From £300 to 15 businesses: Darya Simanovich on immigrant entrepreneurship

What would you do if you arrived in a new country with £300 in your pocket, barely speaking the language, knowing almost no one? Darya Simanovich called it a start, and what she built from there is nothing short of remarkable.In this episode of Wild, Wise & Working, Jackie is joined by Darya Simanovich, entrepreneur, business mentor and author of The Immigrant Entrepreneur- a raw, honest account of building from nothing in a country that wasn't hers. Originally from Russia, Darya arrived in London at 22 to study at Imperial College and never really left. In the two decades since, she has launched 15 businesses, sold one, and is still actively building, all while raising three children and supporting other founders to do the same.Jackie and Darya cover a remarkable amount of ground in this conversation: the moment the 2008 financial crash closed a corporate door and opened an entrepreneurial one, the swim school born out of a basement pool and a new mother's need for human connection, and the Chelsea crêperie that survived six years, a pandemic, and Brexit before Darya decided to sell. But this episode is really about the mindset underneath all of it: how to spot a problem worth solving, why sales is the first skill every founder needs, and why being direct, whether you're Russian or just plain tired of the British habit of not saying what you mean, is actually a superpower. Darya's "100 coffees" framework alone is worth the listen, and her core belief that you should fall in love with the problem rather than the solution will stay with you long after the episode ends.Covered in this episode:Arriving in London at 22 with £300, limited English and no contacts and why Darya saw that as an opportunity rather than a crisisHow the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 ended her corporate career and pushed her towards building her own businessesThe Chelsea swim school that started as a personal pool, grew into a five-day-a-week operation, and began simply because Darya couldn't find one nearbyWhy Darya believes entrepreneurs should "fall in love with the problem, not the solution" The 100 coffees framework: how writing 100 names on a blank piece of paper and starting conversations can become the foundation of any new business or consultancy.The honest truth about sales - why women in particular struggle to sell themselves.Knowing your customer deeply enough to build for them, and why "women aged 18 to 65" is not a target audienceAbout my guest: Darya SimanovichDarya Simanovich is a serial entrepreneur, business mentor, and author based in London. Originally from Russia, she came to the UK at 22 to study risk management and financial engineering at Imperial College London, and went on to build 15 businesses across sectors including childcare, hospitality, and property management. She runs a mastermind and events community for entrepreneurs, works full-time supporting early-stage founders, and has recently written The Immigrant Entrepreneur, a candid account of what it takes to start from nothing. What makes Darya remarkable is the combination of mathematical rigour, direct practicality and genuine warmth she brings to every founder she meets.LinkedIn: Darya Simanovich on LinkedIn The Immigrant Entrepreneur — details in the show notes once the book is liveChelsea Swim Spa — Darya's swim school and pool hire business in LondonBe a part of the show, and get in touch if you want to chat through your business idea:Don’t forget to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackienaghten/Send me voice messages, questions, or story ideas for a future show: You'll find everything you need HERE - https://wildwiseandworking.transistor.fm/Quick voice message link: https://www.speakpipe.com/WildWiseAndWorkingProduced by The Good Studio - thegoodstudio.co.uk