Claire Davenport on career bets, leading through change & getting more women into the C-suite

Claire Davenport on career bets, leading through change & getting more women into the C-suite

Author: JBM, James Mitra October 15, 2025 Duration: 39:12
Welcome back to Season 14 of 40 Minute Mentor!  In today’s episode, we’re joined by Claire Davenport, a seasoned tech operator whose career spans investment banking at Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan, Chief of Staff at Skype, CEO roles at VoucherCodes, HelloFresh UK and Not On The High Street, as well as board and angel investing.  Today, Claire is a prominent figure in the Tech world as a NED, COO at Multiverse and Angel Investor. She is also a staunch advocate for women leaders, having founded WITSEND, a fast-growing network for C-Suite women in tech.  In this conversation, Claire shares candid lessons on leading in a crisis, making the leap to CEO, landing your first non-exec role, retaining top talent, and the real state of gender balance in executive leadership.  📚Episode Chapters:  ➡️ From banking to ops - Claire’s pivots & biggest lessons [08:12]  ➡️ The hardest chapter [13:00]  ➡️ Becoming a CEO [16:00]  ➡️ How headhunters can help your career advancement [18:00]  ➡️ What great C-level leadership looks like [22:00]  ➡️ How to land your first board seat [24:13]  ➡️ Attracting & retaining top talent [29:30]  ➡️ The power of peer mentorship & community [33:00]  ➡️ Women in leadership roles - the progress & gaps [35:30]  🔍 Find out more:  ✨ Connect with Claire: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-davenport-online/en  ✨ More about Multiverse: https://www.multiverse.io/en-GB  ✨More about WITSEND: https://www.witsend.online/  ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm  🎧 You may also like: Where Are They Now: Sophie Adelman On Building A Community For The Curious Levelling The Playing Field: A Social Mobility Special From TopGun to Boardroom with Chris Severson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wondered what a conversation with a truly groundbreaking founder or an elite performer actually sounds like? 40 Minute Mentor captures exactly that, offering intimate, structured dialogues designed to unpack the real journeys behind extraordinary success. Hosted by James Mitra, this podcast operates on a simple but powerful premise: profound insight doesn't require hours of your time. Each episode is a focused, forty-minute session with a different leader, from purpose-driven entrepreneurs building unique companies to Olympic athletes who have mastered their craft. The conversations move beyond theory, delving into the pivotal decisions, personal challenges, and practical lessons that have shaped their paths. You'll hear not just about their triumphs, but the resilience required during setbacks, providing a honest look at what building a brilliant career or venture genuinely entails. As one of the UK's prominent business podcasts, it serves as a direct source of mentorship, aiming to elevate ambitions by sharing these powerful career narratives. Tune in for a regular dose of inspiration and actionable wisdom, all within the span of a single commute or workout.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

40 Minute Mentor
Podcast Episodes
A VC Roundup - Raising from VCs & getting into the industry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:37
“This is a long partnership. We’re here to return money to our investors, but we are also here to experience a very unique journey together. So, trust is very important, on both sides.” We’ve been so lucky to have some o…
Gideon Valkin: From ClearScore & Monzo to building a $12m solo GP fund [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Scarlett McCabe & Lewis Iwu: The power of debating & disagreeing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:41
“[Debating] teaches you to listen, to challenge well, and it teaches you all the skills that you need to be able to be in any room at any time, with anyone.” The world seems more divided than ever before. But is it actua…
Amy Gallo: Conflict Management & How to get along with your colleagues [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:04
“If you’re in a situation where you’re dealing with [a difficult boss], I think the question is - am I actually getting something from this? And if the answer is ‘no, I’m getting nothing’, then it’s time to really think…
The Best Bits of Season 11 - A Mentorship Roundup [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:08
That’s a wrap on Season 11 of 40 Minute Mentor and 12 weeks of non-stop pocket-sized mentorship. Our guests over the last 12 weeks have candidly shared the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and shared the advice they wis…