Lead with Curiosity

Anthony Donovan
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  • Management
  • Every two months

If you are a business owner, people leader or aspiring people leader, this podcast is for you. My guests will be sharing tips and their lived experience about starting their businesses, scaling up teams, using AI impactfully and managing their finances. This is a warts and all podcast with no fluff, just practical advice and some great stories.

Episodes

  1. 4 days ago

    From supplier to trusted partner

    In this episode of Lead with Curiosity, I was joined from Chicago by Aaron Schavey, a key account manager from Servomex. I was keen to explore Aaron's thoughts on what really builds trust in business relationships. We discussed the difference between selling a product or solution and becoming a genuine partner, why value always outlasts price, and how curiosity, empathy, and listening shape long term success. If you’ve ever wondered how great relationships are built, maintained, and strengthened through trust rather than transactions, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about leadership, sales, and human connection. If you would like to learn more about Servomex, you can visit their website https://www.servomex.com/ To find out more about Donovan Training Associates, please visit https://www.donovantrainingassociates.co.uk/ We'd love to know what you think of the episode and if you have any questions for Aaron and I, please get in touch in the comments section. Thank you for listening and enjoy the episode.

    26 min

  2. 21 May

    From idea to momentum: Building a podcast business

    In this episode, I sat down with Hugo Austin, one of the founders of The Pod Collective to explore what really happens behind the scenes when an idea turns into a growing business. It was an opportunity to turn the tables and learn more about what goes into creating a podcast business in a fast growing and ever competitive market. From the uncertainty of starting out, to scaling quickly without losing quality, this conversation unpacks the practical realities of entrepreneurship, leadership, and building something sustainable. Hugo shares a fascinating insight into the mindset shifts that he belives stops people taking action, the mistakes that taught him and his business partner Jack Hales, the biggest lessons, and why growth only works when the foundations are strong enough to support it. The conversation also explores franchising, how partnerships work and the importance of staying curious while building a business in real time. Whether you’re sitting on an idea or leading a growing team, this episode offers honest practical thinking and reassurance that no business journey is ever as polished as it looks from the outside. If you would like to learn more about The Pod Collective, you can visit their website https://www.thepodcollective.co.uk/ To find out more about Donovan Training Associates, please visit https://www.donovantrainingassociates.co.uk/ We'd love to know what you think of the episode and if you have any questions for Hugo and I, please get in touch in the comments section. Thank you for listening and enjoy the episode.

    22 min

  3. 14 May

    Building a culture that actually works

    Stepping into leadership rarely feels like a clean promotion. It can feel uncertain, uncomfortable, and at times, undeserved. In this episode of Lead with Curiosity, I sat down with Louise Wane, Managing Director of Rainbow Dust, to explore the real journey behind moving from doing the work to leading others. From early careers in sales and marketing to stepping into the role of Managing Director, this conversation brings an honest look at imposter syndrome, shifting identity, and the moments that quietly shape leadership. We move beyond theory and into lived experience. What changes when you are no longer responsible for results alone, but for people, culture, and direction? What behaviours actually build trust in a team, especially during periods of growth and uncertainty, such as acquisitions? You will hear practical reflections on building culture, leading creative and commercially driven teams, and developing the habits that help new managers grow into confident leaders. This is not about having all the answers. It is about learning to ask better questions, noticing what matters, and leading with intention when it matters most. If you would like to learn more about Rainbow Dust, you can visit their website https://www.rainbowdust.co.uk/ To find out more about Donovan Training Associates, please visit https://www.donovantrainingassociates.co.uk/ We'd love to know what you think of the episode and if you have any questions for Louise and I, please get in touch in the comments section. Thank you for listening and enjoy the episode.

    22 min

  4. 30 Apr

    The shift from doing to leading

    In this episode, I sat down with Colin Butcher, Creative Partnerships Director at n-fuze. We explored the transition from being a creative expert to becoming a confident leader through the lived experience of someone who has grown within one Organisation. It is a conversation about identity as much as it is about skill, about what changes when success is no longer defined by what you produce, but by what others achieve around you. You will hear honest reflections on the challenge of letting go of the work you love, the discomfort of stepping into conversations that feel outside your expertise, and the subtle shift from focusing on output to building trust, relationships, and influence. For new and experienced managers alike, this episode offers practical habits, grounded insights, and a reminder that the hardest promotion is not technical, it is personal, the move from doing the work to enabling others to do it well. If you would like to learn more about n-fuze, you can visit their website https://n-fuze.com/ To find out more about Donovan Training Associates, please visit https://www.donovantrainingassociates.co.uk/ We'd love to know what you think of the episode and if you have any questions for Colin and I, please get in touch in the comments section. Thank you for listening and enjoy the episode.

    23 min

  5. 15 Apr

    Late payers, early warnings

    Most businesses do not struggle with debt because they lack systems, they struggle because they avoid conversations. In this episode, we explore the human side of getting paid, the decisions, habits, and moments that quietly shape whether work turns into cash or into stress. Through a practical and honest conversation with Zakia Khalid, a specialist in debt recovery, you will hear what really sits behind late payments, why so many businesses hesitate to act, and how that hesitation compounds over time. You will learn how to spot early warning signs before a client becomes a problem, how to set expectations that protect both the relationship and the outcome, and how to approach payment conversations with clarity rather than discomfort. The episode also unpacks the most common mistakes businesses make when managing debt internally, offering simple, practical shifts that can be applied immediately.

    23 min

  6. 1 Apr

    From scratch to studio

    Thank you for joining us today. My name is Anthony, founder of Donovan Training Associates. I help individual contributors transition into people leadership roles, and I support business owners to start and build their businesses. In this episode I had the pleasure of sitting down with Matt Brown, Founder and CEO of n-fuze. Based in Kent, UK, Matt started n-fuze from his parent's kitchen and has built the business into a highly successful agency that thinks big and creates bigger. They have just celebrated their twentieth birthday and have exciting plans for the future. Matt candidly talks us through his leadership journey, the challenge of letting go and trusting in others. He also shares a fascinating insight into how he has incorporated AI in the most human of ways. If you would like to learn more about n-fuze, you can visit their website https://n-fuze.com/ where we highly recommend the virtual tour of the Oasts. If you haven't heard what an Oast house is, it's another reason to listen and find out more. To find out more about Donovan Training Associates, please visit https://www.donovantrainingassociates.co.uk/ We'd love to know what you think of the episode and if you have any questions for Matt or I, please leave them in the comments section. Thank you for listening and enjoy the episode.

    26 min
  • 6 Episodes

About

If you are a business owner, people leader or aspiring people leader, this podcast is for you. My guests will be sharing tips and their lived experience about starting their businesses, scaling up teams, using AI impactfully and managing their finances. This is a warts and all podcast with no fluff, just practical advice and some great stories.

Information

  • Creator
    Anthony Donovan
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Anthony Donovan
  • Show Website
    Lead with Curiosity