How Tom Gozney Ended Up Installing a Pizza Oven for Richard Branson

Sometimes the right opportunity doesn’t come knocking, you have to send the email.

In this Bite-sized episode, I speak with Tom Gozney, founder of Gozney, about the moment that took his business from a small British startup to global recognition. After entering Virgin’s Pitch to Rich competition, Tom didn’t win but he did get something far more valuable: a personal email from Sir Richard Branson.

What happened next was surreal. Tom replied boldly, saying Necker Island needed a Gozney oven. Weeks later, he found himself flying out to the Caribbean to install one of his ovens on Turtle Beach. He worked in the heat, wrote his wedding speech on the sand, and realised he’d built something extraordinary from his garden project.

This story captures the heart of entrepreneurship: resilience, timing, and the confidence to reach out when others might hesitate.

Key Takeaways

Create your own luck. Tom’s story shows how initiative opens doors that awards can’t.

Be bold with opportunity. One brave message led to a career-defining collaboration.

Hard work pays off—literally. Installing ovens in Caribbean heat was proof that commitment builds credibility.

Success often feels surreal. From home projects to Necker Island, progress often comes quietly until you look back.

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