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Behind the SME: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Adam Kene
Ever wondered what it really takes to grow a small or medium-sized business? In each episode, we dive deep into the stories, strategies, and secrets of innovative leaders in the SME world. From overcoming challenges to celebrating wins, this is your inside look into what drives success in today’s fast-paced business landscape.🔑 Key insights🌟 Real stories from real business owners⚡ Actionable advice for entrepreneurs & leaders💡 Fresh perspectives on industry trendsHosted by Adam Kene, the CEO of Kene Partners and Co-Founder of OPUS.Contact us: hello@behindthesme.co.ukConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-t...Connect on other platforms: https://linktr.ee/behindthesme Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest Episodes
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- 3 days ago35 min
Meetings, Meetings and More Meetings: How to Make Them Worth the Time by Adam Kene and Kate Waterfall Hill
How much are your meetings actually costing your business?In Episode 3 of Season 2 of Behind the SME, Adam Kene and Kate Waterfall Hill tackle something almost every growing business struggles with: meetings, meetings and more meetings.Meetings themselves are not the problem. The problem is meetings without a clear purpose, the wrong people in the room, no preparation and no meaningful outcome.And the cost adds up quickly.A weekly 45-minute meeting with eight people uses 312 working hours over a year. At a loaded employment cost of £50 an hour, that is £15,600.If that meeting appeared on your P&L as a £15,600 recurring expense, would you renew it?Adam and Kate explore why meeting overload happens, what it can reveal about the wider business, and how leaders can protect more time for focused work without losing the collaboration that good meetings provide.You will learn:Why meetings should be treated as an operational costHow excessive meetings disrupt deep work and create task switchingWhy more attendees do not necessarily create more buy-inHow meetings can mask unclear ownership, weak reporting and missing systemsWhen an update should become a dashboard, document, video or message insteadThe five questions to ask before putting a meeting in the diaryHow clearer agendas, attendees and outcomes can make meetings more usefulWhy recurring meetings should have an expiry date rather than running indefinitelyThis episode is for founders, managers and leadership teams who want to spend less time talking about work and more time doing the work that moves the business forward.🎙️ Behind the SME is hosted by Adam Kene, CEO of Kene. In Season 2, Adam is joined by leadership coach and author Kate Waterfall Hill to explore the leadership challenges behind growing businesses.Like what you hear? We’d love to know!📩 Contact us: hello@behindthesme.co.uk🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme🌐 More platforms: https://linktr.ee/behindthesme Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 2 weeks ago33 min
The Hidden Cost of Complexity: Why Growing Businesses Get Harder to Run by Adam Kene and Kate Waterfall Hill
As a business grows, complexity grows even faster.In Episode 2 of Season 2 of Behind the SME, Adam Kene and leadership coach Kate Waterfall Hill explore the hidden cost of complexity and why growing businesses can so easily “sleepwalk” into unnecessary processes, meetings, systems and layers of communication.A 12-person organisation has 66 potential lines of communication. At 40 people, that rises to 780. At 120 people, it reaches 7,140.As Adam puts it: “Business growth is linear, but the complexity is exponential, unless you're on top of it.”So how do you stop complexity taking over?In this conversation, Adam and Kate explore how leaders can deliberately simplify the way their businesses operate, from creating a shared goal and cutting distractions to improving communication and questioning whether work genuinely moves the business forward.You will learn:Why complexity can increase exponentially as a business growsHow businesses can “sleepwalk” into unnecessary processes and structuresWhy having a simple, shared ambition helps teams pull in the same directionHow to use “Will it make the boat go faster?” as a filter for decisionsWhy leaders should cut distractions and focus on what they can controlHow to measure progress without making performance management more complicatedWhy communication channels and meetings should be designed intentionallyHow to create a culture where simplifying work becomes everyone’s responsibilityThis episode is for SME founders, business owners and leadership teams dealing with the growing pains that come with scale. If your business feels busier, more complicated or harder to navigate than it used to, Adam and Kate offer practical ways to strip things back and focus on what actually matters.🎙️ Behind the SME is hosted by Adam Kene, CEO of Kene. In Season 2, Adam is joined by leadership coach and author Kate Waterfall Hill to explore the leadership challenges behind growing businesses.Like what you hear? We’d love to know!📩 Contact us: hello@behindthesme.co.uk🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme🌐 More platforms: https://linktr.ee/behindthesme Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Aug 20, 202640 min
The Sticky Middle: What makes a good manager with Kate Waterfall Hill & Adam Kene
Behind the SME with Kate Waterfall Hill: The Sticky MiddleSeason 2 starts with one of the most important, and often overlooked, parts of a growing business: the people sitting between strategy and delivery.In this episode of Behind the SME, Adam Kene is joined by leadership coach and author Kate Waterfall Hill to explore the “sticky middle” of management. Middle managers have a huge influence on culture, engagement and performance, yet many step into the role without enough training, time or support.Adam and Kate get practical:Why managers can have such a significant impact on employee engagementThe difference between leadership, management and coachingWhy your best performer might not become your best managerHow to support new managers with the right training, space and expectationsWhy good leaders do not need to have all the answersHow managers can set boundaries, manage up and communicate trade-offs clearlyWhy progression should not always mean managing peopleThis episode is for SME founders, leaders and managers who want to build stronger teams, develop better managers and create clearer progression routes as their business grows.🎙️ Behind the SME is hosted by Adam Kene, CEO of Kene. In Season 2, Adam is joined by leadership coach and author Kate Waterfall Hill to explore the leadership challenges behind growing businesses.Like what you hear? We’d love to know!📩 Contact us: hello@behindthesme.co.uk🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme🌐 More platforms: https://linktr.ee/behindthesme Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Jan 29, 202654 min
AI as a Teammate: Becoming an “Agent Boss” with Rahan Arif
Behind the SME with Rahan Arif, Co-founder of BossUpAI is moving from tool to teammate, and that changes what leadership looks like inside an SME.In this episode of Behind the SME, Adam Kene speaks with Rahan Arif, a seasoned entrepreneur and transformation leader with nearly two decades at the forefront of digital disruption. Rahan has built and scaled product organisations across cloud, low code, automation, and AI, delivering platforms that have reshaped how enterprises operate. Now, as a founder at BossUp, he is focused on the Agent Boss economy and what it takes to build an AI collaborative future.Rahan cuts through the noise and gets practical:What agentic AI actually means and why it is the next big shiftWhy SMEs often freeze when tech moves fast, and how to move anywayHow to lead AI agents with the right guardrails and accountabilityA real example of using agents to plan and execute work end to end, using a marketing campaignThis episode is essential for SME founders, leaders, and managers who want to use AI to move faster without losing control. It is also for operators who are responsible for delivery, growth, or customer experience and need a clear way to turn AI into practical outcomes.🎙️ Behind the SME is hosted by Adam Kene, CEO of Kene, exploring the real stories and lessons from the entrepreneurs and leaders powering the UK’s SME economy.Like what you hear? We’d love to know!📩 Contact us: hello@behindthesme.co.uk🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme🌐 More platforms: https://linktr.ee/behindthesme Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Jan 15, 20261h 2m
From Founder to CEO: Building, Letting Go and Leading in the Age of AI with Evgeny Shadchnev
Behind the SME with Evgeny Shadchnev, Founder of Makers, CEO coach and author specialising in leadership transitions.In this episode of Behind the SME, host Adam Kene sits down with Evgeny Shadchnev, founder of Makers and one of the UK’s most respected voices on founder-to-CEO transitions, to unpack the real journey of building, scaling and ultimately stepping away from a high-growth startup.Evgeny shares how his background in computer science and early career as a software developer led him to spot a major gap between academia and industry - sparking the creation of Makers, a pioneering coding bootcamp that helped thousands of career switchers break into tech. He talks candidly about finding product-market fit, evolving the business model, and scaling from a scrappy startup to a 60+ person organisation working with major corporates like Deloitte.The conversation goes deep into the realities of leadership: chaotic early culture, self-set salaries, hiring mistakes, and the difficult moment when early team members stop being the right fit. Evgeny unpacks why the skills that make you a great founder don’t always make you a great CEO, and how to recognise when you might be becoming the bottleneck in your own business.We also explore CEO transitions, stepping aside with intention, emotional maturity in leadership, and why self-awareness is a non-negotiable skill for founders. Finally, Evgeny shares his perspective on AI-first businesses, zero-based thinking, and why the Netflix vs Blockbuster story is a warning every leader should take seriously.💡 Highlights include:Building Makers and finding product-market fit in the bootcamp spaceScaling from 0 to 65 people and navigating the chaos-to-structure journeyWhen early team members outgrow their roles (and how to handle it well)Founder vs CEO: why the skill sets are often very differentHow to have difficult conversations with empathy, not egoRecognising when it might be time to step aside as CEOThe emotional impact of leadership and why self-awareness is criticalAI-first vs AI-supported businesses: lessons from Netflix and BlockbusterZero-based thinking and preparing your business for an AI-driven futureIf you’re a founder, CEO, or leader wrestling with growth, culture, strategy, or the question “am I still the right person for this job?” this episode will challenge, reassure and inspire you in equal measure.🎙️ Behind the SME is hosted by Adam Kene, CEO of Kene, exploring the real stories and lessons from the entrepreneurs and leaders powering the UK’s SME economy.Like what you hear? We’d love to know!📩 Contact us: hello@behindthesme.co.uk🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme🌐 More platforms: https://linktr.ee/behindthesme Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Nov 20, 20251h 3m
A Million Tabs Open: Inside the ADHD Mind with Leanne Maskell
Behind the SME with Leanne Maskell, 5x best-selling author, coach and Director at ADHD Works.In this episode of Behind the SME, host Adam Kene speaks with Leanne Maskell - author, coach, and Director at ADHD Works - about her remarkable journey from international modelling and severe mental health struggles to becoming a global voice for neurodivergent empowerment and workplace inclusion.Leanne shares how receiving an ADHD diagnosis transformed her life and career, leading her to build the UK’s first CPD-certified ADHD coaching qualification and train more than 600 ADHD and autism coaches worldwide. She opens up about living with a brain that never switches off, writing five books by the age of 33 (all best-sellers), and redefining success by embracing, rather than fighting, her neurodivergence.💡 Highlights include:The lived experience of ADHD: hyper-focus, overwhelm & the “interest-based nervous system”Turning personal crisis into purpose and global impactHow leaders can better manage and support neurodivergent talentCreating structure and systems to unlock the zone of geniusWhy understanding ADHD, not correcting it, unlocks performanceIf you’re a leader, founder, manager or parent wanting to better understand neurodiversity or harness ADHD as a superpower, this episode is for you.🎙️ Behind the SME is hosted by Adam Kene, CEO of Kene, exploring the real stories and lessons from the entrepreneurs and leaders powering the UK’s SME economy.Like what you hear? We'd love to know!📩 Contact us: hello@behindthesme.co.uk🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme🌐 More platforms: https://linktr.ee/behindthesme Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Nov 6, 202557 min
Community First: Solving Public Safety Through AI and Data with Michael Houghton
Behind the SME with Michael, Co-Founder of Community Wolf.What if public safety could be crowdsourced and improved with the power of AI?In this episode of Behind the SME, host Adam Kene speaks with Michael Houghton - entrepreneur and co-founder of Community Wolf - about his journey from corporate engineering to building a mission-led startup tackling public safety challenges in South Africa.They discuss the lessons learned from navigating early career pivots, embracing naivety while building expertise, and creating a platform that empowers communities to participate in safety reporting through WhatsApp and AI tools.💡 Highlights include:How curiosity, obsession, and “happy buckets” guide entrepreneurial decisionsThe journey from corporate engineering to mission-led entrepreneurshipBuilding trust at scale while crowdsourcing sensitive public safety dataTurning mission-first thinking into a sustainable business modelLessons in leadership, risk-taking, and learning through discomfortIf you’re a founder, leader, or innovator looking to solve real-world problems and build a mission-driven business, this one’s for you.🎙️ Behind the SME is hosted by Adam Kene, CEO of Kene, exploring the real stories, insights, and lessons from the entrepreneurs and leaders powering the UK’s SME economy.Like what you hear? We'd love to know!📩 Contact us: hello@behindthesme.co.uk🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme🌐 Find us on other platforms: https://linktr.ee/behindthesme Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Oct 23, 202552 min
Stop Reacting, Start Anticipating: The Power of Foresight with Athena Peppes
Behind the SME with Athena Peppes, Futurist and Economist, Advisor at BossUp.AI and Director of Futures at Beacon Thought Leadership What if you could see disruption coming and turn it into opportunity?In this episode of Behind the SME, host Adam Kene, speaks with Athena Peppes — futurist, economist, and former Accenture strategist — about how small and medium-sized businesses can use foresight to anticipate change, build resilience, and stay ahead in a world of constant disruption.They break down practical ways to “look to the horizon” without losing sight of today’s priorities, from horizon-scanning and team signal alerts to scenario planning and AI readiness.💡 Highlights include:What “foresight” really means and how to apply it inside an SMEHow to run horizon-scanning sessions with your teamTurning future risks into opportunitiesBuilding AI literacy and avoiding common leadership blind spotsWhy continuous learning (not prediction) is the real competitive edgeIf you’re a founder, leader, or strategist who’s too busy fighting fires to think long-term, this one’s for you.🎙️ Behind the SME is hosted by Adam Kene, CEO of Kene, exploring the real stories, insights, and lessons from the entrepreneurs and leaders powering the UK’s SME economy.Like what you hear? We'd love to know!📩 Contact us: hello@behindthesme.co.uk🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme🌐 Find us on other platforms: https://linktr.ee/behindthesme Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
About Behind the SME
Ever wondered what it really takes to grow a small or medium-sized business? In each episode, we dive deep into the stories, strategies, and secrets of innovative leaders in the SME world. From overcoming challenges to celebrating wins, this is your inside look into what drives success in today’s fast-paced business landscape.🔑 Key insights🌟 Real stories from real business owners⚡ Actionable advice for entrepreneurs & leaders💡 Fresh perspectives on industry trendsHosted by Adam Kene, the CEO of Kene Partners and Co-Founder of OPUS.Contact us: hello@behindthesme.co.ukConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-t...Connect on other platforms: https://linktr.ee/behindthesme Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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