Strategy & Tragedy: CEO Stories with Steph Melodia

stephaniemelodia
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UK Top 20 Business Show for today’s entrepreneur. Hosted by UK Top 20 Female Founder, Stephanie Melodia, Strategy & Tragedy spotlights the most authentic & interesting founder stories - featuring the good, the bad, and the ugly of building a business. With the purpose to inspire and educate entrepreneurs, guests also include subject matter experts such as top business strategists, marketers, and investors to help arm founders with the knowledge to succeed in business.

  1. 3D AGO

    Nell Daly gets REVENGE | The social worker turned venture capitalist

    TW: Themes of abuse and gun violenceNell Daly is a social worker turned venture capitalist as Co-Founder of Revenge Capital, a £50M sector-agnostic, global impact fund that invests into overlooked founders and their big disruptive ideas. She describes herself as an advocate for underdogs and works with policymakers to help build a more just, free, inclusive and humane world.In this episode, Steph and Nell discuss:❤️‍🔥 Starting a fund NOT coming from the world of finance❤️‍🔥 Nell's experience in media and what led to her "going dark"❤️‍🔥 Overcoming adversity and practical tips on how to be the outlier❤️‍🔥 How her training as a psychotherapist makes her a better investor❤️‍🔥 The power of manifesting, and what to watch out for❤️‍🔥 The importance of dreams and working towards your purpose❤️‍🔥 What her VC fund, Revenge Capital, is looking for in fundraising startupsFundraising? Apply for investment here: https://b1jxsdtzi9t.typeform.com/reve...Get involved in the conversation:Follow on social media:🤍 Instagram:   / stephmelodia  🤍 LinkedIn:   / stephmelodia-keynotespeaker  Subscribe to the podcast:🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NuiaWj...🎧 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...🎧 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0...🎧 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/023...Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend!

    1h 3m
  2. Introducing: The S Word - cold-calling live on air!

    5D AGO

    Introducing: The S Word - cold-calling live on air!

    Tune into my new show with Tash Rebuck: 'The S Word' Every Monday, co-hosts Steph Melodia and Tash Rebuck bring you education and entertainment on all things B2B sales. From cold-calling live on air to critiquing others’ outreach, from how to leverage AI in your sales process to interviewing subject matter specialists. Hit follow or subscribe, and get in touch! We’d love to hear from you: 💌 theswordshowhq@gmail.com 💌 https://www.instagram.com/the.s.word.show/ - - - - - - - - - - - - Could you do with some sales training, either for yourself or for your team? Book Tash here: https://trsalesconsultancy.co.uk/ Interested in having Steph advise your scale-up on growth strategies or 1:1 founder coaching? See more here: https://www.stephaniemelodia.com/growth-consulting-for-scaleups Want either (or both) Steph and Tash to speak at your next event? Whether it’s motivating your teams or presenting a keynote, see more on each below: - https://www.stephaniemelodia.com/keynote-speaker-hacking-luck - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tashrebuck/ Interested in sponsoring the show? Contact Tash Rebuck on tash@trsalesconsultancy.co.uk or 07961 254 469 - - - - - - - - - - - - Where it all started… Tash Rebuck interviewed by Steph Melodia on Strategy & Tragedy 👉 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX2Hes_VBk8&t=19s 👉 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7n6IwRD35hp3DHHfCJt5uA?si=457aef4dbd5646c9

    34 min

  3. FEB 25

    From the brink of bankruptcy to BILLIONS: Sir Richard Harpin

    Want Steph to mentor you? Apply for 1:1 founder coaching here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchRTqGNNhrN8xph4Gh4RuVJNU_mc31cT8bl08nXRQeM6rd8Q/viewform - - - - - - From running out of money to building a business worth billions, Sir Richard Harpin is the co-founder of HomeServe, the home repairs and insurance business he started in 1993 before scaling it to a multinational serving millions of customers, listing on the London Stock Exchange, and becoming a FTSE 100 company before being taken private in a multibillion-pound deal. A passionate advocate for entrepreneurship, Richard is the author of 'How to Make a Billion in 9 Steps' - sharing lessons from his journey building one of Britain’s most successful companies. He is also the founder of Business Leader, a growth programme that supports founders of £3m+ businesses, combining CEO coaching and peer forums, powered by the proven 9-Step framework in Richard's book, alongside practical content, masterclasses and company visits so you can focus on what matters and scale with confidence. Richard also invests in founder-led companies. In this episode, Steph and Richard discuss: - Co-founder relationships Richard and Jeremy Middleton's 30+ year partnership worked because of clear role division and mutual honesty, even when Jeremy once told Richard to give up entirely. - Near-bankruptcy to breakthrough Down to their last £10,000, a direct mail campaign with a 3.8% conversion rate saved the business and sparked the HomeServe home insurance model. - Entrepreneurial mindset Copy and improve proven models, bootstrap where possible, avoid growing too fast, and embrace persistence and optimism when your back is against the wall.- Knowing when to step aside as CEOBring in an experienced CEO at the right growth stage, recruit slowly, and let the founder focus on their true strengths (vision, BD, international growth). - Mentorship and persistence pay Richard didn't find his first mentor until 2009, but swears by it — illustrated by cold-calling Nigel Morris and flying to DC the next day to secure a meeting. Other interview mentioned with Jeremy Middleton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q59RqI1GgxE&t=15s - - - - - - I'd LOVE to know, what resonated most with you here? Leave a comment!Get involved in the conversation: 🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/ 🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/

    44 min

  4. FEB 18

    [REPLAY] "You have to go hard or go home" | Anu Obe, To All My Black Girls

    Anu Obe is the Founder of To All My Black Girls, a D2C ecomm business that specialises in naturally textured hair extensions for Afro-Caribbean hair types.In this episode, Steph and Anu discuss:👩🏾‍🦱 The importance of self-belief and optimism - your reality is not your identity!💜 Having a clear mission, identifying a gap in the market, and solving one fatal customer problem 👩🏾‍🦱 The idea of whether or not entrepreneurship is for everyone?!  💜 The power of self-confidence, and where that came from for Anu👩🏾‍🦱 The top books that impacted Anu the most. (Hint: one of them is a religious text).💜 How Anu went about finding her very first customersLearn more about To All My Black Girls here: https://toallmyblackgirls.com/

    41 min

  5. FEB 11

    We need to get off the "woke treadmill" and start *actually* moving forwards: Deborah Williams, The Women's Association

    Want Steph to mentor you? Apply for 1:1 founder coaching here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchRTqGNNhrN8xph4Gh4RuVJNU_mc31cT8bl08nXRQeM6rd8Q/viewform - - - - - - - Deborah Williams is the Founder & CEO of The Women’s Association, building a lifelong ecosystem to ensure women and girls have the support they need to reach their full potential at every stage of life. Founded in 2018 after Deborah was "awakened" by research for her dissertation exploring the stories of women in leadership across industries, The Women's Association has grown into a powerful force for gender equality. In this interview, Steph and Deborah discuss: Discovering gender inequality through Deborah's dissertation researchOvercoming self-doubt whilst building a mission-driven organisationThe burden of awareness: when you can't "un-see" injusticeBuilding a lifelong ecosystem vs short-term solutionsEarly intervention: protecting girls' confidence before it's lostThe social trap: connection with anxiety Follow The Women's Association: https://www.thewomensassociation.com/ I'd LOVE to know, what resonated most with you here? Get involved in the conversation: 🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/ 🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/ - - - - - - - About the show: Entrepreneurship is overly-glamorised, and there’s a lot to learn from the mistakes of others. Strategy & Tragedy keeps it real; sharing the highs & lows, the strategies & tragedies, of other founders who have “made it.” In addition to CEO interviews, we spotlight subject matter experts to help you on your entrepreneur journey. Available on all major streaming platforms, now in the UK Top 20 Business Charts. About Steph Melodia: As ex-CEO of an award-winning marketing agency, Stephanie now hosts Strategy & Tragedy, advises MBA students with Oneday, coaches founders 1:1, and travels the world as an international keynote speaker on her signature subject of ‘Hacking Luck.’ She has delivered impactful sessions for household brand names including Qatar Airways, Soho House, WeTransfer, LinkedIn, Xero, Harvey Nash Group, Web Summit, and more - leaving audiences feeling inspired, motivated, and energised.

    1h 6m

  6. FEB 4

    The Long Haul Leader: Why you *need* to prioritise rest, recovery and PLAY | Chris Ducker

    Want Steph to mentor you? Apply for 1:1 founder coaching here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchRTqGNNhrN8xph4Gh4RuVJNU_mc31cT8bl08nXRQeM6rd8Q/viewform Chris Ducker, a leadership speaker, serial entrepreneur, and bestselling author of The Long-Haul Leader, Rise of the Youpreneur, and Virtual Freedom. Known for his straight-talking yet inspiring style, he helps leaders build successful, sustainable careers without burnout. Chris has founded and scaled multiple seven-figure businesses and mentored thousands of leaders and small business owners over a 20+ year career. His work has been featured in major outlets including Forbes, BBC, Entrepreneur, CBS, INC, and Success Magazine. - The guilt trap: why leaders feel bad for resting (and shouldn't!)- The hidden cost of success: burnout during peak performance - The physical reality of burnout: not just feeling tired - Motion vs Momentum: The "busywork" trap - Self-care as strategy, not selfishness- Burnout as warning, not a badge of honour I'd LOVE to know, what resonated most with you here? Get involved in the conversation: 🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/ 🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/ - - - - - - - - - About the show: Entrepreneurship is overly-glamorised, and there’s a lot to learn from the mistakes of others. Strategy & Tragedy keeps it real; sharing the highs & lows, the strategies & tragedies, of other founders who have “made it.” In addition to CEO interviews, we spotlight subject matter experts to help you on your entrepreneur journey. Available on all major streaming platforms, now in the UK Top 20 Business Charts. About Steph Melodia: As ex-CEO of an award-winning marketing agency, Stephanie now hosts Strategy & Tragedy, advises MBA students with Oneday, coaches founders 1:1, and travels the world as an international keynote speaker on her signature subject of ‘Hacking Luck.’ She has delivered impactful sessions for household brand names including Qatar Airways, Soho House, WeTransfer, LinkedIn, Xero, Harvey Nash Group, Web Summit, and more - leaving audiences feeling inspired, motivated, and energised.

    51 min

  7. JAN 28

    "I thought I was going to d*e on live TV" | The dark side of building a personal brand with Anisha Joshi, Osteo Allies

    TW: Themes of panic attacks and anxiety disorders discussed - - - - - - - - Want Steph to mentor you? Apply for 1:1 founder coaching here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchRTqGNNhrN8xph4Gh4RuVJNU_mc31cT8bl08nXRQeM6rd8Q/viewform - - - - - - - - Anisha Joshi is an award-winning osteopath, public speaker, author of Heal Your Back, and entrepreneur who has scaled a multi-clinic healthcare business. Featured in the likes of ITV’s This Morning, Anisha has treated elite athletes, celebrities and even royalty. In this interview, Steph and Anisha discuss: - The cost of building a personal brand in 2026, including online trolls, industry backlash, panic attacks, imposter syndrome, and anxiety disorders- Goal-setting, manifesting (does it work?) and how Anisha landed multiple appearances on mainstream TV - Practical advice on leveraging social media as an entrepreneur without overwhelm - Valuable lessons from costly mistakes (including not scaling too quickly) - And more. - - - - - - - - I'd LOVE to know, what resonated most with you here? Get involved in the conversation: 🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/ 🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/ - - - - - - - - ABOUT THE SHOW: Entrepreneurship is overly-glamorised, and there’s a lot to learn from the mistakes of others. Strategy & Tragedy keeps it real; sharing the highs & lows, the strategies & tragedies, of other founders who have “made it.” In addition to CEO interviews, we spotlight subject matter experts to help you on your entrepreneur journey. Available on all major streaming platforms, now in the UK Top 20 Business Charts. ABOUT STEPH MELODIA: As ex-CEO of an award-winning marketing agency, Stephanie now hosts Strategy & Tragedy, advises MBA students with Oneday, coaches founders 1:1, and travels the world as an international keynote speaker on her signature subject of ‘Hacking Luck.’ She has delivered impactful sessions for household brand names including Qatar Airways, Soho House, WeTransfer, LinkedIn, Xero, Harvey Nash Group, Web Summit, and more - leaving audiences feeling inspired, motivated, and energised.

    1 hr

  8. JAN 21

    Financial freedom through entrepreneurship: Why 98% of VC funding misses women (and what to do about it) | Emmie Faust, Female Founders Rise [REPLAY]

    Book Stephanie Melodia, international keynote speaker, to speak at your next event: https://www.stephaniemelodia.com/keynote-speaker-hacking-luck Emmie Faust is the 3X exited entrepreneur-turned-angel-investor, now Founder of Female Founders Rise - the supportive and inspiring resource for female founders to help them succeed with their businesses. In this episode, Steph and Emmie discuss: ✊ The impact of motherhood on self-confidence ✊ Female role models, including Emmie's first powerhouse boss! ✊ The power of mindset shifts in order to serve a more personally fulfilling mission ✊ How entrepreneurship can lead to financial freedom, and why women need to consider this path for empowerment ✊ Angel investing, including Emmie’s portfolio and what she looks for in a deal (hint: numerology features!!) Learn more about Female Founders Rise here: https://femalefoundersrise.com/ I'd LOVE to know, what resonated most with you here? Get involved in the conversation: 🤍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmelodia/ 🤍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmelodia-keynotespeaker/ 🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share with a friend! About the show: Entrepreneurship is overly-glamorised, and there’s a lot to learn from the mistakes of others. Strategy & Tragedy keeps it real; sharing the highs & lows, the strategies & tragedies, of other founders who have “made it.” In addition to CEO interviews, we spotlight subject matter experts to help you on your entrepreneur journey. Available on all major streaming platforms, now in the UK Top 20 Business Charts. About Steph Melodia: As ex-CEO of an award-winning marketing agency, Stephanie now hosts Strategy & Tragedy, advises MBA students with Oneday, coaches founders 1:1, and travels the world as an international keynote speaker on her signature subject of ‘Hacking Luck.’ She has delivered impactful sessions for household brand names including Qatar Airways, Soho House, WeTransfer, LinkedIn, Xero, Harvey Nash Group, Web Summit, and more - leaving audiences feeling inspired, motivated, and energised. Book Stephanie to speak at your next event here: https://www.stephaniemelodia.com/keynote-speaker-hacking-luck

    53 min
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UK Top 20 Business Show for today’s entrepreneur. Hosted by UK Top 20 Female Founder, Stephanie Melodia, Strategy & Tragedy spotlights the most authentic & interesting founder stories - featuring the good, the bad, and the ugly of building a business. With the purpose to inspire and educate entrepreneurs, guests also include subject matter experts such as top business strategists, marketers, and investors to help arm founders with the knowledge to succeed in business.

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