It becomes difficult to step back and work on the business rather than in it, especially when revenue depends directly on your time and energy. Fear of slowing down, delegating, or changing long-standing processes can keep you stuck in familiar patterns, even when they’re unsustainable. Escaping that cycle requires intentional strategy, systems, and often the uncomfortable shift from operator to true business owner.

Join Romesh Jeyaseelanayagam, Mike Oliver and guest speaker Lambros Photios as they discuss the importance of letting go, taking a step back to see the bigger picture, and how to embrace the challenges that AI presents.

Subscribe and follow us for more Strive & Thrive content at Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.​
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cEcnsZUk8pQFPbP6wrT33​
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strive-and-thrive/id1814865101​
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@striveandthriveseries?feature=shared​

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Strive & Thrive is a series of live discussions with the aim of enabling and empowering entrepreneurs in building businesses that achieve success – whether it be in people, planet, and profit – or all three. ​

​Join founders Mike, Romesh, and their amazing guests, as they discuss the mindsets, skills and knowledge entrepreneurs need to Strive & Thrive in an ever-changing world. ​

Moving from an apprenticeship to buying a global business is a leap that comes with steep challenges, from closing massive knowledge gaps to managing financial risk at an entirely new scale. What once involved learning under guidance becomes making high-stakes decisions across cultures, markets, and legal systems, often without a safety net. The shift demands rapid development in leadership, strategic thinking, and resilience, while unlearning the comfort of being “in training.” Balancing ambition with humility, and vision with operational reality, is often the hardest part of the journey.

Join Romesh Jeyaseelanayagam, Mike Oliver and guest speaker Alun Tribe on 12th Feb, as they discuss the value of good apprenticeship programmes, being open to advice and support, and how to buy a global business.

Subscribe and follow us for more Strive & Thrive content at Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.​

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cEcnsZUk8pQFPbP6wrT33​
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strive-and-thrive/id1814865101​
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@striveandthriveseries?feature=shared​

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Strive & Thrive is a series of live discussions with the aim of enabling and empowering entrepreneurs in building businesses that achieve success – whether it be in people, planet, and profit – or all three. ​

​Join founders Mike, Romesh, and their amazing guests, as they discuss the mindsets, skills and knowledge entrepreneurs need to Strive & Thrive in an ever-changing world. ​

Join Romesh Jeyaseelanayagam, Mike Oliver and guest speaker John Diack as they discuss how to amplify a founder in growing with their company, and remove stuff they’re not good at by getting them to be self aware and focus on their strengths. They also cover how to build high trust and how governments can encourage entrepreneurship.
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Subscribe and follow us for more Strive & Thrive content at Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.​
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cEcnsZUk8pQFPbP6wrT33​
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strive-and-thrive/id1814865101​
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@striveandthriveseries?feature=shared

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Strive & Thrive is a series of live discussions with the aim of enabling and empowering entrepreneurs in building businesses that achieve success – whether it be in people, planet, and profit – or all three. ​

​Join founders Mike, Romesh, and their amazing guests, as they discuss the mindsets, skills and knowledge entrepreneurs need to Strive & Thrive in an ever-changing world. ​

We are excited to announce that our guest speaker for episode 28 is Chris Wilson !!!

Speaking with authenticity and impact in an SME can be challenging because leaders and employees often juggle multiple roles, tight resources, and constant change. There is pressure to sound confident and professional while also staying true to personal values and the realities of the business, which can lead to overly cautious or generic communication.

Join Romesh Jeyaseelanayagam, Mike Oliver and guest speaker Chris Wilson on 15th January, as they discuss how to speak with impact and authenticity, embracing the true you to connect emotionally with your audience - be it your team, your customers, or your peers.

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Strive & Thrive is a series of live discussions with the aim of enabling and empowering entrepreneurs in building businesses that achieve success – whether it be in people, planet, and profit – or all three. ​

​Join founders Mike, Romesh, and their amazing guests, as they discuss the mindsets, skills and knowledge entrepreneurs need to Strive & Thrive in an ever-changing world. ​

Join co-hosts Romesh Jeyaseelanayagam and Mike Oliver on 1st January, as they discuss the many insights and key learnings they gained from the Strive & Thrive podcast in 2025, and what they hope to achieve with their businesses and the podcast in 2026.

Mike and Romesh draw on the huge experience, expertise and journeys of their many excellent guests in 2025.

LinkedIn Event: ​https://www.linkedin.com/events/s-tepisode27-whatinsightscansme7407503696307105792/theater/
YouTube stream:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ua05j74gUU
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Subscribe and follow us for more Strive & Thrive content at Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.​
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cEcnsZUk8pQFPbP6wrT33​
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strive-and-thrive/id1814865101​
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@striveandthriveseries?feature=shared​

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Strive & Thrive is a series of live discussions with the aim of enabling and empowering entrepreneurs in building businesses that achieve success – whether it be in people, planet, and profit – or all three. ​

​Join founders Mike, Romesh, and their amazing guests, as they discuss the mindsets, skills and knowledge entrepreneurs need to Strive & Thrive in an ever-changing world. ​

AI, storytelling, and marketing intersect in powerful but challenging ways. While AI can analyze audiences and generate content at scale, it often struggles to capture the emotional nuance and authenticity that compelling storytelling requires.

Marketers must balance efficiency with creativity, ensuring AI-generated narratives still feel human and aligned with brand identity.

Join Romesh Jeyaseelanayagam, Mike Oliver, and guest speaker David Sloly as they discuss the power of storytelling, staying abreast of AI developments, and how we should remain authentic.

LinkedIn Event: https://www.linkedin.com/events/strive-thriveepisode26-storytel7406395151855595520/theater/
YouTube stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYbHzQvWglo
​
Subscribe and follow us for more Strive & Thrive content at Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.​
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cEcnsZUk8pQFPbP6wrT33​
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strive-and-thrive/id1814865101​
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@striveandthriveseries?feature=shared​

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Strive & Thrive is a series of live discussions with the aim of enabling and empowering entrepreneurs in building businesses that achieve success – whether it be in people, planet, and profit – or all three. ​

​Join founders Mike, Romesh, and their amazing guests, as they discuss the mindsets, skills and knowledge entrepreneurs need to Strive & Thrive in an ever-changing world. ​

The challenges that arise from the differences between being an entrepreneur and being a business owner often come from mindset and goals. Entrepreneurs typically focus on innovation, taking risks, and building something new, which can create pressure to constantly adapt, secure funding, and navigate uncertainty. Business owners, on the other hand, usually focus on stability, daily operations, and maintaining consistent profits, which can be challenging because it requires strong management skills, long-term planning, and resource balancing. These differences can make it difficult to transition between the two roles, as each demands a different approach to leadership, risk-taking, and problem-solving.

Join Romesh Jeyaseelanayagam, Mike Oliver and guest speakers Peter Mols & Sarah Mols at 12pm on 11th December, as they discuss the difference between being an entrepreneur and a business owner.

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Strive & Thrive is a series of live discussions with the aim of enabling and empowering entrepreneurs in building businesses that achieve success – whether it be in people, planet, and profit – or all three. ​

​Join founders Mike, Romesh, and their amazing guests, as they discuss the mindsets, skills and knowledge entrepreneurs need to Strive & Thrive in an ever-changing world. ​

The best leaders often face the challenge of balancing authority with connection, and social intelligence is key to navigating that tension.

They must read subtle cues, manage diverse personalities, and adapt their communication style without losing clarity or purpose. At the same time, they must remain aware of how their words and decisions affect team dynamics, morale, and trust. This constant juggling act makes social intelligence not just a helpful skill, but an essential leadership trait.

Join Romesh Jeyaseelanayagam, Mike Oliver and guest speaker Geoff Bird at 12pm on 4th December as they discuss how the best leaders have and need social intelligence.​

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Strive & Thrive is a series of live discussions with the aim of enabling and empowering entrepreneurs in building businesses that achieve success – whether it be in people, planet, and profit – or all three. ​

​Join founders Mike, Romesh, and their amazing guests, as they discuss the mindsets, skills and knowledge entrepreneurs need to Strive & Thrive in an ever-changing world. ​