The 'Accidental' People Leader ft Leah Sutton, Chief Talent Portfolio Officer, Balderton Capital
Tue Feb 03 2026
Leah Sutton, Chief Talent Portfolio Officer at Balderton Capital, has had an incredible career journey — from her early work in impact projects in South Africa to moving into tech, and eventually being headhunted for her current role at one of Europe’s leading venture firms.
At Balderton, Leah partners with some of Europe’s most successful teams — think Revolut, Cleo, and Lyst — helping shape the talent strategies behind these powerhouse startups.
I was fascinated to hear Leah’s story, especially her time scaling at Elastic Search and the lessons she’s carried forward. Her energy completely fills a room, and this conversation is packed with insights on growth, leadership, and building exceptional teams.
This episode is sponsored by Treatwell, Europe’s No.1 hair and beauty booking app. Treatwell makes it easy to discover trusted salons, compare reviews, and book everything from a last‑minute blow dry to a full self‑care reset in just a few taps, so you can feel your best without the faff.
We’re also partnered with RISER, it's like a dating app - but for YOUR career. Get ready to make a move by uploading your 60 second elevator pitch (Your Video CV) and connect with real hirers who have uploaded their video too! You'll get recommendations based on compatibility not just simply keywords. Join 1000's of RISERs on the app landing opportunties with companies like Beauty Pie and Tiktok.
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Leah Sutton, Chief Talent Portfolio Officer at Balderton Capital, has had an incredible career journey — from her early work in impact projects in South Africa to moving into tech, and eventually being headhunted for her current role at one of Europe’s leading venture firms. At Balderton, Leah partners with some of Europe’s most successful teams — think Revolut, Cleo, and Lyst — helping shape the talent strategies behind these powerhouse startups. I was fascinated to hear Leah’s story, especially her time scaling at Elastic Search and the lessons she’s carried forward. Her energy completely fills a room, and this conversation is packed with insights on growth, leadership, and building exceptional teams. This episode is sponsored by Treatwell, Europe’s No.1 hair and beauty booking app. Treatwell makes it easy to discover trusted salons, compare reviews, and book everything from a last‑minute blow dry to a full self‑care reset in just a few taps, so you can feel your best without the faff. We’re also partnered with RISER, it's like a dating app - but for YOUR career. Get ready to make a move by uploading your 60 second elevator pitch (Your Video CV) and connect with real hirers who have uploaded their video too! You'll get recommendations based on compatibility not just simply keywords. Join 1000's of RISERs on the app landing opportunties with companies like Beauty Pie and Tiktok.