September Festival
9th September - Dalston Curve Garden
'Cutting Through: How Building Purpose and Creativity Is Changing Lives.'
From adland to the prison yard, Stef Jones shares the raw, real story of using creativity to give people a second chance.. and how this is a campaign that cuts deeper than any he’s ever made before.
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Stef Jones — Founder, Onwards & Upwards / Co-Founder, Big Al’s Creative Emporium
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Stef Jones cut his teeth in advertising, first as a copywriter, then as Co-Founder and Creative Partner at Big Al’s Creative Emporium, one of London’s boldest independent agencies. Known for ideas with bite and heart, Stef spent years creating campaigns for big brands before deciding to turn his creativity toward something even more impactful.
That pivot became Onwards & Upwards (O&U) a charity using creativity and business to reduce reoffending in the UK. Instead of talking about change, Stef builds it: real businesses that hire and train people coming out of prison, giving them purpose, skills, and a proper shot at a second chance.
Their first venture a barbershop run by returning citizens, proves what’s possible when creative thinking meets compassion. For Stef, this isn’t theory; it’s a new kind of brief..a campaign that cuts deeper than any he’s ever made before.
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'Sara Jones Talk Title'
Sara Jones Talk Subtitle
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Sara Jones — CEO & Visionary Founder of Centre of Excellence
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Sara Jones is the visionary founder and CEO of Centre of Excellence, one of the UK’s fastest-growing ed-tech companies and a global leader in transformational online education. With over 2 million students across 150 countries and more than 1,000 courses spanning wellness, personal growth, and professional development, her mission is nothing short of extraordinary: to positively impact the lives of one billion people worldwide.
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Recently recognised with the Goldman Sachs Award for The Company Most Likely to Become a Unicorn and named among Bright Pearl’s Top Ten Fastest Growing e-Commerce Businesses in the UK, Centre of Excellence continues to expand at remarkable speed.
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Before becoming a CEO, Sara spent 18 years as a therapist, coach, and trainer in holistic health, experience that now infuses her leadership with authenticity, compassion, and a deep belief in the power of alignment. From a single mother to the helm of a soon-to-be billion-pound enterprise, Sara’s story is one of faith, flow, and fearless vision...proof that when purpose and energy align, anything is possible!