Advertise on podcast: StratHack with Sera Holland & Amelia Torode

TechStars is one of the most successful technology accelerators on the planet. Recently they have been called out for the high rates of investment in female founded organisations and founders of colour. We caught up with Saalim Chowdhury, the new-ish UK MD, to get a better understanding from him as to what makes TechStars different. Saalim is fascinating on widening access to start up investment and demystifying the language and culture of early stage business ventures. He talks about predictors of business success, new models of teamwork and when it comes to knitting, why the knitter is more important than the wool. Enjoy. StratHack is a podcast series about marketing strategy, highlighting lessons and learning from new brands and a set of diverse, inspiring business leaders. Brought to you by Sera Holland and Ameila Torode, two award-winning advertising and PR professionals. Sera is the UK Deputy CEO of global communications consultancy Ketchum, Amelia the founder of Fawnbrake, a strategy consultancy. In each episode, Sera and Amelia meet with a company or individual who have inspired them. Together they talk through the strategic decisions and creative choices made along the journey to success and after the interview they draw out the key strategic implications relevant to any brand or business. This is a series designed to shine a light on fresh new business case studies in a way that is always practical to apply and enjoyable to listen to. To get in contact with us about this podcast please email [email protected].   Hosts: Amelia Torode - Founder - Fawnbrake www.wearefawnbrake.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/ameliatorode/   Sera Holland - UK Deputy CEO - Ketchum www.ketchum.com/london https://www.linkedin.com/in/seramiller/

We think that Little Moons was the breakout brand hit of Lockdown 2021.    At a time when all we could do for fun was to mask up and head off to the supermarket, Little Moons, the award-winning moshi ice cream brand, was the colourful fun release that people were searching for.    In this episode we talk with Ross Farquar, the Marketing Director of Little Moons about the secrets behind the overnight success (which as we all know, absolutely want achieved overnight!)    Ross talks to us about working in a Founder-led business, the innovation in ice cream that inspired him to join the company and his background as an agency founder himself as well as his time at Cadburys and his last role as CMO of Wagamama’s, the hugely successful asian noodle restaurant chain.    Ross is open and honest about his experiences and learnings - this episode is full of strategic insights as well as ice cream. Enjoy!   To find out more about Fawnbrake and StratHack, please visit www.wearefawnbrake.com To get in touch, email [email protected]

On this episode we are joined by visionary UK entrepreneur, Joanna Jensen.   Joanna is the Founder of Childs Farm, an all-natural  skincare brand for babies and children, specifically designed for young and sensitive skin. From launch in Joanna’s kitchen in Hampshire in 2010 to becoming the UK’s number 1 baby and childrens toiletries brand, this is a story of market disruption, product innovation and the critical importance of audience insight and product excellence.    This podcast was recorded the week before the news broke that Childs Farm had been purchased for £36.8m. The purchase looks set to ensure that the much-loved British brand will become a new power brand taking on the global giants such as Johnson & Johnson’s.    Joanna talks about her business journey and her experience of building an organic brand organically (bad pun, apologies)   Childs Farm was a Fawnbrake client in July 2021.    To find out more about Fawnbrake and StratHack, please visit www.wearefawnbrake.com To get in touch, email [email protected]

Freddie Blackett, CEO and founder of Patch Plants talks urban gardening and why we all need a Big Ken in our lives

Ben Saul-Garner, Co-founder of Rebel Book Club, talks reinventing book clubs for the 21st Century.   In this episode we are joined by co-founder of Rebel Book Club Ben Saul-Garner to talk reinventing book clubs for the 21st century - and reinventing the live events and communities that surround them in the time of COVID.    A serial entrepreneur who’s businesses have been featured by the likes of GQ, The Guardian, Tatler, Conde Nast, BBC News, TimeOut, Forbes and The Evening Standard, Ben’s culture and entertainment agency Attachment was featured in the 2020 & 2021 Financial Times 1000 Fastest Growing companies in Europe.    But it’s Rebel Book Club we asked Ben to come and share the story of with us on StratHack. We explore the journey that’s taken the ever-expanding international community from Peter Thiel’s ‘Zero to One’ in 2015 to this month’s choice of Ronan Farrow’s ‘Catch and Kill’, discuss the dual importance of flexibility and consistency when building a community driven brand, and explore the meaning of ‘tsundoku’ (the Japanese word for the growing pile of unread books next to your bed).    Curious about how you could finally hold down that non-fiction reading habit and smash that unread book stack, one title at a time? To find out more about becoming a Rebel Reader visit www.rebelbook.club or check out their socials @rebelbookclub. To find out more about who we are, what we do and who we do it for at Fawnbrake, visit www.fawnbrakecollective.com   To get in touch about this podcast, please email [email protected]   You can also find us on Twitter: @ameliatorode @sera_holland @fawnbrake   Or on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/seramiller/ www.linkedin.com/in/ameliatorode/  

Hugo Hardman, Founder of Chalk Stream talks what happens when you realise you can’t furlough fish. In this episode we’re joined by Hugo Hardman, founder of Chalk Stream. Based in the heart of the English countryside in Hampshire, Chalk Stream are in the business of fish. But they’re no ordinary fish business - they are experts in one fine thing: the finest trout from the finest waters.    That combination of expertise and quality got them some pretty high profile fans early on, with Jamie Oliver championing the brand, and hardly a Michelin starred chef in the country who hadn’t been out to see their operation first hand and left with an order for their world-class menu.    Everything was going swimmingly (sorry, we couldn’t help it) until there were no restaurants orders to supply, and Hugo and his team were faced with the realisation that you can’t furlough fish. A direct to consumer brand was built quickly, driven by a test and learn mindset, and a tone of voice best summed up in their “Eat Trout to Help Out” campaign of summer 2020 that got them, and their customers, through the toughest days.    If like us, you’re now hungry thinking about it and are in the mood for some really, really tasty fish, head to www.chalkstreamfoods.co.uk (they ship pretty much UK wide) and follow them @Chalk_Stream To find out more about who we are, what we do and who we do it for at Fawnbrake, visit www.fawnbrakecollective.com   To get in touch about this podcast, please email [email protected]   You can also find us on Twitter: @ameliatorode @sera_holland @fawnbrake   Or on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/seramiller/ www.linkedin.com/in/ameliatorode/

Joanna Dai, founder of Dai Wear, talks redefining work and workwear. In this episode we talk redefining performance workwear - and the evolving nature of work - in a post-COVID world with banker turned entrepreneur Joanna Dai.    Joanna started Dai 4 years ago with a mission to build a digitally-native company, designing tailored performance workwear for women who mean business. As you’ll hear in this episode, she’s meeting that mission head on (and means a fair amount of business herself.)   In the last year alone, Dai became a certified B-Corp, was been named one of luxury brand sector official body Walpole’s Brands of Tomorrow, launched two major new product ranges inspired by customer feedback, and opened up a new retail space in the heart of London’s King’s Road.    The brand was also one of the first to respond actively to the COVID-crisis, producing face masks and offering a buy one give one scheme on it’s iconic Power Move Trousers to donate to NHS staff.  To find out more, visit www.daiwear.com - where you can also try out their innovative Dai DNA Trouser Fit Finder and Virtual Stylist offer - or check out their showcasing of comfort-empowered performance and their Dainamic Women community on socials @Dai. To find out more about who we are, what we do and who we do it for at Fawnbrake, visit www.fawnbrakecollective.com   To get in touch about this podcast, please email [email protected]   You can also find us on Twitter: @ameliatorode @sera_holland @fawnbrake   Or on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/seramiller/ www.linkedin.com/in/ameliatorode/

Joe Fowler, Co-Founder of Smith & Brock talks tenacity and reinvention during lockdown. In this episode we talk grocery boxes, the power of a local WhatsApp group and a mate with a van, and the importance of a Collective mindset with Joe Fowler, co-founder of extraordinary fruit and vegetable business, Smith and Brock. Launched in 2016, but with a legacy that stretches back to their father’s market stall in Brixton from their childhood, Smith and Brock was, and still is, a premium wholesale business, selling to some of the best Michelin starred restaurants and hotels in the UK. (In case you’re wondering who the ‘Smith’ and ‘Brock’ are, that’s their respective wive’s maiden names.) Business was booming, turnover had just hit £15m, and all was on the up for this small but perfectly formed business from South London. So when March 2020 hit and every one of their customers had to press pause, Joe and his brother Nick had to act quickly. Faced with a warehouse full of the highest quality seasonal produce in the country, they started to make up fruit and veg boxes, asked their local community who wanted to take one off their hands, and the brand Knock Knock by Smith and Brock was born. To find out more, read their amazing Weekly Market Report  (or order a box if you’re within the M25) visit www.smithandbrock.com. To hear more about what’s in season and what you should be trying this week (and get a bit of Smith & Brock flavour outside the M25), follow them on socials @SmithandBrock. To find out more about who we are, what we do and who we do it for at Fawnbrake, visit www.fawnbrakecollective.com To get in touch about this podcast, please email [email protected] You can also find us on Twitter: @ameliatorode @sera_holland @fawnbrake Or on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/seramiller/ www.linkedin.com/in/ameliatorode/

Sarah Hesz, Chief Commercial Officer at Bubble, talks the normalisation of childcare on demand.