A Different Perspective - My PhD Cost Me $100 Million: Dr Ewan Kirk on Quant Finance, Goldman Sachs & Building Cantab Capital

This week Nick talks to Ben Davey Ben Davey is an experienced investor, board leader and strategist with over 30 years’ experience across financial services, technology, M&A and venture building. A former barrister and investment banker, he has held senior leadership roles at Rothschild, Barclays and Azerion, including Chief Strategy Officer of Barclays PLC and Founder and CEO of Barclays Ventures. He is currently a Non-Executive Director of PayPal UK, Executive Chairman of Lalu, and an investor and advisor to technology businesses. He also sits on the advisory boards of Conception X and Oxford University’s Masters in Law and Finance. Nick and Ben discuss Ben Davey’s career from barrister to investment banker at Rothschild and Barclays, where he worked in financial services, strategy and the development of Barclays Ventures and Eagle Labs. They explore his move into angel investing, his interests in fintech, legaltech, adtech and healthtech, and how data and AI are changing these sectors. They also consider the potential of quantum computing, the challenges facing traditional industries and Ben’s views on leadership and innovation. Book Choice Zone to Win by Geoffrey A. Moore. Music Choices The Planets – Gustav Holst The Four Seasons – Antonio Vivaldi

This week Nick talks to Gary Robinson Gary is an Investment Manager in the US Equity Growth Team at Baillie Gifford. He joined the firm in 2003 and became a Partner in 2019. Before joining the US Equity Growth Team in 2008, he worked across the Japanese, UK and European Equity teams. A generalist investor, Gary has a particular interest in healthcare. He holds an MBiochem in Biochemistry from Oxford University. Nick and Gary discuss Gary’s career at Baillie Gifford, the firm’s long-term approach to growth investing and the development of the US Growth Trust. They cover investing across public and private markets, including SpaceX, Anthropic, OpenAI and Databricks, as well as the growth of AI and its impact on businesses. Gary also discusses RBC Bearings as an example of a high-quality industrial growth company, the importance of company culture and capital allocation, and why the US continues to produce innovative businesses. Book Choice One from Many: VISA and the Rise of Chaordic Organization by Dee Hock The Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch Music Choice Prince For You This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.

This week Nick talks to Nick Freeman Nick is Chief Operating Officer at Lalu, working across healthcare, technology, operations, and commercial strategy. Since joining in 2019, he has helped establish governance frameworks, secure NHS accreditation, scale service delivery, and build the operational foundations that enable the secure and efficient exchange of health data.

This week Nick talks to Andrea Montague Andrea joined Brooks Macdonald as Chief Financial Officer in August 2023 and became Chief Executive Officer in October 2024. A chartered accountant, she has extensive Board and Executive-level experience across wealth management, long-term savings and asset management, having held senior roles at Aviva, Royal London and Standard Life. Her expertise spans strategic, financial and operational leadership, with a focus on client outcomes and sustainable growth. In 2026, Andrea joined the Board of PIMFA, reflecting her leadership and influence across the UK wealth management sector. Nick and Andrea discuss the evolution of the UK wealth management sector, highlighting a growing long-term opportunity driven by an ageing population, the shift from defined benefit to defined contribution pensions and an increasing need for individuals to take greater responsibility for retirement planning. The sector remains highly competitive and fragmented, with consolidation accelerating across both wealth management and financial advice, while demand for advice remains significantly underpenetrated. Book Choice How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie

This week Nick talks to Benjamin Faes Ben is Group Chief Executive Officer of RWS, bringing more than 25 years of experience leading digital transformation and scaling technology-driven businesses. His career includes senior leadership roles at AOL, Alphabet, Google Cloud, Webhelp and Concentrix, with a focus on growth, innovation and building international teams. Nick and Ben discuss Ben’s career journey from AOL and Google to leading RWS, and how those experiences have shaped his approach to transformation, innovation and global growth. They explore RWS’s evolution as an AI technology business, the importance of combining AI with human expertise, and the growing need for AI governance, cultural intelligence and cybersecurity. The conversation also looks at how RWS helps global brands operate across languages and cultures, using technology and specialist expertise to accelerate international expansion while maintaining the trust, accuracy and cultural understanding required by global businesses. Book Choice The Infinity Machine: Demis Hassabis, DeepMind and the Quest for Superintelligence by Sebastian Mallaby Music Choice Sugar Man by Sixto Rodriguez This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.