The Request for Resilience Is a Request to Shut Up — Bruce Daisley on Fixing work and bringing back the Joy
In this episode, Bruce Daisley — one of the UK’s most influential voices on fixing work — joins us to unpack what that really means.
Recognised by LinkedIn as one of the world’s top 10 voices on the future of work, Bruce has led Twitter and YouTube across Europe, written the Financial Times-acclaimed book Fortitude, and hosts the #1 Apple business podcast Eat Sleep Work Repeat.
We dive into the myth of resilience, how workplaces can rebuild real connection, and why joy, trust, and laughter are the true foundations of strong teams.
A bold, essential conversation about how work broke — and how we can fix it.
PDF about how to launch a book : http://eatsleepworkrepeat.com/bestseller
The Joy of Work : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Joy-Work-Business-Bestseller-Culture/dp/1847942393
Fortitude : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fortitude-Unlocking-Secrets-Inner-Strength/dp/B09MJJ2T4X
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How ASOS Went From £223M to £4B: Culture, Customers & Courage with Nick Beighton
Nick Beighton (ex-CEO of ASOS) drops a leadership masterclass: why culture really does eat strategy, how “purpose drives profit,” and the experimental mindset that helped scale ASOS from £223M to nearly £4B. Rachel and Marco dig into decision frameworks, data-driven experimentation (down to the Add-to-Bag button), buying Topshop, progressive people policies, and the “Magpie Moment” that shaped ASOS’s purpose: giving people the confidence to be whoever they want to be. Plus: learning to pivot, managing imposter syndrome, and the decade-by-decade career roadmap (learn, experiment, double-down, give back).
If you enjoy Mentor, follow and share with someone navigating their own leadership path. For exec search & consulting: visit https://thezoo.london/
Chapters:
0:00 - Welcome & why Mentor (hard-earned wisdom)4:04 - Guest intro: Nick Beaton’s path to ASOS & beyond5:28 - Career snapshot & early lessons14:23 - Retail wake-up: live in the numbers, think like the customer15:15 - Making failure safe: ASOS’s annual “f***-up” list20:49 - Decision model: customer, people, brand → then finance27:09 - The Topshop acquisition: full-circle strategy44:00 - The Magpie Moment: purpose = “confidence to be whoever you want to be”51:54 - Advice to 25-year-old self: back yourself, pivot, pursue purpose
A Viral Tribe Production
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Is There a Market in the Gap? Kathleen Saxton’s Business Test
Kathleen Saxton (psychotherapist, ex-Global CMO, and author) joins Marco Bertozzi and Rachel Forde for a masterclass in mentorship and leadership. From “don’t be a passenger” to building “the board you can’t afford,” Kathleen shares battle-tested tactics from 30+ years across agencies, media owners, entrepreneurship and psychotherapy. They cover asking senior leaders for time (and getting a yes), getting in the right rooms, avoiding performative vulnerability, recovering from career missteps, trusting your gut in hiring, and her new books on narcissism, recovery and modern leadership.
If you enjoyed this, follow Mentor on Apple & Spotify, subscribe on YouTube, and tell us your best mentor advice in the comments!
Recorded at Viral Tribe Studios in Soho
Buy Kathleen’s book, here
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55:58
“Stay Close to the Idea”: Sir John Hegarty on AI, Brands & Creative Courage
Advertising legend Sir John Hegarty (co-founder of BBH) joins hosts Marco Bertozzi and Rachel Forde for a masterclass in creativity, brand building and brave decision-making. From getting fired at 21 to launching BBH and shaping culture with Levi’s, BA and more, Sir John Hegarty shares why irreverence matters, how to build movements (not ads), and why, yes, even in the age of AI, the people closest to the idea will win!
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Recorded at Viral Tribe Studios in Soho.
Chapters
0:00 — Welcome & why Hegarty matters (plus teaser)
3:01 — Sir John’s bio & early years in advertising
5:31 — Career in 60 seconds
7:09 — Fired young: conviction over comfort
16:25 — Irreverence & the Black Sheep philosophy
25:09 — Brands as culture: trust, authenticity & “stop stalking”
28:10 — Building The Business of Creativity & the Whalar deal
34:29 — AI: stay closest to the idea (real advice for creatives & CMOs)
47:50 — Founding BBH: no-spec pitches, principles & brand lessons
1:05:44 — Mentorship, no regrets & “Timing is everything”
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Two Ears, One Mouth: Karen Blackett’s #1 Rule for Winning at Work
Karen Blackett CBE joins Rachel Ford and Marco Bertozzi for a masterclass in modern leadership. From “learn, earn, serve” to “two ears, one mouth,” Karen breaks down the habits that build winning, heads-up teams. We get real on mentors vs sponsors, a pitch lost to bias (and how to let it go), inclusion that drives performance, and what it’s like to lead 13,000 people at WPP. Karen also shares how she managed leaving, grief and all, plus sport, parenting, and the global mindset she wishes she’d adopted sooner.
Recorded at Viral Tribe Studios in Soho
Chapters:
00:00 – Welcome & show setup
00:28 – Karen Blackett: bio & mantra
03:30 – Career in 60 seconds
11:21 – “Two ears, one mouth”
13:30 – Belonging & finding your tribe
20:37 – Mentors vs sponsors
24:46 – The pitch lost to bias
29:47 – Inclusion that drives growth
38:38 – Change: on/off/at the bus stop
43:17 – Leaving WPP & advice at 25
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MENTOR is a podcast that shares the lived experiences of senior leaders across industries.
In each episode, guests open up to founders Rachel Forde and Marco Bertozzi of TheZoo.London about their careers, mistakes, lessons, and the people who inspired them along the way. It’s smart, relaxed, and packed with real-world insight. Whether you’re a future leader or simply curious about how others have navigated the world of work, MENTOR delivers valuable takeaways and thoughtful conversation.
Brought to you by TheZoo.London and Viral Tribe.
UK