The Business

This episode of The Business is sponsored by PwC. It was recorded before the recent attacks on Iran by the US and Israel.

At Davos this year, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke of “a rupture in the world order”. And ahead of the Munich Security Conference, Marco Rubio, United States Secretary of State described “a new era of geopolitics”.

What does that new era look like for business? What are the tensions, the traps and the opportunities to look out for?

In this episode of The Business, Marco Amitrano, Senior Partner PwC UK and Middle East and Lord Gavin Barwell, former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Theresa May, discuss business resilience in an unstable world.

Guests
Marco Amitrano, Senior Partner PwC UK and Middle East
Lord Gavin Barwell, former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Theresa May
Hosts:
Hannah Prevett, Associate Business Editor, The Sunday Times
Dominic O’Connell, columnist, The Times & business reporter, Times Radio
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quantum computing has been described as “the next big thing “ - a tech revolution to rival AI that could have implications across sectors as diverse as finance, chemicals, life sciences and manufacturing. This cutting-edge tech - which uses quantum physics to solve problems much faster than today’s regular computers - is already being used by HSBC. The bank has trialled IBM’s quantum technology in trading. Over the past few decades the government has been investing heavily in quantum, and many start-ups have spun out of UK universities. We speak to one UK company that is scaling up, Quantum Motion, to ask - how long it will be before this tech sees a breakthrough on the scale of AI? What is the commercial potential and, as some have suggested, will it break the blockchain?

Presenters:
Katie Prescott, technology business editor, The Times and host of the Tech Podcast
Dominic O’Connell, columnist and business presenter, Times Radio

Guest:
James Palles-Dimmock, Chief Executive, Quantum Motion

Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Julia Johnson
Executive Producer: Kate Ford
Photo credit: Getty
Get in touch: [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Making money out of airlines is tough. Warren Buffett once said if he had a time machine he would go back and shoot the Wright Brothers. Luis Gallego made his mark turning around the Spanish airline Iberia and in 2020 he got the top job at International Airlines Group, parent company of Aer Lingus, Iberia, Vueling and British Airways.

So how do you run an airline, how did covid supercharge our love of travel and how can Luis navigate the possible development of a third runway at Heathrow - Britain’s biggest airport.

Presenters:
Dominic O’Connell, columnist and business presenter, Times Radio
Hannah Prevett, associate business editor at The Sunday Times

Guest:
Luis Gallego, CEO of International Airlines Group

Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Julia Johnson
Executive Producer: Kate Ford
Photo credit: Getty
Get in touch: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The numbers behind YouTube juggernaut The Sidemen - the seven-strong collective often referred to as the UK’s answer to MrBeast - are nothing short of staggering. What began as a group of friends playing Grand Theft Auto as a hobby and uploading it online is now a nine-figure empire spanning multiple channels, merchandise, a fried chicken chain, a vodka brand and a netflix reality show. The official YouTube channel has more than 22 million subscribers.

So, what has driven their stratospheric growth? Jordan Schwarzenberger, CEO of management and venture company Arcade, has managed the group for the last five years and joins the Business to talk over the strategy behind its online presence - and what businesses and individuals can learn from their success. He walks through his career trajectory, the booming creator industry, and why content remains so overlooked in company and career development.

Presenters:
Dominic O’Connell, columnist and business presenter, Times Radio
Hannah Prevett, associate business editor at The Sunday Times

Guest:
Jordan Schwarzenberger, co-founder of Arcade Media

Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Julia Johnson
Executive Producer: Kate Ford
Photo credit: Getty
Get in touch: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Octopus Energy has gone from market entrant to market leader in just 10 years. Greg Jackson, chief executive and co-founder is at the forefront of this business success story. The secret sauce? It’s nothing to do with energy - it’s the Kraken software that links the company to its customers and suppliers. So how did he do it? Why does he think 'spaghetti stacks' of ancient software are what’s holding so many businesses back? And what plans does he have to float Kraken? From memories of his failed career as a game designer, why corporate life can be addictive - and why he thinks business leaders should be optimistic in a challenging world, Dom and Katie hear his lessons from the frontline.

Presenters:
Dominic O’Connell, columnist and business presenter, Times Radio
Katie Prescott, Technology Business Editor, The Times and host of the Times Tech Podcast

Guest:
Greg Jackson, CEO and co-founder, Octopus Energy

Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Julia Johnson
Executive Producer: Kate Ford
Photo credit: Getty
Get in touch: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.