In this episode of the 10Forty Podcast, we sit down with Mary McKenna MBE, a renowned entrepreneur and angel investor dedicated to helping more women launch successful businesses. Mary shares her inspiring journey, from studying fine arts at university, to temping in London, working at an oil company’s customer service desk, and eventually co-founding Learning Pool, a hugely successful bootstrapped business.

Mary opens up about the challenges she faced early on, including using her home as collateral to fund Learning Pool and navigating the process of selling the business to her co-founder. We explore her passion for working with schools, encouraging young entrepreneurs, and the evolving skills the next generation must acquire to thrive in today’s fast-paced tech landscape.

We also dive into Mary’s approach to investing, what she looks for in founders, how she won Angel Investor of the Year, and the impactful work she’s doing with AwakenHub, the social enterprise she co-founded to support women-led businesses. Finally, Mary gives us a glimpse into what the future holds for her and her ongoing mission to create more opportunities for women in business.

Tune in for a fascinating conversation packed with wisdom, inspiration, and practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and investors alike.

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