High Performance Business

Struggling Student to Kurt Geiger CEO: How I Did It

High Performance Business

Show Notes

CEO of Kurt Geiger Neil Clifford reflects on the moments and challenges that shaped his journey from a department store floor to leading a global fashion brand. He shares how early setbacks, including the loss of his father and living with dyslexia, influenced his leadership style, turning perceived limitations into creative strengths. Neil also discusses the lessons learned through private equity and the importance of surrounding himself with people who think differently.

Beyond commercial success, Neil explains how Kurt Geiger’s Business by Design Academy became a way to create wider impact, opening doors for young creatives who might otherwise be overlooked.

This episode explores creativity, leadership, and why human skills, not just technical ones, will matter most in the future.

Launched by the Kurt Geiger Kindness Foundation in 2024, Business by Design is an award-winning, fully funded, career incubator programme designed to open doors into the creative industry for young people. For the first time, and beginning in Spring 2026, Business by Design will become available to young people across the UK, through a newly digitalised programme.

The Business by Design Academy page: https://www.kurtgeiger.com/business-by-design

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