Confessions of a CEO

• Against the Odds: ADHD, Adversity & Ambition

  In this episode of ‘Confessions of an Entrepreneur’, Carl sits down with global recruitment specialist Steve Rawlingson. Founder of Samuel Knight, Steve overcame a challenging childhood to become a trailblazer in the recruitment industry, carving a significant niche in the international renewable energy sector. He has embraced ADHD as a ‘superpower’ to drive him to the success he is achieving and talks frankly about how the condition impacts and influences his life, and entrepreneurial spirit. Having left school with no qualifications and little idea of the direction he wanted to take, Steve opens up about the decisions he made and the opportunities that enabled him to set up, scale and grow his international business, including securing significant investment from private equity firm, Gresham House Ventures. In this fascinating episode Steve reveals his ‘why’ and what drives him, balancing business with being a dad, and, and how despite having not gained a single GCSE, his latest achievement, which is an academic one, is one of his proudest. Carl and Steve also delve into what makes an entrepreneur and how to overcome challenges to build businesses and achieve personal and professional success. This insightful and engaging episode is a must listen for anyone that is scaling up their own business and shows how self-belief, resilience and challenging yourself can drive entrepreneurs to success. Connect with Steve LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenrawlingson/ Website: https://www.samuel-knight.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.

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• Paul Lancaster: The Super Connector inspiring start-up & scale-up growth

  In this episode of ‘Confessions of an Entrepreneur’, Carl sits down with the North East ‘super connector’ Paul Lancaster.The man behind the hugely successful UK Start Up and Scale Up Week, held earlier this year, Paul is a highly charged entrepreneur, driven to help others succeed in business.Focussed, creative, tenacious and brave, all of Paul’s career has been focussed on starting up, scaling and developing different businesses, across a range of sectors, whilst helping other entrepreneurs do the same.Having led a top-level early career working for corporate organisations such as Sage and British Airways, alongside privately owned firms including Nigel Wright Recruitment, Paul has also been involved in a number of start-up enterprises, including his current business, Stellar Business Events.Established in 2024, alongside North East-based investor and former ‘Confessions’ guest, Neil Stephenson, the business, organises a wide range of networking and knowledge-filled events, across the North and Scotland, all designed to support and inspire entrepreneurs.During their chat, Carl delves into what inspires Paul to inspire others and what he believes successful entrepreneurs have in common. This is a truly fascinating, thought provoking and engaging podcast, highlighting the lessons Paul’s learnt when scaling many businesses, which he now shares with other likeminded entrepreneurs, along with the importance of network and strategic business development.This is a must-listen episode for any aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, as well as those scaling their enterprise.Connect with PaulLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lordlancaster/Website: https://ukstartupweek.com/Connect with CarlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=ukWebsite: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

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• Teesside Titan: Bill Scott’s blueprint for business and giving back

  In this latest episode of ‘Confessions of an Entrepreneur’, Carl chats with one of North East England’s best-known businesspeople, Bill Scott OBE DL.Often the ‘voice for business’ in the region, Bill has become a highly recognised ambassador in the North East and is a champion of entrepreneurialism and philanthropy.As the CEO of Wilton Engineering, which builds large, complicated structures for the offshore and defence industries, Bill talks about how he set out to be the pulse of the business, empowering others to help deliver success, emphasising the importance of establishing the right workplace culture, which can be the difference between a good business and a great business.Bill talks with Carl about his journey which started out with ambitions to be a chef, but was switched to engineering after a sliding doors moment on a basketball court.This took Bill down the apprenticeship route, which has had a resounding impact on his life and career, placing apprentice training at the very heart of his business, including the opening of an academy on his extensive 113-acre site on the banks of the River Tees in Middlesbrough.Bill and Carl also delve into the value of mentorship and why he commits lots of his time to mentoring companies, as well as his extensive charity roles.This is a fascinating and engaging episode, highlighting Bill’s inspiring story and his refreshing approach to business, which is a must listen for both aspiring and established entrepreneurs.Connect with BillLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-scott-obe-dl-34106922/Website: https://www.wiltonengineering.co.uk/Connect with CarlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=ukWebsite: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

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• Imposter Syndrome, Setbacks & Success: The Sergio Petrucci Confession

  In this episode of ‘Confessions of an Entrepreneur’, Carl sits down with enigmatic entrepreneurial charity fundraiser Sergio Petrucci MBE. Founder and CEO of North East England-based Red Sky Foundation, which each year raises millions of pounds to help people with heart defects and life threatening illnesses, Sergio also has a number of other business interests. A true life saver, who was awarded the MBE by King Charles for his significant contribution to charity, Sergio opens up about growing up in an entrepreneurial family and how that has imprinted on his life and career. Sergio gives a no-hold-barred and no-nonsense perspective on his business and life story, highlighting some of the challenges he faced, early on, when pursuing his career, how he deals with setbacks on the shadow of imposter syndrome. He talks with Carl about the importance of following your dreams rather than chasing wealth, along with his ‘why’ and his selfless drive to do great things for great people, and North East region.This thoroughly entertaining, thought provoking and sometimes emotional episode is a must listen as Carl helps listeners find out more about this inspiring, charismatic and conversational character. Connect with SergioLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergio-petrucci-mbe-%E2%9D%A4%EF%B8%8F-347b034a/Website: https://redskyfoundation.com/Connect with CarlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=ukWebsite: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

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• From PwC to The Lakes Distillery: Entrepreneurial lessons from Nigel Mills CBE

  In this episode of ‘Confessions of an Entrepreneur’, Carl chats with Nigel Mills CBE, a champion for business and entrepreneurialism in the North of England.Like Carl, Nigel began his career as a Chartered Accountant. He qualified at PriceWaterhouseCoopers before leaving to buy an independent convenience store business, which he scaled to a portfolio of 77 stores, before selling it to Tesco PLC.After selling, Nigel set up, developed and subsequently sold highly regarded The Lakes Distillery, which was acquired by English sparkling wine producer, Nytimber in a deal, which valued The Lakes Distillery at £71 million.Nigel was one of the founders of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum and is a trusted advisor, Non-Executive Director, mentor and investor.Nigel talks to Carl about how he switched from a plan to be a professional golfer to become an accountant after his grandfather passed away, before landing a place at PwC. He covers the highs and lows of his business career, the importance of sport in his life, the range of investment and mentoring opportunities he is regularly offered and how he decides which ones to pursue, and invest in.This educational and thought-provoking episode highlights the importance of surrounding yourself with the experience and expertise of others, coupled with persistency when pursuing ambitious entrepreneurial endeavours.Connect with NigelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-john-mills-cbe-6a555042/Connect with CarlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=ukWebsite: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

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