Shifting Views with Willis

Hosted by Wayne Willis

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Welcome to the Shifting Views podcast with Wayne Willis. A global innovation consultant, podcaster, musician, speaker, and content creator from the UK! This is a podcast for curious professionals who want to learn, improve themselves, and have a curiosity for new ideas. This show is all about thinking differently and shifting views about business, community and society challenges. We debate, we learn, we challenge the norms, we close the binaries. Subscribe for the latest episodes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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60 recent

June 9, 202647 min

Why Live Streaming Is the Fastest Growing Career Nobody Takes Seriously

You probably know someone who's dismissed live streaming as a hobby. A bedroom project. Something kids do. George Pavlovs, known online simply as Pavlovs would strongly disagree. At 23, this Hull-based TikTok live streamer has built a genuine community, secured brand deals, and hit his first £10,000 income month. But what makes his story fascinating isn't just the milestone; it's that when he hit it, he barely stopped to notice.In this episode of Shifting Views with Willis, George shares the real story behind the creator economy: the late nights, the sacrifices, the failed businesses before this one, and the moment in a work canteen that changed everything. We get into the economics of live streaming, the power of community, and why traditional businesses are making a serious mistake by not taking this industry seriously.The creator economy is now worth a quarter of a trillion dollars globally, and it's growing at 23% a year. This is not a trend. This is a shift. And this episode will change how you see it.Contact Pavlovs:TikTok: @George_PavlovsEmail: contactpavlovs@gmail.com#CreatorEconomy #LiveStreaming #ContentCreation #Entrepreneurship Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

June 1, 202639 min

The Talent Myth: Why Businesses Are Ignoring a Global Skills Revolution | David Obi

You've heard businesses say they can't find the right people. But what if that's not the real problem? What if the system itself is broken, filtering out exceptional talent before a human ever sees it?In this episode, Wayne Willis sits down with David Obi, founder of RosyLinks, the company behind RosyJobs and Scholars Citadel, AI-powered platforms built to connect skilled, underrepresented talent with employers across the globe. David's story is personal: a master's degree in data science and AI from the University of Hull, and still unable to navigate a job system that wasn't built for people like him. So he built his own.They explore the myth of the talent shortage, the damage done by automated filtering systems, and what it really means to hire for potential rather than postcodes. From the 98% of Fortune 500 companies that use AI recruitment tools and exclude great candidates, to international students who spend thousands on UK degrees and are then locked out of the workforce, this is a conversation that challenges how we think about talent, opportunity, and who gets a shot.This is Shifting Views with Willis.Visit Rosylinks here: https://rosylinks.com/#Recruitment #DiversityHiring #GlobalTalent #FutureOfWork #BusinessLeadership Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

April 30, 202655 min

Inside the World of Sim Racing with Grid Finder CEO, Tom Bunten.

Most people still see gaming as entertainment. Something separate from business. A distraction rather than an opportunity.In this episode of Shifting Views with Willis, I sit down with Tom Bunten, CEO of Grid Finder and now leading within Traxion, to explore why that view is outdated and what business leaders can learn from the world of sim racing, gaming communities and digital platforms.Tom shares his journey from structured environments as a Naval Officer into the uncertainty of start-ups, building Grid Finder from a simple idea into a platform that connects racing communities across the world, and navigating investment, acquisition and growth within a larger group.This conversation goes beyond gaming. It’s about how modern businesses are built, how communities create real commercial value, and why the human element is becoming the most important asset in a digital and AI-driven world.We explore how sim racing communities operate like real organisations, with roles, structure, and identity, and why engagement in gaming is often stronger than in traditional marketing. And what leaders in industries like manufacturing, retail and professional services can take from this to better connect with their customers and teams.Tom also speaks openly about the reality of entrepreneurship, the difference between being a founder and a CEO, and why leadership is not something you are, but something you actively practice.If you’re a business leader, entrepreneur, or someone interested in innovation, digital communities, gaming, or the future of business, this episode will challenge how you think about growth, engagement and opportunity.Subscribe for more conversations that shift views on business, society and innovation.#business #entrepreneurship #leadership #gaming #innovation #simracing #gridfinder #onlinecommunity #businesspodcast #shiftingviews Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

April 13, 202636 min

Adapt Your Business. Grow Your Revenue

Most businesses know they could be operating better. Fewer actually know how.In this episode of Shifting Views with Willis, Juan Horta, founder of Business Consultancy, Erox, joins the pod to explore what’s really holding businesses back from growth. This isn’t about chasing trends or jumping on AI hype. It’s about systems, structure and mindset.Juan represents a new generation of entrepreneurs who have grown up with technology as second nature. Having lived and breathed digital tools, systems and automation from day one, he brings a different perspective to established businesses. One that challenges long-standing processes, questions assumptions and identifies where time, money and opportunity are being lost.The conversation explores the gap between legacy experience and modern thinking, and why the combination of the two is where real progress happens. Established businesses carry years of knowledge, industry understanding and relationships. But without adapting how they operate, they risk falling behind in a fast-changing commercial landscape.Juan works with businesses to bridge that gap. Identifying inefficiencies, introducing practical technology, and helping teams rethink how they work so they can become more efficient, more profitable and better positioned for future growth.They also discuss why many leaders resist change, how mindset plays a critical role in business performance, and why adapting systems and processes is often the simplest way to unlock growth and revenue.If you’re a business owner or leader who knows things could be better but isn’t sure where to start, this is a grounded conversation about what meaningful change actually looks like.Subscribe for more conversations on innovation, business, leadership and thinking differently.#BusinessGrowth #DigitalTransformation #Innovation #SME #Leadership #ProcessImprovement #AIinBusiness #UKBusiness #Efficiency #Entrepreneurship Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

March 23, 202647 min

Why Your Business is Telling the Wrong Story

Most businesses think they’re telling a strong story. In reality, they’re talking about themselves, and their customers have already switched off.In this episode of Shifting Views with Willis, Wayne Willis sits down with John Elbing, founder of Standpoint and author of the number one international best-selling book Storybuilding. The conversation explores a simple but often overlooked truth. Customers don’t care about what you do. They care about what it does for them.John shares why so many organisations struggle to connect with their audience and how a shift in perspective can completely change how a business communicates, attracts attention and wins the right customers.They discuss the gap between how businesses see themselves and how customers actually see them, why emotional decision-making plays such a big role in buying behaviour, and how companies often end up solving the wrong problem. John also breaks down his Storybuilding approach and explains how recognition, perception and projection can be used to create messaging that genuinely resonates.The conversation goes beyond marketing. It touches on positioning, culture, and why having a clear and shared story inside a business is critical for growth and decision-making.If you’re a business owner, leader or marketer looking to cut through noise and communicate your value more effectively, this episode will challenge how you think about your message.Listen now and rethink the story you’re telling.#ShiftingViewsWithWillis #BusinessPodcast #UKBusinessPodcast #MarketingStrategy #BrandStorytelling #StorytellingInBusiness #CustomerExperience #CustomerFirst #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusinessUK #Leadership #BusinessStrategy #ContentMarketing #DigitalMarketing #BrandPositioning #MarketingTips #B2BMarketing #BusinessAdvice #Innovation #ThinkDifferently #PersonalBrand #PodcastUK #YouTubeBusiness #MarketingInsights Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

February 9, 20261 hr 4 min

How to Scale Your Agency without Sacrificing your Personal Life

Most agency owners don’t have a motivation problem. They have a systems problem.In this episode of Shifting Views with Willis, Wayne Willis is joined by Jesse P Gilmore, founder of Niche in Control, to unpack why so many agencies hit a ceiling despite working harder than ever.Jesse works with agency owners, typically earning $20,000+ per month, who feel busy, stretched and successful on paper, but stuck in delivery, firefighting and burnout. In this conversation, he breaks down the critical difference between being self-employed and being a true founder, and why that distinction matters if you want to scale without sacrificing your personal life.The discussion focuses on the systems, processes, and frameworks founders need to move from doer to leader, remove themselves as bottlenecks, and build businesses that can grow without relying on their constant presence. Jesse also explores the mindset shifts required at each stage of growth, how poorly designed businesses quietly create burnout, and why success needs to be defined by the individual, not borrowed from hustle culture.This episode is particularly relevant for agency owners, consultants and service-based founders who want sustainable growth, clearer structure and a business that supports their life rather than consumes it.#AgencyOwner #BusinessSystems #FounderMindset #ScaleYourAgency #LeadershipDevelopment #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #ProcessDriven #WorkLifeBalance #ShiftingViews Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

January 26, 20261 hr 8 min

What You Didn't Know About Working in HR

The HR department is often seen as the team you only hear from when something has gone wrong. But is that perception fair, and what does HR actually deal with day to day inside a business?In this episode of Shifting Views with Willis, Wayne is joined by Ali Lambert, founder of HR Guru. With over 20 years’ experience in HR, Ali offers a candid look at the realities of working in a role where emotion, conflict and responsibility regularly collide.Ali explains why HR is so often left managing the consequences of decisions made elsewhere in an organisation, and shares real-world examples of the situations HR professionals are expected to handle quietly and professionally. She also highlights the human side of HR that employees and leaders rarely get to see.The conversation explores how HR has become increasingly weighed down by policy, process and admin, what that has cost organisations culturally, and why clearer, more human approaches to people management matter more than ever. Ali also discusses the thinking behind HEY GURU, a living employee handbook designed to reflect how people actually work today, and where the balance should sit between digital systems and human judgement.This episode offers an honest insight into what it really takes to work in HR, why getting it wrong is costly for businesses, and why getting it right can make a profound difference to culture, performance and trust at work.HR is about people, and people are what make businesses work.#HR #HRProfessionals #PeopleManagement #WorkplaceCulture #Leadership #BusinessLeadership Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

January 5, 20261 hr 9 min

Personal Branding is Broken. Let's Talk about Reputation.

Everyone is told they need a personal brand. Post more. Go viral. Build influence. Hustle harder.But what if that advice is wrong?In this episode of Shifting Views with Willis, I’m joined by Chelsea Spencer, founder of brand agency, Big Reputation, to challenge the modern obsession with personal branding, influencer culture and vanity metrics.Chelsea argues that real success is built through reputation, experience and integrity, not algorithms or online noise. We talk about hustle culture burnout, the difference between brand and reputation, why so many founders get marketing wrong, and what it actually means to build trust in business.If you’re a founder, leader or professional trying to grow without losing your values, this conversation will make you think again.#branding #personalbranding #brandreputation #marketing #businessmarketing #businessbranding Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

December 17, 202559 min

Confessions of a Dyslexic Madman.

Chris Murphy has risen through the echelons of the advertising industry.From his beginnings in Hull, UK, to working at global agencies such as Grey London and Saatchi & Saatchi, Chris now lives in Sydney, Australia. He has served as General Manager at The Hallway and is currently Head of Creative and Design at G Squared, working on campaigns for some of the world’s most recognisable brands.Not bad for someone who struggled at school, is dyslexic, and was once told by a teacher that he wouldn’t amount to much.Chris joined the Shifting Views with Willis podcast to talk openly about how dyslexia has shaped his life and career. Rather than seeing it as a barrier, he explains how he learned to harness dyslexic thinking as a strength and a competitive advantage. Being neurodivergent has helped him spot patterns, approach problems differently, and see solutions others often miss.In this episode, Chris discusses:The challenges he faced in education and early life.His rapid rise through the advertising world before the age of 30.How dyslexia and neurodivergent thinking influenced his leadership and creative work.Why owning your difference matters more than hiding it.Chris also shares the thinking behind his Ignite Talk, “Success is a System”, where he introduces his End State Planning framework. It’s a practical way of breaking big ambitions into clear, achievable steps, especially when navigating personal or professional barriers.If you’re neurodivergent, whether that’s dyslexia, ADHD, autism or other traits, this conversation challenges the idea that you need to “fix” how you think. Your difference may be the very thing that gives you the edge.Watch Chris’s Ignite Talk, “Success is a System”, here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMmBy6agfEk#neurodiversity #neurodivergent #dyslexia #advertising #adland #creativeleadership #thinkingdifferently Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

November 25, 202540 min

The True Benefits of Ethical Volunteering.

Wayne is joined by Kimberly Haley-Coleman, the founder and CEO of Globe Aware, to explore how immersive, community-led volunteering can transform the way we see the world. Kimberly explains why Globe Aware rejects the old charity model and instead builds programmes where volunteers work directly alongside local people on projects chosen and led by the community.This conversation highlights how short-term experiences can create deep personal change, build genuine global awareness and empower both volunteers and communities. In this episode:What ethical, community-driven volunteering looks likeThe impact of small, well-organised local projectsHow cross-cultural experiences build empathy and shift perspectivesThe role of soft power in shaping global relationshipsWhy volunteers often gain as much (or more) as the communities they serveWhy volunteering holidays are amazing for self-improvementThis is a grounded and inspiring conversation about purpose, perspective and the power of stepping outside your own environment.#volunteering #gapyear #globalaid #volunteerimpact #globalcommunity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.