New Thinking: Leaders

Jim Louderback is general manager of VidCon. Starting in 2010, the multi-genre online video tech conference has become the world’s largest celebration of digital creators and online video. Joining the team in 2014 as editorial director of the industry track, he took over as chief executive three years later and led VidCon’s sale to Viacom in 2018. In this in-depth conversation, Jim reflects on starting his career by building computer systems for big companies, and shares the story of how he “fell into media accidentally;” discusses being CEO of Revision3 and what the motivation was for Discovery to acquire the channel in 2012; and explains his plans to expand VidCon’s reach by making their events global.

Atif Sheikh is chief executive of businessfourzero. Founded in 2015, the company helps the world’s major businesses change faster than the world around them - specialising in purprose, strategy, leadership, engagement and culture. An award-winning company, they have worked with clients such as Tesco, Electronic Arts, Reckitt and Aviva and received ‘The Best Employee Engagement Campaign’ at the Corporate Comms Awards, and ‘Best Culture Team’ at last year’s Business Culture Awards. In this in-depth conversation, Atif reflects on starting a business during a time dominated by Brexit and Covid, and how this taught him that it’s “the process that counts;” discusses the aims of businessfourzero - believing in the power of big business and helping them innovate; and shares his plans for the future with the key aspiration to “make the world a better place.”

Joel Dietz is an artist, entrepreneur, investor and founder of ArtWallet. Founded in 2021, the company provides the ultimate solution for storing and owning NFTs whilst also providing the playback of unique audio and visual content. Also an author, his book ‘Principles of Holonic System Design,’ delves into why our tools and approaches for understanding the world are out of date. In this in-depth conversation, Joel reflects on how he started out in the industry, from writing his first science fiction novel when he was 8 to programming computers shortly after; discusses how ArtWallet works - to try and, “unlock the next generation of value around NFTs;” and shares his plans for the future, including his idea for a new poetry based book.

Jeff Joseph is editorial director and publisher of Luckbox magazine, a media platform brought to you by the tastytrade financial network. Founded in 2018 and with headquarters in Chicago, the monthly publication prides itself on being “the control freak’s essential guide to life, money & probability.” As well as being printed in magazine form, the outlet can also be found online, and seeks to help its readers maximise their benefit from investments and financial choices. Jeff was previously the founder and managing director of alternative strategies for the finance company ‘Rydex Investments.’ In this in-depth interview, Jeff reflects on how starting out at Luckbox was very much inspired by how he “missed making mistakes” as an investor; discusses how “falling in love with your own product” can be detrimental to media outlets if it proves a distraction from expanding your audience; and shares his belief that media must accommodate the platforms that younger audiences and producers use most regularly - including Instagram, TikTok and podcasting.

Chris Peel is Chief Executive of the route2work Group, a careers development business that focuses on getting undiscovered talent into high demand career pathways. Prior to this, Chris was Managing Director of Interserve Learning and Employment, and before that, he led the venture Rehab Jobfit, which specialised in helping over 20,000 people return to the workplace. In this in-depth conversation, Chris reflects on his own career, following his passion to make a positive social and economic impact through improving access to education and employment opportunities; discusses route2work and its ability to discover “hidden talent” to combat the digital skills shortage, as well as driving diversity and inclusion through its disruptive approach to talent assessment; and shares why he believes the world will learn and thrive after the devastation of the pandemic.

Felix Mitchell is the founder and co-chief executive of Instant Impact. Founded in 2011, the company provides in-house recruitment expertise - with global clients across Europe, North America, Asia, South American and Oceania. In this in-depth conversation, Felix recalls starting up his business after being “uninspired by the range of graduate jobs available,” when leaving University; discusses what the company does for its clients - helping with blindspots that teams don’t think about, such as encouraging widespread diversity; and shares ambitious plans to grow the business, with hopes to build the team and operate more widely in the US and Europe.

Katharina Gehra is managing director of Immutable Insight. Founded in 2018, the advisory uses scientific analysis to advise and service companies in the blockchain and crypto space. Named as one of Capital magazine’s ‘Top 40 under 40,’ she was also nominated as a blockchain “expert” for parliamentary hearings at the German Bundestag. In this in-depth conversation, Katharina reflects on starting out in a “traditional career in traditional finance” and how she then moved onto the crypto space; discusses the ins-and-outs of Bitcoin and what it could mean for the future of banking if the digital skills gap is bridged; and shares her optimistic views on how the future of Bitcoin can be a bright one if a transparent system is put in place.

Hugh Edwards and Peter Dickson are co-founders of Reattendance. Founded in 2016, the events platform helps companies host in-person, hybrid and online-only events. Before their latest joint venture, Hugh had a long career in the industry, having worked on over 300 projects and counting; and Peter earned his moniker; ‘voiceover man’, narrating prime-time shows including The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent and by being one of the world’s leading live event announcers. In this in-depth conversation, they reflect on the development of both their revolutionary events platform and their working relationship - noting the importance of providing customers with a hyper-personalised experience, and one which doesn’t suffer from its online components; explain the impact COVID-19 has had on sector, what this means for the future of hybrid, and their commitment to being “open, honest and transparent;” and discuss the continually growing and evolving events space, and how altruism comes into the product that they offer.

Edan Yago is a blockchain entrepreneur and core contributor to Sovryn, a decentralised Bitcoin trading and lending platform that allows members to trade with leverage and earn yield by lending. Earlier in his career, Yago founded several other companies in the Bitcoin and crypto space, including CementDAO and Epiphyte. In this in-depth conversation, Yago reflects on starting out as an entrepreneur, and his desire to have an impact on the world and take “ownership of his destiny;” shares his journey of discovering the crypto space, as well as how growing up in South Africa during Apartheid taught him not to be dependent on traditional forms of currency; and discusses the future of Bitcoin, and the need to adapt to life as it becomes increasingly digital.

Ryan Howsam is founder and chief executive of the StaySure Group and a leading UK investor, entrepreneur and mentor. He is also behind the world leading Legend’s Golf Tour. Founded in 2014 Staysure is famous for pioneering new kinds of flexible insurance cover including for the over 50s and for those with pre-existing medical conditions - and was named ‘Best Travel Insurance Provider’ in 2020 for the fifth year running. In this in-depth conversation, Ryan reflects on starting out his career, describing the time as an “early calling into leadership” - and talks through the key lessons he learnt along the way; discusses the StaySure Group and the importance of not limiting marketing within the business; and shares his plans for the future on taking the company global, expand into FinTech, and incorporate the new brand, PetSure.