Guest host Lynne Avery sits down with Darcy Laceby, co-founder of Absolute Collagen, to explore what it really takes to build a standout brand.

Darcy shares her insights on creating a compelling brand story, building lasting customer loyalty, and growing in confidence as a business leader, offering practical takeaways for any business looking to scale with purpose. Recorded live at our International Women's Day event.

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In this live episode from the West Midlands Business Festival, we sit down with Kavita Parmar, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Word360, to explore how a purpose-driven tech company is scaling responsibly while transforming access to vital services.

Kavita shares the story of how Word360 grew from a small interpreting business in Handsworth into a multi-award-winning UK-wide and international language technology organisation, supporting over 750,000 people each year across 350+ languages. She reflects on the challenges of scaling in regulated sectors, leading a large distributed workforce, and maintaining trust and quality at every stage.

We also cover:

🌍 How Kavita’s lived experience and purpose-led approach sparked Word360’s creation

💪 The journey of women in tech and leadership, and the barriers she’s overcome

📈 How to recognise the right time to grow, and scale confidently without compromising values

🤝 The role of public and private support in unlocking growth opportunities

🏙️ Why place, purpose, and pride in the West Midlands remain central to Word360’s success

Whether you’re a founder, business leader, or just curious about scaling responsibly in complex industries, this conversation is full of practical insight, inspiration, and lessons from the frontlines of growth.

👉 Subscribe to The Growth Room Podcast for more conversations with the people shaping business in the West Midlands.

🔗 Learn more and access growth support: businessgrowthwestmidlands.org.uk/podcast

📲 Listen on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and more.

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In this episode, we sit down with Krishna Yadlapalli, CEO and Founder of Booghe Toys, to explore how a modern retail brand is using experience, community and innovation to reshape the way families shop and play.

Krishna shares how Booghe evolved from an ecommerce store into a highly interactive physical destination featuring play zones, hands-on product discovery and VR gaming. He also discusses what this shift taught him about customer behaviour, the importance of being unique and why balancing digital convenience with in-person engagement is becoming essential for today’s retailers.

We also cover:

🎮 Why experiential retail is transforming family shopping

🧠 What you learn about customers in-store that online data cannot show

🌆 Why Krishna remains confident in the long-term potential of the high street

👥 How leadership and team development support sustainable expansion

Whether you’re a retailer, founder or someone curious about where modern consumer experiences are heading, this conversation is packed with practical insight and forward-thinking ideas.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping growth across the West Midlands.

🔗 Learn more about BGWM: businessgrowthwestmidlands.org.uk

📲 Follow us: LinkedIn, Facebook, X @BizGrowthWM

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In this episode, we sit down with Rowan Crozier MBE, CEO of C. Brandauer & Co Ltd - one of Birmingham’s oldest and most innovative precision engineering firms, to explore how a heritage manufacturer with roots in the 1700s is shaping the future of global industry.

Rowan shares how Brandauer has transformed from a traditional West Midlands metal pressings company into a world-class exporter, now sending over 70% of its output to more than 26 countries.

From securing multi-million-pound international contracts to leading a management buy-out (MBO) and charting a 10-year growth plan to reach £12m+ turnover, Rowan discusses what it takes to evolve, scale, and stay competitive on the world stage.

We also dive into:

🌍 What makes a business truly “export ready”

💡 Why investing in people and skills is key to long-term success

⚙️ How automation and innovation are redefining British manufacturing

🤝 The role of regional partnerships and programmes in supporting SME growth

Whether you’re a Midlands manufacturer, a business leader, or simply inspired by stories of transformation and ambition, this conversation is packed with practical insights on balancing heritage, innovation, and global aspirations.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping growth across the West Midlands.

🔗 Learn more about BGWM: businessgrowthwestmidlands.org.uk

📲 Follow us: LinkedIn, Facebook, X - @BizGrowthWM

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