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.

Emma Robinson of Canva is steering the brand’s evolution from a consumer favourite to a serious player in B2B marketing....
08/10/2025

Emma Robinson of Canva is steering the brand’s evolution from a consumer favourite to a serious player in B2B marketing. At Cannes Lions, she highlights how creativity and agility shape acquisition strategy, the growing influence of video among younger buyers, and the pivotal role AI plays in reshaping buyer journeys. As marketing teams face new challenges, Canva’s journey into the business landscape is a case study in balancing innovation with market realities.

Canva is seeking broader appeal among business buyers. Emma Robinson, its B2B marketing lead, is leading the charge

From engineering to leading finance at Motorway, Liz Kistruck recounts how curiosity paved her path to becoming a CFO.He...
07/10/2025

From engineering to leading finance at Motorway, Liz Kistruck recounts how curiosity paved her path to becoming a CFO.

Her approach underlines finance as a strategic partner woven deeply across business functions.

In a fast-paced scale-up ecosystem, collaborative decision-making and adaptability are key to sustaining growth and agility.

The CFO of the online marketplace reflects on her journey from engineering to finance and explains why curiosity is key for financial leaders

High-profile departures are often treated as crises in Westminster and beyond, but businesses show a more considered pat...
07/10/2025

High-profile departures are often treated as crises in Westminster and beyond, but businesses show a more considered path. By embracing graceful exits, clear communication and strategic succession, organisations can not only preserve culture but gain competitive edge. The secret is viewing leadership changes not as failures but as catalysts for renewal and growth, helping organisations remain adaptive and attractive to talent.

Westminster's travails are a reminder to the business world that managing high-profile departures gracefully can be a competitive advantage

The rise of dual listings offers a tentative boost to London’s waning capital markets, allowing companies to access both...
06/10/2025

The rise of dual listings offers a tentative boost to London’s waning capital markets, allowing companies to access both US liquidity and European investors while retaining regulatory credibility. But as firms balance London alongside other global hubs, policymakers face urgent challenges to revitalise the UK’s market appeal beyond supplementary listing strategies.

Dual listings are emerging as a potential lifeline for the London market. But do such arrangements really signal confidence in the UK?

Micro-retirement is redefining career trajectories as employees take extended breaks to recover from burnout and reconsi...
06/10/2025

Micro-retirement is redefining career trajectories as employees take extended breaks to recover from burnout and reconsider priorities. This emerging approach challenges traditional HR policies around leave and progression, requiring new frameworks that balance wellbeing with workforce continuity.

As younger generations push for flexibility, organisations must rethink how to support these career pauses without sacrificing talent retention or operational stability.

Some employees are pressing pause mid-career, taking months off to recover from burnout or reset their priorities

Private equity is rapidly reshaping the UK accountancy sector, with over a quarter of top firms now backed by investors ...
03/10/2025

Private equity is rapidly reshaping the UK accountancy sector, with over a quarter of top firms now backed by investors keen on consolidation and profitability. While this influx of capital promises growth and modernization, experts warn the resulting shift in priorities may erode the core values of these firms.

This gamble on turning accountancy practices into yield-driven entities risks undermining professionalism and client trust, potentially precipitating a market collapse within the next decade.

How can the sector balance growth ambitions with preserving a culture that safeguards quality and credibility?

UK accountancy firms are being snatched up by private equity. This could lead to a market crash in the next five to 10 years, experts warn

Purpose once touted as the cornerstone of brand identity is now navigating treacherous terrain where authentic social co...
03/10/2025

Purpose once touted as the cornerstone of brand identity is now navigating treacherous terrain where authentic social commitment conflicts with consumer scepticism and political backlash.

As early enthusiasm gives way to cautious recalibration, brands must forge new ways to align values with business without alienating customers or activists.

The challenge lies in reconciling genuine activism with commercial realities in an increasingly polarised landscape.

"Purpose" was once every brand leader's favourite word. But consumers today have grown tired of half-baked efforts and virtue signalling

Renaud Heyd, CFO at SAP, shares insights on leadership driven by resilience and storytelling rather than just numbers. H...
02/10/2025

Renaud Heyd, CFO at SAP, shares insights on leadership driven by resilience and storytelling rather than just numbers. His journey highlights the value of learning on the job, evolving with one’s role, and balancing technology with human judgment, especially as AI shapes finance. A reminder that successful finance leadership requires clarity, adaptability and the art of meaningful communication.

The CFO of the software provider on resilience, storytelling and why he avoids emails, TV and driving to stay focused

The UK’s ambitious AI plans risk stalling without addressing a critical skills gap in infrastructure development. While ...
02/10/2025

The UK’s ambitious AI plans risk stalling without addressing a critical skills gap in infrastructure development.

While training focuses on either advanced data science or basic prompt engineering, there is little effort to build the expertise needed to deploy, manage and scale AI systems at national level.

Until we invest in infrastructure specialists, countless AI pilots may never mature into fully operational, impactful solutions in sectors like healthcare and justice.

Most AI upskilling initiatives focus on either simple tasks or highly technical skills. But this leaves a gap that is largely unaddressed

The relentless pursuit of quarterly results can obscure the broader purpose of business: enduring impact and sustainable...
01/10/2025

The relentless pursuit of quarterly results can obscure the broader purpose of business: enduring impact and sustainable growth. History shows us that companies founded on lasting values and community responsibility such as Cadbury, Starbucks and Specsavers have thrived precisely because they play the long game. Embracing a longer-term view nurtures resilience, fosters trust and safeguards true value over fleeting gains.

How might businesses balance today’s pressures with tomorrow’s legacy?

Does focusing on short-term performance undermine long-term growth? The key is not to choose one or the other but to balance efforts to achieve both

The London Stock Exchange Group’s pioneering blockchain platform aims to transform private markets by accelerating fundr...
30/09/2025

The London Stock Exchange Group’s pioneering blockchain platform aims to transform private markets by accelerating fundraising and enhancing transparency. Automating transactions from issuance to settlement could drastically reduce delays and costs, but this shift also raises new risks and privacy challenges. Whether blockchain will unlock greater accessibility and efficiency in private investing depends on the industry’s readiness to embrace complex change.

LSEG's new blockchain platform promises to reduce costs, speed up fundraising and democratise private-market investing

As the appeal of massive mergers wanes, companies are increasingly breaking up to unlock stalled value and regain strate...
29/09/2025

As the appeal of massive mergers wanes, companies are increasingly breaking up to unlock stalled value and regain strategic focus. Yet divestitures are by no means a guaranteed remedy: success hinges on rigorous planning, visionary leadership and addressing structural misalignments.

This evolving landscape is reshaping corporate life, challenging leaders to decide when to scale or separate amid shifting economic conditions.

Is the spin-off the future of corporate growth or a risky gamble in turbulent times?

Corporate decoupling may help to unlock trapped value and reset strategic direction, but the process requires rigour, foresight and vision

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