Most leaders think being needed everywhere is a sign of impact.
In reality, it’s often a sign of risk. In this episode of Behind the Build, I talk about delegation, control, and the uncomfortable truth many managers avoid: that real leadership isn’t measured by how much depends on you, but by how well your team functions without you.
We explore why some leaders struggle to delegate, how information hoarding quietly damages teams, and what happens when people are trusted to think, decide, and even fail forward.
I also share a simple framework to help you build teams that are more confident, productive, and capable of running with responsibility, even representing you when you’re not in the room.
This conversation is for founders, business leaders, and aspiring managers who want to build resilient teams, reduce burnout, and create businesses that don’t collapse in their absence.
If this resonates, subscribe for more practical insights on building strong operations and sustainable leadership.
For sponsorships or promotions, contact Bukola@businessbackstage.co.uk
Artificial intelligence is transforming workplaces at a pace that many professionals are still trying to make sense of.
While the conversations often focus on productivity and automation, a deeper story is unfolding beneath the surface: the emotional, psychological, and identity-level impact on today’s workforce.
In this powerful Season 1 finale of the Business Backstage Podcast, I sit down with therapist and mental health advocate Nara Morrison to explore the human side of AI adoption.
We discuss the rising anxiety around job displacement, the silent pressures leaders face, the identity crises triggered by automation, and what it truly means to create psychologically safe spaces in the age of AI.
If you’re a tech professional, leader, HR practitioner, or someone navigating the emotional weight of AI in your career. This episode is one to listen.
Every business reaches a point where the tools that once worked start to hold everything together with duct tape.
In this episode, The ERP Doctor, Dr James Robertson, breaks down the real signs that your organisation has outgrown its systems, from hidden risks to everyday pain points leaders often overlook.
We explore why every organisation already has an ERP (even if it’s just spreadsheets), the dangers of delaying structure, and why business executives need to lead ERP implementations. A simple, practical conversation for founders and leaders building for scale
Contact Dr James Robertson via his website and assess your ERP's health using Dr Robertson's Assessement scorecard.
Feeling like your startup is growing faster than your structure? You’re not alone, and that’s exactly what this episode is about.
In this solo episode of Business Backstage, Startup Operations Director - Bukola Osuntuyi breaks down what it means to build solid operational foundations in a tech startup without killing your speed or creativity.
Learn:
1. What “operational maturity” looks like for a seed-stage tech startup
2. The biggest operational mistakes founders make early on 3. How to prioritise which systems to build first (hiring, onboarding, customer ops)
4. When it’s the right time to bring in an Operations Lead or Head of Operations
This episode is packed with practical insights from my experience helping tech founders build resilient, scalable businesses, especially in their messy early days. - Bukola.
In a new country, it’s easy to feel like you’ve lost everything you worked hard to build. The networks, the credibility, the identity – it can all feel out of reach.
But the truth is, relocation doesn’t erase your achievements; it challenges you to rebuild, influence differently, and embrace change.
In Episode #4 of the Business Backstage podcast, I sit down with Adeyinka Fakunmoju, a dynamic tech leader and ecosystem builder with a career spanning global enterprises like HP and leadership roles in sales, customer success, and partnerships.
We discuss what it means to lead without authority, build successful partnerships, adapt to technological advancements, and navigate the hidden pressures of career transitions and relocation. Adeyinka shares his personal playbook for embracing technology, maintaining identity in a new environment, and using mentorship as a tool for long-term impact.
Whether you’re a professional navigating a relocation, a leader dealing with unseen pressures, or someone seeking practical ways to adapt and grow in a fast-changing world, this conversation will give you authentic insight and actionable takeaways.
In Episode #3 of Business Backstage, host Bukola Osuntuyi dives into the modern marketing equation with Peter Dickinson, a seasoned business strategist and fractional Chief Marketing Officer.
With over 25 years of experience, Peter shares insights on aligning sales and marketing strategies for sustainable growth, the practical application of AI in business, and the importance of cultural understanding in international market expansion.
Discover how Vision to Success and the Power Network are empowering entrepreneurs with the tools and networks they need to thrive.
Contact Peter Dickinson: Email: Growth@kub-uk.net Website: Vision to Success:
Website Power Networkers Hub
Watch the Episode on YouTube
In a world where AI tools can now generate fake news videos that look more real than reality, the question isn’t if your organisation should care about AI ethics… It’s how soon you’ll be forced to.
In Episode #2 of the Business Backstage podcast, Bukola Osuntuyi sits down with Tim D. Clarke, NLP engineer and deep thinker with a background in anthropology, data science, and real-world operations, to have the conversation more leaders need to be having right now: how to lead AI responsibly, before regulation or reputational damage forces your hand. From practical frameworks to the real risks of AI tools, this episode unpacks what responsible AI actually looks like in everyday business, not just in labs or big tech.
Whether you're a founder, executive, or curious professional seeking to understand how AI fits into your work and leadership, this conversation will provide you with the language, perspective, and practical steps to think ahead.
🔗 Subscribe for more behind-the-scenes conversations that unpack the realities of building sustainable businesses in tech.
📘 Book Tim referenced: Ethical Machines by Reid Blackman
Watch the Episode on YouTube
In this powerful debut episode of Business Backstage, I sit down with leadership development expert Gayle Thompson to explore a subject every tech entrepreneur needs to understand – the silent ROI of developing your line managers before it's too late.
From training engineers on how to use computers in 1990s South Africa to working in castles, prisons, and sheep farms, Gayle brings a colourful, deeply insightful lens to what it really takes to build effective managers in today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world.
In this episode, we cover: The red flags founders miss when poor management is hurting their startup Why middle managers are your organisation’s most underdeveloped asset What happens when leadership is left to chance How to build a pipeline of leaders without burning people out Why psychological safety is non-negotiable The messy reality of career development in modern teams Whether you’re a founder, people manager, or someone figuring out their place in a growing tech company, this conversation is packed with real stories, practical advice, and sharp truths.
Featuring: Gayle Thompson – Leadership Consultant, Trainer, and Developer of VILT: Virtual Intelligent Leadership Transformation
🎙 Hosted by #bukolaosuntuyi Founder & Host, Business Backstage
In this prelude episode, #bukolaosuntuyi shares the story behind the Business Backstage podcast: why it exists, who it’s for, and what you can expect in the episodes to come.
From my roots in theatre to over a decade of experience leading business operations in global tech startups, this podcast is a fusion of everything I’ve learnt and everything I believe should be talked about more openly in the tech world. Too often, we focus only on the visionary founder.
But behind every successful startup, there’s a backstage crew: COOs turning ideas into systems Product leads translating pain points into features Finance experts spotting problems before they escalate Customer success teams managing relationships Ecosystem builders creating space for innovation Business Backstage is here to spotlight these voices.
We’re unpacking the real work behind building sustainable businesses: – The systems and structures – The messy lessons – The decisions that shape long-term growth – And the professionals who’ve been in the trenches Whether you’re a founder, a team lead, a career professional, or someone trying to find your place in the tech community, this podcast is for you.
Subscribe and join me as we kick off this journey to explore the other side of business building.
Watch podcast episode on Youtube