Management Meets PODCAST

In this episode of Management Meets, Katie speaks with Faye Jawad, University of Bath School of Management alumna and founder of KRNL. Having officially launched her savoury popcorn brand in July 2026, Faye went from popping kernels in her kitchen to selling out soon after launching the brand and capturing the attention food retailers and thousands online.Faye discusses the reality of wearing every operational hat as a solo founder, from hand-packing boxes to graphic design. She highlights the power of mentorship, drawing on insights from fellow School alumnus and former podcast guest, Harry Symes-Thompson.Key topics:Moving from personal recipe creation social media to commercial food productionThe role of peer mentorship and alumni networks in validating early-stage entrepreneurial conceptsBootstrapping vs. venture capital: strategies for stretching initial exit capital before seeking outside investmentOvercoming imposter syndrome and the pressure of brand prestige when making early career choicesReimagining the healthy food marketing by pairing nutrients with aesthetic design

In this episode of Management Meets, Katie sits down with Carolina Catalani to discuss second-generation entrepreneurship, corporate-to-startup transitions, and brand building. Drawing from her background at Procter & Gamble and her current leadership role at Finmark, Carolina shares how she helped scale her parents' business before co-founding AVAU, a high-end fragrance house created with her siblings, which recently debuted its flagship home in Milan.The discussion highlights the practical realities of managing rapid growth within a family-owned business. Carolina discusses transitioning mindsets, pivoting from skill-based to value-based hiring, and setting strict personal boundaries to maintain productivity within a family-run business. 

To kick off Season five of Management Meets, host Katie Calvert-Jones is reunited with Jai Shah, a Class of 2020 graduate and co-founder of Orangutan, an eSports organisation based in Mumbai. First appearing as a hungry young startup in the podcast's very first episode, Jai returns to share how his organisation has transformed into a dominant market force.From navigating industry bans to building a physical community through their eSports arena. Today, Orangutan are officially the number one ranked team in India, preparing to step onto the global stage in Paris for the eSports World Cup.Jai reflects on the human elements behind sustainable leadership and his personal commitment to family, mental health, and his work co-creating the University of Bath’s active alumni chapter in India.Listen and explore:The importance behind strict operational consistency and mental resilienceHow pivots create profitLessons from building a physical space in a digital worldThe role of calculated risk and focus on scaling towards a household name

Management Meets is back for Season 5.This season, we're exploring The Entrepreneurial Mindset—the ambition, curiosity, resilience and determination that drive people to turn ideas into reality.Drawing on the inspiring stories of entrepreneurs from the University of Bath School of Management community, we'll look beyond the businesses they've built to uncover the motivations, challenges and defining moments that shaped their journeys. From bold ideas and unexpected pivots to setbacks, successes and lessons learned, this series celebrates the people behind the ventures.Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, already building something of your own, or simply fascinated by the mindset behind innovation, this season offers practical insights and inspiring conversations you won't want to miss.Episode 1 launches on Wednesday, 29 July 2026.Subscribe to Management Meets so you never miss an episode.

What does it take to navigate a global career in 2026? In this Season 4 review, Host Katie Calvert Jones and Producer Becky Toogood recap the most powerful messages from founders, brand leaders and social entrepreneurs who started their journeys at the University of Bath School of Management.This episode tackles the realities of entrepreneurship, international relocation, sustainable ambition. and everything in between. Discover why global creatives are trading profit for peace and how emerging technology is reshaping conservation and commerce alike.