🚀 From Google Podcasts to Moon FM in No Time: Your Hassle-Free Migration Guide
👉

The Impact Multiplier CEO

Richard Medcalf

As a CEO, you’ve demonstrated your ability to solve complex problems and achieve extraordinary results. You've skills, resources and experience. But you have the potential for even greater impact and a more satisfying legacy. What will it take to multiply your positive impact - in the business, for your people, and in the world at large? Join Richard Medcalf, Founder of Xquadrant, together with co-host Stephanie Frackowiak and high-impact CEOs from some of the world’s most exciting firms - for a perspective-shifting conversation at the intersection of strategy, leadership and purpose. Welcome to the Impact Multiplier CEO podcast.

  • 38 minutes 44 seconds
    Building an Inc 5000 business with C-grade students, with Aditya Siripragada of Fountane

    Why would an entrepreneur decide that hiring C-grade students is the way forward?

    Today Richard speaks with Aditya Siripragada, founder of Fountane. Fountane is digital product studio and venture lab changing the traditional consulting model, with 125 people across US and India. The company doubled revenue annually for 6 years and won the Inc. Top 5000 award in 2024.

    In this conversation, you’ll learn:

    • The mindset advantage that C-grade students bring to the table (and that A-grade students don't)
    • How and why Fountaine moved away from a pure consulting model
    • The one-line reframe that helped Aditya see the true opportunity and reinvent the business.
    • The two "Ds" that help you discern "founder/market fit" and likely future success.

    Resources/sources mentioned:


    For full show notes, head to https://xquadrant.com/aditya-siripragada

    2 January 2025, 8:14 pm
  • 44 minutes 40 seconds
    Do CEOs really have (or need) a super power? with Rebecca Harrison (African Management Institute)

    Do you need to have a super power to be an effective CEO? What happens if you don't? How can you build a pan-continental business with zero experience? And how can you empower your managers to lead effectively?

    In this episode Richard speaks with Rebecca Harrison, who has spent the last decade building the African Management Institute (AMI), Africa’s leading provider of business and management learning, supporting 37,000 businesses in 39 African countries, impacting 1.5 million livelihoods and contributing more than $130M to the continent’s economies.

    In this conversation, you’ll learn:

    • What caused Rebecca to pursue a impact business in a sector and market she had almost no experience of, and what she had to learn the hard way.
    • Why Rebecca doesn't think she has a particular super power - what she says is important instead -- and a helpful reframe of the topic by Richard
    • Rebecca's three hard-won tips on building an effective middle management, even in a hierarchical culture sometimes where often the assumption is that "obedience" than "ownership" is required.

    Resources/sources mentioned:


    For full show notes, head to https://xquadrant.com/rebecca-harrison

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Intro

    05:36 How to make an impact in Africa

    13:05 Align business vision with impactful purpose

    16:33 How to enjoy the entrepreneurial journey

    18:13 Founder CEO: Care drives progress, not brilliance

    26:40 Define management expectations for cultural clarity

    34:44 Monthly cash flow and team meetings checklist

    38:03 Facing fear, accepting leadership to innovate forward.

    28 November 2024, 12:00 pm
  • 44 minutes 12 seconds
    Building a global business from day 1, with Fred Plais (CEO, platform.sh) (S14E14)

    How can you build a business that is genuinely global on day one? How do you set up marketing, sales, delivery, recruitment and operations when your local market is not going to be your largest market, and where you want customers to come from anywhere?

    Today Richard speaks with Fred Plais, co-founder and CEO of Platform.sh, a leading, VC funded Platform-as-a-service for building, running, scaling web applications.


    In this conversation, you’ll learn:


    The critical early decisions that enabled the business to go global from day 1

    Why Platform.sh limits employment to only 12 countries, despite being 100% remote

    The process innovations that have allowed Platform.sh to successfully operate a remote-first culture

    The big mistake Fred made when needing to accelerate profitability... and what happened


    Resources/sources mentioned:


    The Impact Multiplier CEO Podcast(https://xquadrant.com/podcast/)

    Platform.sh (https://platform.sh/)

    Join Rivendell (https://xquadrant.com/rivendell/), our exponential programme for elite CEOs dedicated to transforming themselves, their businesses, and the world.

    Ready for a big leap forward in your own leadership? Elevate your leadership forever with Richard's book "Making time for Strategy: How to be less busy and more successful". Buy your book here: https://xquadrant.com/time/


    For full show notes, head to https://xquadrant.com/fred-plais


    Timestamps:

    00:00 Intro

    06:01 Building global businesses

    10:14 Finding great talents outside major hubs

    13:56 The new remote work paradigm

    21:58 Distributed global teams ensure 24/7 customer support.

    26:52 Ensuring cultural fit, clear goals, and remote work.

    31:24 In-person meetings enhance problem-solving and collaboration.

    36:09 Reducing cloud app carbon emissions, efficiently.

    41:29 Focus on future strategy, not micromanage tasks.

    14 November 2024, 12:00 pm
  • 34 minutes 54 seconds
    Staying lean and agile for world-leading growth | Toms Jurjevs, CEO, Sun Finance (S14E13)

    How can you keep lean and efficient despite hyper growth?

    Welcome to The Impact Multiplier CEO, helping you to 10X your financials, 10X your positive impact and 10X the fun you have along the way! Today Richard Medcalf is speaking with Toms Jurjevs, Founder and CEO of Sun Finance, a 1200-person strong business that was recently recognised as the No.1 fastest-growing fintech in Europe by The Financial Times.

    Toms shares the story of Sun Finance's incredible growth, expanding into 12 international markets and delivering billions in loans.

    In this conversation, you’ll learn:

    • How Toms minimises bureaucracy and keeps the business agile
    • The three interrelated elements that Tom keeps a permanent focus on, in order to manage hyper growth without bloat
    • The "Eagle Strategy" for avoiding micromanagement whilst staying on top of the details
    • How Toms expanded to 12 International Markets

    Resources/sources mentioned:


    For full show notes, head to https://xquadrant.com/toms-jurjevs

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Intro

    06:30 Why you should focus on efficiency.

    07:25 Spend wisely; avoid comfort and bureaucracy.

    16:17 Success leads to comfort

    18:34 Fear of mistakes leads to avoiding action.

    20:55 Use calls and WhatsApp instead of emails.

    24:59 Maximize growth potential without comfort zone complacency.

    31:43 Balancing oversight and action in SunFinance operations.

    31 October 2024, 12:00 pm
  • 41 minutes 39 seconds
    Avoiding CEOs mistakes when scaling from £0M to £15M+, with Peter Busby (Founder, Grayce) (S14E12)

    How can you avoid the common mistakes CEOs make as they scale from £0M to £15M?

    Today we find out. Richard speaks to Peter Busby, founder of professional services company Grayce that he scaled scaled to £15M in 7 years with 240 people. Peter shares his insights on building a successful business. We’ll explore everything from the lean startup approach and scaling challenges to maintaining growth and the critical need for self-awareness as a leader. We'll also delve into the collaborative mindset that fueled Grace’s success and the pragmatic approach Peter took in hiring, often trusting gut instincts over polished interviews.

    In this conversation, you’ll learn:

    • The specific mindset you need for success as a founder
    • The two foundational elements - often skipped over - that are key to building a successful business.
    • The different phases of business growth, how to succeed and what to avoid at each stage.
    • Recruitment during scaling
    • Leadership changes during steady growth phases
    • Importance of mentors and support systems
    • Overcoming self-doubt and comfort zones
    • Thinking big and recognizing growth opportunities

    Resources/sources mentioned:


    For full show notes, head to https://xquadrant.com/peter-busby

    17 October 2024, 12:00 pm
  • 31 minutes 32 seconds
    Growing a business that's never been done before, with Karl Andersson (CEO, Motatos) (S14E11)

    How do you grow a business that is so innovative it changes how your entire ecosystem needs to work?

    Today Richard speaks with Karl Andersson, Founder of Matsmart-Motatos, one of Europe's fastest-growing companies according to the Financial Times with a consistent annual growth of some 70%.


    Matsmart-Motatos is aiding the sustainable reform of the food system by allowing customers to buy products that would otherwise be discarded due to reasons like changes in packaging, seasons or best-before dates.


    In this conversation, you’ll learn:

    How Karl identified the business opportunity

    The difficulties of pioneering a new business model - and how Karl overcome those

    How Karl built the necessary trust with logistics partners and suppliers

    The very different mindset that Karl looks for in his sales team

    Leadership skills that Karl aquired along the way


    Resources/sources mentioned:


    https://motatos.com

    The Impact Multiplier CEO Podcast (https://xquadrant.com/podcast/)

    Join Rivendell (https://xquadrant.com/rivendell/), our exponential programme for elite CEOs dedicated to transforming themselves, their businesses, and the world.

    Ready for a big leap forward in your own leadership? Elevate your leadership forever with Richard's book "Making time for Strategy: How to be less busy and more successful". Buy your book here: https://xquadrant.com/time/


    For full show notes, head to https://xquadrant.com/karl-andersson


    Timestamps:


    00:00 Intro

    04:48 How to solve the food waste issue.

    08:18 Using third-party logistics to overcome challenges.

    12:06 How can LinkedIn build relationships effectively.

    15:49 Partnering with major FMCG corporations.

    19:28 Growing in new markets requires strategic scaling efforts.

    23:54 Communication, trust, targets, not detailed OKRs - success.

    29:13 Carl pioneers impactful business tackling food waste.

    30:53 Leave a review, visit xquadrant.com for support.

    3 October 2024, 12:00 pm
  • 44 minutes 47 seconds
    The skills you'll need in an AI world, with Tim Smeaton (CEO, Kubrick Group) (S14E10)

    What are the skills you'll need to develop in your business, in an AI world?

    This is the question Richard explores with today's guest. Tim Smeaton is the CEO and Co-Founder of Kubrick Group, a company that helps organizations realise the value of data, AI, and cloud technology. 


    In this conversation, you’ll learn:


    Why Tim recommends you "ignore amazing opportunities."

    How Tim identified a structural problem to solve with his business - and the results he got.

    The potential impact of AI on technology spend, customer service, and decision-making.

    What skills you'll need to thrive as AI ramps up.


    Resources/sources mentioned:


    The Impact Multiplier CEO Podcast(https://xquadrant.com/podcast/)

    Kubrick Group (https://www.kubrickgroup.com/us/)

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-smeaton-424929

    Join Rivendell (https://xquadrant.com/rivendell/), our exponential programme for elite CEOs dedicated to transforming themselves, their businesses, and the world.

    Ready for a big leap forward in your own leadership? Elevate your leadership forever with Richard's book "Making Time for Strategy: How to be less busy and more successful". Buy your book here: https://xquadrant.com/time/


    For full show notes, head to https://xquadrant.com/tim-smeaton 


    Timestamps: 

    00:00 Intro

    04:28 Analytical approach to problem-solving

    11:43 Addressing skills gap by training in data

    17:08 Consulting firm offers great value and benefits

    20:08 Organizations lag in adopting AI 

    25:12 World Economic Forum highlights

    33:43 Concerns about the future marketplace and business models

    36:44 Expand digital areas, diverse training, impact measurement

    40:16 Hiring and managing a larger team effectively

    29 August 2024, 12:00 pm
  • 41 minutes 41 seconds
    Reinventing the business to add $500M turnover in 4 years, with Michael Riedl (CEO, Team Internet) (S14E09)
    That's what Richard Medcalf explores with Michael Riedl, the CEO of Team Internet. The business was founded in 1996 as a web services company distributing domain names, until Michael led a strategic charge to double-down on new solutions including online marketing.In this conversation, you’ll learn:

    • The story of how they acquired 17 businesses in 4 years
    • The 'business model epiphany' that led to a dramatic reinvention
    • How the business geared up to scale fast
    • How Michael dismantled the silos that the M&A strategy had created
    • The 3-phase roadmap that guided Michael's strategic thinking


    Resources/sources mentioned:

    For full show notes, head to https://xquadrant.com/michael-riedl
    18 July 2024, 10:00 am
  • 45 minutes 5 seconds
    A Net Promoter Score that's ‘off the charts’, with Logan Naidu (CEO & Founder, Kernel Global) (S14E08)
    In this conversation, you’ll learn:

    How Logan (and Richard) relate business and faith
    How to 'wow' people and build a powerful network of 6000 people (it's simple, but not always easy)
    The three big decisions everybody needs to address
    How Logan has built a culture of excellence that resulted in a Net Promoter Score "so high its almost unbelievable" (according to the consultancy who measured it!)
    How to invest in key outputs to create differentiation

    Resources/sources mentioned:

    The Impact Multiplier CEO Podcast(https://xquadrant.com/podcast/)
    Kernel Global (https://www.kernel-global.com/) 
    Join Rivendell (https://xquadrant.com/rivendell/), our exponential programme for elite CEOs dedicated to transforming themselves, their businesses, and the world.
    Ready for a big leap forward in your own leadership? Elevate your leadership forever with Richard's book "Making time for Strategy: How to be less busy and more successful". Buy your book here: https://xquadrant.com/time/


    For full show notes, head to https://xquadrant.com/logan-naidu

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Intro
    04:21 Embracing holistic identity and faith in workplace.
    07:33 Christian values and their practical challenges.
    13:30 Balancing faith and business in building networks.
    18:01 Maintaining startup hunger in a growing business.
    22:25 Client praises consultant for exceptional service and loyalty.
    27:46 "Balancing casual and dialed-in interactions consistently."
    32:35 Daily routines for self-improvement and productivity.
    39:39 Desire for growth, serving shareholders and employees.
    42:57 Focusing on faith, culture, and excellence.
    44:29 Leave a review, and check out the show notes.
    4 July 2024, 10:00 am
  • 38 minutes 36 seconds
    How to attack a 'dominated' market, with Björn Thorngren (CEO, Meds) (S14E07)
    In this episode,- Richard Medcalf speaks with Björn Thorngren, the CEO and co-founder of MEDS, a leading online pharmacy in Sweden. MEDS has been the fastest-growing Swedish company (2018-2021) according to the Financial Times, having grown in 6 years to 800,000 customers with a brand recognised by 50% of people.In this conversation, you’ll learn:

    • How Björn identified the potential of the pharmaceutical sector in Sweden
    • How to build a strong consumer preference and win market share against strong incumbent competition
    • The one part of the financial plan that Björn underestimated
    • What caused one of the co-founders to resign, and what Björn learned from that
    • The next steps, now the initial goals have been attained


    Resources/sources mentioned:

    Timestamps: 00:00 Intro03:42 Crating successful companies with marginal market improvements08:03 How to overcome competitors in the domestic market10:42 Transitioning from store to online17:22 How to create your brand in a competitive market.23:55 Challenges in reaching new customers32:25 Expanding business with new markets and products.
    20 June 2024, 10:00 am
  • 49 minutes 43 seconds
    S14E06: How to land your mission and message with impact, with Jack Murray (CEO, Media HQ)
    That's the question Richard explores today with Jack Murray, entrepreneur and the CEO of MediaHQ, a leading Irish SaaS company that has revolutionized the PR and communications industry with its comprehensive media contacts database and press release distribution tools. Jack is also an author, having penned "The Magic Slice," where he explores the art of storytelling in business.
    In this conversation, you’ll learn:
    • The insidious ways corporate culture is reducing your impact – and what to do instead.
    • Specific tools to help you clarify your mission
    • How to use the "Magic Slice" to land your message with impact
    • How to change your presentations so they benefit from the latest neuroscience findings on how to win hearts and minds (and what not to do)


    Resources/sources mentioned:
    For full show notes, head to https://xquadrant.com/jack-murray

    Timestamps: 

    00:00 Intro
    06:21 Formal education designed for the industrial age
    11:45 Funny moments during the storyteller course
    14:15 Define mission, goal, and success for clarity
    22:28 Challenges experienced managers face
    25:00 Introducing two transformative coaching programs for executives.
    28:45 The Designer learns lessons in audience understanding and impact.
    31:22 Identifying key trends
    34:24 Importance of storytelling in creating engaging content.
    49:04 Wrap up
    23 May 2024, 10:00 am
  • More Episodes? Get the App
About The Impact Multiplier CEO
Links
© MoonFM 2025. All rights reserved.