Episode #8
Confessions of an Entrepreneur Live: Four Entrepreneurs. One Stage.
In this special live edition of Confessions of an Entrepreneur , Carl Swansbury brings his podcast to the stage, joined by four exceptional entrepreneurs for an evening of honest conversation about business, resilience and what it really takes to build companies of lasting value. Hosted in partnership with Ward Hadaway and attended by more than 100 business leaders from across the North East, the panel discussion brought together entrepreneur and campaigner Heather Mills, serial entrepreneur and investor Andrew Hulbert, entrepreneur and technology leader Charlie Hoult, and entrepreneur and business founder Kevin Fasting for an unfiltered discussion about the realities of entrepreneurship. Throughout the evening, the panel shared the defining moments that shaped their entrepreneurial journeys, from overcoming personal adversity and financial uncertainty to building businesses, leading through economic downturns and achieving successful exits. Heather Mills reflected on how an exceptionally difficult childhood, homelessness and later life-changing injury fuelled her determination to solve problems, challenge convention and use business as a vehicle for creating positive social impact. Andrew Hulbert explained how he left a successful corporate career with a clear ambition to build a business that would ultimately give him something more valuable than money - time with his family. Kevin Fasting spoke candidly about the disappearance of his father, an event that transformed both his outlook on life and his motivation to build businesses capable of changing the lives of those around him. Charlie Hoult shared lessons from building and scaling businesses through periods of economic uncertainty, explaining how culture, leadership and empowering talented people have underpinned the growth of his ventures. The discussion explored topics including resilience, imposter syndrome, leadership, funding growth, private equity, scaling teams, preparing for economic uncertainty and defining success on your own terms. While each entrepreneur's story was different, a common theme emerged: great businesses are built through clarity of purpose, resilience in the face of setbacks and a willingness to keep learning. This special live episode captures the spirit of Carl Swansbury’s Confessions of an Entrepreneur podcast series, offering honest insights, practical advice and inspiring stories from four entrepreneurs who have each forged their own path to success. Connect with the panel Heather Mills | https://www.linkedin.com/in/msheathermills/ Professor Charlie Hoult | https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliehoult/ Andrew Hulbert | https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewhulbert Kevin Fasting | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinfasting/ Connect with Carl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/ This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.
