People talking sat at a table in the Business & IP Centre. — Credit: Jonathon Vines

Start-up Stars: Lessons from building my business

Join us for an evening of inspiration and networking as our successful businesses discuss the lessons they learned building their business.

Thursday 19 March

About Start-up Stars: Lessons from building my business

Start-up Stars is a series of quarterly events where scale-up graduates from the Get Ready for Business Growth programme and our previous scale-up programme share their expertise with aspiring entrepreneurs.

There’s no better teacher than experience, and building your own business brings both enormous challenges and, with them, valuable lessons. Join us for our latest Start-up Stars event to hear stories and insights from our panel of successful entrepreneurs as they look back on their business journeys, exploring how they got started, how they grew, and the many lessons they learnt along the way.

Expect an evening of knowledge sharing, insightful (and resonant) reflections on business growth, and inspiration that will leave you ready to start up, or grow, your own small business!

This event will be moderated by Rasheed Ogunlaru: coach, speaker and author.

Amanda Overs
Amanda is the founder of I Can Make Shoes, an award-winning footwear education business she has grown steadily over the past 16 years.
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What began as small in-person shoemaking workshops has evolved into a thriving e-commerce shop and a top-performing online course provider on the global Teachable platform, teaching thousands of students worldwide. Built through slow, sustainable growth, the business has expanded from hands-on classes to digital courses, specialist kits, and a global creative community. Recently, Amanda expanded into bagmaking with the launch of I Can Make Bags with her business continuing to go from strength to strength.
Lauretta Wright
Lauretta is the publisher and editor of three much-loved community titles.
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Lauretta publishes Life In Orpington, Life In Bromley and Life In Beckenham which celebrate positive local news, champion independent businesses and encourage residents to shop local and support one another.
Through her magazines, she has built a trusted platform that connects thousands of readers with the people and stories shaping the Bromley borough. She is also the founder of the Above and Beyond Bromley Business Awards (The ABBBAs) and, alongside publishing and events, Lauretta is now entering an exciting new growth phase with her parent company, Luna Creative Media, focusing on AI-powered marketing solutions for small businesses. Her mission is simple: to help local businesses work smarter, grow sustainably and feel confident embracing the future.
Daniel Herman
Daniel is the founder and CEO of Bio-Synergy.
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A qualified Nutritionist, Personal Trainer and SAQ Coach, Daniel has been working for 24 years to create products to enrich people’s lives and help achieve health and fitness goals. The company has earned numerous global consumer and industry awards, and helped 100,000s achieve their goals.
Rasheed Ogunlaru
Coach, author and speaker.
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Rasheed Ogunlaru is a leading life coach, motivational speaker, and business and leadership coach. Rasheed is a delivery partner for the British Library’s Business & IP Centre and author of Soul Trader – Putting the Heart Back into Your Business.