Spotlight On Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of Spotlight On, Josh White, Co-Founder & CEO of Cano Water discusses his mission to combat plastic pollution. Inspired by a trip to Thailand, Josh and his friends created a sustainable water brand using aluminium cans.

The discussion explores the rewards of building a business with a strong environmental focus and how Cano Water has sold over 40 million cans while staying true to its values. Josh highlights the importance of team building, mentorship, and setting boundaries in the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, along with the resilience needed to navigate a competitive market. 

Here, Josh shares the transformative impact of setting boundaries and believing in your vision, and we hear how Cano Water navigates the complexities of balancing profit with purpose. 

In this episode, Emily Farrow sits down with Oliver Lang, former Management Consultant turned serial entrepreneur with special expertise in Insurance and Insurtech.

The discussion explores the transition from consulting to entrepreneurship, highlighting practical advice for leveraging consulting skills in a startup environment. Oliver shares insights on positioning businesses for private equity sales, stressing the importance of understanding the buyer's business model and maintaining stable, recurring income. He also discusses the value of engaging board members effectively and the critical role they play in business growth and strategy, advocating for a strategic approach to business growth and balancing immediate operational improvements with a long-term vision for sustainable success.

In this episode, Nicholas Barton, Founder & CEO of The Barton Partnership, sits down with Ted Bililies, Global Head of Transformative Leadership practice at AlixPartners and author of the article 'Private Equity Needs a New Talent Strategy,' published in Harvard Business Review. An expert in leadership and organisation development, Ted discusses the evolving landscape of Private Equity, emphasising the increasing importance of leadership and talent management.

During the discussion, Ted delves into the challenges faced by the Private Equity sector in adapting to economic changes, examines the pivotal contribution of human capital partners in driving value creation, and addresses the critical role of culture in maintaining talent retention. Additionally, he offers valuable perspectives on succession planning and adapting to the shifting needs of today's diverse workforce. 

In this episode of our Women in Leadership podcast, The Barton Partnership’s Charlotte Pairé welcomes Katie McCarthy, Chief Innovation Officer at Halloran Consulting Group. 

Here, Katie discusses her extensive career in life sciences consulting, sharing her journey from clinical research to leading innovation at Halloran. She reflects on the critical experiences and challenges that have shaped her approach, emphasising the importance of adaptability and embracing change in the industry. The conversation delves into the role of disruptive innovation in clinical studies, the profound impact of mentorship on career development, and the significance of promoting diversity and inclusion within the life sciences sector.

In this episode, Kiran Rasoda, Director of The Barton Partnership's Transformation & Change practice, is joined by EOS Deal Advisory Founders Maggie Brereton and Ina Kjaer. 

Here, they delve into a number of critical topics, including the power of purposeful diversity and inclusion in shaping innovative solutions for clients, the significance of effective time management for maintaining a work-life balance, the importance of women supporting one another in the business world, and EOS Deal Advisory's ambitious mission to revolutionise their industry.

https://www.eos-dealadvisory.com/

In this episode, The Barton Partnership's Founder and CEO, Nicholas Barton, sits down with Dave Allen, Founder of Brandpie, an independent consultancy specialising in purpose-driven transformation. 

Here, he shares his career journey and experience working alongside Sir Martin Sorrell and emphasises the crucial role of corporate purpose and employee engagement, advocating for the seamless integration of purpose across all aspects of a business.

He also reflects on contemporary leadership challenges, underscoring the importance of adaptability in today's ever-evolving business landscape. Furthermore, he highlights the critical value of placing trust in your team as a catalyst for inspiration and increased employee engagement.

About Brandpie: Brandpie works with complex, multinational corporations, ambitious, fast-growth entrepreneurs and leading NGOs looking to build a purpose-led future. We work with every sector and have in-depth experience in healthcare, pharma, technology, financial services, consulting, professional services, energy, automotive, aerospace and engineering. 

Brandpie was named one of the Financial Times' leading Management Consultancies every year since 2018 and B2B Agency of the Year in North America by the Drum in 2019.

https://www.brandpie.com

In this episode, The Barton Partnership’s Ashley Gordon is joined by Managing Director, Practices and Impact at dss+, Melissa Barrett.

With extensive expertise in scientific research and sustainability consulting, Melissa shares her insights  into the essential role of leadership alignment and organisational readiness in embedding sustainability at the core of business operations. Here, she discusses the intricacies of decision-making and the growing complexities of sustainability expectations, highlighting the strategic steps leaders must take to navigate and overcome these challenges for a successful sustainable transformation.

 www.consultdss.com

In this episode, Mike Fritz, Private Equity Consultant at The Barton Partnership, is joined by Andrew Wesbecher, Global VP of Sales at Traceable. Here, they delve into the world of cybersecurity and the changing landscape of sales leadership. Andrew, a highly technical leader, provides valuable insights into navigating the ever-changing cybersecurity market, tailoring leadership approaches to diverse demographics, and the significance of addressing pressing customer pain points in building successful tech companies. 

In this episode,  Ben Glitherow, Director of The Barton Partnership's Public Sector Practice is joined by Lieutenant General (Retd) Richard Nugee CB CVO CBE. 

Here, they discuss adaptable leadership, change management, and the urgent need for a dedicated climate security centre. Richard emphasises integrating eco-conscious practices for competitive advantages and cost savings while navigating legacy structures and promoting sustainability-aligned financial benefits.

General Richard Nugee has earned international recognition for bringing the implications of Climate Change and Sustainability to the Defence and National Security sectors.  After a full operational career in the British Army, as his final role he wrote a Review of Defence's approach to Climate Change and Sustainability. He is now the Non-Executive Director for Climate Change and Net Zero for the Ministry of Defence.  He has expanded this policy interest into delivery, as the Chair, Director and Advisor of a number of renewable energy and environmental sustainability start-ups. He is CEO of a medical research charity, The Scar Free Foundation, Chair of the Royal NAAFI Board, Director of his own Strategic Advisory Company, a strategic advisor to a number of consultancies and organisations, including the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, Oxford University’s Climate Change (In)Security Project and a climate-focused venture capitalist group. 

In this episode, Harry Chamberlain (VP of The Barton Partnership’s US Private Equity Practice) is joined by Geza Garai, an experienced Chief Transformation Officer who has worked across multiple Private Equity owned portfolio companies. 

Here, they discuss the pivotal role of the CTO, spanning execution, navigating transformative challenges and fostering organisational values. Drawing from experiences during the pandemic, Geza underscores key CTO qualities – curiosity, resilience and adaptability. The conversation explores the versatility of the CTO role across industries and investment scenarios, sharing valuable insights into the multifaceted responsibilities of the Chief Transformation Officer in Private Equity.