At the heart of The Next Agenda Market Close at the London Stock Exchange is a thirty minute panel discussion hosted by HM Treasury, bringing together senior voices from government, finance and business to explore what Britain needs to lead in its next phase of economic growth.

Moderated by Horatio Georgestone of HM Treasury, the panel is designed to move beyond headlines and into practical leadership questions. Drawing on new research commissioned by OTA Media, the discussion will examine how trust, innovation and inclusion intersect with competitiveness, investment and long term value creation.

The panel features:

Rob Pierre, entrepreneur and former Chief Executive of Jellyfish, sharing the perspective of a founder who scaled a UK business into a global digital leader and now invests in purpose driven ventures.

Jennifer Thomas, Global Head of EDI at London Stock Exchange Group, bringing a market perspective on governance, transparency and the expectations of global investors.

Catherine Sneath, Head of People and Capability at HM Treasury, bringing a leadership and workforce perspective on how talent, skills and institutional culture underpin long-term economic growth.

The Market Close panel is a central moment in The Next Agenda, bringing policy, markets and leadership into one room at a defining point in the day.

🎟 Registration is closing soon. Capacity is limited.

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The Man Behind the Powerlist: How Michael Eboda Built the Definitive Ranking of Black British Influence

In the latest episode of Off The Agenda, we spoke with Michael Eboda, founder and CEO of Powerful Media and creator of the Powerlist, the annual ranking celebrating the UK’s most influential Black leaders.

In conversation with Brenda Emmanus OBE, Michael reflected on his mission to challenge the long-held myth that Black talent is scarce. Drawing on his background in journalism, he spoke candidly about how negative narratives often dominated coverage, while success, leadership and excellence went unseen. The Powerlist was created to change that narrative by spotlighting influence, impact and achievement.

Over the years, the Powerlist has played a significant role in elevating the public profiles of leaders across business, culture and sport, including Steven Bartlett, Edward Enninful, Stormzy, Ian Wright, Dame Pat McGrath and Sir Idris Elba, among many others. What unites them, Michael notes, is not celebrity alone, but sustained influence and the ability to shape outcomes.

Central to the Powerlist is a clear distinction between power and influence. Influence, Michael explains, is about long-term impact, changing lives and opening doors for others, not fleeting attention or status. Twenty years on, the challenge is no longer finding talent, but choosing from a growing pipeline of leaders across business, culture and public service.

Watch the full episode with Michael Eboda now!

Watch Michael Eboda

Careers Are Being Rewritten. Leaders Need to Adapt.

As markets regain confidence, one thing is clear: careers are not reverting to old patterns.

The traditional model of linear progression, long tenures and single-track leadership roles is being quietly replaced. Today’s senior leaders are navigating portfolio careers, advisory positions, board roles and entrepreneurial ventures alongside executive responsibilities.

In this environment, employability is no longer defined by a job title. It is shaped by reputation, judgment and the ability to operate across sectors, institutions and geographies.

The leaders who thrive are those who build credibility beyond their organisation. They invest in networks, remain visible in serious conversations and understand how policy, capital and culture intersect.

As confidence returns to markets, the most valuable careers will belong to those who treat their professional trajectory with the same discipline they apply to capital: diversifying exposure, managing risk and playing the long game.

For many, the next move will not be a promotion, but a repositioning.

Introducing The Circle

The Circle is a private community for founders, operators and investors shaping what comes next in business, culture and capital.

It is:

• Invitation-only, Application-led and Built on trust, not timelines

The Circle was born from a conversation between Edwin Danso and Rob Pierre, centred on a simple but important question:
How does OTA Media grow alongside the people building the future, not just reporting on it?

We can now share that founding members are in place.

What’s emerging is not another network, but a real-world community. One that brings together capital, culture and conversation in the heart of the City.

As part of this, we’re designing a Friday night format where leaders step out of boardrooms and into a shared space for:

• Ideas, Entertainment, Food and Long-term relationships

Because clubs and small communities have always built power that rivals big institutions.

More details soon.

Apply for Consideration

What is the city talking about?

Next’s interest in Russell & Bromley is less about retail expansion and more about strategy.

The FTSE 100 retailer is understood to be exploring a deal focused on Russell & Bromley’s brand and intellectual property, rather than its store estate or inventory. The move reflects a broader shift in UK corporate strategy: prioritising scalable brands while avoiding legacy operating costs.

Under Lord Wolfson, Next has built a reputation as one of Britain’s most disciplined capital allocators. Recent acquisitions of Cath Kidston, Joules and Seraphine followed a similar pattern, acquiring brand value while restructuring operations to fit a modern retail model.

As market confidence returns and capital becomes more selective, this approach offers a lesson for leaders across sectors. Growth is no longer about footprint. It’s about focus, execution and long-term value creation.

Citizens of the Week: Team GB on the World Stage

British athletes delivered another reminder of quiet excellence this week at the European Skeleton Championships in St Moritz.

Matt Weston secured his second European title, reinforcing his position as one of Britain’s most consistent performers on the international stage. In the women’s event, Tabby Stoecker claimed silver, becoming just the sixth British woman to medal at the Championships since the competition began.

In a world where performance is measured in fine margins, Team GB continues to demonstrate discipline, resilience and the ability to deliver under pressure. A reminder that leadership, whether in sport, business or public life, is built on preparation and execution when it matters most.

Sir Charles Bowman, who raced on the historic Cresta Run in his early twenties, knows first-hand the precision and nerve required in elite sliding sports. We look forward to welcoming Tabby onto Off The Agenda in due course to explore what elite performance really takes.

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