In this episode, we sit down with Lee Clark, founder of Authentic, to explore how small businesses can cut through complexity and unlock growth by focusing on what really matters. He also shares his personal journey into entrepreneurship - from launching a lead generation business during the 2008 recession to building and scaling his tech startup, GivePenny - highlighting the realities of bootstrapping, raising investment and learning through experience.

Lee reflects on the challenges founders face, from proving early ideas and securing funding to managing stress and maintaining wellbeing. He discusses the importance of speaking directly to customers, failing fast and prioritising sustainable growth over early investment. The conversation also touches on the pressures of entrepreneurship, the value of rest and support networks, and why authentic human connection remains critical in an increasingly AI-driven business landscape.

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Guest host Lynne Avery sits down with Darcy Laceby, co-founder of Absolute Collagen, to explore what it really takes to build a standout brand.

Darcy shares her insights on creating a compelling brand story, building lasting customer loyalty, and growing in confidence as a business leader, offering practical takeaways for any business looking to scale with purpose. Recorded live at our International Women's Day event.

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In this live episode from the West Midlands Business Festival, we sit down with Kavita Parmar, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Word360, to explore how a purpose-driven tech company is scaling responsibly while transforming access to vital services.

Kavita shares the story of how Word360 grew from a small interpreting business in Handsworth into a multi-award-winning UK-wide and international language technology organisation, supporting over 750,000 people each year across 350+ languages. She reflects on the challenges of scaling in regulated sectors, leading a large distributed workforce, and maintaining trust and quality at every stage.

We also cover:

🌍 How Kavita’s lived experience and purpose-led approach sparked Word360’s creation

💪 The journey of women in tech and leadership, and the barriers she’s overcome

📈 How to recognise the right time to grow, and scale confidently without compromising values

🤝 The role of public and private support in unlocking growth opportunities

🏙️ Why place, purpose, and pride in the West Midlands remain central to Word360’s success

Whether you’re a founder, business leader, or just curious about scaling responsibly in complex industries, this conversation is full of practical insight, inspiration, and lessons from the frontlines of growth.

👉 Subscribe to The Growth Room Podcast for more conversations with the people shaping business in the West Midlands.

🔗 Learn more and access growth support: businessgrowthwestmidlands.org.uk/podcast

📲 Listen on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and more.

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