In this episode of Work in Progress with Nicole Engelmann , I chat with Jess Hellens, founder of Wild Coworking - a growing online co-working community designed for women and non-binary people in business.

Jess shares her deeply personal journey from burnout and disillusionment to building a values-led space for connection, collaboration, and growth. Born from a need for community and a sense of belonging, Wild has grown from local co-working meet-ups to a global network, especially during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Together, we explore the importance of community in entrepreneurship, how vulnerability and resilience go hand-in-hand, and why trusting your gut (and knowing your numbers) is essential as a business owner. This episode is a heartfelt reminder that you don’t have to do it all alone - and that finding the right people can change everything.

Host & guest info:

Nicole Engelmann

Nicole is a London-based personal branding photographer and videographer, working with small business owners and creatives across the UK and beyond. 

She’s here for the camera-shy, the visibility-dodgers, and the “I’m not photogenic” crowd - turning nerves into magic with scroll-stopping visuals that feel so you. Whether it’s in the streets of London or on a retreat in Ibiza, she’s got your best angles (and your brand) covered.

Nicole's website: www.londonbrandingphotos.com 

Follow Nicole on Instagram: www.instagram.com/londonbrandingphotos 

Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-engelmann 

Sign up to her newsletter: www.londonbrandingphotos.com/newsletter 

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Jess Hellens

Jess is the Founder of Wild Coworking, a community of
self-employed women and non-binary people that launched over 6 yearsago. Her background and obsession is marketing strategy, her mission is to make business ownership feel more inclusive, welcoming and achievable for those who don't feel seen and/or heard in traditional networking groups.

Follow Jess on Instagram - www.instagram.com/jesshellens & www.instagram.com/wild_coworking

Memberships reopened 1 July www.wildcoworking.com/join
Beyond the Bubble workshop starts 14 July www.wildcoworking.com/beyond-the-bubble

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Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Wild and Its Mission02:53 Jess's Journey: From Burnout to Community Building05:50 The Importance of Community in Business08:46 Navigating COVID-19: Adapting to Change11:46 The Evolution of Wild: A Safe Space for Growth14:38 Marketing and Community: A Symbiotic Relationship17:32 Lessons Learned: Resilience and Adaptation20:26 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs23:20 Looking Ahead: The Future of Wild and Its Impact34:46 Outro

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Keywords:

women in business, building community, entrepreneurship, burnout recovery, co-working, networking, COVID-19 business lessons, female founders, community marketing, collaboration in business, support networks, resilience, emotional side of entrepreneurship, Wild community, WILD Coworking