Confessions of an Entrepreneur

Confessions of an Entrepreneur

by Carl Swansbury

Entrepreneurship Careers

Season 2

The Power of Attitude and Purpose

In this episode, Carl Swansbury chats with Paul Cheetham Karcz, founder and Managing Partner of Sedulo, to discuss his remarkable journey from humble beginnings to building a respected and privately owned independent accounting advisory business. Paul shares how his working-class background and early education shaped his ambition and fuelled his drive to build a successful business. He reveals why attitude beats process every time, why workplace culture isn't just a buzzword, and how a little bit of honest feedback (even when brutal) can be a game-changer for personal and professional development. As a passionate advocate for creating opportunities, Paul also highlights his foundation's mission to support underprivileged children, reinforcing that success should have a purpose beyond business. The conversation also explores identity, legacy, and the delicate balance between business and family life. Paul's shares powerful insights on self-awareness, resilience, and the importance of building trust within teams. If you're looking for motivation, practical advice, and a fresh perspective on leadership, this episode is for you. Connect with Paul: Website: https://sedulo.co.uk/team/paul-cheetham-karcz/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-cheetham-karcz/ Connect with Carl: Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/ This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

The Secrets to Celebrity Service

In this episode of Confessions of a CEO, Carl chats with internationally renowned keynote speaker and author, Geoff Ramm. Geoff’s journey is one of grit, creativity, and an unwavering passion for exceptional customer experiences. From his humble beginnings in the North East of England to running a successful agency, OMG Marketing, and becoming a globally sought-after speaker, he understands the power of delivering celebrity-level service. Geoff shares why treating every customer like a VIP isn’t just a nice-to-have but the secret sauce to business success. He also opens up about the evolution of his business focus from marketing to customer experience consultancy. If you're looking for inspiration, motivation, and practical tips, this episode is a must-listen! Connect with Geoff LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/customerservicespeaker/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://www.geofframm.com/ Connect with Carl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/ This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

From Crafter Den to Dragons’ Den

Ever wished you could get some top business tips from a real-life Dragon? Carl Swansbury sits down with TV star and business icon Sara Davies to delve into her extraordinary journey from launching her crafting business Crafters' Companion, to becoming a household name in our stores and on our screens. Sara opens up about her entrepreneurial triumphs, the challenges she faced in overcoming self-doubt, and her unwavering passion for helping others embark on their own business ventures. Her journey has even led her to the Den, where she’s inspired and invested in countless entrepreneurs. Together, Carl and Sara explore the resilience and innovation behind successful business ownership, including the secrets you'll need to fuel your own entrepreneurial aspirations. This is an episode NOT to be missed. Connect with Sara: Website: https://sara-davies.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-davies-mbe-7406854/?originalSubdomain=uk Connect with Carl Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

Confessions of an Entrepreneur with Peter Kirkham

In this episode Carl Swansbury sits down with entrepreneur Peter Kirkham. A former professional footballer, Peter built a property portfolio before losing it all and being declared bankrupt due to the ‘credit crunch’. He bounced back to build a successful business which he sold for millions of pounds just a few years later. This is a fascinating insight into the challenges of overcoming adversity in business to become successful for the second time.

Confessions of an Entrepreneur/Founder with Jeremy Middleton

In this episode Carl sits down with serial entrepreneur and investor Jeremy Middleton. Co-founder of the multi-billion-pound Homeserve, Jeremy established a private equity business, Middleton Enterprises, supporting founder-led entrepreneurial businesses across a range of sectors including tech, hospitality and leisure. During the podcast Jeremy tells his story and offers insight into business success, and advice to start-ups, growing enterprises and the investment landscape for firms targeting growth.

Confessions of a Chair with Lucy Armstrong

In this latest episode, Carl sits down with Lucy Armstrong, one of the North’s most successful chairpersons. She supports CEOs and boards of a range of businesses across the public and private sectors, as well as not-for-profit organisations. She is also CEO of The Alchemists, a boutique consultancy focused on supporting fast-growing entrepreneurial businesses. Currently chair of a number of companies and organisations including the Port of Tyne and Everflow, Lucy has a significant amount of experience helping CEOs scale businesses. Lucy has a high level of interest and knowledge in helping CEOs to become leaders over managers and helping to create more successful sustainable and successful businesses.

Confessions of a Non-Exec with Mark Dixon

In this latest episode, Carl chats with successful businessman and Non-Exec Director Mark Dixon, From the beginnings of his career with Rolls Royce through to starting his own business, which went through two private equity transactions before eventually being sold to Costain. Having then, unsuccessfully trying to retire, Mark continued his business life working as interim chair, a NED and interim CEO of several enterprises, he gives a detailed and fascinating insight into his career and what inspires him to work with boards, shareholder groups and management teams.

Confessions of a CEO with Kevin Beales

In this episode, Carl chats with Kevin Beales, the founder and CEO of MySalesCoach, the expert sales coach, which is offered as a subscription service. Kevin gives an insightful look into his entrepreneurial career, providing a very interesting and highly personal view on taking a business from start up to sale and the sometimes emotional stories that come with that process.

Confessions of a… End of season highlights

In this short end-of-season episode of Confessions of a…, Carl Swansbury takes a moment to say thank you to everyone who has tuned in, listened, shared and supported the podcast over the past year. Across the 2025 season, Confessions of a… has welcomed an inspiring mix of founders, leaders and entrepreneurs, each sharing their stories with honesty, humility and insight. This wrap-up episode brings together some of the standout moments and key lessons from the year, offering a snapshot of the ideas that have resonated most with listeners. We hear from Sara Davies on the reality of work–life balance and the importance of letting go of perfection, reminding us that life and business are a constant compromise, and that’s okay. Bill Scott reflects on why culture is the thing he is most proud of, reinforcing the idea that successful businesses are ultimately built around people. Kevin Fasting shares a powerful perspective on forgiveness and empathy in leadership, speaking candidly about maturity, compassion and the belief that people can change. Nigel Mills then brings the focus back to strategy, longevity and adaptability, highlighting the need to stay one step ahead in an ever-changing business landscape. The episode also revisits Helen Trueman-Howe’s honest reflection on redundancy as a catalyst for change, showing how adversity can often be the push that leads to growth, reinvention and new opportunity. The montage closes with Gary Goldsmith’s bold reminder that not fitting in can be a superpower, leaving listeners with a strong message about authenticity, individuality and embracing what makes you different. Together, these moments capture the heart of Confessions of a… – real conversations, real experiences and practical lessons from people who have built, led and learned along the way. As the podcast looks ahead to the 2026 season, Confessions of a… will continue to explore the realities of leadership, entrepreneurship and growth, with more honest conversations, fresh perspectives and new voices from across the business community. Carl and his team are already lining up a strong slate of guests, and the aim remains the same, to create space for thoughtful reflection, practical insight and stories that resonate long after the microphones are switched off. Whether you’ve followed every episode or dipped in along the way, thank you for being part of the Confessions of a… journey. Carl looks forward to welcoming you back for the next chapter in 2026. Connect with Carl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/ This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

Season 1

Confessions of a Professor with Professor Nick Bacon & Professor Kim Hoque

In this episode, Carl Swansbury chats with Professor Nick Bacon, Professor of Human Resource Management, Bayes Business School, City, University of London and Professor Kim Hoque, Professor of Human Resource Management, King’s Business School, King’s College London. The academics discuss how leveraged buy outs and not only how they benefit Senior Management Teams and workforces, and some of the key differences between leveraged MBOs, funded by private equity or those funded by debt. They also discuss the impact leveraged buyouts have on the workforce and the cultural changes they can bring.

3 of 4