Dan Flanagan, Dad La Soul on 1-2-1 Mentoring

"I'd known Sara for a few years before we started working together 1-2-1 and have always found her very friendly and genuinely willing to help without agenda.

Sara has an incredible innate sense of helping people to see through the fog and an invaluable black book of contacts that she is willing to share.

Even though I was several years into running my social enterprise, Dad La Soul, during the pandemic it became almost like ground zero. Our organisation, which is primarily event-based, had suffered the full wrath of Lockdown restrictions, and I was genuinely at a loss about what to do.

I knew Sara worked with start-ups but wasn't sure if she could help someone who was more established. A quick call and my mind was immediately put at rest. I started working with Sara on an ongoing 1-2-1 basis. We stripped back the uncertainty and answered some tough questions that I had been avoiding.

Ultimately I regained the confidence that what I was doing mattered, and as a business, it had massive potential so I couldn't give up; I just needed to regroup and pivot.

As well as her advice, Sara has recommended and introduced me to people who fill my own knowledge or expertise gaps and, years down the line, are still crucial parts of our team.

Sometimes a simple conversation with someone that knows what they are talking about, is there in your corner, and isn't scared to sugarcoat the uncomfortable is precisely what you need.

If you are looking to launch your own business but are unsure about the next steps, go speak to Sara; you won't regret it.

An absolute pleasure to work with you, Sara. Thank you for being the voice of reason when I was really up against it. Much appreciated!”

Dan Flanagan, Founder of Dad La Soul