In this episode, I chat to Kirsty Heywood-McDonald, the founder of Heywood-MacDonald Accountancy Services. Kirsty discusses her mission to break down barriers and create inclusive environments for neurodivergent and disabled entrepreneurs.

Kirsty shares her personal experiences with redundancy and discrimination, which fuelled her passion to establish a business that supports and empowers individuals with disabilities.

Key Takeaways:

• Entrepreneurs with neurodiversity and disabilities often face challenges such as stress, anxiety around finances, burnout, and difficulties with organisation, time management and processing complex financial information.

• Creating a supportive and inclusive environment is essential for entrepreneurs to thrive and contribute their best.

• Simple adjustments and a focus on open communication can make a significant difference in supporting individuals with disabilities, without necessarily incurring high costs.

• Kirsty emphasises the importance of having open conversations with clients and team members to understand their needs and challenges, and then co-creating supportive ways of working.

• Inclusive practices benefit everyone in the workplace by fostering a culture of empathy, understanding, and respect.

Episode Highlights:

02:18 Challenges Faced by Neurodivergent and Disabled Entrepreneurs

03:56 Financial Management and Support Strategies

20:39 Creating an Inclusive Workplace

24:22 Access to Work and Grants

34:32 Mandatory Training and Systemic Changes

39:41 Practical Tips for Businesses

About the Guest:

Kirsty (she/her) is the founder of Heywood-MacDonald Accountancy Services Ltd, a multi-award winning practice specialising in supporting neurodivergent and disabled entrepreneurs. Her mission is clear: to dismantle barriers and foster inclusive environments where everyone can thrive.

LinkedIn
Website

Episode Links:

• https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign

• https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work

• https://mhfaengland.org

End Credits:

I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please find me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahfoxcoach/).

This episode was written and recorded by me and produced byhttp://lucylucraft.co.uk.

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review.

In this episode, I chat with Astrid Korin, an accredited transformative executive coach, about people-pleasing. We discuss what people-pleasing is, how it shows up in our lives, and what we can do about it. Astrid shares her insights from her 20 years of experience working with senior leaders worldwide.

Key Takeaways:

• People-pleasing can be defined as going over and beyond to accommodate others, even when it is not in our best interest.

• Some common signs of people-pleasing include difficulty saying no, overthinking conversations, and struggling to give and receive feedback.

• People-pleasing can be harmful because it can lead to resentment, burnout, and us not being our authentic selves.

• To overcome people-pleasing, we need to become aware of our triggers and start setting boundaries.

• It is important to remember that overcoming people-pleasing is a journey and not a destination.

Episode Highlights:

• 02:41: What are the common signs of people-pleasing?

• 06:50: How people-pleasing can show up in our relationships.

• 10:15: The difference between people-pleasing and being collaborative.

• 14:10: How people-pleasing can affect our well-being.

• 21:05: How to start creating healthier boundaries.

• 29:35: The importance of having an accountability partner.

• 36:15: How to deal with people's reactions to our new boundaries.

• 41:10: The one thing you can do right now to start overcoming people-pleasing.

About the Guest:

Astrid Korin is an accredited transformative executive coach. She is passionate about putting the human back into leadership and works with leaders and teams to help them connect deeply with themselves and each other so that they can thrive and build successful, sustainable businesses.

You can connect with Astrid on LinkedIn or through her website:

• Astrid's LinkedIn

• Astrid's website

• Inside Out Leadership | Mindful Leadership Coaching

Episode Links:

• How Women Rise by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith

• Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman

• "I spent so much of my life proving my worth, I forgot to play" Gabor Mate

• Brene Brown "Dare to Lead"

• Dr Karen Smith (mindfulness coaching) - https://outsidethought.co.uk

End Credits:

I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please find me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahfoxcoach/).

This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft (https://lucylucraft.co.uk).

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this episode of Do Good and Do Well, I'm joined by Keri Jarvis, a coach, charity co-founder, and advocate for social change. We delve into the concept of the polycrisis - the interconnected challenges of our times - and how we can navigate these complexities while maintaining our well-being. Keri shares her insights on the importance of community, experimentation, and self-compassion in creating positive change.

Key Takeaways

• The polycrisis describes the interconnected nature of today's challenges, including climate change, poverty, inequality, and mental health. It's crucial to view these not as isolated issues, but as interwoven threads.
• Embrace experimentation and imperfection when striving to make a difference. There's no single solution, so adaptability and a willingness to learn are essential.
• Community and collaboration are vital for navigating the polycrisis. Sharing experiences, supporting one another, and engaging in collective action can empower us to create positive change and foster a sense of belonging.

Episode Highlights

• (01:58) Keri's journey and how she arrived at her current work
• (03:47) Balancing awareness of global issues with the desire for a "normal" life
• (09:19) Exploring Keri's values and how they've evolved
• (17:47) The story behind the Southend Care Bank and its mission to alleviate hygiene poverty
• (29:25) Understanding the polycrisis and its impact on our lives
• (32:56) Finding the motivation to persevere despite the weight of the world's problems
• (48:11) Keri's composting community and the power of collective care

About the Guest

Keri Jarvis is an ICF Accredited Developmental Coach for life and work in the polycrisis. She helps people to re-imagine their relationships with themselves, their work, and the world, expanding their capacity for contribution and satisfaction. She's also the Co-Founder of Southend Care Bank, alleviating the impact of hygiene poverty and redistributing pre-loved resources.

Find Keri Jarvis on Instagram (@keri jarvis) and visit her website at kerijarvis.com

Episode Links

• Experiments in Imagining Otherwise by Lola Olufemi
• Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth
• The Portal Collective: https://theportalcollective.com/
• Composting with Keri Jarvis
• Support the work of the Southend Care Bank

End Credits

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Connect with me on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahfoxcoach/ ).

This episode was written and recorded by Sarah Fox and produced by Lucy Lucraft (lucylucraft.co.uk).

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5* rating and review

066 Meditation with Leah Brown

Sarah welcomes Leah Brown, founder and leader in mediation and to the podcast.

Leah is a corporate lawyer and accredited mediator who transforms dysfunctional boards. She runs The WayFinders Group helping leaders navigate uncharted territory one conversation at a time. Leah is a lecturer, a podcast host, an agented writer, an accomplished violinist, a person of faith, and loves walking her dog.

Leah discusses her journey from a corporate lawyer to becoming an accredited mediator and her passion for reconciliation and restorative justice. The conversation explores the importance of mediation in addressing workplace conflicts, the role of self-awareness in leadership, and the transformative potential of restorative practices.

She shares insights on developing emotional intelligence, psychological safety in the workplace, and offers practical advice for leaders facing challenges. The episode concludes with a discussion about Leah's ongoing work on embedding restorative practices within the criminal justice system.

Mentioned in this episode:

https://linktr.ee/leahbrownfrsa

Contact Leah: https://linktr.ee/leahbrownfrsa

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in.leah-brown-frsa-b71b0844 https://uk.linkedin.com/company/wayfindersgroup

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seenheardspoken/

https://www.instagram.com/broadstairs_wayfinders

x: www.x.com/OnlyOneLeah www.x.com/GroupWayFinders

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@seenheardspoken

Contact me:

Reach out to me on my Linked In page: https://ww.linkedin.com/in/sarahfoxcoach/

Sign up to my newsletter: https://dogoodanddowell.myflodesk.com/newsletter

My website: https://sarahfox.co.uk/

Grab the direct link to this episode and share with a friend

This week's Do Good & Do Well guest is the fantastic Claire Plumbly

Claire is a Clinical Psychologist & Director of Good Therapy Ltd, a psychological therapy centre based online and in Taunton, Somerset. Her private practice specialises in trauma-related issues and Claire herself has a specialism in early life traumas and burnout. Claire is also an author the book Burnout: How to Manage Your Nervous System Before It Manages You’. This book is coming out in five other languages in 2025 and will show you how to harness the power of your nervous system, despite the persistent demands of modern life.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Understanding Burnout
• High Functioning vs. Clinical Burnout Burnout vs. Other Conditions
• Systemic Issues and Impact
• Setting Boundaries and Finding Safety
• Leadership and Role Modelling
• Writing a Book on Burnout
• Practical Tips for Managing Stress Resources

Mentioned in this episode:

www.drclaireplumbly.com/burnout-book

Contact Claire:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drclaireplumbly/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drclaireplumbly/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrClairePlumbly

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drclaireplumbly

Contact me:

Reach out to me on my Linked In page: https://ww.linkedin.com/in/sarahfoxcoach/

Sign up to my newsletter: https://dogoodanddowell.myflodesk.com/newsletter

My website: https://sarahfox.co.uk/

Grab the direct link to this episode and share with a friend

This week's Do Good & Do Well guest is the incredible Patrice Gordon.

Patrice has always been passionate about personal development, starting her career as a Chartered Accountant, training to become an Executive Coach and then pivoting into the Commercial Strategy space. In 2022, her book "Reverse Mentoring: Removing Barriers and Building Belonging in the Workplace" was published, and she embarked on her entrepreneurial journey and is now the CEO of Eminere, a bespoke consultancy that is in the business of building better humans so that they can, in turn, run better businesses. Having held senior positions in Finance and Commercial across some of the UK’s most loved Brands, Virgin Atlantic, Royal Mail, and British Airways.

In this episode Patrice shares

• what reverse mentoring is and what difference it makes
• the importance of psychological safety and looking after the unrepresented mentors
• when reverse mentoring is not advised and what gets in the way from it working
• how Patrice supports organisations throughout the initial idea to completion
• Women's Development Support
• Patrice's Power to Pivot Programme

Please note that we have had some issues with sound on this episode. If you would like the transcript, contact Sarah Fox on the email below.

Mentioned in this episode:

Reverse Mentoring - the book: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/4562/9780349435022

Reverse Mentoring - The Ted Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/patrice_gordon_how_reverse_mentorship_can_help_create_better_leaders?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

The Power to Pivot - https://www.eminere.co.uk/the-power-to-pivot

Patrice's newsletter: Elevate with Patrice https://elevate-with-patrice.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Harvard Kenney School's Women's Leadership Board: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/wappp/womens-leadership-board

Barefoot Coaching: https://barefootcoaching.co.uk/

Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter: https://www.wiaacharter.com/about/

Female Founders Rise: https://www.linkedin.com/company/female-founders-rise/

Contact Patrice:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricegordon/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mspatricegordon/

Website: https://www.eminere.co.uk/contact

Contact Sarah:

Reach out to me on my Linked In page: https://ww.linkedin.com/in/sarahfoxcoach/

Sign up to my newsletter: https://dogoodanddowell.myflodesk.com/newsletter

My website: https://sarahfox.co.uk/

Grab the direct link to this episode and share with a friend and watch the epsiode on You Tube - https://youtu.be/-TCf5bSIwfc