Built By Her Podcast

In this episode of the Built By Her Podcast, Georgie sits down with Hannah Matthews, Head of Assurance & Accounts at Optimum Accountancy, to talk about the realities of finance, leadership, business growth, and balancing motherhood alongside a demanding career.

From returning to work just three months after maternity leave, to navigating leadership whilst raising young children, Hannah shares the honest reality behind building a successful career without completely losing yourself in the process.

We also dive into:
✨ The difference between accountants and bookkeepers
✨ Why business owners need strategy, not just spreadsheets
✨ Financial planning, pensions & future-proofing your life
✨ Delegation, burnout & learning to ask for help
✨ The pressure women put on themselves in leadership
✨ Why money conversations shouldn’t feel so taboo
✨ AI, automations & tools that can genuinely save time in business

This episode goes far beyond finance. It’s a conversation about ambition, identity, confidence, and creating a business that supports your life, not just your workload.

Guest: Hannah Matthews
Head of Assurance & Accounts at Optimum Accountancy

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Follow Built By Her

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builtby_her
🎟️ Events & Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/114520957181

Join the community, come to an event, and be part of the conversations beyond the podcast.

🎙️ Hosted by Georgina McDonald founder of G R Design Studio

🌐 Website: https://www.grdesignstudio.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g_r_designstudio

🎧 Produced by Richard Lannen at Nozzle Media
🌐 https://nozzle.media
📸 https://www.instagram.com/nozzlemedia

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone building something of their own.

From Young Mum to Business Owner | Antonia on Bookkeeping, Backing Yourself & Building a Business Around Family

In this episode of the Built By Her Podcast, Georgie sits down with Antonia, founder of A B Accounts Support, to talk all things bookkeeping, business finances, and what it really looks like to build a career around your life...not the other way around.

From becoming a mum at 23 and spending five years out of work, to accidentally falling into bookkeeping and eventually launching her own business, Antonia shares the honest reality of rebuilding confidence, learning on the job, and creating a business that supports both her clients and her family.

This episode is packed with practical advice for business owners who feel overwhelmed by finances, bookkeeping, VAT, invoicing, subscriptions, and everything in between, but it’s also a really relatable conversation about self-belief, flexibility, and taking opportunities even when you don’t feel “qualified enough.”

In this episode, we cover:

•  What a bookkeeper actually does (and why they’re different to an accountant) 
•  Why bookkeeping isn’t just “reconciling transactions” 
•  How a bookkeeper can actually save you money 
•  The benefits of having someone manage invoicing and payment chasing 
•  Why separating your accounts from your day-to-day business can reduce stress 
•  Starting a business as a sole trader vs limited company 
•  The importance of getting financial support early in business 
•  How Antonia accidentally fell into bookkeeping after becoming a mum 
•  Learning on the job without previous experience 
•  Completing AAT qualifications whilst working and raising children 
•  Why you don’t need your whole career figured out in your early 20s 
•  Building a business around flexibility and family life 
•  Xero vs other accounting software 
•  The value of personalised financial support for small business owners 

This episode is such a refreshing reminder that careers don’t always follow a straight line and sometimes the best opportunities come from simply saying yes and figuring it out as you go.

Guest Details

Guest: Antonia Burgess 

Instagram : @abaccountssupport

Linkedin: Antonia Burgess

If you’re a business owner who’s been putting off sorting your finances, this episode will make bookkeeping feel a whole lot less intimidating.

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Follow Built By Her

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builtby_her
🎟️ Events & Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/114520957181

Join the community, come to an event, and be part of the conversations beyond the podcast.

🎙️ Hosted by Georgina McDonald founder of G R Design Studio

🌐 Website: https://www.grdesignstudio.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g_r_designstudio

🎧 Produced by Richard Lannen at Nozzle Media
🌐 https://nozzle.media
📸 https://www.instagram.com/nozzlemedia

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone building something of their own.

It started as a side hustle during maternity leave… but it didn’t stay that way for long.

In this episode of the Built By Her Podcast, Georgie sits down with Ellie, founder of her own PMU and lash business, to talk about how a small idea turned into a 13-year career in the beauty industry.

From working in spas to building her own fully booked client base, Ellie shares the honest reality behind running a beauty business, including the confidence struggles, the pressure of social media, and the constant feeling of chasing the next level.

This episode goes beyond lashes and permanent makeup. It’s about what it really takes to build something for yourself, and why success doesn’t always feel how you expect it to.

✨ What we cover:

•  Starting a business during maternity leave without even realising it 
•  How the beauty industry has evolved over the last decade 
•  What lash extensions and permanent makeup actually involve 
•  Why one-size-fits-all doesn’t work when it comes to beauty treatments 
•  The importance of client consultation and managing expectations 
•  The reality of poor training in the industry and learning as you go 
•  Imposter syndrome, even after 13 years in business 
•  The impact of social media and comparison in a visual industry 
•  Why growth doesn’t always feel like success 
•  Feeling overwhelmed, time management, and trying to do everything at once 
•  The importance of focusing on your own journey 
•  Ellie’s next step, launching her own lash training (coming soon 👀) 

💭 Key Takeaway

Building a business isn’t just about skill, it’s about mindset.

Even after more than a decade, Ellie shares that self-doubt, comparison, and setting new goals never fully go away. But what matters is focusing on your own path, looking after your clients, and recognising how far you’ve already come.

👩‍💼 Guest

Ellie
Founder of a PMU & Lash Business
📍 Gloucester (Longlevens)
📲 @eleanorpmulash

 🌐 www.eleanorpmulash.co.uk

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Follow Built By Her

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builtby_her
🎟️ Events & Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/114520957181

Join the community, come to an event, and be part of the conversations beyond the podcast.

🎙️ Hosted by Georgina McDonald founder of G R Design Studio

🌐 Website: https://www.grdesignstudio.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g_r_designstudio

🎧 Produced by Richard Lannen at Nozzle Media
🌐 https://nozzle.media
📸 https://www.instagram.com/nozzlemedia

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone building something of their own.

What actually is marketing… and why do so many business owners leave it until last?

In this episode of the Built By Her Podcast, Georgie sits down with Laura Vout, founder of Laura About Marketing, to talk about what marketing really means, why it matters so much for small businesses, and how to know when it’s time to stop trying to do it all yourself.

Laura shares her journey from a corporate marketing career into running her own business, after redundancy gave her the push to finally back herself. From managing marketing in large companies to now helping smaller businesses connect the dots between social media, email, websites, strategy and growth, this conversation is packed with honest insight and practical advice.

Together, Georgie and Laura chat about the difference between brand and marketing, how social media has changed the way businesses need to show up, why authenticity matters more than ever in the age of AI, and what small business owners should actually focus on when they’re feeling overwhelmed by marketing.

In this episode, we talk about:

✨ What marketing actually means beyond just social media
 ✨ The difference between brand and marketing
 ✨ Why marketing is often underestimated until business slows down
 ✨ How social media has changed the way brands connect with people
 ✨ AI, authenticity, and why real content still matters
 ✨ SEO vs AEO and how people are now searching differently
 ✨ How often you should really update your website
 ✨ Whether blogs still matter in 2026
 ✨ Why doing your own content is harder than it looks
 ✨ The reality of leaving corporate and starting your own business
 ✨ Pricing your services and communicating your value
 ✨ How to know which marketing activity is actually worth your time
 ✨ When it’s time to outsource your marketing

This episode is a brilliant listen for any business owner who feels like they should be doing more marketing, but isn’t sure where to start, what actually works, or whether they’re spending time on the right things.

Guest: Laura Vout
Instagram: @laura.vout
TikTok: @laura.vout

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Follow Built By Her

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builtby_her
🎟️ Events & Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/114520957181

Join the community, come to an event, and be part of the conversations beyond the podcast.

🎙️ Hosted by Georgina McDonald founder of G R Design Studio

🌐 Website: https://www.grdesignstudio.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g_r_designstudio

🎧 Produced by Richard Lannen at Nozzle Media
🌐 https://nozzle.media
📸 https://www.instagram.com/nozzlemedia

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone building something of their own.

Is your tap water actually as safe as you think?

In this episode of the Built By Her Podcast, Georgie sits down with Charlie, General Manager of The Filter Tap Company, to uncover what’s really in our water and why more people are starting to question what they’re drinking every day.

From microplastics and “forever chemicals” to the reality behind what’s classed as “safe” water in the UK, this conversation is eye-opening (and slightly shocking in parts).

We also dive into the growth of The Filter Tap Company as a startup, what it’s like building a business from the ground up, and how Charlie’s perspective on health, water, and daily habits has completely changed.

In this episode, we cover:

💧 What’s actually in your tap water (and why “safe” doesn’t always mean clean)

💧 Microplastics, PFAS, and the long-term impact on your health

💧 The biggest myths around boiling water and filtration

💧 Why bottled water might not be the better option

💧 The importance of maintaining filter systems (and what most people get wrong)

💧 Building a startup and learning as you grow

This episode will make you think twice about what you’re drinking and why taking control of your health might start with something as simple as your water.

If you’ve ever assumed your tap water is “fine”… this one’s for you.

Find Charlie & The Filter Tap Company

🌐 Website: https://www.thefiltertapcompany.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefiltertapcompany

💼 LinkedIn: The Filter Tap Company

📍 Visit them at The Site, Cheltenham

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Follow Built By Her

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builtby_her
🎟️ Events & Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/114520957181

Join the community, come to an event, and be part of the conversations beyond the podcast.

🎙️ Hosted by Georgina McDonald founder of G R Design Studio

🌐 Website: https://www.grdesignstudio.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g_r_designstudio

🎧 Produced by Richard Lannen at Nozzle Media
🌐 https://nozzle.media
📸 https://www.instagram.com/nozzlemedia

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone building something of their own.

What does it really take to turn a passion into a business that lasts?

In this episode of the Built By Her Podcast, Georgie sits down with Maria Young, owner of The Serenity Suite in the Forest of Dean, to talk about building a beauty business from the ground up and why real success in the industry goes far beyond treatments.

Maria shares how she started out straight from college with a mobile beauty kit, built a loyal client base, worked with premium brands like Clarins, and eventually grew her business into a thriving salon with a team, training courses, and a clear reputation for client care.

This episode is such an honest conversation about passion, resilience, confidence, and creating an experience people genuinely want to come back to.

From the importance of ambience and consultation, to growing a team, overcoming self-doubt, and building a business around making people feel good, there is so much in this one for anyone interested in beauty, business, or backing themselves.

In this episode, we talk about:

✨ How Maria started her beauty career straight from college
 ✨ Building a loyal client base through mobile treatments and word of mouth
 ✨ Working for Clarins and how that shaped her confidence and standards
 ✨ Why skincare matters just as much as makeup
 ✨ Treatments like microneedling, facials and bridal beauty prep
 ✨ The importance of ambience and creating a client experience
 ✨ Why the beauty industry needs more support between qualification and real salon work
 ✨ Growing a salon team and creating consistency in service
 ✨ How passion and care create returning clients
 ✨ The stigma around beauty as a career and why it deserves more respect
 ✨ How difficult experiences can shape your drive and resilience
 ✨ Why understanding your “why” matters when starting a business

About Maria:

Maria Young is the owner of The Serenity Suite, based at Bells Hotel in Coleford, Forest of Dean.

With over a decade of experience in beauty, massage, skincare and salon management, Maria has built a business centred around client care, ambience, and helping people feel good in themselves. Alongside running a successful salon and team, she is also developing online beauty courses to help support and elevate others entering the industry.

Listen if:

This episode is for you if you’re building a business, working in beauty, or want to hear a real story about how passion, consistency and care can create long-term success.

It’s also a brilliant listen if you’ve ever underestimated the skill, emotional intelligence and business thinking that goes into the beauty industry.

Connect with Maria:

Instagram: @the_serenitysuite
Training: Pamper Perfection Beauty Courses - @pamperfection.beauty.courses
Guest: Maria Young - @maria_young_
Location: Bells Hotel, Forest of Dean

Send us Fan Mail

Follow Built By Her

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builtby_her
🎟️ Events & Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/114520957181

Join the community, come to an event, and be part of the conversations beyond the podcast.

🎙️ Hosted by Georgina McDonald founder of G R Design Studio

🌐 Website: https://www.grdesignstudio.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g_r_designstudio

🎧 Produced by Richard Lannen at Nozzle Media
🌐 https://nozzle.media
📸 https://www.instagram.com/nozzlemedia

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone building something of their own.

What if building a business didn’t come down to doing more… but to doing the right things, in the right way, with enough time to let them work?

In this episode of the Built By Her Podcast, Georgie sits down with Verena, founder of Fox and Doe, a private lash studio based in Cheltenham, to talk about building a business with intention, clarity, and self-trust.

With a background in finance and project management, Verena’s route into the beauty industry wasn’t the obvious one. But what she’s built is a brilliant example of how creative businesses can thrive when they’re rooted in strong systems, thoughtful positioning, and a really clear understanding of what makes them different.

From launching a bespoke lash studio alongside a corporate career, to navigating the silence that can come at the start of any business, Verena shares a refreshingly honest look at what it takes to grow something slowly, strategically, and in a way that actually aligns with who you are.

This is a real conversation about momentum, perfectionism, visibility, marketing, and learning how to focus on the things that are actually in your control.

In this episode, we talk about:

✨ Building a business alongside a full-time corporate role

✨ Moving from finance and project management into the beauty industry

✨ Why simple systems and clear priorities matter so much

✨ How to stay focused when growth feels slow at the start

✨ Letting go of perfectionism and taking action faster

✨ Why social media doesn’t have to be your whole marketing strategy

✨ Finding ways to market your business that actually suit your strengths

✨ The importance of testing ideas and failing quickly

✨ Giving your business enough time to breathe before judging it too soon

✨ Creating a client experience that feels personal, safe, and genuinely bespoke

✨ The thinking behind Fox and Doe’s facial mapping approach

✨ Why consultation, trust, and lash health sit at the heart of the service

About Verena:

Verena is the founder of Fox and Doe, a private lash studio in Cheltenham offering bespoke, natural lash enhancements with a strong focus on client care, consultation, and thoughtful design.

With a background in finance and project management, she brings a unique blend of structure and creativity to her business — combining high standards, clear systems, and a personalised approach to create an experience that feels both luxurious and considered.

Her work is rooted in the belief that beauty treatments should feel collaborative, calm, and tailored to the individual,  helping clients feel like the best version of themselves without overpowering what’s already there.

Website: foxanddoe.co.uk
Instagram: @foxanddoe.lashes

Send us Fan Mail

Follow Built By Her

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builtby_her
🎟️ Events & Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/114520957181

Join the community, come to an event, and be part of the conversations beyond the podcast.

🎙️ Hosted by Georgina McDonald founder of G R Design Studio

🌐 Website: https://www.grdesignstudio.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g_r_designstudio

🎧 Produced by Richard Lannen at Nozzle Media
🌐 https://nozzle.media
📸 https://www.instagram.com/nozzlemedia

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone building something of their own.

What if the difference between a property sitting on the market… and selling for a higher offer… came down to how it’s presented?

In this episode of the Built By Her Podcast, Georgie sits down with Sarah Bevan, founder of The Home Staging Service, to talk about the strategy behind staging homes  and how it’s helping developers, landlords and homeowners sell faster and for more.

Sarah shares how she turned what started as a side hustle into a growing business, after taking the leap from a corporate career and backing herself to build something she genuinely loves.

From her very first project selling within two weeks, to building momentum through networking, referrals and saying yes to opportunities, this is a real, honest conversation about what it actually takes to grow a business.

In this episode, we talk about:

✨ What home staging really is (and why it’s more than just making a home look nice)

✨ Why empty or poorly presented properties struggle to sell

✨ The psychology behind how buyers view and connect with a space

✨ The difference between home staging and interior design

✨ Working with developers, landlords and homeowners

✨ Why staging can be more cost-effective than dropping the price

✨ Building a business from a side hustle

✨ The reality of the first year (and finding momentum)

✨ The power of referrals, networking and putting yourself out there

✨ Balancing business growth with family life

About Sarah:

Sarah Bevan is the founder of The Home Staging Service, helping property owners maximise value and sell faster through strategic staging.

From fully furnishing empty homes to transforming tired rental properties and designing serviced accommodation spaces, her work combines creativity with commercial thinking to deliver real results.

Her approach is energetic, practical, and results-driven,  focused on helping properties stand out in a competitive market.

Website: thehomestagingservice.com

Instagram: @thehomestagingservice

Send us Fan Mail

Follow Built By Her

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builtby_her
🎟️ Events & Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/114520957181

Join the community, come to an event, and be part of the conversations beyond the podcast.

🎙️ Hosted by Georgina McDonald founder of G R Design Studio

🌐 Website: https://www.grdesignstudio.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g_r_designstudio

🎧 Produced by Richard Lannen at Nozzle Media
🌐 https://nozzle.media
📸 https://www.instagram.com/nozzlemedia

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone building something of their own.

What you wear can shape far more than your outfit for the day, it can influence your confidence, your mindset, and how you show up in work and life.

In this episode of the Built By Her Podcast, Georgie sits down with Liz from i-personal Styling to talk about personal style, the emotional connection we have with our wardrobes, and why getting dressed is about so much more than clothes.

Liz shares how she built her styling business after a successful corporate career in marketing, and how dressing for the role she wanted helped her grow in confidence and work her way up to marketing director. Together, Georgie and Liz explore the realities so many women face when it comes to their wardrobes from overflowing rails and decision fatigue to body changes, confidence dips, and feeling disconnected from your style.

This episode is a really honest and practical conversation about how style can support ambition, self-worth, and the way we move through the world.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why so many women struggle with what to wear every morning
• The link between clothing, confidence and performance
• Dressing for the role you want
• How personal style impacts how you show up in business
• The difference between fashion trends and true style
• Finding your style personality and dressing in a way that feels like you
• How body changes, motherhood, age and life transitions affect what we wear
• Why wardrobe overwhelm often has more to do with identity than clothes
• The mindset shift from corporate life to running your own business
• Liz’s advice for women who want to feel more confident in what they wear

About Liz:
Liz is the founder of i-personal Styling, where she helps men and women feel more confident in what they wear by understanding their colours, body shape, style personality and wardrobe choices. Her work is about much more than fashion, it’s about helping people dress in a way that reflects who they are and supports where they want to go.

Listen if:
This episode is for you if you’ve ever stood in front of a full wardrobe and felt like you had nothing to wear, if you’re moving through a new season of life or business, or if you want to feel more confident, polished and like yourself again.

Connect with Liz:
Website: i-personalstyling.co.uk

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Follow Built By Her

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builtby_her
🎟️ Events & Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/114520957181

Join the community, come to an event, and be part of the conversations beyond the podcast.

🎙️ Hosted by Georgina McDonald founder of G R Design Studio

🌐 Website: https://www.grdesignstudio.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g_r_designstudio

🎧 Produced by Richard Lannen at Nozzle Media
🌐 https://nozzle.media
📸 https://www.instagram.com/nozzlemedia

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone building something of their own.

In this episode of the Built By Her Podcast, Georgie sits down with Jessica, founder of Your Village a coaching programme designed to support women returning to work after maternity leave.

As a mum of four and someone who has lived the reality of returning to work after having children, Jessica shares why she started the business, the gaps she saw in support for working mums, and why the return-to-work phase can feel just as big as the transition into maternity leave itself.

Together, they talk about the confidence wobbles, identity shifts, mental load, childcare pressures and emotional challenges so many women face when stepping back into work and why businesses need to do more to support them. Jessica also explains how her coaching works, why community is such a powerful part of the process, and how better support can help businesses retain brilliant women.

They also dive into Jessica’s own journey of launching a business while raising young children, the reality of juggling motherhood and ambition, and why finding your village matters so much.

This is an honest, thoughtful conversation about motherhood, work, confidence, community and creating a way of working that actually supports women.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Returning to work after maternity leave and why it can feel so overwhelming
• The confidence, identity and mindset shifts that happen after becoming a mum
• Why businesses need to better support women before, during and after maternity leave
• How coaching can help women advocate for themselves and move forward with clarity
• The power of community and connection for working mums
• Starting a business while raising a family
• Why women need a village in both motherhood and business

This episode is a really honest conversation about motherhood, ambition, support and building a life and career that works for you.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow Built By Her

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builtby_her
🎟️ Events & Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/114520957181

Join the community, come to an event, and be part of the conversations beyond the podcast.

🎙️ Hosted by Georgina McDonald founder of G R Design Studio

🌐 Website: https://www.grdesignstudio.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g_r_designstudio

🎧 Produced by Richard Lannen at Nozzle Media
🌐 https://nozzle.media
📸 https://www.instagram.com/nozzlemedia

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone building something of their own.