The Beautiful Business Podcast

What if a single question could transform how your team works? Olympic gold medallist Ben Hunt-Davis shares how the philosophy behind “Will it Make the Boat Go Faster?” can help leaders and teams align, focus, and perform at their best, in sport, business, and beyond.About the GuestBen Hunt-Davis MBE is an Olympic gold medal-winning rower from Sydney 2000 and co-author of the bestselling book Will it Make the Boat Go Faster?. Following his sporting career, Ben co-founded a leadership performance consultancy that helps organisations build clarity, alignment, and high-performing cultures. In this conversation, he shares lessons from his rowing turnaround story, how to foster a people-first performance mindset, and why being kind and high-challenge are not mutually exclusive.This Episode CoversThe turning point: how a painful 7th-place finish led to radical change and team transformationPerformance vs. results: why you should focus on what’s within your controlAlignment over assumption: building shared goals and buy-in across teamsCulture that counts: a high-performance environment means high challenge and high supportKindness ≠ softness: how tough conversations and feedback build trust and progressFrom sport to business: translating elite habits into sustainable leadership practicesLessons in accountability: learning to own outcomes and support others in changeThe danger of boiling it down: why “Will it Make the Boat Go Faster?” isn’t about working faster — it’s about working smarterPlanning for the next season: why now is the time to reset goals and rally your teamLinksWebsite: https://willitmaketheboatgofaster.com/ Programmes: https://willitmaketheboatgofaster.com/programmes/Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/will-it-make-the-boat-go-faster-ltd/Ben’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benhuntdavis/

Show Notes

What if a single question could transform how your team works? Olympic gold medallist Ben Hunt-Davis shares how the philosophy behind “Will it Make the Boat Go Faster?” can help leaders and teams align, focus, and perform at their best, in sport, business, and beyond.


About the Guest

Ben Hunt-Davis MBE is an Olympic gold medal-winning rower from Sydney 2000 and co-author of the bestselling book Will it Make the Boat Go Faster?. Following his sporting career, Ben co-founded a leadership performance consultancy that helps organisations build clarity, alignment, and high-performing cultures. In this conversation, he shares lessons from his rowing turnaround story, how to foster a people-first performance mindset, and why being kind and high-challenge are not mutually exclusive.


This Episode Covers

  • The turning point: how a painful 7th-place finish led to radical change and team transformation
  • Performance vs. results: why you should focus on what’s within your control
  • Alignment over assumption: building shared goals and buy-in across teams
  • Culture that counts: a high-performance environment means high challenge and high support
  • Kindness ≠ softness: how tough conversations and feedback build trust and progress
  • From sport to business: translating elite habits into sustainable leadership practices
  • Lessons in accountability: learning to own outcomes and support others in change
  • The danger of boiling it down: why “Will it Make the Boat Go Faster?” isn’t about working faster — it’s about working smarter
  • Planning for the next season: why now is the time to reset goals and rally your team


Links

Website: https://willitmaketheboatgofaster.com/ 

Programmes: https://willitmaketheboatgofaster.com/programmes/

Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/will-it-make-the-boat-go-faster-ltd/

Ben’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benhuntdavis/

What is The Beautiful Business Podcast?

Welcome to Beautiful Business, where we believe that success and sustainability go hand in hand.

In each episode, we delve into the strategies, tools, and connections that can transform your business into a force for good. Listen for insights, experiences and actionable advice that can drive both profitability and purpose.

Whether you're an established leader or an aspiring entrepreneur, this podcast aims to empower you with the knowledge, inspiration, and connections necessary to drive positive change in your organisation and beyond.

Each episode is designed to provide you with practical takeaways that can be applied immediately, helping you unlock your full potential as a leader and create a thriving business that makes a lasting difference.

So, whether you're seeking fresh ideas or new perspectives tune in to Beautiful Business and embark on a transformative journey towards sustainable success. Let's build a beautiful future together.

The podcast is powered by The Wow Company and if you're dedicated to building a Beautiful Business you can also check out http://wowco.uk/beautifulbusiness (wowco.uk/beautifulbusiness)