As part of the Morning Lazziness series highlighting empowering women who are making a remarkable impact with their ideas, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lisa Loebenberg.
Lisa Loebenberg is the director and founder behind a portfolio of successful bars and restaurants across South West London. A business development and profit growth expert with more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Lisa has built her career from the ground up—rising from waitress to entrepreneur and respected industry leader.
She currently owns seven thriving venues—soon to be eight—including Exhibit Balham, SW16 Bar & Kitchen, Mamma Dough, and Furzedown Lodge. Known for her hands-on leadership style and operational expertise, Lisa specializes in driving transformation, optimizing P&L performance, and delivering strategies that achieve measurable results.
Passionate about creating vibrant, community-driven spaces, Lisa has built a reputation for blending strong commercial acumen with a deep understanding of customer experience. Her work continues to set new standards in hospitality while inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs.
In this interview, she talks about the obstacles she’s overcome, the milestones she’s achieved, and the wisdom she’s gained along the way.
What inspired your leap into entrepreneurship, and what personal experiences sparked the idea behind your current venture?
I’ve always loved the energy of hospitality, the way food and drink bring people together and create memories. After years of working in the industry, I realized I was tired of building other people’s dreams. I wanted to build my own. For me, it wasn’t just about starting a business, it was about creating spaces that felt alive, inclusive, and true to my values. Places that combine quality, warmth, and a real sense of belonging.
If I’m honest, I never liked working for other people. I always knew I wanted to run something myself, to see if I could build a business that wasn’t just about ego and could actually be profitable. I was lucky with timing, I had the opportunity to take on ownership of my first venue Exhibit, without a huge amount of fundraising. That said, It wasn’t perfect, and it definitely wasn’t the “right time,” but I was already involved in the business and I jumped at it. Sometimes you just have to take the leap. A leap that has certainly paid off.
What core problem does your business solve, particularly for women or underserved communities and how does your approach stand out in today’s competitive space?
Hospitality often feels transactional, and for women especially, bars and restaurants can feel unwelcoming or even unsafe. My goal has always been to build venues where everyone feels comfortable, where community is at the heart of the experience, and where staff are respected and supported. We lead with culture and care, that’s what sets us apart.
I’ve spent a lot of time presenting to rooms full of middle aged men who weren’t interested in hearing me. I’ve seen people from marginalized backgrounds overlooked time and again, and I take pride in giving those people opportunities. Early in my career, I was told I had to wear skirts and heels for twelve hour shifts. Now, I prioritize hiring emotionally intelligent managers and team members, because hospitality is deeply emotional work, and it requires people who can truly connect with others.
What were some of the toughest obstacles you faced early in your journey as a woman entrepreneur, and how did you navigate through them?
Access to capital was a huge challenge, but honestly, being taken seriously was even harder. In a male dominated industry, I was constantly underestimated. I’ve walked into bank meetings and been asked if I was there to take notes for a male counter part. I’ve been told women don’t make good managing directors because we’re “too emotional.” I’ve even been told that I only got opportunities because of how I look.
I learned to back myself, do my homework, and show up consistently. Over time, results spoke louder than doubts. Today, I’m 41 years old and own seven businesses. The hardest part now is balance. Progress, not perfection, is what I aim for. People are my number one priority, and every tough lesson feels like paying school fees… expensive, but necessary. My biggest challenge has always been believing in people and sometimes being let down. The trick is to take the emotion out and keep moving forward.
When the going gets tough, what keeps you grounded and motivated to keep pushing forward?
My dog, my husband, my business partner, my gym routine, they all keep me centered. But more than anything, it’s my belief in grit and grace. Resilience isn’t just about pushing harder, it’s about knowing when to pause, breathe, and come back sharper. My team also motivate me. They rely on me to steer the ship, and that responsibility keeps me accountable. At the end of the day, my success only matters if my team is succeeding too.
What daily habits or non-negotiable routines help you stay focused, creatively energized, and balanced as a founder?
I start every day with exercise. It clears my head and sets the tone. Walking my dog is non-negotiable, it grounds me. My mornings are structured and focused, but I also carve out space to think creatively about the bigger picture, not just the daily fires. I’ll admit, I sometimes slip into getting lost in the small stuff, it happens. But I try to pull myself back and ask, “what’s really important today?”
What’s been the most effective growth lever for acquiring new clients or expanding your customer base?
Word of mouth, always. If people feel looked after, they’ll come back and they’ll bring their friends. The product matters, great food, warm service, an authentic atmosphere, but relationships matter even more. That’s where emotionally intelligent team members shine, they know how to build real connections with guests.
What branding or marketing decision had the biggest impact in elevating your business and building trust with your audience?
Owning our story. Instead of trying to be polished and corporate, we leaned into being real, local, and human. People connect with authenticity. That shift in how we presented ourselves completely changed how customers and staff saw us.
At SW16 Bar & Kitchen, for example, we give our teams autonomy. They get to build relationships with guests, shape branding decisions, and even influence the menu. Guests invest in the people they see every day, so empowering the team to be part of the bigger picture has been powerful.
How do you personally define success, not just as a business owner, but as a woman living a purpose-driven life?
For me, success is freedom of choice. It’s being able to design my life, spend time with the people I love, and create spaces where others can thrive. But freedom requires a profitable business, run by people you trust.
Success also means being challenged. I love a challenge, because it means we’re growing. The problems we faced five years ago, I would take in stride today. Each new challenge is an opportunity to level up. That’s why saving Mamma Dough was such a defining moment for me. In 2023, my business partner Emma Willis and I bought the pizza group out of administration. Within a year, we turned a business losing £40,000 a month into one generating a quarter of a million in site level EBITDA. That, to me, is success, facing down the impossible and proving what’s possible.
Can you share a mistake or misstep that taught you a lesson you still carry with you today?
In the beginning, I tried to do everything myself. It nearly broke me. The lesson? Delegate and trust your team. People often surprise you when you give them responsibility. Of course, some will let you down, but you can’t let that stop you from trusting again. The key is to remove the wrong people quickly and move forward with the right ones.
What’s your best advice for women just starting out, especially first-time entrepreneurs feeling overwhelmed or unsure of their next steps?
Don’t wait until you feel ready, you never will. Start small, test, learn, adjust. Build a support system, ask for advice, and don’t let the fear of imperfection hold you back. Progress over perfection, always.
How do you approach risk and innovation, especially when breaking new ground?
I calculate, then I leap. Risk is unavoidable, but it doesn’t have to be reckless. I rely on both data and instincts, they’re equally important. Innovation, for me, is about being brave enough to try something new and humble enough to admit when it doesn’t work.
If you lead a team, how do you foster a culture of trust, inclusivity, collaboration, and growth?
I’m very clear about expectations, but I always lead with respect. Inclusivity isn’t about ticking boxes, it’s about who gets a seat at the table and whether they feel they truly belong there. I encourage my teams to challenge me, to push back, and to bring their passion into the room. Nothing is off the table. That’s how you build trust and collaboration.
What are the top 5 mindset shifts or personal practices that helped you overcome self-doubt and grow your confidence as a woman entrepreneur?
- Back yourself. If you don’t, no one else will.
- Progress over perfection. Challenges are just you levelling up.
- View failure as feedback. Pay those school fees!
- Boundaries protect both you and your business. Create structure and time for yourself.
- Grit and grace, strength with compassion, are more powerful than either alone.
If you could spark a global movement through your work, what would it be and why is that mission meaningful to you?
I’d build a movement around hospitality as a training ground for the next generation of entrepreneurs. Hospitality teaches resilience, communication, leadership, problem solving. It’s the ultimate school of life. Too often, people see it as a stopgap job. I want the world to see it as a launchpad for future leaders.
What’s a quote, philosophy, or guiding belief that shapes how you lead, create, and live every day?
“Grit and grace.” Push with strength, handle with care. It’s how I train, how I lead, and how I live.
Where can our audience connect with you, explore your work, or follow your entrepreneurial journey online?
You can find me on LinkedIn, or follow our journey on @exhibitbalham, @sw16barandkitchen, and @mammadough. That’s where we share what we’re building day to day.
