We are absolutely thrilled to share some incredible news with our wonderful community of learners around the world—Centre of Excellence has won a prestigious Goldman Sachs Award in London! We have been named the company most likely to become a Unicorn—a startup with the potential to reach a $1 billion valuation. This is an extraordinary achievement and a reflection of the impact we are making globally.
Out of 5,000 businesses that have completed the Goldman Sachs programme, we were selected for this honourable recognition, and we couldn’t be prouder. Our CEO and founder, Sara Lou-Ann Jones, shared her excitement:
“It’s been incredible to win and for Goldman Sachs and the University of Oxford to have such belief in us. We will touch the lives of 1 billion people, and here’s to having fun along the way!”
This award highlights the dedication and passion of our entire team and the amazing work we do in empowering people through education. It also comes with exciting new opportunities—Goldman Sachs and the University of Oxford will now be providing us with ongoing mentoring and support to help make our Unicorn dream a reality.
Our Story: From a Living Room Startup to a Global Leader
Centre of Excellence was founded in 2012 by Sara Lou-Ann Jones, with the mission of bringing affordable, accessible education to people around the world. Sara’s entrepreneurial journey began at just 19 years old, and her passion for self-development and mental well-being has remained consistent throughout her career.
Before founding Centre of Excellence, Sara was a classroom-based teacher specialising in NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and Hypnotherapy. Seeing the incredible impact of these techniques in building confidence, overcoming limiting beliefs, and promoting personal growth, she knew she wanted to expand access to these tools beyond the classroom.
Sara’s vision was also personal. As a single mother facing financial hardship, she wanted to create a way for people worldwide to access life-changing education that could help them build better futures. With nothing but determination, she started Centre of Excellence from her living room, combining her expertise in holistic methods and mindset development with an ambition to create a platform that would empower others to thrive.
Fast forward to today, and Centre of Excellence has grown into one of the biggest and most trusted online learning platforms in the world. We have helped over two million learners across 150 countries, and our courses have generated over £40 million in revenue. Sara, now a mother of four, continues to lead with passion, having also established special partnerships to provide free courses to charities and NHS Children’s hospitals. She’s a proud ambassador against online bullying and abuse and has won nine International Business Awards for her contributions to the industry.
A Future Full of Possibilities
This award from Goldman Sachs and the University of Oxford marks a new and exciting chapter for Centre of Excellence. With their ongoing support and mentoring, we are more determined than ever to expand our reach and continue making a difference in the lives of millions.
A huge thank you goes out to every single one of you—our learners, supporters, and team members. Your commitment and enthusiasm fuel our mission to make high-quality learning accessible to all. Without you, this milestone wouldn’t have been possible.
As Sara always says:
“Anything is possible if you believe in yourself and take action, life can be challenging for everyone at times, but there is always a way to make a positive change and to create more joy in your life.”
