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Bruce McCarthy has spent his life building things – first with Lego, then with teams, products, and companies. In this episode, he takes us from childhood curiosity to becoming one of the most recognised voices in modern product leadership. His stories reveal how creativity becomes strategy, and how mindset becomes culture.

You’ll hear how early experiments in building boats, ecosystems, and entire miniature worlds shaped Bruce’s instinct for systems thinking. You’ll follow the transition from startup founder to product leader, and the shock of moving from small, outcome-driven companies to an organisation where innovation was discouraged. That contrast led Bruce to a realisation that would define his career – culture determines everything.

We explore the moments that transformed how he leads: cross-functional alignment, stakeholder management, strategic ownership, and the belief that product managers run “businesses within businesses”. Bruce shares the wins, the mistakes, and the turning points that taught him that leadership requires listening, that mandates never create change, and that real transformation comes from learning by doing.

Together, we unpack the origin of Product Culture, why his books reshaped the product world, and the truth behind roadmapping, OKRs, collaboration, and the power of finding your tribe. Whether you’re in product, leadership, or simply navigating change – this is a masterclass in building the environment where great work happens.

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You can catch us on all major podcast directories - New episode every Wednesday at 3pm UK time. Give us a subscribe to make sure you don't miss out!

We're also on YouTube!

If you want to feature as a guest, and you're either a business owner who does most of their own marketing, or you're a marketer with a passion for sharing your knowledge, current trends and adding value, reach out to me directly.

This show is brought to you by Javelin Content Management.

We're a husband and wife team who specialise in helping fascinating people launch amazing podcasts, where we extract all of the content 'juice' by squeezing their episodes and repurposing the clips.

We manage podcasts across lots of industries and sectors for our clients, specialising in hosts with ADHD and neurodiversity (like us!)

We also work with existing podcasters who just want to get the hard work off their hands, or who are finding the whole process tiring and dull!

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What happens when life forces you to pivot, and you finally give yourself permission to succeed? In this MarketPulse Pros & Pioneers episode, I sit down with David Birchmore, who went from a career in healthcare to building a business that helps others find the courage to make a change. His journey is full of lessons about resilience, self-awareness, and the importance of family.

David’s story begins with the dream of becoming a doctor – a dream that was brutally shattered. But instead of giving up, he found another way to live out his purpose of helping others. From healthcare to corporate life and eventually launching his own business, David’s journey is a powerful reminder that setbacks can become turning points.

In our conversation, David shares the pivotal life moments that shaped him, why every job has a purpose, and how he turned a side hustle into a full-time career. He also opens up about the challenges of ambition, burnout, and the traps of chasing prestige – and how breaking free led him to a more authentic and fulfilling life.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in the wrong job or pressured by expectations that don’t align with who you are, this episode will resonate deeply. David’s mission is to help 1,000 people leave jobs they hate, and his story proves that with courage and clarity, real change is possible.

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Thanks for listening!!

You can catch us on all major podcast directories - New episode every Wednesday at 3pm UK time. Give us a subscribe to make sure you don't miss out!

We're also on YouTube!

If you want to feature as a guest, and you're either a business owner who does most of their own marketing, or you're a marketer with a passion for sharing your knowledge, current trends and adding value, reach out to me directly.

This show is brought to you by Javelin Content Management.

We're a husband and wife team who specialise in helping fascinating people launch amazing podcasts, where we extract all of the content 'juice' by squeezing their episodes and repurposing the clips.

We manage podcasts across lots of industries and sectors for our clients, specialising in hosts with ADHD and neurodiversity (like us!)

We also work with existing podcasters who just want to get the hard work off their hands, or who are finding the whole process tiring and dull!

Enjoying the Show? Share Your Experience!

Can you imagine going from working with gang-affiliated kids to coaching global CEOs?
That’s the extraordinary path of Dr Alison Schmidt, who’s built a career redefining what leadership really looks like.

In this episode of MarketPulse, Alison opens up about her unconventional journey through retail, hospitality, and education — and how every setback became a lesson in empathy, purpose, and resilience.
She shares powerful moments of honesty, from carrying shame for decades to finding her voice as a neurodivergent leader.

We discuss how COVID forced her to confront her own authenticity, what “being UN” really means, and why true leaders focus less on training and more on DNA — the natural instincts that drive human connection.

If you’ve ever felt out of place in the corporate world, Alison’s story will show you why that might be your greatest strength.

Subscribe now to MarketPulse for more stories that challenge the norm and celebrate the humans behind leadership.

Thanks for listening!!

You can catch us on all major podcast directories - New episode every Wednesday at 3pm UK time. Give us a subscribe to make sure you don't miss out!

We're also on YouTube!

If you want to feature as a guest, and you're either a business owner who does most of their own marketing, or you're a marketer with a passion for sharing your knowledge, current trends and adding value, reach out to me directly.

This show is brought to you by Javelin Content Management.

We're a husband and wife team who specialise in helping fascinating people launch amazing podcasts, where we extract all of the content 'juice' by squeezing their episodes and repurposing the clips.

We manage podcasts across lots of industries and sectors for our clients, specialising in hosts with ADHD and neurodiversity (like us!)

We also work with existing podcasters who just want to get the hard work off their hands, or who are finding the whole process tiring and dull!