Gaia Beck is a business powerhouse, who started out selling used cars and discovered that business is all about giving people what they want. She then moved into Film PR gaining a sense of excitement from the events industry.

Gaia worked with all of London's most exclusive nightclubs before she started Cocktails & Conversation, a London dating events and networking company now so popular that even couples now want to attend. Known for its black-tie events and masquerade balls, Cocktails & Conversation holds exclusive events for hundreds of guests.

Under the name London Represents, Gaia now also runs fashion shows which promote diversity using a range of models and independent brands, with half of all proceeds going to the charity Bullock Inclusion.

Last year she also launched Chippingin, a platform she developed with her son and a co-founder to help children crowdfund for toys, presents, charities and more, by raising funds from friends and family.

Gaia previously ran a conference aimed at getting more black women into the tech industry, and is passionate about more female and diverse founders getting investment in their businesses.

• Cocktails & Conversation - CocktailsAndConversation.co.uk / @cocktails_and_conversation
• Chippingin - chippingin.co.uk / @wearechippingin
• London Represents - LondonRepresents.com / @london_represents

Charlotte Curran is the woman behind ARTEMIS, a Manchester-based jewellery and accessories brand.

In 2014, Charlotte started hand-making jewellery as a side-hustle alongside college, but over the pandemic ARTEMIS became a fully-fledged business. It is female-run with Charlotte now employing a team, recognised by WorkL as one of the happiest places to work in the UK.

Charlotte juggled running the business in Manchester while studying for her Masters’ degree and was a Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards in 2021.

• ARTEMIS website: artemisaccessories.co.uk
• ARTEMIS Instagram: @artemis.accessories
• Book a free coaching call with Charlotte
• Connect with Charlotte on LinkedIn

Thanks for listening - @hustleuppodcast

In my tenth episode I’m joined by Matthew Grossett, the owner of Walnuts and Honey, a black-owned micro-bakery based in South Norwood, London.

Matthew specialises in exotic flavour combinations and luxury vegan/gluten-free bakes including eye-catching swirled buttercream cupcakes (which I’m a huge fan of). He also takes orders for birthday and occasion cakes each week.

We touched on Matthew's love of sweet treats and how after a period travelling he realised he no longer wanted to work in an office. He started out by taking his bakes to markets, before finding a shop that fit the bill.

After four years, Walnuts and Honey is going from strength to strength. With Matthew as the sole employee in the shop (cake maker, front of house and coffee making), he considers other local business owners as his colleagues.

In the future he is hoping to grow the business, adding an additional premises for more baking.

Pop by his shop by Norwood Junction station now to check out his vegan cakes or place your order for any special cakes by emailing at the link below.

• Website: https://www.walnutsandhoney.co.uk/
• Email: walnutsandhoney@gmail.com
• Instagram: @walnutsandhoney
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WalnutsAndHoney/

Thanks for listening - @hustleuppodcast