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Host Richard Lucas sits down with his close friend Mel Rosenberg—scientist, entrepreneur, inventor, TEDx organiser, professor, New Books Network host, and children's author—for a wide-ranging conversation on the entrepreneurial mindset, persistence, and finding fulfillment beyond financial success. Mel shares the remarkable story of how his first children's book, Emily Saw a Door, was published by Penguin Random House after decades of rejection of dozens of manuscripts, and reflects on his journey from microbiologist to TED-Ed animation author, to founder and host of the NBN’s Children's Literature Channel. The Entrepreneurial Mindset "Thinking between boxes": Mel's concept that true innovation comes from combining disparate ideas—not just thinking "inside" or "outside" the box, but finding unexpected connections between them. Persistence as stubbornness: Mel describes himself as a "stubborn scientist, stubborn entrepreneur, stubborn writer" who accumulated hundreds of rejections over his career but never gave up. Curiosity, doubt, and observation: A framework for innovation suggested by Dr. Alon Amit, in Mel’s case, rooted in questioning authority from a young age Redefining Success The 99.9% success rate: Mel's TEDx talk argues that since only ~0.1% of startups achieve major financial success, entrepreneurs should measure success by learning, growth, and enjoyment of the process rather than money alone. The "toothbrush test": Richard's framework for personal success—if you can look forward to your day while brushing your teeth in the morning and feel content with your day while brushing at night, you're succeeding regardless of societal metrics. TED-Ed vs. financial success: Mel notes that his TED-Ed animations (now viewed by 15 million people) earned him only $250 in Amazon gift cards, yet represent perhaps his greatest professional achievement—highlighting how social norms wrongly equate success only with wealth. The Power of Listening & Hosting Interviewing as "tikkun": Mel describes his work with the New Books Network as a form of self-improvement and service—helping others find their voice while training himself to be a better listener after decades as a talkative professor. "Don't suck up all the oxygen": A lesson from Mel's mentor Yossi Vardi about leaving room for others to express themselves. The rule of one minute: Richard's technique for better conversations—self-regulating to speak no more than a minute at a time and empowering others to do the same. The Emily Story After 50 years of aspiring to be a children's author, sending out dozens of manuscripts, and receiving hundreds upon hundreds of rejections, Mel's book Emily Saw a Door was published by Penguin Random House in 2025. The book—a story about inclusion and acceptance where a girl creates her own door after being rejected by others—resonated deeply in Israel (50,000 copies distributed to second graders, by Sifriat Pijama) before finding international success. Mel emphasizes the critical contributions of illustrator Orit Magia, and editor Annie Kelley, the editor from PRH who opened the door for Emily worldwide. NBN & TED Richard and Mel met at TED Global in Edinburgh, bonding over their shared passion for TED-Ed and entrepreneurship. Mel founded the Children's Literature Channel on the New Books Network, conducting 200+ interviews over five years with authors, illustrators, and publishers. They discuss how both TEDx and NBN provide "superpowers"—enabling ordinary people to access extraordinary networks and amplify important ideas. Overcoming Fear Learning to bark: Mel's entrepreneurship teaching exercise (and first TEDx talk) based on Yossi Vardi's insight that the main barrier to success is fear of appearing ridiculous. Both speakers share stories of failure, rejection, and bankruptcy—arguing that admitting fallibility builds credibility and that resilience in the face of ridicule is essential for innovation. Links and Resources here Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership

This episode of the New Books Network’s Entrepreneurship and Leadership channel features Richard Lucas in conversation with entrepreneur and community builder Ben Brabyn about Walkabout, a global movement that brings people together for monthly walks and open conversations. Walkabout began in Green Park, London, in June 2023 as a low‑friction alternative to venue‑based events and now runs in about 37 locations worldwide, welcoming anyone who wants to join a friendly, curiosity‑driven walking group. Ben explains how Walkabout’s simplicity—free, open, lightly structured—attracts a high proportion of multidisciplinary participants, many with PhDs, and how emergent collaborations have led to startups, investment, hiring, and pro bono work on “thorny” challenges like non‑compressible haemorrhage and electric vehicle battery fires. Inspired by Richard Feynman’s habit of carrying a dozen long‑term problems in his back pocket, Walkabout offers participants an evolving set of shared challenges they can keep in mind and revisit whenever they learn something new, effectively serving as a living, collective version of “Feynman’s 12 problems. A recurring theme is serendipity: Richard and Ben discuss how Walkabout exemplifies the kind of designed chance encounters that David Cleevely describes in his book “Serendipity: It Doesn’t Happen By Accident,” and how Cleevely himself both influenced and later joined Walkabout events. Lessons learned include the power of radical welcome, the importance of not over‑optimizing for scale or vanity metrics, and the value of formats where multidisciplinary dialogue and unexpected connections can flourish. Ben and Richard also touch on Walkabout’s business structure within Amitypath Limited, its use of platforms like Mighty Networks and LinkedIn, and Ben’s broader journey from the Royal Marines and JP Morgan to founding crowdfunding platform BmyCharity and leading Level39.Links Ben Brabyn Linkedin Amitypath Interview with David Cleevely on the NBN about his book Serendipity About Richard Feynman’s 12 problems Walkabout Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership

In this engaging conversation, Guy Pinsent shares his entrepreneurial journey from Cambridge economics student, being a banker in the City, to the Foreign Office and on to real estate and finally, on his own account, as a successful self storage business owner in Central Europe. Guy discusses the founding and growth of Less Mess Storage, which now operates 18 locations across Poland and Czech Republic with backing from Metric Capital Partners since 2015, and with 100,000 sqm of rentable space and 40,000 more in the pipeline. Key Topics Covered: The Self Storage Business Model: Guy explains his freehold property approach, inspired by companies like Big Yellow and the McDonald's model featured in "The Founder" film. Also attractive features of the self storage business: long lifetime value of clients, custom inertia, counter-cyclical demand so the business performs well across the business cycle.Cambridge University Value of a first-class education. The Why question: How Guy never worried about social status, and simply doing what it takes to build a life, do something of value. Entrepreneurial Philosophy: Discussion of motivation and work ethic, referencing Arnold Schwarzenegger's YouTube talks and Gary Vaynerchuk's "I will outwork you" mentality. Economic Principles: Insights on loss aversion from Daniel Kahneman's research and lessons from Cambridge professor Michael Kuczynski. Life as a British Expat: Guy shares his experience living abroad and his documentary project "Should Brits Come Home?" made with Patrick Ney, exploring whether British expats should return to the UK. Documentary Filmmaking: Behind-the-scenes stories from filming at the Notting Hill Carnival, agricultural shows, and conducting street interviews. Political Commentary: Reflections on Britain's direction, post-nationalism, and concerns about current UK leadership. About Guy Pinsent Guy is a British real estate entrepreneur and the Founder & CEO of Less Mess Storage, a leading self‑storage company operating across Central Europe. Born in London and raised in the English countryside, he studied at Eton College and Cambridge University before starting his career in investment banking at Citibank. He later served at the British Embassy in Poland to strengthen UK–Poland business relations, then moved into commercial real estate with Colliers, and in 2014 founded Less Mess Storage, which he has since built into a benchmark player in the Central European self storage sector. Guy’s Linkedin Links Arnold Schwarzenegger - Guy referenced a 4-minute motivational talk on YouTube about entrepreneurship principles YouTube: Arnold Schwarzenegger 6 Rules of Success Gary Vaynerchuk - Richard mentioned him as an American entrepreneur from Belarus known for saying "I will outwork you" as part of his pathway to success example here Daniel Kahneman - Guy referenced his work on loss aversion (people feel $100 loss twice as painfully as the good feeling of a $100 gain) Wikipedia: Loss Aversion Michael Kuczynski - Economics professor at Pembroke College, Cambridge who taught both Richard and Guy; passed away in 2025 at age 84 Pembroke College: Michael Kuczynski (1941–2025) Pedro Pablo Kuczynski - Michael's brother, became President of Peru Wikipedia: Pedro Pablo Kuczynski Less Mess Storage - Guy's self-storage company operating in Poland and Czech Republic with 18 locations lessmess.storage Pembroke College, Cambridge - Where both Richard and Guy studied economics pem.cam.ac.uk Big Yellow - UK self-storage company mentioned as reference for freehold approach bigyellow.co.uk "The Founder" - Film about Ray Kroc and McDonald's history, illustrating property-based business model Wikipedia: The Founder (film) Richard’s TED-ED lesson based on The Founder link "Should Brits Come Home?" - Documentary Guy made with Patrick Ney about whether British expats should return to the UK especially from a Polish perspective. Here Patrick Ney was a guest on this NBN channel here, And gave one of the most popular TEDxKazimierz talks of all time with over 375,000 downloads here Center for Policy Studies - UK centre-right think tank Guy mentioned link Extra Space - Major US self-storage operator link Metric Capital Partners - Private equity investor in Less Mess since 2015 link1 Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership

NBN host Richard Lucas being interviewed by Alexander Goldman. Normally on this channel, you hear Richard Lucas interviewing interesting guests. In this one, you'll hear Richard being interviewed on another podcast about community management and leadership, a topic close to his heart. Many thanks to Alexander Goldman for giving permission to share his podcast here on the NBN Find his podcast, Connecting Beyond the Apps and AI and Substack newsletter here. Connecting Beyond Apps & AI is a research-backed, optimistic podcast about social thriving in our age of digital communication. Through interviews with experts we explore the art, science, and best practices of bringing people together to promote lives of purpose and contentment. Links from the original podcast show notes are below. Open Coffee Lisbon Open Coffee Krakow Open Coffee Warsaw Open Coffee Tirana Lisbon Community Connections Group Open Coffee Sydney. Krakow Newcomers Welcome Club Open Coffee Cambridge Lisbon Community Newsletter CAMentrepreneurs Sunday Assembly How to organise a TEDx How to make your event “buzz” - TEDx Training video. Why do pre-events: events before events Derek Sivers on how to start a movement Priya Parker on transformative gatherings. Richard Lucas links TED.com profile About Richard Linkedin Quora profile TEDx Talk on Opportunity Readiness TEDx talk on why you should show up early Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership

Eric Ries shares how financial 'gravity' pulls great companies away from their founders' purpose, and his solutions in his new book Incorruptible (Authors Equity, 2026) Join us for a uniquely provocative conversation between our host, Richard Lucas, and renowned entrepreneur and "Lean Startup" author Eric Ries on his new book, Incorruptible. Moving beyond the surface-level summary, Richard intentionally focuses on the book's deep ethical and moral core, giving Ries the space to clarify and elaborate on his most challenging ideas.1 This is not your typical book tour stop. Richard dives into what he finds "particularly interesting," exploring why founders must prioritize building an enterprise "worth protecting" from the start—a business whose mission is protected by structural guardrails. Richard highlights memorable quotes from Eric's book, including:1 "Not every form of making money is equally good."1 "The more golden the goose, the stronger the temptation to butcher it."1 Ries explains that without these defenses, a universal, systemic force he calls "financial gravity" will inevitably pull the organization toward short-term profit maximization over "human flourishing". He argues that waiting until a business is successful to put in guardrails is "too late" because success attracts predators. Taking the principled path, though harder, Ries believes, unlocks "almost unbelievable superpowers". The discussion drills down into practical, yet philosophical questions: Can any system resist a corrupt leader? Richard challenges Ries on the possibility of an ethical defense military technology company (like those defending Ukraine), leading Ries to clarify that technology is neutral; the danger lies in who controls it. They also explore the failure of modern management practices, discussing how reliance on metrics like average hold time can create "false proxies" that actively make customer service worse. Finally, Ries advocates for a powerful solution for corporate governance: a universal director's oath, similar to the Hippocratic Oath, to bind corporate leadership to a commitment to the mission.1 Tune in to hear Ries’s candid reflections, including his personal belief that integrity is not merely ethical, but a competitive advantage—the true foundation for economic success, while emphasizing the first step for every founder and entrepreneur: "First, create something worth protecting Links & References Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad…and How Great Companies Stay Great Book release date is May 26 in the US, May 28 worldwide Amazon listing Website: here Seth Godin on false metrics Frankenstein, Incorporated by I Maurice Wormser Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership

In this episode of Richard Lucas on Entrepreneurship and Leadership, Richard speaks with Nick Coutts — a visionary entrepreneur who reshaped Portugal’s fitness landscape and continues to push the boundaries of innovation and excellence. With over 27 years in the industry, from expanding Holmes Place across Europe to founding Fitness Hut — Portugal’s largest low‑cost gym chain — Nick brings a deep understanding of what drives customer loyalty and business success. He believes great fitness businesses are built not just on equipment or branding, but on people. Every Fitness Hut manager has hands‑on experience as a fitness coach, ensuring real insight into what members need and how to deliver it. Nick shares how attention to detail — from gym cleanliness to staff engagement — defines the member experience. In his view, every “hello” from staff counts, and every ignored client is a missed opportunity. He also stresses the power of a well‑executed pre‑sales strategy: generating momentum and revenue before opening the doors is the key to sustainable growth. Looking ahead, Nick reveals plans for a new disruptive gym model in Portugal — affordable, convenient, and committed to a people‑first culture and how he plans to open 30/year & exit @ 100… leaving “meat on the bone” for the buyer to continue growing towards the 300 capacity that’s identified His approach is a reminder that true leadership means investing in talent, empowering teams, and never losing sight of the customer. Links Nick’s Linkedin Holmes Place Fitness Hub exit to Viva Gym Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership

In this episode, Jeremy Sosabowski, CEO and co‑founder of AlgoDynamix, reveals how his company is reinventing market forecasting through behavioral analytics rather than traditional fundamentals or news. By decoding real‑time transactional order flow, AlgoDynamix predicts price movements (hours or days in advance) based on what traders are actually doing — a fresh, practical edge for smaller hedge funds, family offices and HNWI (High Net Worth Individuals) seeking ultimate actionable trading insights. Jeremy shares how the company continues to expand and refine its business model and how they have built a scalable platform capable of handling complex, multi‑asset portfolios. He also dives into Cambridge’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, highlighting how networking, community engagement, and thematic WhatsApp groups have created unexpected opportunities and collaborations. The episode is packed with insights for innovators, investors, and curious listeners. If you want to hear how behavioral science meets financial returns — and how an entrepreneur builds momentum through community — this conversation is absolutely worth your time. Links: CUE Cambridge University Entrepreneurs AlgoDyamix Jeremy Sosabowski Linkedin Richard Lucas TEDxTarnow on “Opportunity Readiness” Jeremy Sosabowski at CAMentrepreneurs Open Coffee Cambridge OptiSynx clock project About Jeremy Sosabowski CEO, AlgoDynamix: Dr. Jeremy Sosabowski is Co-founder & CEO at AlgoDynamix, an AI-based financial price forecasting analytics company. Their products are used by asset managers, including CTAs, hedge funds, and family offices. Jeremy has over a decade of business and technology commercialisation experience. His previous roles include CTO at an instrumentation company (technology acquired) and data analyst within the online transaction space. His 'IP portfolio' includes several granted patents and more than 10 peer-reviewed publications. Jeremy has undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in engineering and signal processing including an Engineering Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership

In this conversation we hear about Kola’s journey as self-taught coder, business school, learning by doing, and how he is self-funding one person AI company for doctors: Kola Tytler’s parallel journey as an NHS Doctor while building pioneering and potentially world changing business is inspiring. Listen in on a remarkable conversation between host Richard Lucas and Kola Tytler, now a qualified doctor who taught himself to code. We explore the roots of his entrepreneurial activity, despite knowing he wanted to be a doctor from a young age. the influence and opportunities of being an immigrant from a different background as he went to medical school in London. his first venture selling event tickets via a Facebook platform, scaling a fashion blog with millions of followers, and launching and exiting the successful Dropout retail business in Milan Lessons of having investors who were not always aligned How he dealt with realising that he might have a bigger financial opportunity through dropping out of his studies. The benefits and limitations of bootstrapping when you have the resources to put together a great team The impact of both his formal business school education and self tuition via online resources like Y Combinator, and prominent SV figures like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. The ambition and vision for his self funded AI platform for doctors iatroX which provides clinical guidance to over 20,000 users. Kola's journey is a masterclass in calculated risk and relentless drive, Kola shares the critical lessons he has learned from his triumphs and challenges. Through insightful questions, Richard draws out the key takeaways on finding balance, the importance of a strong team, understanding domain expertise, and the necessity of continuous business education. This episode is packed with inspiration for anyone looking to bridge diverse passions and build a high-impact venture. About Kola Dr Kola Tytler – Doctor/MBA & full-stack developer MBBS @ King’s College London Certificates in Law & Business (LSE & Imperial) MBA (with merit) @ University of Birmingham MSt Entrepreneurship @ University of Cambridge ‘26 Forbes 30 under 30 Europe, Forbes 100 under 30 Italy IBM-certified AI Engineer & MENSA member Founder of YEEZY Mafia, dropout, & HypeAnalyzer Links iatroX is a UKCA-marked, MHRA-registered medical device. It acts as an AI‑driven assistant that centralizes clinical guidelines offering: 1 quick Q&A, 2 structured brainstorming, and 3 an adaptive quiz engine for medical students. Kola Tytler's Linkedin Kola Tytler's personal websiteDrop Out MilanoHype Analyzer CAMentrepreneurs Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership

Richard Lucas hosts a compelling discussion with celebrated British entrepreneur and author David Cleevely. In this insightful podcast, Richard and David dive into Cleevely’s book, 'Serendipity: It Doesn't Happen by Accident,' exploring how environments can be engineered to foster luck. Richard guides the conversation as David explains the puzzle that inspired the book: why significant entrepreneurial ventures repeatedly emerge from seemingly chance encounters in hubs like Cambridge. They discuss the characteristics, systems, and culture—including the crucial role of values of generosity and kindness—that enhance the likelihood of serendipitous, high-impact collaborations. David Cleevely's book, 'Serendipity: It Doesn't Happen by Accident,' explores the idea that environments can be engineered to foster luck, leading to entrepreneurial success through serendipitous, high-impact collaborations. LinksHis book 'Serendipity: It Doesn't Happen by Accident” is available here and from all major booksellers,David Cleevely CBE FREng, FIET is the Chairman of the Raspberry Pi Foundation. He is the founder of telecoms consultancy Analysys (acquired by Datatec International in 2004). co-founded the web based antibody company Abcam (ABC.L) with Jonathan Milner and was Chairman until November 2009 which was acquired by Danaher for US$5.7 billion in 2023. He has co-founded several other companies and is Chairman of two of them..He has been active in promoting Cambridge. He was a prime mover behind Cambridge Network, co-founder of Cambridge Wireless, co-founder and Chairman of Cambridge Angels, Founding Director of the Centre for Science and Policy at the University of Cambridge and Vice Chair of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Independent Economic Commission. Other policy work has included membership of the IET Communications Policy Panel, the Ofcom Spectrum Advisory Board and the Enterprise Committee and the National Engineering Policy Group at the Royal Academy of Engineering. From 2001 to 2008, he was a member of the Ministry of Defence Board overseeing information systems and services (DES-ISS, formerly the Defence Communications Services Agency). In addition to Raspberry Pi, his charitable work includes the Cambridge Science Centre, which he helped set up and fund in 2013 and continues as Chair. Richard Lucas, the host of this NBN channel, is founder of CAMentrepreneurs—a network supporting entrepreneurship globally among Cambridge University Alumni and others through locally led chapters. CAMentrepreneurs - Peter Cowley legacy  Books and articles mentioned in the podcast Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives by James H. Fowler PhD (Author), Nicholas A. Christakis The Strength of Weak Ties Mark S. Granovetter Gov. Pritzker Commencement Address: Kindness is intelligence Cambridge Angels Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership

Are you looking for an alternative to a career path at a big firm? Does founding your own start-up seem too risky? There is a radical third path open to you: You can buy a small business and run it as CEO. Purchasing a small company offers significant financial rewards--as well as personal and professional fulfillment. Leading a firm means you can be your own boss, put your executive skills to work, fashion a company environment that meets your own needs, and profit directly from your success. But finding the right business to buy and closing the deal isn't always easy. In the HBR Guide to Buying a Small Business: Think Big, Buy Small, Own Your Own Company (Harvard Business Review Press, 2017), Harvard Business School professors Richard Ruback and Royce Yudkoff help you: Determine if this path is right for you Raise capital for your acquisition Find and evaluate the right prospects Avoid the pitfalls that could derail your search Understand why a "dull" business might be the best investment Negotiate a potential deal with the seller Avoid deals that fall through at the last minute Arm yourself with the advice you need to succeed on the job, with the most trusted brand in business. Packed with how-to essentials from leading experts, the HBR Guides provide smart answers to your most pressing work challenges. Listen to the Think Big, Buy Small podcast. Richard S. Ruback is the Willard Prescott Smith Professor of Corporate Finance at Harvard Business School. Royce Yudkoff is a Professor of Management Practice at Harvard Business School. Yudkoff cofounded and served for over 20 years as Managing Partner of ABRY Partners, a leading private equity investment firm. Caleb Zakarin is editor of the New Books Network. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership

In this conversation, we hear about how Jonathan transitioned from a corporate career, through digital nomading, to becoming a podcast producer and community enabler. We hear about how his somewhat isolated upbringing as a foreign in rural Belgium created a lifelong desire for connection and being in contact with the wider community. We hear about the impact of having worked on the Tim Ferriss podcast if only in a minor role, impacted his later business, and he shares lessons learned along the way. We hear how and why Jonathan set up the Jackson Heights Insider newsletter• a “new in-town meetup for newcomers in Jackson Heights”, his focus on community engagement and local events. experimental communal dinners using the Dnnr platform, and how he explores potential collaborations with local businesses and community leaders to enhance the newsletter's reach and impact.He tells us about his agency, Spotlight Podcasting, which focuses on business podcasting for mission-driven organizations.• He emphasizes the importance of strategy in podcast production, differentiating from competitors who focus solely on execution.• Jonathan shares insights on client acquisition, including cold outreach and the Dream 100 client approach. Jonathan closes with words of appreciation to his family, and reflects on the importance and value of getting involved in community events,He is not just benefiting from other community activities but building and contributing. He is a living example of someone who is enjoying the journey of entrepreneurship.Jonathan Baillie Strong https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonbstrong Spotlight Podcasting http://www.spotlightpodcasting.com Jackson Heights Insider https://jacksonheightsinsider.com “New in the hood” coffee meetups https://luma.com/trkl4j1f?tk=4MKuBC Jackson Heights Insider Dinner Club https://jacksonheightsinsider.dnnr.io Adrian Cepeda https://www.theworldsboroughbookshop.com/ Rob Simmelkjaer New York Runners https://www.nyrr.org/Jonathan Forgash http://queenstogether.orgLouis Howes School of Greatness podcast https://lewishowes.com/Charlie Hoehn ... Recession-Proof Graduate https://www.charliehoehn.com/ Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership

Stanford educator and renowned creativity expert Tina Seelig joins Richard Lucas on the New Books Network’s Entrepreneurship & Leadership channel to discuss her new book What I Wish I Knew About Luck (coming April 2026). As the host found himself agreeing with everything Tina said, he asked for examples of people who disagreed with her. First, they discussed the value of respectful disagreement, and the fact that Richard’s father, the late Oxford philosopher JR Lucas routinely took the opportunity to disagree with his son, no matter what point of view was being put forward. Tina shared that her father, aged 99, still thinks that good things just happened to him over the course of his life, whereas she outlines all the actions he took to create that good luck. Tina dismantles the myth that luck is purely random. She distinguishes fortune (things that happen to you) from luck (something you can actively cultivate), and explains why clichés such as “the harder I work, the luckier I get” or “fortune favors the prepared mind” are true but incomplete. What is the “hard work” required to create luck? What exactly is a “prepared mind”? Key highlights: Why entrepreneurship and creativity are teachable skills that everyone can improve, just like sports, music, art, math, or science. The value of keeping a “failure résumé” and viewing failure as a trampoline rather than a lava pit. Real stories of ethical dilemmas early and late in her career. Full details in the book and podcast. Why showing genuine appreciation (especially thank-you notes) is one of the highest-ROI habits for creating luck. A thank you note she wrote was read out at a funeral 20 years later. How to build trust, have difficult conversations, and surround yourself with the right “crew” The foundational role of self-awareness, values, resilience, risk-taking, and patience in manufacturing your own luck Tina also shares the inspiring origin of the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program (co-founded by John Hennessy, former Stanford President, and Phil Knight, founder of Nike) and reflects on teaching leadership to some of the world’s most promising graduate students across all disciplines at Stanford University. Show Notes & Sources Pre-order “What I Wish I Knew About Luck” by Tina Seelig Tina’s earlier books: “What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20”, “inGenius”, “Creativity Rules” Tina’s LinkedIn Tina’s Bio, Books, Talks Knight-Hennessy Scholars KHS LinkedIn Stanford Technology Ventures Program (STVP) Tina Seelig’s famous TED Talk and the legendary “$5 entrepreneurship challenge” Books mentioned: “The No A*****e Rule” – Robert Sutton; “The Course of Love” – Alain de Botton; “Radical Candor” – Kim Scott Tina Seelig’s Stanford Profile Essential listening for anyone who wants to stop waiting for luck and start building it. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership

In this podcast interview, Richard Lucas hosts Ben Bradbury, founder of Reading Rhythms, to discuss the back story leading to founding Ben's his unique reading-themed events. Ben sharing his entrepreneurial journey, including early influences and the inspiration behind Reading Rhythms, which aims to reduce loneliness through shared reading experiences. We learn about the early role model and nudges Ben had from his mother and uncle, his first steps in entrepreneurship and work as a teenager. We hear about the positive and importantly negative lessons he learned from those experiences. We hear how Reading Rhythms emerged from Ben solving a problem he had in his own life, of finding time to read, and making connections with other readers in New York, and their “breakthrough moment when the New York Times published an article about what Reading Rhythms/ Richard and Ben explore the operational aspects of the business, highlighting its growth, revenue model, and the implementation of a management structure to address coordination challenges across multiple chapters, and work on efficiency and processes. We learn about their use of the Clifton Strengths assessment process, their rigorous and demanding approach to taking on and supporting new Group leaders and Ambassadors, and discuss similarities between Reading Rhythms, the TED-TEDx network and the NBN. The NBN as an organisation and Richard as the host of this channel, and very aligned with what RR is doing, and their enthusiasm is clear for the tone of the podcast Links: 3 steps to turn everyday get-togethers into transformative gatherings - Priya Parker Mark McKergow Host Leadership - book Host Leadership - why "hosting" is an important type of leadership | Mark McKergow  How Village-in-the-City builds micro-local communities worldwide | Mark McKergow Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership

Robert Rosenkranz was described by Bill Bowder as “the most powerful titan on Wall Street you’ve probably never heard of." As CEO of Delphi Capital Management the value of its assets under management grew to U$20 billion, and its value grew 100 fold. While his book The Stoic Capitalist (Bloomsbury, 2025) – has the tag line “advice for the exceptionally ambitious” there are powerful lessons that anyone can take from his story. In the podcast, we hear about the power and impact of the negative role models his unemployed father and communist mother played, leading to intense financial stress Robert wanted to avoid in his own life. Robert shares many aspects of how a stoic philosophy guided him and can guide others. --The positive influence of his extensive reading of the biographies of those who succeeded --The important of regarding obstacles as opportunities for growth --The value of focussing on areas we have control over --The value of time --The importance of reason over emotion, without ignoring the importance and impact of emotions on decision making processes --When and how to take risk and go “all in” --How to interview people --The important of selecting the right partners in life and business --His own approach to philanthropy, including his work supporting research into Longevity, modern art, and the debate of ideas Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership

In this podcast, Matthew talks about his late entry into entrepreneurship, taking advantage of opportunities that emerged as Kindle offered a new way to distribute books. In his career as a journalist with well known business publications he enjoyed talking to entrepreneurs, even having his editor turn down his pitch to interview Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Starting a business was something he had always been open to, but journalism came first until quite late in life. He shares how his initial idea of publishing short-form books from well-known authors pivoted into the bigger opportunity of publishing back catalogues. Matthew describes how and why larger publishers missed the boat due to conservative pricing and a feeling that ebooks might just "go away." He discusses the importance of a "problem-solving mindset," persistence, and being ready to hustle. We learn what being a fiction author has in common with being an entrepreneur, and how crucial it is to handle and manage rejection. Matthew also delves into his path to an exit, the loyalty he felt to his authors and staff, and the challenges of management and leadership. He particularly highlights the learning process of dealing with the fact that the founder is often more motivated than the people they hire. Links relevant to the interview. Matthew’s books Death Force series Lume Books  Joffe Books - acquired by Lume Books Matthew’s Bio Daily Telegraph - columnist - 2013-2024 Money Week - columnist - 2008-2024 Bloomberg - columnist - 1999-2012 The Sunday Times - Reporter and columnist - 1992-2000 Business magazine - reported - 1988-1991 Asiaweek, Hong Kong - 1986-1988 Financial Adviser magazine - 1985-1986 Founder - Lume Books - 2013- 2023 Author Death Force - Hodder Headline - 2010 Fireforce - Hodder Headline - 2011 Shadow Force - Hodder Headline - 2012 Ice Force - Hodder Headline - 2013 Insecurity - Random House - 1997 The Watchmen - Random House - 1999 Education: Balliol College, Oxford. Politics, Philosophy & Economics. Richard Lucas’s TEDx talk on Opportunity Readiness and on Why everyone should embrace rejection Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership