Canny Conversations Podcast by Safaraz Ali

Safaraz Ali

Canny Conversations Podcast by Safaraz Ali Social Entrepreneur, CEO of Pathway Group and proud Birmingham business leader, where he shares his insights and experiences on entrepreneurialism, having a growth mindset and getting the best out of people as well as useful information to help your grow your business, develop and build your team. Canny Conversations has now completed over 50 episodes making an impact on UK business Podcasts and demonstrating how sustainable business can benefit. In the third series Safaraz speaks with journalist Adrian Kibbler as well as some great guests sharing their thoughts and insights. In the fourth series Safaraz shares his own individual thoughts again. Canny conversations are intended to challenge and cannily captivate. Let us know if they do or otherwise! The topics covered in these conversations range from individual biographies & life stories to industry specific conversations as well as all things self development, enterprise & entrepreneurship and that’s just for starters. Previously we have received very good feedback on a number of our podcasts with topics such as; the importance of people, how to recruit them and get the best from them. It explores what makes a good leader and how to build strong teams within a winning culture. ‘Don’t expect to agree with everything but remain open and challenged. There is plenty to ‘chew on’ as Safaraz might say. Safaraz Ali is the author of Canny Bites books, the fourth book being the lates titled: ‘Successfully Scale Up or Exit Your Business’ which helps business owners and leaders know exactly what they need to consider when growing their business. It’s a workbook and a checklist for entrepreneurs to help put the foundations in place ensuring they have the right toolkits to make scaling an easier task. https://safaraz.co.uk/

  1. Kirstie Donnelly MBE, CEO at City & Guilds now part of PeopleCert discusses the sale and much more!

    11/10/2025

    Kirstie Donnelly MBE, CEO at City & Guilds now part of PeopleCert discusses the sale and much more!

    Kirsty Donnelly, CEO of City & Guilds, talks to Safaraz Ali about her remarkable journey as she takes the helm under the new ownership of PeopleCert. In this powerful episode of Canny Conversations, Safaraz Ali sits down with Kirstie Donnelly MBE, the Chief Executive Officer of City & Guilds, to explore a career shaped by transformation, vision, and values-driven leadership. Now leading City & Guilds through one of the most significant turning points in its 145-year history, Kirstie reflects on her remarkable journey - from navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to steering a bold new chapter through the acquisition by global certification leader PeopleCert. It’s a candid and timely conversation about what it takes to lead a legacy organisation through disruption, remain focused on mission, and adapt for the future of work. This episode is more than a leadership story - it’s a frontline account of how the UK’s most recognised awarding body is repositioning itself to meet the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, embracing digital credentials, globalisation, and lifelong learning, while staying anchored in purpose and social mobility. Kirstie opens up about the pressures of leadership during the pandemic, the strategic reflections that led to the PeopleCert deal, and how she sees City & Guilds playing a renewed role in the global skills ecosystem. Her belief that “talent exists everywhere, but opportunity does not” is a theme that runs deeply throughout the episode - as does her call for system-wide reform, cross-sector collaboration, and courageous leadership. https://cannyconversationspodcast.co.uk/https://safaraz.co.uk/https://cannybites.co.uk/buy-the-book/https://www.1386audio.com/have-a-listen

    1h 8m

About

Canny Conversations Podcast by Safaraz Ali Social Entrepreneur, CEO of Pathway Group and proud Birmingham business leader, where he shares his insights and experiences on entrepreneurialism, having a growth mindset and getting the best out of people as well as useful information to help your grow your business, develop and build your team. Canny Conversations has now completed over 50 episodes making an impact on UK business Podcasts and demonstrating how sustainable business can benefit. In the third series Safaraz speaks with journalist Adrian Kibbler as well as some great guests sharing their thoughts and insights. In the fourth series Safaraz shares his own individual thoughts again. Canny conversations are intended to challenge and cannily captivate. Let us know if they do or otherwise! The topics covered in these conversations range from individual biographies & life stories to industry specific conversations as well as all things self development, enterprise & entrepreneurship and that’s just for starters. Previously we have received very good feedback on a number of our podcasts with topics such as; the importance of people, how to recruit them and get the best from them. It explores what makes a good leader and how to build strong teams within a winning culture. ‘Don’t expect to agree with everything but remain open and challenged. There is plenty to ‘chew on’ as Safaraz might say. Safaraz Ali is the author of Canny Bites books, the fourth book being the lates titled: ‘Successfully Scale Up or Exit Your Business’ which helps business owners and leaders know exactly what they need to consider when growing their business. It’s a workbook and a checklist for entrepreneurs to help put the foundations in place ensuring they have the right toolkits to make scaling an easier task. https://safaraz.co.uk/