Let me be brutally honest.
When I first got the invite to spend a week on Necker Island with Richard Branson, I felt a tidal wave of imposter syndrome. Despite building LTF Digital into a thriving agency, the thought of sharing a table with entrepreneurs, tech moguls, surgeons, and Shark Tank stars made me question what on earth I was doing there.
But that trip changed me, fundamentally. And not in a fluffy, motivational poster kind of way. I came home thinking bigger, feeling grateful, and more importantly, driven by purpose over profit. Here’s the story.
Landing in Paradise (and Letting Go of Self-Doubt)
I was invited by Dr. Felix Bertram, the powerhouse behind SkinMed Switzerland and a Shark Tank judge, after speaking at his Inner Circle event in 2024. The retreat was invite-only: a blend of fitness, business workshops, beach dinners, and surreal conversations.
Still, when our little boat pulled up at Red Dock, I wasn’t sure if I belonged, until I saw him. Richard Branson, in his classic tennis kit and a massive grin, was there to greet us personally. He gave me a hug like an old friend and asked about my background, joking about his old record shop in Brighton, where my dad used to buy vinyl in the ‘70s.
And just like that, the imposter syndrome disappeared.
“Rick, you’re not thinking big enough. You’ve not realised what you’re capable of.” – Richard Branson
A New Kind of Success
Necker Island acts like a natural filter. If you’re willing to hop on multiple planes and a boat just to have your mindset challenged, you’re probably in the right place. Our group was wildly diverse—Colombian entrepreneurs, Miami property developers, plastic surgeons, robotics founders, TV personalities, and more.
Yet, despite the credentials flying around, there was zero ego. Richard sets that tone. He listens far more than he speaks and somehow makes every single person feel seen.
He’s also the most present leader I’ve ever met. Whether we were talking about global issues, marketing, or hiking up Virgin Gorda, he was never distracted. Always focused. Always in swim shorts.
It reminded me of why I started LTF Digital in the first place—to build something successful on my own terms, without the tie and boardroom nonsense.
Purpose Over Profit: A Simple Idea That Changed Everything
One night, after a charity auction and a few drinks at the Great House (we won a Virgin cruise and a trip to Kasbah Tamadot—our honeymoon spot 15 years ago), Richard said something that stopped me in my tracks:
“You’ve not realised what you’re capable of. You’re not thinking big enough.”
When someone like Branson says that to you, it cuts deep, in the best way. It led me to a conversation about how to extract myself more from the day-to-day of my business. He shared a simple framework:
I Do → We Do → They Do.
First, you do it. Then you do it together. Then they take it and run. That’s how you lead without becoming the bottleneck.
Big Ideas, Bigger Energy
There were so many conversations that sparked something lasting:
With Andy Fishburn, MD of Virgin StartUp, about building businesses with purpose at the core.
With the co-founder of Virgin Atlantic, on branding that tells a story.
With Lucy, Virgin Group’s Brand Director, on how culture and brand are two sides of the same coin.
And with Nathan, CMO of Virgin Voyages, whose creative ideas on presentation and storytelling blew my mind.
All of it fueled me. But none more than Richard’s relentless optimism and sense of adventure, something that doesn’t stop at business. This is a man who kite-surfs between his islands, swims 8km before breakfast, and plays tennis like he’s still 25.
I began to realise: physical energy feeds mental sharpness, and it’s a competitive edge.
Even more humbling? Watching Felix—who has a prosthetic leg and a broken shoulder—swim a 3-hour channel between islands. Absolute legend.
The Birth of the LTF Leg Up Foundation
Perhaps the most tangible outcome of Necker was this: I came home and launched the LTF Leg Up Foundation.
Every year, we’ll give one medical aesthetics clinic a £100,000 full-service marketing programme, completely free. The only ask? They commit to treating patients in real need, from trauma survivors to post-cancer care.
When I announced it to the team, there were tears. It was one of those rare moments in business where everything clicks: We’re not just here to grow. We’re here to give.
“Purpose over profit.” That single idea changed my business—and my life.
Final Thoughts: What Necker Gave Me
I left Necker feeling like I’d tapped into a different frequency. More ambitious, more purposeful, more grateful.
It wasn’t just a luxury retreat, it was a mindset shift. A deeper connection to why I do what I do. And sharing it all with my wife, Saffron (who, by the way, led the cycling pack with Richard chasing her up the mountain), made it even more unforgettable.
So was it worth it? Without question. Life-changing in every sense—and yes, I’ll be going again.
