On this episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Warren Munson is joined by Krista Cartlidge, CEO of MYTIME Young Carers, to explore her journey from secondary school teacher to leading a nationally recognised organisation supporting young carers.

Krista shares how frustrations within the education system led her to discover the hidden challenges faced by young carers, and why that discovery completely changed the direction of her career. Since joining MYTIME, she has helped grow the charity into a nationally respected voice, influencing policy, collecting groundbreaking data, and helping drive changes within schools and Ofsted frameworks.

This is an honest, insightful, and deeply human conversation about leadership, purpose, resilience, and creating long-term impact.

If you enjoy the episode, make sure to subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone who would find the conversation valuable.

What The Episode Covers

Krista's journey from education into the charity sector

Why the education system was failing young carers

The hidden realities faced by young carers

Transitioning from teacher to CEO

Building and scaling MYTIME during Covid

Leadership lessons learned while growing a charity

The similarities between charities and startups

Managing culture, governance and growth

The importance of data in driving systemic change

Lobbying Ofsted and influencing national policy

Sustainable income models for charities

The emotional impact of leading purpose-driven organisations

Creating long-term systemic change for young carers

Chapters

00:00 – Who is Krista Cartlidge and what does MYTIME do?

01:10 – What drew Krista into teaching and education?

05:01 – Why did Krista leave the education sector?

07:10 – How did discovering young carers change everything?

09:37 – What were the early days of leading MYTIME really like?

14:14 – What leadership lessons came from building a growing charity?

18:18 – How did MYTIME influence Ofsted and national policy?

29:28 – What challenges come with scaling a purpose-led organisation?

31:32 – How did MYTIME create sustainable income streams?

43:39 – How do you build a strong culture inside a charity?

49:28 – What legacy does Krista want to leave behind?

On this special episode, we bring together real conversations with founders and leaders who have built, scaled, and successfully exited their businesses. From early-stage ambition to the final signature, this episode explores what the journey actually looks like behind the scenes.

You'll hear honest reflections on the realities of selling, from the pressure of due diligence and deal fatigue, to the emotional weight of stepping away from something you've spent years building. These are stories of resilience, tough decisions, timing, and the often-overlooked question: What comes next?

Whether you're actively planning an exit, thinking about succession, or simply curious about what the future could look like, this episode offers valuable perspective from those who've been through it.

If you found this useful, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who's on their own business journey.

• Why selling a business is more complex than expected

• The reality of due diligence and deal fatigue

• Managing emotions during the exit process

• The importance of having the right advisors around you

• Knowing when the time is right to exit

• Understanding "how much is enough" financially

• Building a business that operates without the founder

• The impact of exit on identity and personal life

• Choosing the right buyer, not just the highest offer

• Life after exit and transitioning into the next phase

00:00 – Introduction

01:10 – Brian Parker

08:20 – Jimmy & Suzie's Iced Coffee

15:48 - Anthony Woodhouse

18:59 - Lincoln New

25:32 - Declan O'Toole

42:23 - Final Reflections

What happens when someone trained to analyse spreadsheets decides to follow their creative passion?

In this episode of The Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Warren Munson sits down with Joe Hayes, founder of Kindful Creative, to explore his journey from trainee accountant to running a growing video production agency built on the values of kindness, relationships, and human connection.

Joe shares how his early career in accountancy gave him a powerful understanding of business fundamentals, but ultimately left him feeling stuck in a routine that lacked passion. What started as a hobby with a camera quickly turned into something much bigger, eventually leading Joe to take the leap and launch his own creative agency.

Throughout the conversation, Joe opens up about the realities of starting a business, the importance of understanding your numbers, and why relationships and reputation often matter more than aggressive sales strategies.

You'll also hear about the challenges of growth, staying focused as a founder, and how building a business around personal values can shape company culture and client relationships.

If you're thinking about starting a business, changing careers, or building something that aligns with your passions, this episode is packed with honest insights and practical lessons.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might find it valuable.

• Joe Hayes' journey from trainee accountant to creative entrepreneur

• The inspiration behind launching Kindful Creative

• Why relationships are at the heart of Joe's business philosophy

• The risks and mindset shifts involved in leaving a stable career

• Why understanding financials is crucial for founders

• Lessons learned from early business decisions and partnerships

• The importance of building a strong team culture

• How podcasting and content help businesses build authority

• Balancing entrepreneurship with family life

• Joe's personal definition of success

00:00 – Why did you become an accountant?
04:30 – What inspired the name Kindful?
08:00 – How do you build a values-driven team?
11:00 – When did creativity become a passion?
15:00 – What gave you the confidence to start a business?
21:00 – Why do founders need financial literacy?
27:30 – What does Kindful Creative actually do?
32:00 – How has leadership changed for you?
35:00 – Why should businesses create content and podcasts?
40:00 – Lifestyle business or growth company?
44:00 – What advice would you give your younger self?
47:30 – What does success mean to you?