Business Leader

You haven't heard from anyone like Professor Sir Peter Donnelly before. He is a statistician, professor, a knight of the realm and an entrepreneur. Not only has he given a Ted Talk about statistics that has been viewed more than 1.5 million times, but he is now working on genetics tests that could save lives and change the world by helping people understand how predisposed they are to becoming obese or getting certain illnesses. Donnelly left his career in academia to become the co-founder and chief executive of Genomics, which is developing these genetic tests and is one of the fastest-growing businesses in the UK. But this may only be the start of its story, as Graham Ruddick explains...

Graham Ruddick meets Kiki McDonough to tell the story of how she built a luxury jewellery brand which has been worn by the Princess of Wales, the Queen and Princess Diana. But despite gaining worldwide recognition, Kiki McDonough has decided to only have one shop in London. Find out why in the latest episode of the Business Leader Podcast

In a new limited series for the Business Leader Podcast, Victoria Price meets entrepreneurs from around the UK to hear the personal stories behind their success. Victoria Price is head of private capital at Alvarez & Marsal, the consultancy firm, and has spent over 20 years in professional services in a collection of senior roles. In this first episode, she speaks to Tom Ryder, the founder and chief executive of Applied Nutrition, who has gone from a scaffolder in Liverpool to the man behind one of the biggest stock market flotations in the UK over the last year. Applied Nutrition listed on the stock market in 2024 with a valuation of £350m. We hear the story behind him growing up in Liverpool, his love of drama, nutrition tips and the one piece of advice he would give to budding entrepreneurs...

What do President Trump's tariffs mean for politics, the global economy, businesses and consumers? And what is going on in the corridors of power in the UK?The Business Leader team – Graham Ruddick, Sarah Vizard, Dougal Shaw and Josh Dornbrack – are joined by the political editor of The Times and Business Leader columnist Steven Swinford to cover what you need to know about the tariffs and the meltdown in financial markets.The eyes of the world have been on the US in the last few months since President Trump's inauguration but nothing has held its attention as much as his announcement on tariffs. As businesses countries across the globe scramble to understand how the tariffs will affect them, China has retaliated and more could follow. What will the UK do?

Steve Jobs. Jeff Bezos. Taylor Swift? A new book makes a compelling case for why the world’s biggest pop star belongs in the pantheon of business masterminds.In this episode, Josh Dornbrack talks to Harvard Business Review senior editor Kevin Evers to explore the bold strategic decisions behind Taylor Swift’s rise, from redefining fan engagement to mastering reinvention in a disrupted industry. Her $2bn Eras Tour wasn’t a fluke, it was the product of long-term thinking, relentless innovation and "anti-fragile" leadership. Tune in for sharp insights that will change how you think about strategy, brand and customer connection.

Pip Murray founded Pip & Nut in 2013. Her original peanut butter recipe was based on a power snack she developed at home to help her prepare for long runs as a keen jogger. She wanted a natural recipe that avoided additives and palm oil.Her recipe proved such a hit with friends that she saw the potential to turn it into a business idea, believing there was a gap in the market. Peanut butter is, she discovered, a “permitted indulgence” for consumers. Twelve years later, you will find her jars and other products in most supermarkets.The brand has retail sales of more than £25m and employs more than 30 people. Pip Murray explains to Dougal Shaw how she took her idea from the kitchen table to supermarket shelves, through food markets, rigorous product testing and a few failed product ideas along the way.

Udemy is the San Francisco-based company changing how we learn new skills. Udemy offers online courses ranging from how to use Microsoft Excel to how to build high-performing teams. Now it plans to use new AI technology to provide personalised coaching and training. In the latest episode of the Business Leader Podcast, Graham Ruddick meets Udemy chief executive Hugo Sarrazin to talk about its plans and the challenges of scaling-up a new tech giant

What does Greggs look for in a shop location? What is the state of UK high streets? With more than 2,600 shops in the UK, Greggs is ideally placed to answer these questions. In a bonus episode that follows-up our main podcast interview with Roisin Currie, Graham Ruddick speaks to the Greggs chief executive about shops and high streets...

What is the secret behind the success of Greggs? How has this Newcastle-based bakery chain grown into a business with more than 2,500 shops and celebrity fans all over the world? Graham Ruddick travels to Greggs HQ in Newcastle to speak to chief executive Roisin Currie and find the answers...