Bill Deckelman

“The next generation are just going to be in an entirely different universe, metaverse, I’ll say.”

This week’s guest, Bill Deckelman, brings an infectious passion for technology and its ongoing evolution. As a unique blend of both lawyer and tech enthusiast, Bill has witnessed first-hand the transformation of the industry – from the data centres of the early ’80s, to joining Enter Agora as a character in the Metaverse.

Named “The Most Innovative General Counsel” by The Financial Times in 2017 and being the former EVP and General Counsel of DXC Technology, Bill is a natural fit to speak with on all things legal tech. His insights surrounding both technology and the legal world make him a fascinating voice on the convergence of AI and the Metaverse, and we’re excited to explore his thoughts on where these technologies are taking us.

Mark A. Cohen

“I think that there is a fallacy, particularly within the legal industry, that lawyers should be focused on legal innovation. Legal transformation is really, in my mind, an important footnote to a much wider, larger, broader, interrelated transformation of business.” 

In this episode, Legal Mosaic CEO and Founder, Mark Cohen, and our CEO, Ruxandra Radulescu, delve into Mark’s legal background and explore the broader transformation reshaping business today, discussing how it can be best leveraged through strategy, mindset, leadership, and cross-generational collaboration – not to succumb to its challenges, but to capitalise on its opportunities.

Mark is yet another valued client turned friend. With decades of expertise as a trial lawyer, entrepreneur, and now Forbes contributor, and international keynote speaker, it was only right to bring him as an Advisory Board member to input on Within’s strategic initiatives. We are delighted he said yes, even if it means stealing him away from the beautiful British countryside for a few hours.

Keith Oliver

“Your whole team appreciated immediately what it was that we wanted. And how (…) the highly unusual and unique nature of the practice could properly be reflected in the modern marketplace.” 

Brand is a business asset—we made that clear— but it is also a personal journey. And it is a cl-ose knit that we tied with Keith Oliver, Head of International Business at Peters & Peters, when driving the firm’s rebrand. We discovered his passion for helping clients through challenging times and unearthed what makes the beating heart of the firm, the team’s shared empathy, and instinct as much as the collaborative nature of the work they do.

In this episode, Will, our Founder and Creative Director, discusses with Keith about the rebranding process of one of Will’s favourite projects and their multiple reunions afterwards from race circuits in Scotland to the terraces at Old Trafford.

Caroline Debenham

“We always end up with what we needed, whether or not it was what we first thought that we wanted.” 

No doubt, Caroline is a force in the professional services industry. With a rich background at Cushman & Wakefield, The Nichols Group, Linklaters, and PwC, we’ve been fortunate to be part of her professional journey and witness her passion for strategic communications first-hand. Caroline’s infectious smile and unwavering positivity shine through, no matter the stakes or pressure.

In this episode, she talks to Ruxandra, our CEO, about the power of a people-to-people approach—or rather, human-to-human, as she coined it—sharing how authentic human connections drive business success. They both believe that ‘people buy from people’ and it is a core principle that has guided our own company successfully for over 18 years.

Barney O’Kelly

“The thing that I trust you to do is to behave like a consultancy.” 

Whether brainstorming marketing campaigns or joking about the latest ‘hype-cycle’ over coffee, there is never a dull conversation with Barney. For over a decade of working with him across multiple high-powered roles at Freshfields and now at AlixPartners, we have witnessed his strategic vision in action – one that cemented his relationship with Will, our Founder and Creative Director, grounded in trust and good humour.

What we have come to understand and value is knowing that our partnership extends beyond ‘deliverables’. Barney consistently values our creativity, striving to elevate discussions beyond standard consultancy and into Advisory. And it goes both ways. His collaborative approach—often punctuated by philosophical or cinematic tangents—and his refreshing vision for professional services have helped pave the road to our next stage of growth. The refreshing part isn’t just the work – it is working with Barney.

Martin King

“That’s when we need your expertise and your witchcraft to make sure that happens.”

In this episode, Martin discusses with our CEO Ruxandra Radulescu the importance of foresight, empowering creativity and taking bold action. What we call ‘advisory’, he fondly refers to as ‘witchcraft’ – but beyond words sits the exercise of leveraging intelligence to craft targeted narratives that move people towards shared progress.

Martin has been a champion of Within International since our partnership began over a decade ago. As a global strategist with experience at CBRE, the UN and now transforming FirstPort worldwide, his perspective is invaluable. He understands the power of strategic counsel in cutting through complexity to ignite change. His guidance, honed over a career spanning industries and continents, forms the lasting foundation of our strong relationship – and another client turned friend.

Rob Hygate

“I love applying technology to actually solve a problem. A lot of times I was really ten years too early in developing tech solutions.”

Rob, a tech innovator with social impact at heart, has dedicated a decade to making a difference in developing countries’ local communities. Our partnership with Rob began nearly ten years ago, rooted in a shared vision to challenge the way things are done. While Rob harnessed technology to address critical issues like the global water crisis as the Founder and Head of Innovation at eWaterservices, we ventured into the digital realm with Enter Agora, exploring the potential of the virtual world and metaverse.

In this catch-up, our Founder and Creative Director, Will, and Rob, broadcasting live from Kenya, reflect on their parallel journeys of leveraging cutting-edge technology. From setting up global video conferences at Number 10 to collaborating with HRH Prince of Wales in Within’s early days, their paths have consistently intersected at the crossroads of innovation–shining a light on a common belief: the true power of technology lies in its ability to transform lives, whether in the physical world or the digital sphere.

Dr Leyla Hussein OBE

“Where my heart is, it is actually in writing – it is fundamentally where I belong, and I would refuse to publish with anyone who tells me to tone it down.”

Leyla is a tireless advocate for women’s rights, standing for survivors of female genital mutilation. Through her passionate writing and advocacy work, she has established vital support services and raised global awareness of this critical issue. With years of activism and many accolades, she is widely recognised as an authority on these complex topics.

She discusses her journey with us, starting with a pro bono campaign for her charity, ‘The Dahlia Project’ – the UK’s first specialist therapeutic service for FGM survivors. Now part of our Advisory Board, we are proud to benefit from her guidance on hard-hitting topics, complex issues and brave actions, as well as always admire (and enjoy) her fierce intellect as much as her strong presence.

Paul Edwards

“If you can combine that [honesty] with friendship and that real mutual respect, then I think it becomes an incredibly powerful business combination.”

Paul has known Within International for over a decade since first meeting with our CEO Ruxandra Radulescu, our Founder and Creative Director Will Hambling and our team during the global rebrand we delivered for DLA Piper. With his experience as former CFO of a global law firm, he is a true powerhouse in the financial world. And his thoughtfulness, sense of humour and consideration have cemented the strong relationship he has with each and every one in our studio.

In this latest episode, Ruxandra catches up with Paul about how their partnership has grown since those early days. From mentor to chair of the Within Advisory Board, Paul continues providing thoughtful guidance rooted in his balanced approach of considering both business objectives and people. They discuss the value of honest discussions between business partners and reflect on how building trust with clients remains key to any business success.

Jon Brewer

“We each let the other do the work that we are an expert at (…) and I think that’s how we built a really successful relationship.”

Jon understands the importance of building strong, meaningful partnerships and the power of new business terminology – specifically when invented with our CEO Ruxandra Radulescu. His journey began in the competitive world of sports before transitioning seamlessly into the corporate realm. Chief Marketing Officer at Orrick, Jon has a deep understanding of market dynamics, making him an indispensable asset to every organisation he has touched. He is also currently heading the Legal Marketing Association (LMA), fostering a collaborative environment for legal marketing professionals.

Jon’s belief in the power of relationships and mentorship has been a driving force behind his success. His ability to trust and empower experts, coupled with his relentless pursuit of excellence, has always been the foundation and fuel of our relationship as a client first, and as a friend then. We are thrilled to have Jon as part of our anniversary celebration, recognising his invaluable contributions to our journey.

Simon Levine

“I like the idea of a narrative that becomes a discussion point with clients, within our own business, and with our people.”

Simon was one of the first people we contacted for this anniversary series. And one of the first to instantly respond – thankfully in the positive. As Global Co-CEO at DLA Piper, one of our longest-standing clients, Simon and Will have worked on many projects together over the past decade, from global rebranding to holograms to virtual worlds, that helped develop not only a strong professional relationship but also a great friendship.

As both of them will agree, a brand is more than visuals, it’s a talking point, a hook, an angle and a business asset. One pivotal collaboration -though difficult to single out from a partnership built over 10 years- was undoubtedly DLA Piper’s rebrand. ‘Create one traditional branding option and one that no law firm in their right mind would choose’ was the origin of the brief, and so did we. Years later, this brand identity still recognises DLA Piper’s people, and the forward-thinking force leading the firm because we worked with the team, as partners and advisors, to deliver it. It is with this collaborative approach we continue innovating and working together.

Simon Frusher

“The words as I recall were: ‘We don’t take any chances with His Majesty’, in terms of technology. That was that was fun and, obviously, a build up to the event itself which was fantastic.”

Former Head of Audio Visual turned boatbuilder, Simon, is a pivotal figure in the evolution of Within—and it’s easy to see why. His journey with us began in the early 2000s when he was heading the audiovisual department at British Telecom. We collaborated with him on developing a groundbreaking streaming platform for a high-profile event organised by Prince Charles and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown to raise awareness of global warming. Amidst the voting hiccups and the surprising live streaming capabilities at St. James’s Palace, one memory that stands out vividly in Will’s mind is Simon’s uncanny ability to stay calm under all circumstances (mostly high-pressure ones).

Today, Simon has channeled his passion and skills into a new venture—traditional boatbuilding. After decades in the multimedia and audiovisual industry, including significant stints in Hong Kong and Singapore, Simon decided to pursue a long-held dream. Swapping cables and screens for wood and sails, he’s now crafting stunning wooden boats with the same cool and calm. We are grateful to have had Simon as a part of our journey and eagerly anticipate the incredible work he continues to produce in his new field.

Tom Marks

“I just love the way we have been aligned for so long—we happen to solve the ends of each other’s puzzles.”

It is hard to believe it has been 17 years since Will first met Tom at Melbourne Fashion Week, when they were both carving their paths in the creative industries. As two ambitious entrepreneurs, neither could have foreseen the trajectory of their respective companies. Fast forward to today and it remains remarkable how their parallel journeys have remained intertwined.

This is a sneak peek into one of their regular catch ups. Will and Tom reflect on the innovative, groundbreaking technologies their businesses have pioneered with MMAPT and Enter Agora. It is a testament to the friendship and trust between our two founders who have supported each other’s achievements every step of the way.

Alison Cook

“I was thinking, no, we can’t do that. And you sat opposite me and you said, yes, we can do it.”

Brilliant communicator with a dedication to the public sector, we met Alison when she was Head of Policy Communications and Special Advisor to Ministers in both the Department of Health and Number 10. After advocating for surgeons, her talent for sharing complex topics with diverse audiences now inspires secondary school students. Our early work with Alison was foundational for our agency.

Not only was she one of our first clients, but she also helped shape our culture in ways that still resonate today. Alison inspired us to seek out brilliant partners and push the boundaries of what we believe is possible through creativity and determination. She reinforced our confidence to take on ambitious projects and deliver results that surprise even ourselves.