James Mitra on Season 14: Reflecting on 300+ episodes & what’s next for 40 Minute Mentor

James Mitra on Season 14: Reflecting on 300+ episodes & what’s next for 40 Minute Mentor

Author: JBM, James Mitra December 19, 2025 Duration: 4:50
Season 14 of 40 Minute Mentor has been one of our most special seasons yet, and in this short wrap-up episode, James reflects on the pocket-sized mentorship moments throughout this season and over the last 14 seasons.  In this season alone, we’ve had some incredible guests joining us, and we covered everything from Co-Founder dynamics, High Performance, the realities of hyper-growth, AI and the importance of diversity in leadership.  If you haven’t caught up on Season 14 yet, or you’re new to the podcast, make sure you dig through the archives of over 310 episodes.  In today’s episode, you’ll also find out more about what’s next for 40 Minute Mentor and how you can get even more involved and benefit from our pocket-sized mentorship  in 2026…. 🔍 Find out more:  ✨ Subscribe to our 40 Minute Mentor emails ✨ Follow JBM on LinkedIn ✨ Subscribe to the 40 Minute Mentor YouTube channel 🎧 You may also like: Alex Depledge MBE on taking a Founder’s Mind into the Government & why the UK is a great place to scale Shimona Mehta on scaling Shopify Plus to $1B & transitioning into the CEO role at F11 Murvah Iqbal on scaling one of Europe’s fastest-growing startups and disruption a billion dollar industry with Hived  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]

Duration: 47:05
“Founders deserve Investors that have relevant operating experience, time to help them and can be impartial and objective in the advice they give.” Today’s 40 Minute Mentor is Gideon Valkin, former Monzo and ClearScore C…
The Do’s & Don’ts of Public Relations for Startups [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:04
“It very often feels uncomfortable for Founders to put themselves out there in that way. But the more you do it, the easier it will get.” In this 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re covering a topic critical for every early-…
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…