Ideas Forged in the Fire

Through sheer determination, resilience and a strong work ethic, some of the country’s most promising self-made business leaders have overcome adversity and risen to the challenge.

Social mobility remains a significant challenge in the UK. People from non-professional or disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds are less likely to reach senior leadership positions. They typically earn less than their more privileged peers too.

Yet the leaders in The LDC Top 50 are challenging that narrative by proving that the ability to become a successful leader is not always defined by one’s start in life. Many have overcome hardship to build thriving businesses.

Russell Teale, founder of tech platform Vivify, didn’t have a lot growing up. “In the winter there would be ice on the inside of the windows, we’d often run out of gas but have a little bit left on the electric meter and my mum would do ‘movie night’ under the blankets.”

This is how Teale learned about resilience and responsibility – especially as a 16-year-old when he had to step up to help care for his newborn brother. “Having a strong work ethic was ingrained in me from a young age. We had no choice. My mum was 17 when she had me,” he says.

Teale began his working life in gyms and later started a health and fitness business. Inspired to help local communities, he launched Vivify in 2020. The booking platform helps schools earn extra income by renting out facilities such as swimming pools and sports halls. More than £10 million worth of income has since been raised across 286 schools.

“My mum showed me creativity, survival, love, warmth and determination,” Teale says. “She progressed really well in her career – phenomenally well.

“Unfortunately, she passed away four years ago. But for the majority of her life she was a mum who devoted her time to helping others. It’s what has inspired me now.” Teale has two daughters and says he wants to bring them up with the same generous spirit.

Burgers to Banking

Like Teale, Cathy Acratopulo knows what it’s like to learn from a mum working multiple jobs.

The co-founder of LACE Partners was raised by her mother in Cornwall after her parents divorced when she was four years old.

Acratopulo says she has herself always strived for academic success. She funded her degree in psychology by working at Burger King, before starting her postgraduate career at Barclays.

After taking five years out to raise her children, who are 20 and 22, Acratopulo was itching to get back to the coalface. Having always enjoyed working in consulting, she co-founded LACE Partners with Aaron Alburey in 2014 to help FTSE 250 companies improve their HR function and tackle complex workforce challenges. “For any business, whether product or service based, a major driver in success will be their people,” says Acratopulo. “How can you enable them to be productive, engaged and driven in their role? We help companies shape their people strategy.”

There is clearly high demand. LACE Partners will reach 125 people this year and is on track to double the business by the end of 2027.

“I’m super proud of what I’ve achieved and so is my mum,” says Acratopulo. “We’re really close and my family take real pleasure in seeing the success of the business.

“Both my children admire their mum and appreciate the environment they grew up in.”

Breaking the Cycle

Ryan Clark describes himself as coming from one of the most challenging areas in Scotland. He says that the experience of growing up there was his motivation to succeed but finding his path wasn’t straightforward.

“I wanted a better life,” he explains. “I’ve loved technology since I was a kid, and studied mechatronic engineering at college. But when I got to university, other people on my course were just more talented and I knew I was never going to be a great engineer. I left after one week.”

Clark took a job as a security guard at 18 years old and got promoted into a management role after a year, later moving into sales. He always had an interest in technology and spotted a gap in the market for an effective security system.

Using his own savings, Clark launched Safer Group in 2016. The company offers cutting-edge intruder detection technology through its Safer POD systems. “Building our own product was the single most important decision we made,” he explains. “Making it visually cool makes us different to competitors.” Revenue quadrupled in 2024.

“It was a big jump,” Clark adds. “We’re now in a position where we’re generating enough profit to do more interesting things. At the moment we’re focused on private security systems, and the next evolution for the business will be to focus on national defence and national infrastructure security.”

Work-life Balancing Act

Despite the everyday pressure, The LDC Top 50 leaders find creative ways to unwind.

Life as a leader of a fast-growing company is demanding. Only a fifth of UK professionals keep to their core hours – roughly 80 per cent now put in extra time, often in the evenings or at weekends, according to Robert Walters and Microsoft’s Work Trend Index.

The LDC Top 50 leaders recognise the need to unwind after a hard day building their businesses, but that doesn’t necessarily mean slowing down.

“My idea of switching off is to drive a car really fast,” explains Dr Steven Compton, the founder of DSC Nutrition, which manufactures vitamins and supplements.

“I’ve got a Nissan GTR — I had it modified by a famous tuner, Litchfield, and at RaceWars at Kendrew Barracks I broke the standing mile record twice, hitting 228.6mph.” Now he’s taking it a step further.