"Block out the noise. Focus on yourself." - Laura Harper-Hinton, Co-founder & CEO Caravan

From Doubt to Drive – Entrepreneurs Only Today, we are joined by Laura Harper-Hinton, Co-founder & CEO of Caravan (https://caravanandco.com/)

Originally from New Zealand, Laura immigrated to the UK and co-founded Caravan in 2010 with two New Zealand partners. Caravan, a coffee roastery and restaurant operator, was a pioneer in the specialty coffee sector and has since grown to operate eight stores in London, one in Manchester, and three coffee bars. Caravan has achieved this year €30 million in sales, €2.5 million in profit, employs 500 people, and is proudly B-Corp certified.

Laura shares her passion for hiking and the lessons entrepreneurs can learn from extreme sports, particularly in balancing risks. We also discussed her earlier career in event management, how she improved her stress management and resilience, and how these skills shaped her entrepreneurial journey with Caravan. Laura openly shares the challenges of building a business while raising a family, describing her unique rhythm of "restaurant–baby–restaurant–baby."

Additionally, Laura sheds light on the differences between running a restaurant company and managing an FMCG coffee brand. Caravan’s commitment to ethical sourcing is evident, with at least 50% of their coffee sourced from female-led cooperatives.

Our key takeaways from the conversation are:

1. You need to find time to clear your head and slow down.
2. Give yourself time to let ideas filter in.
3. Learn how to manage stress.
4. Crises are an opportunity to stay calm or lose your shit.
5. Maintain a steady mind and a steady hand.
6. Take measured risks.
7. Back yourself and go for it.
8. Put your own mask on first.
9. Take time out to create headspace.
10. Elevate your culture from good to great.
11. Make everyone feel welcome. Create a workspace that feels like a home away from home.
12. Build a culture of belonging.
13. Embrace diversity.
14. Don’t let profit outweigh your values.
15. Block out the noise. Focus on yourself.
16. Trust your instincts.
17. Play the long game.
18. Believe in yourself. …

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© From Doubt to Drive Podcast, owned and operated by Aperitivo International B.V Recorded on 30th September 2024 via Zoom in London, UK (Laura Harper-Hinton) – Ella, Sri Lanka (Mario C. Bauer) – Hamburg, Germany (Florian Schneider).