Today’s guest has spent the last decade shaping one of London’s most iconic cultural brands into something bigger than nightlife. Caitlin McAllister is the Managing Director of Ministry, where she’s helped transform the business from a legendary nightclub and record label into a multifaceted empire spanning shared workspaces, wellness, global touring, publishing, and even fragrance.With a background in live events and a passion for creating experiences that feel human first, Caitlin’s career is a testament to the power of hospitality, community, and relentless high standards. From launching The Ministry workspace to overseeing weddings, fitness raves, and international tours, she’s driven by the belief that if you’re going to do something, you should do it brilliantly.In this conversation, we talk about leadership, resilience, and why knowing when to push and when to let go is the real skill of building a career that lasts.Here’s Caitlin McAllister—let’s get into it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Erin Dana Lichy, RHONY + Entrepreneur
Today’s guest is someone who truly embodies what it means to juggle it all with grit and grace. Erin Dana Lichy was selling real estate developments in New York before she turned 23, went to grad school at NYU for sustainable development, and then threw herself into entrepreneurship—learning the hard way when her first business failed, but using that experience as her “real business school.”Fast forward to today: Erin is a powerhouse. She’s a mom of four, a cast member on The Real Housewives of New York City, the co-founder of a mezcal brand born out of her love for Tulum, and now the author of a beautiful new book that blends her family traditions, entertaining, and food into something inspiring and accessible.In this conversation, she shares her lessons on resilience, building businesses from scratch, balancing motherhood and ambition, and why trusting your gut is the smartest move you can make.This is a story of hustle, reinvention, and doing it all on your own terms. Here’s Erin Dana Lichy—let’s get into it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Jodie Harrison, Chief Brand Officer at Rapha.
Today’s guest is Jodie Harrison – founder of brand consultancy Fell and Scar, and now Chief Brand Officer at Rapha. Before that, she held senior roles at Belstaff, shaping the identity of some of fashion’s most distinctive brands. In this episode, we talk about what it really means to build a brand with soul, the power of emotional storytelling, and the bold decisions that come with stepping away from something that looks perfect on paper. Jodie’s sharp, self-aware, and unfiltered – this one’s for anyone who’s ever wondered what happens when you stop following the expected path and start backing yourself instead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Alessia Pasin – Managing Director at Huishan Zhang
Today’s guest is Alessia Pasin – Managing Director at Huishan Zhang, one of London’s most exciting luxury fashion houses. In this episode, we talk about her journey from corporate consulting to high fashion, the realities of leading a global brand, and how she balances business strategy with creativity. Alessia shares what it’s really like behind the scenes of a luxury label, the power of intuition in leadership, what she’s learned from motherhood, and why she’s not afraid to do things differently. She’s smart, candid, and full of insights for anyone navigating their own career leap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Chef Kate Austen
Today’s guest is chef Kate Austen – the winner of The Great British Menu 2024, and someone who knows a thing or two about pressure. In this episode, we talk about what it takes to walk away from a steady job in pursuit of something bigger, the mental and physical toll of competing on national TV, and what happens when you go from working behind the scenes to suddenly being in the spotlight. Kate shares the reality of putting your entire career on the line for one main course, how she handled the highs and lows of the process, and what’s next after such a defining moment. She’s also my sister – which means I’ve been taste-testing her experiments long before the judges did.Our sponsor is Happy Mammoth. Head to www.happymammoth.com for 15% off with code SMARTER. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
I’m Emily Austen, founder and CEO of London based PR Agency, EMERGE. I am passionate about launching and scaling small businesses, and have been fortunate enough in my 13 year career, to work with some of the most exciting, category defining brands in the world. I started my business when I was 22 years old, fresh out of University. Since that time, the world has got louder. Our expectations have got harder, and our lives have become busier. Fobbing friends off with the stock answer we have all became accustomed to, ‘I’m so busy,’ is an attempt to compel, conflate and convince. But when did being too busy become a mark of status? Why is the goal to never have any free time? And just what the fuck is everyone doing? Are we setting unrealistic expectations for future entrepreneurs and business owners, by encouraging them that a maniacal approach to diarising is the standard? I'm really interested in the difference between busy lives, and full ones, and keen to understand how the smartest people I know create systems and processes to enable them to do it all.This podcast aims to give you a realistic, detailed insight into the honest stories, the failures, the triumphs, the intricacies, the mistakes, the come backs, the fuck ups, from those set to make their mark; the leaders, movers and shakers, trailblazers and game changers. We cover imposter syndrome, cashflow, hiring and firing, call out culture, resilience, anxiety, global growth, daily routines + knowing when to quit, choosing the best in the Busi-ness, to help you cut through the noise, and optimise your success. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Ireland