We are excited to announce that our guest speaker for episode 28 is Chris Wilson !!!

Speaking with authenticity and impact in an SME can be challenging because leaders and employees often juggle multiple roles, tight resources, and constant change. There is pressure to sound confident and professional while also staying true to personal values and the realities of the business, which can lead to overly cautious or generic communication.

Join Romesh Jeyaseelanayagam, Mike Oliver and guest speaker Chris Wilson on 15th January, as they discuss how to speak with impact and authenticity, embracing the true you to connect emotionally with your audience - be it your team, your customers, or your peers.

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Strive & Thrive is a series of live discussions with the aim of enabling and empowering entrepreneurs in building businesses that achieve success – whether it be in people, planet, and profit – or all three. ​

​Join founders Mike, Romesh, and their amazing guests, as they discuss the mindsets, skills and knowledge entrepreneurs need to Strive & Thrive in an ever-changing world. ​

Join co-hosts Romesh Jeyaseelanayagam and Mike Oliver on 1st January, as they discuss the many insights and key learnings they gained from the Strive & Thrive podcast in 2025, and what they hope to achieve with their businesses and the podcast in 2026.

Mike and Romesh draw on the huge experience, expertise and journeys of their many excellent guests in 2025.

LinkedIn Event: ​https://www.linkedin.com/events/s-tepisode27-whatinsightscansme7407503696307105792/theater/
YouTube stream:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ua05j74gUU
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Subscribe and follow us for more Strive & Thrive content at Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.​
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cEcnsZUk8pQFPbP6wrT33​
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strive-and-thrive/id1814865101​
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@striveandthriveseries?feature=shared​

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Strive & Thrive is a series of live discussions with the aim of enabling and empowering entrepreneurs in building businesses that achieve success – whether it be in people, planet, and profit – or all three. ​

​Join founders Mike, Romesh, and their amazing guests, as they discuss the mindsets, skills and knowledge entrepreneurs need to Strive & Thrive in an ever-changing world. ​

AI, storytelling, and marketing intersect in powerful but challenging ways. While AI can analyze audiences and generate content at scale, it often struggles to capture the emotional nuance and authenticity that compelling storytelling requires.

Marketers must balance efficiency with creativity, ensuring AI-generated narratives still feel human and aligned with brand identity.

Join Romesh Jeyaseelanayagam, Mike Oliver, and guest speaker David Sloly as they discuss the power of storytelling, staying abreast of AI developments, and how we should remain authentic.

LinkedIn Event: https://www.linkedin.com/events/strive-thriveepisode26-storytel7406395151855595520/theater/
YouTube stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYbHzQvWglo
​
Subscribe and follow us for more Strive & Thrive content at Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.​
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cEcnsZUk8pQFPbP6wrT33​
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strive-and-thrive/id1814865101​
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@striveandthriveseries?feature=shared​

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Strive & Thrive is a series of live discussions with the aim of enabling and empowering entrepreneurs in building businesses that achieve success – whether it be in people, planet, and profit – or all three. ​

​Join founders Mike, Romesh, and their amazing guests, as they discuss the mindsets, skills and knowledge entrepreneurs need to Strive & Thrive in an ever-changing world. ​

The challenges that arise from the differences between being an entrepreneur and being a business owner often come from mindset and goals. Entrepreneurs typically focus on innovation, taking risks, and building something new, which can create pressure to constantly adapt, secure funding, and navigate uncertainty. Business owners, on the other hand, usually focus on stability, daily operations, and maintaining consistent profits, which can be challenging because it requires strong management skills, long-term planning, and resource balancing. These differences can make it difficult to transition between the two roles, as each demands a different approach to leadership, risk-taking, and problem-solving.

Join Romesh Jeyaseelanayagam, Mike Oliver and guest speakers Peter Mols & Sarah Mols at 12pm on 11th December, as they discuss the difference between being an entrepreneur and a business owner.

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Strive & Thrive is a series of live discussions with the aim of enabling and empowering entrepreneurs in building businesses that achieve success – whether it be in people, planet, and profit – or all three. ​

​Join founders Mike, Romesh, and their amazing guests, as they discuss the mindsets, skills and knowledge entrepreneurs need to Strive & Thrive in an ever-changing world. ​

The best leaders often face the challenge of balancing authority with connection, and social intelligence is key to navigating that tension.

They must read subtle cues, manage diverse personalities, and adapt their communication style without losing clarity or purpose. At the same time, they must remain aware of how their words and decisions affect team dynamics, morale, and trust. This constant juggling act makes social intelligence not just a helpful skill, but an essential leadership trait.

Join Romesh Jeyaseelanayagam, Mike Oliver and guest speaker Geoff Bird at 12pm on 4th December as they discuss how the best leaders have and need social intelligence.​

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Strive & Thrive is a series of live discussions with the aim of enabling and empowering entrepreneurs in building businesses that achieve success – whether it be in people, planet, and profit – or all three. ​

​Join founders Mike, Romesh, and their amazing guests, as they discuss the mindsets, skills and knowledge entrepreneurs need to Strive & Thrive in an ever-changing world. ​

The UK government has just released its much-anticipated budget, and every business leader is holding their breath. In this episode, we’ll be diving deep into the key announcements, cutting through the noise and discover exactly what this fiscal statement means for your business strategy, cash flow, and growth prospects in the year ahead.

Join Romesh Jeyaseelanayagam (Founder of The FD Consultant) and Mike Oliver (Founder of Easol), as they discuss the implications of the budget that every business leader should consider.​

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Strive & Thrive is a series of live discussions with the aim of enabling and empowering entrepreneurs in building businesses that achieve success – whether it be in people, planet, and profit – or all three. ​

​Join founders Mike, Romesh, and their amazing guests, as they discuss the mindsets, skills and knowledge entrepreneurs need to Strive & Thrive in an ever-changing world. ​

Scaling a business often feels like riding a rollercoaster, thrilling, but full of sharp turns and emotional highs and lows. Leaders face the challenge of sustaining momentum without losing strategic focus.

Join Romesh Jeyaseelanayagam, Mike Oliver and guest speaker Raj Thiruchelvarajah as they discuss the challenges business leaders face when scaling up a business.

Subscribe and follow us for more Strive & Thrive content at Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.​
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cEcnsZUk8pQFPbP6wrT33​
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strive-and-thrive/id1814865101​
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@striveandthriveseries?feature=shared​

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Strive & Thrive is a series of live discussions with the aim of enabling and empowering entrepreneurs in building businesses that achieve success – whether it be in people, planet, and profit – or all three. ​

​Join founders Mike, Romesh, and their amazing guests, as they discuss the mindsets, skills and knowledge entrepreneurs need to Strive & Thrive in an ever-changing world. ​

AI alone won’t grow your sales. Technology is a powerful enabler, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Yes, AI can streamline operations, uncover data-driven insights, and automate marketing, but it cannot replace the human touch that builds trust, understands customer needs, and forges lasting relationships. Without a clear sales strategy, a strong product or service, and consistent customer engagement, AI tools risk being underused or misdirected. Sustainable growth demands balance: combine AI with human creativity, strategic thinking, and personalised interaction to turn potential into growth.

Join Romesh Jeyaseelanayagam, Mike Oliver and guest speaker @Maggie Sarfo as they discuss how using AI alone will not push your sales within your business.

Subscribe and follow us for more Strive & Thrive content at Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.​

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cEcnsZUk8pQFPbP6wrT33​

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strive-and-thrive/id1814865101​

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@striveandthriveseries?feature=shared​

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Strive & Thrive is a series of live discussions with the aim of enabling and empowering entrepreneurs in building businesses that achieve success – whether it be in people, planet, and profit – or all three. ​

​Join founders Mike, Romesh, and their amazing guests, as they discuss the mindsets, skills and knowledge entrepreneurs need to Strive & Thrive in an ever-changing world. ​