Behind the SME

AI as a Teammate: Becoming an “Agent Boss” with Rahan Arif

BEHIND THE SME WITH RAHAN ARIF, CO-FOUNDER OF BOSSUP AI is moving from tool to teammate, and that changes what leadership looks like inside an SME. In this episode of Behind the SME, Adam Kene speaks with Rahan Arif, a seasoned entrepreneur and transformation leader with nearly two decades at the forefront of digital disruption. Rahan has built and scaled product organisations across cloud, low code, automation, and AI, delivering platforms that have reshaped how enterprises operate. Now, as a founder at BossUp, he is focused on the Agent Boss economy and what it takes to build an AI collaborative future. Rahan cuts through the noise and gets practical: * What agentic AI actually means and why it is the next big shift * Why SMEs often freeze when tech moves fast, and how to move anyway * How to lead AI agents with the right guardrails and accountability * A real example of using agents to plan and execute work end to end, using a marketing campaign This episode is essential for SME founders, leaders, and managers who want to use AI to move faster without losing control. It is also for operators who are responsible for delivery, growth, or customer experience and need a clear way to turn AI into practical outcomes. 🎙️ Behind the SME is hosted by Adam Kene, CEO of Kene, exploring the real stories and lessons from the entrepreneurs and leaders powering the UK’s SME economy. Like what you hear? We’d love to know! 📩 Contact us: hello@behindthesme.co.uk 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme] 🌐 More platforms: https://linktr.ee/behindthesme [https://linktr.ee/behindthesme] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

From Founder to CEO: Building, Letting Go and Leading in the Age of AI with Evgeny Shadchnev

BEHIND THE SME WITH EVGENY SHADCHNEV, FOUNDER OF MAKERS, CEO COACH AND AUTHOR SPECIALISING IN LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS. In this episode of Behind the SME, host Adam Kene sits down with Evgeny Shadchnev, founder of Makers and one of the UK’s most respected voices on founder-to-CEO transitions, to unpack the real journey of building, scaling and ultimately stepping away from a high-growth startup. Evgeny shares how his background in computer science and early career as a software developer led him to spot a major gap between academia and industry - sparking the creation of Makers, a pioneering coding bootcamp that helped thousands of career switchers break into tech. He talks candidly about finding product-market fit, evolving the business model, and scaling from a scrappy startup to a 60+ person organisation working with major corporates like Deloitte. The conversation goes deep into the realities of leadership: chaotic early culture, self-set salaries, hiring mistakes, and the difficult moment when early team members stop being the right fit. Evgeny unpacks why the skills that make you a great founder don’t always make you a great CEO, and how to recognise when you might be becoming the bottleneck in your own business. We also explore CEO transitions, stepping aside with intention, emotional maturity in leadership, and why self-awareness is a non-negotiable skill for founders. Finally, Evgeny shares his perspective on AI-first businesses, zero-based thinking, and why the Netflix vs Blockbuster story is a warning every leader should take seriously. 💡 Highlights include: * Building Makers and finding product-market fit in the bootcamp space * Scaling from 0 to 65 people and navigating the chaos-to-structure journey * When early team members outgrow their roles (and how to handle it well) * Founder vs CEO: why the skill sets are often very different * How to have difficult conversations with empathy, not ego * Recognising when it might be time to step aside as CEO * The emotional impact of leadership and why self-awareness is critical * AI-first vs AI-supported businesses: lessons from Netflix and Blockbuster * Zero-based thinking and preparing your business for an AI-driven future If you’re a founder, CEO, or leader wrestling with growth, culture, strategy, or the question “am I still the right person for this job?” this episode will challenge, reassure and inspire you in equal measure. 🎙️ Behind the SME is hosted by Adam Kene, CEO of Kene, exploring the real stories and lessons from the entrepreneurs and leaders powering the UK’s SME economy. Like what you hear? We’d love to know! 📩 Contact us: hello@behindthesme.co.uk 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme] 🌐 More platforms: https://linktr.ee/behindthesme [https://linktr.ee/behindthesme] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

A Million Tabs Open: Inside the ADHD Mind with Leanne Maskell

BEHIND THE SME WITH LEANNE MASKELL, 5X BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, COACH AND DIRECTOR AT ADHD WORKS. In this episode of Behind the SME, host Adam Kene speaks with Leanne Maskell - author, coach, and Director at ADHD Works - about her remarkable journey from international modelling and severe mental health struggles to becoming a global voice for neurodivergent empowerment and workplace inclusion. Leanne shares how receiving an ADHD diagnosis transformed her life and career, leading her to build the UK’s first CPD-certified ADHD coaching qualification and train more than 600 ADHD and autism coaches worldwide. She opens up about living with a brain that never switches off, writing five books by the age of 33 (all best-sellers), and redefining success by embracing, rather than fighting, her neurodivergence. 💡 Highlights include: * The lived experience of ADHD: hyper-focus, overwhelm & the “interest-based nervous system” * Turning personal crisis into purpose and global impact * How leaders can better manage and support neurodivergent talent * Creating structure and systems to unlock the zone of genius * Why understanding ADHD, not correcting it, unlocks performance If you’re a leader, founder, manager or parent wanting to better understand neurodiversity or harness ADHD as a superpower, this episode is for you. 🎙️ Behind the SME is hosted by Adam Kene, CEO of Kene, exploring the real stories and lessons from the entrepreneurs and leaders powering the UK’s SME economy. Like what you hear? We'd love to know! 📩 Contact us: hello@behindthesme.co.uk [hello@behindthesme.co.uk] 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme] 🌐 More platforms: https://linktr.ee/behindthesme [https://linktr.ee/behindthesme] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Community First: Solving Public Safety Through AI and Data with Michael Houghton

BEHIND THE SME WITH MICHAEL, CO-FOUNDER OF COMMUNITY WOLF. What if public safety could be crowdsourced and improved with the power of AI? In this episode of Behind the SME, host Adam Kene speaks with Michael Houghton - entrepreneur and co-founder of Community Wolf - about his journey from corporate engineering to building a mission-led startup tackling public safety challenges in South Africa. They discuss the lessons learned from navigating early career pivots, embracing naivety while building expertise, and creating a platform that empowers communities to participate in safety reporting through WhatsApp and AI tools. 💡 Highlights include: * How curiosity, obsession, and “happy buckets” guide entrepreneurial decisions * The journey from corporate engineering to mission-led entrepreneurship * Building trust at scale while crowdsourcing sensitive public safety data * Turning mission-first thinking into a sustainable business model * Lessons in leadership, risk-taking, and learning through discomfort If you’re a founder, leader, or innovator looking to solve real-world problems and build a mission-driven business, this one’s for you. 🎙️ Behind the SME is hosted by Adam Kene, CEO of Kene, exploring the real stories, insights, and lessons from the entrepreneurs and leaders powering the UK’s SME economy. Like what you hear? We'd love to know! 📩 Contact us: hello@behindthesme.co.uk 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme] 🌐 Find us on other platforms: https://linktr.ee/behindthesme [https://linktr.ee/behindthesme] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Stop Reacting, Start Anticipating: The Power of Foresight with Athena Peppes

BEHIND THE SME WITH ATHENA PEPPES, FUTURIST AND ECONOMIST, ADVISOR AT BOSSUP.AI AND DIRECTOR OF FUTURES AT BEACON THOUGHT LEADERSHIP What if you could see disruption coming and turn it into opportunity? In this episode of Behind the SME, host Adam Kene, speaks with Athena Peppes — futurist, economist, and former Accenture strategist — about how small and medium-sized businesses can use foresight to anticipate change, build resilience, and stay ahead in a world of constant disruption. They break down practical ways to “look to the horizon” without losing sight of today’s priorities, from horizon-scanning and team signal alerts to scenario planning and AI readiness. 💡 Highlights include: * What “foresight” really means and how to apply it inside an SME * How to run horizon-scanning sessions with your team * Turning future risks into opportunities * Building AI literacy and avoiding common leadership blind spots * Why continuous learning (not prediction) is the real competitive edge If you’re a founder, leader, or strategist who’s too busy fighting fires to think long-term, this one’s for you. 🎙️ Behind the SME is hosted by Adam Kene, CEO of Kene, exploring the real stories, insights, and lessons from the entrepreneurs and leaders powering the UK’s SME economy. Like what you hear? We'd love to know! 📩 Contact us: hello@behindthesme.co.uk 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme 🌐 Find us on other platforms: https://linktr.ee/behindthesme ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.