Episode Guest:

Sam Sims is the Chief Executive of National Numeracy, with a career rooted in empowering individuals through confidence-building and lifelong learning. His work focuses on supporting those often overlooked to realise their potential with the right tools and encouragement.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

0:32 Meet Sam Sims, CEO of National Numeracy

1:13 What National Numeracy does

1:54 Sam’s early work and first jobs

3:06 Lessons from the call centre

4:18 How Sam built confidence as an introvert

5:21 Honest talk on imposter syndrome

6:16 Why networking is Sam’s greatest professional tool

7:23 The right (and wrong) way to network

8:55 From research to running his own business

10:11 What his first company was really about

11:02 When business plans don’t go to plan

11:42 Discovering purpose through volunteering in the US

13:10 Helping a teenager unlock maths confidence

14:19 Why confidence is more important than skill

15:06 The long-term impact of belief and encouragement

15:52 Why Sam joined the charity sector

17:02 What keeps him motivated in the third sector

17:51 Why volunteering is the engine behind social impact

18:37 National Numeracy’s biggest annual campaign

19:45 The power of their partnership with Compare the Market

21:00 How number confidence connects to money

22:01 Why financial literacy is about mindset first

23:00 Sam’s biggest money regret

24:06 One money tip Sam wishes he knew at 18

25:00 Helping communities through local volunteers

26:04 What the charity sector gives back to professionals

27:13 The best work-life lesson Sam ever received

28:09 Sam’s final message on confidence and belief

29:00 What gets Sam out of bed in the morning — his duvet flip

Episode Partners:

📊 Compare the Market

Discover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK’s most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they’re on a mission to simplify decisions for millions.

https://bit.ly/4i53Svj

Disclaimer:

The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support.

Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer.

If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice

If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/