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Discover the secrets to success, straight from the entrepreneurs changing the business landscape themselves.
Support your own business journey with our expert-led podcasts, webinars, blogs and other resources.
Join Claudia Winkleman in conversation with exceptional founders and creators who had an idea and made it happen. It's a long way from Business As Usual - that's why THIS is Business Unusual.
Follow the brand new season of our entrepreneurship podcast week-by-week, revisit the first season and catch trailers for upcoming episodes.
Our Business Unusual podcast is back. Join Claudia Winkleman as she gets to know the UK’s most innovative entrepreneurs behind exciting challenger brands.
Vivien and Howard Wong, otherwise known as the sibling power duo and co-founders of the ice cream company Little Moons re-join Claudia to talk about Little Moon’s dramatic growth through the app TikTok. They also discuss the dynamics of founding a business as partners and they even share an exclusive secret about a brand new flavour.
Taymoor and Claudia chatter about Papier’s three unique selling points – design, quality, and personalization. Taymoor also discusses the importance of less talking and more doing and why passion is a better motive for starting up a business than pound signs.
Claudia and Farah catch up on all things EX1 whilst discussing the value that can be found pushing boundaries, in failing and also having relentless faith in your concept.
Ailbhe and Claudia catch-up about social media shop windows and how an online video helped Izzy Wheels to grow and collaborate with brands such as Hello Kitty, Barbie and Disney.
Claudia talks to Jamii founder Khalia about the importance of supporting small businesses, throwing yourself into the deep end and harnessing the power of storytelling.
In this episode, Claudia and Michelle talk the launch of Peanut Menopause and spotting the forgotten demographic. Michelle also shares tips on how to navigate female empowerment in the business world.
Steven joins Claudia to chat about leading the way in one of the world’s fastest moving sectors, knowing when to quit and becoming the youngest ever member of Dragons Den. We also hear about Steven’s new company Catena Capital and the importance of embracing insecurity.
Grace Beverley talks to Claudia Winkelman about the importance of social media in launching her business (Tala took 10,000 orders on its first day). We hear about Tala’s ‘audience first’ approach to acquiring a customer base; and how, for Tala, sustainability is a defining factor in every decision the business makes.
Chief Squirrel Pip Murray speaks to Claudia about creating a fun work culture that values balance and squirrel-based job titles, as well as how Pip & Nut is using it’s business as force for good in the local community.
Listen to Ning Li speak to Claudia Winkleman about growing his businesses, MADE.com and Typology and the fundamentals of hiring to fit the company ethos.
It’s time to get your hands dirty with Patch, the company changing how we buy houseplants – and helping us to care for them afterwards.
Claudia chats to brother and sister duo Howard and Vivien about their mochi ice-cream business Little Moons and how they’ve looked after their staff during a complicated time in the food industry.
Our Parks founder Born Barikor is on a mission to provide free, high-quality exercise classes that everyone can access. In this episode, Claudia discovers the secret to his success.
Claudia discovers Growing Underground, a futuristic farm with sustainability at its heart. Join her as she talks with Co-Founder Steven Dring and finds out what it takes to make a success of such an unconventional idea.
Chris Sheldrick, Co-Founder and CEO of what3words, talks to Claudia about the new global address system being used across the world, from helping the emergency services locate incidents to getting fish and chips to the Isle of Man.
Malcom X and a specialist curly hair salon provide the inspiration for Bouclème Founder Michele Scott-Lynch, as she chats with Claudia about what it takes to make waves (and curls!) in the beauty industry.
Claudia meets Russell Bisset of the Northern Monk brewery to chat about their creative beer collaborations, giving back generously to the community and why on earth they decided to brew a beer at the top of Ben Nevis.
OLIO tackles food wastage with a simple solution – an app that connects neighbours in order to share unwanted leftovers. CEO Tessa Clarke chats with Claudia about how she turned a WhatsApp group of 12 into a community of 2 million worldwide.
Discover some of the most exciting businesses currently working in the UK, and how they made their mark, with Business Unusual.
Our Business Unusual podcast is back. Join Claudia Winkleman as she gets to know the UK’s most innovative entrepreneurs behind exciting challenger brands.
Listen to Ning Li speak to Claudia Winkleman about growing his businesses, MADE.com and Typology and the fundamentals of hiring to fit the company ethos.
Chief Squirrel Pip Murray speaks to Claudia about creating a fun work culture that values balance and squirrel-based job titles, as well as how Pip & Nut is using it’s business as force for good in the local community.
London’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Natwest GBEA) Grace Beverley speaks to Claudia about founding sustainable style brand TALA and fitness tech brand Shreddy.
Founder of Social Chain and BBC's youngest Dragon Steven Bartlett speaks to Claudia about creating one of the world’s most influential social media companies when he was just 21 years old.
App creator and mum Michelle Kennedy joins Claudia to discuss her app Peanut which was originally designed in 2017 to be a modern, innovative social network for new mums. Now in 2020, the app has an estimated 1.6 million users and has evolved into a feminine online community and safe space that supports women through a range of impactful life moments from relationships to fertility.
In this episode, Claudia and Michelle talk the launch of Peanut Menopause and spotting the forgotten demographic. Michelle also shares tips on how to navigate female empowerment in the business world.
In 2016 Khalia Ismain launched Love Jamii, a discount card and discovery platform. Inspired by a trip to Kenya and the Swahili word for community (Jamii), the company holds supporting small black businesses, creatives and black culture at its centre and sells a whole range of products from Afro Haircare products to greeting cards. Moreover, in the wake of the Black Lives Matter Movement, Love Jamii is leading the way in increasing the profile of black businesses and continuing the conversation around racial inequality in business. Claudia talks to founder Khalia about the importance of supporting small businesses, throwing yourself into the deep end and harnessing the power of storytelling.
Izzy Wheels are a Dublin-based brand that creates colourful wheel covers for wheelchairs. The idea for the business began as a college project in 2016 when Ailbhe was in her final year in The National College of Art and Design in Dublin. Ailbhe’s younger sister, Izzy, was born with spina bifida and is paralyzed from her waist down. She noticed that her sister's wheelchair was always the first thing that people noticed about her, but it wasn't a reflection of her bright and bubbly personality. Together the sisters created a range of stylish wheel covers for Izzy’s chair that expressed her individuality and playful fashion.
Named on NBC’s The Today Show as one of ‘The World’s Top 5 Most Disruptive Beauty Brands’ and by Harper’s Bazaar USA list of the “10 Best Foundations of all time’’ (2020 and 2021), EX1 Cosmetics was created by beauty obsessed biochemist Farah Naz who struggled to find make up that matched her Olive skin. EX1 has gone on to become the go-to brand by the world’s biggest names from Adele, to Kim K and Michelle Obama. It became no.1 selling concealer on Amazon U.K. overnight after being by worn by Joaquin Phoenix as he collected his 2020 Oscar.
Founder & CEO of Papier Taymoor Atighetchi speaks to Claudia about his online stationery brand that feeds curiosity and contemplation with its designs.
Siblings Vivien and Howard Wong are the co-founders of Little Moons, Europe’s leading mochi ice cream brand and 2021’s must-try treat. Having grown up around their parents’ Asian bakery business, entrepreneurship was in their blood – and though both briefly took up jobs in the City after leaving University it was no surprise when they founded Little Moons in 2010. A decade later and their hard work paid off as Little Moons went viral on TikTok and sales rocketed 3,500%. They now run a business forecast to have grown 150% in a global pandemic.
Vivien and Howard Wong, otherwise known as the sibling power duo and co-founders of the ice cream company Little Moons re-join Claudia to talk about Little Moon’s dramatic growth through the app TikTok. They also discuss the dynamics of founding a business as partners and they even share an exclusive secret about a brand new flavour.
Taymoor and Claudia chatter about Papier’s three unique selling points – design, quality, and personalization. Taymoor also discusses the importance of less talking and more doing and why passion is a better motive for starting up a business than pound signs.
Claudia and Farah catch up on all things EX1 whilst discussing the value that can be found pushing boundaries, in failing and also having relentless faith in your concept.
Ailbhe and Claudia catch-up about social media shop windows and how an online video helped Izzy Wheels to grow and collaborate with brands such as Hello Kitty, Barbie and Disney.
Claudia talks to Jamii founder Khalia about the importance of supporting small businesses, throwing yourself into the deep end and harnessing the power of storytelling.
In this episode, Claudia and Michelle talk the launch of Peanut Menopause and spotting the forgotten demographic. Michelle also shares tips on how to navigate female empowerment in the business world.
Steven joins Claudia to chat about leading the way in one of the world’s fastest moving sectors, knowing when to quit and becoming the youngest ever member of Dragons Den. We also hear about Steven’s new company Catena Capital and the importance of embracing insecurity.
Grace Beverley talks to Claudia Winkelman about the importance of social media in launching her business (Tala took 10,000 orders on its first day). We hear about Tala’s ‘audience first’ approach to acquiring a customer base; and how, for Tala, sustainability is a defining factor in every decision the business makes.
Chief Squirrel Pip Murray speaks to Claudia about creating a fun work culture that values balance and squirrel-based job titles, as well as how Pip & Nut is using it’s business as force for good in the local community.
Listen to Ning Li speak to Claudia Winkleman about growing his businesses, MADE.com and Typology and the fundamentals of hiring to fit the company ethos.
It’s time to get your hands dirty with Patch, the company changing how we buy houseplants – and helping us to care for them afterwards.
Claudia chats to brother and sister duo Howard and Vivien about their mochi ice-cream business Little Moons and how they’ve looked after their staff during a complicated time in the food industry.
Our Parks founder Born Barikor is on a mission to provide free, high-quality exercise classes that everyone can access. In this episode, Claudia discovers the secret to his success.
Claudia discovers Growing Underground, a futuristic farm with sustainability at its heart. Join her as she talks with Co-Founder Steven Dring and finds out what it takes to make a success of such an unconventional idea.
Chris Sheldrick, Co-Founder and CEO of what3words, talks to Claudia about the new global address system being used across the world, from helping the emergency services locate incidents to getting fish and chips to the Isle of Man.
Malcom X and a specialist curly hair salon provide the inspiration for Bouclème Founder Michele Scott-Lynch, as she chats with Claudia about what it takes to make waves (and curls!) in the beauty industry.
Claudia meets Russell Bisset of the Northern Monk brewery to chat about their creative beer collaborations, giving back generously to the community and why on earth they decided to brew a beer at the top of Ben Nevis.
OLIO tackles food wastage with a simple solution – an app that connects neighbours in order to share unwanted leftovers. CEO Tessa Clarke chats with Claudia about how she turned a WhatsApp group of 12 into a community of 2 million worldwide.
Discover some of the most exciting businesses currently working in the UK, and how they made their mark, with Business Unusual.
Our Business Unusual podcast is back. Join Claudia Winkleman as she gets to know the UK’s most innovative entrepreneurs behind exciting challenger brands.
Listen to Ning Li speak to Claudia Winkleman about growing his businesses, MADE.com and Typology and the fundamentals of hiring to fit the company ethos.
Chief Squirrel Pip Murray speaks to Claudia about creating a fun work culture that values balance and squirrel-based job titles, as well as how Pip & Nut is using it’s business as force for good in the local community.
London’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Natwest GBEA) Grace Beverley speaks to Claudia about founding sustainable style brand TALA and fitness tech brand Shreddy.
Founder of Social Chain and BBC's youngest Dragon Steven Bartlett speaks to Claudia about creating one of the world’s most influential social media companies when he was just 21 years old.
App creator and mum Michelle Kennedy joins Claudia to discuss her app Peanut which was originally designed in 2017 to be a modern, innovative social network for new mums. Now in 2020, the app has an estimated 1.6 million users and has evolved into a feminine online community and safe space that supports women through a range of impactful life moments from relationships to fertility.
In this episode, Claudia and Michelle talk the launch of Peanut Menopause and spotting the forgotten demographic. Michelle also shares tips on how to navigate female empowerment in the business world.
In 2016 Khalia Ismain launched Love Jamii, a discount card and discovery platform. Inspired by a trip to Kenya and the Swahili word for community (Jamii), the company holds supporting small black businesses, creatives and black culture at its centre and sells a whole range of products from Afro Haircare products to greeting cards. Moreover, in the wake of the Black Lives Matter Movement, Love Jamii is leading the way in increasing the profile of black businesses and continuing the conversation around racial inequality in business. Claudia talks to founder Khalia about the importance of supporting small businesses, throwing yourself into the deep end and harnessing the power of storytelling.
Izzy Wheels are a Dublin-based brand that creates colourful wheel covers for wheelchairs. The idea for the business began as a college project in 2016 when Ailbhe was in her final year in The National College of Art and Design in Dublin. Ailbhe’s younger sister, Izzy, was born with spina bifida and is paralyzed from her waist down. She noticed that her sister's wheelchair was always the first thing that people noticed about her, but it wasn't a reflection of her bright and bubbly personality. Together the sisters created a range of stylish wheel covers for Izzy’s chair that expressed her individuality and playful fashion.
Named on NBC’s The Today Show as one of ‘The World’s Top 5 Most Disruptive Beauty Brands’ and by Harper’s Bazaar USA list of the “10 Best Foundations of all time’’ (2020 and 2021), EX1 Cosmetics was created by beauty obsessed biochemist Farah Naz who struggled to find make up that matched her Olive skin. EX1 has gone on to become the go-to brand by the world’s biggest names from Adele, to Kim K and Michelle Obama. It became no.1 selling concealer on Amazon U.K. overnight after being by worn by Joaquin Phoenix as he collected his 2020 Oscar.
Founder & CEO of Papier Taymoor Atighetchi speaks to Claudia about his online stationery brand that feeds curiosity and contemplation with its designs.
Siblings Vivien and Howard Wong are the co-founders of Little Moons, Europe’s leading mochi ice cream brand and 2021’s must-try treat. Having grown up around their parents’ Asian bakery business, entrepreneurship was in their blood – and though both briefly took up jobs in the City after leaving University it was no surprise when they founded Little Moons in 2010. A decade later and their hard work paid off as Little Moons went viral on TikTok and sales rocketed 3,500%. They now run a business forecast to have grown 150% in a global pandemic.
Come and meet some of the most inspiring founders and entrepreneurs in the UK.
Each has built their own incredible business and learnt valuable lessons along the way that they will be sharing with us in our second series of Business Unusual.
Get an intro to our guests and find out more about their business experiences
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