Changemakers with Molly Goddard, Founder of Desmond and Dempsey

Honest Founder Stories with Molly Goddard, Co-founder of Desmond & Dempsey

For founders, by founders.

Changemakers is Virgin StartUp’s flagship storytelling series, created to spotlight the real side of entrepreneurship. No glossy highlight reels just honest, unfiltered conversations about what it truly takes to build a business.
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This February, we’re excited to welcome Molly Goddard, Co-founder of Desmond & Dempsey. Founded in 2014 by Molly and her husband Joel, the brand began with a simple idea: reclaiming the right to do absolutely nothing at least one day a week.

What started as Molly reworking Joel’s oversized shirts into beautifully crafted pyjamas quickly became something much bigger. Inspired by travel, storytelling, and the gentle pace of Sunday mornings, Desmond & Dempsey’s hand-painted prints tell stories from around the world, turning rest into a ritual and pyjamas into a lifestyle.

The journey hasn’t been glossy from day one. Molly launched the business at just 22, using a single credit card with a £10k limit, while juggling two jobs and navigating severe dyslexia after scraping through university. Since then, the brand has experienced both highs and lows from early angel investment to collaborations with global names including the Natural History Museum, H&M, GAIL’s and Belmond.

Now stocked by Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, Liberty London and Neiman Marcus, Desmond & Dempsey has grown into a luxury label with a devoted following.

On 18 February, we’ll sit down with Molly for an honest conversation about building a lifestyle brand before product, finding a clear USP in a crowded market, and cracking the code of luxury retail all while staying true to the joy of doing sweet nothing at all.

If you’re building a brand with heart, vision, and long-term ambition, this is one not to miss.
Guiding the conversation is our brilliant host, Natalie Pearce speaker, facilitator and coach helping founders build businesses (and lives) that actually feel good.

She’s worked with brands from Amnesty to NatWest, co-founded slow grow co, writes the newsletter, and brings her energy and honesty to every Changemakers stage.

Why come?
Because building a business is messy and you don’t have to do it alone. Changemakers is your space to hear unfiltered founder stories, swap experiences with people on the same path, and leave feeling inspired, supported and seen.

Details

• Date: Wednesday 18th February
• Location: Fitzrovia

Tickets are free. Thanks to Virgin Money for making these events possible for founders.
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