Suggest Your Heroes
Have you escaped? Know someone who has?The Hero Hall of Fame
Hero
City Compliance Officer > Online Start-Up
"Don’t lose sight of your dream. If you really want something, set your goal and every day make small steps in that direction." If you have a question for Zoe make sure you ask at the bottom of her profile.
Hero
Barry Sutton: Tattoo-Inspired Wines
Barry is launching a range of wine called Cliff Raven which celebrates tattoos on its labels. He has some great advice and inspiration for anyone looking to do something entrepreneurial: "It takes a lot of energy to get something started. You spill a bit of blood along the way getting out of the starting gates. But it's the only way to make it. You can't start somewhere in the middle."
Hero
The Next Challenge - Tim Moss
Tim is a legend. He wrote the best email we've ever received in reaction to the Esc concept. He resigned from his job to start up thenextchallenge.org around the same time as we left to start Esc. He does fantastic work helping people with their adventures. Check him out.
Hero
Adventurer & barefoot runner: Jackson
Jackson has done some pretty amazing things... from boxing against Amir Khan to barefoot running across America. Check out what he has to say about doing extreme adventures below. Oh, and if you want to train with Jackson send him an email about his upcoming Fitness Weekends in Norfolk.
Hero
Danny in Wonderland- From Mayfair to Southern India
"You are mad, bonkers, off your head. But I tell you a secret, all the best people are." Alice In Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
Hero
Leaving the law for green taxis
It is a great pleasure to introduce Tom Pakenham, one half of greentomato – “everyday life made greener”. Tom left his city law firm to start greentomatocars so he is a true Esc Hero! Have a read below to learn about how he transitioned out of a mainstream corporate job to do his own thing.
Hero
Ex-consultant running schools charity
"I had to leave consulting, or wind up Enabling Enterprise." Check out Tom's story of starting up his fantastic schools-based initiative which helps students through practical learning. Thanks for sharing your own learnings Tom.
Hero
Ex-consultant running start-up accelerator
Luis used to work as a strategy consultant at PwC and Monitor Group. He now runs a start-up accelerator in Madrid and a non-profit aimed at jump-starting Spain's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Bye bye Silicon Valley, hello Tetuan Valley?!
Hero
Creating a Business, One Stag/Hen Party at a Time.....
"Eventually I realised that, no matter how hard or late I worked, my salary stayed pretty much the same. The only way to really get paid properly for your hard work is to either become a manager and join the board or get out and start your own thing. I knew I didn't want to become a 9 to 5 manager chained to a desk, so I got out." - Great work Andrew, best of luck with it all!
Hero
Swapping recruitment for S.America travel start-up
Great story of two friends who made a big decision to move abroad and start their own business. "I did start to question if it was a career to pursue into my 30s. I decided I wanted a bit more excitement and creativity and so took the plunge to quit and move to Brazil – Henry and I convinced ourselves that we had little to lose, I think we were right."
Hero
This Is Your Kingdom Founder - Ex-Lawyer
Taking voluntary redundancy from her corporate law firm, Hannah has started 'This Is Your Kingdom'. She is on a mission to 'bring local back' (part of a growing movement it seems). Esc wishes her all the best on this adventure and congratulations for a great escape!
Hero
From Anonymous Blog to Full-Time Business
Like all the greats (including Esc) Catharina started small. workisnotajob was an anonymous blog at first. But Catharina had a dream to start her own thing and build a lifestyle business around a philosophy she really believed in. So she quit and followed her dream!
Hero
From the City to the Congo - GapForce
Read about how Marcus left the world of investment banking to set up GapForce. Getting in early to work to raid the stationary cupboard. Very impressive! Thanks for sharing your story.
Hero
Life's a Party for Sharky and George
Sharky and George broke free from their corporate jobs in the city to take the children's party scene by storm, organising imaginative, original and energetic children's events.
Hero
Escaping Corporate London for Charity in Hong Kong
Christine is true 'Esc' hero. She escaped her corporate Law job and set up an office in Hong Kong for Viva, a charity to generate funds and increase awareness of children at risk issues in Asia.
Hero
Turning a Side Project Into a Full-Time Business
"Having no money for long periods of time and getting used to uncertainty can be difficult. And starting a company can be isolating, especially right at the beginning. But in general, if you're questioning what you're doing, or it feels uncomfortable, you're usually doing the right thing." Well put - best of luck Alex!
Hero
Ex-Accenture. COO of See the Difference.
Jill was a management consultant who took voluntary redundancy from Accenture in order to seize an exciting opportunity that came her way. She has been COO of See the Difference for the past 18 months.
Hero
Running My Own Business On My Gap Year
We want to show George's interview to anyone who says, 'I don't have enough experience to start my own business'. We wish we had been as enterprising as you when we were 18! He's got some great advice too: 'I experiment, I go on whims, I take risks and ultimately I go in which ever direction I see fit'.
Hero
From Financial PR to Mountaineering
Vicks used to work in Financial PR in the City - "I just woke up one morning and realised that it was adventure and expeditions that was my drive and calling..." - sounds like she's headed for some serious adventures in the near future! Thanks for sharing your story with us.
Hero
Charlie Walker and the Four-Year Cycling Trip
Charlie worked as a journalist for the travel section of The Express. Fed up with writing about the amazing places he wanted to see for himself, he set off on a huge cycle adventure of his own!