Join me, Hattie Willis, as I chat with the incredible Thea Brook, a seasoned entrepreneur and CFO-turned-founder, about her remarkable journey from finance to founding her own businesses. We dive into Thea's unconventional background, from training as a dancer to opening a dance school at 20, and how she eventually found her way into finance and entrepreneurship. Thea shares valuable insights on mental health, personal branding, and her approach to social media as a founder. Get ready for a candid and inspiring conversation that will leave you feeling motivated to take control of your own entrepreneurial journey!

Timestamps:

• 05:00 - Thea's unusual background and how it influenced her entrepreneurial path
• 12:30 - The importance of talking to yourself kindly and reframing your self-talk
• 20:00 - How Thea transitioned from finance to entrepreneurship and found her calling
• 30:00 - Thea's approach to personal branding and social media as a founder

Links:

• Thea’s LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/theabrook
• Thea’s website: https://www.theabrook.com/

Ever felt the pressure to keep your startup afloat, even when it's not working out? In this episode, we dive into the tough topic of shutting down your business with Joy Mpofu and Cameron Orcutt, two founders who have been there, done that, and lived to tell the tale. They share their honest experiences of closing their companies, and how they supported each other through the process. We explore the stigma of failure in the UK, the importance of having a support system, and the lessons learned from their startup journeys.

Join us as we shortcut our learnings as founders together! 🚀

Links:

• Joy’s LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/joy-mpofu-394a1655
• Cameron’s LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/cameronorcutt

Are you tired of the painful process of finding investors for your startup? Today, I'm joined by Daniel Sawko, co-founder of ShipShapeVC, who's on a mission to make fundraising easier for founders. In this episode, Daniel shares his journey from consulting to entrepreneurship, and how he's helping founders navigate the complex world of investments. We dive into the importance of empathy in sales strategy, how to reduce the time to accessing capital, and the reasons why founders should focus on building meaningful relationships with investors.

If you're struggling to find the right investors for your startup, or simply want to learn more about the world of fundraising, this episode is a must-listen.

Key Timestamps:

• [02:15] Daniel's journey from consulting to entrepreneurship
• [10:30] The importance of empathy in sales strategy
• [16:45] How ShipShapeVC helps founders find the right investors
• [25:00] The benefits of having a sales strategy that includes SMEs

Links:

• Daniel’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielsawko/?originalSubdomain=uk
• ShipShape.vc website: https://www.shipshape.vc/

Join us as we dive into the inspiring story of Neda, founder of Keshty, as she shares her journey of overcoming rejection, building a successful business, and investing in others. From her experiences as an only child to navigating the world of entrepreneurship, Neda opens up about the lessons she's learned along the way. Don't miss this episode as we explore the importance of org design, rejecting transactional relationships, and building a strong support network.

Neda shares her story of starting Keshty, a business that was built on her mission to make a difference. She talks about the challenges she faced, and how she overcame them. She also shares her insights on the importance of hiring and how it can make or break a business. Plus, she opens up about her experiences with rejection and how she's learned to see it as a redirection. Don't miss this inspiring and informative episode!

Links:

Neda's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nedasahebelm/?originalSubdomain=uk

Keshty Website: https://www.keshty.com/about

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Cecil Adjalo, founder of Foundervine, one of the UK's largest and most vibrant accelerators, having designed a high-impact training program that provides ambitious entrepreneurs with the skills, tools, and support they need to confidently scale their ventures. Cecil has a passion for operational efficiency, automation, and creating data-driven organisations which led him into the field of Data and Analytics. He began his career by troubleshooting issues with hospital database software and later transitioned to management consulting, start-up creation, business intelligence, and strategy, with his passion for data and analytics ultimately leading him to where he is now.

In this episode, we cover:

• The importance of focusing on a big vision and not being afraid to think big
• How to overcome imposter syndrome
• The challenges of pitching to VCs and the importance of showing traction
• The role of affinity bias in the startup space and how to overcome it
• The power of community building and creating a supportive ecosystem for underrepresented founders

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adjalo/?originalSubdomain=uk
• Foundervine: https://www.foundervine.com/#

Did you know that 20% of your employees, customers, and friends are likely to be neurodivergent? In today's episode, we're diving into the importance of neuro inclusivity in entrepreneurship, with Sasha Evans, a brilliant entrepreneur and expert in experience design and neurodiversity.

Join me, Hattie Willis, as I chat with Sasha about her journey into entrepreneurship, from theatre to startups, and how she's helping founders design for neuro inclusivity. We'll cover practical tips for founders with autism, ADHD, and beyond, as well as how neurotypical founders can create more inclusive experiences for their customers and stakeholders. Plus, we'll explore Sasha's brilliant series on LinkedIn, where she answers your burning questions about neurodiversity.

Links:

• Sascha's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saschaevans/?originalSubdomain=uk
• Uncommon company: https://www.bemoreuncommon.com/
• Zinc incubator: https://www.zinc.vc/

Joining us this episode is Marcus Exall, serial founder, angel investor, and investor in residence at Virgin Startup. In this episode, Marcus shares his journey from building and exiting a digital advertising company to supporting countless founders along the way. We dive into his early days as an entrepreneur, from running a paper round as a kid to selling tickets at a nightclub, and how those experiences shaped his approach to business. Plus, we debunk some common myths around investment and entrepreneurship, and discuss the importance of freedom and failure in the startup journey. Don't miss this episode packed with insights and laughs!

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusexall/
• Monese: https://monese.com/gb/en/
• Up and to the Right: https://www.u2r.co/

Storytelling is one of the most underrated founder skills! It’s critical for motivating your team, selling to customers, and of course, raising investment. It can also position you as a thought leader, which yes, helps all those things too. But it’s one of the things that trips sooo many founders up.

From pitches that make it obvious they were created to follow a formula, to LinkedIn posts that show zero personality, to team talks that end with glazed eyes, it’s so easy to get it wrong.

So in this episode, we're thrilled to have a very special guest who knows a thing or two about captivating an audience.

Joining us is Pascalle Bergmans, the multi-talented founder of PresenTales, a Pitch Training company which empowers senior leaders and executives to deliver their stories with impact and passion. With an impressive background performing on the West End in musicals like Wicked, Mary Poppins, and Robin Hood, Pascalle is no stranger to the art of engaging storytelling and owning a stage.

In this episode, we dive deep into Pascalle's wealth of knowledge and experience. We'll explore:

• Lessons from the West-End that you need in your startup storytelling
• Practical tips for overcoming stage fright and delivering presentations with confidence
• What authenticity and vulnerability in leadership communication really means
• Growing through LinkedIn Content marketing and how to get over the “Cringe” that holds us back from getting started

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pascalle-bergmans/?originalSubdomain=uk
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_presentales_/
• PresenTales Website: https://www.presentales.com/