Exploring Life & Business with John Junior of Ampem Global

Today we’d like to introduce you to John Junior.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My entrepreneurial journey started over 15 years ago with a passion for bringing people together through live experiences. What began as organising events grew into building businesses across entertainment, festivals, concerts, hospitality and international travel.

Since working for myself full-time from 2013, I’ve had the opportunity to co-found and lead ventures including Neoluv, Destination VIP and AMA Fest. Along the way I’ve promoted concerts at venues including The O2 Arena, Eventim Apollo and O2 Forum Kentish Town, secured exclusive rights to host The Millennium Tour in the UK, and built one of the UK’s leading Amapiano festival brands.

Like most entrepreneurs, the journey hasn’t been a straight line. Behind the highlights have been setbacks, financial challenges and difficult lessons that have shaped how I lead and build businesses today. Those experiences have strengthened my resilience and reinforced my belief that success comes from consistency, adaptability and long-term thinking.

Today, my focus is on building sustainable brands that create unforgettable experiences while also helping the next generation of entrepreneurs learn from both my successes and my mistakes.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not. Like many entrepreneurs, I’ve experienced some incredible highs alongside some very difficult lows.

I’ve dealt with events being cancelled at the last minute, venues pulling out just days before opening, cash flow challenges, legal disputes, and the pressure of leading teams while carrying the responsibility of people’s livelihoods. There have been moments where businesses I’ve spent years building were put at risk by circumstances outside of my control.

At the same time, those experiences have become some of my greatest teachers. They’ve forced me to become more resilient, negotiate better, manage risk more effectively, and build businesses with stronger systems and contingencies in place.

Looking back, I wouldn’t say I was tested in spite of the challenges. I was shaped because of them. Every setback has made me a better entrepreneur, and today I approach both success and failure with the same mindset: learn, adapt and keep moving forward.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Ampem Global ?
Ampem Global is the umbrella company behind a portfolio of brands spanning live events, festivals, concerts, international travel and business consultancy. At our core, we create experiences that bring people together while helping businesses and entrepreneurs grow.

Our portfolio includes AMA Fest, one of the UK’s leading Amapiano festival brands; Destination VIP, which curates premium group travel experiences around the world such as Destination Dubai VIP; Ampem Digital, our creative marketing agency; and Event Empire Academy, where we educate and mentor aspiring event entrepreneurs.

What sets us apart is that we’re operators first. Everything we teach, advise on or offer is built from real-world experience. We’ve promoted concerts at world-class venues, negotiated directly with international artists, delivered festivals, built travel brands, and navigated the challenges that come with scaling businesses in the entertainment industry. That practical experience allows us to offer insights that go far beyond theory.

The brand achievement I’m most proud of is building businesses that have created unforgettable experiences for tens of thousands of people over the years. Whether it’s someone attending their first festival, travelling abroad with us, or learning how to launch their own event through our academy, creating opportunities and lasting memories is what drives everything we do.

Ultimately, Ampem Global is about more than events. Our vision is to build globally recognised brands that inspire people to experience more, connect more and realise that with the right mindset and execution, ambitious ideas really can become reality.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I’m a big believer that learning never stops. I probably consume as much educational content as I do entertainment.

Some of the books that have had the biggest impact on me include *The 10X Rule* by Grant Cardone, *Rich Dad Poor Dad* by Robert Kiyosaki, *The E-Myth Revisited* by Michael Gerber and *The 48 Laws of Power* by Robert Greene. Each has influenced the way I think about business growth, systems, leadership and strategy.

I’m also an avid listener of podcasts and interviews with entrepreneurs such as Steven Bartlett, Alex Hormozi, Diary of a CEO, and My First Million. I enjoy hearing real stories from founders because you often learn more from their failures than their successes.

From a practical standpoint, AI tools have become an invaluable part of my workflow. I use ChatGPT daily to help with everything from strategy and problem-solving to marketing, content creation and business planning, allowing me to move faster and think more creatively.

Ultimately, though, my greatest resource has been experience. Building businesses over the last 15 years has taught me lessons that no book or podcast ever could, and I try to combine that real-world experience with continuous learning every day.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: johnjunioruk
• Facebook: johnjunioruk
• LinkedIn: johnjunioruk