Okay, let’s talk about Sarah Willingham. If you don’t know her name yet, you’re about to. And honestly? You’ll probably feel a bit behind the curve.
Sarah is one of those people who makes you wonder what you’ve been doing with your life. She’s an entrepreneur, an investor, and a total ball of energy. But she’s not some untouchable billionaire. She’s real.
From a Bet to a Business Empire
Here’s the thing about Sarah: she started her first business at 19. Nineteen! I don’t know about you, but at 19 I was mostly mastering the art of burning toast. She bought a restaurant in Newcastle with a £6,000 loan. A gamble, right?
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That little bet turned into a huge success. She went on to launch more restaurants, then a cocktail bar, then—wait for it—a business that sold for millions. She didn’t just luck out. She worked it.
Her secret? She’s not afraid to fail. She says she’s “comfortable with being uncomfortable.” That’s her superpower. And honestly, it’s a bit annoying if you’re a perfectionist like me.
The Dragon’s Den Years (and the Sass)
You might recognize Sarah from Dragon’s Den in the UK. She was a dragon for a few seasons, and she was fierce. Not in a scary way, though. More in a “I’ll eat your business plan for breakfast, then compliment your shoes” way.
She had this knack for cutting through the nonsense. If a pitch was weak, she’d call it out. But she also invested in people with heart. She once said, “I invest in the person, not just the idea.” That’s her style.
Remember that episode where she told a guy his product was “a solution looking for a problem”? Brutal. But also… fair. She’s not mean—she’s just honest. And in the startup world, that’s rarer than a unicorn with a business degree.
Money, Motherhood, and Moxie
Here’s where Sarah gets even more interesting. She’s a mum of four. Four kids! And she runs multiple businesses. How? I have no idea. But she’s written a book called “The Magic of Money” to help parents teach kids about finance. Practical stuff.
She’s not preachy about it. She’ll tell you she screwed up with money early on. Like that time she spent her entire first business profit on a handbag? Relatable content, right?
But she turned that into a lesson. Now she’s all about smart money habits. No shame, just strategy. She wants you to feel in control, not overwhelmed. And she does it with a wink and a cup of tea.
Business Mogul and former Dragon, Sarah Willingham - WT
The Big Switch: Dragons to Dragons’ Den Mentor
Sarah stepped away from Dragon’s Den to focus on her own projects. But she didn’t vanish. Oh no. She launched “The Middle”, a podcast where she talks to entrepreneurs about the messy middle of their journey. Not the glamorous start or the big exit—the slog.
It’s gold. She asks questions like, “What did you cry about last week?” and “When did you almost quit?” It’s raw and funny. She’s not afraid to show her own scars.
She also co-founded Liquid I.V. (another huge success) and invests in women-led businesses. She’s on a mission to make the startup world less bro-y. And thank goodness for that.
So, Why Should You Care?
Because Sarah Willingham is proof you don’t need a perfect background or a trust fund to win. She’s a self-made millionaire who started with a small loan and a big attitude. She’s also proof that you can be ambitious and nice.
She’ll tell you to take risks, but also to sleep on it. She’ll tell you to hustle, but also to hug your kids. She’s a walking paradox, and it works.
I mean, she once sold a business for £6 million while she was on maternity leave. Maternity leave. I can barely fold laundry on maternity leave.
The Bottom Line (Pun Intended)
If you’re looking for life advice that doesn’t feel like a lecture, grab Sarah’s book or listen to her podcast. She’s like the cool aunt who tells you the truth—but also lets you raid her snack drawer.
She’ll remind you that failure isn’t fatal. That money is a tool, not a scoreboard. And that you can build a business without losing your soul.
So go ahead. Start that weird idea. Pitch that product. And if you feel like a fraud? Just whisper “What would Sarah do?” She’d probably laugh, tell you to calm down, and then help you write a better plan. Cheers to that.