Women's Business

Excuse me while I take my hat off to this powerhouse of a woman who has been dealt so many of life's curveballs, and has handled them with grace and her own relentless optimism.  Ro Feilden-Cook found herself newly single and pregnant in her last year of uni, only to find out she was actually expecting twins. Fast forward a short while to when her boys were less than a year old, and she recognised that one of them was developmentally different, and started out the long journey to getting his disability diagnosed. Ro persevered through the darkest of times as a single mum, before reuniting with the boys' dad when they were 5, and going onto marry him and have another baby. And alongside all of this she was figuring out her career, first founding a catering business which she later sold, before finding fitness and the impact it had on her mental health, and founding her second business The She Collective - a wellness app for women.  Ro's story is quite unbelievable. She has been through some unquestionably difficult things but her outlook is beautifully positive, and that shines through in this chat which is sure to offer inspiration to anyone.  Find Ro on Instagram here Find Ro's website here  Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here  Or on LinkedIn here  Subscribe to my Substack here 

You might know Emma Nicolet as your favourite self-confessed 'Joyfluencer' on Instagram where she shares snapshots of real family life, with palpable honesty, but I bet you don't know how she got there. From her experience of boarding at a performing arts school, and how that has impacted her confidence throughout the rest of her life, this story takes in how Emma's love of making people happy has been a thread throughout her career - whether that was in her first job at McDonald's, dressing up as Elsa for kids' parties, or presenting on the radio, it's something she has carried through into her work and life now as an accidental influencer. Emma shares honestly about how that came about, the balance of making that work for her and her family, and what comes next for her.  It's a unique story delivered with real heart. Enjoy!  Find Emma on Instagram here Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here Or subscribe to my Substack here  If you'd like to enquire about sponsoring any future episodes of Women's Business please get in touch here. 

Rebecca Seal started her career moving up the ranks in print journalism, in a clear break away from the heavy work she had seen her parents do, before accidentally having a TV career, alongside being a cook book writer and journalist. But, when facing burnout from working alone and seeking a resource to help her through it - and finding there wasn't one - she wrote one herself, and so began a new phase of her career exploring more about mental health and wellbeing that would see her write a bestseller -Solo: How To Work Alone (And Not Lose Your Mind) - followed by her latest book Be Bad, Better: How Not Trying So Hard Will Set You Free.  This conversation covers that whole journey, with ideas and insight from Rebecca for those that are working solo, plus a dive into some of the topics from Be Bad, Better, including patriarchy, late-stage capitalism, the beauty industry and consumerism, how those are impacting are lives, and how understanding them and letting them go can really set us free.  It's both hard and hopeful, and it all comes from Rebecca's unique and brilliant brain in a way that manages to be fully relatable. I think there's so much to take from this one.  Find Rebecca's website here.  Find Rebecca on Instagram here. Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here.  Or you can subscribe to my Substack here.  If you'd like to find out about sponsoring any episodes of Women's Business please get in touch here.  Finally... please rate and review the episode if you love it and want to hear more, and subscribe so you don't miss future episodes.

How do you know when it's time to let your business go? Faced with comparison-itis online, alongside running a family, Emmy shares really openly here about her journey to doing just that.  This episode takes in the full story, from the ego she was born with, to wanting to be famous, to channelling some of that into her clothing brand Sunday & Soul, to coming to the realisation that it was time to move on from it, and both the grief, and the feeling of freedom that came with that.  Emmy's story echoes so much of my own, whilst being completely unique to her, and I think there will be so much to relate to in this story which is told with heart and honesty, and a few tears too! 

Ayesha Ofori started her career in investment banking, with a simple view to paying off her student debt, but after advancing quickly and managing a portfolio of $500m, she realised the work didn't align with her values, and turned her hand to helping others build their wealth through property investment as she had, founding Black Property Network, followed swiftly by Propelle - a community, education and investment platform for women.  Ayesha's insight on peeling back the curtain on investing and making it accessible for women is both fascinating to listen to, and highly informative, but she also talks with great honesty about how she balances work and home life too. So many highlights in this episode which I hope you'll love!  Find Ayesha on Instagram here Find Propelle on Instagram here Join the waitlist for Propelle here  Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here Or subscribe to my Substack here  --------------- Thank you so much to Wild for sponsoring this episode - check out my 30% off discount code and try it for yourself.  Wild is the only deodorant brand I use and it really works, so they are my dream partners.  Wild is the UK’s number 1 natural deodorant company featuring a fully sustainable design and recyclable refills. They’ve also recently launched a luxe 100% plastic free body wash which I love – it comes in an aluminium case with compostable refills.  Use code BUSINESS30 for 30% off sitewide. Shop Wild now!

This episode comes with a trigger warning for baby loss, which enters the conversation at 13 minutes in.  Sarah Tobin started her career in advertising before a traumatic birth and the subsequent death of her daughter left her with PTSD, a physical pain in her chest every day, and a choice - to either give into the pain, or to move forward, choose happiness, and start healing. Sarah chose the latter, and this is her incredible story of resilience and the power of the technique she used then and still uses now to process the trauma she experienced - tapping, which is also known as Emotional Freedom Technique. It's a technique I've had in my wellbeing toolkit for many years, so talking to Sarah - who re-trained as an EFT practitioner after it transformed her life - was a really personal experience for me, and I wanted her to share just how brilliant and accessible tapping is for anyone who suffers with anxiety and trauma. We talk about starting out with EFT if you're new to it, the science behind it, and Sarah's journey that led her to that pivot, which has ultimately brought her to a place where she helps other mums (and their families) navigate difficult times.  In spite of Sarah's heartbreaking loss this is actually an incredibly positive and inspiring story of what Sarah has done to turn her daughter Alice's legacy into a positive one, that goes on.  Find Sarah on Instagram here  Find Sarah's website here  Find Sarah on YouTube here  Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here  Or subscribe to my Substack here  --------------- Thank you so much to Wild for sponsoring this episode - check out my 30% off discount code and try it for yourself.  Wild is the only deodorant brand I use and it really works, so they are my dream partners.  Wild is the UK’s number 1 natural deodorant company featuring a fully sustainable design and recyclable refills. They’ve also recently launched a luxe 100% plastic free body wash which I love – it comes in an aluminium case with compostable refills.  Use code WOMENSBUSINESS for 30% off sitewide. Shop Wild now!

In this episode, former Editor-In-Chief of Hello! Magazine Rosie Nixon, talks about her early love of magazines and how that laid the foundations for what she went onto do, tells me about her favourite scoops at the helm of Hello! but then offers total honesty on what happened as she approached burn out. The changes Rosie made as a result of that phase have set her up for this new chapter, enjoying a portfolio career to broaden her horizons, lower the stakes, and create more time for her family.  She also tells me about the lightbulb moment she experienced when she realised she was in the depths of peri-menopause, the signs and symptoms, and how she advocated for herself to get the necessary treatment, and tips on how others can do the same.  Find Rosie on Instagram here. Check out Rosie's website here.  Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here.  You can subscribe to my Substack here.  -------------------- Thank you so much to Wild for sponsoring this episode - check out my 30% off discount code and try it for yourself.  Wild is the only deodorant brand I use and it really works, so they are my dream partners.  Wild is the UK’s number 1 natural deodorant company featuring a fully sustainable design and recyclable refills. They’ve also recently launched a luxe 100% plastic free body wash which I love – it comes in an aluminium case with compostable refills.  Use code WOMENSBUSINESS for 30% off sitewide. Shop Wild now!

In this second birthday episode, host of Woman's Hour Emma Barnett turns the mic on ME - Nicky Elliott - to hear my own career story.  This conversation covers: My early memories of work How I stumbled into events How I founded my first business The mat leave project that became Wilder Ones How I feel about being a 'provider' My pivot into podcasting and empowering women My plans for the future Will total openness from the get-go on my financial losses and gains, lessons learnt, and my new mission, this episode is for anyone who has listened to the pod so far and has wanted to hear my own story - with some friendly banter between me and my long-time friend Emma in the mix.  Find Emma on Instagram here.  Don't forget to join the conversation on Instagram here.  You can subscribe to my deeper dive essays on all we discuss on my Substack here.  ----------------- Thank you so much to Wild for sponsoring this episode - it's the only deodorant brand I use and it really works, so they are my dream partners.  Wild is the UK’s number 1 natural deodorant company featuring a fully sustainable design and recyclable refills.  They’ve also recently launched a luxe 100% plastic free body wash which I love – it comes in an aluminium case with compostable refills.  Use code WOMENSBUSINESS for 30% off sitewide. Go wild!

In this special episode to celebrate ONE YEAR of Women’s Business I’ve invited back my first ever guest – the one and only Frankie Tortora – to do a review of the year with me, pulling out some themes that have come up, got us all thinking, and sparked brilliant discussions.   Frankie acts as both host and guest, picking the topics (out of her sparkly unicorn hat!) and discussing them all with me, sharing her personal experiences and stories, while I share my insight and highlights from the last 30 episodes of the podcast – what I’ve learnt, what I’ve loved, and what’s really stayed with me. Topics covered include: Mental Load Career Trauma  Careers Advice  Multi-Hyphen Careers Measures of Success A massive THANK YOU if you’ve listened to any episode this year. Year two here we go! Find Frankie and everything to do with her work, her community, and her brilliant podcast for freelance parents here.  Don’t forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here. You can subscribe to my Substack for deep dive essays on some of our discussions here. ------------------- Thank you so much to Wild for sponsoring this episode - it's the only deodorant brand I use and it really works, so they are my dream partners.  Wild is the UK’s number 1 natural deodorant company featuring a fully sustainable design and recyclable refills.  They’ve also recently launched a luxe 100% plastic free body wash which I love – it comes in an aluminium case with compostable refills.  Use code WOMENSBUSINESS for 30% off sitewide. Go wild!

From whirlwind romances and moving across the world to starting her own coaching business and networking group - Laura Cruise has had a fascinating journey and it has left her filled with wisdom and perspective that everyone will learn something from.  This episode covers so much, including:  Why supporting other women can only lead to good things Acknowledging when something isn't serving you any more  Tangible advice on how to work on an idea to get real confidence in it  Allowing things to take time  The problem with niching too soon  And so much more besides. Laura and I had a fantastic chat which really stayed with me. I know there will be value in here for you. Find Laura's website here Find Laura on Instagram here Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here To find out more about my public speaking work and events head here  ---------------- Thank you so much to Wild for sponsoring this episode - it's the only deodorant brand I use and it really works, so they are my dream partners.  Wild is the UK’s number 1 natural deodorant company featuring a fully sustainable design and recyclable refills.  They’ve also recently launched a luxe 100% plastic free body wash which I love – it comes in an aluminium case with compostable refills.  Use code WOMENSBUSINESS for 30% off sitewide. Go wild!    

In this episode, founder, marketeer, mum, and content creator Lorna Hayward takes me on her career journey that takes in everything from starting out in TV, to moving into marketing, to starting her own series of sell-out 'Pizzup' events almost by accident, but we also go deeper, delving into the recent events that led her to realise that she attaches so much of her self-worth to work.  In the course of this discussion we tried to unpack some of the societal pressures that lead so many women to feel that way too, whilst also covering how we can try to un-attach our self-worth from work, whilst still finding meaning in purpose in what we do for a living.  Find Lorna on Instagram here Find out more about Lorna's inclusive events for women - Pizzup - here  Don't forget to join the conversation on all things life and careers with me on Instagram here  Or to find out more about me, my work and the podcast, head to my website here

In this episode, author and founder Liv Thorne talks about her career as well as her solo parenting journey for the first time. Covering everything from the early life events that made her commitment-phobic, to her overwhelming desire to be a mother, more than a partner, we discuss how Liv ended up co-founding her own business at the same time as embarking on her journey to solo motherhood - something she went on to write a book about. We also discuss Liv's unique set of circumstances, how she makes life and career work with that in mind, as well as her hopes for the future. This chat is fun, funny, moving and thought-provoking all at the same time.  Find Liv on Instagram here Find Liv's book here  Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here If you enjoy Women's Business please rate or review. I love you for it!  To find out more about me and my work head to thewildercollective.co.uk ---------------------- This episode is sponsored by memenopause.com  Me.MeNoPause brings natural products that work to women struggling with symptoms of the menopause and peri-menopause. They have curated a Menopause Relief Kit - the only complete daily menopause relief routine which combines a unique plant-based natural menopause vitamin complemented with effective herbal remedies to get you through the day. They even guarantee you a full refund if you don’t see results within 30 days. They work exclusively with expert-led and nutritionist recommended products which are designed to bring back some much-needed normality to women’s lives. And importantly they only work with brands who use high quality natural ingredients, with no nasty fillers and additives. Yes please. Use discount code WilderOnes10 for 10% off your first order, and Visit Memenopause.com to find out more

In this episode floral designer and mum of three Afia Bayayi takes me on her fascinating journey from straight A student to teacher to business owner, with home educating three children thrown into the mix.  Afia's insight on the education system, and the responsibility of teachers is fascinating, but so is her take on how she knew she'd be an entrepreneur, and how she found the thing that would take her on that journey, by - as she puts it - simply looking at what was in her hands.  We also talk the life events that gave Afia extreme perspective and the ultimate push to start her business, how she manages her workload, some of the myths surrounding home educating, and the skills she wants to arm her children with by the time they leave school. A conversation I'll definitely revisit and one I think you'll take a really fresh perspective from.  Find Afia's floral business on Instagram here Find Afia's parenting and home educating journey here  Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here ------------ This episode is sponsored by memenopause.com  Me.MeNoPause brings natural products that work to women struggling with symptoms of the menopause and peri-menopause.   They have curated a Menopause Relief Kit - the only complete daily menopause relief routine which combines a unique plant-based natural menopause vitamin complemented with effective herbal remedies to get you through the day. They even guarantee you a full refund if you don’t see results within 30 days.   They work exclusively with expert-led and nutritionist recommended products which are designed to bring back some much-needed normality to women’s lives. And importantly they only work with brands who use high quality natural ingredients, with no nasty fillers and additives. Yes please.   Use discount code WilderOnes10 for 10% off your first order, and Visit Memenopause.com to find out more

In this episode, wedding celebrant and writer Holly June Smith talks to me about her lifelong love of storytelling, and her journey to becoming a self-published author.  We discuss Holly's early foray into the world of film-making, her side step into the charity sector, and the myth of having it all that made her turn her love of love stories into a full-time job when she became a wedding celebrant, which she continues to do now alongside being a self-published author of some seriously great and spicy romance novels. Holly and I share a love of romance stories, romantic comedies and yes – romatic teen drama Dawson’s Creek, which was a formative show for both of us – so we dive into that as part of a wider discussion about the romantic comedy genre and the tropes and story arcs they usually explore. There's also great insight for anyone who wants to write and put their work out into the world. Holly discusses her initial snobbery around self-publishing, how wrong she was, and how well it works for her as she grows her back catalogue. 

In this episode, Lee McKay Doe AKA The Career Therapist, opens up about her own climb up the career ladder, and the moments of trauma that triggered her to make a change and start to work to help others navigate career trauma, burnout, and stress.  From discussing conditions of worth, to purpose, and the deep work required to unlearn some of our behaviours, this episode is a deep dive into how early trauma can impact our careers, and how career trauma can in turn impact our lives. Plus, Lee gives advice and suggestions for our own self-reflection to help us manage our own career trauma, or patterns of behaviour.  Sit down with a pen and paper and be prepared for this free therapy session! It's not always comfortable, but there's so much food for thought - including a look at some of my own career trauma and how I've nagivated that.  Find Lee on Instagram here  Find Lee's website here Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here If you enjoyed this episode please follow so you don't miss future episodes, and rate and review to help others find the podcast.  

In this episode Rosie takes us on her journey from being the school-hating, business-minded daughter of an entrepreneur, to falling into the world of PR and becoming a total disruptor in that space, with her no-billshit, product-focused approach that anyone can follow with great results. We also talk about Rosie's amazing resilience in pivoting her business when it was needed, all with a small baby on her and another one promptly on the way. Another true testament to the amazingness of women, you will take inspiration from Rosie's story, and tangible tips on building your brand, be it product-based, service-based, or personal brand.  Find Rosie on Instagram here Find out more about PR Dispatch here  Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here If you enjoyed this episode please follow so you don't miss future episodes, and rate and review to help others find the podcast. --------------- This episode is sponsored by Neon Digital Clicks, an e-commerce growth agency partnering with Shopify brands who are ready to scale. Working across Meta ads, TikTok ads, Google ads and Klaviyo for brands specialising in products for kids, parents and women. They are offering a free audit to all Women's Business listener, so if you own a small business and are interested in scaling get in touch with the team for your no obligation audit.   

In this episode slow business mentor and cyclical living advocate Jen Wright talks about the power of listening to your cycle, along with tools on how to implement cyclical living in a simple way, that goes far beyond just your period. But we also cover so much more, from what we can learn from our children who take situations as they find them, to the power in being fired, to postnatal depression, the struggle of motherhood and re-imagining the workplace for women. We covered so much and this conversation really stayed with me. Serious food for thought!  Find Jen's website here  Find Jen on Instagram here  Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here If you enjoyed this episode please follow so you don't miss future episodes, and rate and review to help others find the podcast. 

In this episode Charlotte Morley, founder of children's clothing rental website The Little Loop, talks to me all about her journey from the Ministry of Defence, to teaching, to tech, and ultimately founding her current business, which broke records on Dragons' Den as the first business to secure double the investment she had asked for, from double the dragons - Steven Bartlett and Deborah Meaden no less!  There is so much to take on board in this episode - from paying it forward, to finding purpose, to the problems with academic measures of success, to starting a project on mat leave, and the future of fashion - we really do cover so much and Charlotte is such a down-to-earth yet totally inspiring woman to listen to.  Find The Little Loop here  Find Charlotte and the team on Instagram here  Don't forget to join the conversation on my Instagram too - here.  ------------------ This episode is sponsored by Neon Digital Clicks, an e-commerce growth agency partnering with Shopify brands who are ready to scale. Working across Meta ads, TikTok ads, Google ads and Klaviyo for brands specialising in products for kids, parents and women. They are offering a free audit to all Women's Business listener, so if you own a small business and are interested in scaling get in touch with the team for your no obligation audit. 

In this episode, podcaster, journalist, content creator and mum of three Alison Perry talks to me about how she always wanted to write, and her journey from penning her own Sweet Valley High books, to working at some of the most famous magazines of the noughties, to writing her own book for twin parents. We also talk about why niching isn't on Alison's radar as she continues to adds more strings to her bow, with a recent foray into podcast production, alongside setting up her first physical business - a kids' sleepover party concept. PLUS... more to enjoy on toxic noughties magazine culture, talking to our kids about work, and her hopes the future.  Find Alison on Instagram here. Listen to Alison's Podcast 'Not Another Mummy Podcast' here.  Find out about Alison's podcast production services here.  Book Alison's sleepover party service for your kiddos here.  ----------------------------- This episode is sponsored by Good Wash Day  Our hair is most vulnerable when wet, and Good Wash Day T-shirt towels reduce friction, damage, dryness, frizz and drying time. They’re made from the softest organic jersey cotton and are perfect for all hair types. Wavies and curlies can use them to plop! They’re super gentle and lightweight, so are suitable for sensitive skin and those experiencing hair loss and regrowth. All Good Wash Day towels are made in the UK from ethically sourced fabrics (where people and planet are protected), and have been approved by a Harley Street-based Consultant Trichologist. Use code WB10 for 10% off your first order to support this awesome female-founded small business.

In this episode, self-confessed small business cheerleader Holly Tucker MBE, talks to me about the incredible full circle moment she's experiencing, setting up her new online marketplace Holly&Co, almost twenty years after she co-founded notonthehighstreet.  In this deep dive into Holly's career we talk how different the landscape was when she first became an entrepreneur and set up her first business, and what gave her the drive to become the only woman to create two online marketplaces. Plus we talk the power of building her personal brand, finding the balance of purpose and profit, and the mission she has mapped out for the next twenty years.  Shop at Holly & Co here  Find Holly on Instagram here  Find Holly & Co on Instagram here  Listen to Holly's podcast Conversations of Inspiration here  If you love this episode don't forget to follow so you don't miss future episodes. And a rating / review helps other people know it's worth a listen! Please also join the conversation on Instagram  ----------------- Thank you so MUCH to Peachie for sponsoring this episode. Peachie is a fantastic female-founded brand ready to tackle the taboo around the menopause and  meet our needs in a positive way. At Peachie HQ a love of good food has been combined with the nutritional know-how of experts.  Peachie is making it easy and delicious to look after ourselves as we approach perimenopause & menopause - no more dusty vitamins! Peachie is a tasty topping of hand-baked nuts & seeds fortified with 14 specially selected vitamins & minerals to help support us during perimenopause & menopause. Simply add a tablespoon to your yogurt, porridge, cereal and you know that you've got a lovely boost of fibre, protein and omega 3 as well as your daily RDI of Vitamin D, and a third of your RDI of Magnesium, B12 and Vitamin C and so much more!   Peachie is proudly made by women, for women. Their 4 female founders are ‘women through the ages’ in their 20s, 30s, 40s & 50s who all have different relationships and experiences with female health and are united in wanting to be part of making positive change happen in this area.   Ready to feel a bit more Peachie? Try it today, you can order at www.feelingpeachie.co.uk and use my exclusive discount code 'womensbusiness' to get 20% off 30 days' supply of Peachie.