Founder in the Chair

Shaz Ahmed - aka - Where's Shaz is a property finance specialist who has helped countless people get funding for their investment projects. Through his social media content, podcast appearances as well as press (including BBC) features he has made it his mission to add value and most importantly stop you making expensive mistakes when it comes to funding. Shaz has grown his personal brand org...

Tandy Virdee – Entrepreneur, Digital & Social Media Consultant , Creative Director & Mentor With over 34 years of experience in branding, design, and marketing, Tandy Virdee began his career as a designer and worked his way up to Creative Director before founding and leading his own design agency. For the past 18 years, he has worked as a consultant, specialising in digital, influencer, an...

The heartfelt journey of a mother trying to make sure her daughter with complex health conditions was kept safe, and how this then birthed her business, her WHY is strong. La~Jo is a luxury, eco-friendly home fragrance brand, crafted with high-quality, sustainable ingredients. In this episode, Gurdip (La~Jo ) shares her personal journey- where it all started, the inspiration behind the name, and h...

Amit and Jaspreet Kalley are the husband and wife co-Founders of Mixala, a new and unique chai that is blended with adventurous flavours. With their British, Indian and Tanzanian background, they are using their global heritage to disrupt the chai market.  Whilst running Mixala together, they are also parents to three young children, including their daughter who was born with three holes in her he...

From One Food Truck to a UK Street Food Empire – The Gully UK Story | Founder in the Chair Podcast In this episode, I sit down with the incredible father-son duo Sudhir and Avi Sethi, the founders of @gully.uk, the UK’s leading Indian street food caterer. What began as one truck, two people, and a love for authentic Indian flavours has grown into a nationwide sensation. From BBC Radio London and S...

Today, we have a remarkable story that showcases the power of teamwork and passion. Meet Kully and Joaty, a dynamic husband-and-wife duo who are not just partners in life but also in business! Together, they're managing their thriving medical aesthetics clinic, where they focus on helping clients look and feel their absolute best. With three beautiful children at home, this couple has mastere...

"Today, I’m sitting down with an absolutely inspiring woman. Not only did she qualify as a financial advisor while launching her own business, but she also embarked on the incredible journey of adoption—welcoming a beautiful baby girl into her life. And just when she thought she had her hands full, life had another surprise in store—she found herself spontaneously pregnant! Her story is one o...

Sandy Phgura is an empowering Spiritual Mindset Coach on a mission to help women heal from mental and emotional suffering.  After enduring 19 years in a narcissistic relationship, she overcame the shadows of psychological and emotional abuse that once eroded her mind, body and soul.  Through her journey of healing, Sandy transformed her pain into power, using her experiences to guide others in the...

Meet Your Host: Veena Nayyar – Founder in the Chair In this special episode, Veena Nayyar, the founder and host of Founder in the Chair, shares her own journey as an entrepreneur. With a strong background in sales, multiple business ventures under her belt, and a passion for helping others succeed, Veena dives into what drives her, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and why she created this...

Sabrina is the creative force behind Party Giant , a luxury event decor company specializing in bespoke celebrations. With a passion for design and social media, she has built a thriving brand that not only delivers stunning decor but also educates aspiring event stylists through Party Giant Decor Academy . Her entrepreneurial journey began unexpectedly, but she quickly embraced the freedom and cr...

Parul Ganatra is the founder of The Silk Glow, an award-winning Ayurvedic hair and skincare brand. Since launching in 2022, she has won Business Woman of the Year 2024 at the She Awards. Her products, praised by the Daily Mail and BBC, have earned prestigious hair and skincare awards.  Blending luxury with authenticity, The Silk Glow is known for quality and results.  Parul is dedicated to creatin...

Meet Indy,  a former pharmacist turned holistic health consultant. After years in the pharmaceutical industry, Indy recognised the limitations of conventional medicine and embarked on a path to holistic healing. With a deep passion for helping women reduce their toxic burden through root cause detoxification, Indy now emphasises the healing power of Mother Nature and her medicine, particularly thr...

Fairoaks is transforming the property industry by redefining the traditional estate agency model. With a personalized, seamless approach, they put property owners at the heart of every transaction, ensuring a service that’s tailored to your unique needs. With over 20 years of combined experience across sales, lettings, property management, holiday rentals, commercial property, maintenance, and com...

Energetic Hygiene: Cut the Cords After Each Client Energy is contagious—so who are you letting into your space? @amansunnermentoring shares the importance of energetic hygiene and how interactions can impact our mental state. Just like cutting cords after each client, we need to be mindful of the energy we absorb daily. Tune into her podcast Finding Your Worth From Within for deeper insights on pr...

Meet Saira Majid: Multi Award-Winning Accountant Empowering Entrepreneurs In this episode of Founder in the Chair, I’m joined by the incredible Saira Majid, a multi-award-winning accountant and the founder of Saira Majid Accountants. With over 15 years of experience, Saira has built a reputation for providing outstanding financial and business advisory services to start-up's, SMEs, and charit...

From Banking to Theta Healing: Luvleen Kaila’s Transformational Journey | The Founder in the Chair Podcast In this episode of The Founder in the Chair, we explore the journey of Luvleen Kaila, a former banker turned Theta Healing Practitioner. Luvleen’s story is a powerful example of how personal transformation can lead to entrepreneurial success. After 17 years in banking, Luvleen realised she wa...

From Kitchen Dreams to a Spiritual Calling | Founder in the Chair with Tejal Bathia In this episode of Founder in the Chair, I sit down with the incredible Tejal Bathia, a woman who turned her accidental kitchen start-up into a thriving business empire. Tejal’s journey is one of resilience, determination, and reinvention—a story that will inspire any entrepreneur to think about their “why” and the...

Akhil Mair : From Passion to Multi Award Winning Property Finance Leader Akhil Mair is the Managing Director of Our Mortgage Broker, a specialist property finance brokerage in the UK. With over two decades of experience, Akhil has transformed his passion for property into a successful career, providing tailored financial solutions for residential and commercial clients. Early Career and Passion fo...

In this episode of Founder in the Chair, Veena speaks to Urvashi on her journey to self discovery and her journey to entrepreneurship which started accidentally. Urvashi didn’t have an entrepreneurial background and neither was it in her family but this ‘accident’ changed the trajectory of her life! Meet Urvashi a Soul Purpose life coach, Numerologist, Sound Therapist, qualified Personal Trainer a...

Deepa Sapra isn’t your typical yoga teacher—she’s a force of nature. A yoga therapist, transformation guide, and true limit-breaker, Deepa has built a thriving business that redefines what it means to practice yoga. Forget the idea that yoga is just about flexibility or relaxation. Deepa’s work goes beyond the physical postures, diving deep into breathwork, meditation, and yogic philosophy to help...

Listen to why Rai started pop up events for the South Asian entrepreneurs. Her motto is "The best time to help support a small business is always today" She only started in 2024 and she has managed to shine a spotlight on so many businesses already. She is hosting many events so if you are interested in taking part then get in touch with her on Instagram @bigfatindianpopupbyrai If you ha...

Glamber wants to bring everyone access to traditional South Asian clothing while reducing the need to own. That's better for the people and for the planet. About Amber the Founder Like any great business start-up story…it all started in my loft. No, literally, it really did start in my loft. The catalyst? The overwhelming sea of bags and suitcases containing sarees, lenghas, shawls, suits, an...

What happens when life forces you to pause and question everything? In this episode of Founder in the Chair, we sit down with Chintal Kakaya, a Transformation Guide & Spiritual Mentor, who helps empaths, cycle breakers, and change-makers step into their power. Chintal shares her deeply personal journey—how a life-changing moment led her to question her purpose, break free from limiting beliefs...

Meet Sukh Sapra – International DJ, Business Owner, and Coach Sukh Sapra isn’t just about mixing beats—he’s about mastering the balance between craft and business. With years of experience as a globally recognized DJ, a successful entrepreneur, and a mentor, Sukh knows that talent alone isn’t enough. It’s about strategy, execution, and having the right mindset to grow beyond just the music. His jo...

📍 How Nashtaa Went Viral – No Ads, Just Instagram! | Founder in the Chair 🎙️ Meet Juslena Randhawa, the powerhouse behind Nashtaa Cafe & Restaurant, a thriving chain serving up a unique fusion of Indian and English flavours in Slough & Ealing. A mother of three with a passion for cooking, Juslena transformed her love for food and family recipes into a viral success story—all without paid...