Leaders with Ambition

About Leaders with Ambition

Welcome to Leaders with Ambition, the podcast that dives deep into the careers of some of the most successful leaders working in professional services firms. We aim to discover the secrets behind their success, the challenges they face and to find out what traits make a successful leader. About the host: Nicky Acuna Ocana is the President of Ambition Americas, UK & Europe, an international recruitment agency specialising in business services recruitment (Legal Finance & Accounting, Audit, Tax, BD, Marketing, Insolvency, Restructuring and Corporate Finance) in professional services firms.

Publisher

Ambition UK

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Aug 2021

Latest episode

5 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

102 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Oct 2026

   Ep. 102 Martin Brennan - ''Networking compounds just like an investment."

   In this episode of Leaders with Ambition, Nicky welcomes Martin Brennan, Founder of Onside Accounting and ACCA Global Council Member, for an inspiring conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, remote working, and giving back. Growing up in Blackpool, one of the UK's most disadvantaged communities, Martin's journey is anything but conventional. From being encouraged by a school teacher to pursue accountancy, to taking a significant pay cut to start an accounting apprenticeship, to eventually founding his own successful accounting and tax firm during the pandemic, Martin shares the lessons, challenges and opportunities that shaped his career. Together, Nicky and Martin discuss: ✅ Growing up in Blackpool and overcoming barriers to success ✅ Building a successful business during COVID-19 ✅ Creating a thriving remote-first company culture ✅ Leadership, trust and employee engagement in distributed teams ✅ The realities of entrepreneurship and starting your own firm ✅ The impact of private equity on professional services firms ✅ AI and the future of accounting and professional services ✅ Networking, personal branding and career growth ✅ Supporting disadvantaged communities and paying success forward ✅ Why purpose and values matter more than ever in the workplace Martin also shares practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, insights into scaling a business, and his vision for the future of the accounting profession. If you're interested in leadership, business growth, entrepreneurship, remote work, accounting, or professional services, this episode is packed with valuable insights. 🎧 Listen now and discover how ambition, consistency, and a commitment to people can create extraordinary results. Chapters 00:00 Intro Highlights 01:13 Welcome & Martin Brennan Introduction 03:33 From Blackpool to Accountancy 04:38 First Exposure to Private Equity 08:30 Moving to London & Career Growth 09:32 Why Tech Startups Changed Everything 10:20 Launching Onside During COVID 12:11 Starting a Business Without Fear 13:28 Financial Planning for Entrepreneurs 14:39 The Power of Networking 16:43 Building a Network & Winning Clients 19:24 Creating a Remote-First Culture 24:44 Founder Wellbeing & Avoiding Burnout 27:12 Protecting Employee Wellbeing 28:36 Private Equity's Impact on Professional Services 32:28 AI, Technology & the Future of Accounting 34:07 The Talent Shortage in Accountancy 36:30 Why the Tax Environment is Tough for Entrepreneurs 38:41 Giving Back & Supporting Disadvantaged Communities 40:14 Purpose, Charity & Company Values 42:45 What's Next for Onside? 45:49 Closing Thoughts Looking to advance your career or grow your team? Ambition is a leading international recruitment agency specialising in professional services. Learn more at www.ambition.co.uk

2. 

   22 Sept 2026

   Ep 101. Nicole Petrie- "The strongest relationships are built when you're genuinely curious about people."

   Host Nicky Acuña Ocaña interviews Nicole Petrie, Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer at Proskauer, about her global career journey and leadership philosophy.

3. 

   7 Sept 2026

   Ep. 100 Raya Blakeley-Glover & Emma Lago - "Resilience is key. Keep going.''

   Host Nicky Acuña Ocaña interviews Raya Blakeley-Glover and Emma Lago about their career journeys, leadership lessons, and embracing change for success.

Who has been a guest on Leaders with Ambition

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

• Nicole Petrie
• Raya Blakeley-Glover
• Emma Lago
• Julie McConnell
• Vanessa Montero

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

140,841

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 59 / 100

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

Quality

61

Social presence

0

YouTube

82

Engagement

60

Contact Leaders with Ambition

Guest appearances

Books guests

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

Questions about Leaders with Ambition