Can new businesses survive without some form of hype or over-promotion? Or will consumer or investor disillusionment inevitably correct this? One recent example where hype came back to bite a company founder is that of the shared office space provider, WeWork. Its stock market valuation fell from $50bn to near bankruptcy over the course of a few weeks. GUESTS Brent Hoberman, serial entrepreneur and investor, chair and co-founder of Founders Factory and First Minute Capital Kerry Baldwin, Managing Partner at IQ Capital,a venture capital investment firm Rory Sutherland, Vice Chair of Ogilvy, the global advertising and marketing agency

The Bottom Line

Business hype

How will the infection affect commerce in the UK and around the world? Evan Davis and a panel of guests discuss what's happening to the economy and look at likely scenarios. Jennifer McKeown, Chief Global Economist, Capital Economics, Gloria Guevara, CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council. Tim Power, MD of maritime and shipping container research firm Drewry. Producers: Lesley McAlpine and Julie Ball Researcher: May Cameron

Coronavirus and business

Is our working week due for major reform? Will a move to a four day week - as proposed by the Labour Party in its recent General Election manifesto - ever happen? From shorter hours to more flexibility in the workplace, what will the modern world of work be like in ten years time? Evan Davis and guests discuss the latest trends. Guests appearing on The Bottom Line Kate Cooper, Head of Research, Policy & Standards, Institute of Leadership and Management David Stone, CEO of MRL Recruitment and Karen Jansen, Professor in Leadership Challenge at Henley Business School

The working week

What are the pros and cons of running a business with your life partner and how do you keep the personal out of your professional life? Evan Davis and guests discuss. GUESTS Sophie Mirman and Richard Ross, founders and owners, Trotters childrenswear and accessories Claire and Andy Burnet, founders and owners, Chococo artisan chocolatiers Peter Leach, author and Adjunct Professor in Family Business , Imperial College Business School Producer: Julie Ball Editor: Hugh Levinson

Couples in Business

What are the rules when people have to lose their jobs? It's always a difficult situation - which is why it's often handled badly. Evan Davis and guests ask if there is a better way of doing it. GUESTS Angela O'Connor, Founder and CEO, The HR Lounge Consultancy Sian Keall, Partner, Employment Law, Travers Smith LLP Kate Griffiths-Lambeth, Group HR Director, Charles Stanley, Wealth Managers Producer: Julie Ball Editor: Hugh Levinson

Dismissing staff

Do business gurus really hold the secret to success? Peter Drucker, Michael Porter and Gary Hamel are some of those who've found fame and influence via best-selling business books. But can following their lead transform a company - or are they really just selling themselves? Evan Davis and guests assess the pros and cons of buying from the ideas merchants. GUESTS Lynda Gratton, professor of management practice, London Business School, CEO The Hot Spots Movement John Kay, economist, author and consultant Eddie Obeng, founder and director of Pentacle Producer: Julie Ball Editor: Hugh Levinson

Business Gurus

How should businesses deal with workplace quarrels? At a time when the nation seems increasingly divided and hot-tempered, is there a way to bring harmony among staff when there are differences of opinion and personality? Evan Davis and his guests explore what can go wrong and look for some possible solutions. In a very cooperative spirit, naturally. GUESTS: Naomi Shragai: psychological business consultant and Financial Times contributor Roxana Mohammadian-Molina, Chief Strategy Officer, Blend Network David Liddle, founder and CEO, The TCM Group Producer: Julie Ball

Managing Conflict

The number of companies in 'financial distress' in the UK is on the rise. What's causing the problems and what exactly happens when a company goes into administration? Evan Davis and guests discuss. Guests: Julie Palmer, Insolvency practitioner, Begbies Traynor Andy Scott, Chairman, REL Capital Dr Rebecca Parry, Director, Centre for Business and Insolvency, Nottingham Trent University Producer: Julie Ball

Insolvency

How can business benefit from the popularity of vegetarian and vegan products in supermarkets and restaurants? One in eight of us identifies as vegetarian or vegan, but that's not enough to have boosted the market so significantly. So what is happening and is it sustainable? Evan Davis and guests discuss. GUESTS Kevin Brennan, CEO Quorn Tommaso Chiabra, venture capitalist and CEO Tommaso Chiabra Holdings Rachel Hugh, Co-founder, The Vurger Company Producer: Julie Ball

Plant-based foods

Will Facebook's launch of its own cryptocurrency be a game changer? What will this mean for established currencies and the global banking system? Evan Davis and guests discuss. GUESTS Jutta Steiner, Chief Executive Officer, Parity Technologies Dr. Catherine Mulligan, Chief Technology Officer of Gov Tech Labs and Data Net at University College, London Barbara Mellish, Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Citizenship, Enterprise and Government Presenter: Evan Davis Producer: Julie Ball

Cryptocurrencies

How can the aviation industry marry sustainability with increasing passenger numbers? Since the deregulation of Europe's airlines in the late 1990s, more and more of us have been flying every year. Whilst this may be good news for the airline industry, it's not good news for the environment. Manufacturers are trying to make models lighter and more fuel efficient, with a pledge by IATA to cut emissions to 50% by 2050. Nevertheless, experts say we are at least fifteen years away from hybrid engine powered flight. Evan Davis and guests ask whether commercial aviation can meet its climate targets through new technology and more fuel efficient engines, whilst keeping costs down for the airlines and the customer? GUESTS Paul Kahn, president, Connectivity, Cobham Plc Volodymyr Bilotkach, economist, author of The Economics of Airlines Rob Morris, head of Global Consultancy, Ascend by Cirium Presenter: Evan Davis Producer: Julie Ball Editor: Hugh Levinson

The Future of Commercial Aviation

What can we learn from how one medical start-up fooled Silicon Valley and the world? Elizabeth Holmes dropped out of Stanford University at 19 to start Theranos. She promised investors and the public a revolutionary blood diagnosis machine which would be less painful, accessible and affordable than ordinary lab tests. She managed to raise $9 billion in funding. Now the company is worth nothing. Holmes and her business partner may face up to 20 years in prison for fraud. How did she manage to deceive some of the world's cleverest minds - and is there something about start-up culture and the cult of the visionary leader which encourages charlatans? Evan Davis and guests discuss. GUESTS Rebecca Jarvis, chief business, economics and technology correspondent, ABC News Margaret Heffernan, author and entrepreneur Jos White, entrepreneur and partner, Notion Capital Producer: Julie Ball

Lessons of Theranos

You trust financial professionals to grow your long term savings and pension pot. But how do you know if they are investing it wisely? The UK investment industry is awash with complicated terms and conditions, and unclear and sometimes high charges, which can eat into your monetary returns. The woes of star fund manager Neil Woodford, who has temporarily frozen one of his funds to its investors after poor performance, highlights just how complicated an industry it is. Is some clarity starting to emerge? Evan Davis and expert guests look under the bonnet of the UK investment industry. Guests: James Anderson, partner at Baillie Gifford, who jointly manage the Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust Bella Caridade Ferreira, chief executive and founder of Fundscape Sean Hagerty, managing director of Vanguard Europe Producer: Lesley McAlpine

The investment industry - luck or judgement?

Poundland, Lidl, B&M Bargains and Primark are thriving successes on the High Street, while more mainstream retailers have seen their profits hit. Just how do the discounters keep their prices so low? Keeping the business model simple, supply chains lean and costs down are key parts of the story. Guests: Barry Williams, Managing Director of Poundland Simon Arora, Chief Executive, B&M Bargains Catherine Shuttleworth, Chief Executive of Savvy Marketing

The discounters

Can a sudden change in direction save a new company? Evan Davis and his guests hear stories about the start-up's nightmare: the original product is not selling, and cash is running out. Can changing focus - with a new service or product - pluck success from the jaws of doom? Speaking to entrepreneurs and experts, he learns about how in a range of sectors, from sanitary products to event ticketing, the key is to shift while staying true to the original vision. Guests: Celia Pool, cofounder DAME Edmund Glover and Nick Stone, FIXR Ramdane Mir, cofounder Cobbleweb

Pivoting

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show with people at the top giving insight into what matters

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The Bottom Line

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