Action, Impact, Growth

Qurated
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Luke Nihill, Managing Director of Qurated, sits down with business leaders to discuss not just the why, but the how and the what of business success. Deep diving into the leadership challenges they have faced and providing insight and guidance that can be useful at both a strategic and a tactical level.

  1. MAR 16

    The Hardest Decision a CEO Ever Has to Make | Mike Camerling, CEO at Aevi

    Mike Camerling, CEO at Aevi, shares his journey through founding a business under PE backing, taking it independent, and how he's grown his personal leadership skillset along the way. Chapters: (00:36) Meet Mike Camerling, Aevi CEO (01:13) Founding Aevi within a large corporation (03:33) The decision to get investor backing (07:18) Culture shifts from enterprise to start up (08:46) Trimming the fat as a start up (10:12) Top line vs bottom line focus (12:48) Ownership: The grass is always greener (13:23) What PE firms expect from a start-up (15:37) Becoming CEO (18:42) People treat you differently at the top (20:21) Actions have consequences as a CEO (21:04) The reality behind board meetings (24:10) Why CEOs can’t micromanage (24:50) How to deal with investors (26:02) No surprises (27:02) Efficient decision-making in PE (28:23) What to consider before getting PE backing (30:45) Find the pain point: then deliver (31:55) Reinventing the revenue model (35:55) SaaS vs transactional revenue: What wins? (38:25) The biggest differentiator (42:00) Product-lead growth or pure GTM? (43:46) The biggest shifts in the payments industry (45:42) The buyer journey has changed (46:54) Why 1-1 selling doesn't work anymore (49:07) The customer is your company culture (50:42) When the team pulls together (53:50) How to build high-performance cultures (55:13) Nurture your good employees (57:50) Should everyone use AI? (01:03:26) Identify the gaps in your skillset (01:04:44) The impact you can make as CEO (01:05:55) If you know you should do it, do it now Follow: Luke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukenihill/ Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcamerling/

    1h 7m

  2. JAN 8

    The Secret to Building Resilient Teams | Alexis Collins, CIO at Norton Rose Fulbright

    Alexis Collins, CIO at Norton Rose Fulbright, joins Luke Nihill to discuss overcoming challenges from a consultant to the C-suite, the importance of a growth mindset, and how to build a culture that thrives on teamwork and resilience. Chapters: (03:14) Being opportunistic at the start of your career (08:17) The benefits of consulting experience (09:40) The demand for talent in Law and Technology (11:32) How businesses are stretched for tech transformation (15:50) The career impact of a sporting background (19:29) Three values to build resilient teams (22:22) Taking accountability (27:17) Inspiring trust in your teams (28:40) Trusting your peers to deliver (31:10) Moving from individual contributor to manager (34:59) Seizing hidden opportunities (37:08) Deep work vs easy work (38:25) Creating accountability in your diary (40:51) Knowing when to ask for help (43:39) Is the workplace now easier for young families? (47:57) Having a career and a family (50:37) Life as a CIO: Core responsibilities (53:14) Opportunities for the next generation of workers (54:48) Tech in the legal sector: Predictions for the next five years (56:50) What do you wish you knew at the start of your career? (59:14) Are millennials more ambitious? (01:00:35) How employee development has changed in the legal sector (01:02:37) Is return to office a good thing? (01:03:24) Creating cultures that resonate across the generations Follow: Luke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukenihill/ Alexis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-collins-5027a356/

    1h 5m

  3. 10/30/2025

    What Happens When You Step Outside Your Comfort Zone | Sharon Maguire, COO at Cynergy Bank

    Sharon Maguire, COO at Cynergy Bank, has built a career that spans the full spectrum of financial services across Europe and the Middle East. In this episode of the Action Impact Growth podcast, Sharon joins Luke Nihill to reflect on the forces that shaped her career, her years working in the Middle East, and the leadership lessons she's carried with her across continents and cultures. Timestamps: (01:18) Choosing the workplace over university (07:24) Changing hiring policies around degree requirements (09:41) Real life experience vs academics (15:43) What gives her drive to succeed? (18:05) Bringing out the best in your team (20:25) Developing flexible leadership styles (23:28) If you want to be a CEO one day (24:12) Have you ever said no to something that you've regretted after? (26:50) What inspired the move to Qatar? (30:05) The impact of life in Qatar (32:50) Building a career in the Middle East (35:30) Influencing leadership from behind the scenes (36:44) Business in the Middle East vs London (38:51) What made her come back? (39:26) Moving country without a role lined up (40:36) The importance of maternity leave (41:52) Great storytelling in a business context (46:53) Aspirational planning and embracing failure (48:51) What does it mean to be customer-centric? (51:27) Demonstrating value in small businesses vs big businesses (54:04) Predictions for the future of financial services (56:22) How far would you take AI in the workplace? Follow: Sharon - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-maguire-9585885/ Luke – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukenihill/ 👉 Discover more leadership insights at: https://www.qurated.com/insights

    58 min

  4. 09/02/2025

    Building a Leadership Brand | James Higgins, CIO at Barclays UK Business Bank

    How do you align 600 people with your vision? James Higgins, CIO of Barclays UK Business Bank, joins Luke Nihill to explore how customer obsession, military discipline, and talent-first leadership have shaped his career. James' story brings unique insights into leading teams at scale, realising potential in your workforce, and why enterprise banks can learn a lot from startups.  Timestamps: (00:29) What makes you unique as a leader? (02:56) Life as a Barclays CIO (05:12) How do you align 600 people with your vision? (08:08) The role of leadership in technology (10:25) Why data-driven leadership is crucial (11:35) Innovation accounting (12:33) Building allegiance with your leadership team (14:58) Hiring for talent (17:38) Where does a leadership team go wrong? (19:44) "Figure out what gets you out of bed" (22:29) The difference between roles and skills (23:37) Potential matters more than performance (26:41) Customer obsession (29:00) How talent and automation will interact in a business (31:33)"The only thing I cannot buy is time" (34:38) "Why are you scheduling that?" / Addition sickness# (37:56) What is the best career advice you've ever received? (40:51) Is there a mistake I've made that I'll never repeat? (43:51) "I wouldn't have achieved what I've done in my career without this" (48:22) What do you wish you knew at the start of your career? 50:02 - Raising the bar on engineering at Barclays  References: Shoe Dog  The Lean Startup Build Seven Habits of Highly Effective People Working Backwards How Google Works Follow: James Luke 👉 Discover more leadership insights at: https://www.qurated.com

    52 min

  5. 07/09/2025

    Becoming a Strong Leader | David Germain, Award-Winning CIO and NED

    What does it take to lead with authenticity? In this episode, David Germain, award-winning CIO and NED, joins Qurated MD, Luke Nihill, to explore how curiosity, trust, and resilience shape modern leadership.From growing up on a council estate to sitting on some of the UK’s most influential boards, David's journey brings powerful lessons on building diverse teams, navigating digital transformation, and staying grounded through it all. Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (02:56) Pick up skills as you're earning (04:39) "Give me the toughest assignment" (06:36) The importance of leading with trust (09:30) "It took time to get comfortable in my own skin" (13:48) "You'll know you're enjoying what you're doing when it's tough" (14:45) Becoming a NED (17:49) How to build a board of directors (22:11 ) "The great thing about working on boards" (24:28) Investing in your own time (28:07) How to create work-life balance (29:37) The biggest opportunities for digital transformation (36:13) Transformation is never complete (41:26) "Allyship is understanding" (49:51) What matters most to you now? (52:23) Keep learning (53:35) What do you wish you knew at the start of your career? Follow: ⁠David⁠ ⁠Luke Discover more leadership insights at: https://www.qurated.com

    55 min

  6. 05/15/2025

    How playing rugby trained me for the CEO role

    Luke Nihill of Qurated, sits down with Greg Ellison, CEO of Alpha bank to discuss his journey from the Rugby field to the boardroom and the importance of leading with meaning.   (00:00) Intro (00:45) Rugby (03:58) Fittest, fastest and most professional (07:30) Father’s footsteps (10:28) You can waste, spend or invest time (13:46) Finding inspiration (16:26) Just be curious (18:40) Getting good results (20:10) No silver bullets (23:48) Making work meaningful (27:04) Hire, lead, and get things done (29:20) “How’s your little bank going?” (33.20) Building resilience (37:40) Self belief   Follow: Greg - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregellison/ Luke - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukenihill/   Refs and resources: Wim Hoff Method

    40 min
  7. Communication is crucial in leadership (Lessons from a CEO)

    04/28/2025

    Communication is crucial in leadership (Lessons from a CEO)

    Peter Strandell, Nasdaq SVP turned fintech CEO, sits down with Luke to discuss the learnings in moving from corporate to start up and importance of “embracing the suck” (00:00) Intro (01:55) Startup vs Corporate personality (04:52) Leading in a post Covid world (06:47) Reading the (virtual) room (9:34) Communicating with purpose (14:02) Breaking down strategy into pieces (17:01) Adapting to your audience (19:14) Bonus and incentives (21:55) Global Integration (24:01) Skills in the age of AI/ the US advantage (27:03) Execution beats strategy (31:20) CEO letter (34:56) Battle scars (37:14) Learning from failure/take a step back (41:39) Safety (44:09) 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 (46:44) Doing the bad stuff / Embrace the suck (51:33) Discipline for growth (55:00) Celebrate the small wins (58:26) Crises management (01:01:44) Two things not to be afraid of Follow:Peter StrandellLuke NihillRefs and resources: Jeff Bezos CEO letter Working Backwards, Colin Bryan & Bill CarrGood to great, Jim Collins"Rule of Thirds," articulated by Greek-American runner Alexi PappasEmbrace the suck, Brent Gleeson

    52 min

  8. 02/11/2025

    Leaders are made, not born

    Alberto Verga, CEO MS Amlin Business Services sits down with Luke to discuss what it takes to lead a business, and the lessons he’s learned on his way to becoming Managing Director.   (00:00) Intro (00:32) Leaders are made, not born (03:49) The characteristics of a leader (05:15) Leadership is lonely (07:46) Making big decisions (09:46) Balancing views (13:03) Opportunity knocks (15:51) Becoming a corporate citizen (18:03) Developing skills (22:55) More than one way to the top (23:44) Don’t be territorial (26:02) Making the company better (28:40) Qualities for success in leadership (32:07) Organisation structure constructs (35:43) Opportunity will always exist (38:49) Automation and AI (42:37) IQ and EQ (45:13) There’s no substitute for experience Follow: AlbertoLuke  References discussed: Porters five forces framework, Michael E. PorterGood to Great, Jim Collins

    47 min
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About

Luke Nihill, Managing Director of Qurated, sits down with business leaders to discuss not just the why, but the how and the what of business success. Deep diving into the leadership challenges they have faced and providing insight and guidance that can be useful at both a strategic and a tactical level.

Information

  • Creator
    Qurated
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Qurated
  • Show Website
    Action, Impact, Growth