Sphere of Success

Welcome to Sphere of Success. In this episode, Debra Blackman chats with Priyanka Matta, a visionary entrepreneur and creator working at the intersection of music, wellness, AI, and ESG innovation. Priyanka pioneers fresh approaches to technology, sustainability, and human transformation, and has just launched her debut single, blending creativity with purpose.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

 

• How culture, music, and mental wellness fuel business growth
• The story behind Priyanka’s wellness platform: The Aura Power
• How the app supports mind, body, and soul for employees and students
• Ways companies reduce absenteeism and boost productivity through holistic programs
• Priyanka’s insights on AI’s role in secure, mindful mentoring
• Why early-age mindfulness creates stronger, healthier future leaders
• How music and energy practices connect people and fight workplace loneliness

 

Priyanka Matta - Contact Details:

 

App: Download The Aura Power to book a session with Priyanka (listed as “Aurora”).

LinkedIn: Priyanka Matta

https://www.linkedin.com/in/piyamatta/

Music: Stream Power by Pia on YouTube and all major platforms.

 

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@theaurapower?si=9QRvIJGwwyi_jU-5

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powerbypiya?igsh=b2JjYjV3b2lqenls&utm_source=qr

 

If you enjoyed this conversation, please like, comment, and share to help more people discover innovative ways to integrate wellness and creativity into business.

In this episode of Sphere of Success, I chat with Oliver Murray, Sales Director at Future Stores.

 

Oliver has spent over 22 years in Media & Advertising, with deep expertise in OOH and Brand Experiences. At Future Stores, he helps brands unlock the power of immersive storytelling, real-world engagement, and measurable retail impact - a vision recently recognised with a Gold Reggie Award for their Intel activation.

 

In our conversation, Oliver shares his insights on:

 

• Why brands are caught in a war for attention in today’s marketplace
• How digital fatigue is reshaping consumer behavior
• Why IRL (in-real-life) experiences are the antidote to digital fatigue
• The dangers of chasing only short-term wins from digital ads
• How authentic, human-centered brand experiences fuel long-term brand health and loyalty

 

If you want to understand how to thrive in the attention economy and build brand connections that last, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

 

Oliver Murray – Contact Details

Email: oli.m@futurestores.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/oliver-murray-59699613

Website: https://futurestores.com

In this episode of Sphere of Success, I chat with Oliver Murray, Sales Director at Future Stores.

 

Oliver has spent over 22 years in Media & Advertising, with deep expertise in OOH and Brand Experiences. At Future Stores, he helps brands unlock the power of immersive storytelling, real-world engagement, and measurable retail impact - a vision recently recognised with a Gold Reggie Award for their Intel activation.

 

In our conversation, Oliver shares his insights on:

 

• Why brands are caught in a war for attention in today’s marketplace
• How digital fatigue is reshaping consumer behavior
• Why IRL (in-real-life) experiences are the antidote to digital fatigue
• The dangers of chasing only short-term wins from digital ads
• How authentic, human-centered brand experiences fuel long-term brand health and loyalty

 

If you want to understand how to thrive in the attention economy and build brand connections that last, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

 

Oliver Murray – Contact Details

Email: oli.m@futurestores.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/oliver-murray-59699613

Website: https://futurestores.com

In this episode, today’s guest is Jeremy Grandstaff, a senior executive with 25+ years of experience leading learning and development, organisational strategy, stakeholder engagement, and collaborative culture-building initiatives.

 

Jeremy currently serves as the Director of Learning Initiatives for Penny Forward and co-facilitates programs with the Institute for Culture, Change, and Leadership, including Learning without Limits, The Culture Professionals Mastermind, and the Professional Certificate in Cultural Competence.

 

His career includes senior roles at CurbCutOS, IBM Global Services, Cogent Analytics, and the Alliance for Biking & Walking, and two decades as CEO of S&G Endeavors. He is a 2025 TEDxYpsilanti speaker and co-author of a forthcoming book on workplace culture.

 

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

 

* How Jeremy turned personal adversity into leadership superpowers.

* Why inclusive culture directly drives sales, lead conversion & profit.

* The 4-quadrant model linking people, sales, operations & measurement.

* Real-world examples of using collaborative engagement to unlock hidden talent.

* How to design “microcosm” teams that mirror your target customers.

* Practical steps for building culture change that sticks — without years of resistance.

* The 5 key components of any successful change initiative: system, purpose, journey, values, theoretical support.

* Why measurement must be built into culture from Day 1.

* How diverse teams spark creativity, resilience and innovation.

* Ways to future-proof your organisation and grow new markets through different-ability hiring.

 

📩 Connect with Jeremy Grandstaff - Call to Action

 

💡 Always open to bold conversations about what’s next. If you're building something meaningful and looking for a leader who knows how to move people and systems, connect with me on LinkedIn and let’s talk about me joining you.

 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremygrandstaff/

TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmWk7MEfFP4

In this episode, today’s guest is Jeremy Grandstaff, a senior executive with 25+ years of experience leading learning and development, organisational strategy, stakeholder engagement, and collaborative culture-building initiatives.

 

Jeremy currently serves as the Director of Learning Initiatives for Penny Forward and co-facilitates programs with the Institute for Culture, Change, and Leadership, including Learning without Limits, The Culture Professionals Mastermind, and the Professional Certificate in Cultural Competence.

 

His career includes senior roles at CurbCutOS, IBM Global Services, Cogent Analytics, and the Alliance for Biking & Walking, and two decades as CEO of S&G Endeavors. He is a 2025 TEDxYpsilanti speaker and co-author of a forthcoming book on workplace culture.

 

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

 

* How Jeremy turned personal adversity into leadership superpowers.

* Why inclusive culture directly drives sales, lead conversion & profit.

* The 4-quadrant model linking people, sales, operations & measurement.

* Real-world examples of using collaborative engagement to unlock hidden talent.

* How to design “microcosm” teams that mirror your target customers.

* Practical steps for building culture change that sticks — without years of resistance.

* The 5 key components of any successful change initiative: system, purpose, journey, values, theoretical support.

* Why measurement must be built into culture from Day 1.

* How diverse teams spark creativity, resilience and innovation.

* Ways to future-proof your organisation and grow new markets through different-ability hiring.

 

📩 Connect with Jeremy Grandstaff - Call to Action

 

💡 Always open to bold conversations about what’s next. If you're building something meaningful and looking for a leader who knows how to move people and systems, connect with me on LinkedIn and let’s talk about me joining you.

 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremygrandstaff/

TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmWk7MEfFP4

Welcome to Sphere of Success. In this episode, Debra Blackman chats with Matthew Monaghan, an inspiring pilot, finance professional, author, and public speaker who proves that true strength is forged in adversity.

 

Born with a rare muscular condition that doctors believed would severely limit his life, Matthew defied every prediction. He learned to walk again, earned his pilot’s license, built a career in finance, and now shares his story worldwide to empower others to break through their own barriers.

 

Episode Highlights

 

• How a rare muscle condition became the catalyst for an extraordinary life
• Learning to walk again and becoming a licensed pilot
• Turning setbacks into entrepreneurial and corporate success
• The role of mindset in overcoming obstacles and achieving business goals
• How companies can create inclusive workplaces for differently abled talent
• Simple, low-cost accessibility changes that drive innovation and loyalty
• Encouraging differently abled entrepreneurs to start and scale their own ventures

 

Connect with Matthew Monaghan

Instagram & TikTok: @flightdeckmat

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-monaghan-uk-2b7857246/

Book updates and speaking inquiries: Follow Matthew on social media for launch details and events.

 

👉 If this story moved you, please like, comment, and share this episode. Your support helps more people discover these powerful conversations about resilience, leadership, and success.

 

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode of Sphere of Success!

In today’s fast-paced business world, is it really possible to lead with kindness and still thrive?

In this episode, I’m joined by Lisa Shepherd, Co-Founder and Director of The Biskery, a values-driven business that has grown from a kitchen table idea into a brand recognised for its heart, purpose, and community focus. Lisa shares her journey of building a brand that goes beyond biscuits, one rooted in connection, community, and a mission to make business more human.

From navigating challenges in scaling a values-driven company, to the role of storytelling and genuine care in building customer loyalty, Lisa shows that kindness is not a weakness in business, it’s a superpower. What we cover in this conversation:

• How The Biskery started and the story behind its growth
• Real lessons from The Biskery’s evolution, from local bakery to purpose-led brand.
• Why kindness and empathy became core business strategies
• Balancing profit with purpose and staying true to values
• Building community and meaningful connections through business
• Lessons in leadership and redefining what success means

Lisa’s perspective is a refreshing reminder that business doesn’t have to be all about hustle, it can be built on kindness, purpose, and people. 👉 Watch the full episode to hear Lisa’s story in depth.

✨ Sweet treat for our listeners!

✨ Enjoy 15% OFF all the delicious biscuits at The Biskery

🍪 Just use code SPHERE15 at checkout.

📌 Connect with Lisa Shepherd (The Biskery):

Website: https://www.thebiskery.com/

LinkedIn:   / lisa-shepherd-leeds  

Email: lisa@thebiskery.com

Welcome to Sphere of Success. Today’s guest is Angela Fumpson. She is an Executive Mentor, Intuitive, Process Specialist and proud “Quality Geek.” With 30+ years of experience in manufacturing and engineering, she now helps heart-centered entrepreneurs, innovators, and business leaders unlock a deeper path to growth. Her unique method blends sharp analytical process design with intuition, energy work, and conscious business strategies. Angela is also the author of A Business Journey for Tigers and founder of Tiger Talks, supporting tiger conservation through the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation.

In this episode of Sphere of Success: Energetic Success, Angela shares:

• Why business growth isn’t just about strategy, but also energy and resonance
• The link between burnout, self-care, and effortless effort
• How intuition and process design work together for long-term success
• The real “hidden blueprint” behind conscious business growth
• Tips for aligning energy, business systems, and leadership to avoid hustle culture
• Why your gut, heart, and head all matter when making business decisions
• How to design a “perfect day” vision and reverse-engineer it into your business
• Practical steps to release energy blocks and tap into effortless flow

Connect with Angela Fumpson

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/angelafumpson

Email: afumpson@white-tiger.co.uk

Website: white-tiger.co.uk | angelafumpson.co.uk

Facebook: BusinessJourneyforTigers

 

If this conversation resonates, please watch, like, share, and comment. 

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode of Sphere of Success!