The Diary Of A CEO
Showing 466–480 of 523 transcripts.
- 1h 4m
Jordan Peterson: How To Become The Person You’ve Always Wanted To Be | E113
Jordan Peterson, Stephen Bartlett
Psychologist Jordan Peterson outlines a philosophy of existential responsibility, arguing that individuals must abandon social personas to pursue truth and self-improvement through structured struggle rather than the pursuit of happiness. He details specific protocols for personal development, including nightly self-audits and assertive career negotiation tactics, while critiquing remote work and pandemic policies as threats to embodied human experience and individual liberty. Ultimately, Peterson and interviewer Stephen Bartlett commit to using their platforms to model radical truth-telling as the necessary foundation for a healthy society and the salvation of humanity.
- 1h 37m
Gymshark CEO: How I Built A $1.5 Billion Business At 19! Ben Francis
Ben Francis founded Gymshark in 2012 and scaled the direct-to-consumer fitness brand to a billion-dollar valuation by transitioning from CEO to creative lead in 2015 before returning to the top role in 2024. Through strategic hiring, self-driven personal development, and a crisis-tested remote workforce, Francis steered the 900-employee company through rapid global expansion and significant reputational challenges without furloughing staff during the pandemic. The company now aims to compete with major industry giants like Nike while maintaining its niche focus on gym-specific apparel through a hybrid digital and physical community hub strategy.
- 1h 34m
The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck: Mark Manson | E111
Bestselling author Mark Manson details his evolution from a financially successful but emotionally hollow pickup artist to a philosopher of vulnerability and responsible living. He contrasts the fleeting nature of status-driven "highs" with sustainable happiness derived from honesty, generosity, and community, while advising audiences to distinguish between external fault and internal responsibility. Drawing on his own crises following *The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck*, Manson urges individuals to reject the comfort trap of modern affluence in favor of evolving purpose and the ethical imperative of treating others as ends in themselves.
- 1h 41m
Molly Mae: How She Became Creative Director Of PLT At 22 | 110
Creative Director Molly May outlines her transition from influencer to business leader at Pretty Little Thing, leveraging a 10 million follower base and a selective partnership strategy to drive her brand while scaling her own "Filter by Molly May" product line. Her narrative details a high-pressure life defined by extreme work ethics, significant personal security upgrades following a burglary, and a deliberate shift toward natural beauty after reversing cosmetic procedures that had triggered public criticism. Despite managing intense professional demands for London Fashion Week and her emerging businesses, May emphasizes her focus on transparency, mental resilience, and long-term philanthropic goals to sustain her identity beyond financial accumulation.
- 1h 45m
Russell Howard: How To Laugh Through Fear, Anxiety & Imposter Syndrome | E109
Russell Howard, Stephen Bartlett
On December 14th, comedian Russell Howard releases his new Netflix stand-up special *Lubricant* and the accompanying documentary *Until the Wheels Come Off*, utilizing a slower, more reflective style to address global crises and personal trauma. Drawing on his family's chaotic history and his own struggles with anxiety, Howard frames humor as an essential mechanism for bridging social divides and navigating the "fake outrage" of modern culture. The project aims to help audiences find common ground through deeply human storytelling while validating the psychological complexities inherent in the comedian's profession.
- 1h 59m
Mel Robbins: This One Hack Will Unlock Your Happier Life | E108
Mel Robbins discusses how childhood trauma and environmental conditioning often misfire the human nervous system, leading to chronic anxiety and self-blame that she addresses by reframing fear as excitement and using the "Five Second Rule" to interrupt harmful habit loops. She introduces practical tools like the "High Five Habit" to bypass the brain's skepticism of verbal affirmations, sharing that her own recovery from debt and suicidal ideation relied on physical interventions that activate the prefrontal cortex. Ultimately, Robbins asserts that while trauma leaves lasting biological scars, consciously rewiring one's response to stress allows individuals to transform their pain into a foundation for helping others.
- 1h 32m
Starling CEO: Building a $1.5 Billion Business Against The Odds: Anne Boden | E107
After resigning from a 30-year banking career to launch Starling Bank with no prior experience, founder Ann Boden secured a £48 million investment in thirty seconds while overcoming a severe leadership crisis triggered by co-founder Tom Blomfield's departure. Boden subsequently rebuilt the institution from a single employee and one volunteer, navigating intense personal and emotional pressures to guide the fintech firm toward a projected IPO. Her journey challenges gender stereotypes in venture capital, demonstrating how a female founder can secure the vast majority of UK fintech funding while establishing an ethical banking alternative.
- 1h 40m
Jimmy Carr: Nothing You Could Buy Will Matter In 5 Years
Comedian Jimmy Carr discusses his philosophy that success is a product of deliberate skill-building and perspective rather than luck, detailing his transition from a corporate career to stand-up comedy after realizing his "position" mattered less than his "disposition." Drawing from personal experiences with dyslexia, depression, and public controversy, he advocates for cognitive reframing techniques like NLP to view happiness as a responsibility and a choice essential for helping others. Looking forward, Carr aims to evolve his performance style to reflect his philosophical depth while challenging listeners to define meaning through "flow states" and the conscious enjoyment of their passage of time.
- 1h 35m
Patrice Evra: Learning How To Cry Saved My Life!
Patrice Evra, Stephen Bartlett
French football captain Patrice Evra recounts his journey from extreme poverty and sexual abuse to becoming a Manchester United legend, detailing how these traumas initially enforced a rigid, toxic masculinity upon him. He later dismantled these harmful patterns through family intervention and a personal philosophy prioritizing emotional vulnerability over suppression. Today, Evra dedicates himself to charitable work in Senegal and public advocacy, using his platform to challenge societal stigmas surrounding male trauma and mental health.
- 1h 0m
Life Changing Lessons From 100 Of The World’s Greatest Minds | E104
Jamil Qureshi, Elizabeth Day, Matthew Syed, Anna Hemmings, Steve Peteres, Mo Gawdat, Stephen Bartlett
This session deconstructs the limitations of chasing "finding your passion" while establishing that consistent decision-making and a growth mindset, rather than fleeting emotion, drive long-term success. The dialogue introduces Professor Steve Peters' "Chimp Model" to explain emotional regulation during crisis and defines happiness through the equation of perception versus expectation, urging leaders to foster resilience by praising effort over innate talent. To apply these psychological principles in business and personal life, the host emphasizes shifting from fragile self-esteem to "committed acceptance" of chaos, a theme central to upcoming episodes featuring high-profile guests and practical strategies for sustainable change.
- 27 min
6 BEST Pieces Of Business Advice That Made Me Millions | E103
Daniela, Chloe, Steve Bartlett
In a live "Diary of a CEO" tour and Q&A session, the speaker outlines a strategic framework for business success centered on singular focus, the "someday shelf" concept for idea evaluation, and the necessity of self-belief, resilience, and humility throughout the entrepreneurial lifecycle. Addressing psychological barriers, the event reframes imposter syndrome as a growth indicator while detailing a specific protocol for securing mentorship through empathy and value exchange. The presentation concludes by emphasizing that sustainable motivation relies on combining worthwhile, challenging goals with loved ones, alongside evidence-based validation of market fit.
- 1h 0m
David Gandy: Highest Paid Male Model Opens Up About Insecurities & Imposter Syndrome | E102
Supermodel David Gandy attributes his two-decade success to strategic career pivots, most notably the deliberate shift from commercial work to editorial modeling that secured his landmark Dolce & Gabbana partnership. Building on this business acumen, he launched the sustainable Wellwear brand in late 2023, which combines scientific research on comfort with a mission to combat fast fashion addiction while aiming to become a top UK loungewear label. Beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, Gandy candidly discusses overcoming childhood bullying and professional imposter syndrome to achieve his current status as a designer and creative director prioritizing mental well-being.
- 1h 58m
The Happiness Expert That Made 51 Million People Happier: Mo Gawdat | E101
Former Google Executive Mo Gawdat synthesizes his personal tragedy following his son Ali's death with data analysis to propose a mathematical formula for happiness that challenges modern expectations. He outlines a practical framework for emotional resilience while warning that humanity's collective moral choices will ultimately determine whether artificial intelligence becomes a utopian ally or a dystopian threat by 2055. Gawdat's "One Billion Happy" movement and his philosophical shift toward balancing ambition with acceptance aim to retrain the human mind for gratitude and ethically guide the future of sentient technology.
- 1h 34m
Ann Summers CEO: The Heartbreaking Story Of One Of Britain's Richest Women! Jacqueline Gold CBE
Jacqueline Gold transformed Ann Summers from a mail-order service into a cultural institution by pioneering the home party model that normalized female sexual empowerment. Overcoming severe personal trauma, including sexual abuse, an attempted poisoning, and a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis, she dismantled industry stigmas and fought legal battles to expand her business into hostile markets like Dublin. Today, the 61-year-old CEO continues to advocate for inclusivity and optimism while shifting her focus toward broader female empowerment initiatives.
- 1h 22m
How I Built 5 Multi-Million Dollar Companies: Marcia Kilgore | E99
Marcia Kilgore, Stephen Bartlett
Serial entrepreneur Marcia Kilgore leverages a "democratization of the good stuff" philosophy to successfully exit five businesses, including Bliss, Soap & Glory, and Beauty Pie, after founding them from humble beginnings in her East Village apartment. Her unique approach to innovation and management combines rigorous pattern recognition for staffing with a "deathbed test" for decision-making, ensuring high standards while prioritizing meaningful community connection over mere metrics. Drawing on her early financial independence as a child in Canada, Kilgore now guides aspiring founders to acquire hands-on skills before scaling, treating failure as a primary mentor for building resilient, inclusive brands.