Inspirational women
Most women underestimate themselves and their potential. Be inspired by stories of women who have gone on journeys leading to business or personal development success, travel to far-flung places or challenges for charity. These posts will help you change your life for the better.
-
Interview with Anna – founder of luxury slipper brand Shaffay
I was recently sent the most gorgeous pair of slippers to review on my blog. I am fussy about slippers. This probably dates back to me tumbling down the stairs when I was about 14 years of age in some that my brother had got me as a Christmas gift. I broke my nose in that fall and still have a bumpy nose that in some ways seems to define my look. Today I am sharing an interview with Anna Elshafei who is the inspirational business woman behind the luxury slipper brand known as Shaffay. Tell us a little about your childhood and teenage years My father was a…
-
Leaving a job to take on a rowing challenge
I am honoured to share the story of Charlie Cooper aged 21 from Portsmouth. She has rowed for 8 years and is a member of Bexhill Rowing Club. She is part of a team of amazing women taking on the All Systems Row Challenge. I was born in East Sussex and graduated from the University of Plymouth in 2020. I have recently moved to Portsmouth to start my career as an NHS Physiotherapist which has been quite a challenge after being thrown in the deep end with Covid. This experience has had a big impact on me and I have become mentally stronger as a result. I started rowing…
-
Rowing challenge in later life.
Today I am sharing my interview with 62 year old Fiona Jamie who returned to rowing later in life as a member of Shoreham Boat Club. She is taking part in the amazing feat of All Systems Row soon and I am sure you will join me in lending her your encouragement and support. I come from Kent, but have been living in Brighton for the last 28 years. I studied Industrial Engineering at University and have an MBA, but latterly I have been working as a Sports Massage Therapist . I discovered rowing about 35 years ago when I lived in Peterborough and rowed for a few years before…
-
All Systems Row with Steph Toogood
Women often find that is all systems go as they juggle personal, community and professional responsibilities. Steph Toogood has switched this idea up a gear as she takes part in the All Systems Row challenge. I am so grateful that she took time out from her busy schedule to take part in an interview for my blog. I am from Massachusetts, USA where I first rowed at University on the Charles River about 34 years ago. I moved to the UK in 2000 and married a Brit, we have a 13-year-old son. I work as a NeuroPhysio with acquired brain injury survivors. It is a job I find stimulating and…
-
Colon Hydrotherapy practitioner – Let That Sh*t Go!
When asked by an adult years ago, like most young people, I had no idea how to answer the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”. I certainly did not see my present career as a Colon Hydrotherapy practitioner coming for me all those years ago, but it was a life changing personal experience that led me to understand the importance of gut health and the phenomenal influence that it has on our body, mind and spirit. What led me to becoming a Colonic Hydrotherapy practitioner Many folk don’t come through their teens unscathed, and I was no exception. My parents’ marriage broke up in a…
-
Overcoming trauma and helping others – Dina’s story
Dina Shale, from Leicestershire UK, has transformed her life after her own childhood trauma. Growing up, Dina experienced several years of childhood abuse from the people closest to her. Many people take for granted that the people you can trust the most in the world are your parents. This wasn’t the case for Dina, as she experienced sexual, mental and physical abuse. After years of this abuse, Dina was kicked out of her home and became homeless at sixteen. She desperately sought the security and peace that she lacked so fervently in her childhood. There was only one escape from her trauma that Dina experienced as a child. She knew…
-
Interview with Louise Palmer-Masterton, Stem & Glory
In my final business woman interview of 2020, I share my interview with Louise Palmer-Masterton of Stem and Glory. Tell us a little about your childhood and teenager years I was born in Devon and lived an idyllic life there until I was 8 years old. My family then moved twice in quick succession, first to Cambridgeshire, then to Oxfordshire. The second move landed me to a primary school with an ambitious headmaster who spotted something in me. I sat the entrance exams for Christ’s Hospital, and got in. I then spent my years from 11-18 at a boarding school, which was an interesting experience. I left school very independent,…
-
Interview with Debbie Clarke – founder of DebbieDooodah
They say life is a roller coaster and it is true that we all face huge highs and deep lows in our lives. I hope you feel as inspired as I do by my interview with Debbie Clark, an award-winning yellow obsessed mindset & marketing coach helping people build businesses they love via debbiedooodah Please tell us a little about your childhood and teenage years Well I am an only child and my parents were quite young when they had me. I had a very glamorous mum with big golden curly hair and a dad who was always playing guitar and singing in punk bands. It was a little hectic and…
-
Interview with Cat from Backwards Brain
I love to feature inspirational business women on my blog. Today I share an interview with Catherine Ransome founder of the clothing brand for teenage boys and young men known as Backwards Brain. Tell us a little about your childhood and teenager years I had a lovely childhood. My mum was super devoted and always home as she worked for my dad’s business. Myself and my older sister, Amber were born in London but moved to Bristol when I was around 3 as dad’s business opened offices in Bath and Bristol. I have fond memories of primary school other than year 4-5 where I was quite badly bullied and lost…
-
Q&A with Catherine Ellis, Hill & Ellis
If you’re cycling to work, or (social distancing allowing) to a meeting or to see friends, you’ll need a practical pannier bag. Hill & Ellis make a range of attractive, versatile pannier bags that easily unclip from your bike and transition perfectly into a stylish over the shoulder bag. Their leather range is ideal for the office, with plenty of space for your laptop, mobile phone and other work essentials. Their trendy, colourful canvas range, inspired by the founder’s favourite cycle routes, is perfect for shopping and social activities. Today I am sharing my interview with the founder of this company. I hope you enjoy reading about Catherine Ellis. Tell…
-
Interview with Roz Thornton, Founding Partner at Roots
Regular readers know how I love to share the stories of inspirational women. Today I share my interview with Roz Thornton, Founding Partner of Roots. Tell us a little about your childhood and teenager years I was born in the UK in the mid 70’s when things allegedly felt pretty bleak. My Dad, who was a ‘jobbing musician’, had been impacted by the effects of the three-day week and decided to look for work outside of the UK. He was attracted to Holland due to its culture of liberalism and tolerance and he was fortunate to land a permanent job there as a recording engineer. We lived in Holland for…
-
Delicious health snacks from the Squirrel Sisters
I am delighted to share an inspirational interview with Gracie & Sophie Tyrrell, Founders, Squirrel Sisters. Squirrel Sisters is a multi award-winning health and wellness company with a range of delicious and health snacks. This business came about after the sisters underwent some very challenging times. It’s a really heart-warming tale of how challenges can make us stronger. The Squirrel Sisters have done everything themselves from product development, sales, finance and all the things that go towards launching a successful business. Tell us a little about your childhood and teenager years We were both born in Richmond, Surrey and enjoyed growing up there until we were 9 and 11 years…
-
Eco-friendly t-shirts and art from Artful Sonder
Imagine starting a business in lockdown! As regular readers know I love to feature inspirational business women and their life stories on my blog. Frankie has just launched an Eco-friendly t-shirt and art print brand that’s based in the UK and operates online at https://artfulsonder.com/. The business designs all t-shirts and art in house and ensures the process is environmentally friendly and ethical from manufacturing, to the materials used, right down to the packaging. You can find out more about how the business strives to be an ethical, Eco-friendly brand here: https://artfulsonder.com/pages/sustainability What was your first career? What did you learn from this? I’ve actually worked within digital marketing for…
-
Online fitness classes for mums – Claire’s story
Online fitness classes for mums seem like a great idea to help you stay mentally well and to improve your physical health too. I am delighted to share my interview with Claire Cole , Founder, Movement for Mums. As with so many of my inspirational business women, she shows that whatever your background and education, if you have a dream and enough self-belief you can do just about anything. Tell us a little about your childhood and teenager years I grew up at the bottom of the valleys in South Wales. My mum worked in the local Supermarket canteen as a cook. My Dad had a haulage business and I…
-
Social Media Management Business – Sara’s story
Today’s business woman interview is with Sara Tomaszewska who is the Director of Little Media Agency Ltd. She tells us about moving from Poland to the UK and of setting up a company offering social media management solutions to small business. Tell us a little about your childhood and teenager years I grew up in Kraków in Poland. From a very young age, I was very stubborn. So, when I decided to move to England at the age of 18, even my mum knew there was no way of persuading me to go back. My parents divorced when I was little and as I was growing up, my mum worked quite…