UNBOXED

Varley co-founder Lara Mead joins Connie Nam to share tips on how to execute your vision to harbour success. 

Laura explains how she slowly developed strategy after the start-up days, the biggest difference between US and European customers and why she doesn’t like to make decisions based off data. 

Plus, she shares why raising investment is like dating (and why it’s awful!) and offers advice on enjoying the early founder journey.

Follow @meadlara and @varley

To keep up with the podcast, follow @unboxed_founderconfidential, @connienam and @astridandmiyu

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first edition of our Start-Up Clinic, Connie Nam has invited two early-stage founders to the podcast to get advice and ask their burning questions. 

First up, Lili Sinclair-Williams, creator of a wellbeing stationary brand wants to know about cash flow. Connie answers her questions about when to find investment, what to spend it on and whether or not it’s the right time.

Next, Cuca, founder of a hair accessories brand, has a burning question about personal brand. Connie offers her advice on whether or not the founder must get in front of the camera and how to balance life when things start scaling. 

If you’re a business founder and want to appear on the next start up clinic, DM us at @unboxed_founderconfidential

Follow Lili’s business @lswmindcards and Cuca’s business @hellocarlottalondon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heather Elkington is a leadership and management expert and joins Connie Nam to share her invaluable expertise. 

Heather explains how in her mid-twenties, she helped grow and sell a business for millions of pounds, the most common mistakes first-time managers make and why you should aim to grow your business slowly. 

Plus, she shares her number one piece of advice for start-up founders, her top tips for motivating your time and how to hire the right people.

Follow Heather @leadershipheather, @unboxed_founderconfidential, @connienam and @astridandmiyu

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Connie Nam is once again joined by her CMO and first hire, Sarah Hrywnak to discuss the next step in her founding story – the scale up period. 

Connie and Sarah discuss the difference between a start up and a scale up, learning how to hire the right people and the 2 incremental things you need to do as a manager. 

Plus, Connie explains the strength culture she introduced to Astrid & Miyu, Sarah reveals a moment where she wishes she’d trusted her instincts and they explain who you need to hire and when. 

Follow @unboxed_founderconfidential, @connienam and @astridandmiyu

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Founder and CEO of Never Fully Dressed, Lucy Aylen joins Connie Nam to unbox her founding story this week. 

Lucy describes the intricacies of building a fashion brand before social media in the markets of London, why she was resistant to being the face of the brand and the struggles of being a boss.

Plus, she explains why physical stores are a great marketing piece, breaking into the US and why you shouldn’t put pressure on the end goal.

Follow @unboxed_founderconfidential, @neverfullydressed and @lucyaylen7

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard Harpin sold his business, Home Serve, for 4 billion pounds. Yet he believes if he’d just done 8 things differently he could have grown better and quicker. 

In this episode, he joins Connie Nam to share his 8 secrets he wishes he knew before building his business. 

He explains how to lock down your dream mentor, how to accept losing control when you’re hiring your replacement and why you should be copying other businesses to benefit yours. 

Follow @richard_harpin and @unboxed_founderconfidential

You can find the 8 Serects here, and check out businessleader.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You may recognise Frankie Gaff from her time on Made in Chelsea, but since leaving she’s built a huge following online. But how did she break free from reality TV to be known as her authentic self?

In this episode, Frankie shares with Connie Nam the strategic decisions she made to distance herself from the Made in Chelsea persona, what content works best when collaborating with brands, and how Astrid & Miyu decide which influencers to work with. 

Follow @unboxed_founderconfidential and @frankiegaff

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before Vanita Parti, no one in London threaded their eyebrows. After she founded Blink Brow Bar, it became a staple in thousands of women’s routines. 

Vanita joins Connie Nam to share how she went from one cramped chair in a department store to 15 stores internationally, how she built a client base before social media and why micro-influencers are crucial for their brand. 

Plus, she explains how she funded the business herself, why overspending was her biggest mistake and how she views her competition. 

Follow @unboxed_founderconfidential, @blinkbrowbar and @vanitablink

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Investor Daina Spedding is passionate about putting more money behind female-led businesses and in this conversation, she explains how she’s trying to close the gap. 

Daina shares with Connie Nam the shockingly low percentage of funding that goes to female founders, what being on a board is actually like and how you should approach valuation and your company. 

The pair also discuss the new rules surrounding Angel Investing which has a huge impact on female investors, the effect this might have and how investors can impact your brand.  

Follow @unboxed_founderconfidential and connect with Daina.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Co-founder and Creative Director of Desmond & Dempsey, Molly Goddard, joins Connie Nam on this week's episode. 

Molly reveals how she dropped out of university twice, the challenges of growing a business and a family, and how she navigated the complexity of the fashion industry with no experience. 

Plus, she explains why she’s always loved customer service and how she’s redefining the art of slowing down.

Follow @unboxed_founderconfidential, @desmondanddempsey and @mollygoddardjeffery

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.