Failure is easy to call a lesson once the sting has gone. In the moment, it can feel like proof that you are the failure.

Baasit Siddiqui is known from Channel 4’s Gogglebox, but television is only one part of his story. He is an educator, keynote speaker, founder of the Let’s Thrive education programme, creator of the 7Cs to Thrive framework and author of the forthcoming book Not My Finest Lesson.

In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Bev and Baasit explore the mistakes, unexpected opportunities and moments of reflection that have shaped his journey through education, television and business.

They discuss why burnout is often a trickle rather than a big bang, how failure becomes tangled with our identity, why vulnerability can build trust and what business leaders can learn from great educators.

Whether you’re building a business, leading a team or simply trying to work out what comes next, this is an honest and uplifting conversation about learning, resilience and finding the people who help you thrive.

In this episode:

• How Baasit unexpectedly found his way into teaching and television

• Why burnout rarely arrives as one dramatic moment

• What educators can teach business owners about sales and leadership

• Why sales becomes easier when you see it as service

• The 7Cs to Thrive and why compromise matters

• The mistakes behind Baasit’s forthcoming book

• How to separate failure from your identity

• Why vulnerability, accountability and trust belong together

• The importance of community and finding your people

Find out more about Baasit Siddiqui: https://baasitsiddiqui.com/

About Beyond the Numbers

Hosted by Bev Wakefield, founder of Vibrant Accountancy, Beyond the Numbers explores the conversations that help business owners build stronger, more resilient businesses.

Each episode features practical insights from experienced leaders, entrepreneurs and experts, focusing on the decisions, mindset and ideas that create long-term success.

Find out more about Vibrant Accountancy and upcoming events: https://vibrantaccountancy.co.uk/

Richard Gerver has spent his career challenging the way we think about leadership, change and human potential. But one of his biggest lessons is simple: the moment we become too comfortable protecting what already works, we risk getting left behind.

After transforming a struggling Derbyshire primary school into an internationally recognised learning environment, Richard went on to become a bestselling author and global speaker, working with leaders and organisations around the world.

In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Bev and Richard explore why successful leaders can become resistant to change, why curiosity is one of the most important skills in business, and why leadership isn’t about having all the answers.

From learning to trust your instincts and empowering people to challenge you, to vulnerability, experimentation and finding opportunity when all you can see is the problem, this is a conversation about what it really takes to keep moving forward.

In this episode:

• Why success can make businesses more resistant to change
• Why standing still can actually mean going backwards
• How curiosity helps leaders and businesses stay relevant
• Why great leaders don’t need to have all the answers
• How to build a team that feels confident enough to challenge you
• Why vulnerability can transform culture
• How to find opportunity when you feel stuck or under pressure

About Beyond the Numbers

Hosted by Bev Wakefield, founder of Vibrant Accountancy, Beyond the Numbers explores the conversations that help business owners build stronger, more resilient businesses. Each episode features practical insights from experienced leaders, entrepreneurs and experts, focusing on the decisions, mindset and ideas that create long-term success.

Find out more about Vibrant Accountancy and upcoming events: https://vibrantaccountancy.co.uk/

AI is changing business faster than most leaders realise. But according to AI strategist and The Human Business author Ben Afia, the biggest risk isn't being replaced by AI – it's becoming indistinguishable because of it.

Ben is currently helping align hundreds of marketers across a Fortune 500 organisation on AI adoption, giving him a front-row seat to how businesses are embracing the technology, where they're getting it wrong, and what separates those creating real competitive advantage.

In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Bev and Ben explore why AI is fundamentally a human challenge rather than a technology one, how generic AI can slowly erode your brand, and why the businesses that thrive will be those that combine technology with genuinely human thinking.

Whether you're already using AI every day or wondering where to begin, this conversation offers a refreshingly practical perspective on one of the biggest shifts facing business today.

In this episode:

• Why generic AI is making businesses sound the same
• The biggest mistake leaders make when adopting AI
• Why AI is a human challenge, not a technology challenge
• How to protect your brand and culture in an AI-powered world
• Practical ways business owners can start using AI more effectively
• Why human judgement is becoming more valuable, not less

About Beyond the Numbers

Hosted by Bev Wakefield, founder of Vibrant Accountancy, Beyond the Numbers explores the conversations that help business owners build stronger, more resilient businesses. Each episode features practical insights from experienced leaders, entrepreneurs and experts, focusing on the decisions, mindset and ideas that create long-term success.

Find out more about Vibrant Accountancy and upcoming events: https://vibrantaccountancy.co.uk/