is an award-winning businesswoman, non-executive director, author, broadcaster and speaker. She founded the multiple award-winning Breakthrough Funding, which was sold to EY (Ernst and Young) in 2020 and went on to become an Executive Director (Europe, Middle East, India and Africa) there, until her retirement in 2022 . 

The Breakthrough Funding company won the coveted Independent Tax Consultancy Firm in the UK 2019 at the Tolley Awards for its role in gaining over £60 million of funding for innovative UK start-ups. She was awarded the Kent Business Woman of the Year in 2017 and the London and South East Director of the Year 2019 by the Institute of Directors. On 1 January 2022 she became a Commander of the British Empire for services to small business in Queen Elizabeth II's New Year Honours list and a Deputy Lieutenant of the county of Kent in the same year. 

She is a highly experienced interviewee both on national radio and television and has appeared on every national television and radio news programme in the UK from CNN, Sky News, Radio 5 Live and Radio 4’s Today Programme to The Culture Show, BBC Breakfast, The Politics Show and The Food Programme. Having been interviewed by Nicky Campbell, John Humphrys, Jon Snow, Tony Wilson, Gordon Burns, Kirsty Young, Sir Trevor McDonald and even Ann Widdecombe and Edwina Currie amongst many others.

In the last six years she has also presented over 400 radio programmes as the lead presenter of the FoodTalk Show and TechTalk Show interviewing well known guests such as Sheila Dillon, Maggie Philbin and Ali Campbell of UB40. She is a member of the Guild of Food Writers with a regular column in Speciality Food Magazine, and is the author of ten books including FoodTech UK and the Fine Food Lover’s Guide with Simon Rimmer the co-host of Sunday Brunch.

For six years she was a non-executive member of the Audit and Risk Committee at the Department for Communities and Local Government under Sir Peter Housden and latterly Lord Kerslake. Susie has also been a trustee of Lantra Sector Skills Council and a governor of the University of Creative Arts with Loyd Grossman and is currently the Chair of Produced in Kent. She is also a board adviser to ForwardFooding (producers of the annual Global FoodTech 500) and FoodSquared (developers of alternative proteins), and an official ambassador to Mercato Metropolitano. 

She is a keen home cook and enjoys good wine and excellent company. The rest of her spare time is taken up in a range of voluntary roles for charities and she also loves pottering around her allotment by the sea with her four grandchildren.

You can find out more about her new venture ArtTalk Gallery here. 

Susie has vast experience talking to a range of audiences mostly on developing a stand out visual presence and using ground-breaking employment practices to accelerate to hyper profitability. 

Susie explains how to go from zero to hero and from skinted to minted, in an inspiring and in turns sad and funny personal story. How she created a workforce that lived and breathed her visual brand and developed relationships that turned new clients into inspired ambassadors for her company. You can listen free to her audio book here. 

But first she outlines the things you need to know before you start and how to deal with the numerous ups and downs you will encounter, whether you're a talented artist,  innovative producer or tech entrepreneur - from unhelpful banks to pursuing non-payment of invoices, pragmatically overcoming gender bias and winning new business while competitors try to undermine you from the sidelines. Sue openly lays bare the personal adversity she has had to overcome and how she found the strength to carry on. Most of all, if she can do it, you can too. 

"My podcast interview with you has been our most popular episode yet. I have had so many people telling me how inspiring they found it, including one of our investors." Somi Aran, Founder FemPeak

"It is so refereshing to hear Susie!! Beautiful!" Margret Wibner, Dutch visual artist. 

"Susie, nailed it!" Annette Yashpon, musical artist and TV presenter.

"Thanks to Susie for her candour and openness in sharing her inspiring story. The context makes her success all the more outstanding." Jacqui Larsson, Council Member, London Diamond Bourse.

"I'm lovin' Susie on so many levels." Bridget B. Sullivan, Founder Creative Canvas Productions.

"It doesn't happen very often that an inspiring lady like Susie gets to talk and share her story." Dunja Rombouts, Founder, Digital Notion

"Honestly, I had goosebumps listening to Susie!! Absolutely inspirational.. thank you thank you thank you." Lesley McDowell, Senior FX Broker, Fortuna FX

"It was a great morning . . . thoroughly enjoyed Susie's wise words!" Julia Noble, Freelance Illustrator

"Amazing talk - giving inspiration, practical advice based on experience and hope to all (of) us." Jane Martin, Small Business Coach and Mentor

"Susie Warran-Smith you blew us away." Deborah Turner, Consultant Chartered Surveyor

"I really enjoyed today. A fantastic speech, inspirational and so relevant to what I've experienced in my career." Jo Harmsworth, Chartered Accountant

"Thank you so much for your talk this morning. I really enjoyed it and I aspire to be as successful and inspirational as you. You really are an amazing woman." Georgia Todd, Apprentice, Frank eXchange

"Loved listening to your story Susie and the way you ran your business." Sue Hainsby, KWIBA Business Woman of the Year 2018

"(The event) was awesome and Susie Warran-Smith was so inspiring!" Catherine Gallagher, Founder, The Entrepreneur Club

"Such a fantastic talk this morning - I could really relate to this in many ways." Wendy Flanagan, Managing Director, The Holistic Home

"Thank you for a great event. Very enjoyable and Susie is marvellous." Ruth Duncan, past President, Insolvency Practitioners' Association

"Susie is pretty awesome." Alison Parmar, Development Manager, Federation of Small Businesses

"It was a fascinating session. Really thought provoking." Caroline Doran, Founder and MD, Deliver Grow

"Susie Warran-Smith is always inspiring." Anwen Cooper, Founder and MD, Get Fruitful Marketing