Behind the SME

Ever wondered what it really takes to grow a small or medium-sized business? In each episode, we dive deep into the stories, strategies, and secrets of innovative leaders in the SME world. From overcoming challenges to celebrating wins, this is your inside look into what drives success in today’s fast-paced business landscape. 🔑 Key insights 🌟 Real stories from real business owners ⚡ Actionable advice for entrepreneurs & leaders 💡 Fresh perspectives on industry trends Hosted by Adam Kene, the CEO of Kene Partners and Co-Founder of OPUS. Contact us: hello@behindthesme.co.uk Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-t... Connect on other platforms: https://linktr.ee/behindthesme Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the SME is a business podcast hosted by Adam Kene, with 28 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Adam Kene hosts Behind the SME, a business show with 28 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #26

  AI as a Teammate: Becoming an “Agent Boss” with Rahan Arif

  Jan 29, 202655 minS0

  <h2>Behind the SME with Rahan Arif, Co-founder of BossUp</h2><p><br></p><p>AI is moving from tool to teammate, and that changes what leadership looks like inside an SME.</p><br><p>In this episode of Behind the SME, Adam Kene speaks with Rahan Arif, a seasoned entrepreneur and transformation leader with nearly two decades at the forefront of digital disruption. Rahan has built and scaled product organisations across cloud, low code, automation, and AI, delivering platforms that have reshaped how enterprises operate. Now, as a founder at BossUp, he is focused on the Agent Boss economy...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #25

  From Founder to CEO: Building, Letting Go and Leading in the Age of AI with Evgeny Shadchnev

  Jan 15, 20261h 2mS0

  <h2>Behind the SME with Evgeny Shadchnev, Founder of Makers, CEO coach and author specialising in leadership transitions.</h2><p><br></p><p>In this episode of Behind the SME, host Adam Kene sits down with Evgeny Shadchnev, founder of Makers and one of the UK’s most respected voices on founder-to-CEO transitions, to unpack the real journey of building, scaling and ultimately stepping away from a high-growth startup.</p><br><p>Evgeny shares how his background in computer science and early career as a software developer led him to spot a major gap between academia and industry - sparking th...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #24

  A Million Tabs Open: Inside the ADHD Mind with Leanne Maskell

  Nov 20, 20251h 4mS0

  <h2>Behind the SME with Leanne Maskell, 5x best-selling author, coach and Director at ADHD Works.</h2><p><br></p><p>In this episode of Behind the SME, host Adam Kene speaks with Leanne Maskell - author, coach, and Director at ADHD Works - about her remarkable journey from international modelling and severe mental health struggles to becoming a global voice for neurodivergent empowerment and workplace inclusion.</p><br><p>Leanne shares how receiving an ADHD diagnosis transformed her life and career, leading her to build the UK’s first CPD-certified ADHD coaching qualification and train more than 600 ADHD and au...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #23

  Community First: Solving Public Safety Through AI and Data with Michael Houghton

  Nov 6, 202557 minS0

  <h2>Behind the SME with Michael, Co-Founder of Community Wolf.</h2><p><br></p><p>What if public safety could be crowdsourced and improved with the power of AI?</p><br><p>In this episode of Behind the SME, host Adam Kene speaks with Michael Houghton - entrepreneur and co-founder of Community Wolf - about his journey from corporate engineering to building a mission-led startup tackling public safety challenges in South Africa.</p><br><p>They discuss the lessons learned from navigating early career pivots, embracing naivety while building expertise, and creating a platform that empowers communities to participate in...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #22

  Stop Reacting, Start Anticipating: The Power of Foresight with Athena Peppes

  Oct 23, 202552 minS0

  <h3>Behind the SME with Athena Peppes, Futurist and Economist, Advisor at BossUp.AI and Director of Futures at Beacon Thought Leadership </h3><p><br></p><p>What if you could see disruption coming and turn it into opportunity?</p><br><p>In this episode of Behind the SME, host Adam Kene, speaks with Athena Peppes — futurist, economist, and former Accenture strategist — about how small and medium-sized businesses can use foresight to anticipate change, build resilience, and stay ahead in a world of constant disruption.</p><br><p>They break down practical ways to “look to the horizon” without losing sight of...

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on Behind the SME. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.