[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] we do not suffer by accident this is a
we do not suffer by accident this is a
we do not suffer by accident this is a quote from the author Jane Austen and I
quote from the author Jane Austen and I
quote from the author Jane Austen and I couldn’t agree more
couldn’t agree more
couldn’t agree more as I share my experiences on finding
as I share my experiences on finding
as I share my experiences on finding purpose in the pain I’m the first born
purpose in the pain I’m the first born
purpose in the pain I’m the first born of seven children and both of my parents
of seven children and both of my parents
of seven children and both of my parents are from Ghana the pain surrounding
are from Ghana the pain surrounding
are from Ghana the pain surrounding barriers to education is one my family
barriers to education is one my family
barriers to education is one my family is known for generations I remember my
is known for generations I remember my
is known for generations I remember my dad telling us about how he had to Trek
dad telling us about how he had to Trek
dad telling us about how he had to Trek for hours often barefoot to beg for the
for hours often barefoot to beg for the
for hours often barefoot to beg for the basics he needed in order to go to
basics he needed in order to go to
basics he needed in order to go to school it was really hard to comprehend
school it was really hard to comprehend
school it was really hard to comprehend at the time but I often look back and
at the time but I often look back and
at the time but I often look back and think about how different my life would
think about how different my life would
think about how different my life would have been if he hadn’t overcome his
have been if he hadn’t overcome his
have been if he hadn’t overcome his obstacles of poverty and fought for his
obstacles of poverty and fought for his
obstacles of poverty and fought for his right to get an education my dad was
right to get an education my dad was
right to get an education my dad was actually the first in my family line to
actually the first in my family line to
actually the first in my family line to learn to read and write and to go to
learn to read and write and to go to
learn to read and write and to go to school so going down the line I ended up
school so going down the line I ended up
school so going down the line I ended up growing on council estates across
growing on council estates across
growing on council estates across Cambuur in Peckham and when I was
Cambuur in Peckham and when I was
Cambuur in Peckham and when I was growing up South London wasn’t the
growing up South London wasn’t the
growing up South London wasn’t the up-and-coming area that it is today for
up-and-coming area that it is today for
up-and-coming area that it is today for many of the children I grew up with
many of the children I grew up with
many of the children I grew up with education wasn’t a priority at all let’s
education wasn’t a priority at all let’s
education wasn’t a priority at all let’s just say they focus on other
just say they focus on other
just say they focus on other extracurricular activities in a way to
extracurricular activities in a way to
extracurricular activities in a way to shield us my dad would be very very hard
shield us my dad would be very very hard
shield us my dad would be very very hard on us he forced us to go to after-school
on us he forced us to go to after-school
on us he forced us to go to after-school clubs and after-school tutoring with my
clubs and after-school tutoring with my
clubs and after-school tutoring with my uncle he would go on and on about how we
uncle he would go on and on about how we
uncle he would go on and on about how we were so privileged to live in the UK and
were so privileged to live in the UK and
were so privileged to live in the UK and how we had such amazing opportunities
how we had such amazing opportunities
how we had such amazing opportunities before us it was clear to me that the
before us it was clear to me that the
before us it was clear to me that the pain of his path was propelling him to
pain of his path was propelling him to
pain of his path was propelling him to create a better future for us through
create a better future for us through
create a better future for us through his perseverance and persistence and to
his perseverance and persistence and to
his perseverance and persistence and to be honest my reluctant hard work after
be honest my reluctant hard work after
be honest my reluctant hard work after doing a series of exams I ended up
doing a series of exams I ended up
doing a series of exams I ended up securing a place within a prestigious
securing a place within a prestigious
securing a place within a prestigious boarding school now my time at boarding
boarding school now my time at boarding
boarding school now my time at boarding school really opened my eyes to the
school really opened my eyes to the
school really opened my eyes to the harsh realities of life it allowed me to
harsh realities of life it allowed me to
harsh realities of life it allowed me to see the beauty of life on one hand and
see the beauty of life on one hand and
see the beauty of life on one hand and also the harshness and the other here I
also the harshness and the other here I
also the harshness and the other here I was in these classes surrounded by all
was in these classes surrounded by all
was in these classes surrounded by all these wealthy kids who would talk about
these wealthy kids who would talk about
these wealthy kids who would talk about their weekends quadbiking with their big
their weekends quadbiking with their big
their weekends quadbiking with their big brothers
brothers
brothers or their holidays abroad and at this
or their holidays abroad and at this
or their holidays abroad and at this point I had never even left the country
point I had never even left the country
point I had never even left the country I often felt isolated and second-class
I often felt isolated and second-class
I often felt isolated and second-class and one particular day stood out to me
and one particular day stood out to me
and one particular day stood out to me more than others we went away as a
more than others we went away as a
more than others we went away as a school to play another school in the
school to play another school in the
school to play another school in the game of rugby the game got very very
game of rugby the game got very very
game of rugby the game got very very heated and unfortunately we ended up
heated and unfortunately we ended up
heated and unfortunately we ended up losing as arguments went between the two
losing as arguments went between the two
losing as arguments went between the two teams someone on my team referred to the
teams someone on my team referred to the
teams someone on my team referred to the other team as council estates come not
other team as council estates come not
other team as council estates come not realizing I had grown up on a council
realizing I had grown up on a council
realizing I had grown up on a council estate myself and so this really hit me
estate myself and so this really hit me
estate myself and so this really hit me to the core and I felt for myself it was
to the core and I felt for myself it was
to the core and I felt for myself it was the first time I could actually see be
the first time I could actually see be
the first time I could actually see be in equality in life and I determined
in equality in life and I determined
in equality in life and I determined even as a teenager to one day be a part
even as a teenager to one day be a part
even as a teenager to one day be a part of the process that evens out the uneven
of the process that evens out the uneven
of the process that evens out the uneven playing field years down the line I
playing field years down the line I
playing field years down the line I ended up working in the city as a senior
ended up working in the city as a senior
ended up working in the city as a senior recruitment consultant and to be honest
recruitment consultant and to be honest
recruitment consultant and to be honest I felt like I had made it in life I was
I felt like I had made it in life I was
I felt like I had made it in life I was in my early 20s and I was earning a lot
in my early 20s and I was earning a lot
in my early 20s and I was earning a lot of money and then it dawned on me that I
of money and then it dawned on me that I
of money and then it dawned on me that I was becoming a lot like those snobbish
was becoming a lot like those snobbish
was becoming a lot like those snobbish kids that look down on other people I
kids that look down on other people I
kids that look down on other people I realized that I began to tie my identity
realized that I began to tie my identity
realized that I began to tie my identity with how much I was earning and I began
with how much I was earning and I began
with how much I was earning and I began to look down on other people just like
to look down on other people just like
to look down on other people just like those kids I determined in my heart
those kids I determined in my heart
those kids I determined in my heart there and then that I had to make a
there and then that I had to make a
there and then that I had to make a change and I had to wake up every day
change and I had to wake up every day
change and I had to wake up every day and live for purpose and not live just
and live for purpose and not live just
and live for purpose and not live just to make money in the stumble to find my
to make money in the stumble to find my
to make money in the stumble to find my purpose I reflected on my pain as a
purpose I reflected on my pain as a
purpose I reflected on my pain as a teenager and how I wanted to even out
teenager and how I wanted to even out
teenager and how I wanted to even out the uneven playing field my wife and I
the uneven playing field my wife and I
the uneven playing field my wife and I had been supporting a charity based
had been supporting a charity based
had been supporting a charity based across Southern Africa could house of
across Southern Africa could house of
across Southern Africa could house of Wells whose mission it was is to reach
Wells whose mission it was is to reach
Wells whose mission it was is to reach out to the lost abandoned orphaned and
out to the lost abandoned orphaned and
out to the lost abandoned orphaned and the most vulnerable children in the
the most vulnerable children in the
the most vulnerable children in the region we were so inspired by their work
region we were so inspired by their work
region we were so inspired by their work that we started supporting them every
that we started supporting them every
that we started supporting them every single month on a monthly basis and then
single month on a monthly basis and then
single month on a monthly basis and then one day I just started scheming and
one day I just started scheming and
one day I just started scheming and dreaming and thinking about ways in
dreaming and thinking about ways in
dreaming and thinking about ways in which I could support this charity in a
which I could support this charity in a
which I could support this charity in a larger way I started dreaming about ways
larger way I started dreaming about ways
larger way I started dreaming about ways in which I could support them in a more
in which I could support them in a more
in which I could support them in a more sustainable way than just my personal
sustainable way than just my personal
sustainable way than just my personal giving every single month I had always
giving every single month I had always
giving every single month I had always been really passionate about fashion I’d
been really passionate about fashion I’d
been really passionate about fashion I’d always been really passionate about
always been really passionate about
always been really passionate about watches so I thought why not combine my
watches so I thought why not combine my
watches so I thought why not combine my passion for fashion with my passion for
passion for fashion with my passion for
passion for fashion with my passion for compassion and in December 2015 I lost
compassion and in December 2015 I lost
compassion and in December 2015 I lost my watch brand vitae London vitae is
my watch brand vitae London vitae is
my watch brand vitae London vitae is latin for life and our whole mattress to
latin for life and our whole mattress to
latin for life and our whole mattress to be the fashion brand changing lives so
be the fashion brand changing lives so
be the fashion brand changing lives so with each watch we sell we provide a
with each watch we sell we provide a
with each watch we sell we provide a child with the years well from school
child with the years well from school
child with the years well from school uniform to see them through school for a
uniform to see them through school for a
uniform to see them through school for a year and before starting vitae there was
year and before starting vitae there was
year and before starting vitae there was about a process over about a year where
about a process over about a year where
about a process over about a year where I was contacting loads of different
I was contacting loads of different
I was contacting loads of different retailers contacting loads of different
retailers contacting loads of different
retailers contacting loads of different factories to understand the market
factories to understand the market
factories to understand the market inside and out and to really understand
inside and out and to really understand
inside and out and to really understand what I was about to get into when that
what I was about to get into when that
what I was about to get into when that year was done I decided enough was
year was done I decided enough was
year was done I decided enough was enough
enough
enough i sat down my wife and I said hey babe I
i sat down my wife and I said hey babe I
i sat down my wife and I said hey babe I really want to leave this really
really want to leave this really
really want to leave this really well-paid job bringing in all this money
well-paid job bringing in all this money
well-paid job bringing in all this money and take our house savings to invest
and take our house savings to invest
and take our house savings to invest into a business and an industry that I
into a business and an industry that I
into a business and an industry that I have no experience in whatsoever and
have no experience in whatsoever and
have no experience in whatsoever and luckily for me she said yes the journey
luckily for me she said yes the journey
luckily for me she said yes the journey so far has been such a beautiful
so far has been such a beautiful
so far has been such a beautiful struggle and we’ve been going for just
struggle and we’ve been going for just
struggle and we’ve been going for just under two years and since launching
under two years and since launching
under two years and since launching we’ve managed the distribute over 2,000
we’ve managed the distribute over 2,000
we’ve managed the distribute over 2,000 items of uniform to children in need
items of uniform to children in need
items of uniform to children in need we’ve seen our work featured on the
we’ve seen our work featured on the
we’ve seen our work featured on the likes of CNN the BBC BuzzFeed we’ve also
likes of CNN the BBC BuzzFeed we’ve also
likes of CNN the BBC BuzzFeed we’ve also managed to partner with the anti-v
managed to partner with the anti-v
managed to partner with the anti-v Africa Music Awards which was an amazing
Africa Music Awards which was an amazing
Africa Music Awards which was an amazing highlight we’ve seen celebrities like
highlight we’ve seen celebrities like
highlight we’ve seen celebrities like Ava Duvernay and Emeli sandé and
Ava Duvernay and Emeli sandé and
Ava Duvernay and Emeli sandé and Richard Branson buy our watches and buy
Richard Branson buy our watches and buy
Richard Branson buy our watches and buy into what we do to the point that they
into what we do to the point that they
into what we do to the point that they share it with the world but in the midst
share it with the world but in the midst
share it with the world but in the midst of all these high moments and these
of all these high moments and these
of all these high moments and these great moments that you see publicized on
great moments that you see publicized on
great moments that you see publicized on my social media all the time there’s
my social media all the time there’s
my social media all the time there’s been so many low moments and I feel like
been so many low moments and I feel like
been so many low moments and I feel like in the mists of those low moments and
in the mists of those low moments and
in the mists of those low moments and the pain of those low moments I’ve
the pain of those low moments I’ve
the pain of those low moments I’ve probably learned a lot more than I
probably learned a lot more than I
probably learned a lot more than I learned in the really great moments of
learned in the really great moments of
learned in the really great moments of success so I would love to share a
success so I would love to share a
success so I would love to share a couple of key things that I’ve learned
couple of key things that I’ve learned
couple of key things that I’ve learned in my journey so far the first key thing
in my journey so far the first key thing
in my journey so far the first key thing I want to share is that I would
I want to share is that I would
I want to share is that I would encourage everyone in the room when
encourage everyone in the room when
encourage everyone in the room when starting a business to live like no one
starting a business to live like no one
starting a business to live like no one owes you anything I know this sounds
owes you anything I know this sounds
owes you anything I know this sounds very pessimistic but bear with me when I
very pessimistic but bear with me when I
very pessimistic but bear with me when I started my business I feel like I had a
started my business I feel like I had a
started my business I feel like I had a bit of an attitude of entitlement and it
bit of an attitude of entitlement and it
bit of an attitude of entitlement and it was a great idea
was a great idea
was a great idea and you I had a great product so I just
and you I had a great product so I just
and you I had a great product so I just assumed people were just buying to what
assumed people were just buying to what
assumed people were just buying to what I was doing I feel like with this social
I was doing I feel like with this social
I was doing I feel like with this social media generation because we see the
media generation because we see the
media generation because we see the success on the surface level and we
success on the surface level and we
success on the surface level and we don’t see all the work that goes into
don’t see all the work that goes into
don’t see all the work that goes into actually making that business a success
actually making that business a success
actually making that business a success we often feel like just as a flash of a
we often feel like just as a flash of a
we often feel like just as a flash of a pan we can see our business do well but
pan we can see our business do well but
pan we can see our business do well but one day I actually dawned on me that my
one day I actually dawned on me that my
one day I actually dawned on me that my siblings even my siblings or my cousins
siblings even my siblings or my cousins
siblings even my siblings or my cousins and those closest to me they woke up in
and those closest to me they woke up in
and those closest to me they woke up in the morning they got dressed they went
the morning they got dressed they went
the morning they got dressed they went to work they worked very hard to earn
to work they worked very hard to earn
to work they worked very hard to earn their money so there was no way I could
their money so there was no way I could
their money so there was no way I could ever tell them what to do with that
ever tell them what to do with that
ever tell them what to do with that money I had no right to have that
money I had no right to have that
money I had no right to have that attitude of entitlement to expect them
attitude of entitlement to expect them
attitude of entitlement to expect them to buy into what I was doing and when
to buy into what I was doing and when
to buy into what I was doing and when that realization came to me it was it
that realization came to me it was it
that realization came to me it was it was amazing because it really opened my
was amazing because it really opened my
was amazing because it really opened my eyes to start being a lot more grateful
eyes to start being a lot more grateful
eyes to start being a lot more grateful when they did buy into what I was doing
when they did buy into what I was doing
when they did buy into what I was doing because I didn’t expect them to you and
because I didn’t expect them to you and
because I didn’t expect them to you and also it pushed me to work a lot harder
also it pushed me to work a lot harder
also it pushed me to work a lot harder I had to ensure the quality of my
I had to ensure the quality of my
I had to ensure the quality of my watches were as good if not better than
watches were as good if not better than
watches were as good if not better than my competitors coupled with the fact
my competitors coupled with the fact
my competitors coupled with the fact that I wanted the price point to be
that I wanted the price point to be
that I wanted the price point to be again as good or if not better than them
again as good or if not better than them
again as good or if not better than them I held focus groups not just with a few
I held focus groups not just with a few
I held focus groups not just with a few of my friends but I held focus group
of my friends but I held focus group
of my friends but I held focus group with external people so they can be
with external people so they can be
with external people so they can be brutally honest about the business so I
brutally honest about the business so I
brutally honest about the business so I would really encourage everyone to live
would really encourage everyone to live
would really encourage everyone to live like no one owes you anything the second
like no one owes you anything the second
like no one owes you anything the second thing I would love to encourage everyone
thing I would love to encourage everyone
thing I would love to encourage everyone with is to start small since since
with is to start small since since
with is to start small since since starting the business obviously we’ve
starting the business obviously we’ve
starting the business obviously we’ve had some great traction we’ve seen some
had some great traction we’ve seen some
had some great traction we’ve seen some great awareness grow out there so people
great awareness grow out there so people
great awareness grow out there so people often come up to me and they’re like
often come up to me and they’re like
often come up to me and they’re like well I’ve got this amazing idea I want
well I’ve got this amazing idea I want
well I’ve got this amazing idea I want to start this I want to start that and
to start this I want to start that and
to start this I want to start that and one particular girl came up to me and
one particular girl came up to me and
one particular girl came up to me and said she’s got this phenomenal platform
said she’s got this phenomenal platform
said she’s got this phenomenal platform that she wants to start which would
that she wants to start which would
that she wants to start which would encourage more women to get into the
encourage more women to get into the
encourage more women to get into the world of technology and I was literally
world of technology and I was literally
world of technology and I was literally blown away by her idea I kind of sat
blown away by her idea I kind of sat
blown away by her idea I kind of sat back and then I the first thing I said
back and then I the first thing I said
back and then I the first thing I said to her in response is so what have you
to her in response is so what have you
to her in response is so what have you actually done so far and like so many
actually done so far and like so many
actually done so far and like so many other people that I’d met on the journey
other people that I’d met on the journey
other people that I’d met on the journey she turned back to me and said she had
she turned back to me and said she had
she turned back to me and said she had done nothing I feel like so many of us
done nothing I feel like so many of us
done nothing I feel like so many of us are so intimidated by the scale of our
are so intimidated by the scale of our
are so intimidated by the scale of our dreams that we end up doing nothing at
dreams that we end up doing nothing at
dreams that we end up doing nothing at all but I would encourage everyone that
all but I would encourage everyone that
all but I would encourage everyone that if you
if you
if you can just take one step every single day
can just take one step every single day
can just take one step every single day before you know it you would have scaled
before you know it you would have scaled
before you know it you would have scaled a mountain so in conclusion I just want
a mountain so in conclusion I just want
a mountain so in conclusion I just want to ask everyone in the room what pains
to ask everyone in the room what pains
to ask everyone in the room what pains you the most what in the world
you the most what in the world
you the most what in the world agitate cyou the most because you might
agitate cyou the most because you might
agitate cyou the most because you might find your purpose within this if I
find your purpose within this if I
find your purpose within this if I didn’t look and seek for the pain in my
didn’t look and seek for the pain in my
didn’t look and seek for the pain in my life and the thing that I wanted to
life and the thing that I wanted to
life and the thing that I wanted to change the most hundreds of children
change the most hundreds of children
change the most hundreds of children would not be in school today because
would not be in school today because
would not be in school today because remember this we do not suffer by
remember this we do not suffer by
remember this we do not suffer by accident thank you
accident thank you
accident thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
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