Greg Jackson, founder and CEO of energy giant Octopus Energy, is perhaps one of Britain’s most innovative CEOs.

In 2021, the British energy market collapsed. Wholesale gas prices surged six-fold, thirty suppliers went under in months, while millions of families faced impossible bills.

Rather than sticking his head in the sand, Greg went public, putting his own credibility on the line to explain why prices were rising. He cut his own salary to minimum wage, provided £150 million in bill relief packages, and became the face of the energy crisis when everyone told him not to.

The result? Octopus became the UK's largest energy supplier during the worst energy crisis in a generation, now valued at over £7 billion.

Greg is an entrepreneur who's built multiple businesses by doing exactly what everyone else refuses to do – a true lesson in why fortune really does favour the brave.

LESSONS YOU'LL LEARN:

1. Character matters more than ability.
2. When you see something clearly, don't hesitate.
3. Fortune favors the brave, zig when others zag!
4. Being smart isn't enough. The combination of being smart and working hard is critical.
5. Communicate relentlessly, especially in crisis.

FOLLOW OCTOPUS:

Instagram – www.instagram.com/octopusenergy/?hl=en

TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@octopusenergy?lang=en

FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS?

Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast/?hl=en

TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@crisispod

Johnnie Boden, founder of Boden, reveals how he survives crisis as a business leader.

In this Crisis Compass bonus episode of Crisis What Crisis?, Johnnie shares the person, piece of advice, the daily habit and comfort that he uses to navigate life under pressure.

This is the second part of a longer conversation with Johnnie – if you enjoyed this be sure to check out the full episode on our podcast homepage.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, CEO or leader, this episode offers a snapshot personal insight into the mindset of one of Britain's most successful fashion founders.

FOLLOW BODEN:

Instagram – www.instagram.com/boden/?hl=en

TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@boden_clothing

FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS?

Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast/?hl=en

TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@crisispod

For three decades, Johnnie Boden has turned cheerful prints, quality fabrics, and unmistakable English charm into one of Britain's most distinctive retail brands – worn by royals, loved internationally, with nearly 2 million active customers and the second-biggest British clothing business in America. But as Johnnie so candidly reveals, his success has been far from linear…

In this business special of Crisis What Crisis? we delve deep into the challenges of starting and running a multinational fashion label offering lessons that apply to almost every founder, entrepreneur and leader.

LESSONS YOU'LL LEARN:

1. Hire people who complement you, not clone you.
2. Match paranoia about people with confidence about your core idea.
3. Ask the stupid questions.
4. Listen intensely.
5. Admit failure fast.

FOLLOW BODEN:

Instagram – www.instagram.com/boden/?hl=en

TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@boden_clothing

FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS?

Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcast/?hl=en

TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@crisispod