The Leaders

Helmut Schmidt talks frankly about the life and death decisions he was forced to make as Chancellor of West Germany when it was terrorized by the Red Army Faction. Having fought in Adolf Hitler's army as a young man, Schmidt is also forthright about his political career, the meaning of war and Germany's place in the international community.

The father of private equity in Europe, and 'bankroller' of UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown within his Labour Party, talks passionately to Simon Hobbs about what it really takes to be an entrepreneur and why society may explode in violence if the private sector does not do more.

This African-born telecom pioneer explains how raw frustration with UK big business drove him to work for himself. Having designed many of the world's first wave of mobile networks, he then physically built them in Africa because no one else would. Now with an estimated personal fortune of $2.5bn he awards cash prizes in Africa to promote better leadership.

As the architect of the merger that created GSK prepares to retire as its CEO, the competitive Frenchman talks about how he revolutionized big pharma's R&D, its relationship with poor nations and why the original deal was not his preferred option.

In her first ever full length TV interview the most powerful woman in world business talks frankly about her upbringing in India, how she came to restructure an American icon and why she now physically stops herself from feeling guilt each day about being a 'bad' executive, mother and wife.

The world-renowned CEO of two successful auto manufacturers in Europe and Asia chats with Simon Hobbs.

The son of the fourth richest man on the planet talks openly about how he's fought to be recognized in his own right by driving an acquisition strategy through the steel industry at a rate of 35 deals a year - which included his family's bitter battle for Arcelor.

Vogue claims the founder of this luxury, online fashion retailer is 'revolutionizing' how women buy clothes. In her first major television interview, Natalie talks about how she navigates the dangers inherent in a business that is doubling its revenues each year, why she can offer a lifeline to designers and how also bringing-up two young daughters is 'pulling her apart'.

In his first major television interview, Lindsay Owen Jones reveals how he's delivered an unbroken string of double-digit profit growth for 23 years. He talks frankly about his relationship with France's richest woman, billionaire shareholder Liliane Bettencourt. And why he's happy for the French to mistakenly think he's Welsh.

Simon Hobbs has a discussion with Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the enigmatic and often controversy-shrouded CEO of easyGroup, who is best known for founding budget airline easyJet at the age of 28, and who has built the easyGroup corporation into one that touches nearly all industries.

Europe's turnaround king explains how he goes about pulling businesses like Fiat back from the brink of bankruptcy, his five principles of leadership and why humility is paramount for CEOs.

Discussing leadership, motivation and career success with Jack Welch, former GE chairman & CEO.