Start small, think big, act fast: Building a business with purpose with Sharla-Jaye Duncan

2025-09-17

What does it mean to be truly mission-driven, and how can changing someone’s environment transform the course of their life? Today’s guest, Sharla-Jaye Duncan, is a social entrepreneur and fierce advocate for educational and career equity. Growing up in South London surrounded by more people who were going to jail than finishing school, Sharla-Jaye could not see a future for herself — until a pivotal friendship showed her the power of support, perspective, and opportunity. That moment set her on a path to founding Team Up

What does it mean to be truly mission-driven, and how can changing someone’s environment transform the course of their life?

Today’s guest, Sharla-Jaye Duncan, is a social entrepreneur and fierce advocate for educational and career equity. Growing up in South London surrounded by more people who were going to jail than finishing school, Sharla-Jaye could not see a future for herself — until a pivotal friendship showed her the power of support, perspective, and opportunity.

That moment set her on a path to founding Team Up, Journi, and Day One — organisations that have helped thousands of young people from underrepresented communities unlock opportunity and redefine what’s possible.

In this episode, Sharla-Jaye shares her story with remarkable honesty and wisdom. From confronting racism and sexism, to navigating cycles of fear and hope in the global economy, to advice on actionable steps when starting a business — she reveals how we can all challenge the odds stacked against us, find the right people to lift us higher, and step into the rooms where change happens.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that we are more powerful than we think we are.

In this episode, we discuss:

Growing up without role models and discovering possibility through others
The difference between knowing what’s right and dedicating yourself to it
The impact of changing environments on human potential
Why people from lower socio-economic backgrounds often don’t stay in high-paying jobs
How to change minds by first understanding them
The importance of driven friends who keep you accountable
Anger, power, and choosing hope
What success really means — and how to deal with jealousy
Actionable advice for starting your own business

Find Sharla-Jaye Duncan: