Cloutology

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…

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…

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.

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…

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…

Tom Kerss is an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich in London – founded in 1675, its one of the most important scientific sites in the world. Tom has also authored books including Moongazing: Beginner’s Guide to Exploring the Moon. If space is his passion then failing to communicate that is his fear.

Sir Geoffrey Kent is founder of the award-winning luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent and he’s credited with inventing the experiential holiday. He has hosted everyone on his legendary African safaris from David Rockerfeller to Richard Burton and Prince Harry - each guest adding to his extraordinary bank of wild tales from every corner of the globe. Sir Geoffrey was brought up in the African bush himself and was trained at the Royal Military Academy in England but he has an old Land Rover and a few old notes of cash to thank for the towering empire that he eventually built…

Linda Yueh is a Fellow in Economics Oxford University, a Professor at the London Business School and visiting Professor at Peking University. She’s advised the World Bank, European Commission, Asian Development Bank, World Economic Forum in Davos and held non-executive directorships at several major companies. She’s also a widely published author who’s had her own TV shows at Bloomberg and the BBC. With so many different roles, how does she describe herself?

Mark Wright is an award-winning entrepreneur and self-taught digital marketing specialist. He made his name winning The Apprentice TV show in the UK and he now runs several successful businesses. He made the Forbes 30 under 30 list for Europe in 2017, was named Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2018 UK Business Awards and it all started when he arrived in London as a backpacker from Australia.

Levison Wood is a soldier-turned-explorer, best-selling author, photographer and documentary film-maker. In 2014, he completed a nine-month expedition along the length of the Nile and followed up with an even more ambitious trek along the Himalayas from Afghanistan to Bhutan and then a 5,000 mile circumnavigation of the Arabian peninsula from Iraq to Lebanon. Previously, Levison served as an Officer in the British Parachute Regiment and saw combat against the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2008. It may not surprise you to hear his fear is being stuck behind a desk.