Beyond the Business Card

#40 From Local Roots to Global Reach | Shalin Balasuriya’s Journey of Building a Wellness Empire

In this episode of Beyond the Business Card, Shalin Balasuriya shares how he transformed a Sri Lankan family business into the world’s largest luxury Ayurveda chain, with over 145 locations across 31 countries. Shalin reveals why true entrepreneurship starts from the consumer backwards, the lessons learned on the shop floor, and how leveraging Sri Lanka’s rich culture, history, and natural resources has shaped his global vision. Topics covered: * How to scale a family business globally * The importance of understanding the consumer firsthand * Lessons from growing through and after COVID * Building a global wellness brand rooted in culture * Leveraging Sri Lanka’s untapped creative and cultural potential Watch now to hear how purpose, passion, and perseverance can turn local roots into a worldwide movement. 📲 Connect with Shalin Balasuriya: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shalin.b/ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shalin-balasuriya-909809215/⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shalin-balasuriya-909809215/] Website: https://lk.spaceylon.com/ 📲 Connect with Justin McGuire and Beyond the Business Card: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jussiemcg/          LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jumcguire         Beyond the Business Card: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/beyond-the-business-card/id1785496837⁠ [https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/beyond-the-business-card/id1785496837] Don't forget to subscribe and leave a comment about your favorite takeaway from today's episode!

#39 From Sacrifice to Life-Changing Success | Graeme’s Entrepreneurial Story

In this episode of Beyond the Business Card, Graeme Hubert shares his remarkable journey from the son of immigrant parents to co-founder of Consul Partners, a global recruitment powerhouse. Graeme opens up about the sacrifices, reinvestments, and unrelenting belief in seizing “one chance in life” that drove him and his co-founder to scale from zero to £1M revenue in their first year.  Guided by his mum, his wife, and his business partner, Graeme’s story is one of resilience, alignment, and a vision that led to an eight-figure exit. This is more than a business story, it’s about family, sacrifice, and building something that lasts. Topics covered in this episode: * Why Graeme embraced the mindset of “one chance in life” * The sacrifices behind building a global recruitment company * Scaling to £1M revenue in the first year through reinvestment * The importance of alignment with a business partner * Lessons learned from achieving an eight-figure exit * How family values anchored his entrepreneurial journey 🎧 Watch the full conversation and discover what it takes to build, scale, and exit on your own terms. 📲 Connect with Graeme Hubert: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gthub1?igsh=MXF4b3V0bTl2MDh1aQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr LinkedIn: ghubert@legatum-consulting.com [ghubert@legatum-consulting.com] 📲 Connect with Justin McGuire and Beyond the Business Card: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jussiemcg/          LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jumcguire         Beyond the Business Card: https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/beyond-the-business-card/id1785496837 [https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/beyond-the-business-card/id1785496837] Don't forget to subscribe and leave a comment about your favorite takeaway from today's episode!

#38 From Cold Calls to Big Wins | George’s Blueprint for Growth

In this episode of Beyond the Business Card, George Dale shares the raw reality of starting RAPT with zero clients, no safety net, and nothing but determination. From cold calls and door to door pitches to landing his first breakthrough budget, George reveals how he turned setbacks into momentum and built an agency with resilience at its core. This is not just a story about business, it’s about grit, persistence, and the belief that passion will always fuel profit. Topics covered in this episode: • The reality of starting with no clients and no safety net • Why cash flow is everything in the early stages • The importance of cold calls, persistence, and direct outreach • Lessons from building integrated teams in Saudi Arabia • Balancing risk, resilience, and long term vision • How George turned passion into a profitable business This conversation is for anyone building from scratch, doubting whether they can push through the first year, or needing proof that persistence pays off. 📲 Connect with George Dale: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gdaleimages?igsh=MXB6ZmJkcmNiNTZ1Nw== LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-dale-5b8526133/ Website: www.houseofrapt.com 📲 Connect with Justin McGuire and Beyond the Business Card: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jussiemcg/         LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jumcguire         Beyond the Business Card: https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/beyond-the-business-card/id1785496837 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a comment about your favorite takeaway from today's episode!

#37 From the Last Flight Out to Building a Legacy: John Rose’s Journey

In this episode of Beyond the Business Card, John Rose takes us inside the chaotic world of doing business in Russia during the turbulent 1990s.From pioneering metro advertising to navigating a landscape filled with uncertainty, racketeering, and corruption, John’s story is one of survival, adaptability, and vision. He shares what it was like to build when rules didn’t exist, why playing it straight set his agency apart, and how recognising talent became his most valuable skill.This conversation is not just about advertising, it’s about resilience, reinvention, and thriving in one of the most unpredictable business environments in modern history.In this episode, we cover:* The collapse of an empire and its impact on business and society* What it took to build an advertising agency during Moscow’s “wild 90s”* Why hiring and recognising great people quickly became John’s top skill* Stories of survival in an era of “disorganised crime”* Lessons in resilience and reinvention from an uncharted marketThis episode is for anyone curious about building against the odds, leading with integrity, and finding opportunity in the most uncertain times.📲 Connect with John Rose:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjohnmrose?igsh=MW5za2RmYXBscXJiMQ==LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/mrjohnmroseWebsite: http://www.rosecreative.marketing📲 Connect with Justin McGuire and Beyond the Business Card:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jussiemcg/         LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jumcguire        Beyond the Business Card: https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/beyond-the-business-card/id1785496837Don't forget to subscribe and leave a comment about your favorite takeaway from today's episode!

#36 Breaking Patterns and Facing Anxiety | Anne Jackson on Real Change and Growth

In this episode of Beyond the Business Card, Anne Jackson shares her journey from international advertising to becoming a master therapeutic coach. She opens up about the hidden patterns that hold us back, the truth about anxiety as fear of the future, and how unprocessed emotions can resurface later in life, often disguised as a “midlife crisis."Anne introduces her “cardboard box theory” and explains why following money rarely leads to fulfilment. Instead, she reveals how to unlock real change by facing the emotions we carry and choosing growth over avoidance.In this episode, we cover:-Why unlocking patterns can drive both personal and professional success-Understanding anxiety and reframing it as fear of the future-The “cardboard box theory” and how unprocessed emotions shape our lives-The reality behind what people call a midlife crisis-Why chasing money can block true fulfilment-How Anne helps people break cycles and improve themselves through coachingThis conversation is for anyone ready to stop repeating old patterns, face what’s really holding them back, and unlock real change.📲 Connect with Joe Lipscombe:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onelifecoachingme?igsh=MXR0NTBsNjloYTRmOA==LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/anne-jackson-b77a2766/Website: http://www.onelifecoachingme.com/📲 Connect with Justin McGuire and Beyond the Business Card:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jussiemcg/         LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jumcguire        Beyond the Business Card: https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/beyond-the-business-card/id1785496837