Bulletproof Entrepreneur
A podcast for entrepreneurs – reverse engineering the formula for successful scale, sale and exit.
Inspired conversations with world-class entrepreneurs and the specialists who support them.
Bulletproof Entrepreneur
The Chocolate Entrepreneur - Helen Pattinson, founder of Montezuma, on scaling, exiting, and then returning to save her company.
Our guest today is Helen Pattinson, a former lawyer who left behind a promising career to embark on a bold and, at times, uncertain new path—one that would ultimately lead to a flourishing business, Montezuma Chocolate.
But this story is far from straightforward. Helen doesn’t just share the wins—she takes us through the moments of doubt, the near-disasters, and the pivotal choices that could have ended it all before the business even started.
- What would you do if your main supplier suddenly disappeared just weeks before launch?
- Or if your company was on the brink of collapse during one of the worst financial crises in recent history? Helen faced all of this and more.
In this episode, you’ll hear how a spontaneous adventure through South America sparked an obsession, and how that simple passion turned into something much bigger.
You’ll also discover how Helen and her husband Simon built their business from scratch—literally—and the unexpected hurdles they had to clear to keep their dream alive.
Towards the end, Helen shares her experience of the post-sale period, including her loss of identity and her need to find a new purpose.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Chocolate Entrepreneur - Helen Pattinson.
Links:
Helen Pattinson - Montezuma's Chocolates | LinkedIn
Alan Smith - Capital Asset Management | LinkedIn
This podcast is produced by GR Media
Sponsored by Capital Asset Management
