Law firm Ward Hadaway goes beyond the headlines to uncover how ambitious founders and business leaders scale at pace, survive the hard moments, and keep growing when the pressure is on.
Fastest 50
Claim This Podcastby Ward Hadaway
7 episodes
Updated Daily
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Podcast Overview
Law firm Ward Hadaway goes beyond the headlines to uncover how ambitious founders and business leaders scale at pace, survive the hard moments, and keep growing when the pressure is on.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
3/4/2026
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Recent Episodes
April 2, 2026
Building high-performance teams with Steven Forrest
<p>Welcome to The Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 Podcast, where we sit down with entrepreneurs and business leaders who are rewriting the rules of growth in the UK and beyond.</p><p>In this episode, hosts Alistair McDonald and Matt Cormack are joined by Forfusion CEO Steven Forrest. Forfusion is a Newcastle-based technology business that designs, delivers and manages mission-critical IT infrastructure for clients across the public and private sectors. Steven shares how Forfusion has built its reputation by staying true to a quality-first strategy.</p><p>If you’re leading growth (or about to), you’ll get practical insight on:</p><ul><li>How to build a technology business on a foundation of quality output rather than chasing revenue at pace</li><li>How to use apprenticeships and ex-military recruitment to build a diverse, high-performing team from the ground up</li><li>How to balance innovation with operational and financial risk when delivering complex IT infrastructure</li><li>How to grow through client expansion and referrals rather than aggressive outbound sales</li><li>How to maintain a strong culture and shared values as a business scales rapidly</li></ul><br/><p>To find out more about Ward Hadaway’s Fastest 50 and how we support growing businesses, visit <a href="https://www.wardhadaway.com/what-we-do/businesses/fastest-50/?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fastest_50_podcast&utm_id=firm&utm_content=Steven" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.wardhadaway.com</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Connect with Alistair:</strong></p><p>Website: <a href="https://www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/alistair-mcdonald?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fastest_50_podcast&utm_id=firm&utm_content=Steven" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/alistair-mcdonald</a></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-mcdonald-1a446a21/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-mcdonald-1a446a21/</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Connect with Matt Cormack:</strong></p><p>Website: <a href="https://www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/matthew-cormack/?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fastest_50_podcast&utm_id=firm&utm_content=Steven" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/matt-cormack</a></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattcormacklawyer/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com/in/mattcormacklawyer/</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Connect with Steven:</strong></p><p>Forfusion: <a href="https://www.forfusion.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.forfusion.com</a></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-forrest/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com/in/steven-forrest/</a></p>
March 26, 2026
Forecasting business trends with Joanna Feeley
<p>Welcome to the Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 Podcast, where we sit down with entrepreneurs and business leaders who are rewriting the rules of growth in the UK and beyond.</p><p>Host Alistair McDonald is joined by Joanna Feeley, CEO of TrendBible, to talk about leading through change. As the founder of a business that helps brands make sense of future consumer needs and behaviour, Joanna shares her take on growing a business with confidence.</p><p>You’ll hear practical insight on:</p><ol><li data-list="bullet"><span class="ql-ui" contenteditable="false"></span>Why looking ahead is a core part of effective leadership and how trend forecasting can help businesses plan for change</li><li data-list="bullet"><span class="ql-ui" contenteditable="false"></span>Why human judgment, creativity and different perspectives still matter in an AI-enabled world</li><li data-list="bullet"><span class="ql-ui" contenteditable="false"></span>What leaders can do to support decision-making in uncertain conditions</li><li data-list="bullet"><span class="ql-ui" contenteditable="false"></span>Why founders need to commercial, financial and people leadership skills as well as technical expertise</li><li data-list="bullet"><span class="ql-ui" contenteditable="false"></span>why every business leader now needs the ability to think ahead and interpret change with confidence</li></ol><br/><p>To find out more about Ward Hadaway’s Fastest 50 and how we support growing businesses, visit <a href="https://www.wardhadaway.com/what-we-do/businesses/fastest-50/?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fastest_50_podcast&utm_id=firm&utm_content=Joanna" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.wardhadaway.com</a></p><p><strong>Connect with Alistair:</strong></p><p>Website: <a href="https://www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/alistair-mcdonald?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fastest_50_podcast&utm_id=firm&utm_content=Joanna" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/alistair-mcdonald</a></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-mcdonald-1a446a21/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-mcdonald-1a446a21/</a></p><p><strong>Connect with Joanna: </strong></p><p>Website: <a href="https://joannafeeley.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://joannafeeley.com</a></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-feeley/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-feeley/</a></p><p>TrendBible: <a href="https://www.trendbible.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.trendbible.com</a></p>
March 19, 2026
Building legacy and resilience with Andy Carr and Paul Callaghan
<p>Welcome to the Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 Podcast, where we sit down with entrepreneurs and business leaders who are rewriting the rules of growth in the UK and beyond.</p><p>In this episode, host Alistair McDonald is joined by Andy Carr and Paul Callaghan from Leighton, a North East based software development company, to discuss how regional businesses can scale whilst staying rooted in their values.</p><p>If you’re leading growth (or about to), you’ll get practical insight on:</p><ol><li data-list="bullet"><span class="ql-ui" contenteditable="false"></span>How Leighton’s history and legacy have shaped its success in a competitive industry</li><li data-list="bullet"><span class="ql-ui" contenteditable="false"></span>How to balance local, regional and global recruitment to acquire the right talent</li><li data-list="bullet"><span class="ql-ui" contenteditable="false"></span>How to build and maintain strong client relationships as your business grows</li><li data-list="bullet"><span class="ql-ui" contenteditable="false"></span>How to create an inclusive work culture that recognises team success and promotes a shared vision</li><li data-list="bullet"><span class="ql-ui" contenteditable="false"></span>How to prepare your business for challenges and why having the right people in place makes adapting easier</li></ol><br/><p>From Leighton’s long-standing success and growth in the tech sector, Andy and Paul share how the business continues to adapt and evolve in a competitive industry.</p><p>To find out more about Ward Hadaway’s Fastest 50 and how we support growing businesses, visit <a href="https://www.wardhadaway.com/what-we-do/businesses/fastest-50/?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fastest_50_podcast&utm_id=firm&utm_content=Leighton" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.wardhadaway.com</a></p><p><strong>Connect with Alistair:</strong></p><p>Website: <a href="https://www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/alistair-mcdonald?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fastest_50_podcast&utm_id=firm&utm_content=Leighton" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/alistair-mcdonald</a></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-mcdonald-1a446a21/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-mcdonald-1a446a21/</a></p><p><strong>Connect with Andy:</strong></p><p>Leighton: <a href="https://www.leighton.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.leighton.com</a></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-carr-52357442/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com/in/andy-carr-52357442/</a></p><p><strong>Connect with Paul:</strong></p><p>Leighton: <a href="https://www.leighton.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.leighton.com</a></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulcallaghan/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com/in/paulcallaghan/</a></p>
7 total episodes available
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