 15% every year, [by now] I’d be 268 times better." 10. And Rob’s advice for would-be leaders? "Stay humble. Respect everyone. Seek mentorship – and coaching. But [most of all] be optimistic. Be rationally optimistic! " RELATED LINKS • Rob Barker is an investor, entrepreneur and advisor to the international fitness industry. His LinkedIn profile is here… [https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Frob-barker-55004616%2F%3ForiginalSubdomain%3Dpt&data=05%7C02%7Celeanor.bradley%40ntu.ac.uk%7C33b3279adfa44f8b93bf08dd609cdb01%7C8acbc2c5c8ed42c78169ba438a0dbe2f%7C1%7C0%7C638772949010996267%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=R3NRKva2vJQ5CrTww5E8xc0UQgX%2FhV1NsdO2lRKMvB8%3D&reserved=0] • As President of Precor, Rob Barker gave a long and detailed YouTube interview about the challenges facing the fitness industry, post-COVID… [https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DhW6g8zcDKhw&data=05%7C02%7Celeanor.bradley%40ntu.ac.uk%7C33b3279adfa44f8b93bf08dd609cdb01%7C8acbc2c5c8ed42c78169ba438a0dbe2f%7C1%7C0%7C638772949011018783%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=k1ufbDRbzQ1jO%2FaLtIjZnKFB93z3eunXDKi7kRHJSUI%3D&reserved=0] • Rob Barker’s recent guest lecture at Nottingham Trent is here… [https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnottinghamtrentuniversity.wistia.com%2Fmedias%2Fmhj55h4jp5&data=05%7C02%7Celeanor.bradley%40ntu.ac.uk%7C33b3279adfa44f8b93bf08dd609cdb01%7C8acbc2c5c8ed42c78169ba438a0dbe2f%7C1%7C0%7C638772949011039601%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=TUWUt6Oh4cgLG9U9HLGxWBGNLbBSLwKl3hBpdFGlaG0%3D&reserved=0] If you enjoyed this episode NBS Business Leaders’ Podcast with Rob Barker, listen to previous episodes with… • the Managing Director of Seiko UK David Edwards [https://www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/academic-schools/nottingham-business-school/business-leaders-podcast?wchannelid=1l32jkbyn6&wmediaid=ewy8qno33q] • the Chief Marketing Officer of Boots UK Pete Markey [https://www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/academic-schools/nottingham-business-school/business-leaders-podcast?utm_term=NBS&utm_medium=ShortURL&utm_source=ShortURL&utm_campaign=businessleaders&wchannelid=1l32jkbyn6&wmediaid=5qqpxut795] • the former VP of Manufacturing at Toyota Europe Marvin Cooke OBE [https://www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/academic-schools/nottingham-business-school/business-leaders-podcast?wchannelid=1l32jkbyn6&wmediaid=zkf4klnhrx]