Women's Business

#99: Powerful Women and The Feminist Lens: A Candid Talk with Sophie Lee

Unapologetic feminists unite in this episode, as I speak to Sophie Lee, a voice and visibility consultant for purpose-driven businesses. Sophie shares her journey from journalism to business journalism in China, and eventually to founding Electric Peach, a decentralised brand agency. We delve into the challenges of personal branding, female empowerment, and the importance of an intersectional feminist lens and how Sophie practises that in her life and business. Sophie also discusses her upcoming book, 'Beyond Palatable: A Manifesto for Unapologetic Women,' and her belief in social justice and dismantling patriarchal structures. This episode is a deep dive into navigating self-worth, accountability, and creating impactful change for all women. Hurrah! Find Sophie's website here. Sophie's main hangout online is LinkedIn. You can find her here. The women Sophie shouted out were: Yinka Ewuola (coming to an episode very soon!) Vicky Quinn Fraser - find her website here. Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here. ------------- This episode is sponsored by Hawkins Laxton & Co - the personal branding and thought-leadership specialists supporting senior leaders, founders, and business owners to grow their professional profile in a tough and noisy market. If you know you need a stronger personal brand - one that actually reflects your strengths, your expertise, and the direction you're heading - Clare and Sian offer a brilliant process to help you get there. You'll get a full audit of your current personal brand, a 90-minute 1:1 session to uncover your signature strengths and values, and a bespoke personal brand narrative alongside a three-month thought-leadership plan. They'll also give you a digital and social optimisation strategy, plus a final implementation session so you walk away with a clear, confident personal brand - and a practical plan to grow your credibility, activate your community, and communicate with ease. Their clients describe the experience as game-changing, creative, confidence-boosting, and genuinely career-shifting. If you want support with personal branding, thought leadership, or media training, get in touch with Clare and Sian at hawkinslaxton.com, or email clare@hawkinslaxton.com or sian@hawkinslaxton.com.

#98: Building a Business and a Movement From The Bottom Up with Stripe & Stare founder Katie Lopes

In this episode I speak to Katie Lopes, co-founder of Stripe and Stare, an innovative underwear brand making knickers women really want to wear. Katie shares her early career journey from television to retail, highlighting the importance of confidence and resilience. We delve into the ideation behind Stripe and Stare, focusing on creating underwear for women to feel comfortable and confident in, away from the male gaze. Katie talks about the challenges and successes of breaking into a crowded marketplace, the time it took to research and launch the product properly (a lesson in things taking time!), the significance of sustainability, and the power of female entrepreneurship. There is loads of insight from Katie here on building what is ultimately a feminist brand by women, for women, with loads of business learnings too.  Find Stripe and Stare online here The woman Katie shouted out was Charlotte Tilbury.  To join the conversation with me on Instagram and to find out more about The Confidence Project head here  

#97: From Hustle To Harmony and Finding (and Defining) Wholeness with Dr Mandy Lehto

In this episode I speak to Dr. Mandy Lehto, a coach, writer, speaker, and podcaster who helps driven leaders and overachievers slow down and redefine success. I loved this conversation and felt like I needed to make notes and listen back repeatedly! We delve into Mandy's fascinating journey from growing up on a farm with a strong work ethic to her career in investment banking, where the constant hustle led to eventual burnout. We cover topics including the myth of 'more,' the significance of rest, and the pursuit of true purpose. We are really challenging definitions of certain concepts and going deep on how to redefine them meaningfully, with exercises to help listeners do this work for themselves. Mandy offers insightful advice on how to balance ambition with self-care and redefine our relationships with success. This episode will resonate deeply with anyone struggling with perfectionism or the relentless pursuit of achievement. Find Mandy on Instagram here Find Mandy's website here  The person Mandy shouted out was Kasia Urbaniak and you can find her on Insta here or online here Join the conversation with me on Instagram here and to find out more about The Wilder Collective and The Confidence Project please head here. 

#96: When Rejection Leads to Success: A Creative's Journey with Katie Chappell

In this episode, I speak to Katie Chappell, a talented illustrator specialising in live event illustration and co-founder of The Good Ship Illustration. We discuss her early experiences with work and the first rejection thst left her reeling and questioning her path, and then her journey back to creativity, and her fascinating career path. Katie shares her innovative approach to handling rejection through a 'no thank yous' challenge, which not only desensitised her to rejection but also helped her create a pricing mindset that has transformed her business. We delve into those pricing strategies and how her mindset shifts have influenced her business decisions. Katie also talks about her community initiatives and the importance of being adaptable and willing to experiment in business. This is an insightful conversation on creativity, resilience, and the power of saying yes - AND no.  Find Katie on Instagram here  Find Katie's website here The woman Katie shouted out was Denise Duffield-Thomas.  Find her work here Don't forget to join me on Instagram here  ----------- This episode is supported by April & White, a brand built on a passion to fuel the imagination of children everywhere, not least with their beautiful bespoke letters from Father Christmas for your little ones. Sonia the founder approaches every product with an eye for beauty and detail to really keep the magic alive for your little believers, applying calligraphy by hand so that every letter and envelope is unique, personalised, and magical. Alongside her letters from Santa Sonia has a glorious selection of stocking fillers to make your kids' Christmas even more special, from beautifully boxed reindeer food to North Pole chocolate pennies and reindeer bells and even a magical memory journal to capture the sparkle and wonder of their Christmas. Order your letters from father Christmas by 5th December to be sure to receive them in time for the big day, and check out aprilandwhite.co.uk to shop now. Magic awaits. ----------- EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS  01:21 Meet Katie Chappell 02:44 Katie's Early Work Experiences 05:16 Navigating Career Challenges and Discovering Illustration 11:48 Building a Freelance Career and Overcoming Setbacks 24:29 The Impact of Rejection and Embracing Challenges 29:31 Embracing Rejection: The Numbers Game 30:00 Applying the Rejection Challenge to Real Life 30:54 Pricing Strategies for Women in Business 32:33 The Importance of Incremental Upgrades 33:39 Building a Strong Online Presence 36:04 Balancing Creativity and Business 40:20 The Value of Community and Collaboration 42:45 Navigating Social Media as a Creative 45:52 Learning Business Skills as a Creative 54:19 Final Thoughts and Advice  

#95 Good Girl Economics Explored: Pricing, Perception, and Profit for Female Founders

In this special episode of Women's Business, I speak to Leila Ainge, my brilliant co-conspirator in our recent research project 'Good Girl Economics: The Price of Playing Nice.' This conversation is a review of our research: why do it, why now, the trends we discovered, and what we've both learned and will be implementing off the back of this research - particularly around pricing and perception. Join us as we uncover why women find it challenging to discuss profit, the impact of internalised misogyny, and how we can shift our mindset to embrace sustainable success. Leila's background in psychology enriches our conversation, making this a must-listen for women navigating their entrepreneurial journeys.