Episode Overview

Entrepreneurship often looks glamorous from the outside. Fundraising announcements. Revenue milestones. Big exits.

But the reality is much simpler.

In this episode, Kate Bodrova shares her journey from selling private English lessons as a university student to building a language school and founding an education technology company.

The conversation explores what really drives founders: curiosity, challenge, and the desire to build something meaningful.

Kate explains why success is not just financial. She talks about the role of personal growth in entrepreneurship, the importance of listening closely to customers, and why there is no magic system for scaling a business.

Instead, the work is straightforward. Build something people need. Talk to your customers. Improve the product. Repeat.

For founders in education, her message is clear: competition should not stop you. When Kate opened her language school, there were already 38 schools on the same street.

What mattered was commitment, energy, and focus on the customer.

 

00:00 — Introduction

01:00 — How Kate Started Her First Business

02:10 — Why Founders Need Challenge

03:05 — What Success Really Looks Like

04:00 — Can Money Buy Happiness?

05:30 — Entrepreneurship and Personal Growth

06:40 — Why Kate Never Chose Employment

07:30 — The Truth About Systems and Productivity

08:20 — Why Customers Must Be the Centre

09:30 — How Customer Conversations Shape Strategy

11:00 — Competing in a Crowded Market

12:30 — Final Advice for Entrepreneurs

 

All About Kate:

Kate Bodrova is the founder and CEO of Amazy.uk, an award-winning platform that transforms how schools and educators create, manage, and deliver learning content while tracking student progress. A former ESL teacher, she is on a mission to modernise education by giving schools and teachers greater flexibility, control, and impact in the way they design, track, and share learning experiences.

Episode Overview
Entrepreneurship often looks glamorous from the outside. Fundraising announcements. Revenue milestones. Big exits.
But the reality is much simpler.
In this episode, Kate Bodrova shares her journey from selling private English lessons as a university student to building a language school and founding an education technology company.
The conversation explores what really drives founders: curiosity, challenge, and the desire to build something meaningful.
Kate explains why success is not just financial. She talks about the role of personal growth in entrepreneurship, the importance of listening closely to customers, and why there is no magic system for scaling a business.
Instead, the work is straightforward. Build something people need. Talk to your customers. Improve the product. Repeat.
For founders in education, her message is clear: competition should not stop you. When Kate opened her language school, there were already 38 schools on the same street.
What mattered was commitment, energy, and focus on the customer.
&nbsp;
00:00 &mdash; Introduction
01:00 &mdash; How Kate Started Her First Business
02:10 &mdash; Why Founders Need Challenge
03:05 &mdash; What Success Really Looks Like
04:00 &mdash; Can Money Buy Happiness?
05:30 &mdash; Entrepreneurship and Personal Growth
06:40 &mdash; Why Kate Never Chose Employment
07:30 &mdash; The Truth About Systems and Productivity
08:20 &mdash; Why Customers Must Be the Centre
09:30 &mdash; How Customer Conversations Shape Strategy
11:00 &mdash; Competing in a Crowded Market
12:30 &mdash; Final Advice for Entrepreneurs
&nbsp;
All About Kate: Kate Bodrova is the founder and CEO of Amazy.uk, an award-winning platform that transforms how schools and educators create, manage, and deliver learning content while tracking student progress. A former ESL teacher, she is on a mission to modernise education by giving schools and teachers greater flexibility, control, and impact in the way they design, track, and share learning experiences.

The Education Business Podcast is for educational consultants, small education-based business owners, Edtech providers and workshop leaders focused on providing education services to schools, as well as for teachers transitioning to freelancing with an entrepreneurial business idea. Growing and scaling a business that provides a service to schools and education requires a different skillset and inside knowledge to many other entrepreneurial ventures. In this podcast Claire Riley, CEO of Classroom Secrets and host of The Teachers' Podcast, shares what it takes to market and pitch your services to this sector. Find out exactly what headteachers and teachers are looking for, and why building a personal brand matters in your marketing and how you can grow your education business.

The Education Business Podcast is for educational consultants, small education-based business owners, Edtech providers and workshop leaders focused on providing education services to schools, as well as for teachers transitioning to freelancing with an entrepreneurial business idea. Growing and scaling a business that provides a service to schools and education requires a different skillset and inside knowledge to many other entrepreneurial ventures. In this podcast Claire Riley, CEO of Classroom Secrets and host of The Teachers' Podcast, shares what it takes to market and pitch your services to this sector. Find out exactly what headteachers and teachers are looking for, and why building a personal brand matters in your marketing and how you can grow your education business.

The Education Business Podcast

Building a business in education can feel overwhelming—but you don’t have to do it alone.

Hosted by Claire Riley, founder of Classroom Secrets and passionate advocate for helping educators turn their expertise into thriving businesses, this podcast brings you honest conversations, practical strategies, and the behind-the-scenes lessons from those already making an impact in the education space.

Each episode dives into the realities of running and growing an education business—from building sustainable income streams and navigating challenges, to embracing innovation and scaling with purpose. You’ll hear inspiring stories from fellow entrepreneurs, expert insights, and Claire’s own experiences of successes and setbacks along the way.

Whether you’re an aspiring edupreneur just starting out or a seasoned business owner looking for fresh perspective, this podcast will give you the tools, clarity, and encouragement you need to grow with confidence.

Tune in weekly to discover how to make your education business thrive while staying true to your mission of making a difference.

Building a business in education can feel overwhelming&mdash;but you don&rsquo;t have to do it alone.
Hosted by Claire Riley, founder of Classroom Secrets and passionate advocate for helping educators turn their expertise into thriving businesses, this podcast brings you honest conversations, practical strategies, and the behind-the-scenes lessons from those already making an impact in the education space.
Each episode dives into the realities of running and growing an education business&mdash;from building sustainable income streams and navigating challenges, to embracing innovation and scaling with purpose. You&rsquo;ll hear inspiring stories from fellow entrepreneurs, expert insights, and Claire&rsquo;s own experiences of successes and setbacks along the way.
Whether you&rsquo;re an aspiring edupreneur just starting out or a seasoned business owner looking for fresh perspective, this podcast will give you the tools, clarity, and encouragement you need to grow with confidence.
Tune in weekly to discover how to make your education business thrive while staying true to your mission of making a difference.