Ignite & Scale - The Cambria Private Capital Podcast with Mike Allen

Hosted by Mike Allen

Business Investing Leisure Automotive

Website RSS feed LinkedIn

Episodes

Latest episode

May 2026

Language

About the show

Our aim is to provide you, our listeners – whether you’re a budding founder, a keen investor, or simply an enthusiast of business innovation – with unique insights and perspectives that can only come from those who have truly walked the path of success. At Cambria Private Capital, we believe in more than just investment; we believe in nurturing potential, sparking growth, and building lasting relationships. Each episode is a step towards uncovering the strategies, challenges, and triumphs that define today’s business landscape. So, whether you're here to find your next investment opportunity or to gather inspiration for your entrepreneurial journey, you’re in the right place.

Listen to episodes

37 recent

May 29, 2026Episode 718 min

Ignite & Scale with Anton Hanley of TLA. — The Future of Automotive Marketing & Data

This week Mike talks to Anton Hanley Anton Hanley is the founder of TLA, a business that grew out of the early online automotive marketplace AskAPrice.com, which launched in 2002 from humble beginnings in Wigan. In the podcast, Anton explains how the company quickly established itself as a dominant player in new car lead generation at a time when few dealerships or manufacturers fully understood the value of digital customer enquiries. Over the years, TLA evolved alongside the automotive industry, helping brands adapt to changing consumer behaviour, digital marketing demands, and the growing importance of data-driven customer acquisition strategies. Mike and Anton discuss the rapid transformation taking place across the automotive sector, including fragmented digital customer journeys, increasing pressure on OEMs to improve marketing ROI, and the growing influence of AI on customer engagement. They explore how TLA operates at the centre of these changes, the realities of scaling a business in a structurally shifting market, and how the wider automotive ecosystem must evolve to keep pace with new technologies, consumer expectations, and emerging competitors. 🔁 Connect & Subscribe• Follow Ignite & Scale on Spotify / Apple• Discover more at cambriaprivatecapital.com• Follow Mike Allen for future episodes & insights© Copyright Cambria Private Capital. All Rights Reserved.

May 14, 2026Episode 619 min

Ignite & Scale, with Jason Cranswick: Why Most Transformations Fail at Execution

This week Mike talks to Jason CranswickJason Cranswick is the founder of Cranswick Consulting, a boutique advisory firm specialising in digital transformation, customer experience and operational performance across the automotive sector. With more than 30 years’ leadership experience spanning OEMs, franchised dealer groups, automotive services and digital ventures, he has held senior executive roles including Chief Operating Officer at Marubeni Auto Investment UK and leadership positions with Audi, SEAT and online vehicle marketplace disruptors. Known for combining strategic vision with hands-on operational delivery, Jason has built a reputation for helping businesses navigate change, accelerate growth and develop high-performing teams across the UK, Europe and South East Asia. Mike and Jason discuss the realities of transformation, leadership and performance in the automotive sector, drawing on Jason Cranswick’s 37 years of experience across OEMs, large dealer groups, digital disruptors and advisory roles. The conversation explores why many businesses struggle to bridge the gap between strategy and execution, the importance of capability, mindset and leadership alignment, and how customer experience must ultimately drive measurable commercial performance. Jason also shares his views on AI, digital transformation and the pace of change facing the industry, arguing that the businesses that succeed over the next five years will be those that effectively combine technology with continuous human upskilling, while maintaining the agility and curiosity needed to adapt to constant change. 🔁 Connect & Subscribe• Follow Ignite & Scale on Spotify / Apple• Discover more at cambriaprivatecapital.com• Follow Mike Allen for future episodes & insights© Copyright Cambria Private Capital. All Rights Reserved.

May 7, 2026Episode 526 min

Ignite & Scale - Sam Baker on Building Mobility VC, Global Expansion & the Future of Mobility Investment

In this episode of Ignite & Scale, Mike Allen talks to Sam Baker. Sam Baker is the Managing Partner of Mobility VC, a global venture platform focused on investing in the underlying infrastructure that enables the future of mobility. His career spans impact-driven work at Kiva, followed by co-founding and scaling a mobility platform operating in over 100 cities worldwide. At Mobility VC, he leads a highly international, operator-led team that combines investment with hands-on support, leveraging deep global networks to help companies expand, form strategic partnerships, and scale across markets.Sam explains that Mobility VC differentiates itself through a bottom-up, relationship-driven investment approach focused on resilience, long-term collaboration, and practical value creation rather than chasing trends. The firm primarily backs B2B mobility solutions that form the “behind-the-scenes” infrastructure of the sector, helping companies internationalize, access strategic partners, and navigate complex markets. He emphasizes the importance of founder resilience, realistic growth expectations, and leveraging diverse investor networks rather than rapid geographic expansion alone. The discussion also highlights a shift in venture strategy toward capital discipline, downside protection, and more flexible investment structures, including later-stage and hybrid deals. Sam underscores that successful outcomes often stem from long-term relationships with founders, adaptability in working with corporates, and a focus on meaningful, sustainable progress over short-term hype. 🔁 Connect & Subscribe• Follow Ignite & Scale on Spotify / Apple• Discover more at cambriaprivatecapital.com• Follow Mike Allen for future episodes & insights© Copyright Cambria Private Capital. All Rights Reserved.

April 29, 2026Episode 427 min

Ignite & Scale - Ben Chodor (CallRevu): Why Conversations Still Drive Revenue

In this episode, Mike talks to Ben ChodorBen Chodor is the CEO of CallRevu, a communications intelligence platform used by thousands of dealerships to turn everyday customer interactions into actionable insight and revenue growth. With a background spanning SaaS, digital media, and communications at scale, he is known for a pragmatic, results-driven approach that aligns product, customer needs, and data to deliver measurable outcomes. Ben focuses on building high-performing teams, maintaining operational discipline, and executing a clear, customer-centric strategy that supports sustainable, long-term growth. In this episode, Mike and Ben discuss how a pivotal shift in Ben's thinking reframed communication from a support function into a direct driver of revenue, and why many dealerships still underestimate where deals are actually won or lost. Despite the industry’s push toward digital transformation, Ben argues that conversations—especially phone calls—remain the highest-value moment, revealing true customer intent in ways dashboards and CRMs simply cannot.Ben discuss CallRevu approach and how it bridges the gap between raw data and meaningful action, highlighting the difference between reporting what happened and understanding why it happened. Ben shares his perspective on the future of AI, voice, and conversational intelligence, where real-time intervention will replace static reporting and help recover missed opportunities instantly. He also breaks down what true ROI looks like for dealers, from improved conversion rates to missed call recovery, and what separates top-performing operators—those who treat communication as a managed, strategic asset. Ultimately, the conversation reinforces a simple but powerful idea: the biggest opportunity in automotive isn’t more data, but better use of the conversations already happening every day.🔁 Connect & Subscribe• Follow Ignite & Scale on Spotify / Apple• Discover more at cambriaprivatecapital.com• Follow Mike Allen for future episodes & insights© Copyright Cambria Private Capital. All Rights Reserved.

April 14, 2026Episode 324 min

Ignite & Scale - LSEG’s Neil Shah on the UK Tech Sector: What the Best Founders Do Differently

This week episode of Ignite & Scale Mike Allen talks to Neil ShahNeil Shah is a senior leader at the London Stock Exchange, where he works closely with ambitious tech and tech-enabled businesses from early scale through to global leaders. He focuses on how companies access capital, scale effectively and navigate strategic options, giving him a front-line view of what separates high-performing founders from the rest across the UK tech sector.Mike and Neil discuss what separates the best founders from the rest, drawing on Neil’s experience working with scaling tech businesses across the UK. They cover how top entrepreneurs think about capital, move from hustle to systems, and evolve as leaders as their companies grow. The conversation also explores common mistakes, how founders are navigating uncertainty, and what it takes to build and scale in today’s UK tech environment.Follow and Connect with Neil - https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilshahuk/🔁 Connect & Subscribe• Follow Ignite & Scale on Spotify / Apple• Discover more at cambriaprivatecapital.com• Follow Mike Allen for future episodes & insights© Copyright Cambria Private Capital. All Rights Reserved.

April 1, 2026Episode 217 min

Scott Gairns, Managing Director, Sophus3 - Customer Data, Transformation & the Future of Automotive Retail

In this episode of Ignite & Scale, we explore how customer insight is reshaping the automotive industry.Mike Allen welcomes Scott Gairns, Managing Director of Sophus3, who shares his experience working with leading automotive retailers and OEMs to turn fragmented customer data into actionable insight.With the industry undergoing rapid transformation — from electrification to digital retail and evolving ownership models — understanding the customer is no longer optional. It’s a competitive advantage.Scott Gairns explains that the real opportunity lies in unifying fragmented data to create a clear, actionable view of the customer—unlocking gains in profitability, retention, and lifetime value. As the sector undergoes major disruption from electrification, digital retail, and new business models, those who embed data into decision-making will gain a decisive edge. Ultimately, success isn’t driven by technology alone, but by leadership, culture, and a commitment to using customer insight as a core strategic capability. 🔁 Connect & Subscribe• Follow Ignite & Scale on Spotify / Apple• Discover more at cambriaprivatecapital.com• Follow Mike Allen for future episodes & insights

March 24, 2026Episode 126 min

Andy Barratt, International Automotive CEO

From Ford Britain to the Future of Automotive — with Andy BarrattAndy Barratt spent nearly 25 years at Ford Motor Company, rising to Managing Director of Ford Britain — a business responsible for 450,000 vehicles annually and $14 billion in revenue. Since then, he's held senior leadership roles across the Middle East and now advises organisations on transformation and growth.In this episode, Andy shares hard-won lessons from leading one of the UK's most important businesses through Brexit and Covid, his experience transforming automotive retail operations in the Middle East, and his unfiltered view on where the industry is heading next.🔁 Connect & Subscribe• Follow Ignite & Scale on Spotify / Apple• Discover more at cambriaprivatecapital.com• Follow Mike Allen for future episodes & insights

October 24, 2025Episode 1023 min

Stuart Widdowson - The Public Market Private Equity Mindset

Guest: Stuart Widdowson – Co-Founder & Fund Manager, Odyssean Capital🔍 Episode OverviewIn this episode, Mike Allen welcomes Stuart Widdowson, one of the UK’s most respected small and mid-cap fund managers and co-founder of Odyssean Capital. With over two decades investing across public and private markets, Stuart shares deep insights on valuations, market inefficiencies, and why applying a private equity mindset to listed companies is one of the most compelling strategies in today’s market.Mike reflects on a 20-year professional relationship with Stuart, from sell-side meetings to deep strategic discussions — and now, the evolution of Odyssean Capital’s highly engaged approach to unlocking value in underappreciated UK businesses.💡 Key Insights & Takeaways• Private Equity Discipline in Public Markets Odyssean applies a focused, hands-on, long-term approach – more akin to buyout investing than conventional portfolio management.• The UK Small-Cap Discount Stuart believes many UK smaller companies trade at 30%+ below intrinsic value, with potential for significant re-rating as capital returns to the market.• Static vs Dynamic Valuation It’s not enough to buy cheap – the true opportunity lies in owning businesses capable of compounding value over five to ten years.• Public vs Private – Valuation Inversion Unusually, private markets now pay premiums over public equities. Stuart views this as a temporary anomaly and a major opportunity for quoted investors.• Looking Ahead – The Next Decade of Opportunity Engaged ownership, operational improvement, and overlooked UK quoted niche global leaders that could define the next cycle for UK equities.🗣 Memorable Quote“The irony today is that private equity managers are paying premiums for businesses that listed investors are ignoring in plain sight.” — Stuart Widdowson📚 Resources Mentioned• Odyssean Investment Trust (OIT)• UK Small & Mid-Cap research on valuation gaps• Public vs Private return dispersion studies🔁 Connect & Subscribe• Follow Ignite & Scale on Spotify / Apple• Discover more at cambriaprivatecapital.com• Follow Mike Allen for future episodes & insights

October 17, 2025Episode 921 min

Building Systems That Empower – Autonomy with Anthony Brennan

Host: Mike Allen – Cambria Private Capital🔍 About This EpisodeIn today’s episode, Mike Allen sits down with Anthony Brennan, Board & Business Development Director at Autonomy, part of the MTC Group. Autonomy is redefining how dealerships and OEMs deliver digital experiences by designing platforms that combine freedom, flexibility and scale.This conversation dives into how Autonomy was built — not just as a product, but as a philosophy. It’s about giving power back to teams, dealers, and customers through smart systems that enable rather than restrict.🧭 Key Themes & Talking Points1️⃣ Origins & VisionWhat sparked the creation of Autonomy — and what ‘autonomy’ truly means in an industry rooted in legacy systems.2️⃣ Scaling GracefullyThe balance between customisation for dealers and the discipline of keeping a robust, scalable core.3️⃣ Team Autonomy & CultureHow Autonomy empowers internal teams to make decisions, innovate fast and remain aligned.4️⃣ Customer Success StoriesReal-world impact: dealers and OEMs who have transformed performance through Autonomy’s platform.5️⃣ Lessons for LeadersAnthony’s top lessons on building autonomy into products, organisations, and leadership structures.🎯 Who Should ListenDealer principals & OEM leadersFounders in platform or SaaS businessesAnyone scaling teams, tech or culture🔗 Learn MoreExplore Autonomy at: getautonomy.co.ukMore Ignite & Scale episodes: Cambria Private Capital

October 1, 2025Episode 813 min

How AI Is Driving the Future of Automotive Retail – With Devin Daly of Impel

Show Notes – Strong on AI, Automotive 🚘🤖In this episode of Ignite & Scale, we sit down with Devin Daly, founder and CEO of Impel, the first unicorn on our podcast. Devin takes us inside the incredible journey from investment banking to building a global AI powerhouse transforming automotive retail.Impel now powers 36bn shopper interactions, driving over $9 billion in sales across 51 countries. From humble beginnings creating 360° product visualizations for fashion brands to becoming the leading AI platform in automotive, Devin shares how bold vision, smart pivots, and relentless focus on people and culture fuelled their success.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How Impel scaled from fashion e-commerce to revolutionizing automotive AIWhy car dealerships’ razor-thin margins made them ripe for disruptionHow AI is unifying the fragmented consumer journey across sales, service, and aftersalesThe role of culture, agility, and world-class talent in scaling to unicorn statusLessons from building an AI Center of Excellence in GeorgiaWhat the next 5–10 years look like for AI in automotive retail – from digital concierges to predictive vehicle acquisitionKey Takeaways:AI isn’t replacing people – it’s augmenting dealerships, boosting profitability, and elevating customer experience.Scaling globally means balancing speed, agility, and culture.The future of automotive retail will be driven by always-on AI brains guiding the entire consumer lifecycle.📌 Learn more about Impel: impel.ai 📧 Contact: info@impel.ai