Meet London's top business brains inspiring new talent

Invisalign has paired four former Progress 1000-ers with tomorrow's rising stars...

Anita Barr, group fashion buying director for Harvey Nichols, and her mentee, designer Fanni Varga

If you want to get ahead, get a mentor, so says everyone from Richard Branson to Oprah. And the process can be beneficial to both parties, with research finding employees are five times more likely to be promoted after mentoring.

For this year’s Progress 1000 — our annual celebration of the people whose influence across London is felt most keenly by those living in the capital — Invisalign, one of the event sponsors, has matched some of the city’s most influential leaders in their fields with four emerging talents of tomorrow.

Here we meet the mentors...

Anita Barr

Anna is the group fashion buying director for Harvey Nichols and is mentoring designer Fanni Varga

Anita went from selling clothes on her sister’s market stall, to directing fashion buying across one of the world’s best-known department stores.

“I think I always had an eye for what people wanted to wear,” she recalls. “I started working on the shopfloor at Harrods, and worked my way up from there.”

Anita says she recognises that ambition in her mentee, Hungarian designer Fanni. “She’s got a lot of drive and is very focused,” adds Anita.

And it sounds as though she’s already made a good impression. “I was so nervous to meet Anita but she’s so helpful and we talked about everything,” Fanni says.

Brent Hoberman CBE

"The right people need a catalyst," says Brent Hoberman CBE (pictured above with Robert McInerney)

Brent is the executive chairman at Founders Factory and is mentoring tech entrepreneur Robert McInerney

Lastminute.com co-founder Brent knows more about setting up a business than most people — he’s pledged to create 200 new British technology start-ups over the next five years with his latest project, Founders Factory.

“It’s daunting to make the leap to start your own company and even the right people need a catalyst and good advice,” he says. “For example, they may be a brilliant engineer but they may not have the commercial knowledge.”

Robert set up his company Intelligent Layer in 2015 to help businesses use algorithms to connect to consumers. “I know being mentored by Brent is going to be incredibly valuable,” he says. “It’s very early days for the company and it’s the first time I’ve ever hired a team, so having that one-to-one guidance from someone who’s had such extraordinary success can only be an amazing thing.”

Caroline Rush CBE

"I love her fresh business ideas," Caroline Rush CBE says of Onome Otite (pictured above)

Caroline is the chief executive of the British Fashion Council and is mentoring textiles artist Onome Otite

The force behind London Fashion Week, Caroline is credited with positioning British fashion as a major player in the global economy. Prior to heading up the British Fashion Council, Rush ran her own PR company, and says that mentoring has enabled her to reflect on her own career. “It’s a chance to rewind all the things I’ve learned and remember when I first started out,” she says. “I love all the fresh ideas and new ways of looking at life and at business that can come from working with young people.”

Her mentee, Onome, has already built up a following with her fashion-inspired, 3D artworks. “I’d love to build more connections within the fashion and textile industry and Caroline knows everyone,” says Onome. “Having her as a mentor has already inspired me to work harder.”

Kathryn Parsons

"It's about passing on the baton," Kathryn Parsons (pictured above, with Louise Doherty)

Kathryn is the co-founder of Decoded and is mentoring technology entrepreneur Louise Doherty

The technology school Decoded now teaches “super-fun, super-fast digital enlightenment” in 65 cities, and Kathryn has just got back from New Zealand where she was coding AI chatbots. But just five years ago, she was setting up the business with a credit card and working from a building site. “I didn’t know anyone in tech so I know how invaluable getting advice is,” she says. “That’s why our whole company ethos is about bringing up other people and passing on the baton.”

Kathryn and her mentee have already planned to go wakeboarding together using Louise’s meet-up app PlanSnap. “As a woman in tech it often feels like you’re the first one treading the path,” says Louise. “So I think having Kathryn to share advice and be a sounding board will be invaluable for me.”

It’s not only the right advice that can help you progress; a confident smile can also help unlock your potential. Invisalign is the world’s leading clear aligner system, with more than four million people already choosing it for their transformation. Custom-made to move teeth little by little, the near-invisible aligners will help you take a step closer to that next vision of you — gently and accurately. Find your best smile now at invisalign.co.uk