ERUPT

ERUPT Podcast with Angeley Mullins

Continuing the new series of ERUPT, and the first episode of the series in 2025, we open up the conversation on 'Start-up Stories: When To Bring in a CRO/ CCO?'
Tom Walsh (Executive Search Manager at Annapurna) is joined by Angeley Mullins (CMO & CCO) for a fascinating discussion on the key stages start-up organisations go through and where the focus should be to excel.
Falling back on her own experiences, Angeley describes the mistakes most founders make when it comes to progressing through the start-up stages, how essential getting your first hires right is, and the importance of building teams that work well together, not against one another.
Listen now to hear from an established CMO & CCO on the timeline of a successful start-up.

In the Spotlight with Alistair Palmar (Mindset & Performance Coach)

Have you ever felt that there is something greater you could be contributing to the world, either personally or professionally?
Alistair Palmar, an experienced Mindset & Performance Coach at 49 Consulting LLP, recently sat down with James Ballard, Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Annapurna, to educate us on how to listen to that voice that’s telling us we want something more, and act on it, rather than pushing it to the back of our to-do list.
Alistair shares transformative insights on breaking free from societal expectations, rediscovering what truly brings you joy, and making bold choices to align your career and lifestyle with what matters most to you.
From practical strategies for reconnecting with passions you’ve left behind to actionable advice on making meaningful life changes, this conversation will leave you inspired to:
✅ Acknowledge who you are and where you want to go✅ Say "yes" to the things that spark joy and "no" to what doesn’t✅ Start building a life driven by your goals - not others’ expectations
If you're ready to trade burnout for purpose and rediscover the spark that once motivated you, this episode is your first step toward lasting change.
Listen now to take the first step to a new you.

In the Spotlight with Amanda Rajkumar (HR Leader & ex Adidas - Global Human Resources, People & Culture)

Amanda Rajkumar, an inspiring HR leader with experience at global giants like BNP Paribas and Adidas, recently joined James Ballard, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Annapurna, for an open and honest chat about her incredible journey, both personal and professional.
From her early days growing up in Northampton, UK, to stepping into the world of tech headhunting, and later taking on exciting challenges abroad in New York and Germany, Amanda’s story is a testament to finding your passion and working hard to achieve success within it.
In this episode, Amanda shares how her upbringing shaped her drive to succeed, why she chose HR after studying Psychology at University, and what her years of experience have taught her, offering valuable advice for anyone looking to forge a similar path.
Whether you’re in HR or simply looking for inspiration to tackle your own challenges, Amanda’s story will leave you feeling motivated and inspired.
Listen now to hear Amanda's thoughts on the direction of HR and why she believes that the future success of organisations depends on their ability to develop exceptional leaders.

The Cost of Not: Early Careers with Richard Freeborn (ex VP Global TA & Employee Experience at Adidas)

The Cost of Not: Strategic Workforce Planning with Gergo Safar (Strategic Workforce Manager at BT Group)

This week, we welcome Gergo Safar, Strategic Workforce Manager at BT Group for a conversation around 'The Cost of Not: Strategic Workforce Planning'. During his discussion with Hope Milne, Gergo stressed that workforce planning is never as straightforward as setting a plan in January and sticking to it through to December. With unexpected challenges constantly reshaping the market, Gergo emphasised the need for adaptable workforce strategies that balance accuracy with flexibility. 🤸‍♂️Drawing on his wealth of experience, Gergo provides actionable insights on how you can build a workforce plan that evolves with the ever-changing market conditions.You won't want to miss this one! Follow the ERUPT podcast on your favourite streaming platform.

The Cost of Not: Internal Mobility with Andrea Marston (Talent Acquisition Director, EMEA at Nutanix)

Join us as Andrea Marston, Talent Acquisition Director EMEA at Nutanix, sits down with Hope Milne, Manager at Annapurna for a discussion on ‘The Cost of Not: Internal Mobility’. ♻️🤸
 
Andrea sheds light on how her team navigated a complex company acquisition by introducing a system of internal movement, giving TA employees the chance to explore different departments and even geographical areas. This approach not only gave employees the chance to widen their skillsets, but it also enabled the business to stay efficient during a challenging period by having people where they needed them most.
 
Drawing from her extensive experience, including her impactful work at VMware, Andrea shares insights and real-world examples on how fostering flexibility within teams can drive organisational success while improving retention.
 
In today’s evolving working world, employees want to expand their skills, demanding that companies show a real dedication to internal progression, but that progression doesn’t have to be as linear as it’s usually thought of and instead can be more “squiggly”.
 
This episode is packed with transformative insights to help organisations enhance performance, retain top talent, and unlock the full potential of their workforce through internal mobility strategies.

The Cost of Not: The Best Athlete with Aaron Beider (Head of Talent Acquisition at Vertical Aerospace)

Aaron Beider, Head of Talent Acquisition at Vertical Aerospace, recently sat down with Hope Milne, Manager at Annapurna, for a discussion on 'The Cost of Not: The Best Athlete'. 🧠🏋️‍♂️Aaron shares why, in the fast-paced aerospace industry, finding exceptional talent and moving quickly when you do find it is non-negotiable. The 'Best Athlete' concept allows them to hire extraordinary individuals without the red tape, enabling them to compete against their competitors for the best talent, not just now, but in the future too.Some talent only comes to the market once, so having the policies and hiring structure in place to be able to move quickly and snap them up is essential because if you miss that opportunity, you may never get it again.This innovative approach to hiring drives home an important message for organisations who are looking to stay ahead of their industry; hire the best, whenever and wherever you find them. Aaron's conversation with Hope is full of transformative insights that he and Vertical Aerospace are implementing and others can learn from to remain/ establish themselves as industry leaders.

ERUPT: Building Future Ready GTM Strategies with Louis Fernandes

In the first episode of the newest season of ERUPT, we are opening up the topic of 'Building Future Ready GTM Strategies'.
Tom Walsh (Manager at Annapurna) is joined by Louis Fernandes (GTM and Sales Revenue Leader, ex VP Sales at Uberall) for a fascinating conversation around productivity and how we use productivity to coach, equip & train our teams within a sales environment.
Louis introduces the topic as we look to get our sales reps as productive as possible and making revenue generation profitable. Louis brings the journey of inspiring the next generation of sales leaders to life with some fascinating examples from his career.

Ellevate: Overcoming Hurdles with Daniela Lück (VP of Engineering at SimCorp)

On this episode, we meet with Daniela Lück (VP of Engineering at SimCorp) to discuss overcoming hurdles and thriving as a senior female leader in the technology world. Daniela shares her personal journey from her home country to moving abroad during a Civil War where she started University and got stuck into her career in Germany and eventually in Copenhagen. 
Daniela shares some advice for young women considering a career in the IT sector, transferable skills she picked up over time and lessons learned along the way.  

ForTheFounders: Leading Through Uncertainty at ERUPT: Excellence in Leadership

Our ForTheFounders network has showcased some sensational leaders over the past few years and this session brings together 3 CEOs for a discussion about what our employees are looking for in a leader in an uncertain climate.
What do we need from our leaders? How important is it for our leaders to be the champions of ethical practices? How we are navigating some of the continued challenges with an ever-growing remote workforce?
Join Rasmus Bjerregaard (CEO at Januar), Rui Casais (CEO at Funcom) & Markus Kroeger (Founder & CEO at PANION) for an open and candid conversation, with an insight into what it really takes to lead a growing organisation.