Rob Lawrence interviews Eleni Lialiamou, founder of Kimolian Academy, on how small business owners can leverage AI and technology to boost their organisation's efficiency, whilst gaining a better understanding of their customers, towards driving growth.

Eleni shares practical tips on using AI tools for customer insights, building effective communities, and simplifying business operations. Their conversation highlights the importance of combining human intuition with technology, embracing change, and continuously refining customer personas to stay competitive in today’s evolving business landscape.

Eleni also shares how 'finding your community' can help you to understand and leverage technologies, such as AI, rather than re-inventing the wheel or having to learn how to use AI from scratch; to grow your business further.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Introduction & Podcast Overview (00:00:02) Rob introduces Eleni and this episode, emphasising simplicity, community, and leveraging AI for business efficiency.

Eleni’s Background (00:02:17) Eleni shares her journey in tech, product management, and founding Kimolian and Kimolian Academy, for women in tech.

The Importance of Tools & Community (00:04:35) Discussion on how tools, processes, and community support are crucial for business productivity and growth.

Navigating Tech Overwhelm & Finding Your Pack (00:06:23) Advice on avoiding overwhelm, focusing on community, and selecting the right tools without distraction.

Practical Community Engagement (00:10:08) How to authentically find and engage with communities that support business growth and tech adoption.

Keeping It Simple & Consistent Tool Use (00:11:04) The value of simplicity, consistency, and integrating a stable set of tools into daily business operations.

AI as Leverage, Not Replacement (00:13:36) AI is positioned as a tool for amplifying productivity and creativity, not replacing human effort.

Choosing the Right Tools for the Job (00:14:53) Overview of practical AI tools for business tasks, including document search, meeting capture, and ideation.

AI for Pattern Recognition & Customer Understanding (00:18:59) How AI helps spot patterns in conversations and data, aiding in customer understanding and sales.

Bias in AI & Human Judgment (00:20:47) Discussion on AI bias, the importance of human oversight, and using AI as a sparring partner.

Combining Tools for Synthesis & Insights (00:23:38) Benefits of integrating multiple tools (e.g., Miro, Dovetail) for clustering, sentiment analysis, and deeper insights.

Chatbots & Customer Interaction (00:27:57) Rise of AI-driven chatbots, their ease of implementation, and opportunities for customer engagement and support.

AI-Driven Workflow Automation (00:31:03) The shift toward AI-first business processes, orchestrating workflows, and the paradigm change in tool integration.

Gaining a Competitive Edge with AI (00:34:04) How early AI adoption can optimise workflows, enhance customer interaction, and provide a business advantage.

Using AI to Research & Define Customer Personas (00:35:21) Leveraging AI to capture customer insights, create personas, and continuously refine understanding for better marketing.

Human-Centric Use of AI & Critical Thinking (00:38:46) Emphasising the irreplaceable role

In this podcast episode, host Rob Lawrence interviews Steve Chadwick, a business coach and mindset consultant with extensive operational management experience spanning decades.

They discuss how clarity of vision and a positive mindset are essential for business success, especially for small business owners.

Steve shares practical strategies for setting and visualizing goals, overcoming imposter syndrome, and reframing setbacks as opportunities for growth.

The conversation highlights the importance of aligning daily actions with long-term vision, fostering a supportive team culture, and prioritizing personal development to drive business growth and resilience.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Steve’s Background and Introduction (00:01:00)

Steve shares his operational management experience and transition to business coaching with a mindset focus.

Working with Big Brands (00:02:05)

Steve discusses his roles at Sainsbury’s and CenterParcs, emphasising team leadership and operational insights.

The Importance of Mindset in Business (00:02:49)

Rob introduces the episode’s focus on mindset and its impact on business success.

Clarity in Strategic Priorities (00:03:02)

Steve explains the need for personal and strategic clarity for business owners to avoid distractions.

Defining Strategic Clarity (00:04:42)

Discussion on what strategic clarity means, including purpose, vision, and aligning decisions with priorities.

Vision and Goal Setting (00:05:39)

Steve advocates for written visions and goals, and the importance of regular review and visualisation.

Imposter Syndrome and Negative Thought Patterns (00:06:38)

Rob raises imposter syndrome; Steve explains the thinking cycle and how thoughts drive outcomes.

Reframing and Breaking Negative Cycles (00:09:15)

Steve describes reframing, interrupting negative spirals, and shifting from a low to a high state of mind.

Burnout and Locus of Control (00:14:32)

Steve discusses burnout, external vs. internal locus of control, and the importance of taking responsibility.

Creating a Compelling Vision and Aligning Daily Tasks (00:17:16)

Practical strategies for developing a vision, writing it down, and aligning daily actions to long-term goals.

Emotional Goal Setting and Visualisation (00:19:31)

Steve introduces emotional goal setting—feeling and visualising goals to engage the mind and drive achievement.

Programming the Subconscious Mind (00:20:53)

Explanation of conscious vs. subconscious mind, using analogies like driving, and the importance of positive programming.

Filtering Inputs and Avoiding Doom-scrolling (00:24:17)

Steve warns about negative inputs, advocates for intentional information consumption, and monitoring mental “inputs.”

Daily Practices and the Reticular Activating System (00:27:29)

Steve explains the brain’s filtering system, focusing on opportunities, gratitude, and solution-oriented thinking.

Self-Talk and the Power of Belief (00:31:00)

Discussion on how self-talk and belief shape outcomes, referencing Henry Ford’s quote on mindset.

Reframing Setbacks and Building Resilience (00:32:13)

Steve emphasises reframing failures as learning opportunities and fostering a positive, open team culture.

Work-Life Mindset Interconnection (00:36:28)

Steve highlights the link between work and personal mindset, advocating for self-reflection and time...

Today we discuss essential skills for small business owners including strategic networking, prioritising your time, and the importance of trust.

In this final episode for this Start, Build, and Grow podcast series, host Rob Lawrence interviews Dave Schofield, a seasoned professional with over 46 years of experience in various roles in the banking sector.

Dave emphasises the importance of listening, building a network, as well as your resilience. Sharing insights on leveraging personal connections, and the significance of feedback and reflection, Dave also highlights the value of building your confidence and how coaching and mentoring can support you.

We also focus on reliability, credibility, and intimacy as key elements of building trust in business relationships.

In this episode you'll learn:

Introduction (00:00:00) Getting to know Dave and his professional background.

Career Evolution (00:01:23) Dave's various career transitions within a single organisation over 46 years.

Transition to Development and Training (00:03:01) Dave's shift toward development and training, and the significance of relationships in his work.

Skills for Small Business Owners (00:05:13) The essential skills for small business owners and the importance of networking.

Resilience in Business (00:10:35) Building resilience as a new business owner and managing challenges effectively.

Building a Network (00:16:30) Strategies for creating and maintaining a valuable professional network, even without a formal one.

Using Your Network (00:17:35) The power of personal networks and leveraging them for various purposes, such as fundraising and business support.

Networking Strategies (00:19:36) Exploration of networking strategies, including leveraging LinkedIn, joining specific business networks, and building a social media presence.

Nurturing Your Network (00:22:15) The importance of nurturing and maintaining personal and professional networks, including reciprocity and mutual support.

Prioritising Time (00:25:16) Prioritising time and focusing on activities that add value to personal and professional networks; with a focus on strategic use of time.

Strategic Networking (00:30:47) Insights into strategic networking, including thoughtful reflection, and targeting specific opportunities for network expansion and business success.

Social Media Management (00:34:12) Balancing social media engagement, and time management for effective business presence.

Confidence and Capability (00:39:06) The relationship between confidence, capability, and success in marketing and business, and the importance of experience and giving and seeking feedback.

Coaching and Mentoring (00:45:38) The role of a coach or mentor for moving forward in business.

Intimacy in Business (00:49:40) Dave explains the importance of understanding clients and building relationships for trust in business.

Trust Equation (00:50:47) The elements of reliability, credibility, and intimacy in building trust with customers.

Importance of Trust (00:51:45) Dave emphasises the significance of trust in business relationships and as a foundation for recommendations.

Connecting with Dave (00:52:02) Dave offers his contact information.

About Dave:

"I started work in 1976 at a small branch of TSB (Bank) on the outskirts of Manchester. I come from a family of 4 children; 3