The Creative Adventure

E20: Laura Tenison MBE: Founder of JoJo Maman Bébé, on how true success lies in doing good as well as doing well

In this special 20th episode, Greg and Andrew have an inspirational chat with Laura Tenison MBE, founder of JoJo Maman Bébé.   Like many born entrepreneurs, Laura's entrepreneurial tendencies were there for all to see from her tender years when she would make a few pennies selling cold drinks and cakes behind her house. 45 years later, JoJo Maman Bébé, the company she founded, was making £70m in annual revenue and employing 1,000 people, on the way to becoming one of Britain's best loved brands.   In 2022, Laura sold JoJo to retail giant Next, in partnership with a private equity firm. And she now runs Wonderful Escapes which offers a venue for extraordinary group or family holidays, yoga retreats and mindful business bonding at Wern-y-Cwm Farm, Abergavenny.   A joy to listen to and share a room with, Laura is Welsh business royalty, a generational talent, and an inspiration to us all.   We talk about;   * Being one of the few people who came out of the student experience with more money than when she started! * The power of being unapologetically yourself * The early ventures that bred the confidence for the big success * How breaking 20 bones in her body led to the idea that became JoJo * The importance of not believing the hype * What it takes to create and run a company that cumulatively generated sales of almost £1bn... * ...and what led to her finally deciding to sell it * JoJo's groundbreaking inclusivity, and being one of the first B Corp's * Always treating your people with respect, and the loyalty you get in return * Why we all need to spend more time in human contact (and have more sex!) * How "doing well whilst doing good" has always been Laura's mantra     Laura: https://www.wonderfulescapes.co.uk/ [https://www.wonderfulescapes.co.uk/]   Us: www.linkedin.com/in/greg-vartoukian [http://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-vartoukian] www.linkedin.com/in/andrewwainstein [http://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewwainstein]   www.boxlist.com [http://www.boxlist.com] https://www.andrewwainstein.com/ [https://www.andrewwainstein.com/]

E19: Irene Graham OBE: Creative UK board member, and CEO of the ScaleUp Institute, on how the road to career fulfilment begins with being true to yourself

In this shorter form episode, Andrew has a one on one chat with the brilliant Irene Graham OBE.  Irene was identified as a leader from a young age, with her "can do" mindset and collaborative approach being the cornerstones of a senior career with Standard Chartered, where she harnessed her entrepreneurial spirit to create and lead a range of global projects and businesses, eventually resulting in her being an architect of the UK "open banking" revolution. Irene now sits on the Board of Creative UK, and as founder and CEO of the ScaleUp Institute, has supported for the last 10 years the UK's growing businesses and start-up economy. She is also a Visiting Professor of Entrepreneurship at Strathclyde University and holds a variety of other non executive director and advisory roles across the creative, business and finance communities, and was awarded an OBE in 2019 for services to business and the economy.   It’s an absolute pleasure to welcome Irene, a truly impressive and inspiring guest.   We talk about:   * Growing up surrounded by strong female role models * Being asked to take leadership roles from a age * The traits of leaders - born or bred? * Bringing her entrepreneurial flair to developing new businesses within banking * Meetings challenges with the question "how can we solve", rather than "can we solve"  * The value of building inclusive, collaborative relationships * Innovation and intrapreneurship * Our choices and attitudes in the face of AI * Her creation of ScaleUp Institute and its broad mission in supporting the crucial thousands of growing UK businesses * The importance of following your instincts and being true to yourself * Her innate drive and openness to make a difference in everything she has done     Irene: https://www.scaleupinstitute.org.uk/ [https://www.scaleupinstitute.org.uk/]   Us: www.linkedin.com/in/greg-vartoukian [http://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-vartoukian] www.linkedin.com/in/andrewwainstein [http://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewwainstein]   www.boxlist.com [http://www.boxlist.com] https://www.andrewwainstein.com/ [https://www.andrewwainstein.com/]

E18: Hanne Kristiansen: Former Head of Innovation at Kellogg's and founder of the Creative ID, on how you need to create the dots before you connect the dots

In this episode, we chat with the dynamic and creative Hanne Kristiansen.    From riding horses at 4 years old, to fixing the farm roof soon after, and wilfully not reading out loud until she was older than 10, Hanne has always done things her own way and proudly so. Her journey took her from being the daughter of hippy parents in provincial Denmark to eventually taking significant corporate roles in the UK including the Head of Innovation at Kellogg's. She then started her own consultancy and has worked with academics over many years to develop an innovative framework for creativity that she now shares with the world. Hanne is incredibly talented, a true force of nature, and an example to us all.   We talk about;   * Life growing up on a farm in provincial Denmark * How being left to discover her own way shaped her life * The power of genuinely not caring what people think * How at 16 when asked what she believed in, she replied 'myself' * Why we needn't be in such a rush to find our 'purpose' * The importance of 'making the dots' before you can 'connect the dots' * The fictional best before date stamped on her shoulder that she couldn't quite make out * The sudden and tragic loss of her mum and how this drove her into action * How she created the 'Creative ID' and the different creative archetypes that make it up * How business and creativity mix like oil and water * The importance of not asking 'Am I creative?' but 'How am I creative?' * How all of us have creativity within us - and if you don't think so, have you ever lied?     Hanne: https://www.yourcreativeid.com/ [https://www.yourcreativeid.com/] https://www.wearecreativecreatures.com/ [https://www.wearecreativecreatures.com/]   Us: www.linkedin.com/in/greg-vartoukian [http://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-vartoukian] www.linkedin.com/in/andrewwainstein [http://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewwainstein]   www.boxlist.com [http://www.boxlist.com] https://www.andrewwainstein.com/ [https://www.andrewwainstein.com/]

E17: Stephen Page OBE: Chair of Faber & Faber on the opportunities you see out of the corner of your eye

In this episode, we chat with the accomplished and thoughtful Stephen Page OBE.    Starting his working life in a bookshop he soon realised he wanted to be "nearer to the story", and found his way into his first role in publishing.  Cutting his teeth in sales and marketing, Stephen's relentless, enterprising approach saw his career rise with successes at Transworld and Third Estate before arriving as CEO of Faber, where he steered the business for 20 years.   Now Chair of Faber he is establishing himself as a leadership coach, on the Board of Creative Access, a member of the Creative Industries Council and lecturing on publishing and creative writing.     We hear Stephen's reflections on his own story and the creative forces that have shaped his career and life as a whole.     We talk about:   * How he was drawn to imaginative places in childhood * How growing up as a twin shaped him * Falling in love with books when inter-railing in the 1980s * Finding the thing he wanted to move towards and going after it * How a grounding in sales and marketing taught him about all aspects of publishing * The importance of always adding skills in developing your career * How by not knowing the rules, you can break them without noticing * What emerges when you allow yourself to see things through the corner of your eye * The creative process of walking down the road to see down the cul-de-sacs * Recognising your ambition and not being shy to act on it * What it takes to be a leader, "being in the room" * His sense of duty working and contributing towards opportunities in the creative sector * How he is working with creative leaders, and leaders in general, as an executive coach     Stephen: https://stephenpagecoaching.com/ [https://stephenpagecoaching.com/] https://www.faber.co.uk [https://www.faber.co.uk]   Us: www.linkedin.com/in/greg-vartoukian [http://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-vartoukian] www.linkedin.com/in/andrewwainstein [http://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewwainstein]   www.boxlist.com [http://www.boxlist.com] https://www.andrewwainstein.com/ [https://www.andrewwainstein.com/]

E16: Frances Madden: Australian singer/songwriter on how every magic moment begins with a leap of faith

In this episode, we chat with the wonderful Australian singer and songwriter Frances Madden.   Described by the Australian Institute of Music as "one of Australia's most talented young singer/songwriters and piano players", we hear about Frances's journey from a six year old who became obsessed with piano, to eventually playing live in front of tens of thousands of people.   She tells us about the challenges of truly putting yourself out there, the journey of pursuing a career in music, and how when the magic moments do happen, it makes everything worthwhile.   This is a conversation about fulfilling your destiny, whatever it takes.   We talk about:   * Her super-strict piano teacher that helped her fall in love with music * Having a mum and dad that truly believe in you * The discomfort and vulnerability that is part and parcel of creating * How you sometimes have to shoot lots of arrows before one hits * The incredible journey and leap of faith that ended up with her opening the Australian Open * Why authenticity is so fundamental to successful creativity * How sometimes we only see what wasn't quite right in the rear view mirror * Belief and the 'confidence cycle' * Her dream to sing in a Disney movie * Trusting every idea or instinct even if it sounds crazy * Morning pages, and the importance of giving it time and space     Frances: https://www.francesmadden.com [https://www.francesmadden.com] https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/frances-madden-band [https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/frances-madden-band] @francesmaddenmusic   Us: www.linkedin.com/in/greg-vartoukian [http://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-vartoukian] www.linkedin.com/in/andrewwainstein [http://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewwainstein]   www.boxlist.com [http://www.boxlist.com] https://www.andrewwainstein.com/ [https://www.andrewwainstein.com/]