In this episode, Joshua O'Connor chats with Simon Rouse, the CEO of Impact Futures, a leading education company recently acquired by private equity firm August Equity. In this episode, Simon candidly shares his unique career trajectory, from his beginnings as a Barclays graduate to his decision to transition from banking into businesses providing services with a social value.

• Career Pivots and Purpose: Discover what motivated Simon to shift his focus from a successful 17-year banking career to leadership roles with a strong social impact.
• The Private Equity Journey: Get an inside look at what it takes to prepare a business for acquisition and the challenges of managing a team through a high-stakes sales process.
• Leadership and Resilience: Hear Simon's insights on effective leadership, the importance of building trust, and how he navigated crises like a critical Ofsted inspection during the sale of his company.
• The Human Element of Business: Learn why Simon believes that in a world obsessed with technology and AI, a leader's focus should always remain on their people.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in business leadership, career development, and the intricate world of private equity.

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Joshua O'Connor as he sits down with Graham Levinsohn, a seasoned business leader and the current CEO and Chairman of Sureserve Group. Graham offers a deep dive into his remarkable career journey, from his roots in Newcastle to leading a global workforce of 65,000 at G4S.

In this episode, Graham shares invaluable insights on:

• Strategic Leadership: The critical difference between having a strategy and executing it successfully. He discusses the importance of simplifying complex challenges and getting people "on the train" to drive change.
• Navigating Uncertainty: Graham recounts his experience during the takeover of G4S by Allied Universal, sharing how he maintained stability and motivation within the massive organization.
• The Private Equity World: He explains what a CEO of a private equity-backed business actually does, highlighting the key differences between working in a private versus a public company, particularly in terms of timeline and shareholder relationships.
• Building A-Caliber Teams: Graham provides a fascinating perspective on leadership, stressing the importance of building a team of "A-players" and moving beyond the need to be the sole expert. He believes a true leader's job is to be the conductor of the orchestra, not the master of every instrument.
• The Power of Values: Learn how personal and company values act as a guiding light, helping leaders make the right decisions during difficult times.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in leadership, corporate strategy, and the human side of business.

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In this episode of the Air Supply podcast, host Joshua O'Connor interviews Carlo Alloni, the CEO of Bellrock Group. Alloni, who previously held leadership roles at Ericsson, Cable & Wireless, and Mitie, shares his career journey and insights into leading a technology-led, private equity-backed business. He discusses the core values and strategies that drive Bellrock Group's success, particularly its focus on people, technology, and customer obsession.

• From Investment Banking to Telecoms to Facilities Management: Alloni's career path is a journey through different industries. He started in investment banking, moved into telecommunications with Ericsson and Cable & Wireless, and then transitioned to the facilities management market with Mitie before becoming CEO of Bellrock Group.
• The Three Pillars of Leadership: Alloni dedicates his time to three key stakeholders: clients, teams, and shareholders. He emphasizes the importance of anticipating client challenges and being accountable for solutions. He believes in creating an engaged and inspired team, and sees shareholder returns as a natural consequence of delighted clients and engaged employees.
• The Private Equity Advantage: He highlights the advantages of private equity, including a shorter time between decision-making and execution, a focus on what truly matters, and a high degree of flexibility. He believes this environment is fast-paced and motivating, and that it provides a clearer sense of the impact of one’s contributions.
• The Importance of a Strong Culture: Alloni has a "pact" of behaviors that he shares with his team and looks for in new hires. These behaviors include trust, accountability, a focus on solutions over excuses, and a commitment to communication. He values good people with high ethical standards and a focus on clients and teams. He also emphasizes the importance of promoting from within and leveraging the best ideas from frontline employees.
• A Legacy of Goodness: Alloni is driven by a desire to win as a team, lead by example, and "do good." He finds motivation in creating meaningful value for clients and opportunities for his team members. His ultimate goal is to leave a legacy of a great business.

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