Shows / Behind the SME
Behind the SME
Ever wondered what it really takes to grow a small or medium-sized business? In each episode, we dive deep into the stories, strategies, and secrets of innovative leaders in the SME world. From overcoming challenges to celebrating wins, this is your inside look into what drives success in today’s fast-paced business landscape.
🔑 Key insights
🌟 Real stories from real business owners
⚡ Actionable advice for entrepreneurs & leaders
💡 Fresh perspectives on industry trends
Hosted by Adam Kene, the…
Episodes
Behind the SMEWhat Comes Next? Finding Purpose Beyond Growth by Adam Kene and Kate Waterfall Hill
What happens when you have built the business, grown the team and achieved many of the things you originally set out to do? In this episode of Behind the SME…
Behind the SMEThe Role Clarity Gap: How Jobs Need to Change as Businesses Grow by Adam Kene and Kate Waterfall Hill
As businesses grow, roles change. But too often, the role plan does not change with them. In this episode of Behind the SME, Adam Kene and Kate Waterfall Hill…
Behind the SMEYour Relationship with Work: Finding Fulfilment Without Burning Out by Adam Kene and Kate Waterfall Hill
Your career is a long-term relationship with work. Like any relationship, it can become energising and purposeful, or draining and transactional. In Episode 4…
Behind the SMEMeetings, Meetings and More Meetings: How to Make Them Worth the Time by Adam Kene and Kate Waterfall Hill
How much are your meetings actually costing your business? In Episode 3 of Season 2 of Behind the SME, Adam Kene and Kate Waterfall Hill tackle something…
Behind the SMEThe Hidden Cost of Complexity: Why Growing Businesses Get Harder to Run by Adam Kene and Kate Waterfall Hill
As a business grows, complexity grows even faster. In Episode 2 of Season 2 of Behind the SME, Adam Kene and leadership coach Kate Waterfall Hill explore the…
Behind the SMEThe Sticky Middle: What makes a good manager with Kate Waterfall Hill & Adam Kene
Behind the SME with Kate Waterfall Hill: The Sticky Middle Season 2 starts with one of the most important, and often overlooked, parts of a growing business…
Behind the SMEAI as a Teammate: Becoming an “Agent Boss” with Rahan Arif
Behind the SME with Rahan Arif, Co-founder of BossUp AI is moving from tool to teammate, and that changes what leadership looks like inside an SME. In this…
Behind the SMEFrom Founder to CEO: Building, Letting Go and Leading in the Age of AI with Evgeny Shadchnev
Behind the SME with Evgeny Shadchnev, Founder of Makers, CEO coach and author specialising in leadership transitions. In this episode of Behind the SME, host…
Behind the SMEA Million Tabs Open: Inside the ADHD Mind with Leanne Maskell
Behind the SME with Leanne Maskell, 5x best-selling author, coach and Director at ADHD Works. In this episode of Behind the SME, host Adam Kene speaks with…
Behind the SMECommunity First: Solving Public Safety Through AI and Data with Michael Houghton
Behind the SME with Michael, Co-Founder of Community Wolf. What if public safety could be crowdsourced and improved with the power of AI? In this episode of…
Behind the SMEStop Reacting, Start Anticipating: The Power of Foresight with Athena Peppes
Behind the SME with Athena Peppes, Futurist and Economist, Advisor at BossUp.AI and Director of Futures at Beacon Thought Leadership What if you could see…
Behind the SMEHow Curiosity (Not Control) Drives Real Growth — with Mike Jones
Behind the SME with Mike Jones, CTO of LoveHolidays From turning a £5 million turnaround story into a £2.2 billion exit to steering a travel brand through the…
Behind the SMELessons in Leadership from Nicole Spencer: Curiosity, Courage & Culture
Behind the SME with Nicole Spencer, MD of RMC & Board Member at FESPA UK From navigating self-doubt at breakfast in a room full of technical jargon, to earning…
Behind the SMESafety, Sleep and Showing Up: Rethinking Leadership for Human Performance
Behind the SME with Steve Peralta, Co-Founder of Unmind, cultural advisor, and leadership coach. From redefining psychological safety as a strategic advantage…
Behind the SMEMindset, Machines and Momentum: An Experts Formula for Scaling SMEs
Behind the SME with Steve Morris, Senior Leader at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC). From helping startups transform Tupperware-box prototypes into…
Behind the SMEBalancing Act: Growing a Business While Growing a Career with Erika Robinson
Behind the SME with Erika Robinson, UK General Manager at Constant Contact and Founder of PICNIC. From building a thriving soft play business while raising two…
Behind the SMEFinding Your Voice: From Door-to-Door Sales to TEDx and the Power of Public Speaking with Alex Merry
Behind the SME with Alex Merry, Founder of TEDxClapham and Public Speaking Coach at MicDrop From knocking on doors as a sales rep to helping leaders own global…
Behind the SMEFrom Burnout to Breakthrough — Building Brands That Matter with Lyndsay Mason
Behind the SME with Lyndsay Mason, Founder and CEO of For The Creators. From climbing the corporate ladder to launching two purpose-led businesses, Lyndsay…
Behind the SMEWhy Most Products Flop — And How to Build One That Doesn’t
Behind the SME with Tom Parsons, Founder of Aetha Design. From Dyson engineer to launching his own design studio, Tom Parsons has always believed great…
- Behind the SME
Human-First Strategy: Tom Kennard, CEO of Pragma Holis
Behind the SME with Tom Kennard, CEO of Pragma Holis. What happens when a consultancy puts people before process — and still delivers world-class outcomes? In…
Behind the SMERethinking Entrepreneurship: George Hosegood, Founder & Director at Trailpoint
Behind the SME with George Hosegood, Founder & Director at Trailpoint. What does it really take to build a successful business – and what happens when you do…
Behind the SMEMastering Sales Strategy: Stuart Lotherington, Managing Director at SBR Consulting
Behind the SME with Stuart Lotherington, Managing Director at SBR Consulting. What makes a high-performing sales team – and how can SMEs build one? In this…
Behind the SMEMarketing and Management: Will Newland Founder & Managing Director at SoBold
Behind the SME with Will Newland, founder and MD of SoBold. What happens when you skip the corporate ladder and go straight into starting your own company? In…
Behind the SMEBuilding a Legacy: Tim Gray’s Journey with Dairi-Pak
Behind the SME with Tim Gray, Owner & Managing Director of Dairi-Pak. What does it take to build a business that stands the test of time? In this episode of…
Behind the SMEBuilding a Beauty Brand: Arabella Dupont’s Leap from Publishing to Entrepreneurship
Behind the SME with Arabella Dupont, Co-Founder & Director of The Bridal Beauty Co. How do you turn years of industry expertise into a thriving business? In…
Behind the SMEFrom Big Banks to SMEs: Former Banking Exec, Jonathan Beebe, on Investment, Leadership & Growth
Behind the SME with Former Banking Exec, Jonathan Beebe What happens when a senior banking leader transitions from global finance to advising SMEs? In this…
Behind the SMEBuilding, Scaling and Exiting: The Entrepreneurial Journey with Niama El Bassunie
Behind the SME with Niama El Bassunie, Managing Partner of Baobab Network In this episode, we sit down with Niama El Bassunie, a trailblazing entrepreneur who…
Behind the SMEResilience and Purpose: Lessons from Starting a Business with Jordan Relfe
Behind the SME with Jordan Relfe, Co-founder of Lifeproven In this episode of Behind the SME, Adam Kene sits down with Jordan Relfe, Co-founder of Lifeproven…
Behind the SMEFrom Big Four to SME COO: Sage Lakhani on Leadership, Teams, and Values
Behind the SME with Sage Lakhani, COO of Kene In this episode of Behind the SME, Adam Kene is joined by Sage Lakhani, COO of Kene, whose career journey has…
Behind the SMELeading with Purpose: Lessons from 30+ Years of SME Leadership with John Wyer
Behind the SME with John Wyer, Founder and Co-owner of Bowles & Wyer In this episode, Adam Kene speaks with John Wyer, Founder and Co-owner of Bowles & Wyer…
Behind the SMETurning Customer Insights into Action: Lessons in Product and Partnership
Behind the SME with Hugo & Rupert, Co-founders of Pockla In this episode, Hugo and Rupert, co-founders of the AI-powered marketing tech platform Pockla, share…
Behind the SMEAutumn Statement 2024: Impact on SMEs
In this timely bonus episode, Adam Kene and Catalina Lohmeier dive into the Autumn Statement and discuss its implications for SMEs. From increased National…
Behind the SMEFrom Burnout to Breakthrough: Building Connectd with Roei Samuel
Behind the SME with Roei, Founder of Connectd In this episode, we dive deep into the entrepreneurial journey of Roei, who founded his first successful tech…
Behind the SMEWelcome to Behind the SME
Welcome to Behind the SME Our host, Adam Kene, introduces Behind the SME, a podcast designed to provide real, actionable insights for small and medium-sized…