Secret Leaders

Millions of downloads, 400+ episodes and 7 years, it's time for a break. -------- Sign up to Wise Business banking: ⁠⁠⁠https://wise.com/uk/business/⁠⁠⁠ [https://wise.com/uk/business/?utm_source=secretleaders&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=Secret+Leaders_1H+2025&utm_content=Wise+Business] Join Vanta and receive $1000 off: ⁠⁠⁠http://vanta.com/secretleaders [http://vanta.com/secretleaders]

What if the secret to happiness, clarity, and success took just 5 minutes a day? In this episode, we sit down with Alex Ikonn — co-founder of the viral sensation The Five Minute Journal, used by the likes Emma Watson, Tim Ferriss, and millions of others. From being fired at a bank to building a 7-figure business and redefining personal fulfillment, Alex shares the mindset hacks, journaling techniques, and life lessons that transformed his journey. 🎙️ In this episode: * Why The Five Minute Journal works (science + psychology behind it) * How to build morning habits that shift your brain toward gratitude and growth * From burnout to breakthrough: Alex's honest story of success and emptiness * The real power of physical journaling in an AI world * What happens when CEOs, creatives, and everyday people start writing things down 🔍 Topics Covered: * Self-growth & Gratitude Journaling * Mindset Shifts for Success * How to Be Happier (Backed by Neuroscience) * Mental Health & Daily Habits * From Idea to Impact: Building a Movement * Celebrity Endorsements and Brand Building * Finding Fulfilment in Work and Life 🧠 Want to level up your mindset? Subscribe for weekly interviews with world-class thinkers, creators, and entrepreneurs. -------- Sign up to Wise Business banking: ⁠⁠https://wise.com/uk/business/⁠⁠ [https://wise.com/uk/business/?utm_source=secretleaders&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=Secret+Leaders_1H+2025&utm_content=Wise+Business] Join Vanta and receive $1000 off: ⁠⁠http://vanta.com/secretleaders [http://vanta.com/secretleaders]

In this episode of Secret Leaders, we sit down with Alex Kendall, co-founder & CEO of Wayve AI — the $1B+ British startup taking on Tesla in the race to build a driverless future. From raising $1.05 billion from Microsoft, SoftBank, and NVIDIA, to reimagining cities with AI-powered vehicles, Alex shares how his company is changing how we live, commute, and move goods. - Why do 1.2 million people still die on roads every year? - Why are cars asleep 96% of the time and what if they could work for us? - Could AI make driving safer than humans ever could? We dive into how Wayve’s embodied AI competes with Tesla, why public trust is still the biggest barrier, and how your car might soon become your second living room. -------- Sign up to Wise Business banking: ⁠https://wise.com/uk/business/⁠ [https://wise.com/uk/business/?utm_source=secretleaders&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=Secret+Leaders_1H+2025&utm_content=Wise+Business] Join Vanta and receive $1000 off: ⁠http://vanta.com/secretleaders [http://vanta.com/secretleaders]

From pouring tea to billion-dollar deals — Frank Smith's rise to CEO of Matchroom Boxing is nothing short of legendary. In this exclusive podcast, Frank opens up about building global stars like Anthony Joshua, sealing game-changing partnerships with DAZN, and navigating boxing’s Saudi-powered evolution. We dive deep into: * The making of Connor Benn vs Chris Eubank Jr * Saudi Arabia’s billion-dollar impact on global boxing * Dana White’s entry, Jake Paul’s influence & Matchroom’s future * Secrets behind Matchroom’s mega-events (and their $25M darts empire) Whether you're a fight fan, entrepreneur, or sports business geek — this episode is your ringside seat to the future of boxing. -------- Sign up to Wise Business banking: https://wise.com/uk/business/ [https://wise.com/uk/business/?utm_source=secretleaders&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=Secret+Leaders_1H+2025&utm_content=Wise+Business] Join Vanta and receive $1000 off: http://vanta.com/secretleaders [http://vanta.com/secretleaders]

What does it take to go from thinking "I’m not the type to start a company" to building a $2.5B startup that serves over 10,000 businesses? Christina Cacioppo, founder & CEO of Vanta, shares her raw and remarkable journey in this episode of Secret Leaders In this candid interview, we dive into Christina’s path from Stanford to Silicon Valley royalty—funding startups like Twitter and Etsy, then jumping into the deep end to teach herself to code. Learn how she went from solo builder to unicorn founder, the scrappy early days of Vanta, why she waited until $10M ARR to raise funds, and the lessons she picked up alongside the founders of OpenSea and Substack at Y Combinator. Topics We Cover: * Leaving a dream VC job to learn to code  * Building failed side projects and what they taught her * Working at Dropbox during hypergrowth * The real story behind launching Vanta * Why “doing things that don’t scale” worked * AI at Vanta and what’s next * Overcoming imposter syndrome as a young female founder _______________ Sign up to Wise Business banking: https://wise.com/uk/business/ [https://wise.com/uk/business/?utm_source=secretleaders&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=Secret+Leaders_1H+2025&utm_content=Wise+Business] Join Vanta and receive $1000 off: http://vanta.com/secretleaders [http://vanta.com/secretleaders]