Ben Francis: Early Life and Influences

Early Life and Influences

• Ben Francis, founder and CEO of Gymshark, had a vision to create an iconic brand that inspires people globally
• He reflects on his early life, particularly his work experience with his grandfather, which taught him the value of hard work and risk-taking
• His grandfather's stories about business risks and challenges had a significant impact on Ben's business approach
• Ben's mother, a hard worker in the NHS, also influenced his strong work ethic

Education and Skills

• Ben was an average student, but a BTEC course in IT helped him develop practical skills, including using Photoshop, Dreamweaver, and Illustrator
• These skills were essential in building Gymshark, and he credits this course with helping him learn by doing

Entrepreneurial Journey

• Ben started Gymshark in 2012 with his brother and friends; they had a shared vision and worked together to build the business
• As the business grew, Ben realized he needed to surround himself with great people to take the company to the next level
• He admits to being arrogant initially, but learned to ask questions, seek mentorship, and work with others to achieve his vision

Learning and Growth

• Ben emphasizes the importance of learning from others, asking questions, and seeking guidance from those with more experience
• He believes having a growth mindset is crucial for entrepreneurs, as it allows them to adapt and evolve with their business
• He credits his learnings from playing World of Warcraft, where he learned about teamwork, economy, and trading, which translated to his business approach

Building a Team

• In the early days, Ben looked for ambitious individuals who shared his vision and were willing to do whatever it took to achieve it
• As the business grew, he needed to adapt and bring in specialized talent to lead key departments
• He struggled with having to let go of some early team members who couldn't adapt to the changing business needs

Challenges and Self-Awareness

• Ben acknowledges the difficulty of managing people and making tough decisions, especially when it comes to letting go of loyal team members
• He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness in both camps, recognizing when it's time to adapt and make changes for the good of the business

Co-Founder and Separation

• Ben started Gymshark with a co-founder, Lewis, but they eventually parted ways due to differences in opinion about the future of the company### Business Founding and Early Days
• The business was founded in 2012
• The founder, Ben, and his co-founder, Lewis, started the business together
• In 2015, Lewis left the business, and Ben retained 20% of his shareholding
• Ben and Lewis were friends from when they met in IT class at college

Co-Founder's Role

• In the early days, there was no clear organization or structure, and roles were not defined
• As the business grew, Ben and Lewis's visions started to move in separate directions
• Ben believes that having a co-founder is important, especially in the early stages of a business

Personal Growth and Development

• Ben went through a period of self-reflection and identified his strengths and weaknesses
• He decided to focus on his strengths and improve on his weaknesses
• Ben believes that self-awareness is crucial for personal growth and development
• He used a 360 feedback process to identify areas for improvement and worked on those areas

Leadership and Roles

• Ben had different roles in the business, including chief of brand, marketing, and product
• He eventually became the CEO of the business
• Ben believes that it's important to focus on your strengths and delegate tasks to others who are stronger in areas where you are weak
• He hired people who were better than him in certain areas, such as Steve, who became the CEO, and Noel, who became the chief of brand

Becoming the CEO Again

• Ben recently announced that he is now the CEO of the business again

• He had been in different roles for about 5-6 years before taking on the CEO role again

• Ben believes that he has built up to a point where he is capable of doing the CEO role

• He had a two-year conversation with Steve, who was the previous CEO, about taking on the role again### Understanding Business Growth and Personal Development through Gymshark's CEO

• Gymshark started as one office in the Midlands and has grown to have several offices globally.

• Initially holding the position of Chief of Brand when Gymshark was smaller, and later engaging in product, markets, technology, and various business areas has provided a comprehensive understanding beneficial for running the company at its current scale.

• The desire to be more than just the founder of Gymshark motivated stepping into the CEO role, aiming for continued involvement and leadership at scale.

• Foundational to success is the appreciation of learning and impromptu problem-solving, not just formal education.

• Handling direct and brutal feedback in early stages was a learning curve corrected by understanding empathy and acknowledging everyone's good intentions towards the brand.

Challenges and Strategies in Leadership

• Encourages a culture that seeks challenge and involvement in decision-making processes, avoiding a workplace filled with "yes-men."
• Prefers an office setting to foster learning and community amongst the team, despite the practicality of remote work for some roles.
• Admits to early-stage imperfections and the journey towards providing empathetic and constructive feedback.
• Attributes resilience and learning from mistakes as key drivers behind Gymshark's success and personal growth.

Gymshark’s Future Aspirations and Leadership Insights

• Aspires to make Gymshark a globally iconic British fitness brand by staying true to its core values and continuously evolving.
• Advocates for balance between hard work and working smart, underlining the importance of both for successful entrepreneurship.
• Highlights the critical nature of adaptability in business, preparing for inevitable changes and challenges in the industry.
• Values the importance of team effort acknowledging that while the founder’s perspective is unique, success is a collective achievement.
• Envisions maintaining the brand's specialness and community focus as Gymshark grows, including exploring physical retail spaces as community hubs.

Personal Reflections and Advice for Entrepreneurs

• Emphasizes the invaluable nature of time given by others - ranging from family support to professional mentorship as a fundamental gift in one’s journey.
• Suggests that aspiring entrepreneurs find their passion, leverage their current positions for financial stability, and be prepared for failure as part of the process towards success.
• Advises on the significance of curating a supportive and challenging team environment that fosters growth, innovation, and resilience against adversities.

Early Life and Influences

• Ben Francis, founder and CEO of Gymshark, was influenced by his grandfather's work ethic and business risk-taking stories
• His mother's strong work ethic in the NHS also shaped his approach to business

Education and Skills

• Ben developed practical skills in IT, including using Photoshop, Dreamweaver, and Illustrator, which were essential in building Gymshark
• He credits his BTEC course in IT for teaching him to learn by doing

Entrepreneurial Journey

• Ben started Gymshark in 2012 with his brother and friends, sharing a common vision
• He realized the need to surround himself with great people to take the company to the next level
• He overcame initial arrogance by learning to ask questions, seek mentorship, and work with others

Learning and Growth

• Ben emphasizes the importance of learning from others, asking questions, and seeking guidance
• He believes having a growth mindset is crucial for entrepreneurs, allowing them to adapt and evolve with their business
• He credits playing World of Warcraft for teaching him about teamwork, economy, and trading, which translated to his business approach

Building a Team

• Ben initially looked for ambitious individuals who shared his vision and were willing to do whatever it took to achieve it
• As the business grew, he needed to adapt and bring in specialized talent to lead key departments
• He struggled with letting go of early team members who couldn't adapt to changing business needs

Challenges and Self-Awareness

• Ben acknowledges the difficulty of managing people and making tough decisions, especially when it comes to letting go of loyal team members
• He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness in recognizing when it's time to adapt and make changes for the good of the business

Co-Founder and Separation

• Ben started Gymshark with co-founder Lewis, but they eventually parted ways due to differences in opinion about the future of the company

Business Founding and Early Days

• Gymshark was founded in 2012 by Ben Francis and Lewis
• Lewis left the business in 2015, and Ben retained 20% of his shareholding

Leadership and Roles

• Ben believes in focusing on strengths and delegating tasks to others who are stronger in areas where you are weak
• He hired people who were better than him in certain areas, such as Steve, who became the CEO, and Noel, who became the chief of brand

Learn about the early life and influences of Ben Francis, founder and CEO of Gymshark, and how his experiences shaped his business approach.