Raconteur

Raconteur Stories that connect modern business. Certified B Corp. PPA Business Media Brand of the Year 2022.

We help leaders understand the world of business and how it is changing. We believe that incisive content, matched with outstanding design, can inspire leaders to make better decisions and build better businesses.

Kabir Ahmed Shakir's journey from Unilever to Microsoft and Tata Communications reveals that true transformation extends...
14/11/2025

Kabir Ahmed Shakir's journey from Unilever to Microsoft and Tata Communications reveals that true transformation extends beyond financial metrics. For CFOs, chasing AI return on investment should give way to cultivating a culture of continuous learning and purpose-driven change.

His experience shows that resilience and reinvention demand more than technology – they require shifting mindsets and prioritising adaptability to keep pace with rapidly evolving markets.

Kabir Ahmed Shakir’s career – spanning senior roles at Microsoft, Unilever and Tata Communications – has given him a ringside view of transformation at the some of the world's most influential organisations. He's what he's learnt.

Corporate fear of backlash has long silenced climate communication, allowing incremental efforts to persist unseen by co...
13/11/2025

Corporate fear of backlash has long silenced climate communication, allowing incremental efforts to persist unseen by consumers. But as public concern shifts rightward and environmental NGOs embrace collaboration over confrontation, silence risks eroding trust. In 2026, brands that engage openly and credibly stand to build stronger connections in a landscape where climate is no longer inherently polarising.

Corporate silence on climate has gone on too long. As public attitudes evolve and partnerships replace polarisation, brands that communicate boldly – and credibly – stand to gain trust, not lose it

At de Novo Solutions, CFO Paul Shilham brings a rare blend of curiosity and humanity to finance leadership. Navigating a...
13/11/2025

At de Novo Solutions, CFO Paul Shilham brings a rare blend of curiosity and humanity to finance leadership. Navigating a sector reshaped by AI and fast innovation, he champions integrity and adaptability over traditional routines. Paul’s insights reveal the evolving role of CFOs in fast-growing digital businesses and the value of authentic, supportive leadership.

From self-taught accountant to CFO, Paul Shilham has built his career on curiosity, integrity and balance – qualities now shaping de Novo Solutions’ next phase of growth

Success can breed a dangerous comfort zone. Drawing on the principles of disruptive innovation, this article uncovers ho...
12/11/2025

Success can breed a dangerous comfort zone. Drawing on the principles of disruptive innovation, this article uncovers how companies, like Bob Dylan in 1965, must embrace the unfamiliar early, even when it unsettles their audiences. For CMOs, balancing immediate results with fostering bold new ideas is the key to avoiding obsolescence. Innovation thrives when brands trust in what’s nascent, giving novel concepts space to create the future ahead of widespread acceptance.

The greatest barrier to innovation isn’t technology – it’s comfort. Brands must help audiences embrace the unfamiliar before it feels safe

Christmas advertising in the UK has become a seasonal spectacle rivalled only by the Super Bowl. Yet with £12bn projecte...
11/11/2025

Christmas advertising in the UK has become a seasonal spectacle rivalled only by the Super Bowl. Yet with £12bn projected to be spent and scores of brands competing for attention, the question arises: have we reached peak Christmas ad?

This year’s John Lewis campaign prompts fresh debate on how to navigate nostalgia and novelty in festive storytelling. Creatives must balance timeless motifs audiences expect with a desire for innovation, all while reading the room amid societal challenges.

As patterns shift from emotional tears to light-heartedness, the art of standing out during the busiest time for retailers demands insight beyond simply ticking festive boxes.



They are a tentpole of the festive season, but have we reached peak Christmas advert? We spoke to four experts to find out

The UK’s AI Growth Lab aims to transform regulation into a catalyst for innovation and economic growth.By offering sandb...
11/11/2025

The UK’s AI Growth Lab aims to transform regulation into a catalyst for innovation and economic growth.
By offering sandbox environments for businesses and regulators to collaborate, it seeks to balance safety and oversight while accelerating AI adoption across vital sectors such as health, construction and finance.
This proactive approach could redefine how the UK competes on the global stage, making regulation a driver rather than a barrier to progress.

The UK government’s new framework invites businesses to shape the rules of engagement for AI by blending pro-innovation policy with oversight aimed at redefining how the UK globally competes

As COP30 convenes in the heart of the Amazon, the milestone summit faces skepticism amid rising emissions and faltering ...
10/11/2025

As COP30 convenes in the heart of the Amazon, the milestone summit faces skepticism amid rising emissions and faltering commitments. Once hailed as a driver of global climate action, the conference risks settling into ceremonial repetition rather than delivering the decisive change this moment demands. Will promises made beneath the rainforest canopy translate into transformative policies or mere political rhetoric?

Despite three decades of summits, global emissions have continued to rise and major economies are still divided over responsibility

Nick Canney’s journey from manufacturing to leading Innocent Drinks offers a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership. B...
10/11/2025

Nick Canney’s journey from manufacturing to leading Innocent Drinks offers a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership.

By redefining the brand’s purpose and leading with a clear set of values, he demonstrates how integrity and commercial success are not mutually exclusive — especially amid pressing environmental challenges.

His approach highlights the power of simplicity and a triple-win mindset that favours consumers, customers and the planet alike.

Innocent Drinks’ CEO Nick Canney on rebuilding the brand, defining purpose and leading with values in an era of climate and commercial pressure

As AI-driven automation reshapes the workplace, companies increasingly face difficult choices around redundancy. Yet UK ...
07/11/2025

As AI-driven automation reshapes the workplace, companies increasingly face difficult choices around redundancy. Yet UK redundancy law has not fundamentally changed, committing employers to fairness, transparency and explainability in dismissals.

With AI influencing workforce decisions more than ever, legal experts question whether existing frameworks sufficiently protect employees and maintain justice. This evolving challenge calls for careful management and may soon demand updated regulation to address algorithmic impacts on jobs.

More firms are citing automation as a catalyst for major layoffs, but employment experts warn against cutting too deep, too fast. Redundancies still have to be fair, transparent and explainable

As AI shifts from pilot projects to fundamental business strategy, the role of chief AI officer has become pivotal in le...
06/11/2025

As AI shifts from pilot projects to fundamental business strategy, the role of chief AI officer has become pivotal in leading ethical and effective adoption.

The CAIO bridges cutting-edge technology with governance and cross-departmental collaboration, responding to the rising need for organisational oversight amid expanding AI applications and regulatory frameworks.

With momentum from government mandates to FTSE 100 appointments, this evolving leadership role promises to shape how companies harness AI responsibly in the decade ahead.

The CAIO has emerged as a critical new leadership role to safely guide organisations through the transformational integration of AI

Laura Linden is reshaping the CFO role by blending strategic finance expertise with a commitment to financial literacy a...
06/11/2025

Laura Linden is reshaping the CFO role by blending strategic finance expertise with a commitment to financial literacy and empowerment. Through her work as Feisty FD founder, her new book and forthcoming app, she challenges the notion that finance is only for specialists, emphasizing mindset and clear communication to drive business growth and inclusion.

Taking the role of fractional CFO to a whole new level by empowering women, launching an app, and writing her first book, Laura Linden is an example to finance leaders everywhere

In today’s crowded market, every brand claims to disrupt. True outsiders distinguish themselves not by volume but throug...
05/11/2025

In today’s crowded market, every brand claims to disrupt. True outsiders distinguish themselves not by volume but through unwavering conviction and clarity.

By embedding belief into every action, brands like Oatly and Touchland use conviction as a strategic tool to rewrite the rules and redefine their categories.

The shift away from polished perfection towards authenticity and evolution signals a new era where brand agility is not just creative but an ethical imperative.

The age of disruption has gone corporate. Today’s true outsiders aren’t fighting the system, they’re using brand as a tool to redefine it, turning conviction and clarity into competitive advantage

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