Stressed But Well Dressed

Dahlia is joined by Heather Jackson, CEO & CoFounder of GenM and creator of the MTick - the world's only menopause symbol.Heather shares why she realises there was a gap in the market for products to support women during menopause. Her work is based on her own experience of menopause that left her frustrated that not enough people understand the symptoms and knew what products could help women manage the process.Having previously led large commercial business she approached retailers with the concept of MTick to find that most of them hadn't considered the menopause, despite the large amount of their customers who experience it at any given time.Heather explained how she built MTick and how critical it is to establish your purpose in your work and your life. She shares why she is so passionate about making women's menopause experience better and why 'not bad' is never good enough.Dahlia and Heather reflect on the fact that life does not always go to plan but knowing what you c an control and being accountable to yourself is imperative to ensure you live a life worth living and enjoying.Heather Jackson is the CEO & CoFounder of GenM www.gen-m.com the Menopause partner of brands. Home of the MTick the world' s only menopause friendly symbol to help those in this transition search source and shop for products to support them Collectively uniting & supporting the most responsible and progressive brands to understand and serve in a commercially purposeful way , what is currently an underserved audience of 15.5 m women in UK alone & 1 billion globally. GenM has over 100 of the most powerful & recognised brands in its growing collective GenM recognise that the menopause is not a gender, medical , workplace or government issue per se but the sum of all parts . It is a societal issue that brands, retailers and manufacturers have a role to play in changing . GenM s key focus is “Making the menopause experience better today than yesterday “ by encouraging brands with our support & resources to look to better signposting , marketing, merchandise & product development , campaigns, advertising , menopause policies and support to an audience who we believe deserve better right now . GenM is committed to making menopause more visible , delivering choice and trust to the menopausal consumer and trust and credibility to the global market . All united around our MTick - A symbol that will be as recognised globally as vegan v in next 5 years Helping raise the awareness of 48 symptoms of menopause, normalising the conversation of this taboo subject and changing the rhetoric from fear to thrive for a transition that impacts all directly or indirectly .. their work colleague , consumer, client , supplier , partner , loved one or friend alike Heather is the former CEO of An Inspirational Journey, the company behind several programmes & initiatives including The Balanced Business Forum (formerly known as The Women's Business Forum and now recognised as the world’s first gender balanced leadership conference), The Pearls Programme, The Two Percent Club and a social platform AIJ.TV “Real Leaders, Real Conversation’s “ An Inspirational Journey supported more than 150 organisations on the issue of Balanced Business, and had over 15000 women on its programmes reaching out to many thousands more aspiring leaders with its mentoring and support activities.Heather is an active advocate in the media and has acted as an advisory consultant to the government on issues surrounding women, in business and society She is a regular key note speaker and contributor to regional and national media including; CNN, BBC, Sky News, and The Times.

Dahlia is joined by Angela Foster, Nutritionist, Health and Performance Coach to discuss stress, mindset and how to make a choice about where in life we want to have a 'high performance' output. Angela shares her journey and how her own health challenges led her from Lawyer to working in the wellness industry, understanding her body and making a considered choice about how to live her life, where to focus her efforts and what it means to be a high performer.Dahlia and Angela discuss the fact that women lead in many areas of their lives (at work/at home) but are they leading their own life and staying true their values or are they allowing themselves to be 'led' by the environment or situation they find themselves in?Angela shares tips on managing stress and improving mindset and also reflects on the link between clothes and high performance in her own work.Angela Foster is a Health & Performance Coach, Keynote Speaker and the dynamic voice behind the High Performance Health podcast. With a background as a corporate law partner, her own health crisis led her to embrace integrative healing and biohacking - a turning point that transformed her life and career. As the founder of BioSyncing®, Angela develops transformational frameworks empowering women to optimise their mind, body, and spirit in harmony with their female physiology. Angela's membership Live Younger, helps women in midlife lower their biological age and make longevity a lifestyle, through expert masterclasses, live Q&As and a supportive community. Take Angela's quiz on wellness: Have you built the business, the career, the family, the lifestyle.But lately, it feels like you’re stuck on the hamster wheel of life? Take Angela’s 2-minute quiz to discover whether stress, hormones, or mindset are silently holding you back and how to get back in sync.https://biosyncing.scoreapp.com/

Dahlia is joined by Stefanie Sword-Williams, keynote speaker, author and founder of the idea that we need to F*ck being humble in our working lives.Stefanie joins Dahlia to discuss why we are often far too modest and unassuming, expecting the hard work to 'do the work' for us rather than understanding the value that can come from valid self promotion.Dahlia and Stefanie unpack why we hold ourselves back, when it is appropriate to be gracious and how to create a personal brand without the 'ick' factor.Stefanie reflects on her personal style and what it means to be 'well dressed' on stage - which is a key part of how she prepares and gets in the headspace to do a great job.Stefanie Sword Williams is an award-winning founder, TEDx speaker and author of F*ck Being Humble and Career Comedown. In 2018 she created a global mission, movement and training consultancy inspiring individuals to be unapologetically proud of their achievements and overcome the fear of self-promotion. Recognised as a leading voice on career and confidence, she helps reshape mindsets and corporate cultures. She has been named as Top 50 Workplace Leaders, made the Forbes 30 Under 30 in Europe, and recently won the ‘Future is Female’ LinkedIn award for her positive contributions and impact on the industry. Her talks have reached people in over 50 countries and Stef has spoken for global brands including Apple, Netflix, Unilever, Google, Nike, L’oreal, Adidas, Unilever, Microsoft, and The BBC. Her debut book ‘F*ck Being Humble: Why self-promotion isn't a dirty word’ has sold over 10,000 copies and she has also delivered a TEDx Talk on why the world needs to be a little less humble. She has built a loyal fanbase of over 200k followers online, and has been featured in Vogue, BBC World News, The Financial Times and Forbes. Stef’s support towards those who were unemployed during the pandemic led to her being invited to become a Fellow at the Royal Society of Arts and she continues to reinvest profits and time into community projects to help improve the lives of many.

Lisa is a Binge Eating and Body Confidence Specialist who knows exactly how it feels to be stuck in the endless cycle of dieting, restriction, and bingeing. Havinglived through it herself, she now helps others untangle their complicated relationship with food and their bodies. Lisa’s approach blends professional expertise with deep compassion, offering practical tools and freshperspectives. She’s passionate about showing people that food can be enjoyed freely and that confidence doesn’t come from the bathroom scales or your dresssize, but from self-acceptance and self trust. www.lisaunger.co.ukwww.facebook.com/bingeeatingspecialistwww.instagram.com/_lisaungerFree Ebook: Emotional eating uncovered - https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/1217935/sites/154485015246275769/N9jroH1.Mirror Tip: Practice a Neutral FocusNext time you look in the mirror, resist the urge to zoom in on what you don’t like. Instead, pick one neutral thing to focus on — maybe the colour of your eyes, the curve of your shoulders, or the way light catches your hair.Spend 30 seconds simply noticing it without judgment. The goal isn’t to love everything you see, but to break the habit of criticism and start seeing yourself with calm eyes rather than critical ones. 2. Notice the Language You Use About YourselfPay attention to the words and tone you use when you talk to or about yourself today.When you catch a harsh or critical thought - ‘I look awful’, ‘I hate my legs…, pause and ask, ‘Would I speak to a friend like that’?Then try to reframe it into something kinder and more realistic, such as: ‘My legs help me move through the day’. ‘My body is doing its best to support me’. ‘I don’t have to love everything I see to treat myself with respect’. You’re not aiming for instant body love, just gentler, fairer language. Over time, that small shift can change how you feel in your own skin. 3. Daily Kindness QuestionEach morning, ask yourself: ‘What’s one small act of care I can give my body today?’It could be something simple like taking five deep breaths, choosing a nourishing meal, stepping outside for fresh air, or going to bed 20 minutes earlier.Write your answer somewhere you’ll see it (your phone, planner, or mirror) and commit to doing it beforethe day ends.These small, consistent acts of kindness are what rebuild trust with your body over time.

Dahlia is joined by Caroline Strawson, expert in understanding, identifying and recovering from trauma.Dahlia and Caroline discuss what trauma is, how it is triggered and what it does to our nervous systems, our confidence and our mindset.Caroline draws on her own traumatic experience of marrying a narcissist and shares how she recognised her situation and managed to break free and begin again.Dahlia and Caroline discuss the stress of being stuck in what Caroline calls 'functional freeze' and how to build the confidence to move forward step by step.Caroline Strawson is an award-winning Hay House Author, nervous system educator andone of the world’s most influential voices in trauma informed healing and mental health. Asthe founder of The Mental Wellbeing Company, the UK’s fastest-growing franchise, andTIDAL – Trauma Informed Development And Learning, she is leading a nationalmovement to transform mental health in homes, schools, workplaces and communities.With lived experience of domestic abuse, homelessness, debt and complex trauma,Caroline rebuilt her life from rock bottom and has since dedicated her work to helping othersdo the same. She is living proof that rock bottom can become a platform and that adiagnosis, a label or a past chapter never has to define a person’s future.Today, Caroline is a global educator, trainer and speaker, teaching that there are no badparts of us,, only nervous system responses and unhealed pain reducing shame on aglobal scale.. She has personally trained thousands of practitioners, and is the creator andlead educator of the world’s only Trauma Informed Coaching & Leadership Level 7Qualification, delivered through her CMI Centre and accredited internationally. She is trained in multiple therapeutic and coaching modalities including Internal Family Systems, Somatic Experiencing, Positive Psychology and Nervous System-based trauma therapies.Caroline’s work reaches millions worldwide. She hosts a chart-topping podcast called NoVisible Bruises, with over 6 million downloads, her YouTube content has reached over 14million views, and she has built a loyal and engaged community of over half a millionfollowers across her social platforms. Her expertise has been featured on national televisionand in numerous publications, where she is frequently called upon as a trusted voice intrauma, relationships and nervous system education.Through TIDAL, Caroline and her team deliver trauma informed leadership and mentalhealth programmes into organisations, reducing burnout, absenteeism and emotionalfatigue and creating psychologically safe cultures where people feel seen, heard andunderstood.Caroline’s mission is driven by a simple but powerful belief that when people understandtheir nervous system, they reclaim their choices. She is passionate about bringing compassion, science and humanity back into the way we view mental health, behaviour and emotional struggle reminding audiences everywhere that there is always a reason for how we feel and how we act, and that healing is critical for every nervous system.

Dahlia is joined by Tanya Joseph to discuss clothes, confidence and the momentum that created 'This Girl Can'.Tanya was the architect behind the original 'This Girl Can' campaign which focused on encouraging girls and women to become more active through both communications and the removal of barriers to entry.Dahlia and Tanya discuss importance of recognising that body confidence has been identified as directly linked to choices both women and men make about how active they choose to be and she shares the learning and action from the original campaign.Tanya reflects on her own journey on clothes, confidence and identity explaining how she felt and what she chose to wear in her days as Press Secretary at Number 10 - walking the tightrope between blending into the room as the communications manager and being seen and recognised in her role. The conversation discusses the deeper link between clothes, confidence and Tanya's view on what it means to be well dressed.Tanya Joseph is a marketing and communications professional who has a particular expertise in behaviour change. She is the architect of This Girl Can, a campaign designed to encourage more women and girls to get active.She has spent her entire professional life in communications, starting as a journalist before becoming a press secretary initially to the UK's Lord Chancellor and then the Prime Minister, a role she held for more than four years.In 2003 she left the Civil Service to join the world of consultancy including senior roles at international agency Grayling, in-house at Tesco and Sport England. She is currently Director of the brand consultancy, Tanya Joseph Consulting.Tanya is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) and Director of Campaigning for Women in Advertising and Communications, London (WACL). 

Dahlia is joined by Erin Gallagher to discuss what it means to be a 'hype' woman, to cheer on other women and to reap the rewards for yourself at the same time.Dahlia and Erin discuss the fact that we often find ourselves sit in inertia desperate to change but that it's confidence that enables us to take a leap of faith. The conversation also includes an understanding of why we love the mean girls and an honest assessment of how to create and cultivate true friendships. The episode is about understanding our relationships have on how we feel and how we see ourselves and encourages listeners to be honest about how they build their A team. Erin Gallagher is the CEO and Founder of HYPE WOMEN, an inclusive ecosystem hyping women to remember who the f*ck they are; author of Hype Women: Breaking Free from Mean Girls, Patriarchy and Systems Silencing Y ou; host and co-producer of the Hype Women Podcast; and creator of the global Hype Women Movement and“The Fairway”- a dinner series and membership invested in networthing for women.She began her career at ServicemembersLegal Defense Network (SLDN), a non-profit legal services watchdog dedicated to ending the ban on LGBTQAI+ in the military (which they ultimately achieved). A two-time founder , Erin has spent her 20+ year career creating movements and leading global marketing, branding, communications,strategy and PR for agencies and globalbrands. She has counseled The White House,Fortune 100 C-suite and senior leaders atsome of the world’s biggest and best brandsand companies.

Dahlia is joined by Jessica Fox and Charlotte Polley, co founders of one of the newest beauty apps Beauty Shelf.Dahlia, Jessica and Charlotte discussing the explosion in beauty trends and the growth of influencer marketing in the beauty category.As best friends they share the importance of taking and sharing advice with those you trust not just buying the next best thing or what is trending on Tik Tok. The discussion includes an insight into how they built their business and the app and the confidence it took to put their beauty offer out there. The conversation finishes with an insight into manifesting success, the conscious decision to lean into manifesting, the cautiousness of building a business from scratch and how to find the business partner who is the ying to your yang!Jessica and Charlotte are the two best friends and founders behind BeautyShelf, a newly launched social commerce app changing the way people discover and shop for beauty and wellness products in the UK.Since launching just two months ago, they’ve built a fast-growing, engaged community of thousands of beauty lovers, with new users joining daily. BeautyShelf brings shopping, saving, and sharing routines into one space, where users and creators tag the products they genuinely use and love, driving authentic engagement and direct traffic to brands.

Dahlia joined by speaker, writer and fashion academic Stacey Heale to discuss identity, how our childhood dreams play out in our adult lives and navigating how we see ourselves and show the world who we are when we experience loss.Dahlia and Stacey discuss where Stacey's research starts and the role our physical surroundings can have in shaping who we are. They specifically explore how bedroom decor is linked to identity from childhood and how this involves into adulthood (and parenting).Stacey shares a very personal account of how becoming a carer and navigating grief shaped how she saw herself and how she used clothes as a demonstration of self expression to symbolise how she was feeling to those around her. The episode discusses the subject of cancer and loss.Stacey Heale is a writer, speaker, curator, fashion academic and campaigner who is inspiring radically honest discussions on the lived experience of women, focusing on the realities of difficult times and how to rebuild your life from the ground up. Stacey's role is Teaching fellow at Winchester School of Art. Her academic research centres around the use of creativity to process trauma and the concept of the teenage bedroom as a site for identity construction. Stacey's 2018 TED talk focused on post-traumatic growth and the power of social media during a personal crisis. In November 2016, her husband, Delays lead singer Greg Gilbert, was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer and died in 2021. In that time, she has campaigned for lowering the age of bowel cancer screening in the UK, research into treatments for stage IV cancer patients, access to unfunded drugs on the NHS and the financial rights of widows.

Dahlia is joined by Silvia Garcia, keynote speaker and former Global Director of the Institute of Happiness for Coca Cola to discuss how to find happiness.Silvia shares her research from both her recent work and her role at Coca Cola, to explain the definitions of happiness and why it is a feeling but not a destination.Dahlia and Silvia discuss the benefits of happiness in relation to productivity, and the need for happiness to be supported by trust and relationships.Silvia explains the link between the memories we hold and how we see happiness and recommends a 'hack' we can choose each day to improve our happiness and our mindset.Dahlia and Silvia also discuss the link between happiness and hopefulness and how to adjust your perspective and reframe your view if you are standing in a challenging spot. Silvia Garcia is a sought-after expert for organizations that want to inspire the audience to build a brighter future while they also make people and business thrive.Drawing on her decades-long experience advisingleaders in corporate boardrooms and C-suits, Silvia help leaders bring their employees' talent to its best, innovateand achieve high performance fromtheir teams. As a former seasoned leader for the Coca-Colacompany, Silvia helps organizations navigate and succeed in challenging situations. She shares science-based, tried-and-true strategies for developing the traits of a leader who drives positive change, and whose people are motivatedto work for. A transformational leader,Silvia takes audiences in a real mind-shift beyond strategy and tactics; fostering collaboration, furthering their vision and values, and having a positive impact on their teams and organizations.Described as "a visionary thinker with a rare empathy" Silvia was the former Coca-Cola Global Director for Marketing and Happiness, and her insights and learning do not leave anyone indifferent. She has devoted her professionallife to meet the best experts and scientists, and to share with others research-based ways to help advance avision of the world as a place wherepeople, business and society thrive. A world in which the vast majority of people feel connected to others, a world in which people feel safe taking risksand navigating change, a world where people face the future with confidence that together, we can thrive.Her speeches have been said to change “lives andcompanies”. During her tenure as Global Coca-Cola Director for Marketing and Happiness, Silvia travelled the world to learn from scientists and businesses which are theconditions for higher happiness and success. She has devoted her life to sharing science-based discoveries to help leaders and organizations create abetter future for people, planet and business. Moreover, Silvia knows how to talk so people listen!Logically, she was behind some of the most inspirational Coca-Cola advertisement campaigns. Under her leadership,collaboration thrived, engagement soared, and innovation grew exponentially.Finally, when tough problems need to be solved, Silvia helps bring the best out of people and teams. For that reason she was invited to participate in the 2015 Albright Challenge, by MIT University, and on many other projects that need visionary thinkers capable to stimulateinventive, collaborative solutions. Silvia is known for making audiences realize how they can influence others to do what is best, and how to use emotions to unlock their brain's whole potential, which she described in her first TEDx Talk in 2023.Her innovative views on business and leadershiphave attracted international attention. From the tech industry to the entertainment industry, from finance to fashion, from Fortune 500 to localbusiness, to the army, Silvia has been invited to meet with a broad array of leaders and organizations in nearly every industry. Silvia shares her time between NYC and France.

Clothes, confidence and reshaping the future (with guest Karen Martin):Dahlia is joined by Karen Martin, Editor of the BBC's Global News Podcast and Happy Pod to discuss weight loss injections and reinvention.Karen talks about how the menopause impacted her identity and why she chose to use weight loss injections to regain a version of who she was - but how it became a moment of reinvention.Dahlia and Karen discuss how it feels to go through a dramatic weight loss, why Karen wants to break the taboo of the injections and the initial response to her change in weight. They also discuss the joy of getting dressed and how Karen's style changed as she embraced a new version of herself in her 50s. Curious about mounjaro, food noise and the behind the scenes of weight loss injections - have a listen to one perspective on using the medication. Karen Martin is the Editor of the BBC’s most listened to international news podcast – the Global News Podcast.She also edits the weekly Happy Pod and The Newsroom Programme on the BBC World Service.A former reporter for newspapers, radio and TV, Karen now runs a 24/7 team of journalists covering stories from around the globe.She’s also the mother of two teenaged daughters, a huge supporter of younger women in their careers and an avid cold water swimmer.Karen isn’t afraid to stand out in a male dominated workplace, running editorial meetings dressed from head to foot in pink, leopard print or both.She’s always across the latest news – and the hottest fashion trends.

Dahlia is joined by Dr Kerstin Brehm to discuss everything from diagnosis to dressing to making tough decisions.Kerstin shares her journey from cardiac surgeon to leadership coach and why she is continuously challenge herself to learn in new ways.Dahlia and Kerstin discuss how easy or difficult it is to diagnose what does and doesn't feel right in your career, why we don't always need to seek passion in our work and why we need to stop living for the weekend and enjoy our everyday. Kerstin gives advice on the balance between inner confidence in your own ability and also knowing when to have confidence in the views of those around you. Dr. Kerstin Brehm is a former heart surgeon turned corporate leader and founder of The Leadership Clinic™. Today she’s an outspoken advocate for ambitious women 40+, helping them reinvent success on their own terms. A strategist, podcaster, and fashion lover, Kerstin brings bold ideas, sharp insights, and a touch of style to everything she does.

Dahlia is joined by journalist Marianne Jones to discuss the importance of identity and how to retain a sense of self as life circumstance's change.Marianne reflects on the moments of change across her career and how stress meant that she had to prioritise her health and take a change in direction - and what that meant for her identity.Marianne is honest about the challenges that life can bring but offers advice on the link between confidence, resilience and finding joy in the everyday. Dahlia and Marianne also discuss the work that Marianne does for Dementia UK and Marianne shares how vital clothing was to helping her Mum retain a sense of self as she lived with dementia. Marianne Jones is a multi award-winning journalist, editor and broadcaster. Currently joint features director of YOU magazine, she has edited the Sunday Telegraph’s Stella Magazine, the Saturday Telegraph Magazine, andGrazia. She has co-hosted a number 1 podcast,  Been There Done That Got the Podcast, and is an ambassador for the charity Dementia UK. 

Dahlia is joined by Zena Everett Speaker, Leadership Coach and Author of 'The Crazy Busy Cure' and 'Badly Behaved People'.Zena and Dahlia discuss the link between clothes and culture with Zena sharing her reflections from her time in recruitment and her research for her writing. The discussion explores questions such as whether organisations should provide a clothing allowance for junior new starters, whether imposter syndrome is really a thing and whether you can be stressed and well dressed all at oncce.The conversation centres around the fact that clothes can be used strategically to either build your confidence or to create an image where you are over or underestimated (listen carefully to Zena's favourite fashion moment) and Dahlia and Zena discuss the role clothes can play in shaping a corporate culture. There is a very clear shared view of the fact that there is no room for 'bad behaviour' in the workplace and that everyone deserves respect whatever they choose to wear. Listen to reflect on how workplace culture has influenced your clothing choices and how you have used clothes to build your confidence and improve your mindset.

Dahlia is joined by Sam Parker, Site Director of British GQ and author of 'Good Anger' a book about how to 'rethink rage.'Dahlia and Sam discuss what anger can do for our stress levels and the difference between keeping 'anger in' and 'anger out' - how you choose to express your emotion.Sam talks about the inspiration behind his book and how his own mental health journey inspired him to look deeper into the different emotions we feel and understand the 'why'. Sam also unpicks stereotypes about who society deems as 'allowed to be angry' and why this matters.Clothes, confidence and a little bit of rage all in one!Sam Parker is author of Good Anger: How Rethinking Rage Can Change Our Lives. He has been an editor and writer for 15 years for publications such as the Guardian, Times and Telegraph. He works as a senior editor at British GQ. He runs the weekly newsletter Good Anger on Substack.

Dahlia is joined by Monica Hanouka, Nutritional Therapist to discuss the link between Clothes, Confidence and Cortisol.Monica unpacks what 'cortisol' is, how we regulate our nervous system and how this influences our stress. She explains how what we eat can directly influences our stress levels and our confidence. Her focus isn't food but the whole wellness journey and how we create more awareness around our choices and how they make us feel.In a world where there is so much 'noise' around food Monica gives us the science to better understand how to create a sensible approach to nutrition. Monica has long been fascinated by health and genetics, leading her to study Biology at University College London. She went on to train as a broadcast journalist with a specialism in health and spent a fast-paced decade in television news.After the birth of her third child, Monica took a step back from her career to focus on raising her family. During this time, she faced two major surgeries within six months, which triggered a significant decline in her gut health, energy, and overall wellbeing. Slowly, she began to restore her health through food and lifestyle changes.This personal journey sparked a deep passion for nutrition and inspired Monica to undertake a four-year professional diploma at the renowned Institute for Optimum Nutrition. Since then, she’s been dedicated to helping others transform their health from the inside out.Monica takes a highly personalised, root-cause approach to every client, focusing on sustainable change rather than quick fixes. She supports people with a range of issues, including hormonal imbalances, IBS, weight concerns, food intolerances, poor sleep, and low energy.

Dahlia is joined by Alexandra Shulman, journalist, author and former Editor in Chief of Vogue magazine.The conversation centres around reflections from Alexandra's book 'Clothes and other things that matter', which was written as a way to capture her time at Vogue, sharing stories and experiences through the outfits she owns. Alexandra describes the role clothes have played for her over time and some of the outfits that she has owned that are the most meaningful to her. Dahlia and Alexandra also discuss the wider topic of identity with Alexandra giving her view on how she felt leaving Vogue, how she knew she was ready to step into something new and how she sees her writing now.Alexandra also shares her tips on building confidence, how she approached leadership at Vogue and what getting dressed everyday means to her. Alexandra Shulman was brought up in London. She attended St. Paul’s Girls’ School and gained a BA in Social Anthropology from Sussex University.She started her career working in the music industry and then moved into magazines as a secretary on Over21 magazine. She began working as a journalist on Tatler magazine in 1980, leaving in 1986 to become Women’s Editor on The Sunday Telegraph. She returned to magazines as Features Editor of Vogue in 1988, becoming the first female editor of a monthly men’s magazine when GQ launched in the UK in 1990. In 1992 she became Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue where she stayed for 25 years leaving in June 2017.During that time she launched an annual Vogue Festival, oversaw the launch of Vogue’s digital programme including Vogue.co.uk and Vogue Video and took the sales of the magazine both domestically and internationally to a record high.In 2007 she was awarded an OBE for services to fashion journalism and in 2018 a CBE for services to magazinesShe has also written two novels, Can We Still Be Friends, and The Parrots both published by Fig Tree/Penguin, and a memoir of the Centenary year preparations for British Vogue, Inside Vogue: A diary of my 100th year. Her book Clothes….and other things that matter was published in Spring 2020 by Octopus books and was a Sunday Times Bestseller. She also wrote the introduction to Elizabeth11 –Queen, Princess, Icon – published in 2022.She is a contracted writer for the Mail on Sunday and Daily Mail and contributes other papers and magazines. She is known as a commentator on female leadership, fashion, and contemporary styleShe was a Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery for eight years, and a Trustee of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity for eight years. She is currently a Vice President of The London Library and Trustee of The Wallace CollectionShe is now working as a journalist, consultant, speaker and author. Alexandra has a son, Samuel and lives with her partner David Jenkins in London

Dahlia is joined by Alicia Drabble Castellano to discuss the a business journey born out of PTSD recovery. As the founder of 'Single Swan' a wellness-focused clothing brand, Alicia explains how her personal struggle with mental and physical health became the inspiration that fuelled her creative journey. Dahlia and Alicia discuss what it takes to start a brand from scratch when you don't have former business/industry knowledge or VC funding to support you, and how Alicia decided 'not knowing' would be her super power to help her discover her way. The conversation looks at what it takes to be a founder in terms of mental mindset and resilience - whilst Alicia champions kindness she recognises that she has had to grow a thick skin to persevere at times. Alicia's advice includes understanding how to 'find your tribe' and know where to seek out light in the most vulnerable moments and to have the wisdom to know what you can change and adjust to what you can't.Prepare to be inspired...Single Swan is a wellness-focused clothing brand founded byAlicia, a former teacher who had to step away from education due to health challenges. After a period of uncertainty, she found a new purpose—creating a brand rooted in kindness: kindness to ourselves, to others, and to the planet. With no formal training in design but a deep passion for style and a fascination with how clothing impacts well-being, Alicia channelled her vision into something truly innovative. Her hero piece, the 7SWAN, is a revolutionary wellness jumpsuit redefining activewear. Designed forversatility, longevity, and effortless elegance, it offers a premium alternative to traditional Lycra-based options. A proud member of the Buy Women Built community, supporting and championing female-founded businesses, Alicia has built Single Swan into a platform for empowerment. Her clothing is gaining recognition including a sell-out event at Fearne Cotton's Happy Place Festival, where her designs connected deeply with audiences looking for wellness and mindful living. Proudly made in London, the 7SWAN empowers women to move freely,embracing both sustainability and style. 

Dahlia is joined by Rosie Nixon to discuss what it means to choose a moment of reinvention. Rosie shares her story from Editor in Chief of Hello Magazine to an author, broadcaster and coach, detailing the defining moments that have shaped where she is in her career (and her life) now.Dahlia and Rosie discuss the fact that change is inevitable but sometimes we need to make a choice to take control of that change, aware that actually there is greater fear of sitting in the same space for a prolonged period of time rather than choosing to grow and evolve. Rosie gives an honest account of what made her choose to make a change in her life, the impact of burnout and the work she did to reset, reinvent and how she is paying that forwards.The conversation also includes an in depth exploration of how Rosie has used clothes for confidence and self expression, what it means to take time out for a retreat and why it is vital to spread your 'status' in life. Rosie Nixon is an author, broadcaster and coach. She is the author of three novels, TheStylist, Amber Green Takes Manhattan, Just Between Friends, plus the Be Kind book, which was recently republished in paperback (all Harper Collins). Her new novel Bad Influence will be published on 14 August. Bad Influence tackles issues around image in the online world and how vulnerability could be a super power, as Rosie’s protagonist, stylist Amber Green works with one of her trickiest celebrity clients yet. After a long career in women’s magazines, latterly as the award-winning Editor and Editor in Chief of HELLO! magazine, where she worked for 16 years, Rosie super-charged her career for the next chapter and is a qualified life coach, speaker and experienced podcast host. In 2024 she launched Rosie’s Reinvention Retreats - a series of day retreats for midlife women, to support navigating changes in career, business and wellbeing.  Rosie enjoys working with brands including Marks & Spencer and Microsoft UK, as part of her portfolio career. Most recently, Rosie has taken on the role of Editor of The Column, Corinthia London's new bi-annual luxury magazine focused on lifestyle, cuisine, style and travel. Rosie previously held senior positions at women's glossies including Grazia, Glamour and Red. She is a proud ambassador for the women’s health charity Wellbeing ofWomen, Wellchild and anti-FGM charity, Educate Not Mutilate.Rosie is a keen believer in the power of kindness and a master of reinvention. Havingcome close to burnout in 2022, she is on a path of personal growth and loves peaking on this subject. Ultimately, she thrives in communities with a common goal to inspire and spread joy. Rosie lives with her family in Surrey, is passionate about keeping her mind and body fit and healthy and in any spare time can be found getting out into nature or running around after her two lively sons. Rosie's next Reinvention Retreat is happening in Manchester on Monday 13th October - see the link in herbio @rosiejnixon for ticketsMore info can be found here: www.RosieNixon.co.uk  

Dahlia is joined by Sophie Neary, MD of Retail at Google, to discuss why confidence is contagious. Sophie shares how she has built her career since the first days of a role on 'The Internet' and the role models that have influenced her to believe in herself and helped her build her confidence.She shares the role she has in building the confidence of those around her in her position as a leader but she's also shares the link between confidence and resilience at times when things haven't quite gone to plan.Listeners obviously get insight into what 'well dressed' means to Sophie - a story of a pink suit that everyone needs to hear.Finally Sophie shares her top tips on how to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, learning the way on the way and accepting failure and mistakes as part of the journey - but not letting them define who you are. Sophie is a highly respected executive within the retail andtechnology industries. As Managing Director, Retail and FMCG at Google, she brings over 30 years of executive leadership experience from giants including Asda, Tesco and Meta. A digital pioneer since 1995, Sophie was instrumental in driving Boots' online transformation where, as a member of the Executive Committee, she led their critical digital response to the COVID-19 pandemic.Beyond her commercial acumen, she's a multi-award winning, lifelong feminist, and a clear voice advocating and championing women in the workplace. Her highly regarded podcast "Courage is Contagious," and status as a LinkedIn "Top Voice" on Gender Equity cement her reputation.