Taran O’Doherty’s journey from teenage dreamer to thriving business owner proves success is built on adaptability, grit, and clear values.

In this candid conversation, Taran shares how he and his partner Ben transformed a small furniture hire startup into a multi-million-pound operation without external funding or experience, relying instead on street smarts, relentless reinvestment, and a refusal to accept “no” as an answer. In this episode, we break down their bold strategies, including opening 7 days a week, negotiating everything from van rentals to contracts, and prioritising relationships over purely transactional dealings.

Taran shares the importance of intuition, trust, and staying true to core values in a rapidly changing industry, plus how AI’s emerging role can streamline operations and unlock new opportunities. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned business owner, or simply looking for motivation to keep going, this episode is a blueprint for resilient, meaningful success.

Key Takeaways:

• The power of unstructured intuition over formal experience
• Building a business around relationships, not transactions
• Embracing constant change as a strategic advantage
• Prioritising company culture and core values in scaling
• Operating with lean capital by reinvesting and avoiding external debt
• Long-term thinking as a driver of sustained innovation and differentiation
• The importance of personal well-being and authenticity in leadership

For more information about Club Altura, the new community for event business leaders, click here - https://kershawpartners.co.uk/club-altura/

Lisa James, founder of the Wentworth Collective is known for her 30 years in hospitality, high-end event creation, and her candid insights on leadership, wellbeing, and cultural transformation. In this episode, Lisa shares her inspiring journey from a travel-obsessed airline baby to a leader who champions positivity, strong values, and authentic relationships in the events industry. Discover how her early experiences shaped her approach to leadership, client service, and supporting her team, alongside her honest insights on motherhood, menopause, and mental wellbeing. We discuss:

• How growing up as an airline child influenced Lisa's passion for hospitality and service excellence
• The pivotal shift from doing to leading when stepping into her CEO role
• Building a culture based on values like kindness, loyalty, and excellence
• The importance of authenticity, emotional intelligence, and vulnerability in leadership
• Lisa’s insights on mentoring, giving back, and the power of positive conversations
• Navigating motherhood, menopause, and health challenges in the workplace
• The role of trust, communication, and creating safe environments for teams and clients
• How her experience with travel, languages, and cultural exposure enriches her event creation
• Future ambitions, including consulting, public speaking, and mentoring

Whether you’re scaling a business or seeking a fresh perspective on how positivity and relationships fuel success, Lisa’s powerful stories and expert advice are your blueprint for making an impact both personally and professionally.

Deborah Rey-Burns' unique journey from finance to art to founding Propeller showcases a radical approach to sourcing and shaping speakers who cut through the noise. She’s built an industry niche, representing future-facing thinkers in technology, creativity, and culture, by challenging industry norms and emphasising genuine impact over mere presentation. In this conversation, we learn how Deborah cultivates extraordinary speaker briefs, challenges assumptions about what makes a compelling talk, and leverages unconventional expertise to create sessions that truly land: from a World Champion shooter sleeping in firing ranges to a cyborg artist seeing sound.

Key Takeaways:

- Diversity as a Strategic Asset in Speaker Selection

- Systems Thinking as a Differentiator in an Opaque Industry

- The Power of Authentic Storytelling in Event Impact

- De-Risking Through Curated Expertise and Selectivity

- The Hidden Value of Active, Multichannel Relationship Building

- Intentionally Designing Overwhelm to Build Buyer Trust

- The Future of Event Content Lies in Precision and Tangible Takeaways