In this episode of Journeys of Discovery , Michael Hayman sits down with internationally renowned violinist and author, Min Kym. A child prodigy who found her voice through the violin, Min shares the extraordinary story of her deep connection to music - from growing up in a traditional South Korean home to the devastating theft of her beloved Stradivarius. Min reflects on the pressures of early success, the identity crisis that followed the loss of her violin, and how she ultimately found her wa...
Jun 20, 2025•28 min•Ep. 182
Resilience is the new currency of leadership. In a world where misinformation spreads faster than facts, brands, leaders, and governments are being tested like never before. In this episode of Change Makers, we speak to Ben LaBolt, former White House Communications Director and now President at BPI. With experience spanning the West Wing, City Hall, and global boardrooms, Ben shares insights into how organisations can navigate today’s fractured media landscape. At the heart of our conversation i...
Jun 13, 2025•24 min•Ep. 181
As the world marks another International Women’s Day, we’re still asking the same question: why aren’t there more women in politics? In 2024, nearly half the world’s population held elections, yet we saw the slowest rate of growth in female representation in two decades. What’s holding us back? In this episode of Change Makers, Edie Lush speaks to two powerhouse politicians from opposite sides of the Atlantic: U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan, a Democrat and the first woman to represent Penn...
Mar 10, 2025•34 min•Ep. 180
What does it take to deliver fair and meaningful growth? Joining Michael today on Change Makers is Kate Willard OBE – government-appointed envoy for the Thames Estuary and a champion of fair growth. Kate’s career has been anything but conventional. From starting out as an actress and director to working in post-Soviet Eastern Europe, her journey is one of bold decisions and a deep commitment to making a difference. Now, as Chair of the Thames Estuary Growth Board, Kate is on a mission to unlock ...
Feb 21, 2025•32 min•Ep. 179
What if history had taken a different path? In the latest episode of Change Makers, Michael Hayman speaks with Jeff Nussbaum - communications expert, author, and Partner at Bully Pulpit International. Jeff has worked at the highest levels of politics, serving as Senior Speechwriter and Special Assistant to President Joe Biden, and advising leaders like Vice President Al Gore and Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle. They sat down at Benjamin Franklin House in London - the world’s only surviving ...
Feb 14, 2025•38 min•Ep. 178
We’re delighted to introduce a brand new series of Change Makers: Science Shaping the Future, where we’ll be exploring how today’s leading scientists are transforming the world around us – from our daily lives to our careers, and tackling the planet’s biggest challenges. Our first guest is Dr. Angela Naef, Chief Research and Development Officer at Reckitt, the global leader in hygiene, health, and nutrition whose products touch the lives of billions of people every day. With an exceptional caree...
Jan 13, 2025•30 min•Ep. 177
In this episode of Change Makers, Michael Hayman sits down with Bradley Akubuiro, Partner at Bully Pulpit International (BPI), to discuss an exciting new chapter as Seven Hills joins the BPI family. This transatlantic partnership is set to create a powerful force for change, with Bradley stepping into the role of co-host for future episodes, bringing fresh insights from both sides of the Atlantic. Bradley reflects on lessons from his early days working with civil rights icon Reverend Jesse Jacks...
Dec 06, 2024•25 min•Ep. 176
How do we support refugees to thrive in their second home? That’s the question we’re answering in a special edition of Change Makers, hosted by the fantastic journalist and broadcaster Edie Lush. For the first in a new series of the podcast exploring some of the most pressing issues of our time, Edie speaks with three campaigning voices for refugees about why it matters to ensure that we support refugees with human-centred policy and ensure that they can play an important role in the UK’s social...
Nov 29, 2024•28 min•Ep. 175
In the the final episode of Goldman Sachs Stories of Generation Growth, Michael Hayman and Charlotte Keenan reflect on what we’ve learned throughout our the series with seven incredible Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses alumni. From the importance of personal stories and purpose-driven leadership to the shared challenges in accessing talent and finance, each interview revealed critical lessons that highlight both the strength and the needs of the small business landscape in the UK. Generatio...
Nov 07, 2024•14 min•Ep. 174
In the final alumni episode of Change Makers: Stories of Generation Growth, in partnership with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Byron Dixon OBE, CEO of Micro-Fresh®, discusses what it takes to build a global brand with purpose. Micro-Fresh® is known for its unique antibacterial technology which extends product lifespans, preserves freshness and promotes sustainability across 50+ major footwear, home textiles, hospitality and healthcare brands. Generation Growth: The Small Business Manifes...
Oct 31, 2024•28 min•Ep. 173
We're joined this week by Alice Rivers-Cripps, the founder of Posh Totty Designs, which has been serving Brighton, Britain and many more places besides with original hand-crafted jewellery for 20 years. Alice joins Michael Hayman and Charlotte Keenan to share her journey, which started on a soul-searching trip in Mexico and today, sees her run "a destination company for personalised gifts" where she employs an almost all female team of 50. She outlines the ups and downs of that journey, how she ...
Oct 24, 2024•29 min•Ep. 172
This week, Michael is joined once again by Charlotte Keenan, Managing Director, Head of Corporate Engagement International at Goldman Sachs, as well as CEO of Forster Communications, Amanda Powell-Smith. Forster is a specialist consultancy, supporting organisations in ensuring they approach sustainability with authenticity. They discuss why this is a challenge for so many leaders, particularly in the small business space, and why a sustainable mission is important for business growth. Generation...
Oct 17, 2024•22 min•Ep. 171
In this episode of Change Makers , Michael Hayman sits down with sporting legend and disability rights advocate, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, at the iconic London Stadium on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - home of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. During their conversation, Tanni reflects on her extraordinary career as one of Britain’s most celebrated Paralympians, with 11 gold medals and 30 world records to her name. She shares the personal stories behind her successes, revealing the grit,...
Oct 15, 2024•40 min•Ep. 170
“You've got to keep changing and evolving." Today's Change Makers is a lesson in adapting to change as you grow your business, as we're joined by Naynesh Karia for the latest episode of our collaboration with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Stories of Generation Growth. Naynesh is co-founder of Food Attraction, the manufacturer behind brands including on-the-go hot snacks Jake & Nayns. A Leicester-based family business that has constantly found itself evolving and finding opportunitie...
Oct 10, 2024•21 min•Ep. 169
A passion for her product and bringing it to as many women as possible is what drives the latest guest in our Change Makers collaboration with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses programme, Stories of Generation Growth. Darcy Laceby is co-founder of Absolute Collagen, the UK’s best-selling collagen drink, and a business with an incredible growth story. Hear all about it from Darcy, alongside Michael Hayman and Charlotte Keenan, as they explore what gave her the passion to go from university st...
Oct 03, 2024•22 min•Ep. 168
In this week’s Stories of Generation Growth, Michael Hayman is joined by Goldman Sachs' Charlotte Keenan, alongside Gori Yahaya, founder of UpSkill Universe – a training provider dedicated to helping businesses bring key skills to their workforce. In this discussion, Gori shares how he works to support organisations to adapt to the changing nature of skills requirements, connecting businesses with talent who can help to supercharge their growth and maximise their use of emerging technologies lik...
Sep 26, 2024•25 min•Ep. 167
For the first episode of Stories of Generation Growth, Michael Hayman is joined by Head of the Office of Corporate Engagement International and 10,000 Small Businesses UK at Goldman Sachs, Charlotte Keenan, alongside Roni Savage, Founder and Managing Director of award-winning engineering and environmental consultancy, Jomas Associates. Together, they explore Roni’s business journey over the past 15 years, establishing and growing one of the UK’s leading environmental and engineering consultancie...
Sep 19, 2024•31 min•Ep. 166
In this episode of Journeys of Discovery , Michael Hayman sits down with Petroc Trelawny, classical music broadcaster, and the voice behind BBC Radio 3’s Breakfast programme. Petroc reflects on the influence of music and music performance, classical and otherwise, on identity and emotions, and discusses his new book, Trelawny’s Cornwall , a part history, part memoir, which explores the past, present and future of the region.
Sep 02, 2024•32 min•Ep. 165
“Rather than marching into global warming and unemployment, we can create our world the way we want.” That’s the message of our guest Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, who says: “If we imagine that world, we can create that world. Imagination can make it happen.” As a pioneer of microfinancing with Grameen Bank, the Nobel Peace Prize winner has alleviated poverty for tens of millions of people and given them an economic lifeline, with small loans that look to bring out the e...
Aug 16, 2024•25 min•Ep. 164
Joining Michael on Change Makers is Shevaun Haviland, Director-General of the British Chambers of Commerce, with a clarion call for renewed confidence in ‘Brand Britain’. On the roof of the Corinthia hotel in the heart of the capital, Shevaun shares her vision for revitalising the country’s self-image, and the importance of public-private partnerships in driving economic growth. Shevaun spoke to Michael about her extensive experience across the public and private sectors, and how she has always ...
Jul 01, 2024•19 min•Ep. 163
Joining Michael on Change Makers is Rick de Blaby, the CEO of Get Living. Get Living are the build-to-rent pioneers, with a mission to change renting for the better. With almost 4,000 homes across three neighbourhoods in London and Manchester and four more on the horizon in the next two years, this is a 10-year story about where we belong and community at the heart of happy living. One of those neighbourhoods is East Village London – the site of the Olympic Village in 2012 – and where Michael jo...
Mar 19, 2024•23 min•Ep. 162
Change Makers returns and we're joined by former Deputy Prime Minister and co-founder of Haymarket, Lord Heseltine. Michael paid a visit to the spectacular Thenford Arboretum and Gardens for this inspiring conversation with a beast of the political jungle. Lord Heseltine remains as sharp today as he was at the dispatch box, even aged 90 and with his famous blonde mane now a snowy white. From the lemonade stand that made him to how Liverpool changed him, and the legacy he sees for himself, you'll...
Oct 18, 2023•34 min•Ep. 161
Michael is joined by George Clarke, the architect, TV presenter, lecturer and writer, best known for his work with Channel 4, including The Restoration Man and George Clarke's Amazing Spaces. Growing up on a Sunderland council estate, George was inspired to become an architect, spending summers on building sites with his grandfather. While studying at Newcastle University School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, and London’s Bartlett School of Architecture, George supported himself by ren...
Jun 16, 2023•29 min•Ep. 160
We are excited to bring you the second episode of Journeys of Discovery – Change Makers’ collaborative series with the Royal Philharmonic Orchesta. Over the course of these interviews, Michael explores fundamental questions about what it means to be human that accompany nine incredible concerts. This week, the themes are Freedom and Redemption, and our guest Katy Emck OBE, knows a thing or two about both of those. As Founding Director of Fine Cell Work, Katy speaks to Michael about how she is he...
Mar 17, 2023•33 min•Ep. 159
For our guest this week, there are 10,000 stories behind her message but perhaps above all, one reason to listen. For a message that is determined, optimistic and empowering, that is: “this next decade will be the best of my life yet”. Charlotte Keenan is the Managing Director of Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Women initiatives – providing women entrepreneurs around the world with business and management education, mentoring and networking, and access to capital. Alongside its sister programme 10,000 Sma...
Feb 24, 2023•34 min•Ep. 158
Cécile Reinaud is the founder of Seraphine, the international maternity label worn by the stars. From Kate Winslet to Kate Hudson to Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. Launched as a single store in 2003, over the next 15 years Cécile scaled the company and grew turnover to £18 million by 2018. Exporting to more than 30 countries around the world and winning two Queens Awards for Enterprise along the way. After exiting the business last year, Cécile has taken on roles as European Co-Chair of the Che...
Feb 10, 2023•31 min•Ep. 157
Andy Haldane is the Chief Executive of the RSA: the Royal Society of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce, and the former Chief Economist of the Bank of England. From 'Chicken Licken' warnings about inflation rates, to predictions of V-shaped recoveries, he's had little trouble in capturing the imagination with economic outlook - having been described by the Spectator as a "brilliant real world observer." Andy joined the RSA in 2021, which he describes as an "enlightenment institution" that has prov...
Jan 27, 2023•34 min•Ep. 156
Sian Sutherland is the co-founder of A Plastic Planet, the campaign group supporting one single goal: to ignite and inspire the world to turn off the plastic tap. It's a straight talking message that looks to reject the information and greenwashing around plastic, increasing the use of materials that nature can handle, and eliminating those it cant. Through a three-pronged framework to 'reduce, refill and replace', A Plastic Planet is a call to action to business, media and policy makers to pull...
Nov 11, 2022•32 min•Ep. 155
Brett Wigdortz is the founder and CEO of Tiney, the startup offering what it calls an ‘Amazon-type solution for childcare’, which he founded after seeing how difficult it was to find reliable childminding options as a father of three. Before turning his attention to early years education, Brett founded and spent 15 years as the CEO of Teach First, a world renowned charity focused on incentivising new graduates to get into teaching, which he led to become the largest recruiter of graduates in the...
Nov 04, 2022•29 min•Ep. 154
Michael Hayman's guest today is Rebecca Ryan, the futurist and founder of Next Generation Consulting, with a mission to help individuals and organisations develop foresight, to create brighter futures. Described as a "human spark plug", Rebecca looks at the signals to establish the future trends of our economies, supporting people to prepare rather than predict. It's about using strategic foresight to prepare for the unknown. Listen now to hear their discussion about the road ahead, and Rebecca'...
Oct 28, 2022•29 min•Ep. 153
