Chief Executive
Elevation Networks

Elevation Networks is an award winning charity established by students to tackle youth employment challenges.

Elevation Networks specialises in assisting companies with the development of diversity recruitment strategies and enabling young people to enhance their employability in the labour market.

The organisation, which began as an idea amongst friends, encompasses a network of 10,000 students and recent graduates from across the country.

Chief executive Barbara Soetan is a founding member of the organisation, launched in 2006 by Samuel Kasumu at Brunel University. Headquartered in London, Elevation Networks became a registered charity in February 2009 and employs a core team of six, supported by over 70 volunteers.

Aged just 25, Barbara Soetan is an accomplished social campaigner and advocate, serving as an international consultant and speaker on youth participation, leadership and employment.

Barbara represented the United Kingdom in the 2010 G8 and G20 summits respectively, where she met Prime Minister David Cameron. In addition to running Elevation Networks, Barbara is a consultant for the Commonwealth Secretariat, where she oversees youth and volunteer strategy. Barbara also sits on the Diversity Board for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games as co-chair of the Youth Advisory Panel.

Barbara was named the UK’s Young Activist of the Year in 2009 and was recognised at Red’s Magazine’s Hot Women Awards in 2011, celebrating 16 women who have broken boundaries with their creativity, determination and entrepreneurship.

What inspired you to create Elevation Networks?
From a young age I’ve always been passionate about people. From the age of five I wanted to be a teacher and as I grew up I decided I’d love to be a barrister, as it combined by desire to be an advocate and public speaker.

Now at 25, while my aspirational roles have changed, the fundamental principles and drive has remained unchanged. That in turn has been the motivation to be part of the start and growth of Elevation Networks.

What was your career path prior to starting Elevation Networks?
I finished my Masters last month in International Public Policy at University College London, so now I’m at a stage where I can fully commit to my work.

So in actual fact Elevation Networks has been my hobby, something that I did part time while studying and expanding my work and life experiences. Outside of Elevation Networks I have had the chance to work in Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, sit at the table with heads of state, and work with over 20 organisations, all in all this has given me a chance to work with over 3,000 young people in the last four years.

As someone that has been actively involved within the youth development sector, I have been an international consultant and speaker on youth participation, leadership and employment.

Did you always know that you would become a social entrepreneur?
No. I thought I’d end up being a politician!

What are you working on at the moment?
At Elevation Networks HQ we’re really focusing on how we can help to tackle to rising youth unemployment. “Your employability is your job security not the job itself” is a quote that has become my watch word.

So, we’re busy developing programmes and working with local authorities and businesses to ensure that young people are being given the best chance to get their foot on the career ladder.

Can you describe your typical working day?
There is no typical day! Apart from turning up at the office and drinking copious cups of tea. My work varies depending on the day, week, time and who’s in the office.

A perfectly planned day can easily turn into an impromptu blue sky thinking creative session or a last minute deadline from a client.

Tell us more about the Visible Women programme, how was it conceived and what does it encompass?
Aside from young people, I really have a heart for women and set up the Visible Women Campaign that now sits under the Elevation Networks umbrella.

It was essentially created as a student-led women in leadership campaign that seeks to challenge the under-representation of women in senior management roles and showcase them as role models for the next generation. In turn moving away from the celebrity, entertainment culture but more focused on careers.

As part of the campaign we have embarked on a speaker tour “VW Speaks” to use it as a platform to engage more women and create a peer network.

What have been the highlights of running your own organisation?
The great thing about running your own organisation is that you have complete creative license to change and influence things directly. There’s no red tape and as long as it’s in line with our core values. We can literally create the change that we want to see and we empower the students in our network to do the same on their campuses.

The best part is seeing the transformation of the students and young people that have come in rough around the edges, totally unaware about the world around them. Watching them evolve into people who are work ready, informed and well-rounded individuals that have tapped into their hidden potential is fantastic.

What is the hardest part of running your own organisation?
One of the key challenges is finding people with like-mind and passion. At times when you have a vision, you’re simply running on hopes and dreams, especially when things don’t always go as planned.

What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve received?
That’s a hard one. I guess the emphasis on building relationships rather than just business transactions.

What has been your biggest triumph at Elevation Networks so far?
To see something that was just an idea amongst friends grow into a network of 10,000 students and recent grads from across the country.

To have had the chance to work with over 32 organisations in just three years and be recognised for our work through receiving four different awards is a great privilege.

What, or who, inspires and motivates you?
My Christian faith plays the biggest part in what I do. From a young age, I’ve believed that we have been placed on earth to serve our gifts and talents to the world, so that we die without excuse and with all our potential maximised.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering starting a social enterprise?
I would say that the most important thing is to have your vision and values in place. As you start to progress and grow you stay focused but also selective to what you associate your organisation and brand with.

The world is a very small place and so maintaining a good reputation and good relationships with clients and service users alike is fundamental.

Fast forward five years, where do you think Elevation Networks will be in 2017?
Elevation Networks should be operating on the international stage, we are currently looking at piloting some programmes in Chicago, Kenya and Nigeria, so I’m excited about seeing Elevation Networks as a household name the world over.

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For more information visit www.elevationnetworks.org. You can also find Barbara Soetan and Elevation Networks on Twitter at @barbarasoetan and @elevationnetwork and on Facebook.

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Barbara Soetan was interviewed by Octavia Goredema, founder of the Twenty Ten Club and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

The Twenty Ten Club is an award-winning social enterprise designed to connect, inspire and support Black female entrepreneurs. You can also find the Twenty Ten Club on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Do you have a question for Barbara? If so, please feel free to post a comment below:

Managing Director
Premae Skincare

Premae Skincare is the world’s first allergy-free, candida-free, botanical based luxury skincare brand.

Founded by Clare Eluka in July 2011, the London based company currently employs a team of five.

The need for allergen-free cosmeceuticals was established first-hand by Clare as a result of her personal struggle with Candida Albican, a wheat, dairy, sugar and gluten intolerance.

Clare’s seven year research for a cure led her on research journeys around the world, which revealed the huge gap in the market for allergen free skincare.

Premae Skincare operates a strict disciplinary approach to production and manufacturing with 100% vegan and natural and unrefined ingredients.

Why did you decide to start your company?
Back in 2010 I decided that I didn’t want to spend 20 years teaching or working for a brand I didn’t believe in.

I hit a glass ceiling in both careers. In retail I wanted to become a formulator or production specialist but was always given the cold shoulder. Teaching seemed more like behaviour management instead of fostering learning.

I decided to combine my love for creating innovative blends and my academic attributes with my personal battle with allergies as the cornerstone and USP for Premae Skincare.

What was your career path prior to starting your first business?
At 16, I worked for the Body Shop as a part time makeup artist. I was studying A-Level Theatre Studies, English Literature and Language plus Media Studies. I went onto do my BA joint honours in Drama, with Film and Television whilst I worked at Bobbi Brown Cosmetics as a senior artist.

I loved working for Bobbi. It was here that I was trained in 10 step makeup and built a strong clientele in order to go freelance. After I graduated in 2006, I worked as a freelance makeup artist-training juniors on my directory and then began beauty journalism, reviewing brands such as Estee Lauder, Bobbi Brown and NARS.

In 2009 I decided I needed a back up plan, as the freelance work started drying up through the start of the recession. When I was 24 I qualified with a PGCE in GCSE/A-Level Teaching and worked supply teaching around London.

I created a small vegan skincare brand where I test marketed my formulations on whilst working nights at MAC cosmetics to pay the bills. Once the formulae were finally perfect, I began focusing on the branding and cultivating the brand message and image.

What’s the story behind your brand name?
Premae Skincare is a raw food diet for the skin. Due to the 2.5 billion allergy sufferers worldwide, I suffer from four core allergies, it was imperative for me to bring sustainable beauty products to the market.

After working for 10 years in the beauty industry and teaching A-Level English & Physical, Social, Health Education, I embarked on formulating and began researching into living with intolerances and allergies.

The name Premae is two words put together -Premium and Formulae – epitomising the brands uniqueness and prestige.

Did you always know that you would start your own business?
I‘ve always been interested in business. The small handful of people who know me, know my passion and drive for creative enterprise and that inventive leadership is my only goal.

I remember being six years old and selling chips wrapped in newspaper from my mum’s front door on our estate. Kids used to buy them for 20p. I remember being 9 years old with my friend Kerry, we sold ice cream from her balcony for 45p. That was 5 pence cheaper than the ice cream man but with double scoops.

I‘ve always had an eye for quality and listening to the consumers wants and needs whilst staying true to my ethics. I always knew whilst working for the other brands that one day I would create my own.

What steps did you take to launch your business?
I created a solid business plan, with optimistic and realistic profit and loss. I reviewed the USP and did massive amounts of research on my target audience.

I spent two years trying and testing the formulae on humans. I am completely against animal testing.

I got rid of all the toxic and negative people in my life who were draining my energy and blocking my success. This is truly the key; cleansing your home, relationships and spirit through replenishment, meditation, prayer and open honesty – which may hurt or upset people, but as long as you are just in your actions, you will overcome every obstacle.

I only network with other entrepreneurs and business people as they understand the pressure and mental state you are in, which can sometimes be frustrating to friends.

What are you working on at the moment?
We just opened our weekend pop up store in O2 Centre in Finchley, which ran throughout January. It was a great opportunity for me to connect with new and existing consumers, re-learn my craft and test the retail market. I’ve learnt a great deal and have analysed the pros and cons of running your own premises.

The team I’m building at Premae Skincare is expanding with innovative production strategies, procurement and constantly introducing luxury healthy skincare products.

I am writing a book and finalising my first pure parfum ready for 2013. Lots of other things will be happening this year, but I’d like to keep an element of surprise.

Can you describe your typical working day?
No two days are ever the same. But this is a snapshot of how it looks. I wake up at 6.30am, check emails, talk with my staff team, contact my marketing team and I process orders.

I finish work at 7pm and tell everyone to stop working promptly at 7pm. I believe in work/life balance.

What have been the highlights of running your own business?
Having products I have formulated with my bare hands be nominated for awards. That is the best recognisition for my hard work.

Another highlight is when I give a skincare consultation and watch the monthly progression of a person’s skin develop from troubled to balance. I feel like I’m changing the world and building people’s esteem and confidence.

What is the hardest part of running your own business?
Finding cost effective ways to market the brand to a wider audience can be a challenge.

Maintaining relationships can be difficult. I see my business as my first love and my child. Also, finding passionate people who you can trust. Loyalty is the key to growing an empire.

What has been your proudest business moment so far?
My proudest moment was launching in Africa in October, ahead of our London launch. The warm reception from Uganda was incredible and spurred on my excitement to release it in the UK. Uganda supplies our beautiful cocoa butter and aloe vera.

What, or who, inspires and motivates you?
Coco Chanel inspired my brand image. I wanted something timeless and classic, a symbol of class and sophistication like Chanel. The Premae P logo, was a seal of approval stamp, like a British wax seal with a royal shade of green. I looked to pioneers like Tom Ford and Marc Jacob too for that simple chicness.

My younger sister, Emma is my life coach and advisor. She motivates me to keep on going when I feel overwhelmed and blocked.

Innovators inspire me, people like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Ginger Rogers and Naomi Campbell who took risks and broke new ground. I want to be added to that list.

People told me two years ago that I was a small fish in a massive pond that I’d be eaten up by the big brands. But here, I stand today making waves in the industry and forcing bigger brands to compete with me. How uncanny!

Watch how many brands become allergy focused over the next two years. They’ve already become vegan savvy due to my first brand.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering starting a beauty business?
Study the business side first. If you are a creative person, do the maths side first. If you are a business person, go and study chemistry or work in the beauty industry for at least five years. Get some solid experience in both sectors and combine them.

Trust nobody with your finances and formulae. Get a strong marketing team and proceed with shroud caution. Maintain quality and integrity at all times.

Fast forward five years, where do you think your business will be in 2017?
Without giving too much away, Premae Skincare will have multiple divisions ranging from bath and body to well-being supplements and become a household daily consumer brand, worldwide.

Clare, is there anything else you’d like to share?
You can read my blog, a daily source for allergy-free news, advice and lifestyle choices at www.alifelessirritating.wordpress.com.

There is a Premae Skincare range for multiple skin types, let me recommend one for you to order:

The Clemensy range contains Ugandan avocado butter for hypersensitive skins, including infants, severe allergy sufferers and those with candida albicans, dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis.

The Gallant range with East Indian sandalwood oil, is aimed at men.

The Harmony range contains Indian mango butter, and is aimed at combination skins, including adult acne.

The Premae Youth Treatment range contains American peppermint oil for troubled teenage pores.

The Supreme range contains Ugandan cocoa butter for extra dry skins.

The Triumph Range caters for mature skins, and boasts Ethiopian harvested frankincense oil.

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For more information visit www.premaeskincare.com. You can also find Premae Skincare on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

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Clare Eluka was interviewed by Octavia Goredema, founder of the Twenty Ten Club and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

The Twenty Ten Club is an award-winning social enterprise designed to connect, inspire and support Black female entrepreneurs. You can also find the Twenty Ten Club on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Do you have a question for Clare? If so, please feel free to post a comment below:

Managing Director
Fresh Aspirations

Fresh Aspirations is a social enterprise designed to help people look at their life in a new way, see and seek new possibilities and become their ultimate self.

Founded by BBC presenter turned entrepreneur Genelle Aldred, Fresh Aspirations was founded in Birmingham in November 2011.

Strut To Success is the company’s first project providing school workshops for young women centred on enhancing self-esteem and aspirations.

Why did you decide to start your company?
It started when I was working at the BBC in the West Midlands where I was a TV and radio presenter doing weather and news.

I was often asked to speak to young people at schools and events. I did a speech at a school for girls and I used the analogy of shoes being like success. You have to love your dream, it has to be the right fit for you, you have to work for it etc. The same as your dream “I can’t leave the store without the shoe” shoes.

I got a great response from the teachers, parents and most importantly the girls themselves. I decided to turn it into a workshop whilst running in the gym one day and it built up from there.

Can you tell us more about the type of services Fresh Aspirations provides?
At the moment we provide workshops some for young women in schools based around self-esteem, aspirations and going after your goals and dreams.

We do workshops for women based around goal setting and how to make it happen. We also do bespoke workshops. I’ll be working with charities who work with victims of domestic violence and homelessness.

For every workshop we cater to the audience that will be there. We want to add more workshops tackling different kinds of issues that affect women in the near future.

What was your career path prior to starting your first business?
I have a masters degree in Broadcast Journalism. I was working for the BBC and I still do some freelance work for them. I still love broadcasting and will return to it in one form or another. Now I write so being a journalist is something I will always be doing in some way shape or form.

Did you always know that you would start your own business?
I always knew I’d be my own boss. I said a few years ago that I wanted to have a portfolio career where I do lots of different things and I’d be in charge of myself. I didn’t think I’d start my own company in this way.

What are you working on at the moment?
At the moment I am working on my event taking place on February 25th called “Make IT Happen”. It’s in Solihull, close to Birmingham as I work there and in London.

It’s all about working on that one goal that you may have difficulty achieving or starting. Sometimes you are successful in a few areas but one area eludes that success, so we want to work on that one thing. We look at what the goal is, why it hasn’t happened already and how you can get on with it making it happen.

Can you describe your typical working day?
No typical day but everyday I get up at around 7am. I work from home so I go downstairs to the office and work really hard. Some days I’ll work until 11pm some days until 3pm. But it’s always an early start.

Do you have a business mentor?
I don’t have one mentor but I try to pull support in from different places. I have some great friends who work in PR and law or who have their own businesses. I pick their brains all the time! But my ultimate mentor would be Oprah Winfrey.

What have been the highlights of running your own business?
The top highlight was when a girl from one of my workshops came back to me and told me she had gotten an award for improved behaviour at school. That gave me such a good feeling!

I also received an award from the British Asian Womens’ HAFTA for my work in the community. There are people who do much more than me, but it’s lovely to be recognised for what you are doing.

Every time you do a workshop and you see that the girls are beginning to understand that they can achieve great things it makes you feel good.

What is the hardest part of running your own business?
When you’re not seeing the million pound turnover on day one! Moving on from a regular salary is quite scary but I try to let it motivate me.

If I don’t work I won’t be eating. Some days it is hard to get that motivation going and I feel like doing something else. I know that I won’t though so I let myself have a little pity party for a couple of hours and then I just get back into it.

Are there any business resources you’ve found indispensable?
The internet, and I mean that in the most general sense. There is so much information out there, tips and tools. A lot of it free.

What has been your proudest business moment so far?
Starting. A lot of people think about it and never do it. So I’m proud of being someone who had a goal and went for it.

What, or who, inspires and motivates you?
My parents are a massive inspiration to me; they have instilled in me a determination to succeed. I want to make them proud – and my sisters, brother-in-law, nieces and nephew. I want to be able to look after them all.

I have friends who are like family. I have a support network that is second-to-none and they motivate. They don’t let me give up or get down. If I named names it would be unfair. But everything that I have achieved has been down to the people that love me. I thank God everyday for all my blessings.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering starting a social enterprise?
Think it through and also think is there anybody else doing what I do? You have to have a passion for what you are doing and who you are helping.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to make money from it in my opinion but if the passion for the cause is not genuine then you could potentially do more harm than good.

Have a strong support network so on the tough days you don’t feel alone. Networking is key, but make it count. Don’t just connect with anyone for the sake of it make quality connections.

Fast forward five years, where do you think your business will be in 2017?
I’d would like Strut To Success to be a national programme and known throughout this country and beyond as a top quality project. I see a big awards night for our girls who are strutting to success.

Fresh Aspirations Ltd will be running other national projects as well. I want my company to be known for it excellent standards and work

Genelle, is there anything else you’d like to share?
I blog and write and I am interested in any offers for writing, speaking and hosting. If you’d like to know anymore I’m happy for people to get in touch.

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For more information visit www.struttosuccess.com and www.genellealdred.wordpress.com. You can find Fresh Aspirations on Facebook and Twitter at @genellealdred and @struttosuccess

To contact Genelle Aldred directly email genellealdred@struttosuccess.com

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Genelle Aldred was interviewed by Octavia Goredema, founder of the Twenty Ten Club and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

The Twenty Ten Club is an award-winning social enterprise designed to connect, inspire and support Black female entrepreneurs. You can also find the Twenty Ten Club on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Do you have a question for Genelle? If so, please feel free to post a comment below:

On Wednesday January 25 the Twenty Ten Club had the honour of supporting St Matthew Academy’s Believe2Achieve event in Lewisham.

The Believe2Achieve event, held in association with The Department of Business Innovation & Skills, Inspire>Aspire London 2012, Urban Synergy, Colorblind cards and the Twenty Ten Club, featured a group of inspirational speakers.

Believe2Achieve event speakers

Attorney General Dominic Grieve, American media guru Bob Schukai, multi-award winning entrepreneurs Nathaniel Peat, Jordan Kensington and Ronke Lawal plus Olympian Stephanie Douglas were just some of the individuals who shared their stories of success.

The Twenty Ten Club's Andrea Ilaka

Compered by Twenty Ten Club member and Prince’s Trust Ambassador Andrea Ilaka and Darae Palmer of MTV the speakers engaged with an audience of 150 students and 100 VIP guests drawn from the world of politics, media and business.

We were thrilled to lend our support to another stellar St Matthew Academy event and look forward to more in the future.

This post was authored by Octavia Goredema, founder of the Twenty Ten Club and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

The Twenty Ten Club is an award-winning social enterprise designed to connect, inspire and support Black female entrepreneurs. You can also find the Twenty Ten Club on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Wedding Planner & Business Consultant
Lisa D Wilson & LDW Business Consultancy

Serial entrepreneur Lisa Wilson is the founder of Weddings by Lisa D Wilson and LDW Business Consultancy.

Weddings by Lisa D Wilson offers a wedding planning and co-ordination service for couples getting married in London and the Caribbean.

LDW Business Consultancy helps entrepreneurs and small business owners turn their dreams into a reality. The company’s motto is ‘We can make it happen.’

Based in central London, the companies were incorporated in 2011.

Why did you decide to start your companies?
I began to feel stifled at work, I was made to toe the company line but I had lots of opinions and ideas and I wanted to put them to use. I also like helping people; I like to know that people are happy because of my help and hard work.

Knowing that a wedding has gone without a hitch and that the bride and groom have had the day of their dreams makes me happy.

What was your career path prior to starting your first business?
I have worked in both the public and private sectors in senior management roles. I have trained staff, managing both large and small teams. I did lots of purchasing, contract management and project management roles.

In 2002, with a friend, I set up a domestic cleaning company based in north west London. The company ran for two years and in that time we had grown the business from nothing to 30 regular clients and a contract with a worldwide relocations company to spring clean homes on behalf of their corporate clients. Unfortunately we closed the company in 2004 due to personal reasons relating to my business partner.

I went to work for the public sector but soon got the entrepreneurial bug again so here I am.

Did you always know that you would start your own business?
Working for someone else for the rest of my life was never an option. I think I always knew I would work for myself, however, after working in retail for many years and a major health scare in 2000, I realised that working in a job you are often no more than an employee number to the powers that be.

It’s funny how a major incident can give you clarity and focus that you did not realise you possessed.

What steps did you take to launch your business?
I wrote a business and marketing plan and I registered my company. I started an events and wedding planning course to back up my knowledge and fill in any gaps.

I started attending business networking and industry specific events, set up my website and joined and became active on social networking sites.

What are you working on at the moment?
I have recently started planning two weddings which will take place in June and July. One will have a very traditional theme, the other will be very relaxed, funky and chic, each catering to the personalities of the couples involved.

LDW Business Consultancy has a steady stream of clients wanting various help from start-up advice to back office re-organisation. I’ve recently carried out some conflict resolution work for a nursery. I am now working with a budding photographer to help start her business, a female entrepreneur to set up back office processes for her expanding building and commercial cleaning companies and a young man embarking on setting up a courier service.

Which of your services are most in demand?
The business consultancy is in most demand at the moment, as those jobs are usually for a shorter duration than planning a wedding. The wedding planning business will get busier soon as December is a peak time for engagements.

Can you describe your typical working day?
I can’t say that I have typical day, each day is very different for me as one day may be dedicated to weddings and the following day I may be working with a business owner.

However, I start each day by answering emails and phone calls from the previous day; and I end each day by updating my social media account; I think it is really important to keep on top of the admin.

Daily, I will then usually begin working on one of my ongoing projects; these jobs are done in order of priority. I also like to keep up with industry news so, I spend some time each day keeping myself up-to-date on the latest celebrity weddings and engagements, wedding trends, colour palettes etc. I also read up on the latest business news, tips and tools for business.

Weekly, I try to attend a networking event or visit an industry specific event each week. It can be a lonely business working on your own and I believe it’s really important to share ideas and information with other, like minded people.

For individual projects or weddings, I produce a project plan with goals and milestones and I use that as my guide, ensuring that mood boards, process maps, appointments, schedules, visits to suppliers and venues are all completed as required.

What have been the highlights of running your own business?
I like the fact that I am my own boss; I can be flexible with my hours, working late or leaving early if I need to, I make all of the decisions and I take responsibility for anything that does not go as planned.

What is the hardest part of running your own business?
Having no-one to turn to if I need to ask a question or if I need a second opinion. Being disciplined about how I use my time, making sure that I stick to my schedule. Knowing when to delegate a task to someone else, such as my accounts.

I also found it difficult to get my head around all of the different social media options. It’s hard to decide which social media is best for your business type and how much time should be spent updating them. I now spend approximately 30 minutes a day posting to the sites.

What has been your proudest business moment so far?
Being a finalist in the ‘Start-Up’ category in the European Federation of Black Women Business Owners Annual Business Awards in 2003.

More recently I was very proud to register Lisa D Wilson Limited as a business. It gave me a real feeling of fulfilment and achievement.

What, or who, inspires and motivates you?
I am inspired by Preston Bailey who creates the most beautiful weddings and events. His website and blog are full of useful information and advice for someone starting out in those fields.

I also subscribe to some of the wedding groups on LinkedIn, they are very useful as you can ask question to a large group of industry specific people and they are always willing to offer an opinion or advice.

I am also inspired by one of my cousins who has become a well known and respected business man in the Caribbean. He has worked hard remained confident that he was following the right path. He never believed the doubters and followed his vision.

I am motivated by my parents who have supported and encouraged me through my career journey. They have always believed in my abilities, even when I gave up a well paid job to pursue my dream of starting my own business.

I am also lucky to have some really good friends and family members who have given me encouragement and support when I needed it.

Fast forward five years, where do you think your business will be in 2017?
In 2017 I will be known as an expert in wedding planning. I will be planning weddings in locations across the globe, working with a trusted with a team of associates. I will also be helping budding wedding planners by offering them the chance to get some work experience.

LDW Business Consultancy will be known as a business guru, running workshops for entrepreneurs and small business owners, helping them to be successful.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering starting a wedding planning business?
Research your market, define your niche, network and don’t be afraid to go for it.

Try to get some experience before you start the business, and I don’t mean planning your own wedding. You will need to get experience working with someone else’s vision, needs and demands, this can be quite difficult. Also, think about doing a wedding planning course, this will give you basic knowledge and know-how of the planning process.

Lisa, is there anything else you’d like to share?
Please connect with me via my websites, Facebook and Twitter. I welcome your readers to stay connected with me. Depending on which information they are interested in, they will receive wedding tips, countdown and trend information or business help, information and news via monthly newsletters.

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For more information visit www.lisadwilson.co.uk and www.ldwbusiness.wordpress.com

You can also find Lisa Wilson on Facebook and Twitter at @lisadelwilson and @ldwconsultancy

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Lisa Wilson was interviewed by Octavia Goredema, founder of the Twenty Ten Club.

The Twenty Ten Club is an award-winning social enterprise designed to connect, inspire and support Black female entrepreneurs. You can also find the Twenty Ten Club on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Do you have a question for Lisa? If so, please feel free to post a comment below:

Chief Executive
Youth Can Achieve

Youth Can Achieve is an organisation designed to provide aspiration, long term motivation and support to vulnerable young people aged from 7 to 30 years.

Based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Youth Can Achieve was founded by award-winning social entrepreneur Nikki Sharpe, who also serves as a full-time lawyer and councillor.

Named Extraordinary Woman of the Year and a recipient of the Investors in Children Award in 2010, Nikki also received a Leadership in the Community award from the Network of Aspiring Women in 2011.

Why did you decide to start your company?
You know I never intended to start up Youth Can Achieve, but through providing motivational talks to young people, I realised that this should be my mission.

There is a real need for an organisation like Youth Can Achieve. A lot of people depend on this, and use my own personal experiences, to affect their own lives and focus on what they can achieve.

What was your career path prior to starting your first business?
I am a full-time solicitor and continue in this work. I started off at the firm I am with as a filing clerk and worked my way up the ladder; not deemed to achieve at school and not thought of as academic, nevertheless here I am.

That’s why I spread the word that anything is possible with self belief, focus and determination.

Did you always know that you would start your own business?
No, I did not know but I guess it was the right path for me. I have always had a caring side and business acumen and to use both to form Youth Can Achieve as a social enterprise to assist others is fantastic.

Can you tell me more about some recent projects Youth Can Achieve has undertaken?
Recently we held a Fashion in Youth event where we invited local schools to recycle clothing and then strut their stuff on the catwalk. The winning school will have the outfits displayed in a city centre shop. Money was raised for the ongoing campaign for a National Children’s Day.

We also have an on-going Youth Mentoring Board and an Ambassador Programme training young people to spread the word of Youth Can Achieve in schools and communities.

We also worked on a Children in Need project to promote social cohesion.

Can you describe your typical working day?
I start early; say between 7.00-8.30am. I make priority lists and work through. It can take 4 hours to do emails. Some days I will leave to concentrate on other work. I then juggle hats between lawyer, councillor and chief executive.

How do you maintain a work life balance while running your organisation and maintaining your career as a solicitor?
It can be very difficult and you have to be mega-organised and rigid with your timetable.

What have been the highlights of running your own business?
You set the direction, doing something you love and using all your passion to see it succeed and help others.

What is the hardest part of running your own business?
Not having enough funding.

What has been your proudest business moment so far?
I think obviously winning the award for Leadership in Community as a result of the work of Youth Can Achieve but more importantly when a young person says to me that Youth Can Achieve has made a difference.

If you could turn back the clock would you do anything differently?
Nothing really – I would have done it sooner.

What, or who, inspires and motivates you?
Previous mentors, society and the injustice to people. The skills I have as a lawyer to help others and provide a voice for them and access to justice, plus great leaders such as Martin Luther King and President Obama.

Fast forward five years, where do you think your business will be in 2017?
Youth Can Achieve will have its own premises and a model of the Youth Can Achieve Employability Centre, which will be duplicated in other parts of the country.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering starting a social enterprise?
Be clear on your business strategy, research the market, corner your part of it, raise your profile and never give up.

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For more information visit www.youthcanachieve.co.uk and www.childrensdayuk.org. You can also find Youth Can Achieve’s Children’s Day UK campaign on Twitter and Facebook.

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Nikki Sharpe was interviewed by Octavia Goredema, founder of the Twenty Ten Club.

The Twenty Ten Club is an award-winning social enterprise designed to connect, inspire and support Black female entrepreneurs. You can also find the Twenty Ten Club on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Do you have a question for Nikki? If so, please feel free to post a comment below:

Founder
Stiletto Millionaires

Stiletto Millionaires is a social networking and support group for women in start-up businesses.

Founded in 2009 by Tracy Reid, the organisation’s mission is to educate, empower and enlighten its members through workshops, training courses, social networking and coaching.

Why did you decide to start your company?
At the time there was nowhere for women to go and be amongst other like-minded women who wanted to start their own businesses or wanted some help, advice and support with their start-up business.

What was your career path prior to starting your first business?
I have had many careers. I’ve worked as a PA, an estate agent and I’ve worked in social housing and coaching.

Did you always know that you would start your own business?
Yes, it has always been a passion of mine to have my own successful business.

Can you tell us more about the events, courses and workshops you offer?
Our events are organised to provide women with the opportunity to network with each other and spend time getting to know each other along with our guest speakers, masterminding about their businesses and learning new skills.

I provide courses on subjects that teach women new skills that will help them in their start-up businesses. Our current course is “DIY PR” with Paula Gardner PR Expert. Every start-up business needs marketing in order to get clients. This course is designed to teach women how to get in front of the press so that they can create a buzz around their brand, which will lead to exposure and new clients will come to them.

My signature coaching programme “10 week business success boot camp” is designed to take women through from business idea to getting their business online. This course is designed to teach the basics of running a successful business.

What are you working on at the moment?
PR for Girls is a 12 month coaching programme with Paula Gardner author of DIY PR and I am also creating my own online programmes.

Can you describe your typical working day?
I manage my daily workload by going through my plan of the actions that I have for the day. I schedule in my phone calls and time to read and send emails. As well as time to go through my social networking profiles and checking to see what is happening in the world!

I am busy working all day and often find myself working in the evening too – after family time is over.

What have been the highlights of running your own business?
Some of the highlights of running your own business are that you can work around your family and have the flexibility to be there for those important days of your child’s life, the school play and sports day.

Another highlight for me is when there is some press coverage for the group being recognised as a great resource for women in start-up businesses. This is very rewarding and reminds me of why I started the business in the first place.

What is the hardest part of running your own business?
Well, there are lots of challenging moments. I think the biggest one for me is managing the work-life balance. I love the motto “work hard, play harder” – but I do not know where I would get the time and the energy for playing harder!

What has been your proudest business moment so far?
There have been a couple of proudest moments, but the one that stands out the most for me is being featured in LOOK magazine last year.

What, or who, inspires and motivates you?
I love anything relating to business and enjoy a good debate about anything where I can add my opinions. TV programmes like The Apprentice and Dragons’ Den are really inspiring and good to get discussions going.

My absolute motivation for what I do in my life is my family. Creating the absolute lifestyle business is a must – not a desirable, in order for me to spend more quality time with them.

Do you have a favourite business book?
My obvious choice is “Think & Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill, because there are so many life lessons contained in that book which still apply today, even though it was written many decades ago.

My favourite current read is “The 4-hour week” by Tim Ferris. This book has changed the way I think about work and the amount of time and effort placed on certain tasks. This book has really helped me with time management and thinking outside of the box when it comes to making your business work for you.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering starting a networking events business?
Be persistent at growing and developing your database of customers. Be creative with the type of events that you organise and remember to focus on the needs of your customers, so that you can deliver great content packed events for them.

Make sure that you survey your customers for feedback regularly, so that you can tailor your events to meet their needs.

Last piece of advice – be flexible! Your customers may also influence how your run your events, which could mean changing the way you currently deliver your events. So be prepared for change!

If you can adopt some of these approaches in your networking events business then it should be a success.

Fast forward five years, where do you think your business will be in 2017?
I want Stiletto Millionaires to be a recognised global brand that supports women in start-up businesses.

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For more information visit www.stilettomillionaires.co.uk. You can also find Stiletto Millionaires on Twitter and Facebook.

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Tracy Reid was interviewed by Octavia Goredema, founder of the Twenty Ten Club.

The Twenty Ten Club is an award-winning social enterprise designed to connect, inspire and support Black female entrepreneurs. You can also find the Twenty Ten Club on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Do you have a question for Tracy? If so, please feel free to post a comment below:

Founder
Gym & Tonic

Gym & Tonic provides a range of advanced sports and remedial massage techniques.

Founded by sports massage therapist Stephanie Douglas, the company is located in Hertfordshire, London and Buckinghamshire.

Formerly an international track athlete, Stephanie Douglas competed in all major athletics championships including two Olympic Games and three World Championships, representing Team GB.

Stephanie qualified as a Sports Massage Therapist in 2009 and founded Gym & Tonic shortly after, with the aim to help each client maximise the potential of their body in order to perform to their best in work, in sport or at rest. This is achieved through regular treatment, education and body awareness.

Gym & Tonic’s services are designed to prevent and treat injuries, optimise the healing process and maintain your body in tip top condition to help enhance your lifestyle.

Why did you decide to start your company?
I was studying for my diploma in Sports & Remedial Massage Therapy and knew that it was a career I wanted to pursue after completion. Most therapists are self-employed therefore starting my own business was a natural progression.

Although I started the business in 2009, I had a full time office job alongside building up a client base. I finally went full time self-employed, to concentrate solely on the business, in July 2011.

What was your career path prior to starting your first business?
I had a 15 year career as an international athlete, competing at the highest junior and senior levels. I funded my career with part time office work in various roles and financial support from my family.

Did you always know that you would start your own business?
Not in a million years! Sometimes I wish I had started earlier, but I do believe that everything happens for a reason. The knowledge and experience gained through my sport and office work have had a huge significance on what I am doing now.

How does your work / life balance now compare to your previous career as an athlete?
I retired from athletics 10 years ago when I had my daughter, which started a totally different chapter in my life. I was then only working to make a better life for her.

Now, after using transferrable skills from my athletics days, such as dedication, motivation and determination, I aim to succeed in and enjoy my new career, but enjoy the time with my daughter even more.

What are you working on at the moment?
I have just secured a new clinic in Bushey to build up a client base in my home town. I am also working on expanding a Sports Massage & Remedial Therapy wellness programme – SmaRT – into schools and businesses in my area.

In this age of high stress and anxiety more and more schools and other businesses are focusing on wellness programs and offering benefits such as massage to their employees and students. It’s a great way to show staff that their work is valued as well as their personal health. In addition, this benefit is also a great selling point to potential employees and students.

Can you describe your typical working day?
A day can range from complete rest to focus on admin, spending 12 hours in one clinic with up to 11 clients or driving between 3 clinics in one day.

Did you have a business mentor?
I sought business advice from several sources, my family, colleagues from my former job and a fellow sports massage therapist.

What have been the highlights of running your own business?
Not having to seek permission on whether to work or go and watch my daughter in activities at school, be it a netball match or a school play.

What is the hardest part of running your own business?
Making sure I meet my weekly targets and seeing 11 clients in a day.

What has been your biggest triumph so far?
Firstly, designing and creating my website with limited knowledge but learning as I went along. Secondly, taking over an existing client base and maintaining client retention.

What, or who, inspires and motivates you?
I take my inspiration from all walks of life – something I see on TV, someone’s story I read in a magazine, family and friends. There’s not one person in particular.

Fast forward five years, where do you think your business will be in 2017?
We’ll have an established SMaRT wellness programme with other therapists on board.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering making the transition from a professional career to entrepreneurship?
Follow your heart but don’t forget to take your brain with you!

Stephanie, is there anything else you’d like to share?
Be active, be healthy, be SMaRT with Gym & Tonic!

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For more information visit www.gym-and-tonic.com. You can also find Gym & Tonic on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

* *  * *

Stephanie Douglas was interviewed by Octavia Goredema, founder of the Twenty Ten Club.

The Twenty Ten Club is an award-winning social enterprise designed to connect, inspire and support Black female entrepreneurs. You can also find the Twenty Ten Club on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Do you have a question for Stephanie? If so, please feel free to post a comment below:

Managing Editor
The Cultural Exposé

The Cultural Exposé is a creative listings site designed to uncover things to see and do in London and beyond.

Based in Kensington, London the company was founded by Matilda Egere-Cooper in April 2010. The Cultural Exposé features event, restaurant and exhibition recommendations designed to help users discover new cultural experiences in the capital.

In addition to hosting the listing site and The Culture Club events division, The Cultural Exposé produces and syndicates online content for Perriér.

Why did you decide to start your company?
I was keen to develop my own platform after working as a freelancer for some years. I felt I had the necessary skills to start an internet-based business.

How was your company name conceived?
I was brainstorming ideas for my new blog at the time and The Cultural Exposé seemed to sum up what I wanted to achieve – revealing and discovering new cultural experiences in the capital.

What was your career path prior to starting your first business?
I’ve been a music journalist for 10 years and have contributed to the likes of i-D, Dazed & Confused, The Independent and the BBC amongst others.

I had a great time doing it all in my 20s, with a chance to travel around the world and interview some of my favourite artists such as Stevie Wonder, Al Green and Alicia Keys, and winning an industry award for my writing in 2007. But, it got to a stage where I realised there was so much more that I could do than just journalism!

Did you always know that you would start your own business?
Well, as a freelancer you’re basically the business yourself so I kinda fell into this way of working – so it wasn’t a master plan.

What are you working on at the moment?
I’m working on bringing more people into the business as well as marketing strategies for developing the website’s profile.

Can you describe your typical working day?
I wish I had one of those! But it’s usually a mix of planning and researching for the website, and the events arm, The Culture Club, actioning e-mails, managing my intern and strategising, strategising, strategising! No two days are the same.

What steps did you take to launch your business?
I planned the concept for the website about two months in advance of launching it, and I didn’t need much money to make it happen.

Then when I decided to develop The Culture Club in September 2010, I had a launch party for that in April 2011 after months of amending my business plan, test-trading and researching the market.

What have been the highlights of running your own business?
Getting positive feedback from the website’s visitors, and those who’ve attended Culture Club events – it makes me feel the late nights and early mornings haven’t been in vain!

What is the hardest part of running your own business?
Working by myself, most days. No one can know or love my business as much as me at this stage, so that can be challenging. But I have some brilliant friends who have been so supportive from day one and they’ve helped out when they can.

Are there any business resources you’ve found to be indispensable?
It’s not exclusive to business, but I really don’t know what I’d do without my MacBookPro – it’s made running The Cultural Exposé so much easier. I’ve used PCs for years and they simply don’t compare!

Also, Google Docs has been great for the operations side of things.

What has been your proudest business moment so far?
Working with Perriér since May 2011. On the creative services side of my business, we produce and syndicate content for one of their online projects. I never imagined such a massive brand would approach me within a year of launching the site. It’s humbling.

What, or who, inspires and motivates you?
God; I’d like to think I’m working towards fulfilling his purpose for my life. My mom too; her work ethic is definitely in my blood. She made a lot of sacrifices for me and my brother as my father passed away when I was two years old. I know I’ll be able to pay her back and bless her one day – she deserves it.

I’m also motivated by challenging the status quo in terms of what young, black women can achieve in this world. I was born and raised in the US, so even though I’m based in the UK, I still live by the “we’re number one” ethos and have never felt anything’s impossible for me to achieve.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering starting a new media business?
Do something that people will find useful to inspire them to return to your site. While business is about money, it’s also about being help to serve needs. So it’s important that you know what that is, rather than feeding people something they don’t really want, as the aim of this game is to be sustainable – not just a one-hitter.

Fast forward five years, where do you think your business will be in 2017?
Oh wow! That’ll be very exciting times as things have progressed nicely in just 18 months of launching. It’s pretty overwhelming to think about, but I know by 2017 The Cultural Exposé will have grown and expanded as a brand and developed in a number of different areas and God-willing, be a pretty well known name.

Matilda, is there anything else you’d like to share?
To expand on the advice I’d give for people that want to start business, I’d also add that it’s a great idea to get a mentor and have accountability friends, who are also in business and understand the highs and lows.

I have a lovely mentor named Tim, who may not be in my industry, but he knows business and he’s such an encouraging and inspiring person. I also have a few friends who are in business and every now and again we share our experiences and really support one another with advice.

Business is not easy at all – probably one of the hardest things I’ve done in my entire life – but with the right people around you it can make the process so much sweeter.

* * * *

For more information visit www.theculturalexpose.co.uk. You can also find The Cultural Exposé on Twitter, Facebook and Flickr.

* * * *

Matilda Egere-Cooper was interviewed by Octavia Goredema, founder of the Twenty Ten Club.

The Twenty Ten Club is an award-winning social enterprise designed to connect, inspire and
support Black female entrepreneurs. You can also find Twenty Ten Club on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Do you have a question for Matilda? If so, please feel free to post a comment below:

Now that we’re in touching distance of 2012 I wanted to wish everyone a very happy New Year and take a moment to say “thank you!” to all of the Twenty Ten Club members, our supporters and everyone who follows our blog.

2011 has been a special year for the Twenty Ten Club. Our members participated in our first ever teen mentoring evening at St Matthew Academy in Lewisham in May. In July we introduced our Interview an Entrepreneur school programme. Following that, in November the Twenty Ten Club supported a Global Entrepreneurship Week event hosted by the Government Department of Business, Innovation & Skills and MOSAIC to promote youth entrepreneurship.

The stand out highlight however has been the opportunity to share the inspiring stories of all of the entrepreneurs who have taken part in our weekly feature interviews over the course of the past year.

Over 80 Black female business role models have been showcased on our blog to date. In case you’ve missed any, here’s a recap of this year’s interviews. Thank you for your support and I hope you enjoy reviewing the past year’s entrepreneur profiles as much as I have.

Daniella Genas, Aspire4u

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE & EDUCATION
Jessica Elliott, J’s Dance Factory
Daniella Genas, Aspire4u
Vanessa Sanyauke, The Rafiki Network
Charlene Wilkinson, I-dentity
Lisa Nicole Bell, Inspired Girls International
Adwoa Agyemang, Ghanaian Londoners Network
Rachael Williams, We Girls Rock
Claudine Reid MBE, PJ Community Service
Kay Oldroyd, Black Youth Achievement
Deida Massey, Reel Beauty

Fatima Wesson, Lovebrown

CULTURE, MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT
Naomi Fletcher, The Cultural Group
Angela Asieba, Nubia magazine
Barbara Campbell, Barb Wire
Fatima Wesson, Lovebrown
Yemisi Mokuolu, Hatch Events
Ola Laniyan Amoako, Urbantopia Books
Abi Laditan, Brides of Culture

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Atiti Sosimi, Distinctly Different
Mimi Traore, Nubian Events
Natalie Lawrence, Natalie Lawrence Photography

Natalie Lawrence, Natalie Lawrence Photography

Deonne Grant, Unique Dream Weddings
Ronke Ige, Bread + Butter Communications
Cay Moore, Cay Moore Associates & Cay Moore Events Management
Naomi Fletcher, The Graphic Store
Karen Campbell, Shiloh PR
Griselda Togobo, AWOVI Consulting
Myrah Caesar, AddVantage Save
Lisa Newton, Boogles
Seyi Olusanya, Cedar Events
Cheryl Pullins, Women’s Entrepreneurs Mentor
Alexia Lenoir, Alexia Lenoir Designs
Adwoa Agyemang, Precise Marketing Solutions

Camille Johnson, Pink Ribbon Lingerie

LIFESTYLE & CONSUMER
Juliet Jackman, Juliet Jackman Illustrations
Camille Johnson, Pink Ribbon Lingerie
Leah Samuel, TeyaLilly
Cynthia Akinsanya, Delights by C
Denise Rawls, Strange Fruit

BEAUTY
Tasha Dixon, Blackfingers
Eryca Freemantle, celebrity make-up artist
Ronke Ige, Emi & Ben
Salem Ayesha, ROOT2TiP Haircare Solutions

Ronke Ige, Emi & Ben

FASHION
Zoe Huskisson, Style Elite
Samantha-Jane, Fabryan
Joy Odunsi, Potential U
Tamu Thomas, Kenema
Misan Odutola, Asotodun
Margaret Kadi, Project Sierra Leone
Remi Ray, Trapped In A Skinny World
Lola Adeshigbin, Agnes and Lola
Abenaa Pokuaa, Ohema Ohene
Denise Brown, Don’t Judge Me
Natasha Leslie-Badu, Splash Styling
Samantha Clarke, Zukuri UnLtd
Adwoa Agyemang, Fawohodie Designs

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This post was authored by Octavia Goredema, founder of the Twenty Ten Club and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

The Twenty Ten Club is an award-winning social enterprise designed to connect, inspire and support Black female entrepreneurs. You can also find Twenty Ten Club on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.