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The Business Alchemists๐จ๐ป๐น๐ผ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐น๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ, ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป & ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ช๐ถ๐๐ต...๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ตIf you're a CEO, founder, or ambitious professional who wants to: โ
Sell more effectively โ
Command more influence โ
Get promoted and paid what youโre worth... โฆthis episode is your shortcut to learning ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ธ.Leah Kim Brighton isn't your average communication coach. She's a ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐ with a background in linguistics, psychology, and executive hiring and her approach removes the fluff and guesswork. With her ๐ฉ๐ด ๐๐ป๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ, she breaks down the ๐ด๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ค๐ช๐ง๐ช๐ค ๐ด๐ค๐ช๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ behind how to sound confident, earn trust, and get results whether you're in the boardroom, leading a team, or pitching a client.๐ช๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ: โ Why โspeak with confidenceโ is terrible advice unless you know ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ธ โ
Two simple but powerful techniques to instantly improve how you're heardโ How your ๐ท๐ฐ๐ช๐ค๐ฆ could be the reason you're not getting promoted โ
Why your โechoโ in the room ๐ข๐ง๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ you leave matters more than what you...
2025-07-141h 19The Business AlchemistsThe Secrets of a Bootstrapped FounderThink raising $6M guarantees startup success? Think again!In this raw, no-BS conversation, J.Y. Delmot, co-founder of BuddiesHR and ex-Y Combinator alum reveals the real lessons behind the flashy headlines. From building a SaaS that hit $60K MRR on the side, to losing it all when Instagram shut them down, to raising millions and learning the hard wayโฆ this is a masterclass in founder reality.What you'll learn:Why VC money often kills more startups than it savesThe 3 rules that changed his life at Y CombinatorHow to build a startup before writing a single li...
2025-06-081h 25The Business AlchemistsBrain Tumour to Mission for Human ConnectionsIn this episode of the Business Alchemist Podcast, Phil Akilade speaks with James Mays, founder of Rodeo and asks, What drives someone to build a new startup after selling their last one, and surviving a brain tumour diagnosis?They explore the importance of community and events in today's polarised world. They discuss the evolution of event technology, the significance of in-person connections, and the mission behind Rodeo to create a new platform that supports community organisers. James shares his personal journey, including health challenges and the drive to build a customer-centric...
2025-06-0147 minThe Business AlchemistsAI: Just another Hype Cycle?In this episode of the Business Alchemist podcast, Phil Akilade speaks with Nick Sales, a fractional CTO with 35 years of experience in AI. They explore the reality of AI, discussing whether it is genuine innovation or merely hype. Nick shares his mixed feelings about the current AI landscape, emphasising the importance of data in AI applications and the need for businesses to navigate the hype cycle carefully. They also delve into the practical applications of AI in business, highlighting the potential for productivity gains while cautioning against unrealistic expectations. In this...
2025-05-291h 44The Business AlchemistsThe Future of Lead Gen Isnโt AI. Itโs THIS.What if the next great sales breakthrough isnโt artificial intelligence but actual warm introductions?In this episode of the Business Alchemist Podcast, Phil Akilade sits down with Mike Adams, founder of Start-Up IntroStars and self-proclaimed King of Networking, to expose the inconvenient truth about cold outreach, AI-driven spam, and what really works in B2B sales today.Mike shares his powerful journey from a struggling sales rep relying on cold emails, to building a ยฃ5M pipeline using zero cold outreach with just human connections. Now, heโs launched a SaaS platform to scale...
2025-05-171h 21The Business AlchemistsAI: Friend or Foe in the Workplace?In this episode of the Business Alchemist podcast, Phil Akilade speaks with Ken West, a managing partner at Valenta, about the practical applications of AI in the Supply Chain. They discuss the divide in perceptions of AI, its potential to assist rather than replace jobs, and the importance of data quality in AI implementation. Ken shares insights on how AI can improve employee engagement, the challenges of change management, and the current state of AI in the supply chain industry. He emphasises the need for businesses to understand AI's capabilities and to find...
2025-05-111h 22The Business AlchemistsAI may just have made CFO's obsolete!In this episode of the Business Alchemist podcast, Phil Akilade interviews Ian Randolph, the Chief Product Officer of Nume, discussing the transformative impact of AI on finance and entrepreneurship. Ian emphasises the reality of AI as an exponential technology that is reshaping the business landscape, particularly for founders who often struggle with financial management. He explains how AI tools can empower entrepreneurs, allowing them to focus on creativity and innovation rather than traditional finance tasks. The conversation explores the future of work, the collaboration between humans and AI, and the potential for a...
2025-04-221h 06The Business AlchemistsAlternative Practitioners: Modern medicine could be keeping your patients sick!In this episode of the Business Alchemist podcast, Phil Akilade interviews Trevor Gunn, a medical biochemist and alternative health practitioner. They discuss the challenges faced by alternative health practitioners in understanding and treating modern illnesses, the limitations of orthodox medicine, and the importance of recognising the body's intelligent responses to disease. Trevor emphasises the need for a paradigm shift in how practitioners view illness, advocating for a more holistic approach that considers the root causes rather than just symptoms. The conversation also touches on the rising prevalence of chronic diseases and the role...
2025-04-191h 26The Business AlchemistsSpeaking - The critical Leadership skillIn this episode of the Business Alchemists Podcast, Phil Akilade interviews Cindy Ashton, an expert in authentic leadership communication. They discuss the importance of the skill of speaking for leaders who have to make every deal count. Cindy shares her insights on how to connect with audiences on a deeper emotional level, the impact of stress on communication, and practical techniques to enhance speaking skills. Through client success stories, Cindy illustrates the transformative power of authenticity in leadership and sales. The conversation emphasises the need for trust and emotional intelligence in...
2025-03-141h 03The Business AlchemistsAutism in business - blessing or curse?Reluctant entrepreneur Roger Horlock, shares his hazardous journey from starting up to successfully growing an independent broadband network in Brighton. He discusses the challenges he faced due to his late diagnosis of Autism and ADHD, how this condition shaped his approach to business and tragically impacted his family lifeThe conversation delves into the importance of innovative thinking in entrepreneurship, emphasising the personal nature of business and the need to solve problems effectively. Roger discusses his own personal philosophy on the guerrilla mindset in business, emphasising the importance of resilience and innovation.
2025-03-112h 26The Business AlchemistsThe Journey of a Plant Based EntrepreneurIn this first episode of Business Alchemists, Phil Akilade interviews Michael Hill, founder of One Planet Pizza. They discuss Michael's journey from a successful consultancy to creating a plant-based pizza brand, the challenges of production, marketing strategies, and navigating the pandemic. Michael shares insights on mental resilience, the importance of physical activity and meditation for entrepreneurs, and the experience of getting into ASDA's incubator program. He emphasises the need for a strong brand story, the challenges of logistics in food distribution, and offers valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs around finance raising and the...
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