Jeannette Linfoot, the former corporate CEO turned entrepreneur, mentor, and investor, shared invaluable insights on leadership, business growth, and the importance of being “brave, bold, and brilliant” in global business. Over the last 30+ years, Jeannette has successfully implemented this approach into the businesses she ran as a corporate CEO and the many companies and organizations she advises.
The outcome is a proven track record of impressive results for household names, including Accor Hotels, Virgin Atlantic, Manchester Airports Group, TUI, Nationwide Building Society, PWC, EY, and private equity clients of 3i, Equistone, and ECI.
Corporate Leadership
Having started her professional journey as an economist for the UK government, she quickly found her calling in the travel industry. Over three decades, she climbed the corporate ladder, becoming CEO of the travel division at Saga (FTSE 250) and holding senior leadership roles at TUI, where she managed emerging markets in China, India, Russia, and Ukraine. (The TUI Group is one of the world’s leading tourism groups with 19 million customers and operates worldwide (MDAX and FSE).Â
However, Jeannette boldly decided to leave the corporate world and transition into entrepreneurship. The shift was driven by a desire for greater flexibility, freedom, and the ability to choose projects and clients that resonated with her values. As she explained on this episode of VistaTalks, this move wasn’t out of dissatisfaction with her corporate roles but rather a strategic decision to take control of her future. She now runs a successful portfolio of businesses.
The Power of the “Brave, Bold, Brilliant” Ethos
At the heart of Jeannette’s work—and her podcast of the same name—is the “Brave, Bold, Brilliant” ethos. During her conversation with VistaTalks Host Simon Hodgkins, Jeannette highlighted that these three words represent the key elements of success for any leader or business:
Brave: This is about leading yourself first. Jeannette emphasized the importance of personal development and being introspective as a leader. It’s essential to confront your weaknesses, invest in self-growth, and maintain the strength to make tough decisions.
Bold: Leading the business means being strategic and visionary. Jeannette urged leaders to have a clear plan, understand market dynamics, and be unafraid to make bold moves that drive growth and innovation.
Brilliant: Building high-performing teams is critical. Jeannette stressed the importance of nurturing talent, fostering collaboration, and ensuring that teams are aligned with the business’s mission and goals.
By balancing these three principles, Jeannette believes leaders can create sustainable success regardless of the size or scope of their businesses.
Key Insights on Global Business Strategy
Jeannette’s extensive experience in international markets provides listeners with invaluable insights into global expansion strategies. One of the core lessons she shared was the importance of thinking globally but acting locally. She noted that businesses must maintain brand consistency while adapting to local market nuances like language, culture, and legal differences.
“Don’t think you can enter a new market and apply the same ways of doing business that you do in a Western, developed world,” Jeannette warned. This can lead to failure if companies ignore the unique customer expectations and regulatory environments in different regions.
Another critical point she raised was the need for cultural intelligence and localization when expanding globally. From ensuring that communications are tailored to local languages to respecting cultural norms in business dealings, Jeannette’s experience showed that attention to detail can make or break an international venture.
Technology and the Human Touch
As technology continues transforming the business landscape, Jeannette shared her views on how AI and other advancements reshape industries. While technology offers opportunities to enhance efficiency and scale, she cautioned against focusing solely on cost-cutting. Instead, businesses should look for ways to leverage technology to improve customer experience and augment the human touch in their services.
Jeannette highlighted the importance of striking the right balance between technology and human interaction, particularly in service-led industries. By allowing technology to handle routine tasks, businesses can free up resources to focus on creating deeper, more personalized customer relationships.
Staying Competitive in a Fast-Changing World
One of the standout takeaways from Jeannette’s discussion was her advice on staying competitive. While innovation is critical, she advised businesses not to lose sight of their core strengths. Diversification and chasing new trends can sometimes distract from what a company does best.
“The biggest challenge is balancing innovation with your core business,” Jeannette explained. She recommended setting up innovation incubators within companies to test new ideas without eroding the core business. This approach allows businesses to explore new opportunities while staying grounded in their primary offerings.
Leading Yourself, Your Business, and Your Team
Toward the end of the discussion, Jeannette reiterated the importance of leadership in three key areas: leading yourself, the business, and the team. Whether you’re a corporate CEO, an entrepreneur, or someone leading a small team, these three pillars are fundamental to success. “Sometimes, if you’re going off track, it’s because one of these elements is not aligned,” Jeannette said. Leaders can ensure they remain on course by consistently working on personal growth, strategic planning, and team development.
Those interested in learning more from Jeannette can connect with her on social media (LinkedIn) or tune into her Brave, Bold, Brilliant podcast. You can also explore her website, brave-bold-brilliant•com, which offers many resources, including blogs, videos, and downloadable guides.
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About VistaTalks
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