Topic: Small Business

Thomas Power details the growth of e-cademy, the first social business network for small enterprises, which reached 650,000 members across 60 countries. Built using Drupal, the platform hosted 100 events weekly and predated LinkedIn and Facebook. Power shares anecdotes of his celebrity-like reception in Mumbai and Singapore, where hundreds of members gathered at hotels to meet him, illustrating the deep human need for belonging.

The discussion shifts to the economic impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on London businesses, including cafes and restaurants. The Mayor of London has expressed concern over the lack of foot traffic as marketing agencies and traders continue to work from home. The host observes a general reluctance among professionals to return to office environments after realizing the time-saving benefits of cutting out long commutes.