Business Growth Talks
Business Growth Talks is a show about what it really takes to build and grow a business. Hosted by Mark Hayward, each episode goes beyond the polished success story to explore the decisions, setbacks and turning points behind the results.
Mark talks with founders, business leaders and experts about the challenges they have faced, what they learned and what they would do differently. From finding customers and leading people to adapting when a plan stops working, the conversations bring you ideas you can use in your own business.
If you want honest business stories, useful lessons and questions that make you think differently about growth, you’re in the right place.
Recent Episodes
634
Oct. 26, 2026
Short on Cash? You’re Fixing the Wrong Thing, with Ollie Austen
Your business is short on cash, so you chase sales and cut costs. But what if cash was never the real problem? Ollie Austen ran Grosvenor Contracts London for 18 years, growing it from two people to around 60 before exiting in 2018. Today he's co-founder of Startup to Stand Up, a peer community for founders. Ollie explains why tight cash is usually a client relationship problem, and how visiting his top clients cut payment times from 60 days to 30. We also cover founder loneliness, bootstrappi
633
Oct. 23, 2026
Barclays Made £2.3BN, Then Cut 5,000 Jobs for AI
Barclays just made £2.3 billion in three months – and it's cutting 5,000 jobs anyway, because of AI. Here's what that means for your business, plus four more stories every founder needs this week. I'm Mark Hayward, and every week on Business Growth Talks I break down the 5 business stories that matter if you run a business – in plain English, no jargon. This week: • Barclays cuts 5,000 jobs while profits rise 12% – and what smart founders are doing with AI instead • An urgent hacking alert ...
632
Oct. 21, 2026
Why I Wasted Weeks Waiting for Permission (and How to Stop)
The most expensive habit in business isn’t overspending. It’s waiting. When I left corporate, I finally had no boss, no sign-off, total freedom… and for weeks I did absolutely nothing. In this episode I share the three things I wish someone had told me back then, plus the five words that finally snapped me out of it. If you’ve been sitting on an idea, waiting for the right time, more money or to “feel ready”, this one’s for you. ⏱ Chapters 0:00 The most expensive habit in business  ...
631
Oct. 19, 2026
He Built a Firm for 23 Years, Sold It, Then Watched It Collapse | Dr. Mark L. Vincent
Mark L. Vincent spent 23 years building Design Group International. He was founder and CEO for almost 18 of those years, then chair, and then he sold his stake. A few years later, after a record year, the firm went into receivership. In this episode, Mark explains what went wrong after he left and why most founders’ businesses don’t outlive them. He also covers what you should be doing in the five years before you sell so yours does. We talk about: The 3 mistakes that sank the business after
630
Oct. 16, 2026
Bumble Lost 90% of Its Value. Here's the Lesson for Your Business
A dating app worth $14 billion just sold for $1.3 billion. In this week’s BGT Weekly News, Mark Hayward breaks down what went wrong at Bumble, and what every business owner can learn from it. Plus four more stories business owners in the US and UK need to know this week: JPMorgan boss Jamie Dimon’s warning about “rogue” AI agents, Bank of America’s $1.2 billion fine, the UK’s plan to make Amazon, eBay and Temu collect tax for their sellers, and why British companies are being bought up and head
629
Oct. 12, 2026
His First Idea Sold for 99 Cents. His Next One Did $100 Million – Steve Rolle
In this compelling episode of Business Growth Talks, host Mark Hayward welcomes successful entrepreneur Steve Rolle, who shares his journey from the US Army to becoming a high-achieving businessman. Despite societal pressures to conform to traditional career paths, Steve followed his entrepreneurial instincts and built businesses that collectively generated over $100 million in sales. The conversation delves into the core question of whether individuals are truly living a life they have chosen o
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Recent Blog Posts
Oct. 26, 2026
Why Chasing Sales Won't Fix Your Cash Flow Problems
Welcome back to the blog extension for the podcast. Every week, we dive deep into the real, unvarnished realities of building and scaling a business. If you are running a company right now, there is a very high probability that at some point in the …
Oct. 19, 2026
Why Most Founders' Businesses Don't Outlive Them (And How to Fix Yours)
Every founder dreams of building something that outlives them. We pour our blood, sweat, and countless sleepless nights into nurturing a company from a mere concept into a thriving, revenue-generating enterprise. We envision a lasting legacy. We ima…
Oct. 12, 2026
Why Boring Businesses Make Millions
When most people think of entrepreneurship, they picture high-tech apps, sleek Silicon Valley offices, venture capital funding, and disruptive social media platforms. These flashy startups dominate the headlines, capturing the imagination of aspirin…
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