James
HackingEntrepreneur & Founder of Socially Powerful
The
Perspective
I didn't plan to build a global marketing company. I wanted to captain England and win the World Cup.
A collapsed lung ended that dream. Losing over £500,000 nearly ended the next one.
Today, I lead Socially Powerful, a £40m global marketing agency with 200+ people across four global offices, helping many of the world's biggest brands grow through social media.
The headlines are easy. This is everything that happened behind them.
Brands we build for at Socially Powerful
The story in numbers
From losing everything to building a global business.
£500K+
Lost before Socially Powerful
The failure that nearly ended the journey before it properly began.
£40M
Global agency revenue
200+
People across the group
4
Global offices
~10 Years
Building. Still building.
£40M£100M
The next target
The next chapter is being built in public.
From humble beginnings
The milestones behind the business, year by year.
1988United KingdomBorn
Born in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.
1995Northern EnglandEarly Childhood
My mum was a teacher, and my dad was a businessman. He spent much of his time travelling, working to build a better life for our family. As a child, I didn't think much of it, it was just normal. Looking back now, I have a much greater appreciation for the sacrifices he made.
2007ManchesterAN UNEXPECTED DOOR OPENS
Until I was 16, there was only one plan.
Watch the journey
Get the playbook I'm using to scale Socially Powerful from a back room to £100m in revenue. Real deals, real hires, real numbers and the mistakes that cost me money, so you don't repeat them. One new episode every week, free.
New episode every week · No fluff · Free
What I'm building now
The business. The move. The family. The adventures. Everything happening in this chapter of the story.
Opening Dubai
Moving my family, launching our fourth global office and building the next chapter in the Middle East.
Growing across the US and Middle East
Building stronger teams, deeper client relationships and a genuinely global business.
Building new products
Creating technology that changes how brands discover creators, manage campaigns and understand social performance.
Creating more content
Sharing the decisions, mistakes and reality behind building a global company.
Raising two boys
Trying to build something meaningful without missing the years that matter most.
Following England around the world
Tournament football, ridiculous journeys and the memories collected along the way.
Ventures
Socially Powerful
The £40m social-first agency helping the world's most ambitious brands turn culture into commerce.
Visit→
SEEDA
The influencer seeding and gifting technology platform that lets brands get product into the right creators' hands and track every result.
Visit→
Lyvecart
Live shopping built for TikTok Shop, turning creator-led streams into an always-on sales channel for brands.
Visit→I'm building towards £100m and documenting the reality of getting there.
The wins. The mistakes. The people. The decisions nobody sees.
