Women's Business

In this episode Sophie Harris AKA Looking After Mum shares her journey from her early days in the mental health sector, and dealing with childhood experiences, to building a thriving private practice during the pandemic - throwing an unplanned pregnancy in the mix too.   The conversation delves into the struggles of motherhood, the challenges of balancing work and family life, and Sophie's incredible growth on social media, amassing 100,000 followers by honing her content strategy. Sophie also opens up about handling online negativity and the importance of setting boundaries.   We also talk rage, common relationship issues she sees in couples who are also parents to young kids, plans for the future, and finding joy amidst the chaos of motherhood.   Find Sophie on Instagram here Or her website here    Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here.    ---------------------------------------------   This episode is sponsored by brilliant small brand The Stationer, so if you’re looking for stocking fillers in this run up to Christmas, look no further! The Stationer is an online stationery shop with a fully curated selection by founder and stationery obsessive Tessa and she is on a special mission to get to 9,000 orders before the end of 2024, and you can help her get there!   Tessa sources the very best in planners, notebooks, fountain pens, pencils, washi tape, sticky notes, stickers - and other desktop items, from all over the world with a brilliantly unique selection you won’t find just anywhere. If you’re looking for the hard work to be done for you Tessa sells bundles at a discounted rate. A Basics Kit, a Starter Kit featuring her best sellers, and a Study Kit – perfect for starting a new term or a new chapter! You can get 10% off full price products with the code: WOMENSBUSINESS and I urge you to have a look at her awesome selection and support this wonderful small business. Shop now!     Episode Highlights    02:06 Sophie's Early Life and Career Beginnings 05:15 Journey into Mental Health and Occupational Therapy 09:03 Burnout and a New Beginning 09:52 Starting a Private Practice During the Pandemic 17:13 Building an Instagram Following 23:11 The Realities of Social Media Growth 26:37 Facing Criticism and Standing Firm 28:06 Setting Healthy Boundaries 29:49 Navigating Motherhood and Social Media 32:02 Supporting Mums Through Imperfection 33:18 Relationship Strain After Babies 37:48 Managing Resentment and Rage 43:25 Balancing Parenting and Self-Care 47:44 Marketing for Therapists 50:05 Future Plans and Reflections 53:30 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

If you're a radio fan you may know Janey Lee Grace's name, and you'll definitely know her voice, and in this episode Janey takes me on her fascinating journey, from aspiring pop star to a renowned radio personality. Discussing her time as a backing singer for Wham!, her brief pop fame with St. Etienne, and her transition into radio we also talk Janey's passion for natural health, her journey to sobriety, and her latest book. Janey offers insights on the importance of self-love, the power of setting intentions, and finding joy in everyday life.    Find Janey on Instagram here  Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here    --------   This episode is sponsored by brilliant small brand The Stationer, so if you’re looking for stocking fillers in this run up to Christmas, look no further! The Stationer is an online stationery shop with a fully curated selection by founder and stationery obsessive Tessa. Tessa sources the very best in planners, notebooks, fountain pens, pencils, washi tape, sticky notes, stickers - and other desktop items, from all over the world with a brilliantly unique selection you won’t find just anywhere. If you’re looking for the hard work to be done for you Tessa sells bundles at a discounted rate. A Basics Kit, a Starter Kit featuring her best sellers, and a Study Kit – perfect for starting a new term or a new chapter! You can get 10% off full price products with the code: WOMENSBUSINESS and I urge you to have a look at her awesome selection and support this wonderful small business. Shop now!   -----------   Episode Highlights    00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 01:28 Meet Janie Lee Grace: From Pop Star Dreams to Radio Fame 02:31 Janie's Early Career and First Breaks 09:07 Touring with Wham! and the Music Industry 14:17 Transition to Radio and Personal Life 27:39 The Magic of Steve: A Perfectionist in Radio 29:30 Imperfectly Natural Woman: The Birth of a Book 33:26 Holistic Living: Balancing Woo Woo and Real Life 38:23 The Alcohol-Free Journey: Breaking Free from the Wine Witch 45:27 Parenting and Alcohol: Shifting Perspectives 48:06 Looking Ahead: Future Plans and Reflections

Jennifer Cox is a psychotherapist, author, and co-host of the 'Women Are Mad' podcast and in this episode she takes me on her journey from a challenging childhood as a bright girl, with a severely autistic sister, that put her on the path to doing her current work in women's mental health. Jennifer shares insights into the hidden rage women feel, its impact on our health, and how societal systems continue to oppress women. The conversation covers her time working with men in prison settings, her transition to focusing on women's mental health, and the success of her book 'Women Are Angry.' Tune in for an engaging discussion on female rage, systemic issues, her thoughts on women tearing each other down, and the importance of speaking out, spreading awareness, keeping on keeping on, and screaming into pillows!    ------------   This episode is sponsored by brilliant small brand The Stationer, so if you’re looking for stocking fillers in this run up to Christmas, look no further! The Stationer is an online stationery shop with a fully curated selection by founder and stationery obsessive Tessa. Tessa sources the very best in planners, notebooks, fountain pens, pencils, washi tape, sticky notes, stickers - and other desktop items, from all over the world with a brilliantly unique selection you won’t find just anywhere. If you’re looking for the hard work to be done for you Tessa sells bundles at a discounted rate. A Basics Kit, a Starter Kit featuring her best sellers, and a Study Kit – perfect for starting a new term or a new chapter! You can get 10% off full price products with the code: WOMENSBUSINESS and I urge you to have a look at her awesome selection and support this wonderful small business. Shop now!   ------------- EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS    01:20 Meet Jennifer Cox: Psychotherapist and Author 02:14 Jennifer's Early Life and Career Aspirations 04:43 Challenges and Triumphs in Education 08:58 Journey into Psychology and Family Influence 11:50 Transition to University and TV Career 14:36 From TV to Therapy: A Career Shift 19:43 Experiences in Mental Health Services 20:48 Focus on Women's Mental Health 25:02 The Birth of 'Women Are Mad' Podcast 27:49 The Birth of a Movement 28:38 The Power of Podcasting 29:44 The Journey of Writing a Book 31:02 Unveiling Women's Hidden Rage 32:47 The Systemic Trap 33:09 Burnout and Women's Health 37:30 Men and Emotions 41:19 Internalized Misogyny 45:10 Letting the Rage Out 50:23 Future Plans and Reflections 52:44 Final Thoughts and Advice

In this episode I speak to self-confessed 'massive email weirdo' Katie Skelton, a successful email marketing strategist who has turned her business around in the past year or so, from being lost and unsure what her 'thing' was, to building a six-figure business.   Katie recounts her inspiring journey and talks about the power of having your back against the wall - when she was running out of ideas Katie invested in a course that helped her transform her business, through becoming known for what she does, and huge amount of commitment and consistency on her chosen platform: LinkedIn   She shares how that investment in herself transformed her career, emphasizing the importance of strategic efforts and surrounding yourself with the right people. The conversation delves into her expertise in LinkedIn marketing, maintaining consistency, nurturing email lists, and balancing impactful, profitable offers. Katie's story showcases persistence, strategic planning, and personal growth as keys to her success and will offer food for thought for all the brilliant female founders listening.   

In this episode I speak to the life force that is Candice Mason, who runs a family business alongside her passion project: Mother Cuppa, a tea company making beautiful blends to help women navigate modern life.   Candice shares her transformative journey from overcoming personal educational setbacks and dealing with undiagnosed dyscalculia, to defying everything she'd been told and thriving in her early career before joining the family coach business and founding her successful tea brand. You'll hear about her resilience through health struggles, such as early menopause, and her relentless campaign efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic that almost brought her family business to its knees.    Plus, discover how Candice's passion for supporting women's wellness led to the creation of premium tea blends and her aspirations for a powerful brand presence.    Candice is an amazing woman with big ambitions, who isn't afraid to make her voice heard. I'm a massive admirer of everything she does and I can't wait for you to be inspired by her.    PLEASE support Candice's Crowdfunder from as little as £10 here.  Or find Mother Cuppa on Instagram here.    Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here.         

Teresa Heath-Wareing knew - in spite of it being challenged from day one - that she was made for more and in this episode she tells me how she got through some serious adversity and self-sabotage along the way to build a successful life and business.    We delve into some of the myths that surround the idea of building an online business, the question of passive income, and how Teresa has created cut through in a very saturated space, focusing on authenticity, personal connections, and a willingness to work really hard doing the thing she loves.    Teresa also candidly discusses her struggles with alcoholism, her path to sobriety, and how this has played a transformative role in her personal and professional life. This conversation unveils Teresa's genuine passion for empowering women to define success on their own terms and her belief in the limitless potential within all of us.   Find Teresa's website here. Find Teresa on Instagram here.  Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here.   If you love Women's Business please rate and review. It helps other people join the conversation.    EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS    01:53 Early Work Experiences and Family Influence 05:40 Career Path and Ambitions 10:11 Challenges and Realizations in Career 16:15 Transition to Entrepreneurship 18:11 Building a Marketing Consultancy 22:48 Shifting to Online Courses and Memberships 28:05 Personal Growth and Business Evolution 30:57 Navigating Business Growth and Personal Connections 32:02 Challenges of Building an Online Business 34:09 Perseverance and Belief in Success 37:40 Balancing Money and Personal Fulfillment 42:03 The Reality of Passive Income 44:29 Appreciating Hard Work and Success 52:50 Reflecting on Personal Growth and Self-Love 59:01 Final Thoughts and Advice  

In this episode Amy Grilli shares the transformative journey that led her to create the Five Hour Club, a job board aimed at providing flexible work opportunities for parents. Amy recounts her early career in education and her struggles with identity when considering the traditional path of stay-at-home motherhood. Her viral LinkedIn post, which expressed a collective frustration with work-life inflexibility, struck a chord with literally millions of people (14millino and counting!) and prompted the creation of a platform offering five-hour workdays to cater to parents.   Amy discusses that with me, amidst the impact of societal judgment on women's roles, the emotional weight of invisible labour, and the broader implications of workplace inflexibility.   Insightful and inspiring, this episode delves into the challenges and triumphs of advocating for a work-life balance that honours both professional ambitions and family commitments.   Find the Five Hour Club online here.  Find the club on Instagram here.    Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here.    --------------   Thank you so much to Tapd for supporting this episode.   Tapd is an EFT Practice run Denise Hanrahan.   More commonly known as Tapping, EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Technique and is an amazing way to lower everyones favourite stress hormone - cortisol. It is also brilliant for dealing with anxiety, grief, panic attacks, even creative blocks. It could be the somatic practice you need to get yourself ‘unstuck’. For more info, check out tapd.co, or DM Denise on insta here.     Listeners will also benefit from a 20% discount on any one to one session. Use code ‘business’ when booking.    -------------   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS   03:13 Amy's Early Work Experiences 07:04 Transition to Teaching and Education 11:18 Struggles and Realizations 22:51 The Birth of the Five Hour Club 25:43 The LinkedIn Post That Changed Everything 26:35 Going Viral: The Unexpected Impact 27:26 Building Momentum: From Post to Community 31:54 Creating the Five Hour Workday 35:08 Redefining the Workplace for Parents 45:39 Future Plans and Community Building 50:00 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Anna Marthur a psychotherapist, author, podcaster and and mum of three, and in this episode Anna takes me on her journey from early entrepreneurial pursuits to her career in psychotherapy, and building her personal brand online, which started entirely by accident.  Anna shares real truths on the difficulty of monetising the work that she started on Instagram for free, as well as offering insights on managing anxiety, the importance of accepting support, and overcoming perfectionism, and we also delve into themes from Anna's latest book, 'The Uncomfortable Truth,' on confronting life's greatest fears, including failure, not being liked, and death. Anna offers practical advice for mums and her warmth comes through in spades. So much to take away from this conversation.  Find Anna's website here. Find Anna on Instagram here.  Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here.  -------------- Thank you so much to Tapd for supporting this episode.   Tapd is an EFT Practice run Denise Hanrahan.   More commonly known as Tapping, EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Technique and is an amazing way to lower everyones favourite stress hormone - cortisol. It is also brilliant for dealing with anxiety, grief, panic attacks, even creative blocks. It could be the somatic practice you need to get yourself ‘unstuck’. For more info, check out tapd.co, or DM Denise on insta here.  Listeners will also benefit from a 20% discount on any one to one session. Use code ‘business’ when booking.  ------------------ Episode Highlights  01:12 Meet Anna Martha: Psychotherapist and Author 01:59 Anna's Early Work Experiences 03:07 The Influence of Family and Financial Struggles 06:08 Choosing a Career in Psychology 09:46 Transitioning to Psychotherapy 14:05 Building a Personal Brand on Instagram 21:20 Monetizing and Expanding Reach 28:53 Monetization and Accessibility 29:27 Supporting Mothers: Accepting Help 31:27 Perfectionism and Motherhood 34:27 Introducing 'The Uncomfortable Truth' 35:45 Embracing Life's Uncomfortable Truths 45:32 Balancing Work and Family 53:51 Reflecting on Career and Personal Growth 56:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Genevieve Sweeney is a designer and founder of a self-titled knitwear brand, who shares her journey into the fashion world with me, from working with big brands - both high street and designer - to founding her own business, where she prides herself on her commitment to slow fashion, British manufacturing and sustainable design.  Genevieve was influenced early on by her grandfather's craftsmanship, and her passion for knitting started in childhood, and I love this episode because Genevieve is a gentle and considered woman, who shows that anyone can build a brand with purpose if they have the desire and drive.  The discussion also delves into the personal challenges of balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, as well as Genevieve's aspirations for the future of her business. Find Genevieve's website here And find the brand on Instagram here  Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here  My community doors are now closed but you can join the waitlist for the next intake here.  ------------------- Thank you so much to Tapd for supporting this episode.    Tapd is an EFT Practice run Denise Hanrahan.   More commonly known as Tapping, EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Technique and is an amazing way to lower everyones favourite stress hormone - cortisol.  It is also brilliant for dealing with anxiety, grief, panic attacks, even creative blocks. It could be the somatic practice you need to get yourself ‘unstuck’  For more info, check out tapd.co, that’s T A P D . Co  or DM Denise on insta here.  Listeners will also benefit from a 20% discount on any one to one session. Use code ‘business’ when booking.  ------------------ Episode highlights: 01:12 Meet Genevieve Sweeney: Champion of Slow Fashion 02:15 Genevieve's Early Influences and Career Beginnings 04:03 The Journey Through Education and Early Career 07:58 Navigating the Fashion Industry: High Street vs. Luxury 16:50 The Birth of a Sustainable Knitwear Brand 25:19 Scaling a Business: Brand Positioning and PR Strategies 26:00 Challenges and Successes in Gaining Press Coverage 27:09 Transition to Wholesale and Team Expansion 30:54 Balancing Motherhood and Business Growth 35:21 Improving the Knitwear Industry: Sustainability and Innovation 44:04 Future Goals: Micro Factory and Apprenticeships 45:28 Final Reflections and Personal Insights

My guest today is Rosey Davidson, founder of Just Chill Baby Sleep. She's also known as Just Chill Mama on Instagram where she has grown an engaged audience talking all things parenting - to babies and beyond.   Rosey takes us on her journey from corporate sales to becoming a renowned baby sleep consultant, driven by her own experiences as a mother, and her unique approach that she couldn't find online at the time.   We also talk business growth, marketing strategies (or lack of!) and how becoming known in your field can lead to other opportunities. There's also great insight on sleep for your older children that is worth listening out for!    Find Rosey on Instagram here    Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here    If you want to apply to join The Wilder Collective check it out here    Episode highlights: 01:50 Early Influences and Work Ethic 04:31 Academic Journey and Career Beginnings 07:17 Transition to Entrepreneurship 09:30 The Birth of Just Chill Baby Sleep 13:27 Navigating Growth and Scaling Challenges 13:50 Philosophy and Approach to Baby Sleep 21:11 Handling Criticism and Maintaining Brand Integrity 25:10 The Birth of 'Just Chill Mama' 25:49 Rapid Growth and Reality TV Connections 27:27 Building a Team and Expanding Services 29:08 Balancing Business and Family During Lockdown 32:20 Writing a Book and Organic Growth 37:49 Teen Sleep and Parenting Insights 45:08 Future Plans and Final Thoughts

In this episode Lucy Wheeler, founder of Lucy Legal talks to me about her pre-destined journey into the legal profession, her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated field, and her transition from a conventional legal career to entrepreneurship when she realised she couldn't build the life she wanted in a conventional law firm.   Lucy shares insights on balancing her professional life with motherhood, the challenges of setting up her own businesses, and the importance of legal integrity for small businesses, along with the story of how her and her husband decided to do things differently with their kids, and her thoughts on challenging those stereotypes to build the life you want that spans career and family.    Lucy is offering listeners of Women's Business £10 off to join her membership with code NICKYWB. Find out more about the membership here.    Find Lucy on Instagram here    Don't forget to join in the conversation with me on Instagram here   And if you'd like to apply to join The Wilder Collective or get more information you can do that here.    Episode breakdown:    01:02 Meet Lucy Wheeler: The Journey to Lucy Legal Online 02:01 Early Influences and Work Ethic 04:32 Navigating Career Expectations 13:07 Challenges in a Male-Dominated Field 16:59 Moments of Reflection and Change 20:50 The Birth of Lucy Legal 27:45 Facing Challenges and Finding Compassion 28:36 Transitioning to Entrepreneurship 35:30 Balancing Business and Family 47:00 Legal Essentials for Small Businesses 53:38 Maintaining Integrity in Business Practices 57:45 Reflecting on Personal and Professional Growth

In this episode Lauren shares her journey from her early memories of seeing a strong work ethic in her parents, to founding UPFRONT, a business several years in the making. With her background in service design at the forefront of everything she does, Lauren has great insight on asking for feedback, and the power of using that feedback - both good and bad, to shape your business. Plus, we discuss finding confidence, how it can be learnt, and her mission to teach it through her Bond programme, with tips for listeners on unlearning societal expectations to boost their own confidence too. I think this could actually be a life-changing episode for so many people, and it's one I'll definitely revisit.    00:00 Introduction  01:04 Guest Introduction: Lauren Currie OBE 02:07 Early Memories and Work Ethic 05:29 School and Career Aspirations 07:09 Journey into Product and Service Design 14:24 Building the First Business: Service Design Consultancy 17:31 Transition to Employment and Upfront's Inception 22:18 The Evolution of Upfront 31:34 Discovering Natural Confidence 32:04 Confidence in Different Areas of Life 33:07 Building Confidence Through Community 35:01 Balancing Business and Motherhood 35:22 The Guilt of Motherhood 38:43 Pregnant Then Screwed: Advocacy and Activism 43:04 Challenges of Early Success 48:50 The Importance of Self-Compassion 54:40 Final Reflections and Advice   Bond 8 launches on the 9th September. Find out more here.   Find Lauren on Instagram here.    Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here.    And find out more about The Wilder Collective and apply here.   

Finishing the current run of episodes with an absolute bang, Kira Matthews brings her unique perspective to Women's Business to set you up for summer. Not asking for the opportunities you want because of your audience size? Kira will make you think again about simply asking for what you want, asking again, embracing the rejection that may come - and separating that from yourself. She is the perfect example of someone practising what she preaches too, with stories of her own experiences that she shares, alongside her particular ideas on manifesting, what it is and how she does it, and how that can challenge the world view that is generally created for us.  All of this from a Gen Z with a whole load of wisdom - something that I am really passionate about my generation tapping into. One to listen to more than once to soak it all in - and then take action!  Find Kira on Instagram here  Find links to all of Kira's other 'stuff' here Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here.  Women's Business will return in September. To pitch to be on the podcast or enquire about sponsorship head to the forms at the bottom of the page here.

Sometimes a conversation flows, and this is one of those, where Michele's story unfolded in the most natural way, with loads of learnings along the way. From her early life growing up in and around the family business, to her stint in marketing, to accidentally setting up a stationery brand, but then very intentionally scaling that brand, Michele has a really interesting story and useful insight into building a business with purpose in every sense of the word.  Shop Once Upon A Tuesday here Find Once Upon A Tuesday on Instagram here Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here

In this episode marketing expert Hannah Isted talks to me about her journey to creating The Best 90 Days Ever - a membership based on daily ten-minute marketing wins - and writing a bestselling book of the same name, to help business owners nail their marketing with just ten minutes a day.  Hannah's journey takes in her early interest in becoming a forensic scientist, before she got started in marketing and found a real flair for it, starting her own marketing agency in her early twenties. Hannah also talks to me about the chronic illness that means working for herself means she can go with her own energy and work as efficiently as possible outside of a conventional 9-5, and how underthinking has been her superpower, allowing her to worry less, and act more - something I think all over-thinkers can learn from!  Finally, Hannah shares some tangible advice on how to get some ten minute marketing wins in your own business.  Find Hannah on Instagram here. Find Hannah's website and info on the next intake for The Best 90 Days Ever here Join me on Instagram here.   

Alice Loveday first fell in love with stop motion when her Dad borrowed a camera from the BBC and made her teddy bears dance. Her fascination with the creative, tactile magic of the medium endures to this day, and in this conversation we talk about her beginnings in the film industry, her entrepreneurial mother, her lucky breaks, and how she ultimately came back to stop motion as a fun, personality-filled way for small businesses to showcase their products.  However, Alice's journey has not been without challenges, and we talk about how she tackled growing the business (with a new baby on her hip), and then navigating owning a growing business in a difficult climate, and how she innovated to keep her business going.  Alice's positivity beams through here, and I think there are lessons aplenty to reflect on.  Find Alice on Instagram here Find Alice's website here Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here  Or subscribe to my Substack here  ---------- BIG NEWS! My new community for female founders and freelancers has officially launched! If you're looking for a low cost, no pressure place to hang out (online and offline) with fellow (amaaaazing) females on the journey, then apply now - the doors are only open until Tuesday 25th June, when they will close until September. We already have 50+ amazing women through the doors and it's bloody amazing. If you want to know more or apply now check out the link below! https://thewildercollective.co.uk/

Megan Rossiter left a top private school to pursue her love for the stage, before jobbing in that profession and realising there was no clear plan, plus taking some knocks to her self-confidence, before taking a left turn into midwifery. That experience led her to eventually set up Birth Ed. Through her courses & UK top 10 parenting podcast, Megan has supported 1000s of families worldwide to prepare for satisfying, autonomous and confident experiences of birth & parenting. In this conversation we deep dive into the issues within the UK maternity system, Megan's thoughts on how to tackle that, and how Birth Ed is her way of helping people navigate the system through education and self-advocacy.  A fascinating conversation with incredible insight from Megan, in which I learnt so much. I really think it's essential listening for anyone.  Find Megan on Instagram here.  Find Megan's website here.  Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here.  And subscribe to my Substack here.  ----------------- Thank you so much to Smart Buy Glasses for supporting this episode. The team at SmartBuy are on a mission to help people see and be healthy regardless of their budget, and with 342 available brands on their website just now, it’s safe to say they’ve got everyone covered whether you need prescription lenses, eyeglasses, sunglasses or contact lenses. With tools like virtual try-on – which I used to choose my new glasses and sunnies – as well as pupillary distance measurement and lens scanner, they use the latest tech to make the whole process easy and enjoyable. Use code NICKY10 for 10% off your first purchase and head to smartbuyglasses.co.uk to get yours. 

Carla Saull went through a difficult childhood and started pot washing at 13 years old, dropped out of school with one O level, and got married young, all before finding her person in her late twenties and starting again - for the first time, but not the last. Taking in a career break to raise her sons, and a business degree in her forties, Carla's determination to make something of herself and bring purpose to her life through work has been a red thread through her life, all supported by her husband who believed in her when she wasn't ready to yet, and is part of her fascinating journey to setting up Good Wash Day, which is her business baby - currently in its difficult toddler years.  Carla's story is one of determination, love, inspiration and a strong entrepreneurial spirit. A chat I really enjoyed, and I know you will too.  Find Good Wash Day here.  Find Carla and GWD on Instagram here.  Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here. Or Subscribe to my Substack here.  --------- Thank you so much to https://www.smartbuyglasses.co.uk/ for supporting this episode.  The team at SmartBuy are on a mission to help people see and be healthy regardless of their budget, and with 342 available brands on their website just now, it’s safe to say they’ve got everyone covered whether you need prescription lenses, eyeglasses, sunglasses or contact lenses.  With tools like virtual try-on – which I used to choose my new glasses and sunnies – as well as pupillary distance measurement and lens scanner, they use the latest tech to make the whole process easy and enjoyable. all Use code NICKY10 for 10% off your first purchasw and head to smartbuyglasses.co.uk to get yours   

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.