7 Figure Leaders

In this episode, Tom Griffiths sits down with Jonathan Lea, founder of the Jonathan Lea Network, a law firm specialising in advising startups, owner-managed businesses, and mature private companies. Jonathan shares his journey from training at large City law firms to establishing his own regulated firm, offering insights into the challenges and rewards of building a legal business from scratch. Jo...

In this episode of the podcast, Tom Griffiths is joined by Gerard O’Donovan, a multifounder with extensive experience in both the insurance and coaching industries. Gerard shares his journey from serving in the Royal Marines to building and running successful businesses, including Noble Manhattan Financial Services and his international coach training school. The conversation explores the key fact...

In this episode, host Tom Griffiths speaks with John Lamerton , author of The False Exit , about why many entrepreneurs focus on selling their businesses when they should instead be building ones that can run — and thrive — without them. John shares the story behind his book, beginning with a near-sale of his sports-betting business for £2 million. When the deal fell through, he and his business p...

In this episode, host Tom Griffiths sits down with Damone , founder of Turtle Enviro , to explore how he’s built one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of underground drainage and water treatment products. With over three decades in the drainage industry, Damone shares the lessons, missteps, and values that have shaped his entrepreneurial journey — from starting out at his dining table in 2016 to r...

In this episode, Tom Griffiths speaks with Adam Fleming , founder and Managing Director of Fastline , a family-run business specialising in warehouse safety and infrastructure solutions. Since launching in 2016, Fastline has grown from a one-person consultancy into a ten-strong team serving major names such as Amazon, Aldi, and Lidl. Adam shares the story behind Fastline’s beginnings — how a singl...

In this episode, Tom Griffiths welcomes Phil Tregous Evans, CEO and co-founder of Giraffe Social, to explore the journey of building and scaling a successful social media agency. Phil shares insights from over 13 years of experience, reflecting on the challenges and lessons learned while growing Giraffe Social from a small startup to a team of 14 working with large global brands. The discussion be...

In this episode, Callum Woodcock, co-founder of WineFi, discusses the unique challenges and opportunities in the fine wine investment space. The conversation delves into how WineFi has revolutionized the market by combining traditional fine wine with modern data analytics, offering investors a more accessible, diversified, and tax-efficient investment option. Callum explains the basic premise behi...

In this episode, Tom Griffiths sits down with Liam Corcoran, a coach and investor who helps tech founders scale their businesses from $1M to $10M in annual recurring revenue without burning out. Liam shares insights drawn from over 20 years of experience building, scaling, and investing in companies across AI, Web3, SaaS, and e-commerce. The conversation explores the common challenges founders fac...

In this episode, Tom Griffiths is joined by Neil Ackroyd, founder of Precision Corporate Finance, to explore the realities of buying and selling businesses in the UK—particularly for owner-managed SMEs. Neil shares his background in corporate finance, having qualified at KPMG before spending over 20 years advising on company sales. Rather than focusing on specific sectors, Neil champions a general...

In this episode, Tom Griffiths is joined by Samuel Daughtry, founder of Buy Side Advisory, a consultancy that helps business owners grow through strategic acquisitions. Drawing on years of experience in financial services and priv...

In this episode, Tom Griffiths is joined by Mark Blacklee, founder of Kuro – a performance-driven PPC agency with over 16 years of experience helping businesses grow through strategic digital marketing. Mark shares his journey&nbs...

In this episode, Tom Griffiths speaks with Lloyd Thompson, founder of  VirtualDOO  and a seasoned fractional COO, about how small business owners can step out of daily operations and build more scalable, sellable companies. Lloyd ...

In this episode, Tom Griffiths speaks with Gareth Hawkins, co-founder of BizCrunch, about preparing small and medium-sized businesses for successful exits and the critical role this plays in the broader UK economy. Gareth shares his career journey—from growing a multi-business industrial group through acquisition and exiting to a Nordic holding company, to launching startups and investing in over ...

In this episode, Tom Griffiths sits down with Peter Clark, co-founder of RCK Partners, to demystify the often misunderstood world of R&D tax relief. RCK Partners is a specialist consultancy focused on helping companies access&...

In this episode, Tom Griffiths speaks with Chris Worden, founder of Director First Insolvency, to explore the often misunderstood world of insolvency, business turnaround, and director advisory services. Chris shares his personal journey into the field—starting with his own business failure triggered by sudden government policy changes and a £200k bad debt. His frustration with the lack of clear, ...

In this episode, Tom sits down with Cliff Spolander, founder of Business by Design , to explore what it really takes to scale and successfully exit a business. With a background in the military and over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience—including buying, selling, franchising, and licensing businesses—Cliff brings real-world insights to a problem many business owners face: wanting to sell, but...

In this episode, we sit down with Simon Ogilvie-Harris, CCO of Dwood Kitchens UK, to explore how a multi-generational family business founded in Istanbul is expanding into the UK with a premium yet competitively priced kitchen offering. Simon shares his journey from leading consumer goods businesses to spearheading the UK arm of Dwood Kitchens and bringing high-end, custom kitchens to both private...

In this episode, Tom chats with Lien de Pau, founder and CEO of The Big Exit , about one of the most overlooked aspects of small business ownership— preparing your business for sale . Lien shares why the majority of businesses don’t sell, and what owners can do years in advance to increase their chances of not just selling, but achieving a big exit. Drawing on her own entrepreneurial journey and w...

In this episode, Tom is joined by Ross Tomkins , physiotherapist turned serial entrepreneur, investor, and founder of Balmoral Partners. With over 20 acquisitions under his belt, Ross shares his journey from starting a physio practice in 2006 to building a healthcare-focused group of businesses spanning the UK, Australia, and beyond. Ross explains how his early career in the NHS shaped his approac...

In this episode, we’re joined by Kris Amliwala , Chartered Financial Planner and Registered Life Planner at Designer Wealth . Chris shares how he blends technical expertise with life planning principles to help clients design a financial future that aligns with their goals, values, and lifestyle. Kris explains his journey from pharmaceutical sciences into financial planning and how a life-first ap...

In this episode, we’re joined by Craig Kelly , a corporate commercial solicitor at Aquabridge Law, who shares his expertise on guiding business owners through the legal complexities of running a business—from start-up to exit. Craig discusses key areas where businesses often leave themselves vulnerable, such as operating without shareholder agreements or failing to protect intellectual property. U...

In this episode, we sit down with Ashley Winston , founder of Palmdale Car Finders, a company revolutionising the used car buying experience. Ashley shares his entrepreneurial journey, from starting his business in a spare bedroom to running a thriving company offering tailored car-buying solutions for clients across all budgets. We explore Palmdale’s innovative business model, including their fiv...

In this episode, we’re joined by Al Zucker , an experienced M&A lawyer and entrepreneur, who shares invaluable insights into buying and selling small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With over a decade of experience in large-cap transactions, venture-backed e-commerce growth, and now acquiring businesses in manufacturing and engineering, Al provides a unique perspective on the complexities...

Mike Deacon, a seasoned veteran in the world of commercial finance, shares his insights on the evolving landscape of business funding. With over 47 years of experience, Mike has witnessed the industry's transformation and now co-authors a book that delves into the journeys of 21 diverse business leaders. In this engaging conversation, Mike discusses his own career path, from working for major bank...

In this episode, we’re joined by Mike Floyd , CEO of Lovett's Group, who shares his journey from working in global facilities management to acquiring and transforming a catering engineering company into a dynamic facilities management business. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Mike offers invaluable insights into business growth, culture, and sustainability. Mike discusses his tra...