Confessions of an Entrepreneur

In this special live edition of Confessions of an Entrepreneur, Carl Swansbury brings his podcast to the stage, joined by four exceptional entrepreneurs for an evening of honest conversation about business, resilience and what it really takes to build companies of lasting value.
Hosted in partnership with Ward Hadaway and attended by more than 100 business leaders from across the North East, the panel discussion brought together entrepreneur and campaigner Heather Mills, serial entrepreneur and investor Andrew Hulbert, entrepreneur and technology leader Charlie Hoult, and entrepreneur and business founder Kevin Fasting for an unfiltered discussion about the realities of entrepreneurship.
Throughout the evening, the panel shared the defining moments that shaped their entrepreneurial journeys, from overcoming personal adversity and financial uncertainty to building businesses, leading through economic downturns and achieving successful exits.
Heather Mills reflected on how an exceptionally difficult childhood, homelessness and later life-changing injury fuelled her determination to solve problems, challenge convention and use business as a vehicle for creating positive social impact. Andrew Hulbert explained how he left a successful corporate career with a clear ambition to build a business that would ultimately give him something more valuable than money - time with his family.
Kevin Fasting spoke candidly about the disappearance of his father, an event that transformed both his outlook on life and his motivation to build businesses capable of changing the lives of those around him. Charlie Hoult shared lessons from building and scaling businesses through periods of economic uncertainty, explaining how culture, leadership and empowering talented people have underpinned the growth of his ventures.
The discussion explored topics including resilience, imposter syndrome, leadership, funding growth, private equity, scaling teams, preparing for economic uncertainty and defining success on your own terms. While each entrepreneur's story was different, a common theme emerged: great businesses are built through clarity of purpose, resilience in the face of setbacks and a willingness to keep learning.
This special live episode captures the spirit of Carl Swansbury’s Confessions of an Entrepreneur podcast series, offering honest insights, practical advice and inspiring stories from four entrepreneurs who have each forged their own path to success.
Connect with the panel
Heather Mills | https://www.linkedin.com/in/msheathermills/
Professor Charlie Hoult | https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliehoult/
Andrew Hulbert | https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewhulbert
Kevin Fasting | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinfasting/
Connect with Carl
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk
Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/
This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

In this episode of Confessions of an Entrepreneur, Carl sits down with entrepreneur and business leader Andrew Hulbert, a founder who has built, scaled and sold multiple businesses, achieving financial independence before the age of 40.
Andrew shares the journey from his early corporate career to founding Pareto, the business that would become the foundation of his entrepreneurial success. Long before launching his first venture, Andrew was consciously building relationships, developing his personal profile and creating the network he knew would one day support him when the time came to strike out on his own.
The conversation explores the realities of leaving behind the security of a six-figure salary to start a business, and the personal considerations that come with taking such a significant risk. Andrew reflects on the conversations he had with his wife, the confidence required to back himself and the importance of having a clear vision of what success would look like.
Carl and Andrew discuss the early years of Pareto, from winning those critical first clients and bootstrapping growth, to attracting talented people who believed in the business and remained part of its journey for years. While Andrew attributes some of that success to luck, the discussion highlights the role played by culture, leadership and a genuine commitment to helping others succeed alongside him.
Having sold Pareto through two private equity transactions worth tens of millions of pounds, Andrew explains that entrepreneurship was never an endless pursuit of more. Instead, it was a means to an end: creating the freedom to spend more time with his family, friends and the people who matter most.
Throughout the episode, Andrew shares the principles that have guided his success, including maintaining an “inch wide, mile deep” focus, setting clear and measurable goals, and staying humble regardless of achievements or financial outcomes.
This inspiring episode offers practical lessons on entrepreneurship, ambition and discipline, while reminding listeners that success is ultimately about defining what matters to you and building a life around it.
Connect with Andrew
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewhulbert
Connect with Carl
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/
This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

In this special extended episode of Confessions of an Entrepreneur, Carl sits down with entrepreneur, campaigner and philanthropist Heather Mills for a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation about business, resilience and creating positive change.

Many people will know Heather from her time in the public eye, but what is less widely understood is her remarkable entrepreneurial journey. From founding her first business as a teenager while experiencing homelessness, to building and selling multiple successful companies, Heather's story is one of determination, independence and an unwavering belief that obstacles exist to be overcome.

Heather reflects on a challenging childhood in which she became highly self-sufficient at a young age, helping to support her siblings while navigating significant family difficulties. Those experiences, she explains, shaped the mindset that would later drive her success in business and philanthropy.

Carl and Heather explore her passion for problem-solving and innovation, discussing why she has always been drawn to improving existing systems rather than accepting the status quo. Whether in business, charity work or campaigning, Heather's approach has consistently been to challenge accepted thinking and search for better solutions.

The conversation also covers the realities of living in the public eye and the impact that fame can have on personal freedom and self-expression. Heather speaks candidly about balancing public scrutiny with her desire to remain authentic and outspoken about the causes she believes in.
Alongside her business achievements, Heather discusses her commitment to charitable work around the world. She explains how entrepreneurship has never been solely about financial success, but about creating the resources, influence and platform needed to support causes that improve people's lives.

The episode also explores Heather's future ambitions, including her desire to step back from business at a defined point in life and dedicate more time to travel, learning and personal pursuits, demonstrating the importance of having a clear purpose beyond commercial success.
This extended episode offers an inspiring insight into a life shaped by resilience, reinvention and a relentless commitment to making a difference, proving that adversity can often become the foundation for extraordinary achievement.

Connect with Heather
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/msheathermills/
Website: https://www.vbites.com/

Connect with Carl
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/

This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

In this episode of Confessions of an Entrepreneur, Carl sits down with North East entrepreneur Chris Carroll, a founder who has built, scaled and sold multiple businesses, while navigating life-changing health challenges that completely reshaped his perspective on success, business and life itself.

Chris shares his journey from leaving a secure role as a marketing executive within a large corporate environment to launching his first agency with a determination to create financial independence, not only for himself, but to make his family proud and remove the financial worries that so many people grow up around.

From the very beginning, Chris bootstrapped his businesses, focusing relentlessly on generating revenue, winning clients and maintaining cash flow. He explains the importance of understanding what customers truly need and developing the sales skills required to turn solutions into sustainable businesses.

Carl and Chris discuss the rapid growth of his first agency, which scaled to a team of 35 people, before Chris’s Crohn’s disease led to a near-fatal operation that forced him to completely reassess the way he worked and lived.

What could have been a devastating ending instead became a catalyst for change. Chris speaks openly about how his health challenges transformed his outlook, leading him to prioritise time, sustainability and focusing only on opportunities that genuinely create value.

The conversation also explores the importance of building strong leadership teams and recognising the value of hiring people with greater expertise than yourself. Chris explains how surrounding himself with experienced senior leaders has allowed him to step back from being involved in every aspect of the business and focus instead on strategy, growth and mentoring others.

Throughout the episode, Chris reflects on the importance of self-belief in entrepreneurship, backing yourself fully while remaining humble enough to recognise that every day in business is an opportunity to learn.

This is an honest and insightful episode about ambition, resilience and redefining success after adversity, offering powerful lessons for entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.

Connect with Chris
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrispixel/
Connect with Carl
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/
This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

In this episode of Confessions of an Entrepreneur, Carl sits down with North East entrepreneur and investor David Lynch, a founder who built a business from his spare bedroom into a global healthcare manufacturing exporter, before successfully exiting for millions and going on to acquire and invest in multiple businesses.
David shares his journey from leaving school with modest qualifications and struggling to find direction, to discovering a passion for healthcare and ultimately building Lynch Healthcare into a highly valuable, saleable business.
Starting with borrowed money from family, David took the leap into entrepreneurship, driven by a desire to take control of his own future. Over the next decade, he scaled the business with focus and resilience, achieving his goal of selling before the age of 40 and securing financial independence.
Carl and David discuss the realities of learning on the job, with David emphasising that while books and podcasts have their place, the most valuable lessons come from experience. That mindset has shaped his approach to business ever since.
Following his exit, David has moved into a more acquisitive role, building a portfolio of businesses through M&A across sectors including healthcare, construction, engineering and facilities services. He shares how he has developed a clear playbook for identifying, acquiring and growing businesses, with a focus on creating long-term shareholder value.
The conversation also explores the importance of time, family and purpose. While financial success has given David independence, his motivation now comes from continuing to build, invest and create, adding new chapters to his life and business journey.
Known for his direct and no-nonsense approach, David speaks openly about the importance of honesty, clarity and cutting through unnecessary complexity in business, qualities that have underpinned his success to date.
This is a grounded and insightful episode offering practical lessons on entrepreneurship, resilience and building a business that delivers both financial and personal fulfilment.
Connect with David
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-lynch-42147419/
Website: https://www.41kong.com/
Connect with Carl
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/
This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.