Nicky Elliott talks to a host of women about their career paths, from early memories of work through careers advice (or lack of it), and first jobs, up to prese...
Tech Giant Martha Lane Fox on Building Lastminute.com And Beyond
In this episode I speak to Baroness Martha Lane Fox, a pioneering figure in the technology sector and founder of lastminute.com. The conversation covers a range of topics from Martha's upbringing with hardworking parents, her early career experiences, and the founding of lastminute.com during the dot-com boom - plus how they navigated business when the dot-com bubble burst. Martha also opens up about her life-changing accident and how it reshaped her career path and life entirely. We discuss the challenges faced by women in tech, the importance of digital literacy, and Martha's efforts to support female founders through her ongoing work, with inspiring words for any founder on keeping on keeping on. This episode offers a deeply personal look at the life of an iconic female entrepreneur.
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43:04
2nd Birthday Episode! A Partnership in Progress: Love, Life, and Lessons Learned with Andrew Elliott (My Husband!)
I can't believe Women's Business is 2! And to celebrate this milestone a different episode where I have invited my own husband onto to pod, to reflect on our journey and everything we're both learning through my work here on this pod. So, the much-mentioned Drew AKA Andrew Elliott is the first and only male guest on the show. This conversation covers modern life through a male lens, including Drew's childhood experiences, feelings about being a feminist, coping with financial dynamics in marriage, and fatherhood through IVF and premature birth. We also touch on societal pressures, mental load, and finding balance in parenting. Drew shares insights from various podcast episodes that have influenced his thinking and his journey to becoming an active and supportive partner. Join us for an intimate discussion on gender roles, equality, and personal growth. ---------------------- This episode is supported by The PR Set.com, the DIY PR Membership helping founders, start-ups and small biz owners to get known for what they do, without big agency budgets or a little black book of contacts. If you know that PR is important to building your brand, but you don’t know where to start and you don’t have a huge budget to invest the good news is – you don’t need to! The PR Set is an online space founded by PR guru Pippa Goulden and features regular PR opportunities, live sessions to keep you on track, accountability to stay on top of your PR, all backed up by an amazing community of small biz owners, and Pippa’s own support too to help you do the strategic PR that actually makes a difference You can get 50% off your first month’s membership with the code TWC50 making it just £16 for your first month, so give it a whirl at theprset.com. ----------------------- EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 01:15 Special Birthday Episode with Drew 03:03 Reflecting on Gender Roles and Expectations 05:14 University and Career Paths 08:00 Parenting and Education Choices 11:10 Navigating Early Parenthood 14:22 Balancing Careers and Family Life 15:51 Challenges of Being the Breadwinner 21:07 Coping with Parenthood Stress 27:16 Work-Life Balance and Parental Guilt 32:14 Navigating Work-Life Balance and Societal Expectations 33:55 The Push for Parental Leave and Economic Benefits 34:39 Challenges in Transforming Workplace Structures 35:18 Understanding and Sharing Mental Load 36:30 Evolving Conversations on Patriarchy 37:59 The Role of Men in Feminism 40:26 Addressing Sexism and Challenging Old Norms 49:38 Inspiring Women and Their Impactful Stories 54:45 Redesigning Inclusive Workplaces 57:29 Final Thoughts and Reflection
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1:03:53
PR for the People: Making Public Relations Accessible with The PR Set Founder, Pippa Goulden
In this episode, I welcome Pippa Goulden, founder of The PR Set to the pod. Pippa shares her journey from working in traditional PR agencies to launching her DIY PR membership aimed at helping small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs, but also shares how launching the business enabled HER to create the work/life balance she wanted for herself. We also dive into what PR actually is, the importance of using it as an integral part of your marketing strategy and not an afterthought, misconceptions around it, and how small businesses can leverage it strategically without needing large budgets. Pippa also discusses her personal experiences, challenges, and the transformative power of 'sending the f*cking email' and the ripple effect that has echoed in positive PR far beyond the thing itself. Find The PR Set here. Find Thr PR Set on Instagram here. Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here. -------------- This episode is also supported by The PR Set.com, the DIY PR Membership helping founders, start-ups and small biz owners to get known for what they do, without big agency budgets or a little black book of contacts. If you know that PR is important to building your brand, but you don’t know where to start and you don’t have a huge budget to invest the good news is – you don’t need to! The PR Set is an online space founded by PR guru Pippa Goulden and features regular PR opportunities, live sessions to keep you on track, accountability to stay on top of your PR, all backed up by an amazing community of small biz owners, and Pippa’s own support too to help you do the strategic PR that actually makes a difference You can get 50% off your first month’s membership with the code TWC50 making it just £16 for your first month, so give it a whirl at theprset.com. ----------- Episode Highlights 01:36 Meet Pippa Goulden: Founder of The PR Set 02:24 Pippa's Early Work Memories and Career Aspirations 04:40 Navigating the PR Industry: Challenges and Insights 07:49 Transitioning from Agency Life to Entrepreneurship 14:22 The Birth of The PR Set: A New Approach to PR 22:41 Defining PR and Its Evolution 24:46 The PR Set: Making PR Accessible for Small Businesses 28:14 The Importance of PR for Small Businesses 29:23 Breaking the Perception: PR is Not Just for Big Brands 30:35 Proactive PR: Taking the Initiative 31:33 Building a Personal Brand Through PR 33:41 The Power of Storytelling in PR 35:34 The Ripple Effect of PR Success 37:23 Overcoming Rejection and Embracing PR Challenges 39:15 Evolving and Growing Your PR Strategy 45:21 Practical PR Tips for Business Owners 48:30 Defining Success and Future Plans 50:19 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
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Pioneering Wellness: Nicola Elliott on 20 Years of NEOM
In this episode of Women's Business I meet Nicola Elliott - haver of great name first and foremost, but also founder of NEOM Wellbeing - who discusses the inspiration behind her brand that originated from her own experience with burnout. Nicola shares her journey from working in journalism to becoming an entrepreneur, the deep intent behind the look and feel of the NEOM brand, plus we dive into the challenges of balancing motherhood and business, the different standards we hold working mothers and fathers to, and insights on the importance of flexibility and hybrid working. She also reflects on the role of personal brand in NEOM's success and offers valuable advice for female founders on maintaining well-being and making smart choices in business. A warm and relatable voice who has built a formidable business. Find Nicola on Instagram here Find NEOM on Instagram here Find NEOM online here Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here ------------ This episode is supported by my amazing partners The SHE Collective - a women’s wellness app, designed to help you feel Strong, Happy and Empowered – SHE As a member of their community I can tell you that their approach works for busy mid-life women. Balancing five core collectives - exercise, nutrition, mindset, nervous system and community – the SHE builds women from the inside out - no more short-term fixes and BS diets, but sustainable wellness, forever. The app features 500 on-demand workouts from 10-30 minutes to do in the comfort and convenience of your own home. Backed by nutritional and mindset advice, and supported by Whatsapp groups to keeo you on track, it's a fantastic way to get on top of your fitness in a way that works for you. Use code WILDER30 for 30% off your first month and join the movement HERE. You won't regret it! ------------ EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 01:19 Meet Nicola Elliott: Founder of NEOM Wellbeing 02:26 Early Career and Entrepreneurial Influences 04:47 Navigating Journalism and Burnout 10:20 The Birth of NEOM: From Idea to Reality 17:43 Challenges and Growth in the Early Years 26:22 Balancing Motherhood and Business 30:14 Scaling Up: Building a Senior Team 33:02 Challenges of Remote Work 33:51 Flexibility in the Workplace 35:47 The Importance of In-Person Interaction 39:47 Gender Roles and Work-Life Balance 46:46 Personal Brand and Business Success 51:13 Advice for Female Founders 54:49 Future Plans and Reflections 01:00:07 Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Us
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1:01:18
Single Mum To CEO: Lauren Paver's Incredible Journey
In this inspiration-packed episode of Women's Business Lauren Paver shares her remarkable journey from being a struggling single mum to completing a multi-million-pound management buyout of her company in the security industry. Lauren talks about her work ethic, her original stint as a holiday rep, and how she broke into the male-dominated field of security sales. She offers real, powerful insights into what it takes to succeed without traditional academic qualifications and the significant sacrifices she's made along the way. Lauren also details her challenges and triumphs in balancing motherhood and work, the sacfrifices she's made, and her future goals for her company, Triton. Don't miss this candid and motivating episode that underscores the importance of grit, resilience, and authenticity. -------------------- This episode is supported by my amazing partners The SHE Collective - a women’s wellness app, designed to help you feel Strong, Happy and Empowered – SHE As a member of their community I can tell you that their approach works for busy mid-life women. Balancing five core collectives - exercise, nutrition, mindset, nervous system and community – the SHE builds women from the inside out - no more short-term fixes and BS diets, but sustainable wellness, forever. The app features 500 on-demand workouts from 10-30 minutes to do in the comfort and convenience of your own home. Backed by nutritional and mindset advice, and supported by Whatsapp groups to keeo you on track, it's a fantastic way to get on top of your fitness in a way that works for you. Use code WILDER30 for 30% off your first month and join the movement HERE. You won't regret it! -------------------- 01:44 Introducing Lauren Paver 02:54 Lauren's Early Work Experiences 05:35 Challenges and Sacrifices 17:38 Entering the Security Industry 20:52 Sales Success and Career Growth 25:53 Management Buyout and Future Plans 28:47 Transitioning Leadership: Taking Over the Reins 29:14 Valuation and Contributions: A Balanced Perspective 30:20 Team Dynamics: The Power of Collaboration 33:02 Northern Roots: The Importance of Regional Identity 34:07 Empowering the Next Generation: Apprenticeships and Education 35:50 Defining Success: Personal and Professional Growth 38:50 Simple Strategies for Business Growth 42:48 Balancing Ambition and Motherhood 50:04 Reflections and Advice: Looking Back and Moving Forward 53:32 Final Thoughts and Farewell
Nicky Elliott talks to a host of women about their career paths, from early memories of work through careers advice (or lack of it), and first jobs, up to present day. With all their insight and learnings along the way, these conversations are designed to both inspire and empower women in their own career journeys.
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