The latest episode of the podcast series “Entrepreneurs in the Wild,” hosted by Iris co-founder Ian Milner, is now available. Building on the success of previous series, episodes five and six continue to inspire and inform the next generation of entrepreneurs. A new resource for the industry, the podcast features a thought-provoking conversation between Professor Michael G. Jacobides, a leading authority on strategy and innovation, and Daina Spedding, an investor at growth capital firm BGF who is passionate about diversity and inclusion in the business world.
Episode #5: “Eruption or Chaos? Opening Pandora’s Box”
In this episode, Ian Milner welcomes Professor Michael G. Jacobides from the London Business School. An expert in strategy, innovation and entrepreneurship, Michael shares his fascinating journey from economics to his current role. The discussion explores the intersection between entrepreneurs and academics, highlighting the similarities in their paths and methodologies.
This episode focuses on entrepreneurship as it is driven by factors beyond just profit: innovation, purpose, impact, curiosity, autonomy and challenge. Michael explains, “Innovation is not just about creating something new. It’s about improving and adapting what already exists to gain an advantage in the marketplace.” With a particular focus on Mark I, Mark II and Mark III, he examines different innovation types and the symbiotic relationship between large Fortune 500 companies and entrepreneurial ventures. “Understanding the different types of innovation can help companies navigate the complex landscape of change and growth,” says Michael.
The conversation then turned to the impact of AI on business, with Michael warning, “AI has the potential to create significant disparities between companies, so it’s important to manage the risks associated with training AI to mimic human behavior.”
Episode 6: “Challenging the Investor Status Quo”
In this episode, Daina Spedding, investor at BGF, the UK and Ireland’s most active growth capital investor, joins Millner to discuss how ambitious companies can secure funding. Passionate about diversity and inclusion, Daina highlights the importance of “gut instinct” in addition to her four measures of business success – scalability, sustainability, market opportunity and team capability.
Dinah shares her views on what makes a successful entrepreneur, highlighting the resilience and adaptability needed to thrive under pressure, noting that “entrepreneurs often perform best when everything is at stake.” Ian and Dinah explore the importance of purpose and maintaining an entrepreneurial spirit as their business scales. They both believe that purpose, tolerance for risk and stepping out of one’s comfort zone are essential to personal and professional growth.
When it comes to female representation in the investment field, Dina speaks candidly about the current state of the industry. Dina emphasizes the importance of investing in female founders and creating a more inclusive and equitable business environment. Dina also shares her thoughts on how diversity and inclusion can foster sustainable growth and innovation, explaining that “diverse teams bring a broader perspective, which can lead to more creative solutions and better decision-making.”
The episode ends with a reminder of the importance of perseverance, as Dinah emphasizes that surrounding yourself with a supportive network can make all the difference between success and failure.
The podcast series, produced by global creative agency Iris, premiered last month and features conversations between Milner and a variety of guests, from advertising industry heavyweights to renowned university professors, each offering insights into entrepreneurial “superpowers” and unique perspectives on creativity and business.
Podcast episodes are released weekly on major platforms including Spotify, YouTube and Apple and can be found here.
