Doing the Opposite: Business Disruptors

Jeff Dewing
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Welcome to Doing the Opposite: Business Disruptors. CEO of Cloudfm Group Jeff Dewing talks to entrepreneurs, business leaders and outliers about times they have "Done the opposite" by rejecting commonly held beliefs in their business or profession. They discuss the birth of the idea, the push back and revolutions that ensued.

  1. 5D AGO

    Leading with Vulnerability: The Power of Saying ‘I Don’t Know’

    In Season Six of Doing the Opposite: Business Disruptors we’re turning the spotlight onto host of the podcast Jeff Dewing. Jeff is Founder and CEO of Cloudfm Group, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and a leader who rebuilt his life and company by doing the one thing most people fear: the opposite.  What happens when a CEO says “I don’t know” at the worst possible moment? In this episode Jeff looks back on the time when COVID shattered revenue. Jeff didn’t bluff; he admitted he was lost. That choice flipped a switch. The board stepped up with 11 bold scenarios, and set a course not just to survive, but to thrive.  Jeff describes the response in his company: “frontline staff from help desk operators to managers to directors, were sitting there and all they wanted to do was help. I was the old lady that fell over. All they wanted to do is come and help me up.” Vulnerability, used with intent and authenticity, became the catalyst that unlocked scale, trust, and decisive action.   Jeff and Sam explore how transparency spreads across teams and client relationships. Instead of legal threats over unpaid invoices, Jeff’s team chose radical openness and ‘little and often’ repayments to keep suppliers alive. The response? Deeper trust, cleaner communication, and partnerships that were stronger coming out of the crisis than going in.  If you’ve ever feared that honesty would erode your authority, this conversation shows the opposite: truth builds credibility, disarms critics, and invites your team to grow taller.   In 2026 Cloudfm Group celebrates its 15th anniversary.  Find out more about Cloudfm here.   Hosted by Sam Walker  Watch the podcast on YouTube   Discover Cloudfm Group: Website  |  LinkedIn Find the best-selling book Doing The Opposite by Jeff Dewing HERE

    20 min
  2. Doing the Opposite: Challenging Business Norms

    FEB 4

    Doing the Opposite: Challenging Business Norms

    In Season Six of Doing the Opposite: Business Disruptors we’re turning the spotlight onto host of the podcast Jeff Dewing. Jeff is Founder and CEO of Cloudfm Group, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and a leader who rebuilt his life and company by doing the one thing most people fear: the opposite.  In this episode, Jeff breaks down what “Doing the Opposite” really means to him — not change for the sake of change, but having the courage to ask better questions, challenge outdated practices, and put culture ahead of profit so trust and performance can compound over time. Drawing on his career, Jeff reflects on cultures he’s seen across multiple firms where success is measured solely by financial results. He explains how this mindset encourages people to be economical with the truth, driven by fear rather than purpose. Instead, Jeff argues that failure should be treated as a learning opportunity, not a threat. We also explore the true role of leadership: you can’t motivate people, but you can inspire them by showing progress, celebrating wins, and making the next step clear, meaningful, and achievable.   In 2026 Cloudfm Group celebrates its 15th anniversary.  Find out more about Cloudfm here.   Jeff’s book ‘Doing the opposite: A life, its lessons & building success’ is available to buy on Amazon. Hosted by Sam Walker Watch the podcast on YouTube   Discover Cloudfm Group: Website  |  LinkedIn Find the best-selling book Doing The Opposite by Jeff Dewing HERE

    25 min
  3. From £7.60 to £65 Million: Starting Over

    JAN 21

    From £7.60 to £65 Million: Starting Over

    In Season Six of Doing the Opposite: Business Disruptors we’re turning the spotlight onto host of the podcast Jeff Dewing. Jeff is Founder and CEO of Cloudfm Group, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and a leader who rebuilt his life and company by doing the one thing most people fear: the opposite. In this episode, Jeff reflects on failure and how it has shaped both him and his subsequent successes. Jeff recalls the knock on the door at 7:30 a.m, two cars leaving the drive, neighbours watching through the curtains. Jeff opens up about losing his business, his home and the image of success he’d built, and how that free fall uncovered a better way to lead and to live. What starts as a story of collapse turns into a blueprint: take radical ownership, protect time to think, and build environments where people can win. In taking over a football club, Jeff discovered the power of company culture and empowering people to thrive. At the club the same players in a different environment were suddenly winning everything. But Jeff admits the football club diverted his focus away from the business, which led ultimately to its collapse.  From the job centre queue to a £65m rebuild, Jeff lays out the steps that work in any crisis: accept that it’s your responsibility, not to blame yourself but to regain control; choose humility over image; and carve out quiet space to reflect until patterns become clear and a plan emerges.    In 2026 Cloudfm Group celebrates its 15th anniversary.  Find out more about Cloudfm here.   Jeff’s book ‘Doing the opposite: A life, its lessons & building success’ is available to buy on Amazon. Hosted by Sam Walker  Watch the podcast on YouTube   Discover Cloudfm Group: Website  |  LinkedIn Find the best-selling book Doing The Opposite by Jeff Dewing HERE

    29 min
  4. Conversations with Jeff Dewing – COMING SOON

    SEASON 6 TRAILER

    Conversations with Jeff Dewing – COMING SOON

    In Season Six of Doing the Opposite: Business Disruptors we’re turning the spotlight onto host of the podcast Jeff Dewing. Jeff is Founder and CEO of Cloudfm Group, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and a leader who rebuilt his life and company by doing the one thing most people fear: the opposite. This isn't a podcast about business. It's a podcast about courage. About reinvention. About leading with heart. And daring to do things differently. This podcast isn't about business strategy. It's about the openness to rethink what leadership really is. It's about choosing purpose over ego, innovation over habit, culture over control. Sam Walker is a broadcaster and journalist, and she’ll be sitting down with the entrepreneur and CEO of Cloudfm Group Jeff Dewing, a man who rebuilt his life after losing everything by challenging the norms we all assume are unshakable. He discovered that doing the opposite isn't rebellion, it's a route back to meaning. Together Sam and Jeff explore resilience, authenticity, purpose, technology, impact, and uncover what's possible when you stop following the crowd and start doing the opposite. Conversations with Jeff Dewing launches 14th January. Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.    In 2026 Cloudfm Group celebrates its 15th anniversary.  Find out more about Cloudfm here.   Hosted by Sam Walker    Watch the podcast on YouTube Discover Cloudfm Group: Website  |  LinkedIn Find the best-selling book Doing The Opposite by Jeff Dewing HERE

    3 min
  5. Matthew Maltzoff – Vulnerability as a Superpower: The story of PropTech Connect

    09/24/2025

    Matthew Maltzoff – Vulnerability as a Superpower: The story of PropTech Connect

    Doing the Opposite x PropTech Connect is a mini-series celebrating Europe’s largest real estate tech event. In this episode Jeff Dewing speaks to PropTech Connect’s Founder and CEO, Matthew Maltzoff.  Matthew shares his incredible journey from running a meal delivery startup during COVID to founding Europe's largest PropTech event. Defying conventional wisdom about industry expertise, his refreshing perspective reveals how knowing nothing about real estate or events became his greatest advantage. When getting started with the event, Matthew’s approach was to ask "How big could it be on the first go?" – setting targets that industry veterans might have dismissed as impossible. Matthew admits that what some may have seen as naivety became his greatest asset: “Because we didn't even know that this was a ridiculous thing, we just figured, well, how will we do this? Failure wasn't really an option” Matthew says.  What makes Matthew's approach particularly inspirational is his commitment to vulnerability and genuine curiosity. Rather than pretending to have all the answers, he asks fundamental questions about what really matters to the built environment: "How does this make the building more valuable? How does this improve the tenant experience?" This focus on essentials cuts through the noise of "nice-to-have" technologies that don't address core industry needs.  Matthew highlights a significant shift he’s witnessing in real estate – the move from authoritarian landlord-tenant relationships to collaborative partnerships where property owners ask, "What do you need? What can we do better?". This vulnerability-based leadership creates environments where people feel safe to admit what they don't know and work together on solutions.   A huge thank you to everyone who was part of this year’s Proptech Connect Europe   Hosted by Jeff Dewing Watch the podcast on YouTube   Discover Cloudfm Group: Website  |  LinkedIn Find the best-selling book Doing The Opposite by Jeff Dewing HERE

    38 min
  6. JP Johnson – The Performance Gap: Why EPCs Fail and How to Fix Them

    09/03/2025

    JP Johnson – The Performance Gap: Why EPCs Fail and How to Fix Them

    Doing the Opposite x Proptech Connect is a mini-series ahead of Europe’s largest real estate tech event. In this episode Jeff Dewing speaks to JP Johnson, a Senior Energy Consultant at Symphony Energy, a company that provides innovative technology to decarbonize commercial buildings and optimize energy performance in the built environment. JP is committed to making offices, hotels, hospitals and universities into smarter, more sustainable and cost-effective spaces and driving positive change for the planet. Jeff and JP discuss one of the industry's most uncomfortable truths: the significant gap between theoretical building performance (as measured by EPCs) and actual operational efficiency.  This performance gap represents not just an environmental challenge, but a significant financial opportunity, with buildings frequently consuming up to three times more energy than their design specifications predict. Symphony Energy has been working for 20 years on closing this performance gap. Whilst new metrics for building efficiency are arguably more effectual than EPCs, the wider tenant market still recognises EPCs so they are unlikely to be abandoned anytime soon.  JP reveals how Symphony Energy's guarantee-based business model aligns perfectly with client interests - they charge based on actual savings achieved rather than promised results, typically ensuring a five-year payback period. This approach has been particularly effective with owner-occupiers seeking both sustainability credentials and reduced operational costs. JP also shares how their innovative approach has achieved astonishing results for their clients - including a 47% energy reduction in a university building that was already meeting its 2030 sustainability targets. “Reduced carbon emissions reduces costs. It's a pretty attractive UPC”, JP says.  JP and Jeff also explore practical implementation challenges, from cybersecurity concerns to the risk-averse nature of the real estate industry. JP remains optimistic about the future, highlighting both the transformative potential of AI and the influx of newly qualified sustainability professionals as key catalysts for accelerating progress toward net zero buildings.   Proptech Connect Europe begins today. We will see you there!! InterContinental London – The O2 3rd – 4th September 2025   Hosted by Jeff Dewing Watch the podcast on YouTube   Discover Cloudfm Group: Website  |  LinkedIn Find the best-selling book Doing The Opposite by Jeff Dewing HERE

    36 min
  7. Dr Aleksandra Przydrozna – Innovation in Retrofitting Future-ready Sustainable Buildings

    09/01/2025

    Dr Aleksandra Przydrozna – Innovation in Retrofitting Future-ready Sustainable Buildings

    Doing the Opposite x Proptech Connect is a mini-series ahead of Europe’s largest real estate tech event. In this episode Jeff Dewing speaks to Dr Aleksandra Przydrozna, Global Retrofit Integration Lead at MACE. Aleksandra leads multidisciplinary teams to help clients’ buildings become more sustainable in a notoriously change-resistant industry! One of the biggest hurdles in the sustainable building conversation is often cost, but Aleksandra's pragmatic approach cuts through this barrier. Rather than overwhelming clients with ambitious targets, she begins with optimisation that can deliver 20-30% utility bill reductions with minimal investment. This creates the "light bulb moment" that opens doors to deeper conversations about building performance, climate risk, and future-readiness. Her method emphasises education, long-term thinking, and realistic ROI calculations that transform sustainability from perceived cost to strategic investment.    Aleksandra 's strategy for retrofitting extends beyond carbon reduction numbers to creating truly "future-ready" buildings that won't need revisiting before 2050. Furthermore, she's proudly nurturing the next generation of sustainable building leaders, setting up internal research projects and mentoring opportunities that develop both technical expertise and innovative thinking. “It’s a team sport. It’s not about being individual with your ideas” she says.  Aleksandra will be speaking at Proptech Connect Europe. We will see you there!! InterContinental London – The O2 3rd – 4th September 2025   Hosted by Jeff Dewing Watch the podcast on YouTube   Discover Cloudfm Group: Website  |  LinkedIn Find the best-selling book Doing The Opposite by Jeff Dewing HERE

    29 min
  8. Simon Alexander Ong – Mastering your Energy to Achieve Personal and Professional Growth

    04/17/2024

    Simon Alexander Ong – Mastering your Energy to Achieve Personal and Professional Growth

    In this episode of Doing the Opposite: Business Disruptors, Jeff Dewing speaks to Simon Alexander Ong. Simon is an international Keynote Speaker, Bestselling Author of Energize and Award Winning Life Coach. Through his coaching Simon helps leaders, entrepreneurs, organisations and celebrities to transcend perceived limitations and experience extraordinary transformations through the power of insight, perspective and energy management. Simon shares his career journey, candidly explaining that he began by running someone else’s race. He started a career in finance as that felt like what society expected him to do. Alongside his job he discovered he had a natural passion for helping people in their day-to-day lives; a passion which ultimately led him to becoming a professional coach. His success led to TV work and the publication of his book. Simon reflects that ‘when you pursue the path that lights you up, that brings you joy you begin to open opportunities that weren't there before.’ Simon argues that energy management, not time management, is the key to productivity, and that there are four dimensions of energy: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Mental energy is about your mindset, emotional energy is about how you relate to yourself and others, and spiritual energy is about meaning and purpose. Simon explains that if you are energy rich, even if you are time poor, you are going to get far more done in those hours and days than others might in months or years. Energy gives you the momentum to be truly productive. Simon discusses the impact of surrounding yourself with positive energy and inspiration: ‘the fastest way to make meaningful progress in any area of your life is literally to design an environment around you that makes it impossible not to succeed’. He goes on to describe how you can achieve this and enhance your workflow. Simon shared the story of the Energise cocktail, created at the Connaught Hotel in Mayfair to compliment his book. You can see the cocktail being mixed here.    Hosted by Jeff Dewing  Watch the podcast on YouTube   Discover Cloudfm Group Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  LinkedIn Find the best-selling book Doing The Opposite by Jeff Dewing HERE

    35 min
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Welcome to Doing the Opposite: Business Disruptors. CEO of Cloudfm Group Jeff Dewing talks to entrepreneurs, business leaders and outliers about times they have "Done the opposite" by rejecting commonly held beliefs in their business or profession. They discuss the birth of the idea, the push back and revolutions that ensued.

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