S23 Ep10: 50 years in footwear — Dune’s founder & chairman Daniel Rubin shares his steps to success

S23 Ep10: 50 years in footwear — Dune’s founder & chairman Daniel Rubin shares his steps to success

From Conversations of Inspiration by Holly Tucker MBE

November 17, 2025 · 1h 5m · Season 23 · Episode 10

About this episode

Daniel Rubin shares insights from his 50-year career in the footwear industry, discussing lessons learned and strategies for success.

In this episode, Dune Group’s founder and chairman, Daniel Rubin, joins Holly to explore a remarkable career spanning five decades. From his family’s shoemaking roots, to building one of Britain’s most recognisable footwear brands, Daniel reflects on what it truly takes to survive and thrive in an industry that never stops changing. With his new memoir, Sole Survivor , Daniel shares the real lessons behind the highs, the crises and the inevitable mistakes that shaped him. He talks about sensing when to pivot, the art of holding your nerve in unpredictable markets and learning quickly when things go wrong — all while keeping a clear vision at the heart of the brand. Wise, candid and full of hard-earned insight from a fifty year career, this episode is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention and the power of learning from every step along the way.

People in this episode

Guest: Daniel Rubin

Topics covered

  • footwear
  • entrepreneurship
  • resilience
  • business strategy
  • memoir

Keywords

  • Dune Group
  • Sole Survivor
  • business
  • success
  • pivoting

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Sole Survivor

Books & works: Sole Survivor

Places: Britain

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