Billionaire Business Podcast

About Billionaire Business Podcast

Welcome to Billionaire Business. In this series we will be popping the myth that you cannot create a billion pound business in the UK - that’s simply not true • Inspirational interviews • Advice on how to raise equity and debt • Mistakes to avoid • How to scale rapidly • Create the next billionaire business

Publisher

Chris Godsmark & Ian Fishwick

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Mar 2025

Latest episode

2 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

29 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   2 Sept 2026

   How Lord Stuart Rose Saved Britain’s Biggest Brands

   In this episode of Billionaire Business, hosts Ian Fishwick and Chris Godsmark sit down with retail legend and former M&S CEO Lord Stuart Rose to explore the extraordinary career behind some of Britain’s most iconic retail brands. From starting as a management trainee at Marks & Spencer to becoming its chief executive and later chairman, Stuart shares the experiences, risks and lessons that shaped a career spanning M&S, Debenhams, Argos, Booker, Topshop and many more. Stuart explains why he never planned his career, how leaving M&S gave him the skills to eventually return as CEO, and why taking opportunities – even when they seem like a risky career move – can be crucial to getting ahead. He also reveals how he approaches business turnarounds, from diagnosing problems by listening to employees to identifying the key levers that can transform a struggling organisation. The episode also explores: Why you should focus on doing your current job well rather than planning your entire career How taking career risks can give you the skills needed for future leadership The importance of listening to employees when diagnosing problems in a business Why CEOs need the courage to admit when a strategy isn't working How Stuart transformed M&S by focusing on product, service and environment The balance between online shopping and the continued importance of physical stores What today's leaders can learn from decades of retail experience Stuart also reflects on the future of retail, the impact of AI and technology, and why businesses must constantly adapt to changing consumer expectations. Along the way, he shares some of his most memorable lessons from decades in business, including why “the consumer is totally promiscuous”, why companies must look out the window before the world passes them by, and why sometimes a product isn't wrong – it's simply too early. Tune in for a masterclass in leadership, retail, business turnarounds and innovation from one of Britain's most experienced retail executives, and discover the lessons Stuart Rose has learned from a career at the heart of British business. Follow & Catch Up With Us Want more from Billionaire Business Podcast? Tap in for exclusive content, behind-the-scenes moments, and everything that doesn’t make it into the mic. Follow Ian Fishwick: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianfishwick Email: ian.fishwick@billionairebusiness.net Follow Chris Godsmark: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisgodsmark Email: chris.godsmark@billionairebusiness.net Follow Billionaire Business: Website: www.billionairebusiness.net/ Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/billionaire-business-podcast

2. 

   19 Aug 2026

   Mobiles, broadband, burgers - is there anything this man can’t sell?

   From Selling Mobiles to Burgers: How Charles Dunstone Became a Retail Legend In this episode of Billionaire Business, hosts Ian Fishwick and Chris Godsmark sit down with retail entrepreneur and Carphone Warehouse founder Charles Dunstone to explore how he built one of the UK’s most successful retail businesses. From learning how to sell mobiles when mobile phones were still an emerging technology to building Carphone Warehouse into a market leader, Dunstone shares the ideas, decisions and customer-first thinking behind his remarkable career. Charles explains how he spotted an overlooked opportunity among self-employed customers in the early mobile phone market, and how Carphone Warehouse grew rapidly as demand for mobile phones exploded. He reflects on expanding into broadband with TalkTalk, taking Carphone Warehouse into the US through Best Buy, and why understanding customers and challenging established industries remains central to successful retail. The episode also explores: How to spot opportunities in rapidly emerging markets How Carphone Warehouse changed the way people sell mobiles and buy mobile phones Why premium retail locations can sometimes be more profitable than cheaper ones Taking Five Guys from the US to the UK and building it into a major European chain Using technology and changing consumer behaviour to disrupt established markets Why businesses need to offer something demonstrably better at a fair price The future of the high street and the changing role of physical retail The importance of obsessing over detail and measuring the right KPIs Dunstone also shares his thoughts on what makes a market worth entering, why entrepreneurs should start with a great idea rather than a grand ambition, and how businesses can build a virtuous circle by winning market share. He discusses his continuing search for new opportunities, from food and fast-casual retail to Purplebricks, and explains why entrepreneurs need to remain relentlessly focused on the customer. Along the way, he reflects on the lessons from his biggest successes and mistakes, including the dangers of regulatory uncertainty, the importance of keeping businesses efficient, and why he still looks at sales figures every day after more than three decades in retail. Tune in to hear the story behind some of Britain’s most recognisable retail businesses and discover the principles that took Charles Dunstone from selling mobiles and building Carphone Warehouse to broadband, burgers, estate agencies and beyond. Follow & Catch Up With Us Want more from Billionaire Business Podcast? Tap in for exclusive content, behind-the-scenes moments, and everything that doesn’t make it into the mic. Follow Ian Fishwick: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianfishwick Email: ian.fishwick@billionairebusiness.net Follow Chris Godsmark: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisgodsmark Email: chris.godsmark@billionairebusiness.net Follow Billionaire Business: Website: https://www.⁠www.billionairebusiness.net/⁠ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.⁠www.linkedin.com/company/billionaire-business-podcast⁠

3. 

   5 Aug 2026

   Only 6th UK Woman Ever To Create A UNICORN £1 Bn+

   From Temp to Billion-Pound Founder: How Mia Drennan Built a Global Business from Scratch In this episode of Billionaire Business, hosts Ian Fishwick and Chris Godsmark sit down with entrepreneur and GLAS founder Mia Drennan to explore the extraordinary journey behind building a billion-pound business. From starting her career as a temp with no university degree to becoming the sixth woman in the UK to create a billion-pound business, Mia shares the experiences, setbacks and decisions that shaped her path to success. Mia explains how being passed over for a promised promotion ultimately pushed her to leave corporate life and build her own business and how the power of networking helped her turn professional relationships into entrepreneurial opportunities. She also reveals how she identified an opportunity to disrupt the financial services industry and built GLAS from a small team working out of a basement into a global business operating across ten countries. The episode also explores: How to turn a career setback into an entrepreneurial opportunity Why you can start learning and studying at any point in your life The importance of networking, relationships and knocking on doors Building a business from an idea with no existing market model How GLAS grew by disrupting traditional banking and financial services Scaling a business while maintaining a strong company culture Why employee ownership can help build a truly global company The transition from a traditional financial services business to a technology-led fintech Supporting female entrepreneurs and encouraging more women to build billion-pound businesses Mia also shares her ambitions for GLAS’s next chapter, including becoming a major player in the US and using technology, AI and proprietary software to transform the financial services industry. Along the way, she reflects on the lessons she would give her younger self, the importance of retaining control when bringing in outside investment, and why aspiring entrepreneurs have little to lose by taking a chance on their ideas. Tune in to hear an inspiring story of entrepreneurship and drive and discover the lessons behind Mia Drennan’s journey from temp to founder of a billion-pound global business. Follow & Catch Up With Us Want more from Billionaire Business Podcast? Tap in for exclusive content, behind-the-scenes moments, and everything that doesn’t make it into the mic. Follow Ian Fishwick: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianfishwick Email: ian.fishwick@billionairebusiness.net Follow Chris Godsmark: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chrisgodsmark Email: chris.godsmark@billionairebusiness.net Follow Billionaire Business: Website: www.billionairebusiness.net/ Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/billionaire-business-podcast

Who has been a guest on Billionaire Business Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Chris Godsmark
• Ian Fishwick
• Neil Bellamy
• Jahangir Ahmad
• Bob Falconer

Podcast Authority Score: 2 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

4

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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