Where Sharp Minds Compete

Episode 4: Paul and Sam Blake

In episode four of Where Sharp Minds Compete, host Paul Shields, Partner and Head of Johnston Carmichael’s Newcastle office, is joined by Paul Blake, owner of Newcastle Eagles, and Sam Blake, Chief Executive Officer, to explore the story behind the most successful professional basketball club in British history.
The conversation unpacks the club’s takeover journey, the role of the local community in keeping it alive and what it’s like to run a sports business built on passion and resilience. Paul and Sam reflect on the times the club came close to failing, the turning points that helped them survive and the importance of having passionate people within the team. They also share stories from the club’s history, including how the venue was transformed into a vaccination centre during Covid, helping to deliver 125,000 vaccinations and showing the club’s wider value to the region.
Within the episode, looking at the parallels between sport and business, Paul Blake shares how basketball is like a speeded-up version of business. He explains that many of the tasks delivered in a business are similar to what happens on a court, where decisions must be made quickly and often under pressure.

Episode 3: Shaun Hudson

In episode three of Where Sharp Minds Compete, host Paul Shields, Partner and Head of Johnston Carmichael’s Newcastle office, is joined by Shaun Hudson, EFL assistant referee and experienced leader in the sporting and business worlds, to explore leadership, culture and the realities of performing in high-pressure environments.
Drawing on his career across elite sport and leadership roles beyond the pitch, Shaun reflects on the importance of accountability, trust and communication in building successful teams. He shares insight into how strong cultures are created, why honest conversations matter and how leaders can maintain focus and direction when expectations are high.
The conversation also explores the parallels between sport and business, from managing performance and navigating setbacks to developing individuals and building collective resilience. Shaun’s perspective highlights how the lessons learned in competitive sport can translate directly into effective leadership in organisations.
Blending real-world sporting experience with practical business insight, this episode offers valuable reflections for leaders seeking to build strong teams, drive performance and lead with clarity in challenging environments.

Episode 2: Iain Nairn, MBE

In episode two of 'Where Sharp Minds Compete', host Paul Shields, Partner and Head of Johnston Carmichael’s Newcastle office, is joined by Iain Nairn MBE, former England Physical Disability cricket captain, to explore leadership, resilience and high performance in the face of sustained challenge.
Drawing on his experience captaining England to victory in the first global physical disability cricket tournament, Iain reflects on what it takes to build and lead a high-performing team, manage responsibility under pressure and balance elite sport with a full-time professional career. He shares candid insight into dealing with setbacks in a game defined by failure, maintaining focus when expectations are high and motivating others when the odds are stacked against you.
Blending sporting achievement with practical business insight, this episode provides valuable perspective for leaders navigating growth, responsibility and performance in the North East and beyond.

Episode 1: Chris Cook

In the opening episode of ‘Where Sharp Minds Compete’, host Paul Shields, Partner and Head of Johnston Carmichael’s Newcastle office, is joined by ex-Olympic swimmer Chris Cook to explore what high performance really looks like beyond medals, titles and results.
Drawing on his journey from South Shields to the Olympic stage and into business, Chris reflects on leadership, resilience and identity, sharing honest insight into adapting to uncertainty, reframing fear and self-doubt, and redefining success at different stages of life and career. He also discusses the transition from elite sport to entrepreneurship, the importance of agility in a post-Covid world, and why building systems that don’t rely on you is critical for long-term growth.
Blending sporting experience with practical business thinking, this episode offers valuable perspective for leaders navigating change, pressure and ambition in the North East and beyond.
 
You can watch the full video here.