Leadership series: Tessa Clarke

Meet the industry’s most inspiring leaders in our Leadership Series of in-depth conversations.

In this episode, we are joined by Tessa Clarke, Co-founder and CEO of Olio, the certified B Corporation on a mission to solve the global waste crisis. 

Founded in 2015, Olio has grown into a community-sharing app with nearly 10 million users worldwide, connecting neighbours and major high-street retailers like Tesco, Iceland, Pret, Sainsbury’s, ASDA, and many more to redistribute surplus food and household items.

In this broad-ranging discussion, Tessa traces her journey from the early inception and core purpose of Olio to the operational realities of building a trusted, large-scale sharing platform. 

She addresses how Olio manages corporate liability, safety, and its vast volunteer network, alongside what it takes to form successful partnerships with commercial giants. 

Looking inward at the entrepreneurial path, Tessa shares open insights on leaving a conventional corporate trajectory after her Stanford MBA, overcoming the hurdles female founders face when raising investment in today’s tough economic climate, and maintaining personal balance while scaling a high-growth startup in the circular economy.