Ambitious Minds

In this episode, I sit down with Toby, co-founder of Hexa Padel, one of the leading padel court installers in the UK.We talk about spotting early market opportunities, scaling a business in a booming industry, and what really happens behind the scenes when you’re building fast. Toby shares how he went from coaching tennis to installing over 200 courts a year, managing thousands of inbound enquiries, and navigating the operational chaos that comes with rapid growth.We dive into cash flow crises, business partner dynamics, contracts, failure, and the emotional toll of entrepreneurship. Toby explains why resilience, communication, and long-term thinking are what separate founders who survive from those who burn out.This is a powerful episode for anyone building a business, considering a pivot, or trying to scale in a competitive market while protecting their mental health and financial future.🔗 Connect with meLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-lawrence-5a4b3357Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousmindspodcastYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousMindsPodcastSpotfy:https://open.spotify.com/show/6OzMUZkmjs9PHEi6qHU3QiApple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-minds/id1731311239?ls=1📰 Free newsletter: Fuel Your AmbitionWeekly insights on money, investing, career growth, and ambition:👉 https://fuelyourambition.substack.com/Website:https://www.ambitiousmindspodcast.com/

In this episode, I sit down with Nicole Soames, a leadership and performance coach who works with senior executives, founders, and high performing teams.We talk about emotional intelligence, feedback, and why your ability to communicate, listen, and handle difficult conversations is what truly separates good leaders from elite ones. Nicole explains how leadership is less about control and authority, and more about influence, clarity, and creating the conditions for others to perform at their best.This is a powerful episode for anyone who wants to grow in leadership, improve their confidence in high pressure situations, and build stronger relationships through better communication.🔗 Connect with meLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-lawrence-5a4b3357Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousmindspodcastYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousMindsPodcastSpotfy:https://open.spotify.com/show/6OzMUZkmjs9PHEi6qHU3QiApple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-minds/id1731311239?ls=1📰 Free newsletter: Fuel Your AmbitionWeekly insights on money, investing, career growth, and ambition:👉 https://fuelyourambition.substack.com/Website:https://www.ambitiousmindspodcast.com/

From starting with £50k and family loans to building one of London’s fastest-growing suit brands, this episode breaks down what it really takes to build a fashion business from scratch.The lads behind Batch London open up about why most brands fail, how their made to order model changed everything, and how they turned a smash and grab robbery into their biggest marketing moment ever.We talk cash flow, sustainability, celebrity customers, founder sacrifice, and the brutal reality of chasing something bigger than comfort.This is what building a £5M brand actually looks like.02:45 Why Fashion Brands Fail05:30 Made To Order Explained08:40 Killing Fashion Waste11:20 Does Sustainability Sell14:10 Choosing The First Store17:00 Building The Flagship20:10 Life Before Batch23:30 Starting The Company Fast26:10 Making A Fashion Brand29:40 Side Hustle Grind33:10 Why Brand Matters36:20 Cash Flow Advantage39:20 Would You Wait 8 Weeks42:20 Why Stores Build Trust45:30 The Robbery Story49:20 Turning Crisis Into Growth52:30 Celebrities Wearing Batch55:20 No Influencer Marketing58:10 The Barber Shop Effect1:01:10 Founder Sacrifice1:03:30 What Success Means1:05:20 The Future Of Batch🔗 Connect with meLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-lawrence-5a4b3357Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousmindspodcastYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousMindsPodcastSpotfy:https://open.spotify.com/show/6OzMUZkmjs9PHEi6qHU3QiApple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-minds/id1731311239?ls=1📰 Free newsletter: Fuel Your AmbitionWeekly insights on money, investing, career growth, and ambition:👉 https://fuelyourambition.substack.com/Website:https://www.ambitiousmindspodcast.com/

In this episode, I sit down with Simon Jeffries, a former Royal Marine and Special Forces operator turned performance coach for CEOs and founders. We talk about stress, discipline, and why your thoughts and emotions are something you can train, just like your body. Simon explains how building a strong routine and personal “operating system” is what really creates control and consistency in life. This is a powerful episode for anyone who wants to perform better under pressure and take real ownership of how they show up every day.02:15 Royal Marines to Special Forces Journey05:40 Why Stress Is About Your Response, Not Events09:30 Thoughts and Emotions Are Just Data13:10 Training Your Mind Like the Gym17:45 Performance Under Pressure Explained21:30 Military Lessons for Everyday Life25:10 Building a Personal Operating System28:55 Discipline vs Motivation32:20 Handling Negative Self Talk36:05 Being Hard vs Being Kind to Yourself39:40 Celebrating Wins and Building Confidence43:15 Why Successful People Still Feel Stressed46:50 Alignment, Purpose, and Fulfilment50:40 Leaving the Military and Finding Direction54:10 Control, Freedom, and Starting Your Own Path57:30 Morning Routines of High Performers01:01:10 Phone Addiction, Focus, and Dopamine01:04:30 Setting Boundaries and Deep Work01:08:20 Mindset as a System, Not a Hack01:12:00 Training Consistency and Long-Term Change01:15:20 What Real High Performance Looks Like01:18:30 Final Lessons on Control and Discipline__________🔗 Connect with meLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-lawrence-5a4b3357Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousmindspodcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JayLawrenceBusinessSpotfy:https://open.spotify.com/show/6OzMUZkmjs9PHEi6qHU3QiApple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-minds/id1731311239?ls=1📰 Free newsletter: Fuel Your AmbitionWeekly insights on money, investing, career growth, and ambition:👉 https://fuelyourambition.substack.com/Website:https://www.ambitiousmindspodcast.com/

In this episode, I sit down with Jordan Schlipf, someone who’s lived several entrepreneurial lives; building tech startups, investing as a global VC partner, and eventually stepping in as CEO of the well-known beauty brand Cowshed.Jordan talks honestly about the ups and downs of entrepreneurship: the long hours, the sacrifices, and the moments where you’re forced to question what you actually want from your career.We get into how he rebuilt his routines, how he learned to lead bigger teams, and the reality of making tough decisions during a company restructure.This episode is full of practical lessons; whether you’re running a startup, moving into leadership, or trying to figure out your next step. Jordan is refreshingly real about what it takes to grow, evolve, and keep your ambition intact.00:00 Introduction01:57 Soul Searching and Career Transition14:45 The Realities of Entrepreneurship20:57 The Importance of Health and Routine26:18 Challenges of Company Restructuring34:02 The CEO's Evolving Role34:34 Defining a Good CEO36:39 The Importance of Recruitment and Culture38:11 Knowing When to Step Down41:27 Avoiding Business Pitfalls45:13 Diverse Business Ventures49:57 Investment Strategies and Wealth Management55:22 Reflections on the Finance Industry01:02:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts🔗 Connect with meLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-lawrence-5a4b3357Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousmindspodcastYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousMindsPodcastSpotfy:https://open.spotify.com/show/6OzMUZkmjs9PHEi6qHU3QiApple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-minds/id1731311239?ls=1📰 Free newsletter: Fuel Your AmbitionWeekly insights on money, investing, career growth, and ambition:👉 https://fuelyourambition.substack.com/Website:https://www.ambitiousmindspodcast.com/

So many ambitious people today feel like they’re doing everything right, getting the degree, working hard, climbing the ladder... and yet still struggling to make real financial progress.It’s not your imagination.The old playbook that worked for previous generations doesn’t work anymore.In this solo episode, I break down the truth behind why so many Millennials and Gen Z feel stuck, frustrated, or left behind… and more importantly, what actually works today.Drawing on over a decade of experience advising clients as an Investment Manager, I explain:• Why housing, wages, degrees and social mobility have completely shifted• How wealth moved from income → ownership (and why that matters for you)• Why your parents’ roadmap no longer applies in today’s economy• The modern playbook for building wealth sustainably and realistically• How to increase your earning power, not just your savings• Why a second income stream is becoming essential, not optional• How your network can accelerate your career more than any qualification• Why redefining your timeline can unlock huge opportunities Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-lawrence-5a4b3357/Subscribe to my Substack: https://substack.com/@fuelyourambition

Christine Nicholson is a award-winning business mentor, author, and exit strategist. In this episode we unpack what it really takes to build, scale, and successfully exit your business.With over a hundred business sales under her belt, Christine shares real-world lessons on the three types of exits every founder should understand, how to prepare for due diligence long before you sell, and why financial freedom starts outside your business.From the emotional rollercoaster of letting go to the practical steps that protect your wealth, this episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom for entrepreneurs who want to create lasting value, and a life beyond the business.00:00 Introduction01:54 Preparing for Business Exit 06:44 The Importance of Delegation 13:40 The Psychological Toll of Due Diligence 19:31 The Role of Preparation in Due Diligence 23:16 Personal Entrepreneurial Journey 29:28 The Overlooked Strategy: Acquiring to Exit 30:26 The Reality of Business Dependency 33:59 Preparing for Wealth Outside the Business 34:54 The Pitfalls of Not Planning Ahead 42:07 The Gender Dynamics in Business Ownership 44:57 The Challenges of Selling a Business 47:52 The Importance of Building Business Controls 49:43 The Motivation Behind Helping Others 53:39 The Impact of Upbringing on Success 55:57 Final Thoughts and Where to Find More InformationContact Christine:https://christinenicholson.co.uk/

Tom had everything most people dream of. A top degree. A role at JP Morgan. The kind of career that looks perfect on paper. But behind the prestige, he felt something was missing.In this conversation, Tom opens up about what it’s really like working in one of the world’s biggest investment banks... and why he walked away. From side hustles and consulting to building his own ventures, he reveals the reality of leaving security for the unknown.Now, as a fractional CFO, Tom helps entrepreneurs understand the truth about their finances: the difference between profit and cash flow, why recurring revenue matters, and how to prepare a business for sale. His journey is one of ambition, risk, and redefining success.This isn’t just about money. It’s about identity, growth, and the courage to bet on yourself.00:00 Introduction: Working at JP Morgan01:22 University and Internships03:38 Life at JP Morgan05:41 Deciding to Leave JP Morgan08:46 Starting New Ventures and Side Hustles10:07 Challenges and Realisations in Small Businesses10:52 Providing Financial Consulting to Small Businesses14:55 Improving Business Cash Flow and Profit Margins30:09 Future Business Plans and Advice30:29 The Value of Recurring Revenue33:05 Preparing Businesses for Sale36:28 Building a Personal Brand42:11 The Importance of Consistency46:14 Ambition and Personal Growth51:36 Investing in Yourself55:21 Conclusion and Contact Information