From Kidnap Zones to Kiosks: Lessons in Leadership, Risk and Resilience





Derek welcomes Richard Goodworth, an experienced Chief Financial Officer (ACCA) whose career has spanned the trading floors of London, the luxury world of Molton Brown, the high-risk security operations of Control Risks, - and now, the cutting-edge world of ImageHolders — creators of innovative self-service kiosks used by the NHS, United Airlines, Nordstrom, Hard Rock Café, and Mercedes-Benz.If you’ve ever tapped your details into a digital kiosk at McDonald’s, checked in at an airport, or dropped a parcel at the Post Office — chances are, you’ve used one of Richard’s creations!



A Career Built on Curiosity and CourageRichard’s journey began as a trainee accountant in the south of England, speeding through his exams and heading straight into the financial fast lane at RaboBank.



The high-energy trading floor taught him lessons in precision, data, and adaptability — and a few Excel tricks that would make your pivot tables blush.



But Richard didn’t stop there. He swapped the banking suits for scented soaps when he joined Molton Brown, then a small luxury retailer. There, he climbed to Vice President of Finance, helping expand the brand across the world — from Singapore and Japan to New York and Paris. Under his financial leadership, the company’s valuation soared from £30 million to over £100 million in just two years.As Richard explained to Derek, Molton Brown’s magic wasn’t just in the fragrance — it was in selling aspiration. “We weren’t selling to the very wealthy,” he said, “we were selling to the people who wanted to feel like them.”



From London Luxury to War ZonesAfter Molton Brown, Richard took a surprising turn — joining Control Risks, a specialist kidnap and crisis-response company. Cue wide-eyed reactions from Derek — and most of the audience!Stationed in Dubai, Richard managed financial operations across the Middle East, including Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran. He travelled to Baghdad and Basra over 15 times — sometimes escorted by convoys of three armoured Land Cruisers.“The first time we were delayed getting into Baghdad because Route Irish was closed after an incident,” Richard recalled. “That was my introduction to risk management — and patience.”From negotiating with oil companies and government ministers to ensuring staff safety in active war zones, Richard’s lessons in leadership under fire were literally forged in conflict.One unforgettable moment? Learning about the company’s ‘Proof of Life’ protocol — secret personal questions used if staff were kidnapped, to confirm they were still alive. “It’s not exactly something they teach you in accounting school,” he quipped.



Reinventing Self-Service: The ImageHolders StoryFast-forward to today — Richard is the CFO at ImageHolders, a Dorset-based company designing and building sleek digital self-service kiosks.From airport check-ins to fast-food ordering, and NHS reception units to Post Office parcel stations, these kiosks are revolutionising how we interact with the world.



Each design is bespoke — “different by design,” as Richard puts it — engineered to match the exact needs of clients like United Airlines.Derek joked that some of the older generation might grumble at using touchscreens, but Richard smiled: “They’re becoming part of everyday life — and we’re only just scratching the surface.”



Derek’s TakeawayAs Derek summed up:



“What a fascinating career — from luxury soaps to security convoys to cutting-edge kiosks.



Adapt under pressure. Whether in a boardroom or a war zone, composure and clarity make the difference.y



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