James Haskell shares the realities of leaving a structured career for entrepreneurship and the discipline needed to build something on your own terms.
Stepping out of professional sport and into business forces you to confront how you work, who you trust and what you want your life to look like. In this bite sized episode, I speak with James Haskell as he breaks down the shift from a highly structured rugby environment to the chaos that often defines the corporate world. He talks about the importance of boundaries, the trap of pointless meetings and the need to value your time as much as you value your effort. His honesty cuts through the noise that surrounds entrepreneurship and highlights a simple truth. You either take responsibility for your next chapter or someone else writes it for you.
Guest note: James Haskell is a former England rugby international and entrepreneur.
Key Takeaways:
🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.
FOE returns to NEC Birmingham on November 3-4, 2026. Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.
Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.
👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!
#ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship
Every year, I take one episode to step back and reflect. This is the countdown of the 10 Screw It Just DO It episodes you listened to most in 2025.
This episode is a reflection on what really resonated with you in 2025. From founders starting in kitchens to building global brands, these conversations cut through the noise. We revisit lessons on resilience, timing, discipline, leadership, brand, AI, and long term thinking. Each guest earned their place by sharing honest stories about risk, doubt, growth, and momentum. This countdown is not about hype. It is about substance. If you want real insight into what it takes to build something meaningful, this episode brings together the voices that defined the year. It also marks a personal moment of reflection on a challenging year and a clear focus on what comes next.
Guest note: This episode features highlights from ten previous guests including Pippa Murray, Aaron Gelbard, Julian Hearn, Richard Harpin, Piers Linney, Nell Daly, Richard Reed, Boris Diakonov, Juliet Barratt, and Al Barratt.
Key Takeaways
🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.
FOE returns to NEC Birmingham on November 3-4, 2026. Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.
Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.
👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!
#ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship
Rebranding a company is rarely neat, and James Clark makes that clear in this conversation. He talks through the pressure of changing a long established name, the internal tension that came with it and the need to build something that reflects future ambition rather than past comfort.
His breakdown of stakeholder alignment, intellectual coherence and disciplined decision making gives founders a practical view of how to manage identity change at scale. It is a calm and honest look at the work behind a brand that now represents a fast growing venture capital firm with global reach.
Guest note:
James Clark is the Marketing Director at Molten Ventures, known for leading one of the most complex rebrands in European venture capital.
Key Takeaways
A rebrand must reflect where the organisation is going, not where it has been.
Stakeholder alignment matters more than visual design.
Intellectual coherence gives a brand long term strength.
Risk is part of the process but it must be managed with structure and clarity.
🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.
FOE returns to NEC Birmingham on November 3-4, 2026. Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.
Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.
👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!
#ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship
Recorded live at the Festival of Entrepreneurs, this panel brings together founders who are actively implementing AI in real businesses. We cover what AI first actually means in practice, how to start small without breaking existing operations, and why governance and visibility matter more than speed alone.
The conversation moves beyond theory into workflows, automation, data, compliance, and personal brand growth. We also explore where AI is already creating new revenue models and how founders can future proof visibility as AI search replaces traditional discovery. This is a grounded discussion for operators who want clarity, not noise, and results that show up on the balance sheet.
Guest panel: Piers Linney, James Smith, Dominic Kos, Sabrina Stocker. Hosted by Rob Hanna.
Key takeaways
Start AI adoption with clear workflows and measurable ROI
Governance and visibility create confidence and safe scale
AI works best when paired with human judgement
Founders must adapt content and branding for AI search
🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.
FOE returns to NEC Birmingham on November 3-4, 2026. Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.
Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.
👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!
#ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship
In this Bite-Sized episode, I revisit my conversation with George Kruis, former England international rugby player and co-founder of fourfive. George explains how he and Dom began building their wellness brand while recovering from operations, sitting on physio beds and asking themselves how to take control of their recovery.
This clip focuses on the early execution stage. He talks openly about setting up the company, learning how to operate outside the structure of professional sport, and why delegation, speed, and clarity are essential when you move into business. His honesty about the transition and the steep learning curve will resonate with anyone starting something new.
Guest: George Kruis, co-founder of fourfive and former England rugby player.
Key Takeaways:
The first version of any business requires fast learning and deliberate action.
Delegation is a skill founders must develop early.
Your network is an asset only if you use it intentionally.
Co-founders need different strengths to build momentum.
🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.
FOE returns to NEC Birmingham on November 3-4, 2026. Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.
Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.
👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!
#ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship
A powerful five minute segment where David Yarrow reveals the moment he pivoted from sports photography to fine art and built a global brand.In this Bite-sized Screw It Just DO It session, I sit down with world leading fine art photographer David Yarrow to unpack the moment that changed his entire career. David explains how he went from struggling in finance to creating some of the most valuable photographic works in the world.
He breaks down the thought process behind reinvention, why your subject choices define your relevance and how insecurity can fuel growth when channelled properly. This is an honest look at pivoting, risk taking and rebuilding from the ground up.
Guest note: David Yarrow is one of the highest selling fine art photographers today, known for his cinematic wildlife and celebrity images.
Key Takeaways:
Reinvention demands a clear break from old identity and a willingness to start again.
Creative success comes from choosing subjects that hold weight and meaning.
Strong research separates average work from standout work.
Insecurity is useful when it drives higher standards and sharper decisions.
🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.
FOE returns to NEC Birmingham on November 3-4, 2026. Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.
Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.
👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!
#ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship
Aliett Buttelman went from fashion model to co-founder of Fazit, a beauty brand that exploded after a viral Taylor Swift moment. This episode breaks down what actually drives real growth.
In this episode I talk with Aliett Buttelman about what it takes to build a brand from scratch and survive hyper growth. Aliett explains how a decade in fashion modelling shaped his approach to creative work and why he walked away from consulting to build Fazit with co founder Nina LaBruna.
She shares how their glitter freckles went viral when Taylor Swift wore them and what actually happens behind the scenes when sales jump by thousands of per cent overnight. We dig into supply chain pressure, copycats, international expansion and what it means to keep a brand focused when attention moves fast.
Guest: Aliett Buttelman, co founder of Fazit
Key Takeaways:
Virality only matters when a brand has the operational foundation to handle demand.
Copycats are inevitable but innovation and strong brand identity create defensibility.
International expansion requires clarity of vision, not speed for the sake of it.
Founders need consistent decision making to avoid drifting away from their original mission.
🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.
FOE returns to NEC Birmingham on November 3-4, 2026. Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.
Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.
👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!
#ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship
Jim Cregan built Jimmy’s Iced Coffee from a simple idea into a national brand. This episode captures how he pushed through debt, setbacks and doubt to create real momentum.
Speaking with Jim Cregan reminded me how often founders underestimate the grind behind a brand that looks simple from the outside. Jim described the early days of Jimmy’s Iced Coffee when he was £50,000 in debt, unsure of the next step and carrying the pressure of keeping the business alive. What shifted things was not luck. It was action. Handwritten letters, direct outreach, relentless product sampling and a refusal to step back when the numbers looked bleak. This Bite sized episode is a sharp reminder that momentum usually starts at the point where most people quit.
Guest: Jim Cregan, Co founder of Jimmy’s Iced Coffee
Key Takeaways:
Momentum often begins when financial pressure is highest.
Personal outreach can open doors large campaigns cannot.
Simplicity and product quality build trust faster than branding claims.
Resilience matters more than perfect planning in the early stages.
🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.
FOE returns to NEC Birmingham on November 3-4, 2026. Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.
Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.
👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!
#ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship
Passenger started as a simple lifestyle idea yet grew into a purpose led brand with a loyal community and a clear mission. This episode breaks down how it happened and what founders can learn from the journey.
Speaking with Richard Sutcliffe reminded me how often founders overlook the power of building something with clear intent. Passenger began as a small lifestyle project shaped by surf trips, long drives and a need for breathing space. It grew because the purpose was honest and the community saw themselves in the story. Ritchard talked openly about the pressure of personal challenges, the role of naivety, the importance of ego control and the reality that a brand must outgrow the founder to survive. This episode is a useful listen for anyone who wants to build something that lasts and still feels grounded in real purpose.
Guest: Richard Sutcliffe, Founder of Passenger
Key Takeaways:
Purpose creates clarity when the business hits difficult stages.
Community forms when the brand story is honest and consistent.
Naivety can be an advantage when it removes assumptions.
Founders must step back if they want the brand to scale.
🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.
FOE returns to NEC Birmingham on November 3-4, 2026. Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.
Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.
👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!
#ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship
The Atherton siblings built their careers on speed, resilience and control. What makes this bite sized episode powerful is how they used the same mindset to build a business. They went from dominating downhill racing to founding Atherton Bikes and taking ownership of their future rather than relying on sponsors or external decisions.
In this segment they walk through the moment they committed to designing their own downhill bike. They teamed up with suspension engineer Dave Weigel and created more than one hundred prototypes to refine the fastest bike they could produce. They adopted 3D printed technology used in F1 and aerospace, built accuracy into every component and set standards that many brands avoid because they take too long.
Their story highlights the discipline needed to shift from athlete thinking to business thinking. They learned to take calculated risks, build a team, trust specialists and stay patient through the early phases where nothing feels stable. Their approach shows founders what strong execution looks like. No shortcuts. No shortcuts. Just clarity, consistency and a willingness to build from the ground up.
This is a valuable lesson for anyone at the early stage of a product idea. The Athertons show that excellence in performance transfers to excellence in business when you keep your standards high and your process simple.
Key Takeaways:
Calculated risks shape growth when backed by skill and preparation
Prototyping reveals weaknesses quickly and strengthens final output
A strong team accelerates progress and keeps standards high
Innovation grows when you learn from other industries
Racing discipline translates well into business discipline
Ownership creates independence and long term stability
🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.
Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.
Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.
👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!
#ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship
Piers Linney delivered a clear message. AI is accelerating faster than most founders expect and the businesses that ignore it will fall behind. He showed how AI now handles cognitive work, personalisation, analysis and customer engagement at a scale no manual process can match. His point was direct. Founders must use AI every day and redesign their workflow around the tasks AI completes faster, cheaper and with greater accuracy.
Piers Linney is an entrepreneur, investor and co-founder of Implement AI and is known for his work on BBC’s Dragon’s Den, where he helped spotlight the next generation of technology driven businesses.
Key Takeaways:
• AI increases capacity without extra cost
• Personalised content and voice agents boost revenue
• AI uncovers insights hidden in everyday conversations
• Founders who act early gain a long term advantage
🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.
Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.
Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.
👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!
#ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship
I’ve always believed success comes down to commitment. Talking about goals is easy. Doing something about them is harder.
Matt Brooke, Senior Vice President at Spartan and Tough Mudder, joined me to talk about a mindset that changes how people approach growth and challenge—the Pick a Date mentality. It’s simple. Set a date. Put it in the calendar. Make it real. That one step gives purpose, direction, and structure to everything that follows.
Matt breaks down how this idea translates beyond endurance racing into business, leadership, and everyday life. He explains how Spartan and Tough Mudder events aren’t just about finishing a course but about training the mind to follow through when things get uncomfortable. We also dig into community, discipline, and how embracing failure as part of progress builds long-term resilience.
If you’ve ever felt stuck between thinking and doing, this is the episode that will push you to take action.
Key Takeaways:
Commitment is clarity: Choosing a date forces you to plan, act, and move forward with purpose.
Failure creates growth: Every setback is feedback that strengthens future decisions.
Discipline beats motivation: Progress happens when you act regardless of how you feel.
Community drives accountability: Training with others builds consistency and shared purpose.
Mindset determines momentum: You can’t control everything, but you can control your effort.
🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.
Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.
Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.
👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!
#ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship
Growing a business is never about luck. It is about execution, distribution and the ability to stay focused through every challenge. This week, I speak with Dr Ann Kaplan Mulholland, a finance founder who built a billion dollar empire, scaled a nationwide lending operation, invested in commercial property, and then bought and rebuilt a 1000 year old medieval castle in Kent.
Ann explains the decisions behind her finance company, why she focused on doctors as her main distribution channel and how she signed up sixteen thousand medical professionals to drive customer flow. She breaks down her move into global real estate, including commercial units in Canada, residential properties in the US and a 145 acre fortress that needed major repair work.
We talk through her approach to negotiation, funding, risk and execution. Ann shares the importance of personal brand, why every founder needs visibility online and why ignoring social media harms your business. She explains how she turned her castle project into a TV series, how she handled a difficult survey report, how she reduced the purchase price by one million pounds and how she created a valuable distribution channel through television exposure.
If you want a direct breakdown of entrepreneurship, scale up discipline, property strategy and personal branding, this episode gives a clear view from someone who has done it repeatedly. Ann challenges common assumptions, gives honest advice for first time founders and explains why your idea is irrelevant unless you understand distribution, execution and value.
Key Takeaways
Reverse engineering distribution channels provides a more reliable foundation for a new business.
Visibility is essential. A founder without a social presence limits growth and credibility.
Strategic negotiation requires preparation, timing and the confidence to walk away.
Real estate can be a long term income strategy when purchased through disciplined planning.
Creative problem solving often matters more than resources when starting a company.
Investors respond to clear execution plans, not ideas.
🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.
Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.
Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.
👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!
#ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship
This week, I sit down with Anthony “Staz” Stazicker, former Royal Marine and Special Forces operator turned entrepreneur and co-founder of ThruDark, one of the UK’s fastest-growing technical outerwear brands.
After more than a decade in the military, Staz left behind the structure, purpose, and intensity of Special Forces life to start from scratch. What began as an idea between two former Marines has become a global brand built on authenticity, resilience, and relentless standards.
In this bite-sized episode, Staz shares how he applied the lessons from combat to business — how to stay disciplined when motivation fades, why routine beats inspiration, and what it really means to take a leap of faith.
If you’ve ever found yourself stuck, overthinking, or struggling to start, this is the 10-minute reset you need.
Key Takeaways:
Discipline Builds Momentum: Success rarely comes from motivation. It comes from showing up every day and sticking to the plan.
Break Challenges into Small Wins: Whether in the military or in business, progress comes from breaking goals down into manageable steps.
Plan, Prepare, Execute: Treat your business like a mission. Preparation and structure give you clarity when things get tough.
Accountability Over Excuses: Structure your day with intention. The smallest habits compound into lasting results.
🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.
Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.
Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.
👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!
#ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship
In this episode of Screw It Just DO It, my friend Jeannette Linfoot sat down with Juliet Barratt, co-founder of Grenade, in a fireside chat recorded live at the Festival of Entrepreneurs. Juliet shares how she went from being a teacher who hated structure to building one of the UK’s fastest-growing performance nutrition brands and selling it to Mondelez for £200 million.
Juliet is honest, practical, and refreshingly self-aware. She talks about the reality of starting with no money, working from a freezing warehouse, and learning through mistakes. She explains why branding matters more than hype, how hiring the right people transforms a business, and how to know when to let go.
This episode is packed with real advice for founders who are scaling, thinking of exiting, or simply trying to find their next move. Juliet reminds us that success isn’t about the number in the bank but the freedom to choose how you spend your days.
Key Takeaways:
Build a brand, not just a product: Identity creates longevity.
Hire for attitude, not just skill: The right mindset drives growth.
Remember why you started: Belief carries you through the hard days.
Prepare for the exit emotionally: Purpose matters after the sale.
Define success on your own terms: Freedom is the real goal.
🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.
Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.
Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.
👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!
#ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship
When Andy Mooney joined Nike at just 25, he was meant to stay behind the numbers. But within months, he realised real business success came from understanding people, not spreadsheets.
In this Bite-sized Screw It Just DO It episode, Andy shares how a risky decision early in his career changed everything. He stepped outside his comfort zone, bet on consumer insights rather than corporate caution, and ended up transforming Nike’s marketing direction.
That move not only defined his leadership style but also set the stage for a remarkable career spanning Disney, Quiksilver, and now Fender Musical Instruments.
This is a story about trusting your gut, asking questions no one else will, and being willing to take a leap when opportunity knocks.
Key Takeaways
Risk can redefine your career. Andy’s transition from finance to marketing shows the power of bold decisions.
Learn from the customer, not the boardroom. The best ideas often come from the people using your product.
Curiosity beats experience. Andy’s willingness to ask unconventional questions led to career-changing opportunities.
Back yourself. Sometimes, one confident decision can shape the rest of your professional life.
🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.
Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.
Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.
👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!
#ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship
My guest this week is Andrew Hulbert, founder of Pareto FM, who started his business from his bedroom at 27 with no name, network, or funding and grew it to a £42 million turnover before exiting less than a decade later.
Andrew’s story is one of calculated risk, relentless focus, and smart scaling. From landing his first £200,000 contract with the Bulgari Hotel to winning major clients like Twitter, ASOS, and Deliveroo, his approach to business growth was simple: do what big companies get wrong, and do it exceptionally well.
In this episode, we discuss the realities of starting from zero, why being “too small” can become your biggest advantage, and how creating sweet equity helped him retain every senior hire across nine years. Andrew also shares what life looks like post-exit. Family, friends, and purpose and what it truly takes to let go without losing identity.
If you’re at the stage where you’re thinking of starting, scaling, or selling, this conversation will help you think more strategically about risk, people, and purpose.
Key Takeaways:
Start with One Win: Focus on getting your first deal, not the perfect business plan. Momentum starts with movement.
People Are Everything: Hire for motivation, not CVs. Pareto’s 17 senior leaders stayed through to exit because they shared the vision and had skin in the game.
Be Willing to Bet on Growth: Andrew’s decision to reinvest £1 million into overheads helped double the company’s value in two years.
Know When to Step Back: The biggest challenge isn’t starting, it’s letting go. Learning to trust others is what takes a founder from operator to leader.
Redefine Success After Exit: Freedom doesn’t come from a payout, it comes from presence—being there for family, friends, and yourself.
🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.
Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.
Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.
👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!
#ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship
Sometimes the right opportunity doesn’t come knocking, you have to send the email.
In this Bite-sized episode, I speak with Tom Gozney, founder of Gozney, about the moment that took his business from a small British startup to global recognition. After entering Virgin’s Pitch to Rich competition, Tom didn’t win but he did get something far more valuable: a personal email from Sir Richard Branson.
What happened next was surreal. Tom replied boldly, saying Necker Island needed a Gozney oven. Weeks later, he found himself flying out to the Caribbean to install one of his ovens on Turtle Beach. He worked in the heat, wrote his wedding speech on the sand, and realised he’d built something extraordinary from his garden project.
This story captures the heart of entrepreneurship: resilience, timing, and the confidence to reach out when others might hesitate.
Key Takeaways
Create your own luck. Tom’s story shows how initiative opens doors that awards can’t.
Be bold with opportunity. One brave message led to a career-defining collaboration.
Hard work pays off—literally. Installing ovens in Caribbean heat was proof that commitment builds credibility.
Success often feels surreal. From home projects to Necker Island, progress often comes quietly until you look back.
🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.
Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.
Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.
👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!
#ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship
What does it take to build one of the world’s most loved ethical brands without losing your principles?
In this episode, I sit down with Rowena Bird, co-founder of Lush, to talk about the 30-year journey of growing from a small shop in Poole to a global retail brand with over 900 stores worldwide. Rowena shares how Lush has managed to scale without outside investors, why they’ve never compromised on values, and what it really takes to stay true to your ethics in business.
From selling stock at car boot sales to opening flagship stores on Oxford Street and donating over £100 million to grassroots charities, Rowena’s story is proof that a business can thrive by doing good. We discuss the lessons she’s learned about scaling slowly, building a family-run business, and choosing people and partnerships based on trust rather than profit.
She also opens up about Lush’s bold decision to leave social media, their commitment to fair trade and cruelty-free products, and how innovation continues to shape their future with concepts like Lush Hair Labs and safe hair dyes.
This episode is a must-listen for founders, ethical entrepreneurs, and anyone questioning whether you can stay true to your principles and still build something big.
Key Takeaways
Grow with control. Scale step-by-step so you always understand your business before expanding.
Hold your values firm. Never trade ethics for margin. Protect your principles, even when it costs more.
Choose people over profit. Work with partners you like and trust. Strong relationships sustain a business.
Stay innovative. Keep experimenting with products and experiences that align with your mission.
Make impact part of business. Lush has donated £100 million to grassroots charities while remaining profitable.
🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.
Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.
Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.
👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!
#ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship