From Frontline Cashier to CEO: James Knight on Mastering Performance Without the Burnout

Air Supply is back with a powerful and brutally honest conversation with executive coach and former CEO, James Knight.

James's career path is anything but traditional. After leaving school at GCSE level, he eschewed the classic academic route, starting in frontline retail banking before quickly moving through senior roles at companies like O2 Telefonica and the RAC, culminating in his role as CEO of Innserve (the joint venture between Heineken and Carlsberg responsible for installing and maintaining 75% of the UK's beer supply systems—from pubs to Glastonbury).

In this candid discussion with host Joshua O'Connor, James pulls back the curtain on the "success trap" and why the external veneer of high-powered corporate life often masks deep personal emptiness.

What You'll Learn:

• The Foundations of High Performance: James reveals the non-negotiable habits and foundations (sleep, movement, recovery) that he believes are more critical to sustained success than hours worked.
• The Cost of Ego: Why James asserts that "your ego is the most expensive thing you'll ever own," and how a willingness to be humble and seek help is the fastest route to unlocking your potential.
• Redefining Success: Hear why the ultimate goal isn't "more" (more hours, more pressure) but actually less (less noise, less distraction) and how to design a life that is Built for More—high performance aligned with high fulfilment.
• Private Equity vs. PLC: Get an insider's view on the cutthroat, fast-paced nature of PE-backed environments and the unique leadership challenges they present.
• Finding Purpose: James shares a profound exercise (writing your own eulogy) that helped him re-evaluate his life and ensure his choices align with the legacy he wants to leave.
• The Ultimate Leadership Skill: Learn why self-regulation and emotional intelligence are the keys to staying grounded and creating psychological safety for your teams, particularly in times of chaos.

This episode is essential listening for any current or aspiring leader looking to achieve extraordinary professional results without sacrificing their health, relationships, or joy in the process.

James Knight is now an executive coach helping leaders perform at the highest level without burning themselves out.

Find James's work at: www.builtformore.uk

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Rory Shedden – CEO on Leading with Empathy, Cultural Add, and the Road Less Traveled in Private Equity.

Host Joshua O'Connor sits down with Rory Shedden, the CEO of MPLC, a global company protecting content rights for the world's best entertainment companies. Rory shares his unique journey from auditor to CEO of a Private Equity-backed business, a path that has seen him live and work across Europe, Asia, and the USA, always focused on value creation.

In this powerful episode, Rory offers invaluable insights on:

• Cultural Add, Not Fit: Why leaders must look beyond 'fit' to empower people to bring their whole selves and unique perspectives to a company.
• Leading with Empathy: How he led a successful turnaround of a 500-person operation by prioritizing people and self-belief.
• The PE CEO Role: What it truly takes to run a high-growth, mid-market business backed by Private Equity, and managing the relationship with investors through honesty and clarity.
• The Road Less Traveled: Rory’s wisdom on self-development, finding your own path, building resilience, and why great leaders need to invest time in deep, strategic thinking.

This is essential listening for ambitious professionals and leaders interested in leadership, private equity, self-development, and driving transformational change in business.

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In this episode, Joshua O'Connor chats with Simon Rouse, the CEO of Impact Futures, a leading education company recently acquired by private equity firm August Equity. In this episode, Simon candidly shares his unique career trajectory, from his beginnings as a Barclays graduate to his decision to transition from banking into businesses providing services with a social value.

• Career Pivots and Purpose: Discover what motivated Simon to shift his focus from a successful 17-year banking career to leadership roles with a strong social impact.
• The Private Equity Journey: Get an inside look at what it takes to prepare a business for acquisition and the challenges of managing a team through a high-stakes sales process.
• Leadership and Resilience: Hear Simon's insights on effective leadership, the importance of building trust, and how he navigated crises like a critical Ofsted inspection during the sale of his company.
• The Human Element of Business: Learn why Simon believes that in a world obsessed with technology and AI, a leader's focus should always remain on their people.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in business leadership, career development, and the intricate world of private equity.

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Joshua O'Connor sits down with Graham Levinsohn, a seasoned business leader and the current CEO and Chairman of Sureserve Group. Graham offers a deep dive into his remarkable career journey, from his roots in Newcastle to leading a global workforce of 65,000 at G4S.

In this episode, Graham shares invaluable insights on:

• Strategic Leadership: The critical difference between having a strategy and executing it successfully. He discusses the importance of simplifying complex challenges and getting people "on the train" to drive change.
• Navigating Uncertainty: Graham recounts his experience during the takeover of G4S by Allied Universal, sharing how he maintained stability and motivation within the massive organization.
• The Private Equity World: He explains what a CEO of a private equity-backed business actually does, highlighting the key differences between working in a private versus a public company, particularly in terms of timeline and shareholder relationships.
• Building A-Caliber Teams: Graham provides a fascinating perspective on leadership, stressing the importance of building a team of "A-players" and moving beyond the need to be the sole expert. He believes a true leader's job is to be the conductor of the orchestra, not the master of every instrument.
• The Power of Values: Learn how personal and company values act as a guiding light, helping leaders make the right decisions during difficult times.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in leadership, corporate strategy, and the human side of business.

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In this episode of the Air Supply podcast, host Joshua O'Connor interviews Carlo Alloni, the CEO of Bellrock Group. Alloni, who previously held leadership roles at Ericsson, Cable & Wireless, and Mitie, shares his career journey and insights into leading a technology-led, private equity-backed business. He discusses the core values and strategies that drive Bellrock Group's success, particularly its focus on people, technology, and customer obsession.

• From Investment Banking to Telecoms to Facilities Management: Alloni's career path is a journey through different industries. He started in investment banking, moved into telecommunications with Ericsson and Cable & Wireless, and then transitioned to the facilities management market with Mitie before becoming CEO of Bellrock Group.
• The Three Pillars of Leadership: Alloni dedicates his time to three key stakeholders: clients, teams, and shareholders. He emphasizes the importance of anticipating client challenges and being accountable for solutions. He believes in creating an engaged and inspired team, and sees shareholder returns as a natural consequence of delighted clients and engaged employees.
• The Private Equity Advantage: He highlights the advantages of private equity, including a shorter time between decision-making and execution, a focus on what truly matters, and a high degree of flexibility. He believes this environment is fast-paced and motivating, and that it provides a clearer sense of the impact of one’s contributions.
• The Importance of a Strong Culture: Alloni has a "pact" of behaviors that he shares with his team and looks for in new hires. These behaviors include trust, accountability, a focus on solutions over excuses, and a commitment to communication. He values good people with high ethical standards and a focus on clients and teams. He also emphasizes the importance of promoting from within and leveraging the best ideas from frontline employees.
• A Legacy of Goodness: Alloni is driven by a desire to win as a team, lead by example, and "do good." He finds motivation in creating meaningful value for clients and opportunities for his team members. His ultimate goal is to leave a legacy of a great business.

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Join host Joshua O'Connor on this episode of the Air Supply podcast as he speaks with Rebecca Galley, CEO of Tornado Wire.

Rebecca shares her compelling journey, from starting in telesales to leading multi-million-pound businesses without a traditional university path at 18.

Highlights of their conversation include:

• An Unconventional Rise: Rebecca discusses why she chose direct work experience over university and how her later MBA profoundly impacted her career and confidence.
• The Reality of a CEO: Get an inside look at the diverse, day-to-day responsibilities of a CEO, from factory insights to strategic planning, and how to balance immediate problems with long-term vision.
• Leading in Niche Markets: Rebecca explains her success in specialized sectors, emphasizing the crucial role of strong company culture, employee satisfaction, and customer service.
• The Power of Communication: Learn Rebecca's core philosophy on building a thriving work environment through open dialogue, active listening, and empowering teams.
• Motivation & Resilience: Rebecca reveals what truly drives people at work and how she manages pressure, offering valuable insights on navigating challenges and the importance of seeking support.

Tune in for an inspiring discussion on leadership, career resilience, and the dynamics of building successful businesses.

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This week on Air Supply, Joshua O'Connor sits down with Charles Burbridge, a leader whose career path is as unconventional as it is insightful. Charles's journey began with 17 years as an army officer, including multiple tours in Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. He shares what drew him to these high-stakes environments, emphasizing his belief in servant leadership and the invaluable lessons learned from the "savvy, capable, thoughtful, and opinionated" young soldiers he led. Discover how this military experience, particularly his role as a media spokesman during a challenging tour in Iraq, honed his ability to communicate with diverse stakeholders and manage profound human tragedy while maintaining a sense of purpose.

Charles then transitioned to the commercial sector, initially in large corporate debt restructuring at RBS. He candidly discusses the unexpected difficulties of this shift, contrasting the military's objective-driven environment with the process-heavy corporate world. This led him to find his "calling" in global sales, ultimately running the high-risk divisions for G4S and Allied Universal in challenging frontier markets like Iraq, Afghanistan, Mali, and South Sudan. Charles unpacks what makes a truly great salesperson, highlighting absolute reliability, trustworthiness, and the courage to "go for the close." He also reveals how he fosters resilience and motivation when targets seem unattainable, emphasizing that sales is a "people game," not a "numbers game."

Later, Charles moved into MD/CEO roles for business turnarounds, leading underperforming companies in sectors like international security and electronic security. He shares his methodical approach to transformation, starting with increasing productivity and instilling a sense of purpose within demotivated teams. This episode offers critical insights for those in investor-backed businesses, as Charles details the complexities of integrating acquired companies, particularly when dealing with founders and their long-standing teams.

Finally, Charles offers profound reflections on leadership, discussing how he navigates daily challenges and the importance of seeing "tomorrow with real clarity" rather than getting bogged down in today's problems. He also shares invaluable wisdom on achieving work-life separation, stressing that "sleep is a weapon" and leaders must prioritize their well-being to make sound decisions.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in leadership, resilience, and the fascinating journey of translating high-stakes military experience into impactful commercial success.

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Welcome back to Air Supply, the podcast from J.O. Collective for ambitious professionals seeking a deeper understanding of leadership and their careers.

In this episode, your host, Joshua O'Connor, sits down with Giles Desforges, a veteran commercial leader and the current CEO of Energy Park, a dynamic private equity-backed EV infrastructure business.

Giles brings a wealth of experience, having helmed roles across large PLCs, founder-led entrepreneurial ventures, and successful private equity-backed companies. If you've ever wondered what it's truly like to lead a business under the intense, yet uniquely aligned, pressures of private equity, this episode is for you.

Join us as Giles shares invaluable insights on:

• The distinct roles of CEO and Chief Commercial Officer in driving value creation within a PE framework.
• The unique alignment between management teams and investors in private equity, and why it can be a powerful force for growth.
• Coping with pressure: Practical techniques for managing ambitious financial targets and the "always-on" nature of leadership.
• The power of "why": How explaining the rationale behind decisions fuels team performance and enables effective pushback with investors.
• Decision-making under scrutiny: Balancing data-driven analysis with gut instinct, and fostering healthy disagreement for better outcomes.
• Learning from mistakes: Giles candidly discusses past failures, including a £10 million deal collapse, and the transformative power of reflection.
• The unexpected qualities of top hires: Why attitude and resilience, particularly born from past failures, are more important than a "gilded path."
• Crucial advice for aspiring PE executives: Why pursuing private equity "is not about the money," and the vital role of mentors in your career journey.

Whether you're an aspiring CEO, a seasoned leader, or simply curious about the world of high-growth businesses, this episode of Air Supply offers a refreshing and honest look at what it takes to succeed at the highest levels.

Tune in to learn how to navigate the demands of leadership with integrity, resilience, and a clear vision.

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