{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Shaun McCambridge Podcast","title":"Don’t Be Prey! Blue Sky. Rock Bottom. Oceans Seven. The Mark Sowerby Story.","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2581,"description":"What happens when the business you built, your reputation and your sense of identity unravel almost overnight? Shaun sits down with Mark Sowerby to discuss the rise of Blue Sky Alternative Investments, the personal impact of its collapse and the extraordinary challenge that helped him rebuild. Mark shares what completing the Oceans Seven taught him about resilience, purpose, preparation and finding wisdom “out on the edge”.\nGuest Bio\nMark Sowerby is an experienced business leader, investor and adventurer whose career has spanned global commodity trading, agribusiness, private equity and venture capital. He founded Blue Sky Alternative Investments in 2006 and now heads up Caithness Ventures.\nBeyond business, Mark is an accomplished endurance swimmer. In 2024, he completed the Oceans Seven global swimming challenge, an achievement featured in the documentary Don’t Be Prey.\n \nEpisode Summary\nMark reflects on his path from boarding school and commodity trading to founding Blue Sky Alternative Investments. After listing in 2012 with a market capitalisation of approximately $33 million, the business grew rapidly and later reached a peak valuation of around $1.2 billion.\nThat trajectory changed dramatically following an activist short-selling attack. Although Mark had already left Blue Sky, he watched from the outside as the company collapsed and his reputation, wealth and life’s work came under intense scrutiny. He speaks openly about the effect on his mental health and the people who helped him through that period.\nA conversation with his former English Channel coach gave Mark a new purpose: completing the Oceans Seven, one of the world’s most demanding endurance challenges. Through years of training and seven difficult channel crossings, he began rebuilding his health, confidence and sense of direction.\nShaun and Mark discuss resilience, preparation, family, accountability and the importance of winning critical moments. They also explore why growth is often found...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/01HT6z1np-eEBjtcyMsB-BQNcra3Lsw2YpfXw9vSi1A/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/Lzg5ODYvMTY1OTMw/NDQ1Ny1hcnR3b3Jr/LmpwZw.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}