Adam has been through every challenge that chefs might have to go through, in order to find the level of success they are trying to hunt for. In this episode, Adam shares his journey of growing from Apprentice to Head Chef, to now operating 6 separate locations at the highest level. I learn't so much about sacrifice and dedication in this episode, and it was amazing to hear some of the day to day challenges that Adam overcame to get to each new stage of his career. Follow Adam: https://www.instagram.com/adambyatt/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/trinityclapham/?hl=en https://trinityrestaurant.co.uk/ Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/ Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35

Lucy started her publishing career at Conté Nast after landing her first role in their new client focussed publication department. After becoming bored of the lack of challenges Condé provided her she found her self on a ranch in America trying to write while living a peaceful life. Fast forward a few years, and just before the 2008 global economic crash, she launched a a magazine with her now husband, that is still running today, so how did she do it? Follow Lucy and Country & Town House: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-cleland/ https://www.instagram.com/countryandtownhouse/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@UCiE95hXklR6uGGDYL4ddHWw Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/ Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35

Laura is currently launching Monk, a revolutionary ice bath brand which as been in development for over 2 years. But this isn't Laura's first business, she has not only already sold a brand she started, but also been through the high AND lows of building something from scratch.

Follow Laura & Monk: https://www.instagram.com/laurafullerton/ https://www.instagram.com/discovermonk/ Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/ 00:02:15 Mastering the Flow State 00:07:40 Account Executive Insights 00:09:15 Sink or Swim 00:14:90 Creative Director's Journey00:29:20 Entrepreneurship Challenges: Losing Friends While Building a Business 00:33:30 Building Laura's First Brand 00:36:10 Life Under NDA 00:42:25 Leaving Corporate Life for Entrepreneurial Passion 00:48:20 Cold Water Therapy Benefits: Enhancing Health and Wellness 00:53:00 Biohacking Explained00:58:32 Cold Water Immersion: Combating Anxiety and Depression Naturally 01:06:58 Branding Strategy 01:16:04 MONK Product Launch 01:19:00 Brewdog Founder James Watt's Mentorship 01:24:20 Stress Management: Effective Coping Mechanisms for Entrepreneurs 01:27:00 Training Your Body to Handle Pressure 01:28:02 Exit Strategy: Building a Business with the End in Mind

He was once almost about to be the new face of Versace, but then he became the face of M&S! Chris Baber has grafted his was into many amazing opportunities with the food world over the last few years, from winning TV show Yes Chef to working with Aston Martin on incredible projects. Chris has done it all, but how does a passionate home chef make it to the main stages? Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/chrisbaber?igsh=NzN6bmVzanowNm5t https://www.tiktok.com/@chris_baber?_t=8nzl6p3VQiu&_r=1 Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/ Listen Here: 01:38 "Recognising What You Have Before It's Gone" 03:45 Balancing Career Path 04:45 Entrepreneurial From a Young Age 07:00 Self-Startup Culture 09:50 Business Ventures During A-Levels 13:09 Nearly Becoming the Face of Versace 16:06 Sharing Recipes Online and Building a Following 18:00 TV Debut: Being Invited to Compete on 'Yes Chef' 22:05 Relocating to London to Work In Mayfair 25:58 Overcoming Challenges in Professional Kitchens: A Chef's Perspective 29:35 Building an Online Community 34:30 Networking in the Food Industry: Meeting M&S Director 37:30 Working Relationship with Marks & Spencer 41:50 Networking for Success & The Power of Connections 44:30 Developing a Unique Chef Identity 50:15 Celebrity Chef Partnerships: Collaborating with Hexclad Cookware 53:57 When a Product Sells Itself 55:20 What Drives a Successful Chef 56:31 What It Takes to Be a Thriving Chef

We all have ideas of what life would be like following the world's biggest artists on the road as they tour for months on end. Zak had just that experience when he followed his childhood best friend Ed Sheeran as he travelled with his show, but why did Zak give this up and start a canned wine brand?

Follow Zak & Vinca: https://www.instagram.com/vincawine/ https://www.instagram.com/zakarywalters/ https://vincawine.com Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/

00:00 Introduction 03:35 Creative Upbringing 05:30 Smirnoff Ice Campaign 08:50 Working in New York 10:45 Narrative in Branding 13:00 Ed Sheeran Tour 14:40 Quitting 9-5 to Pursue Passion Projects 17:00 On Tour Atmosphere 19:45 BTS of a Global Superstar 20:18 Work Ethic 22:12 Sacrifices Made During Tour Life 24:16 Working With Lewis Capaldi 25:45 "How I'm Feeling Now" Documentary 26:40 Documenting the Journey 28:05 Niall Horan's Tour 00:31:14 Canned Wine Concept 00:34:30 Investors for Startup 00:37:30 Vineyard Relationships 00:40:00 Canned Wine Market Growth 00:40:35 What Makes a Wine Organic? 00:42:50 Sicilian Wine 00:43:40 Founder's Struggles 00:48:40 Ed Sheeran Album Art Design 00:57:15 Navigating Distribution Channels 00:59:25 British Airways Launch 01:02:10 West London Wine Bars 01:09:15 What Does It Take to Build a Brand?

Toby Hoppy has been behind the scenes of some amazing brands as they have grown in their respective industries. From Trip Drinks to Patch Plants, Toby's experiences within these brands and the skyrocket in their online growth gave him the insights and learnings to now be driving the growth of All Things Butter.

Follow Toby & All Things Butter: https://www.instagram.com/allthingsbutter__/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/toby-hoppy-32a4b367/ https://allthingsbutter.co.uk Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/ Listen Here: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:40 Growing up in an entrepreneurial family 00:03:30 Pursuing entrepreneurship for freedom 00:08:50 Developing a strong work ethic from a young age 00:11:20 Reflections on the university experience 00:18:40 Going into business with friends 00:23:00 First job at AO.com 00:31:30 Gaining experience across different businesses 00:39:02 Working with marketing agencies 00:41:02 Approaches to career development 00:53:08 Aspiring for the next career level 00:57:55 Navigating a 95% overnight revenue loss 01:06:45 Building confidence in a role 01:10:00 Joining TRIP in its early days 01:14:36 Partnering with Thomas Straker 01:18:00 Raising Capital for Strakers restaurant in Notting Hill 01:20:40 Creating viral food content on social media 01:22:40 Chilli butter mussel flatbread dish 01:26:25 Balancing consistency and creativity in content 01:28:16 Gaining 1.5 million TikTok followers 01:34:45 Decline of veganism as a trend 01:39:40 Selling butter products online 01:48:02 Overcoming imposter syndrome 01:50:50 Operating a low-margin business 01:54:06 Educating consumers on quality ingredients 01:57:00 The importance of patience in your career journey

The UK is now fully addicted to running, and at the heart of it is Runna. The Running coaching app is taking users from being unable to run a few miles, to completing marathons around the world. It's not a surprise that Co-Founder Ben Parker, has not only completed & been a part of some incredible running achievements, but he has also an amazing passion for helping users reach their goals week in and week out. After only 3 years of the business being around, what has it taken to get to this stage? Where did the concept come from? Let's find out. Follow Ben & Runna: https://www.instagram.com/runna_coach/ https://www.instagram.com/benparkerfitness/ www.runna.com Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/

00:00 Introduction 01:33 Excelling in Academia at Oxford University 04:31 Progress in the Gym 05:49 Career in Fitness 07:16 Finding Purpose in Fitness 09:05 Conventional Career Path 10:45 Final Year of University 11:34 Being Out of Your Comfort Zone 15:40 Get Better at Ironman, Running and Cycling 16:20 Addicted to Getting Better at Things 18:18 Running Journey 18:55 Started the Love of Running 21:00 Training for an Ironman 26:38 The First Ironman 31:00 Gym Membership's Don't Work 34:55 What Progress Means 39:51 Getting the First Online Client 40:25 London Marathon 2024 at Redbull 42:20 London Based Running Coach 42:50 7 Marathons in 7 Days 47:50 From 0 Subscribers to 100,000 in 80 Countries 49:56 Raising Capital 54:15 Building 'the App' 1:00:15 Run Buddy to Runna Rebranding 1:02:50 Getting the Trademark 1:07:36 Opening an Office 1:10:42 Building a Team 1:13:00 Sitting at a Desk All Day 1:14:23 Making the Best App Possible 1:22:00 Saying No To Money 1:23:30 Raising 5 Million Pounds 1:26:45 Addicted to Work 1:29:00 Working for Runna 1:30:38 The Future of Runna 1:33:10 Building the Best Coaching App 1:34:30 Strava Statistics 1:35:00 What Does It Take to Build an App Like Runna

After starting and selling her first business, Lucy Busk went on to work with some of the most exciting new brands within the food & beverage space. Consulting them on how to grow their revenue through sales effectively and quickly. She wanted to get back to being a founder, partnering with her now Co-Founder Jeremy, she is now building NICE, a wine brand with a difference. But what is the biggest driver of their current success?

Follow Lucy & Nice: https://www.instagram.com/drinknice/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-busk-wright-52966086/ Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/ Listen Here: 00:00 Introduction

02:48 Life growing up

04:05 Work experience

06:00 Interior design idea

07:30 Lessons from selling a business

09:05 Excitement and challenges of starting up

12:29 Embracing entrepreneurship

14:00 Leveraging consultancy experience

14:30 Building trust for business success

18:34 Perseverance in business

19:40 Resilience as a founder

21:00 Disrupting the wine sector

24:10 Co-Founders shared vision and skills

33:50 Innovative marketing strategies for growth

38:00 Connecting with your audience

41:58 Effective marketing for entrepreneurs

45:00 Turning "No" into opportunities

51:15 Navigating UK Retail

52:05 Identifying top sales talent

56:10 Hustle culture

57:30 Company values foundation of strong business

01:01:10 Importance of cultural fit

01:04:29 Creating your own luck as a founder

01:05:00 Balancing entrepreneurship and parenthood

01:08:00 What does it take to be a founder?

Leaving the security of a 9-5 can be scary, but doing it with only a small idea of what you might do with no real concept, name or starting place can be an even bigger jump. For Tom, starting El Rayo with his Co-Founder Jack, was just that. A massive jump from the corporate world into starting a brand new business with limited experience. Did the gamble pay off? What did it take?

Follow Tom & El Rayo: https://www.instagram.com/elrayotequila/https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-bishop-843111a3/

Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/

00:00 - Intro 01:19 - The city broker 02:48 - Risks of leaving a job prematurely 04:30 - From idea to reality 05:30 - Co-Founder dynamics 07:58 - Startup beginnings 08:20 - Essential advice for startups 09:10 - TEQUILA11:20 - 5-Star Hotels in London 12:35 - E-Commerce strategies 13:55 - Cultural influence on business 16:00 - Sombreros & cactus 16:58 - London’s agency scene 18:21 - Defining your brand in the market 23:00 - Hustling 28:58 - Engaging your audience 34:20 - Luck in entrepreneurship 39:01 - Establishing a strong identity 43:08 - Raising capital 50:42 - 818 Tequila and Kendall Jenner 56:00 - Brand building essentials

Moth Drinks has seen some incredible growth over the last few years, going from 1 listing in the UK with two founders making the product by hand to a team of 30 with national distribution. Rob, Co-Founder of Moth believes this isn't just down to hard work, luck and timing but most importantly building a company culture that the team want to be a part of every day. Follow Rob: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8D%B8-rob-wallis-162801113/ Follow Moth:https://mothdrinks.com/https://www.instagram.com/mothdrinks/ Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/

It's no secret that it's hard to have a successful career within the art industry, but what does it really take to be a world-renowned artist? Marine Tanguy has worked in the industry for over 15 years, working with some of the best talent within the space, at the highest level. She speaks about her own struggles to make it in the industry, and also how the landscape of art is changing, as well as some of the business challenges she has been through.
Marine's Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Visual-Detox-Consume-Without-Letting/dp/1529912644 Follow Marine: https://www.instagram.com/marinetanguyart/ Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4in_oxnotmfhxc54pfB-GQ

Imagine your life as an addict from 12-15 years old, then going sober for three years, and then relapsing at 19, and then building a global brand at 22 with your two best friends, that gets investment from The Sidemen, Dave, & Ricky Gervais.

Well, that has been Josh's life, and even after everything he has been through he is here today to tell his story, and truly prove, that if you just keep going, you have a chance of making it to where you want to be. 00:00 Intro 01:42 Josh's Early Years 04:00 Being Lost As A Child 07:24 Dealing With ADHD 10:47 Drinking at 12 years old 19:00 Building Resilience 20:23 How Bad The Addiction Got 22:50 Life In Rehab 26:20 Relapsing 29:17 Changing For The Better 30:54 Starting His First Company 34:08 Lifestyle At 19 36:00 Building The 1st Business 43:38 Trying To Help Others 49:28 The Birth of CanO Water 53:33 Solving Issues In The Early Days 01:01:50 Gaining Investment from Celebrities 01:04:20 Having Celebrities Endorsements 01:08:03 Dealing With Rejection 01:14:33 COVID Almost Destroying The Business 01:18:45 What It Takes To Build Brand 01:21:25 Closing Thoughts. Follow Josh: https://www.instagram.com/josh_white1/?hl=en Follow CanO Water: https://www.instagram.com/canowater/?hl=en

Martyn Odell has had one of the most interesting careers that we have had on the show. From being the lead in a live nudity comedy show as a 20 year old, to working inside Joe Wick's Bodycoach business, and now taking on the global issue of food waste. There isn't much that Martyn hasn't yet done! But how can someone like Martyn achieve so much, and continue to balance the scales of life, work and pure passion? We tried to find out. Follow Marytn: https://www.youtube.com/@UC2qIX8cVL5LY0ZqTz7BjMNg https://www.tiktok.com/@lagomchefhttps://www.instagram.com/lagomchef/ Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/

Building a brand from £0 to £24 Million is not a simple process, however, THIS has managed to achieve it in just 4 years. But with achievements like this, the journey can't be smooth sailing. In this episode of WIT, Co-Founder Andy Shovel tells us his personal journey to get to this point and some of the reasons why THIS is currently outperforming its competitors. 00:00 - Intro 01:32 - Andy's Early Years 03:50 - Being Diagnosed With Autism 05:36 - Andy's First Business Idea 07:14 - The First Business 09:00 - Working In McDonald's 12:12 - Why Chosen Bun Worked 14:48 - Meeting The Deliveroo Founder 16:30 - Finding Problems To Solve 21:46 - Almost Starting A Medical Business 24:44. - Going From Meat to No Meat 27:17 - Why Do You Need A Co-Founder? 30:08 - THIS Product Development 31:20 - Going from £0 - £20 Million 33:33 - Getting The First Retailer 35:51 - What's Not Working In The Category 38:35 - THIS Approach To Marketing 41:45 - The Stunt That Went Wrong 47:18 - Stepping Down As CEO 50:22 - Learnings From The Journey 53:18 - What It Takes To Build Brands 54:53 - The Future

Follow Andy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-shovel-92533414/ Follow THIS: https://www.instagram.com/this.uk/

In just 2 years, Quarter has gone from being a brand new brand, in a brand new sector, to now being stocked in some of London's hottest locations. Co-Founder Rohan tells us how it all happened, and the strategy to start building a new sector.

00:00 Intro 00:43 Early Beginnings 02:31 Rohan First Business03:00 How Quarter Started 06:14 Did you want to be a founder? 08:00 Is being A Founder What You Thought it Would Be? 11:55 What Do Brands Get Wrong? 14:45 Do You Need A Co-Founder? 19:40 The Mission For Quarter 21:57 Thoughts On The No/Low Market 28:14 Binge Drinking Culture 30:00 How To Stand Out In A Busy Space 33:33 Winning The Biggest Stockist 37:18 Revenue Focus Split 40:22 Behind The Scenes On Dragons Den 50:41 Crazy Growth From Dragons Den 53:33 Low Moments Building Quarter 55:15 Keeping Team Lean 57:17 The Future for Quarter

Follow Quarter:

https://www.instagram.com/quarterproof/?hl=en

Watch:

https://youtu.be/2pGvUvODwkY

This week we sat down with Sam Matanle, Founder of Batch Ldn, and one of the founding team at Punchy Drinks. After spending 5 years at Punchy, Sam saw all of the highs and lows, and learned a lot about how to be successful in a hard industry. Sam then wanted to start his own journey and launched Batch LDN, and amazing brand, trying to make a massive difference in the space.

00:00 Introduction 01:04 2023 Chaos 02:13 Punchy Drinks 02:51 The Drinks Industry 04:33 Is Being In A Start Up For Everyone 08:35 Adjusting To Being Number 3 11:00 Punchy Success Story 12:35 Mistakes Start Ups Make 17:28 COVID's Impact on Punchy 19:45 Leaving Punchy After 5 Years 23:08 Why Did You Get A Co-Founder 28:05 Batch's Mission 30:58 Are Brands Really Sustainable? 43:11 Batch's Approach To Positioning 50:42 Why Have A Physical Location? 57:00 What's It Like To Be A Founder? 59:45 How Hard Is Q4 01:03:00 Loneliness As A Founder 01:1400 Upcoming Challenges Follow Sam & Batch: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samuelmatanle/ Batch LDN: https://www.instagram.com/batch.ldn/ Watch On:

https://youtu.be/5A6a3S43BjA

Welcome to the first episode of What It Takes! In this first episode we sat down with the Founder of Puresport Grayson Hart, to speak about his journey of building the #1 CBD brand in the UK Puresport. Puresport has seen some incredible growth over the last few years, and one of the strongest areas of their brand is their community. We speak to Grayson about how to build this, and of course so much more. Episode Sections: 00:00 Intro 01:15 Adjusting from athlete to entrepreneur 04:30 How being an athlete impacted being an entrepreneur 09:30 What was your goal as an athlete 17:35 Achieve your goals as an athlete 27:26 The biggest struggles building a brand 32:56 Myths of being an entrepreneur 35:50 How to think about failure 41:30 The Mission of Puresport 46:56 Feeling under-qualified 49:31 Building London's biggest run club 53:28 Puresport's Community Impact 57:01 How Puresport started 01:00:14 Puresport Apparel 01:06:14 Puresport Product Range Development 01:08:00 2024 Plans 01:11:00 Closing Comments

Elliott Grover joined us to share his incredible journey through the restaurant world. After leaving Cornwall at 15, he worked his way up to become Executive Chef at The Cut, Britain's best steak restaurant, while also creating the menu for The Oscars. He began at The Ivy, moved to Le Caprice during its prime, and spent eight years at London's famous seafood spot, Scott's. After running ten restaurants at The Ned and heading up Duck & Waffle, he was selected by Wolfgang Puck to lead the kitchen at 45 Park Lane and oversee the food for The Oscars.From Britain's finest kitchens, Elliott serves up amazing stories about food, leadership, and life in top restaurants. Follow Elliot & 45 Park Lane: https://www.instagram.com/elliottgrover/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliott-grover-8a175a51/ https://www.instagram.com/45parklane/?hl=en Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Elliot Grover 01:20 Growing Up Watching Rick Stein 03:00 16th Birthday in Le Caprice Kitchen 04:05 Career Move: Relocating to London 06:00 Inside Le Caprice 07:15 Elliot's First Day at Le Caprice 10:00 Working with Chef Lee Bull 15:16 Transition to Scott's Restaurant 17:08 Leadership in the Kitchen 19:00 Eight Years at Scott's: Lessons from a Long-Term Chef Position 24:30 Kitchen Management: How to Look After Your Culinary Team 30:00 Key Factors in Successful Kitchen Team Management 31:15 Public Misconceptions Of The Kitchen 34:05 Trust in the Kitchen 35:30 Poor Management at The Ned and Nick Jones 38:00 Food Quality at Duck and Waffle 40:02 Dealing with Pressure in the Kitchen 44:00 Landing the Dream Job: Interviewing for Wolfgang Puck's Team 47:30 Working with a World-Renowned Chef, Wolfgang 49:38 The Wolfgang Puck Philosophy 51:00 Cooking for the Stars: Elliot's Experience at the Oscars 53:00 What It Takes to Be an Exceptional Chef

Marisa Poster, co-founder of PerfectTed, shares her journey from a challenging childhood in New York to launching a clean energy drink brand. Struggling with ADHD and anxiety, she found relief in matcha after realising caffeine worsened her symptoms. After moving to London, Marisa and her co-founders identified a gap in the market for quality matcha. Their appearance on Dragons' Den led to a partnership with Steven Bartlett, resulting in millions of orders overnight. Marisa discusses the overwhelming success they've experienced, achieving £1.4 million a month—far surpassing their initial forecast of £1 million a year by year three. Follow Marisa & Perfect Ted: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-poster/ https://www.instagram.com/perfecttedenergy/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/mposter/?hl=en https://www.youtube.com/@UCmyWvhJdwHbWn8A7BeqtaTw Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/

Alessandro Palazzi, the bartender behind Dukes Bar's famous martinis, has been honing his skills in London for over 15 years. With an impressive 46-year career that includes work in Italy, France, and the UK, Palazzi has become one of the world's top bartenders. How did this Italian-born drink maker become internationally renowned, and how does he continue to set the standard in the art of cocktails? Follow Alessandro Palazzi: https://www.instagram.com/alessandro_palazzi/?hl=en Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction: Meeting Alessandro Palazzi 02:00 Swifties Take Over London 03:00 Early Days: Growing Up in Rome 06:20 Discovering a Passion for Bartending 12:20 A New Chapter: Moving to Notting Hill at 17 13:59 Life as a Kitchen Porter 16:02 An Italian's Perspective on English Cuisine 19:58 The First Steps Behind the Bar 22:50 Parisian Adventures: Working at Georges V in the '80s 30:30 Back to London: Career Progression in the '80s 36:00 A Brief Return to Italy: Running a Restaurant & Wine Bar 37:50 The Ritz Years: Bartending in the '90s 47:09 Building the Perfect Bar Team 54:52 Notting Hill: Bartending at a Musicians' Boutique Hotel 1:02:00 The Great Eastern: Opening with Sir Terence Conran 1:08:00 The Rich History of Classic Cocktails 1:15:40 Making Experiences at Dukes Bar 1:18:30 Collaborating with Berry Brothers 1:23:00 The Perfect Martini 1:25:06 Loyalty to Dukes: 17 Years and Counting 1:28:00 What It Takes to be a Renowned Bartender

Jo Bird transitioned from Rankin Photography to a three-month adventure in Australia at 27. Upon her return, she became the Creative Lead for GymShark and Lounge, two of the UK's biggest brands. With her innovative approach, Jo played a key role in helping these brands break through in a competitive market. Now, she’s on a mission to establish her own personal brand after embracing new opportunities following redundancy. Follow Jo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justjobird?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app https://www.instagram.com/justjobird?igsh=MXdhM3RyMWJiNmIzZA== https://www.tiktok.com/@justjobird?_t=8pxkGlk51U1&_r=1 Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/ 00:00 Introduction to Jo Bird 02:00 Creativity in Jo's Family 04:20 Growing Up in Her Sister's Shadow 06:30 Limited Exposure to Creative Careers 09:30 Dropping Out of University 12:46 Moving to London for Work 17:00 Opportunity at Rankin's Studio 27:20 From Launch Party to Chicken Shop 32:00 Building a Creative Portfolio 34:30 Working with Jonathan Knowles 46:38 Joining GymShark as a Creative 58:30 Attracting Diverse Creative Talent 01:08:52 Headhunted by Lounge Underwear 01:17:24 Community-Building as Strategy 01:23:20 Work Culture at Lounge 01:29:20 Transitioning to Freelance Work

Tom Aikens first walked into a kitchen at 18, and never looked back since. Up until he won 2 Michelin stars at 26, he worked under some of the best chefs in the world including Pierre Koffman & Joël Robuchon. In this episode of What It Takes, we spoke about his journey to winning his first stars, how he got there and the challenges he had to face along the way. Follow Tom: https://www.instagram.com/tomaikens/?hl=en Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/

The Resturant industry is not for everyone, it demands a lot from those who want to be successful in it. One of the successes is Tom Booton, who first walked into a kitchen at 15, and now at 31 he is the Head Chef at the incredible Grill at The Dorchester. For a 32 year old, Tom has already seen his fair share of success and failures, but he always learns from them and keeps moving forward. Follow Tom: https://www.tiktok.com/@bootontom https://www.instagram.com/bootontom/?hl=en  @bootontom  Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/ 00:00 Introduction to Tom Booton's Chef Journey 02:04 Discovering Passion Through Work Experience 03:38 Becoming a Chef at Age 15 05:54 Overcoming Career Path Doubts 08:24 Succeeding Without Chef Qualifications 11:30 Career Sacrifices He Made in His Youth 16:30 Moving to London: A Career Decision 19:00 Chef Trial Shift Experience in London 25:30 Leaving The Westbury: The Reality Behind the 'Dream’ Job 29:20 Understanding Kitchen Operations 32:05 Embracing the Nordic Lifestyle: Working at Dill in Iceland 35:20 Gaining Experience in New York 39:30 Returning to London and Joining Dabbous 44:00 Career Journey with The Dorchester 54:07 Dealing with Trolling from Chefs 01:00:20 Economics of Running a Chef's Kitchen 01:02:50 Keys to Restaurant Success

Kym has now shot over 130 races for F1, across the globe. But he hasn't been doing it for his whole life, in fact he is relatively new to the world of F1. So what made him one of the best and most well known photographers in Formula 1, and what does it take to stay at the top of motorsport.

Follow Kym: https://www.tiktok.com/@kymillmanf1?lang=en https://www.instagram.com/kymillman/ https://www.youtube.com/@UCZqNme_MY-jl_1ziSr2VMjA https://www.kymillman.com Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/

Wynter Karo quit her corporate grad scheme at Sky at 24, called her co-founder Alice, and asked a question nobody had answered yet: why hasn't anyone made a pre-batched spicy margarita?Two months later, Pimentae was on Companies House.In this episode, Wynter gets into the full story, from product development during lockdown, nearly losing their first Waitrose listing to a blending disaster worth £25k, outselling Patrón at Taste London, landing Diageo's Distl Ventures backing, and building a festival activation model that now makes up 25% of their total revenue.Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35Follow Wynter:linkedin.com/in/wynter-karo-01076010bhttps://www.pimentaedrinks.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorqg1QOx_fgL7dqQVzlxLqxrMWIol-0Drjr0EKhA6aqes1jDnx5

Paul Ainsworth built one of the UK's most respected independent restaurant collections from scratch, in Cornwall, starting with sandwiches and cream teas.

In this episode, Paul talks about growing up in a guesthouse, working six years under Gordon Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road (and being there for the third Michelin star), what Gary Rhodes taught him about precision, and the moment he got thrown off service on his first day.

He also gets honest about the new St Endoc Hotel project, remortgaging his home, the pressure of the biggest financial bet of his life, and why he believes in it completely.

Topics covered:

— Growing up in hospitality: guesthouse to Gordon Ramsay

— Ego, failure, and starting at the bottom (even when you're good)

— What great leadership actually looks like

— Building in Cornwall when everyone said don't

— The business fundamentals no one teaches chef-led operators

— The St Endoc project: risk, vision, and legacy

— People sustainability vs green sustainability

— Why the greatest leaders are the best listeners

📍 Recorded at The Mariners, Rock, Cornwall, one of Paul's venues.

0:00 Introduction: The biggest project of Paul's life

1:18 How 2026 has been: stress, stakes, and the new project

3:43 Growing up in a guesthouse, hospitality as home

6:00 Building a mini workforce at age 10

9:50 School wasn't the place for him and what he had instead

12:25 The one asset he carried out of school

14:00 First kitchen job

16:36 Gary Rhodes: the less-is-more lesson that changed everything

18:18 Walking into Royal Hospital Road

19:17 The night Gordon Ramsay won his third Michelin star

25:18 Why the best leaders listen and how to spot those who don't

37:57 Thrown off service on day one!

45:00 Surrounding yourself with people better than you

50:00 Hospitality's hours culture: what changed and what can't

55:32 At the crossroads: never giving up vs. knowing when to pivot

1:05:23 You don't realise growth until after you've left

1:17:22 Great British Menu

1:20:39 Never mistake kindness for weakness

1:42:28 The St Endoc Hotel

1:53:33 What it takes

Follow Olly:

https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/

https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/

Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35

Follow Paul:

https://www.instagram.com/paulainsw6rth/?hl=en

From Bollywood dance choreographer… to HSBC speechwriter… to one of the sharpest comics in the UK.Eshaan Akbar breaks down what stand-up actually teaches you: reading rooms, earning trust, surviving bad gigs, and why “bombing” is often an audience warm-up problem (his words… 😅).If you’ve ever felt like you’re starting late, pivoting careers, or trying to build confidence in rooms that weren’t made for you, this one lands.Chapters 00:00 Who is Eshaan Akbar?01:20 The pre-comedy life04:26 Why comedy started (a course, not a dream)05:51 Family, immigrant pressure, and dad’s support08:16 First open mic, March 201409:13 Mum’s sudden death + comedy becoming a lifeline14:27 Therapy 10 years later + what finally made him face it19:19 The grind years: unpaid gigs, long drives, learning every room29:24 Kings Lynn: the gig that turned ugly 41:38 How he writes: no scripts, built on-stage + reading rooms46:19 Crowd work, social media, and comedy’s new era58:32 Opening for Mickey Flanagan + the O2 arena realityFollow Eshaan: https://www.instagram.com/eshaanakbar/Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35

In this episode of What It Takes, we sit down with magician, TV presenter, and content creator Ben Hanlin to explore the magic behind creativity.

From his journey breaking into the entertainment industry to starring in Tricked and captivating audiences worldwide, Ben shares the highs, the challenges, and the secrets that have fuelled his success.

He also reveals practical tricks for unlocking creativity—whether you're a performer, entrepreneur, or just looking to bring more originality into your work. Follow Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-hanlin-66508b142/ https://www.instagram.com/benhanlin/https://www.tiktok.com/@benhanlin?lang=en Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35

In this episode of What It Takes, we sit down with Raissa de Haas, the dynamic co-founder of Double Dutch Drinks, a brand that's taken the beverage industry by storm with its premium mixers.

Raissa shares the incredible journey of how she and her twin sister, Joyce, started their business from scratch, turning a passion for craft cocktails into an award-winning drinks company.

Raissa opens up about the challenges they faced as young entrepreneurs in a competitive market, from securing initial funding to scaling production while maintaining quality. She reveals the key moments that shaped their success, including building relationships with top-tier bartenders and creating a distinctive brand identity in a crowded space.

Raissa also delves into what it truly takes to run a thriving drinks brand. From leading with innovation to staying resilient in the face of setbacks, she shares her top strategies for scaling sustainably, fostering a strong company culture, and continuing to push boundaries in the drinks industry.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or curious about the secrets behind building a globally recognised brand, this episode is filled with actionable insights on what it takes to succeed.

Follow Raissa:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/raissa-de-haas-02740a61/ https://www.instagram.com/doubledutchdrinks/?hl=en

Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/

Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35

Williams F1 is a team full of history and success. They have also had their own struggles in their time as a business and as a Formula 1 team. When Claire Williams took over the team, she had some incredible success with the team in 2014/15, but as new regulations came into play, she was hit with many challenges. So what does it take to drive a Formula 1 team forward, in the hard times and the good times? Follow Claire: https://www.instagram.com/clairewilliams_official/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairewilliamsofficial/ Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/ https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/ Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35

Wynter Karo quit her corporate grad scheme at Sky at 24, called her co-founder Alice, and asked a question nobody had answered yet: why hasn't anyone made a pre-batched spicy margarita?

Two months later, Pimentae was on Companies House.

Wynter gets into the full story, from product development during lockdown, nearly losing their first Waitrose listing to a blending disaster worth £25k, outselling Patrón at Taste London, landing Diageo's Distl Ventures backing, and building a festival activation model that now makes up 25% of their total revenue.

Follow Olly:

https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/

https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/

Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35

Follow Wynter:

linkedin.com/in/wynter-karo-01076010b

https://www.pimentaedrinks.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorqg1QOx_fgL7dqQVzlxLqxrMWIol-0Drjr0EKhA6aqes1jDnx5

Stuart Trevor is the founder of AllSaints and one of the most influential figures in British fashion. In this episode of What It Takes with Olly Fawcett, Stuart shares the extraordinary story behind building AllSaints into a global fashion brand, his early career designing for Reiss, and why he walked away from the company at its peak.

From growing up on a council estate in Dundee to dressing some of the biggest rock bands in the world, Stuart reveals the creative mindset that drove his success and how ADHD, risk-taking and instinct helped shape his career.

We also explore the realities of the fashion industry, the rise of fast fashion, and why Stuart is now building a new sustainable brand that produces no new clothes, using only upcycled garments.

This is a fascinating conversation about creativity, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and what it really takes to build a global brand.

Follow Stuart:https://www.instagram.com/stuart_trevor/

Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35

Wynter Karo quit her corporate grad scheme at Sky at 24, called her co-founder Alice, and asked a question nobody had answered yet: why hasn't anyone made a pre-batched spicy margarita?

Two months later, Pimentae was on Companies House.

Wynter gets into the full story, from product development during lockdown, nearly losing their first Waitrose listing to a blending disaster worth £25k, outselling Patrón at Taste London, landing Diageo's Distl Ventures backing, and building a festival activation model that now makes up 25% of their total revenue.

Chapters:

00:00 Wynter's Background & The Corporate Grind

02:47 How Pimentae Was Born on a Balcony

05:42 Why University Didn't Prepare Her For This

07:07 Why Alice Was the Right Co-Founder

10:18 Early Product Development & The MVP

14:47 Going Full-Time & Week One

18:26 When People Started Having Opinions

22:27 The Operational Reality Nobody Warns You About

25:20 What She'd Do Differently

27:06 The Co-Founder Relationship

29:32 The Waitrose Blending Disaster

35:49 Why Festivals Changed Everything

38:23 How They Made Festivals Profitable

41:04 The First Festival — £10k, An Amex & A Prayer

43:28 Distl Ventures & The Diageo Pitch

47:17 Pitching 20 Diageo Execs at 25 Years Old

51:30 The Entrepreneur's Curse

54:24 Celebrating Wins (Or Not)

56:01 Raising £580k & What It Unlocked

58:48 Making Their First Hires

01:03:21 Developing a Leadership Style

01:06:14 How She Thinks About Competition

01:08:37 What's Driving Pimentae's Growth

01:11:39 What the Future Looks Like

01:13:49 What It Actually Takes

Follow Olly:

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https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/

Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35

Follow Wynter:

linkedin.com/in/wynter-karo-01076010b

https://www.pimentaedrinks.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorqg1QOx_fgL7dqQVzlxLqxrMWIol-0Drjr0EKhA6aqes1jDnx5

Kirk Haworth has been through every challenge the hospitality industry can throw at someone.

From training in some of the world’s best kitchens, to having his career completely stopped by chronic illness, to rebuilding everything from the ground up.

We go into the realities of kitchen culture, the physical toll of the industry, and the moments that force you to rethink everything.

You'll learn about standards, pressure, and what it really means to start again when you’ve already put years into something.

Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35Follow

Kirk:https://www.instagram.com/kirk_haworth/

Justin Lunny is the Founder & CEO of Everrati, a company redefining iconic cars into high-performance electric vehicles.

In this episode of What It Takes, Justin breaks down how he went from fintech entrepreneur to building one of the most unique automotive businesses in the world, restoring classic cars into EVs for clients including tech billionaires, Hollywood figures, and collectors.

Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35Follow Justin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinlunny/

Justin Lunny is the Founder & CEO of Everrati, a company redefining iconic cars into high-performance electric vehicles.

In this episode of What It Takes, Justin breaks down how he went from fintech entrepreneur to building one of the most unique automotive businesses in the world, restoring classic cars into EVs for clients including tech billionaires, Hollywood figures, and collectors.

We cover:

- Why Everrati turned down certain clients (and cars)

- How they built a global brand with zero marketing

- The reality of building cars with 5.2 billion data points

- Why EV adoption has been misunderstood

- And how they’ve built $500M+ in B2B opportunity without trying

Chapters

0:00 – 30-year career before Everrati

3:40 – Selling his first business

5:04 – Finding the right business partner

6:33 – The idea: iconic cars turned electric

7:28 – The moment that sparked it

9:59 – What starting actually looked like

11:10 – Hiring top engineers with just a vision

14:21 – 2 years to build the first car

15:50 – The funding reality

18:36 – First prototype & early momentum

20:08 – The PR moment that changed everything

21:20 – Who actually buys these cars

32:30 – The reason behind turning customers down

41:02 – Selling a lifestyle, not just a car

52:05 – $500M pipeline with zero marketing

56:40 – Inside a custom EV build

1:06:05 – What people get wrong about EVs

1:12:08 – Why some car brands won’t survive

1:22:19 – What it really takes to build a brand

Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/

Follow Justin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinlunny/

Kirk Haworth has been through every challenge the hospitality industry can throw at someone.

From training in some of the world’s best kitchens, to having his career completely stopped by chronic illness, to rebuilding everything from the ground up.In this episode, Kirk shares what it actually takes to operate at the highest level in hospitality and what happens when that level comes at a cost.

We go into the realities of kitchen culture, the physical toll of the industry, and the moments that force you to rethink everything. You'll learn about standards, pressure, and what it really means to start again when you’ve already put years into something.

Chapters:

00:00 Who is Kirk Haworth?

01:15 Early career in top kitchens

04:30 The reality of kitchen culture

07:10 Pressure, standards, and leadership in hospitality

10:45 When health started breaking down

14:20 Working through chronic pain and fatigue

18:05 The moment everything collapsed

21:30 Hitting rock bottom mentally

25:10 Rebuilding from zero

29:40 Rethinking food, health, and performance

33:15 Starting again with a new philosophy

37:20 Building Plates and a new kind of kitchen

41:50 The future of hospitality

Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/

Kirk:https://www.instagram.com/kirk_haworth/

Stuart Trevor is the founder of AllSaints and one of the most influential figures in British fashion. In this episode of What It Takes with Olly Fawcett, Stuart shares the extraordinary story behind building AllSaints into a global fashion brand, his early career designing for Reiss, and why he walked away from the company at its peak.

From growing up on a council estate in Dundee to dressing some of the biggest rock bands in the world, Stuart reveals the creative mindset that drove his success and how ADHD, risk-taking and instinct helped shape his career.

We also explore the realities of the fashion industry, the rise of fast fashion, and why Stuart is now building a new sustainable brand that produces no new clothes, using only upcycled garments.

This is a fascinating conversation about creativity, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and what it really takes to build a global brand.

00:00 Stuart Trevor Interview – Building AllSaints, Reiss & Sustainable Fashion

01:28 Growing Up in Dundee & First Fashion Experiments

05:28 David Bowie, Punk Culture & Early Style Inspiration

09:38 ADHD, School Struggles & Creative Thinking

13:54 Discovering Fashion College by Accident18:24 Learning Tailoring & Entering the Fashion Industry

21:48 Winning the Paul Smith Competition & Early Recognition

26:01 Getting His Break at Reiss

31:01 Designing Menswear at Reiss at Age 18

35:54 Why Stuart Trevor Left Reiss

39:47 Founding AllSaints & The Brand Name Story

45:10 The First AllSaints Collection in Paris

49:55 Building the AllSaints Retail Concept

53:55 Why AllSaints Became a Cult Fashion Brand

58:21 Dressing Rock Stars & Peak AllSaints Years

1:02:22 Why Stuart Trevor Left AllSaints in 2007

1:07:37 Building Bolongaro Trevor

1:12:56 How Fashion Changed in the 2010s

1:17:37 Fast Fashion, Waste & Industry Problems

1:23:04 Creating a Brand That Produces No New Clothes

1:27:54 Upcycling & The Future of Sustainable Fashion

1:31:53 Advice for Young Fashion Founders

1:34:37 What’s Next for Stuart Trevor