In this episode of Confessions of an Entrepreneur, Carl sits down with Lucy Batley, owner of Traction Industries & co-founder of MANKIND AI, and Tom Pickering FIET, founder and CEO of WinningThinking, for a discussion about AI and its implications for business and society.

Drawing on their experience of advising businesses, Lucy and Tom bring markedly different perspectives to the conversation. They explore how AI is being used today and the wider questions raised by the speed of its development, including whether its potential benefits can be realised while keeping its risks under control.

Lucy considers the opportunities for businesses to improve efficiency and support growth through AI. She discusses how automating repetitive tasks can change the shape of a workforce, acknowledging the prospect of redundancies while considering how reskilling could help people move into roles with greater responsibility.

Tom, an engineer, technologist and experienced turnaround specialist, takes a more cautionary view. He raises concerns about the consequences of growing dependence on AI, questioning its effect on human capabilities and whether increasingly powerful systems will remain within our control.

The conversation explores the cultural and ethical implications of these changes, including the risk that commercial gains could take precedence over their impact on people. Carl, Lucy and Tom consider what AI might mean for meaningful employment and the responsibilities of those making decisions about its use.

Carl also reflects on the importance of seeking specialist advice as business leaders navigate unfamiliar technology. Alongside that expertise, he highlights the need for a clear sense of purpose, helping entrepreneurs decide how technology fits with what they want their businesses to achieve.

This thought-provoking episode brings contrasting views into an open discussion, encouraging listeners to consider both the opportunities AI presents and the consequences of the choices being made today.

Connect with Lucy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucybatley/

Connect with Tom Website: https://winningthinking.co.uk/

Connect with Carl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/

This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

In this special live edition of Confessions of an Entrepreneur, Carl Swansbury brings his podcast to the stage, joined by four exceptional entrepreneurs for an evening of honest conversation about business, resilience and what it really takes to build companies of lasting value.

Hosted in partnership with Ward Hadaway and attended by more than 100 business leaders from across the North East, the panel discussion brought together entrepreneur and campaigner Heather Mills, serial entrepreneur and investor Andrew Hulbert, entrepreneur and technology leader Charlie Hoult, and entrepreneur and business founder Kevin Fasting for an unfiltered discussion about the realities of entrepreneurship.

Throughout the evening, the panel shared the defining moments that shaped their entrepreneurial journeys, from overcoming personal adversity and financial uncertainty to building businesses, leading through economic downturns and achieving successful exits.

Heather Mills reflected on how an exceptionally difficult childhood, homelessness and later life-changing injury fuelled her determination to solve problems, challenge convention and use business as a vehicle for creating positive social impact. Andrew Hulbert explained how he left a successful corporate career with a clear ambition to build a business that would ultimately give him something more valuable than money - time with his family.

Kevin Fasting spoke candidly about the disappearance of his father, an event that transformed both his outlook on life and his motivation to build businesses capable of changing the lives of those around him. Charlie Hoult shared lessons from building and scaling businesses through periods of economic uncertainty, explaining how culture, leadership and empowering talented people have underpinned the growth of his ventures.

The discussion explored topics including resilience, imposter syndrome, leadership, funding growth, private equity, scaling teams, preparing for economic uncertainty and defining success on your own terms. While each entrepreneur's story was different, a common theme emerged: great businesses are built through clarity of purpose, resilience in the face of setbacks and a willingness to keep learning.

This special live episode captures the spirit of Carl Swansbury’s Confessions of an Entrepreneur podcast series, offering honest insights, practical advice and inspiring stories from four entrepreneurs who have each forged their own path to success.

Connect with the panel

Heather Mills | https://www.linkedin.com/in/msheathermills/

Professor Charlie Hoult | https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliehoult/

Andrew Hulbert | https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewhulbert

Kevin Fasting | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinfasting/

Connect with Carl

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk

Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/

This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

In this episode of Confessions of an Entrepreneur, Carl sits down with entrepreneur and business leader Andrew Hulbert, a founder who has built, scaled and sold multiple businesses, achieving financial independence before the age of 40.

Andrew shares the journey from his early corporate career to founding Pareto, the business that would become the foundation of his entrepreneurial success. Long before launching his first venture, Andrew was consciously building relationships, developing his personal profile and creating the network he knew would one day support him when the time came to strike out on his own.

The conversation explores the realities of leaving behind the security of a six-figure salary to start a business, and the personal considerations that come with taking such a significant risk. Andrew reflects on the conversations he had with his wife, the confidence required to back himself and the importance of having a clear vision of what success would look like.

Carl and Andrew discuss the early years of Pareto, from winning those critical first clients and bootstrapping growth, to attracting talented people who believed in the business and remained part of its journey for years. While Andrew attributes some of that success to luck, the discussion highlights the role played by culture, leadership and a genuine commitment to helping others succeed alongside him.

Having sold Pareto through two private equity transactions worth tens of millions of pounds, Andrew explains that entrepreneurship was never an endless pursuit of more. Instead, it was a means to an end: creating the freedom to spend more time with his family, friends and the people who matter most.

Throughout the episode, Andrew shares the principles that have guided his success, including maintaining an “inch wide, mile deep” focus, setting clear and measurable goals, and staying humble regardless of achievements or financial outcomes.

This inspiring episode offers practical lessons on entrepreneurship, ambition and discipline, while reminding listeners that success is ultimately about defining what matters to you and building a life around it.

Connect with Andrew

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewhulbert

Connect with Carl

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/

This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.