Episode #596 - ScaleUp Short - Why Your Leadership, Not Your Strategy, Is Holding You Back
Release Date: 04/17/2026
Episode #638: ScaleUp Club - Seeds, Nets and Spears: Building Predictable Lead Generation
ScaleUp Radio
Growing a business beyond founder-led sales is one of the biggest challenges many SMEs face. In this special ScaleUp Club edition of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent is joined once again by returning guest Dhanushka Tennakoon from RE24 for an interactive Q&A session exploring one of the biggest questions facing growing businesses: How do you create a predictable flow of new opportunities instead of relying on referrals and hope? Alongside the discussion, Kevin also shares this month's AI Pulse update, covering one of the most talked about AI stories of recent weeks and what it means for business...
info_outline
Episode #637: ScaleUp Radio Shorts - Why focus beats hustle every time
ScaleUp Radio
Choose Less. Scale Better. Three founders. Three wake up calls. One lesson every business owner needs to hear. What do an authority strategist, a sales leader and an AI entrepreneur have in common? Far more than you might think. In this special edition of ScaleUp Radio Shorts, Kevin Brent and Louise Blunt reflect on three recent conversations with Erica Holthausen, Gulliver Burns and Lee Nazari. Despite completely different industries and experiences, all three arrived at the same conclusion: sustainable growth doesn't come from doing more. It comes from choosing less, focusing better and...
info_outline
Episode #636: How Not to Scale: Why Revenue, Ego and Hustle Can Destroy Your Business - with Gulliver Burns
ScaleUp Radio
What happens when you build multiple multi-million-pound businesses... but almost lose yourself in the process? In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent is joined by entrepreneur Gulliver Burns, who has experienced both extraordinary growth and devastating setbacks. From building a call centre with over 200 employees before the age of 25 to creating a multi-million-pound automotive business, Gulliver has learned the hard way that scaling without strong foundations comes at a significant cost. Rather than another success story, this conversation is a refreshing look at how not to scale a...
info_outline
Episode #635: Can we still trust a CV in the age of AI? - with Lee Nazari
ScaleUp Radio
Artificial Intelligence has made applying for jobs easier than ever. It has also made it much harder for employers to identify the best candidates. In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent speaks with entrepreneur Lee Nazari, founder of Interviewa, a platform using conversational AI and on camera interviews to help recruiters, universities and job seekers cut through the growing noise created by AI generated CVs. Following a life changing personal tragedy, Lee chose to build something with genuine purpose. The result is Interviewa, a business focused on creating fairer, faster and more...
info_outline
Episode #634: Why Your Content Isn't Winning Clients and What to Do Instead - with Erica Holthausen
ScaleUp Radio
Most business owners know they should be creating content. Yet many find themselves stuck on a relentless treadmill of blogs, social posts and newsletters that consume huge amounts of time without generating meaningful opportunities. In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent is joined by Erica Holthausen, founder of Catchline Communications, to challenge one of the biggest assumptions in modern marketing: that more content equals more business. Erica argues that authority doesn't come from publishing more. It comes from having a clear point of view, writing with conviction and building a...
info_outline
Episode #633: ScaleUp Radio Shorts: AI, Hidden Costs and Getting Back to Your Zone of Genius
ScaleUp Radio
What do artificial intelligence and cost optimisation have in common? At first glance, not much. But when Kevin Brent and Louise Blunt compare two recent ScaleUp Radio interviews, a clear theme emerges. Whether you're using AI to remove administration or reviewing supplier contracts to eliminate unnecessary costs, the goal is exactly the same: Freeing founders to spend more time doing what only they can do. In this ScaleUp Radio Shorts episode, Kevin and Louise explore the practical lessons from conversations with Julie Begbie, founder of the AI Confidence Club, and Ryan Olson from ERA Group,...
info_outline
Episode #632: Using AI to Build a Happier, Smarter Business - with Julie Begbie
ScaleUp Radio
Can AI actually make your business happier? Many business owners hear about AI and immediately think about efficiency, automation or replacing people. Julie Begbie takes a very different view. Her philosophy is simple. AI should remove the work you don't enjoy so you can spend more time doing the work that gives you energy. That creates a happier founder, a better customer experience and ultimately a stronger business. In this episode Julie shares practical ways any SME owner can start using AI without becoming a technology expert, whilst also explaining how to build systems that genuinely...
info_outline
Episode #631: The Million-Dollar Donut: How Hidden Costs Are Holding Back Your Growth - with Ryan Olson
ScaleUp Radio
What happens when a successful corporate executive decides he wants more control over his future? After 22 years at Intel, Ryan Olson had built an impressive career leading business development teams, managing global partnerships and helping create a billion-dollar pipeline. But two rounds of corporate layoffs became the catalyst for a very different path. In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Ryan shares how he transitioned from corporate leadership into business ownership through the ERA Group franchise, helping mid-sized businesses uncover hidden costs, improve profitability and free up cash...
info_outline
Episode #630: ScaleUp Radio Shorts - Humaning, Tech, and True Focus: Lessons from Melissa Thornley and Vicki Ayton
ScaleUp Radio
In this edition of ScaleUp Radio Shorts, Kevin Brent and Louise Blunt reflect on two fascinating conversations with leadership expert Melissa Thornley and social entrepreneur Vicki Ayton. Although their businesses couldn't be more different, both guests arrive at remarkably similar conclusions. Sustainable growth isn't driven by working harder or adopting the latest technology. It's built by developing better leaders, creating resilient teams, maintaining genuine human connection, and focusing attention on what matters most. From emotional intelligence and feedback cultures to AI, climate...
info_outline
Episode #629: Why Resilience is the Missing Link in Accountability - with Melissa Thornley
ScaleUp Radio
ScaleUp Radio Show Notes Melissa Thornley: Why Resilience is the Missing Link in Accountability What if the reason accountability isn't sticking in your business has nothing to do with performance management and everything to do with resilience? In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent is joined by Melissa Thornley, leadership coach, consultant and founder of Melissa Thornley Consulting. Melissa works with leaders operating in high-stakes environments including emergency services, government agencies, manufacturing, construction and technology businesses. Her mission is simple but...
info_outlineThis episode is AI generated
In this ScaleUp Radio Shorts edition, Kevin and Louise revisit two powerful conversations exploring one of the biggest constraints in scaling a business: people.
Drawing insights from Mike Moorhouse and Anita Čavrag, this episode unpacks how leadership, culture, and self-awareness shape your ability to grow beyond the founder-led phase.
This episode was produced with the aid of AI to help bring together key insights and actionable takeaways.
🔍 What You’ll Learn
1. Why People Are the Real Bottleneck
Both guests highlight that while strategy and finance can be structured, execution depends entirely on people.
- Mike focuses on aligning business strategy with human capability
- Anita focuses on eliminating disengagement and building thriving cultures
2. The Trap of the “Hero Founder”
Early-stage hustle doesn’t scale.
- Founders often stay stuck in control mode
- Micromanagement and fear of failure limit growth
- What got you here will not get you to the next stage
Standout insight:
👉 “Your job isn’t to be right. Your job is to move people.”
3. Leadership vs Management
- You can manage processes and tools
- You must lead people through inspiration and trust
Traditional hierarchies often create dependency and disengagement. Modern teams need autonomy and ownership.
4. Building Psychological Safety
If you suddenly ask your team for ideas and get silence, that’s normal.
People are conditioned not to challenge authority.
To unlock contribution:
- Invite disagreement explicitly
- Ask your team to challenge your thinking
- Create structured ways to critique ideas
5. Practical Tools to Unlock Better Thinking
- “Kill the company” exercise to stress-test strategy
- Encourage teams to think like competitors
- Use frameworks and checklists to avoid emotional decision-making
6. The Role of Ego in Scaling
Ego blocks learning and adaptability.
Great leaders:
- Admit when they are wrong
- Change direction quickly
- Focus on outcomes, not being right
7. Self-Awareness is the Foundation
If performance or culture is off, look in the mirror first.
Leadership is a learnable skill, not an innate trait.
8. AI vs Human Thinking
A powerful contrast:
- Mike warns against outsourcing thinking to AI
- Anita leans into human connection and simplicity
The risk:
👉 Losing “organisational knowledge” and becoming indistinguishable from competitors
💡 The One Key Thing
Scaling your business means scaling your leadership capacity first.
🔥 Key Takeaway Quote
“Your job isn’t to be right. Your job is to move people.”
📌 About Smart90
If you’re tired of ending the week busy but no further forward, Smart90 might be for you.
It’s a simple 90-day execution rhythm with an AI alignment check that keeps your daily focus tied to what actually matters.
👉 Try it free at Smart90.co.uk