Today Ian welcomes new Iris Creative Chair Eduardo Maruri to the Wild Side. Originally from Ecuador, Eduardo has held some incredible roles across the world before Iris - all united by one thing: raw passion. When taking Ian through his career to date, we quickly realise he’s taken his creativity and passion everywhere - from leaving a Marketing Manager role to set up his own agency at 23 to running for Ecuadorian Congress to even being a football chairman. It becomes clear that in periods of...

Today Ian is joined on the Wild Side by organisational psychologist John Amaechi. When John takes us on his career journey, we quickly feel his sporting entrepreneurial spirit coming through. Simply being told “you can’t” inspired one kid from Stockport to be the first Brit to make it in the NBA and the other, Ian Millner to co-found one of the world’s best advertising agencies, Iris.  After a decorated NBA career, John got back in tune with one of his lifelong passions - psychology. Pursuing...

As the pivotal producer behind British Fashion Council’s NEWGEN showspace since 2016, an initiative central to London Fashion Weeks, Sara Blonstein extends a far-reaching cultural impact over the industry. The founder of Blonstein Creative Productions, Sara has helped launch the careers of Gareth Pugh, Henry Holland, Richard Quinn, Saul Nash, and LABRUM (the latter three all winners of The Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design) and catwalk producer for designers Molly Goddard, Roksanda,...

Should the entrepreneur wait for the perfect opportunity, or create their own? Andy Day, founder and CEO of Capital A & agencies.co joins Ian on the Wild Side today. As a serial entrepreneur, let Andy take you on a rollercoaster journey from aspiring 90s band member to moving to London with nothing to disrupting the M&A industry today. Andy’s entrepreneurial spirit has always been there - perhaps without always knowing it himself. We hear about Andy starting out at MTV new music...

How do ambitious businesses land investor backing? Daina Spedding joins Ian on the Wild Side to help answer this fundamental question. As an Investor at BGF passionate about bringing more diversity and inclusion to the whole industry, Daina tells us how picking companies to back can sometimes be like speed-dating. She shares that ‘gut-feel’ has such an important part to play along with her four measures of business success. Beyond investor ‘red flags’, Daina has very clear ideas on the traits...

If we train AI so well it sounds like us, who does the IP belong to? Today Ian welcomes Professor Michael G Jacobides from the London Business School to join him on the wild side. As a leading business mind globally, and expert in strategy, innovation and entrepreneurship, he reveals his journey to the studio today. Starting in economics, Michael moved into the strategy and entrepreneurship space because he was fascinated by the reasons why there are so many different approaches to business...

Today Ian welcomes IPA Director General, Paul Bainsfair to the wild side. With almost forty years in the industry, Paul takes us through his advertising journey. From starting out at Saatchi & Saatchi (yes, the 80s really happened!) to founding his own agencies, all the way to championing diversity at the IPA today. Entrepreneurs are everywhere across the creative economy. Ian and Paul pull apart the differences between owning your own business and applying that same entrepreneurial...

This week Ian is joined by fellow Iris co-founder, friend and ultra-runner Claire Humphris. Now CEO of Iris London, Claire and Ian discuss the Iris origin story. After taking the jump to be Iris employee number 1, she talks through her early career and the opportunities you can create when you’re the person who puts their hand up to do the hard things. They then discuss the importance of creating your own luck, so much so that you make yourself indispensable, even when things seem against...

This week, Ian is joined on the wild side by John Farrell, a bonafide advertising legend. Together, they delve into the fascinating story of their shared history at IMP, a launchpad for some of today’s most influential business leaders and marketing agency founders. They explore the diverse pathways and personalities behind entrepreneurial success and the crucial role of adaptability required in dynamic environments. John shares profound insights from his illustrious career, from his ascent...

This week Ian is joined on the Wild Side by Samsung Mobile’s Head of Marketing and Omnichannel Annika Bizon. Together they discuss the importance of drive, the right mindset and how pivotal AI will be for the future of tech now that it’s firmly in the hands of the consumer. They discuss their shared belief that there’s an entrepreneur but also what sets some people apart. We also learn the importance of having a voice and how Annika is breaking down the barriers of gender equality. We then...