I've always loved the idea of having my own business. When I was young, I met Richard Branson on a Virgin flight; where he met all the passengers. I thought it was amazing that he created a business, made money, and had a huge amount of fun at the same time. It made me realise that’s what I wanted to do.
When I saw what Bath’s business course offered, I thought it was brilliant. I loved the way that you could do two placements. My first placement was at a startup, and I loved that environment.
When it was time for my second placement, I’d just launched the experiential ice cream brand Pan and Ice. I didn't think I'd be allowed to do a placement at my company, but I was. That shows the level of trust and commitment Bath has to business and its students.
The timing of it was perfect. I worked on Pan and Ice for nine months, built the foundation, and finished my exams. The day I left university, I moved to London and continued with the business.
"We rolled the dice and got lucky"
Pan and Ice had hundreds of employees and was one of the fastest-growing ice cream brands in the UK. I sold out of that business to progress with bigger opportunities.
So, in 2020, I launched Bubba Oasis. We're effectively a neighbourhood clubhouse. We have elements of a co-working space during the day and an event venue at night. We do a lot of live music, partner with big DJs and host corporate parties.
The COVID-19 pandemic was the first time I had time to think and get creative about what kind of hospitality company I wanted to make. It allowed me the time to refine the model, recruit a great team, find the correct sites and learn about how the whole business works.
Launching during a pandemic, we rolled the dice and got lucky. We boast some great clients, which I’m proud of. Last week we had the Goldman Sachs Summer Party up on our rooftop and, before that, the TikTok summer party.
"It’s easy to have a dream, but you've got to act on it"
I was lucky to have been awarded Forbes 30 under 30 a couple of months ago, which is epic. Awards are a byproduct of meaningful work. It’s a testament to the team's efforts. We've been working extremely hard, focusing on creating a brilliant core business. So, it's the first time we've got external recognition from a well-respected source.
If anyone reading this is at university and wants to be an entrepreneur, now is the best time to start. You have time to get the big mistakes out of the way. I still make silly decisions today, to be honest! But the earlier you start, the earlier you learn.
The plan for Bubba Hospitality group is to grow in London and eventually expand to connect and shape happier neighbourhoods across the globe.
To me, ambition is acting on your vision. It’s easy to have a dream, but you've got to act on it every day to make it a reality.