Secret Leaders - podcast cover

Secret Leaders

Leaders Mediawww.secretleaders.com
Dan Murray-Serter and Chris Donnelly are two serial entrepreneurs who've built, sold, scaled & failed companies worth hundreds of millions of dollars. In Secret Leaders we get inside the greatest minds and greatest moments in business, because we believe the best way to learn about business is to hear from the people who make it happen. Sponsored by Wise Business and Vanta. Contact: [email protected]
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Episodes

I quit. The final episode?

Millions of downloads, 400+ episodes and 7 years, it's time for a break. -------- Sign up to Wise Business banking: ⁠⁠⁠https://wise.com/uk/business/⁠⁠⁠ Join Vanta and receive $1000 off: ⁠⁠⁠http://vanta.com/secretleaders

May 20, 202512 min

The 5 Minute Secret to Changing Your Life |Alex Ikonn, The 5 Minute Journal

What if the secret to happiness, clarity, and success took just 5 minutes a day? In this episode, we sit down with Alex Ikonn — co-founder of the viral sensation The Five Minute Journal, used by the likes Emma Watson, Tim Ferriss, and millions of others. From being fired at a bank to building a 7-figure business and redefining personal fulfillment, Alex shares the mindset hacks, journaling techniques, and life lessons that transformed his journey. 🎙️ In this episode: Why The Five Minute Journal...

May 14, 20251 hr 32 min

Meet the CEO Bill Gates backs to beat Tesla: Alex Kendall, Wayve.AI

In this episode of Secret Leaders, we sit down with Alex Kendall, co-founder & CEO of Wayve AI — the $1B+ British startup taking on Tesla in the race to build a driverless future. From raising $1.05 billion from Microsoft, SoftBank, and NVIDIA, to reimagining cities with AI-powered vehicles, Alex shares how his company is changing how we live, commute, and move goods. - Why do 1.2 million people still die on roads every year? - Why are cars asleep 96% of the time and what if they could work ...

May 06, 20251 hr 15 min

Matchroom CEO on Business of Conor Benn v Chris Eubank Jr & Signing Anthony Joshua | Frank Smith

From pouring tea to billion-dollar deals — Frank Smith's rise to CEO of Matchroom Boxing is nothing short of legendary. In this exclusive podcast, Frank opens up about building global stars like Anthony Joshua, sealing game-changing partnerships with DAZN, and navigating boxing’s Saudi-powered evolution. We dive deep into: The making of Connor Benn vs Chris Eubank Jr Saudi Arabia’s billion-dollar impact on global boxing Dana White’s entry, Jake Paul’s influence & Matchroom’s future Secrets b...

Apr 23, 20251 hr 38 min

Lessons From A Female Billionaire Business Founder |Christina Cacioppo, Vanta

What does it take to go from thinking "I’m not the type to start a company" to building a $2.5B startup that serves over 10,000 businesses? Christina Cacioppo, founder & CEO of Vanta, shares her raw and remarkable journey in this episode of Secret Leaders In this candid interview, we dive into Christina’s path from Stanford to Silicon Valley royalty—funding startups like Twitter and Etsy, then jumping into the deep end to teach herself to code. Learn how she went from solo builder to unicorn...

Apr 15, 20251 hr 4 min

The Millionaire Chef Who HUSTLED His Way To A $50M Empire|Tom Kerridge

Discover how Tom Kerridge went from washing dishes to building a £40M hospitality empire. In this episode of Secret Leaders, we dive into the raw truth behind restaurant success (and failure), why most places don’t make it, and how Tom hustled his way to the top—without any business background, investors, or MBA. Pre-order Tom’s new book: "The BBQ Book: 80 Delicious Recipes for Fire and Coals".. What You'll Learn: The real economics behind restaurant pricing and margins How Tom built the world’s...

Apr 08, 20251 hr 26 minSeason 8Ep. 14

How One Simple AT&T Ad Changed Internet History Forever

From the first banner ad in 1994 to programmatic mobile ads, the internet as we know it was built on one thing: advertising. In this explosive episode of Secret Leaders, we break down the untold story of how ads didn’t just fund the web—they engineered it. You will learn: The birth of banner ads with AT&T’s legendary 44% CTR Google AdWords’ rise and the search ad revolution How Facebook’s targeting reshaped elections Mobile & programmatic ads that track your every move The next frontier:...

Apr 04, 202515 min

The CEO on a Mission to end Your Credit Card Debt|Philip Belamant, Zilch

Is this the man who could end the global credit card crisis? In this explosive episode of Secret Leaders, we sit down with Philip Belamant, the visionary founder of Zilch — the UK fintech unicorn that’s rewriting the rules of credit, debt, and how we pay. Most people know Zilch as a "Buy Now, Pay Later" app — but it’s way more than that. It’s an interest-free payment model that flips the credit card industry on its head… all while quietly becoming 27x more effective than Google Ads What we cover...

Apr 01, 20251 hr 20 min

Why Toxic Men Become CEOs (and How to Stop It)

You've seen them—the red-faced, power-tripping, emotionally disconnected CEOs barking orders while morale sinks. But how did we get here? And more importantly… how do we fix it? This isn't just another workplace rant—it's a deep dive into the dark psychology of leadership, the gendered traits that dominate boardrooms, and the systemic bias that keeps emotionally intelligent leaders out of power. In this video essay, we expose, why toxic traits like dominance & cold toughness get rewarded, ho...

Mar 28, 202511 min

The Truth about Masculinity: Have we really created weak & Toxic Men? & How to fix it - Sam Conniff

What does "toxic masculinity" really mean? In this powerful episode, Sam Conniff dives deep into the crisis of modern masculinity, exploring how society has shaped a generation of men caught between weakness and toxicity. Sam shares his growing concern for younger men, especially after experiencing Andrew Tate’s controversial online course first hand. With Tate’s influence surging, amplified by the recent Netflix hit Adolescence, a show that exposes the dark side of online radicalization, Sam qu...

Mar 25, 20251 hr 19 min

McDonald's vs Burger King: How One Campaign Hijacked Millions of Customers

Ever wondered how Burger King pulled off one of the slickest marketing stunts ever—racking up 1.5 MILLION app downloads in just ONE WEEK by targeting people standing INSIDE McDonald’s stores? _______________ Sign up to Wise Business banking: https://wise.com/uk/business/ Join Vanta and receive $1000 off: http://vanta.com/secretleaders

Mar 21, 202525 min

Dopamine Expert: This 30 minute Rule Will Fix Your Dopamine Addiction

Are your daily habits killing your motivation? Neuroscientist TJ Power, once a self-confessed dopamine junkie reveals how phones and quick fixes tanked his focus and ambition. He broke free from phone and alcohol addiction with his D.O.S.E framework (Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, Endorphins) which has helped him reduce stress, boost sleep by 54%, and turned ambition into action with his 30-minute rule to reboot your brain and reclaim your drive. In this episode TJ provides you with science-back...

Mar 18, 20251 hr 29 min

$500M Bitcoin Lost Because Of An Angry Ex

Imagine losing 8,000 Bitcoins—now worth over half a billion pounds—because someone threw out your hard drive. In this episode of Leaders Chat, Dan and Chris dive into this jaw-dropping story, dissect Tony Khan’s daring strategy to keep AEW a family-run powerhouse, and dish out must-know entrepreneurial tips for aspiring business owners. What’s your opinion on family businesses—smart move or risky gamble? Hit subscribe and drop your thoughts in the comments! _______________ Sign up to Wise Busine...

Mar 14, 202529 min

The Man Who Took Over Savile Row With Just $10,000

Savile Row is one of the most prestigious shopping streets in London, and with just £10,000, Sean Dixon transformed his brand, Richard James, into one of the city's most sought-after tailors. From designing Sir Alex Ferguson's iconic coat to hosting Elton John and Oasis in his shop at the same time, Sean shares the journey of relentless hard work and dedication it took to break into such an elite market. He reveals how Richard James became a magnet for A-list celebrities and the pivotal moments ...

Mar 11, 202559 min

Did you see Elon Musk RIDICULOUS texts to billionaire?

Has anyone seen how CASUAL Elon Musk's text messages were when trying to convince billionaire to invest in X? We will be discussing how common this actually is as well as how Elon's Grok 3 has emerged has the top AI platform despite behind 5 years behind ChatGPT Then Dan and Chris finish of by answering some of your business questions to help you on your entrepreneurial journey _______________ Sign up to Wise Business banking: https://wise.com/uk/business/ Join Vanta and receive $1000 off: http:...

Mar 07, 202542 min

Huel & RedBull’s PR expert talks marketing hacks to go viral - Emily Austen

Want to build a killer marketing campaign? Look no further than our interview with PR expert Emily Austen who does exactly that for global giants Red Bull. She takes us some through some of the most successful PR campaigns ever including how Barbie and Oppenheimer clashed on purpose?! and the powerful hacks that you can start using right now to make your campaigns go viral and stand out from the crowd. _______________ Sign up to Wise Business banking: https://wise.com/uk/business/ Join Vanta and...

Mar 04, 20251 hr 21 min

How Rolex Turns Over $11 Billion But Makes $0 Profit

Rolex is one of the most iconic and prestigious brands in the world, generating an incredible $11 billion in annual revenue. But here’s the shocking twist—Rolex doesn’t make a single dollar in profit. So, where does all that money go? And how does Rolex continue to dominate the luxury watch industry without traditional profits? In this episode of Secret Leaders, we uncover the fascinating truth behind Rolex’s unique business model, its non-profit ownership structure, and why it reinvests billion...

Feb 28, 202515 min

The Man who accidentally sold $100M on Shopify by Travelling the world - Danny Buck, CRAFTD London

Meet the man behind CRAFTD, the Shopify hit that has made him $100 million. This is a man who has experienced it all on his entrepreneurial journey. From car boot sales, to buying out his bosses, creating the iconic Cristiano Ronaldo billboard and ending up in $300k worth of debt. He will be sharing with us everything he has learned along the way and the unique steps he has taken to build an E-commerce powerhouse in CRAFTD _______________ Sign up to Wise Business banking: https://wise.com/uk/bus...

Feb 25, 20251 hr 24 min

Why Dominos gave away free Rolex’s & reacting to cringe CEOs

Did you know Domino’s used to give out Rolex watches to top-performing franchise owners? Or that LEGO rewarded its employees with solid gold bricks? Some companies go above and beyond to take care of their people. In this episode of Leaders Chat, we break down some of the most surprising employee perks—from Airbnb’s $2,000 annual travel credit to Zappos’ bold “Pay to Quit” policy. Dan also shares his full-body health analysis, covering everything from vitamin tests to cancer screenings. How does...

Feb 21, 202533 min

The Bricklayer Who Built a $50M Empire Selling Honey

From a humble bricklayer to building a $40 million honey empire, Scott Davies is living proof that with relentless determination and a never-say-die mentality, anything is possible. Scott’s journey, which began with self-doubt and uncertainty, evolved into the story of an entrepreneur who overcame immense challenges to transform his business into what it is today. Now, his honey is stocked in over 500 Tesco stores across the UK, and his company proudly produces 25% of Britain’s honey supply. Thi...

Feb 18, 20251 hr 18 min

Deepseek vs ChatGPT, YouTube Dating? & Beating Bill Gates

Is Chris more influential than Bill Gates? This week, we explore Chris's rise to the top as LinkedIn’s number one ranked creator and dive into the ongoing battle between Deepseek and ChatGPT. Plus, did you know YouTube started out as a dating site?! We’re also excited to introduce a brand new segment to the show, where we react to some of the wildest LinkedIn posts shared by the popular creator behind "State of LinkedIn." ______________________________________ Sign up to Wise Business banking: h...

Feb 14, 202542 min

Wealth Expert: Unlock This Mentality to Make $10K a Month - Sahil Bloom

Everyone wants to make money, and many view it as the ultimate path to happiness. But for Sahil Bloom, money is merely the by product of discovering what truly brings you joy and fulfilment. In this incredibly insightful episode, we sit down with Sahil, a wealth expert, to explore the deeper side of success. Sahil shares how financial wealth is not the goal, but a natural outcome of pursuing your passion and aligning your life with what genuinely makes you happy. We delve into the mindset requir...

Feb 11, 20251 hr 16 min

$25,369,000 EXIT: The Brutal Truths Of Selling My Business

No one truly understands the brutal truth of going through an exit process and this week Chris gives us a raw insight into the reality of what really happens behind the scenes of seeing the company you have put your life into build suddenly in someone else's hands. Everyone will always look at the financial side of this discussion, but it is always a lot deeper than it seems. ______________________________________ Sign up to Wise Business banking: https://wise.com/uk/business/?utm_source=secretl...

Feb 07, 202538 min

The $1BN CEO who has beat Nike and Adidas in 9 years

Tom Beahon, the co-founder of Castore, reveals how he took on global giants Nike and Adidas—and won—in just 9 years. Tom takes us behind the scenes of Castore’s rise, revealing what really goes on in the world of sports sponsorship deals and how he navigated a highly competitive industry. He also tells the fascinating story of how he convinced tennis legend Andy Murray to sign with Castore over more established brands, even when no one had heard of them. From the challenges of building a brand f...

Feb 04, 20251 hr 12 min

The Strangest Businesses You Didn’t know Existed

In this fascinating episode, we dive into some of the strangest businesses you never knew existed! From companies that allow you to hire bridesmaids to look the part at your wedding, to services where you can literally rent someone's time to stand in line for you, these unusual ventures are taking the business world by storm. We explore the creativity behind these unique ideas, the surprising demand they fill, and how their founders turned seemingly bizarre concepts into thriving businesses. Thi...

Jan 31, 202531 min

Omaze: A Unicorn Business Built by Giving Away Millions to People & Charity

Matthew Pohlson has built Omaze into a unicorn business through some pretty unconventional ways - convincing the Pope to sell his Lamborghini, sending someone to space with Richard Branson and giving away multi-million dollar mansions for $10. All whilst giving away over $300M to charity. This is one of our favourite interviews ever. From a business burning cash into a unicorn business that actually does good, Matthew's journey has been incredible, and you haven't even heard about how dying for ...

Jan 28, 20251 hr 16 min

How this one change made my Business £1M a month

In this episode, Dan shares the incredible journey behind the recent success of his company, Heights, now generating $1.5 million per month in revenue. He reveals the one simple change that transformed the business and led to this massive growth. Whether you're an entrepreneur looking to scale your own company or just curious about the secret to success, this episode will offer valuable insights you can apply to your own journey ______________________________________ Sign up to Wise Business ban...

Jan 24, 202527 min

Andy Coulson: Most powerful man in British Media to a national disgrace - Lessons in Reputation management

Andy Coulson was once the face and leader of the most powerful newspaper in the country, News Of The World, and later became the Prime Minister’s right-hand man as Director of Communications. Then he lost it all. After scandals and a prison sentence, Andy founded his own consultancy, Coulson Partners, helping people navigate personal crises and reputational attacks. In this episode, Andy shares his unique insights into managing a crisis, drawing from his own experiences. He breaks down what a cr...

Jan 21, 20251 hrSeason 8Ep. 3

Why We Stopped Caring About Politics

In this week’s Leaders Chat, we discuss Trumps upcoming inauguration and why we have simply stopped caring about politics. We also debate an interesting question: should CEOs earn 196x more than their employees? We break down what drives these massive pay differences and ask if they’re truly justified. Is the value CEOs bring really worth such a huge pay gap, or is it an outdated model of corporate leadership? Join us for an eye-opening discussion on leadership, politics, and inequality. ———————...

Jan 17, 202533 min

I built a $2bn Company By Paying Everybody The Same As Me - Nicola Kilner

In this episode, we sit down with Nicola Kilner, former CEO of The Ordinary, to dive deep into the unique story behind her journey in building a $2 billion company. Nicola shares the highs and lows of her path to success, including the challenges she faced as a leader and the pivotal moments that shaped her career. We discuss why her Co-CEO fired her and what that experience was like as well as revealing her leadership superpower and why she decided to pay everyone in C-suite the same salary as ...

Jan 14, 20251 hr 4 minSeason 8Ep. 2
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