Podcast

The Unlocking Value Podcast

Unlocking Value Podcast - Garwood Growth

Unlocking Value is the podcast for ambitious founders, owners and leaders in professional services who are serious about building valuable firms and want to fast-track success by learning from the experience of others.

Hosted by Garwood partner John Howard, the show brings together candid conversations with founders, investors and advisors who’ve been through the journey.

Whether you’re planning a future exit, considering investment or simply working to build a highly valuable firm – this is the show for you.

Be sure to subscribe to the Unlocking Value podcast on your favourite listening platform (including Spotify, Apple and more) so you don’t miss out on the future episodes!

Episode 28: Adrian Hands – Coffee to Cash: Simple Habits That Keep Professional Services Pipelines Healthy

Unlocking Value Podcast, episode twenty-eight In this episode, John is joined by Adrian Hands, an experienced sales leader who has…

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Episode 27: Emma Flin – How ‘Buy and Build’ Drives Growth and Value in Professional Services

Unlocking Value Podcast, episode twenty-seven In this episode, John welcomes back Emma Flin, an investment director at Sovereign Capital Partners,…

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Episode 26: Venkata Nori and Hari Sethalapathy – From Zero Clients to 400 Staff: Building a Global Oracle Consultancy on Trust and Outstanding Service

Unlocking Value Podcast, episode twenty-six Hari Sethalapathy and Venkata Subbarayudu Nori are two of the three co-founders of Winfo Solutions,…

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Episode 25: Andrew Brown – Fresh From Exit: How Founder Independence and a Great Team Secured the Deal

Unlocking Value Podcast, episode twenty-five In this episode, John is joined by Andrew Brown, founder of Acuity Business Solutions, a…

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Episode 24: Nick Synnott – The Personal Cost and Payoff of Building a Founder-Led Business

Unlocking Value Podcast, episode twenty-four In this episode, John is joined by Nick Synnott, founder of Create Engage and host…

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Episode 23: Rob Garner, Luk Smeyers & Deri Hughes – The Four Forces Shaping Consulting in 2026

Unlocking Value Podcast, episode twenty-three This episode is a little different from our usual format. Rather than a one to…

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Episode 22: Dan Figueiredo – A Microsoft Insider’s View on AI in Consulting

Unlocking Value Podcast, episode twenty-two AI is firmly on the agenda for professional services firms, but many leaders are still…

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Episode 21: Lizzie Meadowcroft – Professional Services Deals from Both Sides of the Table

Unlocking Value Podcast, episode twenty-one Lizzie Meadowcroft is part of the value creation team at LDC, the private equity arm…

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Episode 20: Claire Simm – Leadership Lessons from Growing Professional Services Firms

Insights on leading well as firms grow, roles evolve and outside expectations increase. Claire Simm is Managing Director and Global…

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Episode 19: Unlocking Christmas

Reflections on our 2025 conversations and what comes next To round off the year, the show takes a slightly different…

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Episode 18: Olly Purnell – The Anti-Exit Strategy: Building a Consultancy Designed for Long-Term Independence

Independence. Long-term ownership. Growth. What it takes to build a consultancy that lasts. In a sector where scaling often leads…

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Episode 17: Pekka Metsaranta – No Co-Founders, No Roadmap, No Illusions

Inside the unvarnished journey of a solo founder learning to lead, delegate and scale in the world of professional services.…

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Episode 16: Laura Morrill – Game, Set, Growth: An Investor’s View on Resilience, Partnership and Long-term Value

What private equity can teach consultancy founders about resilience, value creation and leading with clarity – with or without investment.…

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Episode 15: Tom Burnet – Building With Intent: Lessons on Focus, Client Service and the Courage to Make Tough Decisions

Intent. Commitment. Tough calls. The discipline behind lasting value. In this episode of the Unlocking Value podcast, John Howard speaks…

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Episode 14: Rhys Hefford – Build, Scale, Exit, Repeat: A Serial Founder’s Playbook

Building. Scaling. Exiting. Starting again, without losing yourself in the process. In this episode of the Unlocking Value podcast, John…

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Episode 13: Marcus Eden-Ellis – The Bid Expert Who’s Turned Selling Into a Science

From instinct to insight: the science of persuasive, value-driven selling In this episode of the Unlocking Value podcast, John Howard…

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Episode 12: Adam Craker – Leading in one of the toughest markets ever and the subtle art of GESHIDO

How to stay agile, motivated and mission-driven through shifting ownership models In this episode of the Unlocking Value podcast, John…

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Jon Grant
Episode 11: Jon Grant – How to get ready to be bought…not just ready to sell

From valuations to leadership alignment: what it really means to be ready to be bought In this episode of the…

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Andy Strickland
Episode 10: Andy Strickland – Demystifying Private Equity

How the right investment partner can drive responsible, long-term value In this episode of the Unlocking Value podcast, John Howard…

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Episode 9: Richard Jones – The Paradox of Difference: How to Make Senior Hires a Success

Why senior hires so often fail – and how to make leadership transitions succeed In this episode of the Unlocking…

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Episode 8: Craig Herd – Marketing Only Matters If It Goes Somewhere

How to turn consultancy sales and marketing into a real growth engine In this episode of the Unlocking Value podcast,…

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Episode 7: Justin Langford – Watermelon KPIs, Moneyball Thinking and Scaling without External Investment

How Justin Langford scaled Coeo with a PE-style playbook – without external funding In this episode, John Howard speaks with…

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Episode 6: After The Deal – What No One Tells You

What really happens once the ink is dry on a transaction In the final episode of this six-part ‘investment story’…

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Episode 5: Getting Ready – What to Do Before You Press Go

What readiness really looks like when selling or seeking investment In this episode, we focus on what it really means…

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Episode 4: What Buyers Look For – And What Spooks Them

How investors assess value, spot risks and decide when to walk away In this episode, we look at how investors…

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Episode 3: What Makes a Business Valuable?

Unpacking the real drivers of high valuations in professional services In this episode, we ask a deceptively simple question: what…

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Episode 2: Are We Really Aligned?

Keeping ambitions, personalities and timelines on track when a transaction looms In this episode, we explore one of the biggest…

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Episode 1: Should We Even Consider a Deal?

Real stories from founders and leaders on deciding if – and when – to sell, take investment or stay independent.…

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