Sound of Breaking Glass

Danguole Litvinskaite once used to work in the financial services industry. Fast forward to today, and she has now established a successful practice as a coach, specializing in performance and motivation. In her work she comes across executives, often women, who are looking for that missing piece of the puzzle, be that a promotion, a new leadership role or a more balanced personal life. Her desire to help other women has led her to develop a holistic approach to self-improvement, and she is a passionate advocate of incorporating wellbeing and self-love as part of the transformation journey. Together, we talk about the heavy burden of wearing masks, the subconscious power of the inner critic and how you can start to change that pattern by applying some simple techniques on a daily basis. You can connect with Danguole on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/danguolelitvinskaite/ or via her website https://coachandyou.com/ Have thoughts on this episode or would like to share some feedback? Do get in touch - I always love hearing from you! https://www.linkedin.com/company/sound-of-breaking-glass/ 

Designer Lisa Redman has always been driven by a simple motto – create beautiful, well-crafted, high quality clothes that women can wear over and over again. She describes herself as a “soft power dresser” – a theme that describes her life philosophy very well. She started her career in textiles design and worked with Betty Jackson, Calvin Klein and Elspeth Gibson, before establishing her own brand.   Raised by an ecologist father, Lisa is a firm believer in the need to go back to basics when it comes to fashion and create collections that outlive trends. She is currently expanding her business by re-inventing her clients’ beloved old pieces, dressing entire generations and focusing on sustainable, natural materials. In this interview we talk about the highs and lows of glamorous fashion shows, how she built her business bit by bit and why investing in fewer, high quality pieces is the best way to build a wardrobe that will stand the test of time.  Find out more about Lisa's brand on https://www.lisaredman.com/ Do get in touch with any suggestions or feedback on https://www.linkedin.com/company/sound-of-breaking-glass/ - it helps me find out what you enjoy the most about the show so I can create even better episodes for you! 

Galena Stavreva is the true definition of a Mum-preneur – inspired by her own nursing experience, she created PowerMama, a smart pumping bra. The success of the product encouraged her to expand the brand and she is now committed to making breastfeeding as easy as possible, recognising that everyone’s nursing journey is unique. In this episode we talk about setting up a manufacturing business from your kitchen table, her earlier start up success, and the grueling hours of a city career, which now feels a lifetime ago. Galena is open about the challenges she had as a mum, the importance of lifestyle choices and knowing when to hit the pause button for the sake of your own health. Her story is a good reminder to take things one step at a time and let the pieces of the puzzle just fit together. You can find out more about her business on powermama.co.uk Do get in touch with any suggestions or feedback on https://www.linkedin.com/company/sound-of-breaking-glass/  - it helps me find out what you enjoy the most about the show so I can create even better episodes for you! 

I recorded the episode with Victoria Clapham back in October last year, but I really wanted to save it for March, when we celebrate International Women’s Day. This conversation is truly a celebration of all that we have achieved in the financial services industry over the years trying to fill that gender gap. And don’t get me wrong, there is a lot more that can be done. But it is always just so refreshing to come across someone like Victoria who never went to university, started her career at reception but eventually rose through the ranks and founded her own financial advisory business. Today, Victoria is committed to not only making the industry more accessible to the next generation, but also teaching them the basics of financial planning. Together we reflect on the importance of role models, how to grow your professional network and why the wealth management industry is so well suited to women. Do get in touch with any suggestions or feedback on https://www.linkedin.com/company/sound-of-breaking-glass/ - it helps me find out what you enjoy the most about the show so I can create even better episodes for you! 

Patricia Wing is the founder of SuLe hub, a legal tech startup for business founders navigating the hurdles of setting up their first business. Having started her career in the city at only 18, she qualified as a solicitor in the UK only to discover that her true passion lied elsewhere. In this episode, we talk about the pivotal moments that shaped her career. From founding a youth football club in South East London, through to supporting the startup ecosystem in the UK, Trish has always been driven by an authentic desire to help others. Currently she is focusing on her mission to democratise access to legal support, particularly for small businesses.  You can find out more about her startup here: https://www.sulehub.com/ Do get in touch with any suggestions or feedback on https://www.linkedin.com/company/sound-of-breaking-glass/ - it helps me find out what you enjoy the most about the show so I can create even better episodes for you! 

Simone Muller is the founder of Re-Centre, an online platform dedicated to the Low Pressure Fitness-Hypopressives technique. Having grown up in South Africa, she trained with the Royal Ballet School in London, before ending her career as a dancer and setting up her own business.  In this episode, we talk about finding your calling by focusing on what you truly desire and giving yourself the freedom to experiment and fail, particularly if you’ve been taught all your life to numb this part of your being. But what if your interests and ideas don’t seem to fit together at first sight? Simone is great example of how it all starts to make sense once you give yourself time.  You can find out more about Simone's classes and the Hypopressives technique here https://re-centre.co.uk/

Nicky Sevel is the definition of a fintech entrepreneur who started her career almost by chance, but quickly found her niche by combining wealth management with technology. Currently she is set on a mission to bring down the cost of financial planning services by building Woven Advice, a software solution for advisors. She is also dedicated to making financial planning more accessible to those in need with her project Neeshe.  In this episode we explore the trials and tribulations of setting up a tech start up in London, knocking on C-suite doors and building a network of clients through free-lance contracting. You can find out more about Nicky's business here: https://wovenadvice.com

Lara Solomon is a serial entrepreneur and business lover who is always on the lookout for the next opportunity. Currently she is focusing on growing Hoopsy, an eco-friendly pregnancy test brand with a fertility community, overseen by healthcare professionals.  With Hoopsy, Lara found a way to combine her passion for sustainability with her desire to help others going through the often complicated and lonely fertility journey. As optimistic and extroverted as Lara is, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing, but her focus on connecting with others and supporting the community, always helped. In this interview, she openly shares her own experience of trying to conceive, what she learned along the way and why even one less plastic test in landfill makes a difference.

Joanna Parry-George is the CEO of Talk Education, a global, leading guide to the world of independent education, providing parents with carefully curated, ethical and comprehensive advice on school choices. Before becoming a successful business founder, Joanna had a rather unusual career start as a theatrical agent, followed by a free-lance writing practice, which opened many doors for her. Despite not having any formal business training, her unparalleled knowledge and passion for the education industry motivated her to stick with the rollercoaster journey and work hard on innovative product. In this episode we talk the changing world of education and Joanna's mission to make independent schooling accessible to everyone.

Career coach Anita Rolls is the founder of the Career Intelligence Academy, a business helping employees, managers and HR teams engage and improve career development outcomes.  Anita and I talk about her search for meaning at the beginning of her career, the golden cage of a comfortable city job and what to do when you find yourself absolutely stuck, particularly as a woman in your mid-thirties. Anita’s career story is a fascinating one with many squiggles along the way, but when she starts talking about helping others find their spark, it becomes clear that she has found hers. Find out more about Anita's 1-2-1 Coaching here: https://careerintelligence.lpages.co/ucw-coaching-2024/ And for organisations interested in the Career Intelligence Academy:  https://careerintelligence.lpages.co/introducing-career-intelligence/    

Welcome to the Sound of Breaking Glass. In this very first season we will be focusing on the topic of non-linear careers. Please join me in exploring the zig zags of professional and personal growth as we navigate that tricky work-life balance and search for meaning behind the job title. My guests come from a wide range of backgrounds, but each share a unique perspective on what it takes to find your true calling. In this trailer episode I lay out my motivation for starting this show and what I hope you will take away.