AI has made it easier to build, test and automate an idea. Building a business is still building a business. In this episode I'm joined by Christopher Carter for an honest conversation about what building and leading a company really asks of you.

Chris has been building companies since the 1980s. He has succeeded, failed, lost a company and started again more than once. We get into the difference between the freedom people imagine and the responsibility that it carries, the year that makes or breaks most people, and what happened when one customer came to represent 80 per cent of his revenue.

We have both lived through a period of transition like this one, in a different tech boom, and we compare what it taught us. A fair amount of the conversation is about where AI genuinely changes things for founders and where it changes nothing at all. Chris describes the relationship between people and AI as an infinity loop, and is clear about the one thing no founder should hand over.

We also talk about identity. When anyone can produce anything, judgement and knowing what you bring become the differentiators. More options do not produce more clarity, usually the opposite. Knowing what you stand for is one thing. Staying clear enough to act on it is another.

This episode covers what founders need behind the scenes, which people rarely discuss openly.

Timestamps
00:00 Christopher's journey as a serial entrepreneur
01:30 What people misunderstand about entrepreneurship
03:25 The laptop-on-the-beach image versus the reality
06:50 Why the first year can be the hardest
09:45 What AI now makes possible for entrepreneurs
13:00 Why building an app isn't building a business
15:30 Does the AI wave resemble the e-commerce boom?
18:00 The human-AI infinity loop
19:00 Critical thinking, verification and education
21:00 What failure teaches that a book or AI cannot
23:00 Losing a company after relying on one customer
25:00 What founders should never outsource to AI
26:30 Identity, ethics and judgement in a faster world
31:00 Why experience is an advantage in the AI era
33:20 The support entrepreneurs need behind the scenes
36:30 Health, pressure and personal capacity
37:30 Questions to consider before starting a business
40:00 Speed, learning and knowing when to change direction
41:30 What Christopher trusts now
42:30 Christopher's book recommendation
43:25 Where to follow Christopher's work

About Christopher Carter
Christopher Carter is a serial entrepreneur, technologist and author, and Chairman and CEO of Approyo, a global SAP-focused technology company. His career in technology goes back to 1984. He speaks around the world and is a minority owner of Carrick Rangers.

Book mentioned

Coming of Age: How Technology and Entrepreneurship Are Changing the Face of MENA by Noor Sweid.

Connect with Christopher

LinkedIn, and christophermcarter.com.

About Katherine

I'm Katherine Ashmore, The Unblur® Coach. I work one to one with founders, senior leaders and experienced professionals whose thinking has been blurred by pressure, complexity or transition. The blur is what makes it hard to think clearly, decide confidently or trust your own judgement. Unblur® is the work of getting that back and more.

If this episode hit home and you would like to talk about coaching, I offer a free consultation with no obligation and no sales pitch. I'm also available for speaking and as a podcast guest.

katherineashmore.com

LinkedIn

contact@katherineashmore.com

The Unblur® Podcast, formerly The Mindset Exchange.

Disclaimer
https://www.katherineashmore.com/katherine-ashmore-disclaimer/

Produced and created by Katherine Ashmore. Recorded remotely. © Katherine Ashmore 2026. All rights reserved.

The Mindset Exchange is now The Unblur® Podcast. Same host, same honest conversations, a sharper focus on leadership identity, confidence and reinvention. Nothing to do at your end, just a new name and look in your feed.

AI is moving fast - faster than most humans are wired to adapt to. In this episode, podcast host Katherine Ashmore is joined by Nikki Barua, serial entrepreneur and transformation expert, to explore what this moment in AI is really asking of leaders and entrepreneurs.

Rather than focusing on tools or tactics, this conversation goes beneath the surface - into identity, confidence, and how human value is evolving as technology accelerates.

Nikki shares why the real shift isn’t technological, but personal: moving from being the expert to becoming the explorer. Together, Katherine and Nikki unpack how curiosity, judgment, and self-trust are becoming essential leadership capabilities in an AI-driven world.

This episode is for anyone navigating change, feeling the quiet uncertainty that comes with it, and wanting to lead (and live) with greater clarity and confidence.

• Why AI adoption is happening faster than humans naturally adapt

• The identity shift from expert to explorer

• How confidence is moving from what you know to how you learn

• Why curiosity is becoming a leadership skill, not a personality trait

• The human capabilities that compound with AI rather than compete with it

• What it really means to collaborate with AI while staying firmly human

Nikki Barua is a serial entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and globally recognised expert on transformation. She is the CEO & Co-Founder of FlipWork, the human + agentic system for workforce reinvention.

For over 25 years, Nikki has helped global organisations reinvent their culture, capabilities, and competitive edge - grounded in the belief that people, not just technology, shape the future of work. Her work spans strategy, digital transformation, and organisational change, and her story of reinvention has been featured in CNBC, Bloomberg, Fortune, and Forbes.

• Follow Nikki Barua on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkibarua/

• Learn more about Nikki’s work at FlipWork ⁠https://www.flipwork.ai/⁠ or at her website https://www.nikkibarua.com/

To connect with Katherine

• Follow Katherine on LinkedIn ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-ashmore/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Learn more about Katherine and her work ⁠https://www.katherineashmore.com⁠ ⁠⁠⁠

• Find out what programmes or events Katherine is currently running ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.katherineashmore.com/my-links⁠⁠

If you enjoy this episode, consider sharing it with someone navigating their own leadership or identity shift and subscribe to The Mindset Exchange Podcast so you don’t miss out on the next conversation.

Disclaimer

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.katherineashmore.com/katherine-ashmore-disclaimer/⁠⁠⁠

Produced and created by Katherine Ashmore. Recorded remotely. © Katherine Ashmore 2026. All rights reserved.

#Leadership #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfWork #Mindset #HumanCenteredAI #TheMindsetExchangePodcast

In this episode of The Mindset Exchange, podcast host and life coach Katherine Ashmore talks with life coach Michael Serwa about directness, performance, and what supports growth - especially at higher levels.

Michael and Katherine talk about what “direct” really means when you’re coaching high performers and why it isn’t about aggression or ego, but clarity. In their experience, that clarity is a form of respect.

They explore why people who appear to have everything together can still experience self-doubt, the difference between amateurs and pros when things don’t feel easy, and why money doesn’t automatically create a 10/10 life.

They also talk about what high achievers often overlook until it starts costing them - health, relationships, and enjoyment - and why performance without attention to these areas rarely holds up long-term.

Later in the conversation, they discuss AI coaching. Michael and Katherine see it similarly: useful in certain contexts, but no substitute for real human challenge, judgment, and connection; especially for people who want more than surface-level growth.

This is an honest, grounded conversation for leaders and entrepreneurs who already are performing well, and care about how they think, decide, and respond - not just how things look from the outside.

Find out more about Michael and his work: ⁠https://www.michaelserwa.com

To connect with Katherine:⁠⁠⁠

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-ashmore/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

https://www.katherineashmore.com ⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠email: contact@katherineashmore.com

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.katherineashmore.com/my-links⁠⁠

👉 Subscribe to The Mindset Exchange so you don’t miss future conversations with leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators redefining success.⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/themindsetexchange⁠⁠⁠

Disclaimer

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.katherineashmore.com/katherine-ashmore-disclaimer/⁠⁠⁠

Produced and created by Katherine Ashmore. Recorded remotely. © Katherine Ashmore 2026. All rights reserved.

#TheMindsetExchange #HighPerformance #LeadershipMindset #DirectCommunication #PersonalGrowth #Entrepreneurs #Coaching

In this episode, podcast host Katherine Ashmore is joined by Marcelle Rose, BANT registered nutritionist and eating specialist, for an honest conversation about the pressure many leaders and entrepreneurs carry - particularly around food, body image, and control.

As visibility increases and more people become the personal brand of their business, that pressure can quietly spill into eating habits in ways that aren’t always obvious.

They explore how traits that drive success, such as perfectionism, discipline, and all-or-nothing thinking can work against us when it comes to food, and why quick fixes don’t build lasting confidence.

This is a thoughtful, grounded conversation about mindset, habits, and finding steadier ways to support yourself under pressure.

In this episode, they cover:

• The pressure to look good in entrepreneurship and leadership

• How perfectionism and control show up around food

• Why stress often leaks into eating habits

• All-or-nothing thinking and its impact on confidence

• The rise of weight-loss medications and what they don’t address

• Why body image rarely improves just because weight changes

• The value of small, sustainable shifts over quick fixes

Note: If disordered eating is something you’re navigating right now, this may be an episode to come back to when it feels right.

Find out more about Marcelle and her work: https://marcellerosenutrition.co.uk/

The Binge Freedom Method™ https://marcellerosenutrition.co.uk/BFM

If you’d like support around mindset, focus, and confidence, or want to learn more about her programmes, you can find ways to connect with Katherine Ashmore, Self Leadership Coach and Speaker, below.

🔗 Connect with Katherine:⁠

linkedin.com/in/katherine-ashmore⁠⁠

⁠⁠katherineashmore.com ⁠⁠

⁠⁠contact@katherineashmore.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.katherineashmore.com/my-links⁠

👉 Subscribe to The Mindset Exchange so you don’t miss future conversations with leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators redefining success.

⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/themindsetexchange⁠⁠

Disclaimer

⁠⁠⁠https://www.katherineashmore.com/katherine-ashmore-disclaimer/⁠⁠

Produced and created by Katherine Ashmore. Recorded remotely. © Katherine Ashmore 2026. All rights reserved.

#TheMindsetExchange #HighPerformance #LeadershipMindset #Control #Food #PersonalGrowth #Entrepreneurs #Coaching

In this episode podcast host Katherine Ashmore, personal coach for leaders and entrepreneurs, is joined by Mike Walker, Co-Founder of StopPress, for an honest and deeply human conversation about discovering neurodiversity later on in life and what can change when things make sense.

Mike shares his journey of recognition, reflecting on what life felt like before that point: masking, overwhelm, people-pleasing, and a constant sense of not quite fitting.

Together, Katherine and Mike explore the lightbulb moments that follow increased self-understanding, including the mix of relief and grief that can arise.

They also discuss how the traits of curiosity, sensitivity, adaptability, and a strong internal drive can become strengths in entrepreneurship, alongside the challenges many neurodiverse founders experience, such as burnout and emotional overload.

Mike shares some simple, practical shifts that have helped him since, including learning to pause, trust his gut, and create environments where he can genuinely thrive.

This episode is grounded in lived experience and offers a compassionate and humorous exploration of self-understanding and identity.

They explore:

▪︎ Discovering neurodiversity later in life
▪︎ Masking, overwhelm, and people-pleasing
▪︎ Lightbulb moments of self-recognition
▪︎ Relief and grief that can follow new understanding
▪︎ Neurodiversity and entrepreneurship
▪︎ Burnout and emotional overload
▪︎ Learning to pause, trust your gut, and create supportive environments.

Intro 0-1:41 min

Episode 1:41 - 42:18 min

Outro 42:18 - 42:57 min

If you suspect you may be neurodivergent and wish to seek support, speaking with your GP is a good place to start.

Additional resources include:

▪︎ The ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity
▪︎ The National Autistic Society
▪︎ Neurodiversity Support UK
▪︎ The Counselling and Therapy Hub (The CATH)

If any of the themes discussed in this episode resonated with you and you’d like coaching support,

🔗 Connect with Katherine:
linkedin.com/in/katherine-ashmore⁠

⁠katherineashmore.com ⁠

⁠contact@katherineashmore.com⁠

⁠https://www.katherineashmore.com/my-links

👉 Subscribe to The Mindset Exchange so you don’t miss future conversations with leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators redefining success.
⁠https://linktr.ee/themindsetexchange⁠

Disclaimer⁠
⁠https://www.katherineashmore.com/katherine-ashmore-disclaimer/⁠

Produced and created by Katherine Ashmore. Recorded remotely. © Katherine Ashmore 2026. All rights reserved.

#TheMindsetExchange #HighPerformance #LeadershipMindset #Neurodiversity #PersonalGrowth #Entrepreneurs #Coaching

Sometimes it’s not a diagnosis that changes everything - it’s a moment of recognition.

In this clip, Mike talks about never quite feeling like he fitted in, developing behaviour to adapt to blend in, and the cost that came with that. He shares the moment that changed everything: watching a TV show and realising he had never felt so seen in his entire life.

Full episode releasing Monday 15 December on The Mindset Exchange.

Podcast host Katherine Ashmore, personal coach for leaders and entrepreneurs, is joined by Mike Walker, Co-Founder of StopPress, for an honest, compassionate and deeply human conversation about discovering neurodiversity later in life and what can change when things finally begin to make sense.

Mike reflects on what life felt like before that point: masking, overwhelm, people-pleasing, and a constant sense of not quite fitting. Together, Katherine and Mike explore the lightbulb moments that can follow increased self-understanding, including the mix of relief and grief that often comes with it.

They also discuss how traits such as curiosity, sensitivity, adaptability and a strong internal drive can become strengths in entrepreneurship, alongside the challenges many neurodiverse founders experience, including burnout and emotional overload. Mike shares simple, practical shifts that have helped him since, from learning to pause and trust his gut, to creating environments where he can genuinely thrive.

This episode is grounded in lived experience and offers a compassionate and lightly humorous exploration of self-understanding and identity.

Full episode releasing Monday 15 December on The Mindset Exchange.

👉 You can follow or subscribe to The Mindset Exchange to hear the full episode when it’s released.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/themindsetexchange/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you suspect you may be neurodivergent and wish to seek support, speaking with your GP is a good place to start.

Additional resources include:

▪︎ The ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity

▪︎ The National Autistic Society

▪︎ Neurodiversity Support UK

▪︎ The Counselling and Therapy Hub (The CATH)

If any of the themes discussed in this episode resonated with you and you’d like coaching support,

🔗 Connect with Katherine:

⁠linkedin.com/in/katherine-ashmore⁠⁠

⁠⁠katherineashmore.com ⁠⁠

⁠⁠contact@katherineashmore.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.katherineashmore.com/my-links

Disclaimer

⁠⁠⁠https://www.katherineashmore.com/katherine-ashmore-disclaimer/⁠⁠

Produced and created by Katherine Ashmore. Recorded remotely. © Katherine Ashmore 2025. All rights reserved.

In this episode podcast host Katherine Ashmore, life and professional coach, is joined by Ian Greig, Managing Director of New Legal - a firm supporting directors of award-winning and unique companies in tech and professional services.

Ian’s journey spans from real estate and entrepreneurship into legal leadership, building on his dual background in law and business. Today, he helps founders and leaders navigate equity, M&A, intellectual property, and data - with a focus on protecting businesses while allowing them to scale with confidence.

They explore:
▪︎ Lessons in resilience from studying law and an MBA together
▪︎ Ian’s leap from real estate into legal entrepreneurship
▪︎ Data, compliance, and protecting client information when using AI
▪︎ The IP pitfalls that quietly erode business value
▪︎ Collaboration agreements and Ian’s 6 Rs framework for future-proofing partnerships
▪︎ Burnout, balance, and sustaining leadership energy

Imagine scaling your business with confidence because your contracts, data, and IP are watertight - freeing you to focus on growth, not firefighting.

📖 Book mentioned: "Confessions of an Advertising Man" by David Ogilvy

🔗 Connect with Ian:

linkedin.com/in/ian-greig-new

new-legal.com/

🔗 Connect with Katherine:

linkedin.com/in/katherine-ashmore

katherineashmore.com

contact@katherineashmore.com

https://www.katherineashmore.com/my-links

👉 Subscribe to The Mindset Exchange so you don’t miss future conversations with leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators redefining success.

https://linktr.ee/themindsetexchange

Disclaimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.katherineashmore.com/katherine-ashmore-disclaimer/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Produced and created by Katherine Ashmore. Recorded remotely.

©Katherine Ashmore 2026. All rights reserved.

#TheMindsetExchange #HighPerformance #LeadershipMindset #LegalAI #PersonalGrowth #Entrepreneurs #Coaching