Over the past few years, I’ve become increasingly frustrated at just how HARD it is for founders to find the right people for their business.

• There are fewer applicants than there used to be for roles in sales and marketing in CPG businesses
• It's even tougher to find that magic mix of mindset, experience and soft skills— as well as someone who genuinely fits your culture and values.
• And the process? It's a lot: search, connect, schedule, first interviews, follow-ups, feedback loops — all while juggling a scaling business — and you STILL might not end up with the right person.

It struck me that so many of the incredible guests on Brand Growth Heroes have shared absolute gold when it comes to building teams — how they hire, how they lead, and what they’ve learned when it all goes wrong.

So the brilliant crew at MKJ Ignite - Billy, Paul and Immy, have gone through the Brand Growth Heroes archives and handpicked some snippets from the founders of your favourite challenger brands (think Olipop, Child's Farm, Perfect Ted and Tony's Chocolonely), pulling out the best people insights.

And as a result....BGH SHORTS: The People Series was born!

• Short 5 min episodes.
• Golden nuggets.
• Actionable insights

Every 2 weeks, we’ll drop a new 5-minute clip - so don't forget to HIT FOLLOW!

Because your business is only as strong as your team.

It really shouldn’t be this hard — but it is.

So let’s make it a little easier!

👋 If you're wondering whether or not you need help with your recruitment, or would like to ask for some advice, you can book a no-obligation call with Billy - or anyone on the team - here!

Connect with Billy Maddock on Linkedin

Connect with Immy Southwell on Linkedin

Connect with Paul Jones on Linkedin

Follow MKJ Ignite on Instagram

Connect with MKJ Ignite on Linkedin

Have a listen and don't forget to hit FOLLOW so you can collect all the tips, stories, and real-world advice to lighten the load.

Thanks again to MKJ Ignite for bringing us BGH SHORTS: The People Series

#brandgrowthheroes #mkjignite #people #foundergrowth #leadership #scaling #foodanddrink #consumerbrands #startuplife

Host Fiona Fitz is joined by two powerhouse co-founders, Amelia Christie-Miller and Ed Whelpton from one of the most recent but well-loved UK challenger brands food - Bold Bean Co. What started as a mission to make people obsessed with beans has become one of the most exciting new category-creating brands in the UK.

In this episode, we’re getting behind the scenes on how they've driven growth: from designing a new category to TV appearances on Dragon's Den and This Morning (UK), the importance of traditional PR as well as seeding their product with the best chefs in the UK.

We also spend time talking about how they're creating something truly different with their people, team and culture.

The huge news is that Bold Bean Co is launching their first-ever co-branded product with Yotam Ottolenghi as we go live, take a listen and hear how it all happened!

If you’ve ever wondered how to build a brand that truly stands for something, scale without losing focus, and get people talking about your product in a way that creates real demand—this one is for you.

Useful Links:

Bold Bean Co website

Bold Bean Co LinkedIn

Connect with Ed Whelpton on LinkedIn

Connect with Amelia Christie-Miller on LinkedIn

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Thanks to Brand Growth Heroes’ podcast sponsor - Joelson, the commercial law firm

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If you're a founder, you already know how much of your energy goes into building the perfect product, creating standout branding and connecting with your consumers.

But don’t forget that scaling a CPG business also comes with a maze of legal complexities that can make or break your business journey. From contracts, term sheets and regulatory compliance to protecting your brand's intellectual property as you expand, it's essential to get it right.

And that starts with the right legal partner.

So we're thrilled to introduce Joelson, a leading commercial law firm that specialises in guiding the founders of scaling CPG brands, as Brand Growth Heroes' sponsor.

With long-term relationships with clients like Little Moons, Trip, Eat Natural, Bear Graze, and Pulsin, Joelson is also famous for advising the innocent founders in their landmark sale to Coca-Cola! As a female team, we are especially impressed by Joelson's commitment to championing female founders in CPG.

Not many law firms are also BCorps, nor do they specialise in helping founders navigate the legal challenges of scaling without stifling the creativity and momentum that got you here in the first place. So thanks, Joelson—we’re delighted to have you on board.

If you'd like to get in touch to find out more, why don't you drop them a line at hello@joelsonlaw.com!

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A tiny favour: If this episode inspires you to think about new ways to drive business growth, please could you click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE on your favourite podcast app and leave a review? This small gesture from you means the world to us and allows us to share these nuggets of insight and value with you more often.

Please don't hesitate to join our Brand Growth Heroes community to stay updated with captivating stories and learnings from your beloved brands on their path to success!

Follow us on our Brand Growth Heroes socials: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Thanks to our Sound Engineer, Gyp Buggane, Ballagroove.com and podcast producer/content creator, Kathryn Watts, Social KEWS.