Mindset, Mistakes & Scaling a Food Business

What does it take to pivot from chasing music dreams to building one of the UK’s most exciting Caribbean food brands?

In this episode of Founder Stories, Simon Kallu sits down with Michael Johnson, founder of Marjayz, to unpack the bold decisions, mindset shifts, and business lessons that shaped his journey from rap artist to restaurant entrepreneur.

After walking away from a creative career, Michael risked everything to secure a restaurant lease — with borrowed money. Today, Marjayz is a fast-growing Caribbean food brand with big expansion plans and a clear focus on culture, consistency, and community.

✔️ How a rap career built the resilience needed to succeed in business

✔️ The story behind launching Marjayz and its early challenges

✔️ Why customer experience and culture beat trends every time

✔️ The hardest mistakes he made — and how he came back stronger

✔️ What it takes to scale a food brand without losing authenticity

This conversation blends founder honesty, growth mindset, and real-world strategy — ideal for anyone navigating pivots, pressure, or purpose-driven growth.

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🔑 Pivoting industries isn’t failure — it’s foundation for growth

🔑 Community and customer culture matter more than hype

🔑 Setbacks are setups for stronger comebacks

🔑 Longevity requires vision, discipline, and grit

If you’re a founder building a brand from scratch, bouncing back from failure, or scaling in a crowded market — this episode is for you.

Michael Johnson is the founder of Marjayz, a Caribbean food brand and restaurant known for combining authenticity with big-picture thinking. His journey from music to hospitality brings a fresh, creative perspective to business — grounded in grit, vision, and community.

Simon Kallu is the founder of GrowFactor and host of Founder Stories, where he helps entrepreneurs scale smarter and live life on their terms.

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes: youtube.com/@founderstoriespodcast

🌐 Learn more: www.growfactor.com

🎙 Follow Simon Kallu:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/simonkallu

Instagram: instagram.com/simonkallu

TikTok: tiktok.com/@simonkallu

🎙 Follow Michael Johnson:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/micheal-johnson-951855199

Instagram: instagram.com/marjayzbirmingham

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Building Europe’s Most Exclusive Founder Club at 21: Inside the A-Players Model

What if entrepreneurs didn’t need more courses or content — but access, community, and the right environment?

In this special Marbella edition of Founder Stories, Simon Kallu sits down with James Galligan, the 21-year-old founder of A-Players — Europe’s most premium private network for high-performance entrepreneurs, experts, and investors.

At an age when most are still figuring things out, James has built a global business ecosystem that gives founders the structure, support, and strategic connections they need to scale — all under one roof.

This isn’t your average networking group. A-Players is built to help entrepreneurs grow their offers, teams, mindset, and revenue — fast.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

✔️ How James launched and scaled A-Players at just 21

✔️ What makes a real “A-Player” in today’s business world

✔️ How the club helps founders attract better clients, partners, and hires

✔️ Why community is the real shortcut to success

✔️ The mindset shifts every founder needs to scale globally

This conversation is packed with behind-the-scenes insight on founder-led growth, the power of curated community, and what it actually takes to build a global network at a young age.

🔑 You don’t need to do business alone — you just need the right people

🔑 Curated community beats mass networking every time

🔑 Age doesn’t matter — execution does

🔑 Structure is the real path to freedom as a founder

If you’ve ever felt isolated as a founder, tired of noisy communities, or ready to connect with real players who can help you scale — this episode is for you.

James Galligan is the founder and CEO of A-Players, Europe’s most exclusive private founder network for entrepreneurs, experts, and investors. Built from Marbella and serving clients across Europe, A-Players blends high-level strategy, team building, and access to global networks — helping founders go further, faster.

Simon Kallu is the founder of GrowFactor and host of Founder Stories, where he helps entrepreneurs scale smarter and live life on their terms.

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes: https://youtube.com/@founderstoriespodcast

🌐 Learn more: www.growfactor.com

🌐 Explore A-Players: www.aplayers.team

🎙 Follow Simon Kallu:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/simonkallu

Instagram: instagram.com/simonkallu

TikTok: tiktok.com/@simonkallu

🎙 Follow James Galligan:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jamesgalliganeducate

Instagram: instagram.com/jamesgalligann

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Building Communities That Last: From Corporate Career to The Partnership Collection

What if business networking wasn’t about selling — but about friendship, experiences, and community?

In this episode of Founder Stories, Simon Kallu sits down with Torie Blythe-Richards, founder and MD of The Partnership Collection, to explore how she built a private members club for entrepreneurs and business owners that thrives on authentic relationships instead of sales pitches.

After 25 years in the corporate world, Torie took the leap into entrepreneurship and created a business that blends luxury experiences, genuine friendships, and long-term client relationships. Over the last decade, The Partnership Collection has grown into a trusted community of UK entrepreneurs where business growth flows naturally from connection, not cold selling.

✔️ Why Torie left corporate life to launch her own business

✔️ How The Partnership Collection became a thriving entrepreneurial community

✔️ The role of customer feedback in shaping a sustainable business model

✔️ Why authentic connections and experiences lead to more business than networking ever could

✔️ Lessons on mindset, cash flow, and resilience from 10+ years in business

This conversation blends founder journey, mindset coaching, and practical business strategy — packed with lessons on adaptability, customer care, and building communities that last.

🔑 Authentic relationships create more value than hard-selling

🔑 Customer feedback is the best roadmap for growth

🔑 Mindset and resilience are critical for entrepreneurs

🔑 Cash flow discipline is the lifeline of any business

If you’ve ever wondered how to stand out in a crowded market, retain clients for a decade, and design a business that fits your lifestyle, this episode is for you.

Torie Blythe-Richards is the founder and MD of The Partnership Collection, a private members club for entrepreneurs built on shared experiences, luxury events, and authentic connections. With 25 years of corporate leadership and more than a decade running her own business, Torie brings deep expertise in resilience, adaptability, and community-building.

Simon Kallu is the founder of GrowFactor and host of Founder Stories, where he helps entrepreneurs scale smarter and live life on their terms.

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes: https://youtube.com/@founderstoriespodcast

🌐 Learn more: www.growfactor.com

🎙 Follow Simon Kallu:

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/simonkallu

Instagram: https://instagram.com/simonkallu

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@simonkallu

🎙 Follow Torie Blythe-Richards:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/torieb/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/torieblytherichards/

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