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Real Founder Journeys
Hey, I’m Glenn and when I first launched this podcast, it was called Never Mind The Job Spec - a deliberate rejection of overly polished, linear career interviews.
The aim? Honest, informal, human-first conversations about the messy, non-linear paths people actually take on their personal and professional journeys.
Over time, the stories revealed something deeper - the combination of individual purpose and the journey of becoming a Founder and Leader.
So now it’s Real Founder Journeys —a space for raw stories, lessons learned, and personal insight. If you’re a Founder, builder, or just startup-curious, this one’s for you.
Thanks for listening. Let’s get into it.
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Nick Brackenbury - Co-Founder of NearSt
As the first guest on Season 2 of the podcast, I was really excited to delve into the career journey of Nick Brackenbury, the CEO of NearSt. Nick shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career path that led him to NearSt, and how his initial motivation was driven by a desire to maintain control over his destiny and work in an environment where creativity thrived, he said, "“I didn’t want to go down a route where I didn’t have control over my own destiny”.
Reflecting on his stroke of luck in being at the right place at the right time - “I was lucky, being at the right place, at the right time, with the right set of interests” - Nick emphasises the importance of seizing opportunities aligned with your personal interests.
A key turning point occurs as Nick decides to focus on digital creation over traditional advertising, highlighting the significance of carving a unique niche. Drawing from his experiences at Oglivy, Nick discusses the profound impact of good leadership on shaping his approach to working with people and subsequently running NearSt.
As Nick shares the story of NearSt, he offers valuable insights in building MVPs, the challenge of bridging the gap between two worlds of attribution, and the combined feelings of frustration and engagement that can influence you when you're solving novel problems in the business landscape.
I personally gained valuable insight from Nick's entrepreneurial journey, including the challenges of hiring in a startup, introducing the foundational elements of company culture, and his perspective on adapting the company's culture post-COVID, where he really emphasises the importance of being deliberate with time, both professionally and personally.
A consistent theme in the conversation with Nick, is his fearlessness when faced with new and complex challenges; his motto of "back yourself" really resonates loudly, as offers his 3 key pieces of advise for aspiring Founders and Co-Founders.
You can watch the full conversation on our YouTube channel here: Never Mind The Job Spec
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