The Room She Built

Nobody gets married expecting to get divorced. But what happens when happily ever after doesn't quite go according to plan?In this episode of The Room She Built, we're joined by advocate Raquel Hayward, who specialises in family law and has seen firsthand just how complicated, emotional and downright ugly things can get when marriages fall apart.We get into the things we probably should be talking about before saying "I do". From financial independence and knowing your legal rights to recognising the warning signs of controlling relationships and understanding what happens when a marriage ends.Raquel shares some eye-opening stories from her career, including the devastating impact divorce and parental conflict can have on children, how false allegations can be weaponised during custody battles, and why anger and resentment can sometimes overshadow what's best for everyone involved.But this conversation isn't just for people going through a divorce. It's for anyone who's married, thinking about getting married, or simply wants to understand how to protect themselves and the people they love.In this episode, we talk about:The red flags of emotional and financial abuse, and why they're so easy to miss.Why financial independence matters, even in a happy marriage.Understanding your rights and the legal implications of marriage and divorce.What happens when children get caught in the middle of their parents' battles.Parental alienation, false allegations and the damage they can cause.The importance of breaking generational cycles of unhealthy relationships.Why seeking legal advice early can make all the difference.It's a slightly different conversation for us, but an incredibly important one.Because protecting yourself doesn't mean expecting your marriage to fail. It means making sure you always have choices.A note: This episode is intended to inform and encourage conversation, not to replace professional legal advice. Every situation is different, and it's always best to consult a qualified legal professional about your own circumstances.🎧 If this conversation resonates with you, please share it with someone who might benefit from hearing it. And don't forget to follow The Room She Built on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and subscribe on YouTube. Every follow, share and subscription helps us grow this little room of ours and keep bringing important conversations to more women.

Tennille Gay | Building a Brand AuthenticallyWhat does it really take to build a brand that people connect with? And what happens when you stop trying to be polished and just show up as yourself?In this episode of The Room She Built, we sit down with Tennille Gay, founder of Salty Red, a proudly South African clothing brand known for its bold prints, playful personality and loyal community.After 13 years in corporate and three children, Tennille decided to take the leap into entrepreneurship. What started as a children's clothing brand has grown into something much bigger, with plenty of expensive lessons, unexpected setbacks and a whole lot of hard work along the way.But what makes Tennille's story particularly interesting is how she's built her brand. No perfectly curated online persona, just a willingness to show up, have a laugh, share the disasters alongside the successes, and let her customers get to know the person behind the business.We chat about the realities of manufacturing locally in South Africa, building a community through social media, the challenges of running a small business, and why authenticity might just be your biggest competitive advantage.We also get into motherhood, her fiercely competitive sporting streak, and what drives her to keep pushing herself, both in business and in life.In this episode, we chat about:Leaving a successful corporate career to start something of your ownThe very real learning curve of launching a clothing brandWhy being vulnerable, funny and unapologetically yourself works on social mediaBuilding a loyal community rather than just chasing followersThe challenges and rewards of manufacturing in South AfricaBalancing motherhood, entrepreneurship and personal ambitionWhy sometimes the best marketing strategy is simply being humanTennille is funny, refreshingly down to earth, and a brilliant reminder that building a successful brand doesn't mean you have to take yourself too seriously.If you enjoy this conversation, follow The Room She Built on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, subscribe on YouTube, and share it with someone who'd love it too.Every bit of support helps us keep sharing incredible women's stories.Follow Salty Red on Instagram  Instagram.com/salty_red_clothing_Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltyRedClothing/Or shop online: https://saltyred.co.za/

Seanice started her first “business” at seven, selling her neighbour’s guavas so she could buy herself a burger. She went into radio at 16 and went on to build a digital agency operating across six countries, alongside ventures in training and property. But this episode isn’t really about her impressive rap sheet.We dig into our relationship with money: the beliefs we inherit, why women often struggle to ask for more, the link between money and self-worth, and the invisible financial ceilings we place on ourselves. Seanice shares why she believes everyone should know their “freedom number”, why she’s literally named her money Cindy Lou, and how she has learned to make money something to work with, rather than fear. We also talk about the less glamorous side of entrepreneurship: failure, burnout, making very expensive mistakes, knowing when to walk away, and learning that success is rarely a straight line.Seanice is refreshingly candid about all of it, including the moments when things have gone horribly wrong and the mindset that has helped her keep moving forward: “Everything is working out for me.” This is a conversation about money, yes. But it’s also about ambition, resilience, self-worth, and giving ourselves permission to want more without being ashamed of it.We need to talk about money. So we did.Follow Seanice on Socials:https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanice/https://www.instagram.com/seanice_kacungira/Learn more about her ventures: https://seanicekacungira.com/https://bluflamingo.net/https://chandelierproperties.africa/https://digicon.academy/

What Five Conversations Have Taught UsSix episodes in, we’re taking a seat on the other side of the conversation.In our first Between the Rooms episode, it’s just the two of us, reflecting on the incredible women who have joined us so far, the conversations that have stayed with us, and the themes that keep appearing, despite every story being completely different.We talk about reinvention, and the idea that choosing a path doesn’t mean you have to stay on it forever. About the people in our corner who give us the confidence to take the next step. About ambition, and how our definition of success changes as we move through different seasons of life.We unpack the constant juggle between work, family, relationships, health and everything else we’re trying to hold at once, and the uncomfortable truth that sometimes, something has to give.We also come back to one of the ideas at the heart of The Room She Built: permission. Are we waiting for someone else to tell us we belong in the room, or are we willing to trust ourselves enough to walk into it anyway?One of the biggest things we’ve noticed is just how quietly so many accomplished women carry their success. Again and again, women we find extraordinary have questioned whether their story is interesting enough to tell.And perhaps that’s exactly why these stories need to be told.We also share a little of what it’s actually been like building this podcast, from the joy of the conversations to the tech, editing, scheduling, guest wrangling and occasional panic behind the scenes.Six episodes down, we’re even more convinced that there are incredible stories everywhere. They don’t need to be polished, perfect or attached to hundreds of thousands of followers. They just need to be real.In this episode, we talk about:Reinvention and allowing yourself to change directionHow our definitions of success and ambition evolveConfidence, self-trust and the importance of having people in your cornerCreating systems that support the way you work and liveThe myth of having everything perfectly balancedGiving yourself permission instead of waiting for someone else to give it to youConsistency versus complacency, and continuing to show up with purposeThe question driven women rarely ask themselves: when is enough, enough?Why so many successful women downplay what they’ve achievedVulnerability, authenticity and the messy reality behind the glossy version of successWhat we’ve learned from making The Room She Built so farWhere we hope to take the room nextThis is Between the Rooms: a chance for us to stop every few episodes, look back at the conversations we’ve had, and ask what they’re teaching us.And if there’s one thing we know already, it’s that we’re only getting started.If there’s a woman whose story deserves a seat in this room, send her our way. She doesn’t need a huge following or an impressive title. We’re interested in the story behind the person.Wherever the story takes us, we’ll build the room.

This conversation follows Becky’s path from a family rooted in South African music and entertainment to a career built on reinvention across corporate, tourism, sports, broadcasting, and media. It’s a story about adaptability, self-belief, and how saying yes to the right opportunities can open doors far beyond your original plan.From growing up surrounded by some of South Africa’s biggest names in entertainment, to building a career across marketing, tourism, television and sports management, Becky’s story is one of curiosity, constant learning and being willing to say yes before you necessarily know exactly where it will lead.She takes us behind the scenes of becoming Caster Semenya’s manager, and what began as a professional relationship that grew into something far bigger. Becky has stood beside Caster as manager, strategist, advocate and friend through a battle that became one of the most controversial and closely watched stories in international sport.But this conversation goes well beyond sport.We talk about the relationships that shape us, the importance of education and continuing to learn, motherhood, friendship, navigating difficult rooms, and what happens when your work becomes deeply personal.And through it all runs a theme that seems to define Becky’s life: staying open to possibility.Because sometimes you don’t need to know exactly where you’re going. You just need the curiosity to ask, “what next?” and the courage to say yes when the opportunity arrives.In this episode, we talk about:• Growing up around South African entertainment royalty• Why Becky has never been afraid to change direction• Building a career through relationships, curiosity and learning• How she became Caster Semenya’s manager• What it means to advocate for someone when the stakes become deeply personal• The fight around Caster’s right to compete• Navigating power, politics and difficult rooms• Motherhood, friendship and the people who keep you grounded• Why Becky believes so strongly in education and lifelong learning• Saying yes to opportunities, even when you don’t have the whole plan• The excitement, and uncertainty, of asking: what comes next?