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Forbes
25-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How ‘Professional Flirting' Helped Steven Bartlett Build A Massive Podcast Following
Think this is nice? It's a version of the weekly Under 30 newsletter and would be even better in your inbox. Sebastian Nevols for Forbes Many founders say team building is the most difficult part of running a business. But for Steven Bartlett, the 32-year-old host of The Diary Of A CEO podcast and 30 Under 30 alum, hiring has been his super power. Bartlett initially launched the show as a passion project with producer Jack Sylvester in 2017 (Sylvester made the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe Media & Marketing list this year). But eight years later, it's now the second largest host-led podcast in the world. And Bartlett has built an entire media empire, Flight Story, to support it. There's no doubt that much of the show's notoriety comes from the guests Bartlett's interviewed (they include the likes of Rebel Wilson, Michael Bublé and Mel Robbins, to name a few). But Bartlett says the real success comes from his ability to build a team of exceptional people around him. 'When I was in the back room getting my makeup done for this interview, someone applied for a job,' Bartlett said while on set for his latest Forbes profile. An 18-year-old at the London School of Economics wanted an internship, and Bartlett called them back within three minutes of seeing the application. 'It's Saturday here. I'm recruiting seven days a week until 3:00a.m. every night. And it's my absolute obsession.' His process might seem intense. And it is. But it's also the reason he's gotten this far, and it's the No. 1 thing more founders need to prioritize, he said. 'Founders could save themselves so much hurt, pain, failure, anxiety, worry and confusion if they realize that they should be spending 20 times more hours per week on just meeting people,' he said. So how does he do it? It starts with north of 30 hours a week recruiting. That includes frequent 'professional flirting,' or networking, he said. And his leadership team takes part, too. Georgie Holt, the CEO of The Diary Of A CEO's parent company Flight Story, said they've implemented an internal system to analyze their commitment to 'headhunting.' Each week, all members of the senior leadership team will note how many hours they spent meeting both experienced and up-and-coming innovators who they think can make a difference in the company. They've also implemented tactics like no group interviews, to avoid 'group think' on candidates, Holt said. And they score candidates on a number of evaluation points to ensure their decisions are driven by data. While the hiring process is rigorous, it doesn't stop there. To ensure those high-caliber candidates turn into high-performing employees, Bartlett's biggest piece of advice is to focus on incentives. 'Nobody acts outside their incentives unless they are a psychopath… So I can tell them to change, but that's going to do f*** all. What I've got to do is change the incentives,' he said of motivating his team. Most people think that means money, but everything and anything can be an incentive or a disincentive, he added: 'Confusion or lack of clarity is a disincentive. It makes people not act on something. Saying 'well done' or clapping for someone is a huge incentive, actually often more important than money.' Learn more about his journey building Flight Story, and why he's turned down $100 million deals to continue charting his own course, here. See you next week, Alex & Zoya Nate Ryan for forbes Brēz hit the market in 2023 as a cannabis-infused drink crafted with a low THC dose and enriched with Lion's Mane mushrooms—touted by many for their potential to boost brain function and ease inflammation. The startup brought in $28 million in revenue last year. How? Find out here. –2018 Under 30 alum Lucy Guo has surpassed Taylor Swift to become the world's youngest self-made woman billionaire. Guo earned her spot on the list for cofounding the high-profile startup Scale AI, which is now on the verge of closing a deal that would allow early employees and investors to sell their shares to new or returning stakeholders. Expected to finalize by June 1, the agreement values the company at $25 billion—significantly boosting Guo's net worth, even though she's no longer involved in the company. -2025 Under 30 Music featured honoree Shaboozey racked up seven nominations at the 2025 American Music Awards, including nods for New Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for his breakout hit, 'A Bar Song (Tipsy).' The nominations came the same month he made his Coachella debut. Last year, Shaboozey spoke with Forbes about his breakout success—ten years in the making. Watch the interview here. -Axoft, a 2022 Under 30 Science company that creates soft brain implants to treat neurological disorders, this week announced results from its first in-human clinical study. The first four cases of its clinical study found that Axoft's material is '10,000x softer than existing materials,' which means it causes less damage to the brain and picks up clearer signals. It was even able to detect signs of consciousness, and early research shows it could help make brain-computer connections better and more stable. What young people should know about this week, according to Forbes editors. ✓ Consider some dairy-free options. The U.S. FDA terminated 20,000 employees this month, many of whom have a hand in testing bird flu and parasites in products like milk and cheese. Beware of what you buy. ✓ Participate in the 'Ice Bucket Challenge.' Yes, the viral challenge from 2014, where people all over the internet dumped ice water on themselves to raise awareness and funds for ALS, has returned. This time, it was started by University of South Carolina students who want to raise money for Active Minds, a U.S. nonprofit that addresses mental health in youth. ✓ Nominate yourself or someone you know for the Forbes 30 Under 30 Local list. Our Under 30 Local list is coming to Columbus. Know any young leaders, innovators or entertainers who Columbus wouldn't be Columbus without? Nominate them here.
Forbes
18-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Wars, Regulation, And A Capital Crunch—Still, These Young European Founders Are Building
Think this is nice? It's a version of the weekly Under 30 newsletter and would be even better in your inbox. Photography by Sebastian Nevols and Ethan Pines for Forbes 'If you can succeed under tougher conditions, you emerge stronger when the economy rebounds.' Those timely words of wisdom are from Georgina Steele, the founder of U.K.-based startup Maiven, which uses AI to help companies avoid fines for climate law breaches. Steele is amongst the 300 visionaries Forbes recognized on the 2025 30 Under 30 Europe list, which launched this Tuesday. The list features companies and individuals across the continent that are impacting industries from finance to entertainment. These changemakers are accelerating the EU's path to a greener economy, building AI models used by billion-dollar companies and even helping birth babies with the use of technology. Though the list is in its tenth year, this year's class stands out for more than just their achievements. These under-30 founders are navigating a uniquely complex landscape—marked by the ongoing war in Ukraine, rising geopolitical tensions including trade disputes shaped by new U.S. policies, and increasingly strict AI regulations across Europe that have added new obstacles to innovation and growth. 'Weathering Europe's hurdles forces greater refinement in startups, and that resilience ultimately positions them for even greater success down the road,' Steele told us. The numbers speak to those hurdles: This members of this year's list cumulatively raised just over $800 million, down from over $1 billion in last year's class. According to PitchBook, venture capital deals dawdled in 2024—fewer funding deals took place, but those that did tended to have higher valuations. The first quarter of 2025 appears to be looking better, although pre-seed and seed activity is still lagging. Even so, the majority of the 2025 class is cautiously optimistic about where Europe is headed. The thing about young founders is that they have plenty of runway to turn challenges into opportunities: Whether it's building more resilient business models, embracing sustainability as a competitive edge, or harnessing AI to solve complex global problems, this year's Under 30 honorees are proving that grit, vision, and innovation thrive under pressure. 'The gap in innovation and market cap compared to the U.S. wasn't always as wide as it is today, now the top 100 European companies have a combined market cap that's just a fifth of the top 100 American ones,' said Jonas Gøttler, cofounder of foodtech startup Kanpla and Under 30 Europe newcomer. 'It will take a lot to get Europe back to where we were, but in this big switch to AI, there's a huge potential to even the playing field.' More next time, Alex & Zoya One of the questions we get most often is: 'How do I make it onto the Forbes 30 Under 30 list?' While there's no guaranteed formula for selection, understanding how the process works can help you craft a nomination that truly stands out. Find out how we select honorees here. -Several Forbes Under 30 alums earned a spot on this year's Forbes AI 50 list. The list, produced in partnership with Sequoia and Meritech Capital, features leading private AI companies that are poised to shape the future. Those who made the cut include 2025 Under 30 companies Anysphere and Mercor, 2024's Harvey and 2025 Europe all-star alums ElevenLabs, among others. -2024 Under 30 Food & Drink alum Blodin Ukella this week announced a $15 million Series B for his better-for-you iced tea startup, The Ryl Company. Ukella banded together with musician Morgan Wallen to come up with a lower calorie, cleaner ingredient iced tea and has since placed the product on shelves with major retailers like Walmart. The latest round, backed by Wallen and other investors, brings the startup's total funding to $30 million. -Sharing Excess, a 2023 Under 30 Social Impact alum that collects excess food from grocery stores, wholesalers and retailers and redistributes it to communities in need, this month teamed up with Forbes Top Creator MrBeast to promote their impact on the creator's social platforms. 'Every single time someone watches this video, it helps feed someone in need,' MrBeast says in the cold open for the video on YouTube. Within three days, it received 30 million views. What young people should know about this week, according to Forbes editors. ✓ Do your homework before 'buying the dip.' With ongoing tariff news shaking up the stock market this month, it might be tempting to jump in—but making impulsive investment moves could cost you. This can be your first read. ✓ Check in on your student loans. The Trump Administration released new information on repayment plans and loan forgiveness this week. If you fall into the pool of borrowers, read up on what's new and plan ahead. ✓ Nominate yourself or someone you know for the Forbes 30 Under 30 Local list! Our Under 30 Local list is coming to Columbus. Know any young leaders, innovators or entertainers who Columbus wouldn't be Columbus without? Nominate them here.
