Cloutology

James Murray, entrepreneur

Cloutology

Show Notes

If James Murray was from the US, he would epitomise the American dream. He’s British however, which makes his rise to success even more remarkable. The UK culture isn’t steeped in entrepreneurialism and risk-taking and was even less so in the 1990s when James was starting out.

Dyslexic, he left school with few qualifications and moved to London to find work whilst his counterparts went off to university. After failing as a delivery driver, he found his feet as a telecoms salesmen and then set up Alternative Networks with a friend in 1994. They each invested £5,000 in the new venture. 22 years later, they sold for £184,000,000.

James now mentors young entrepreneurs. Here’s his story …

More from Cloutology

Jul 4, 2019

Solomon B Taiwo grew up in East London on the same street as rap star Dizzie Rascal and with the same passion for music, but at the age of 19 he discovered acting and that became his ambition. His father didn’t approve, they fell out and Solomon ended up homeless. This is the story of how he rebuilt his life and his relationship with his father without compromising on his dream…

Jun 14, 2019

Professor Kristofer Helgen is a zoologist renowned for his daring expeditions to far flung corners of the globe where he has found dozens of previously undiscovered species of mammal. When he’s not on out in the field, he’s looking for clues for his next adventure in the backrooms of world museums. I found him in a dusty space full of animal skeletons deep in the bowls of London’s famous Natural History Museum…

May 24, 2019

Noëlla Coursaris Musunka was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo but sent to live in Europe with relatives when her father died and mother could no longer afford to keep her. She was forced to work long hours as a domestic worker whilst trying to study but got a break when she won a competition to model for the high-end lingerie brand Agent Provocateur. She now works between London and New York appearing in the likes of Vogue and Vanity Fair. She spends as much time as possible back in Congo where she set up a school for girls and supports the surrounding village. Noëlla has appeared on stage many times alongside speakers like former US President Bill Clinton to advocate for African youth.

Apr 26, 2019

Ian Marber was in his twenties and working in property investment when he was diagnosed with coeliac disease. He became so interested with his diet, that he decided to resign and use his savings to study nutrition full-time. He went on to set up The Food Doctor consultancy which he has since sold. Ian still advises individual and corporate clients but is best known for his television appearances, newspaper columns and bestselling books…

Apr 5, 2019

Sarah Willingham started working in a restaurant in northern England in her early teens and by her early 20s, she was managing one of the busiest eateries in Paris. She later moved to London, secured a senior management position at a leading British chain before deciding to break out on her own. Sarah now invests in a wide range of businesses and has been repeatedly cited as one of the UK’s most influential business leaders. She’s best known perhaps as a judge on the hit TV show Dragons Den. Money doesn’t drive Sarah but freedom does…

See all episodes →