Like many social entrepreneurs, my personal story has played a significant part in shaping my work to create the London Early Years Foundation (LEYF), one of the UK’s most successful and award-winning charitable social enterprises.

As a young single parent excluded from the childcare system because of negative attitudes, lack of access and affordability, I vowed that one day I would disrupt this unfairness by building an inclusive childcare model that did not exclude single parents or parents who were poor. It would also create a business centred on its social purpose to provide the best-in-class nursery provision to support ALL children whilst delivering a unique seven-strand pedagogy to drive social justice and benefit those thousands of children who need it the most.

My mission is to now guide and support other businesses to develop their economic, social and environmental sustainability, strengthen their leadership and pedagogy, and develop their growth strategies. This will ensure the highest quality service and an optimal new condition for those disadvantaged by the current state.

Whilst doing things differently won't necessarily be technically difficult, it will involve a paradigm shift in thinking. I’m a great believer that businesses can be a force for progressive change, especially when corporate, public organisations and social enterprises all learn from each other and put purpose at the heart of the service.