The Success and Ideas Podcast

Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon began on her path to success young. She passed her A level computing at 11 years old, and  became one of the youngest people to receive a masters degree in computing  from Oxford University. By 2013 at the age of 23 she was named young IT professional of the year and just four years later was the youngest scientist ever to be get an  MBE. She's used her success to found an organization called Stemmettes which assists young women and girls who want to work in science, technology, engineering and maths. Richard spoke to her about her the challenges and possibilities of achieving success so early.

How do you go from writing about business to embarking on a successful career as an entrepreneur? That is a question that Tim Jackson has answered through his experience, initially as a journalist, and then as the founder of a highly successful online auction site. Tim ultimately sold that business and went on to manage a major private equity investment fund. He now runs his own seed fund to support and invest in early stage businesses. But like other aspects of his career, Tim undertakes his role as a potential investor, in his own unconventional way, and at his own pace, as Richard found out when he met up with him in Central London.

In this episode, Richard speaks to Liz Johnson, a paralympic swimming champion who has participated in - and won - competitions around the world. Liz was born was born with cerebral palsy which affects movement and muscle development, and was taken swimming as a young child as a means of strengthening her body. Her determination in the pool, along with countless hours of practice, led to gold medals in the Paralympics, World Championships and European Swimming Championships. In the podcast she talks about how her mental attitude has helped her achieve success. She also discusses her other work in running an organization that is creating real change and meaningful inclusion within companies, allowing individuals to achieve their potential in the workplace.

Paul Blair is someone who has moved from the battlefield to the boardroom. He is a former major in the British Army who served around the world, including in combat in Afghanistan. After 20 years Paul left the military but reinvented himself professionally in an entirely different role - as an entrepreneur. His first business venture was inventing and developing an innovative toy for dogs, which he took to the Dragon's Den on TV. He didn't get their backing but he did go on anyway to generate $45 million in sales. Paul is now developing a wearable sport-tech device. In this episode, he tells Richard Miron about his career in the army and how it prepared him for world of business. He also talks about how setbacks have helped him, and the enjoyment of contending with the risks of being an entrepreneur.

In this episode, Richard talks to a woman who is shaking up the often staid legal world in the City of London. Karen Holden is the founder of 'A City Law Firm' – an award-winning practice that offers legal excellence to its clients, alongside a rare environment for staff that includes forty days a year holiday, and a compassionate working culture. The firm stands in contrast to the often highly demanding and all-consuming culture found at some other City law firms. Karen founded her firm as a place where a working mother - such as she is - could succeed and flourish both personally and professionally. She also carved out a niche for her firm in dealing with issues relating to the LGBTQ+ community, surrogacy, and other similar social issues. In the pocast, Karen talks about the challenges that have shaped the way she approaches her work, and the satisfaction she has gained from her achievements.