Small Business, Big Network

Jordan Cracknell is a UK-based financier and author. In addition to writing opinion pieces for publications such as TODAY.com, Metro.co.uk, City AM, and others, she is the author of You Can Count on Penny, a children’s book that inspires young people to embrace their love of mathematics.

A native New Yorker, she is a graduate of the University of Cambridge, where she obtained an MBA. Additionally, she has a MSc in Finance from Baruch College. Her parents inspired her to forge a career in Finance after attending ‘Take Your Daughter to Work Day’ with her father, who worked in the World Trade Center.

From being hired straight out of university putting pitch books together to working on the trading floor for companies such as Deutsche Bank and Renaissance Capital, she has never looked back.

Jordan lives in the UK with her husband, the double Olympic gold medalist James Cracknell, and their dogs and cats, balancing her career goals with being a stepmother of three, writing, advocating for more women to enter finance, and inspiring the next generation to manage money and excel in the industry.

www.jordancracknell.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jconnell26/

Kirsty Heap is a Business Empowerment Coach, Neurodiversity Advocate and keynote speaker who supports sole traders, small business owners, and leaders to create clarity, confidence and sustainable momentum. Drawing on her HR background and lived experience of dyslexia and ADHD, Kirsty helps people understand themselves, their strengths and the environments they need in order to thrive.

Networking has played a big part in Kirsty’s own business growth. She openly shares how her neurodivergent mind influences the way she navigates a room, from early imposter feelings to finding genuine connection and belonging. Through this journey she has developed simple, practical strategies to make networking feel easier for neurodivergent business owners, including ways to manage overwhelm, remember names and build real relationships.

Kirsty is known for her warm, encouraging approach and her ability to help people feel seen and understood. Whether she is coaching, speaking or connecting with others at events, she brings honesty, grounding and a deep belief in the power of people supporting one another.

Home | Kirsty Heap Coaching

www.linkedin.com/in/kirstyheap

Instagram

A facilitator, coach and professional speaker for 23 years, Clare Haynes runs award-winning business Wildfire helping people to speak up and have confident conversations. She works with teams and 1:1, building peoples’ communication and business confidence using their greatest asset – themselves. 

Clare has a psychology background and her career spans television, sport, charity and the social sectors. Clare was named in the UK’s Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs by Small Business Britain’s f;Entrepreneur iAlso campaign 2025, celebrating women business leaders, and has won national awards for her coaching and as a service provider. 

Clare believes networking is like all business success, not being something you’re not but bringing out your best!

Website: https://www.wildfireatwork.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarehaynes/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildfirespark/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clare.haynes.Wildfire/

James Eder is Author of The Collision Code, entrepreneur, work–life coach, speaker with over 20 years of leadership experience. He co-founded Student Beans (Part of Pion), a global platform helping brands connect with Gen Z through insights, engagement, and verification empowering businesses to build trust and lasting loyalty.

Passionate about the power of human connection, James has dedicated his career to creating communities and opportunities that bring people together. His recently published book, The Collision Code, explores how genuine relationships can transform both personal fulfilment and professional success. In a world where digital interaction often leaves us more isolated than connected, the book offers a roadmap to spark serendipity, build confidence, and create meaningful collisions that open new doors. You can find out more, see reviews and order the book on Amazon https://amzn.to/4l4XfL5

Through his ventures, talks, and writing, James inspires people to embrace possibility, unlock their potential, and create ripple effects of positive change in the world around them.

James can be reached on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameseder/ - if you request to connect please mention this recording.

Jenny Green is the Senior Account Manager at 22:22 Marketing. The company work across all aspects of digital marketing but are particularly well known for helping businesses with online ads for platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Google.

When it comes to networking, Jenny's top tip is to keep your pitch short and sweet!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-green-080121242/

https://www.2222marketing.co.uk/

[email protected]

On the Small Business Big Network podcast this week you can hear me talking to Clive Bonny.

Clive has been in business for over 30 years and operates as a strategic management partner, management mentor and coach, in association with professional bodies, building capacity in private enterprises and public sector for growth and responsible business sustainability.

His work focuses on capacity building, IP protection, risk management, equity funding and supply chain growth via national ESG standards. His scope of work includes designing and delivering programmes for fast growth development, commercialising innovations, HR productivity, quality process improvement, merger and acquisition due diligence, and international business development.

As you can imagine Clive has an extensive network, and his networking efforts have even taken him to the House of Lords!

Imogen Ley-Clowes is the founder of London-based Immo Studio.

Too often, branding looks polished but doesn’t do much. She’s more interested in the stuff that works: sharp strategy, clear structure, and design that grows with the business behind it. 

She started Immo Studio to help ambitious teams turn brand confusion into something clear, impactful, and built for what’s next. With over a decade of experience working with startups and global businesses, Imogen likes getting to the heart of what’s not working, untangling the in-between bits, and turning all of it into something strategic, useful, and well-designed.

https://www.immostudio.co.uk/

Kevin Crawford is a life and business strategist for owners of Architecture Practices — specifically small to medium-sized practices with 4 to 16 employees. 

He qualified with a degree in Architectural Technology but his real education has been managing a multidisciplinary Practice of Architects, Technologists and Technicians for over 25 years. He knows exactly what it’s like — juggling projects, people, and profit while trying to find the time and headspace to think clearly. From starting out in the family practice at 14 years old to being the driving force behind a successful transition to employee ownership at the age of 41. A 27 year learning journey, a rollercoaster but the blood, sweat and tears make a story that can now help others.

Though his new venture, Designing Success, Kevin has created a framework that helps practice owners go from burnout to balance — starting with the person, not just the business.

His experience is that when you’re healthier and happier in all areas of life, you become stronger, more focused, and far more effective in business.

www.designingsuccess.co.uk

www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-crawford-a1516158

Serge Santos began his career in physics, earning a PhD before completing a Master’s in Finance at London Business School. He went on to build a successful career as a strategy consultant, investment banker, and hedge fund professional — managing global investments before turning his analytical mindset toward entrepreneurship in 2013.

Today, Serge leads Bedrock Enterprises — a group of interconnected businesses that include the fintech lender Funding Alternative Group, the industrial distributor Compressed Air Centre, and Calms Solutions UK, a smart-energy venture helping manufacturers reduce their energy consumption and carbon footprint.

www.linkedin.com/in/santosserge

https://fundingalternative.co.uk

https://compressedair.co.uk

https://calms.com

Raj Thiruchelvarajah is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hytro, the leading human health and performance company known for producing the first wearable Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) garment.

After 15 years in global finance and consulting, Raj left the corporate world to build something more purposeful: bringing a proven but complex science out of labs and into everyday sport.

Today, Hytro is trusted by over 300 elite teams across the Premier League, NFL, NBA, Formula 1 and rugby, and is even being tested by NASA and SpaceX. Raj’s leadership is rooted in listening, learning from different cultures, and surrounding himself with experts to drive meaningful, long-term impact.

hytro.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/hytro/posts/?feedView=all

https://www.linkedin.com/in/raj-thiruchelvarajah-89a8b522/

https://www.instagram.com/hytro_/