Alive With Possibilities

Ben Branson is the inventor & founder of Seedlip, the world’s first non-alcoholic spirit brand now available in over 40 countries. Ben has subsequently sold the brand to Diageo but that hasn’t stopped him inventing. In this episode of Alive with Possibilities, host Chris Davies - CEO of Uncommon discusses how and why he created Seedlip, from its very humble beginnings of experimentation just for fun to Ben not being able to find a decent non-alcoholic drink so why not create his own? They delve into the painful moments of creating a business, especially Ben letting go of the idea that plans often, don’t go to plan. How just saying ‘yes’ and staying true to your core values can lead to success, this was never truer then when Seedlip designed gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show. Lastly how Ben discovered he has ADHD and is autistic, not just stopping there Ben has launched his own podcast The Hidden 20% where he shines a light on neurodiversity. Every episode our guest recommends a book to be placed on the Uncommon Bookshelf, check out Ben’s three recommendations: Brutal Simplicity of Thought: How it Changed the World, by Lord Saatchi Predatory Thinking: A masterclass in out-thinking the competition, by David Trott The Third Plate: Field Notes on the Future of Food by Dan Barber. To discover more about The Hidden 20% visit here: https://www.hidden20.org/ For more information on Seedlip, visit: https://www.seedlipdrinks.com/en-gb/ Uncommon create exceptional spaces for work. Explore more at: https://uncommon.co.uk/ LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncommon_space/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/uncommon_space/

After 15 years working in PR Lucy Jackson is now the CEO of Spread a Smile, a wonderful charity who aims to make a positive difference to seriously ill children and their families at such a difficult time in their lives. From face painting, celebrity visits, magicians they will do anything to bring a smile back to ill children. In this episode host Chris Davies, CEO of Uncommon and Lucy discuss challenges with fundraising, providing a service and navigating their way through the pandemic when they had to rethink their business model. They go on to talk about Lucy’s career transition from communications, how they plan to grow the charity over the coming years and how she switches off from work to care for her own family.  You can find out more about Spread A Smile by visiting: https://spreadasmile.org/ Uncommon create exceptional spaces for work.  Explore more at: https://uncommon.co.uk/  LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncommon_space/   IG: https://www.instagram.com/uncommon_space/

Nick Mabey co-founded Assembly Coffee back in 2015 in Brixton. They take pride in roasting the world’s rarest and highest quality coffee using precise roasting methods. They set the leading example in the industry by redefining how coffee can be sourced to return a greater value to farming communities. So whether it’s Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya or the Republic of Congo you are having a sense of responsibility with your coffee. In this episode Chris Davies CEO of Uncommon joins Nick to discuss his career, from joining Volcano Coffee to launching Assembly Coffee and navigating through Covid, the specifics of London speciality coffee market and the art of coffee trading. They talk through becoming a B Corp and how it’s enabling them to have a positive impact on the future of farming.   Every episode our guest recommends a book to be placed on the Uncommon Bookshelf, check out Nick’s: Other Minds by Peter Godfrey-Smith   To discover more about Assembly Coffee visit here: https://assemblycoffee.co.uk/   Uncommon create exceptional spaces for work.  Explore more at: https://uncommon.co.uk/     LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncommon_space/   IG: https://www.instagram.com/uncommon_space/

Shaun Simons is the Founder of Compton which focuses on office leasing, capital markets and tenant representation. With strong brand identity people obsesses culture, Compton disrupts the traditional real estate market approach. It’s brave marketing initiatives include some truly creative videos (follow Shaun on LinkedIn not to miss them!) and opening it’s very own restaurant.    In this episode, Chris Davies CEO of Uncommon sits down with Shaun to discuss over 24 years of his real estate career, breaking the boundaries in his first business Hatton Real Estate, his role as a director at Colliers International and his bold move to launch Compton in 2021. They discuss Shaun’s hard work ethic, his views on the industry and people-first approach, big life challenges he faced and the lessons he learnt.     To discover more about Compton visit: https://www.compton.london/    Uncommon create exceptional spaces for work.   Explore more at: https://uncommon.co.uk/    LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncommon_space/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/uncommon_space/ 

James Symes is the Founder and CEO of Bike Club – a kid’s bike subscription service that allows you to exchange as your child grows. They are on a mission to ensure the next generation fall in love with cycling and currently have over 60,000 subscribers, offering a more sustainable alternative by applying the circular economy to children’s bikes   In this episode host Chris Davies, CEO of Uncommon and James discuss his motivations for standing as a member of Parliament, his career in finance and how he fancies himself as a bit of a sports man. They go on to talk about his full circle moment with Sir Philip Green, the circular economy and how the death of a fellow pupil gave him the motivation to succeed.   Every episode our guest recommends a book to be placed on the Uncommon Bookshelf, check out James’s: 'Losing My Virginity' by Richard Branson    To find out more about Bike Club visit here: https://bikeclub.com/    Uncommon create exceptional spaces for work.   Explore more at: https://uncommon.co.uk/     LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncommon_space/   IG: https://www.instagram.com/uncommon_space/ 

Krisi Smith is the co-founder and owner of Bird & Blend Tea Co, an award winning independent and eco conscious tea company. Krisi’s passion and vision to produce innovative flavours has ended up with hundreds of tea choices all of which are housed in retail stores across the UK.  In this episode of Alive with Possibilities, Chris Davies, CEO of Uncommon dives into the reasons why Krisi Smith launched a tea company, how long before Krisi and Mike, her business partner planned for a tea business, they wanted a business which had a positive impact upon the world and people, with sustainable roots and learning to give away all the roles/responsibilities they were juggling whilst growing the business.  As the Willy Wonka of tea and Chief Tea Mixologist, Krisi hasn’t stopped there as she is an expert judge on Amazon Prime’s ‘Ready, Steady, StartUp!’ an Apprentice-style TV show, where contestants undertake challenges for an investment into their brand.     Every episode our guest recommends a book to be placed on the Uncommon Bookshelf, check out Krisi’s:  Turn the Ship Around by David Marquette and How Brands Grow by Byron Sharp.    To discover more about Bird & Blend Tea Co, visit: https://www.birdandblendtea.com/    Uncommon create exceptional spaces for work.    Explore more at: https://uncommon.co.uk/      LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncommon_space/   IG: https://www.instagram.com/uncommon_space/    

Rob Smith is the founder of the wellbeing consultancy, That Day who design and deliver wellbeing strategies that inspire growth in people, both personally and professionally.  In this episode of Alive with Possibilities, host Chris Davies - CEO of Uncommon and Rob discuss why he had enough of the corporate world, techniques such as the wellbeing wheel to bring more joy and peace to your everyday life and how vital it is to recognise and look after your mental health.  Rob openly discusses how in lockdown someone close to him tried to take their own life which completely rocked Rob’s way of being and thinking, From this, alongside his friends Mark & Josh they created Uncommon Man, which is a monthly event where men have the opportunity come together in a safe space to heal, reflect and grow. These events are held within Uncommon’s London Liverpool Street location and have been a runaway success with people travelling internationally to take part.     Every episode our guest recommends a book to be placed on the Uncommon Bookshelf, check out Rob’s: The Almanack of Naval Rvikant by Eric Jorgenson    To discover more about That Day visit here: https://www.thatday.uk  To join the Uncommon Man movement visit here: https://www.uncommonman.co.uk/  Uncommon create exceptional spaces for work.    Explore more at: https://uncommon.co.uk/        LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncommon_space/       IG: https://www.instagram.com/uncommon_space/      

Fran Lucraft is the CEO & founder of Grace & Green, an ethical, sustainable and B Corp certified period care brand. Grace & Green are committed to transforming menstrual hygiene and have created the Period Dignity, a market leader and nationwide movement supporting hundreds of businesses, educational institutions and the public sector to provide sustainable and healthy period products for all who need them.  In this episode of Alive with Possibilities, host Chris Davies - CEO of Uncommon discusses various topics with Fran including how they are lifting the stigma of discussing menstrual cycles especially in the work place, how providing free period provisions in our work spaces and schools is vital and a fundamental necessity plus why and how Fran decided to start Grace & Green.    Every episode our guest recommends a book to be placed on the Uncommon Bookshelf, check out Fran’s: The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono.    To discover more about Grace & Green visit here: https://graceandgreen.co/  For more information on Period Dignity, visit https://perioddignity.com/    Uncommon create exceptional spaces for work.    Explore more at: https://uncommon.co.uk/    LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncommon_space/   IG: https://www.instagram.com/uncommon_space/ 

Vishal Amin is the co-founder and CEO of UNTIL - a disruptive start-up that's changing the face of the health and wellness industry. UNTIL gives practitioners a better way to run and grow their businesses with access to world-class facilities, a collaborative community and the tools and technology to help drive growth. With investment and onboarding from Steven Bartlett last year, Vish is shaking up the industry for the better.  In this episode host Chris Davies, CEO of Uncommon and Vish discuss his entrepreneurial career, from selling sweets in the playground, to becoming a global CFO and more recently after changing his own personal journey in health & fitness he is helping practitioners to earn what they deserve in this multi-billion industry.  They discuss in depth the mantra of ‘living in the grey’, the enthusiasm for taking the untrodden path and why accountability is so important to Vish - not just in his business but his own life too.  To discover more about Until visit here: https://www.until.co.uk/ Uncommon create exceptional spaces for work.  Explore more at: https://uncommon.co.uk/   LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncommon_space/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/uncommon_space/

Cheeky Panda focuses on making sustainability feel good, using 100% FSC certified bamboo and plastic free packaging to create household items and cruelty free beauty products. Now available in over 30 countries worldwide and over 10,000 stores within the UK, their mission is to support people in making best everyday household choices. In this episode, Chris Davies CEO of Uncommon is joined by both Chris & Julie to talk in-depth about their desire to create a world leading brand, the challenges they faced in the pandemic and their crowdfunding campaigns to test the market's appetite for sustainable products. They also discuss their strong focus on company culture, the challenge of balancing family life whilst growing their business and their ever-growing ambition of creating products that help us all to live in a better world. If you would like to know more about Cheeky Panda visit: https://uk.cheekypanda.com/ Uncommon create exceptional spaces for work.  Explore more at: https://uncommon.co.uk/ LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncommon_space/IG: https://www.instagram.com/uncommon_space/