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Transformer CEOs

Transformer CEOs

By: Erik Schmidt
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Summary
 If you're a CEO, Chairman or investor this is a destination podcast for you. At some time, all companies get out of step with their consumers, fall behind the competition or lose their top talent – or all three. The financial fallout can be severe. The Transformer CEO podcast meets global leaders who have taken on the brief to transform their company from ugly duckling to swan. Or maybe they have started something new which has transformed a sector or started a new one. Either way, it explores their corporate and personal journey, their leadership values, their challenges and successes along with their mis-steps and learnings. It inspires those about to start, re-assures those already underway and offers a benchmark for those who feel they have concluded. If you want to know what it takes to succeed in tough environments, you'll not want to miss Transformer CEOs Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • How AI is Revolutionising Post-Employment Healthcare with When CEO Andy Hamilton

    How AI is Revolutionising Post-Employment Healthcare with When CEO Andy Hamilton
    Oct 29 2026
    This week, I'm excited to introduce you to Andy Hamilton, CEO of When and a serial tech entrepreneur. Things that really stood out to me are his focus on leveraging AI-driven technology to solve complex transition issues within the US healthcare market. He describes how prioritising speed, empathy, and problem-solving helps his team successfully transition individuals away from group healthcare plans. He also confirms that for any startup to scale effectively, leadership must acknowledge their blind spots—such as hiring a Chief Revenue Officer when founders lack natural sales expertise—and commit to sharing the company's financial success across the entire team. In addition to Transformer CEOs, I run my own successful advisory and consulting company, working with CEOs, Chairmen and investors to deliver successful business transformations. I hope you enjoy what you're going to hear from Andy. I certainly find his commitment to empathetic problem-solving inspiring. KEY TAKEAWAYS * A critical metric for success in the healthcare transition space is effectively moving individuals away from standard group plans to better, cost-effective options. * Building a compassionate corporate culture requires hiring employees who have personally experienced job loss, ensuring they bring authentic empathy and act as dedicated solution builders for clients. * Scaling a startup from 22 to 40 employees demands strategic delegation and a willingness to distribute equity so that all contributing team members share in the company's financial victories. BEST MOMENTS * "So, we have a bunch of different ways that we touch individuals and get them thinking and realizing that we're a partner." * "I really want our workers who have gone through some sort of job loss... so that they not only have that empathy, but they also understand where the pain is, so that they're all solution builders." * "If our company is successful, I want everybody that has worked here to made us successful be able to have financial success with a win for the company." ABOUT THE GUEST Andy Hamilton is the CEO and Co-Founder of When, an AI-powered post-employment and workforce transitions platform based in Chicago. A serial tech entrepreneur, he previously co-founded ApartmentJet, which was successfully acquired by Expedia Group. Leveraging artificial intelligence, When helps transitioning employees navigate the complex US health insurance market to find alternatives to standard COBRA coverage, saving money for both individuals and self-insured employers. Andy holds an undergraduate degree in Engineering Science from Dartmouth and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Website: https://www.forwhen.com/ PODCAST DESCRIPTION If you're a CEO, Chairman or investor this is a destination podcast for you. At some time, all companies get out of step with their consumers, fall behind the competition, or lose their top talent – or all three. The financial fallout can be severe. The Transformer CEO podcast meets global leaders who have taken on the brief to transform their company from ugly duckling to swan. It explores their corporate and personal journey, their leadership values, their challenges, and successes along with their mis-steps and learnings. It inspires those about to start, re-assures those already underway and offers a benchmark for those who feel they have concluded. If you want to know what it takes to succeed in tough environments, you'll not want to miss Transformer CEOs. HOST BIO Erik is described by CEO and Chairmen as "exceptional", "undoubtedly one of the top global HR leaders" and "a strong strategic thinker and amazing change leader". After 35 years working with some of the most successful companies on the planet including serving as the CHRO of Pandora, as well as working with Diageo, GE, LEGO, and HSBC, he focuses in the podcast on sharing the unique character of corporate leaders who take on some of the biggest challenges and win. This is also a critical topic in his consulting work where he partners with CEO’s, Chairmen and Investors as Founder & Managing Director of Erik Schmidt Consulting & Advisory (erikschmidt.co.uk) to help companies achieve out-performance. https://www.erikschmidt.co.uk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/schmidt-erik/ This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • How Private Equity Helps To Build Global Market Leaders - with Frank Ehmer of Apax Partners

    How Private Equity Helps To Build Global Market Leaders - with Frank Ehmer of Apax Partners
    Oct 21 2026
    ERIK SCHMIDT CONSULTING & ADVISORY ⁠https://www.erikschmidt.co.uk⁠ This week, it is a real honor to be joined by Frank Ehmer, a Partner at Apax Partners and one of the leading lights from the private equity world in London. Frank discusses how his team scouts for investment opportunities and follows businesses all the way through to their exit. He also highlights the pivotal role chief executives play in the value creation journey and how they work together to build global market leaders. KEY TAKEAWAYS Private equity firms constantly scout for new investment opportunities, ranging from conceptual ideas to established businesses that are up for sale. The core ambition during an investment hold period is to make businesses bigger, better, and significantly more relevant to their end markets. Chief Executive Officers are pivotal to the value creation journey, working closely with investors to transform companies and build global number ones. The private equity journey is a full-lifecycle partnership, meaning investors actively support and follow the company through to its final exit. BEST MOMENTS "We constantly scout for investment opportunities, those might be just ideas, they might be actual businesses that come up for sale." "We aspire to make the businesses better, bigger, better, more relevant to their end markets." "I guess it's not every day you get to make a market leader." ABOUT THE GUEST Frank is a Partner in the Services team. He joined the Firm in 2000 in Munich, moved office three times and since 2008 has been based in London. Prior to joining the Services team in 2009, Frank focussed on investments in the Media sector. He has been involved in a number of key deals including S&W, Veriforce, Norva24, Palex, WGSN, EcoOnline, Alcumus, PIB Group, TOI TOI & DIXI, GamaLife, Safetykleen, Azelis, Rhiag, Garda, Ascential, Tommy Hilfiger, TIM Hellas, CME, and Tropolys. Frank holds a Diploma in business administration from the University of Mannheim and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Frank has served as a board member to a number of Apax Fund portfolio companies including S&W, Rodenstock, Palex, Alcumus, TOI TOI & DIXI, Safetykleen, Azelis, Rhiag, Garda, Ascential, Tommy Hilfiger, TIM Hellas, and CME. ERIK SCHMIDT CONSULTING & ADVISORY ⁠https://www.erikschmidt.co.uk⁠ Erik is described as "exceptional", "undoubtedly one of the top global HR leaders" and "a strong strategic thinker and amazing change leader". After 35 years working with some of the most successful companies on the planet including Diageo, GE, LEGO, HSBC and Pandora, he now leads a successful consulting & advisory business where he partners with CEO’s, Chairs and Investors to help their companies achieve out-performance. Connect with Erik on Linkedin - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/schmidt-erik/⁠ This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠
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    53 mins
  • The EXTREME Sports CEO - Race Director of The World's TOUGHEST Row, Carsten Heron Olsen

    The EXTREME Sports CEO - Race Director of The World's TOUGHEST Row, Carsten Heron Olsen
    Oct 14 2026
    ERIK SCHMIDT CONSULTING & ADVISORY ⁠https://www.erikschmidt.co.uk⁠ This week, I'm thrilled to sit down with Carsten Heron Olsen, the CEO, owner, and Race Director of Atlantic Campaigns, the organisation behind the world's toughest trans-ocean races. Carsten shares his highly unconventional journey to leading a global event company, proving that attitude, personal connection, and a hands-on approach often outshine a traditional CV. KEY TAKEAWAYS Hiring for attitude and personal connection can build a tighter, more dedicated team than relying on standard resumes or formal contracts. Leading from the front—acting as "the runner" who is fully hands-on and involved in the operational details—earns deep respect and unwavering loyalty from your staff. Transformational, high-stakes experiences, such as rowing across an ocean, can drive immense personal growth for participants while serving as a powerful platform for charitable giving. BEST MOMENTS "I've never asked for anyone's CV. That's not interesting for me. The personal connection is very important for me." "It's like a brotherhood, sisterhood. They see that I'm involved and they also see that it means something for me. I mean, they have seen me with tears in my eyes." ABOUT THE GUEST Carsten Heron Olsen is the CEO, owner, and Race Director of Atlantic Campaigns. Carsten brings a deeply human and unconventional approach to business leadership. Under his guidance, Atlantic Campaigns has transformed from a single Atlantic race into a growing global platform, recently expanding to the Pacific Ocean. His unique leadership style has cultivated a fiercely loyal workforce—some even sporting company tattoos—and has facilitated millions in charitable fundraising. Connect with Carsten on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/carsten-heron-olsen-6b7994143/?isSelfProfile=false World's Toughest Row (Official Website): https://www.worldstoughestrow.com/ About Atlantic Campaigns: https://www.worldstoughestrow.com/about-us/ Atlantic Ocean Race Information: https://www.worldstoughestrow.com/the-atlantic/atlantic/ ABOUT THE HOST ERIK SCHMIDT CONSULTING & ADVISORY ⁠https://www.erikschmidt.co.uk⁠ Erik is described as "exceptional", "undoubtedly one of the top global HR leaders" and "a strong strategic thinker and amazing change leader". After 35 years working with some of the most successful companies on the planet including Diageo, GE, LEGO, HSBC and Pandora, he now leads a successful consulting & advisory business where he partners with CEO’s, Chairs and Investors to help their companies achieve out-performance. Connect with Erik on Linkedin - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/schmidt-erik/⁠ This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠
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    58 mins
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