Today, we are excited to introduce a very special guest, known affectionately in the industry as 'The Governor'—but don’t worry, it’s all about governance! Karl George MBE is with us today, a trailblazer and a leading authority in the realm of governance.

With a career that spans over three decades, Karl has been instrumental in guiding boards across the private, public, and voluntary sectors, helping them enhance their strategic direction and effectiveness. He is a respected visiting professor and author, and his writings, including the international bestseller 'The Effective Board Member,' are crucial for anyone seeking to excel in business leadership.

Karl has also created innovative frameworks like The TGF Governance Code and The RACE Equality Code, which have revolutionised organisational operations and leadership. His latest work, 'Governance 3.0,' provides fresh, international insights on governance that are essential for today’s fast-paced business environments.

So, whether you’re at the start-up phase or steering a more established company, Karl’s expertise is invaluable for all. Let’s delve into how solid governance can be your foundation for growth, profitability, and long-term success.

Key Points:

Karl’s Career Journey: From Accountant to Corporate Governance Expert

• Explore Karl's impressive journey from running his own successful accountancy firm to becoming a renowned expert in corporate governance. Learn how his experiences and insights have shaped his approach to advising businesses today.

Corporate Governance for SMEs

• Gain valuable insights on how to implement effective corporate governance in your SME. Karl shares practical advice on things such as establishing a framework and the right structure to ensure efficiency and promote sustainable growth.

The Power of AI in Business

• Join Karl as he delves into the transformative potential of artificial intelligence for businesses. Understand how AI is currently being utilised and get a glimpse into its future applications, helping you stay ahead in the evolving technological landscape.

Building a Strong Governance Framework

· Karl guides us through the critical components of a robust governance framework. Discover how to develop effective policies and terms of reference in areas such as marketing plans, strategic planning, financial management, and equality, diversity, and inclusion, among others. Learn how these elements contribute to a well-governed organisation.

Understanding Boardroom Behaviour

· Explore the various types of team behaviours in the boardroom that can undermine the governance of your business. Karl sheds light on common disruptive actions and dynamics.

Karl’s Branding Journey

· Dive into Karl’s journey of branding and marketing himself as ‘The Governor.’ Discover the various iterations and strategies he employed to create a brand identity that aligns with his expertise and the services he offers.

· Recommended Resources:

Find Karl’s books here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Karl-George/author/B0034O1KRG?ref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

In this week’s episode, we welcome accountant and angel investor; Rob Jones.

Leveraging decades of first-hand experience as a thriving entrepreneur, seasoned finance director, and dedicated angel investor, Rob has meticulously crafted a successful accountancy firm.



Key Points:

Rob’s background and journey to Financial Director:

• Explore Rob’s journey from Britpop band member to a Financial Director working around the world.

Scaling and Guidance

• Rob takes us through what led to him setting up RJF Accountants and how he helps start-up businesses scale, raise investments, and make wise business decisions.

Building Solid Foundations

• Uncover the key foundations to set now, to pave the way for a successful sale of your business in the future.

You Learn More from The Failures

• Delve into Rob’s insights into overcoming the business challenges and failures he has faced and how he overcame then.

Recommended Resources:

• Check out Rob and RJF Accountants here https://rjf.uk.com/.

• In today’s episode, we interview Steve Perez, Founder and Chairman of Global Brands, an independent Chesterfield-based drinks business that includes hotels and restaurants – the award-winning Casa Hotel and Peak Edge Hotel.
• Discover how Steve’s Spanish roots and his father’s influence helped pave the way for him to become an independent beverage and hospitality baron in the UK drinks industry.
• Eavesdrop on the pivotal conversation Steve has with his then-area manager the pub he ran, which brought clarity on the next step he should take (this ultimately led Steve to start his first business).
• Seven minutes into this episode, a key success tip is revealed which helped Steve gain a major foothold in the alcoholic drinks market and allowed him to cut costs like online retail giant Amazon.
• Hear why being a little unconventional can be a blessing in disguise. Steve’s success hinged on introducing his clients to products that no industry insiders were accustomed to.
• Take note of how the not-so-perfect storm of [HIDDEN] and recession led to the almost-overnight demise his first business which was turning over £10 million.
• Revealed: Following the aftermath of liquidating theor business, most people would lic their wounds and give up. But Steve rode the wave of the drinks market to embark on a new venture which, in less than five years, grew to £60 million turnover (not too shabby).
• Have your notepad ready and listen to the ingenious way Steve got funding to help the cashflow for his jewel-in-the-crown drink brand, Vodka Kick, despite having zero credibility with the banks. The best part is: the funding came with zero interest payments.
• The masterstroke decision taken by the team at Global Brands boosted sales and reduced the competition’s market share. Feel free to add this to your business playbook (if applicable).
• Check the Sui genesis approach Steve (the Drinks Baron) Perez takes to attracting top talent to work for him in key areas of his business, which may work for you just as well as it has for Global Brands (hint: it has to be a win-win for both parties).

Press play to uncover concepts that will help your business scale, grow, and profit.