MindStyling for Entrepreneurs

In this Top Tips episode, Amy and Becky reflect on Janine Matho's top tip to entrepreneurs, to stay human as you grow, and share your human stories.

We talk about:

• Crafting your identity and narrative as a founder of a new business
• The shift from the identity a corporate title bestows on you, to being an entrepreneur free to define your own identity;
• The art of painting a compelling picture of something that doesn't exist yet;
• Practising and getting comfortable with sharing our authentic stories;
• Listening to as well as telling stories in order to grow.

About MindStyling
Sign up for the MindStyling Newsletter: https://mindstyling.group/sign-up/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindstylingpodcast/
Instagram:  www.instagram.com/mindstylingpodcast
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/mindstylingpod

Host: Amy Armstrong
Website: https://amyarmstrongcoaching.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyarmstrongcoach/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/amyarmstrongcoaching

Host: Dr Becky Sage
Instagram: www.instagram.com/drbeckysage
Twitter: www.twitter.com/becky_sage
Website: www.beckysage.com

About Janine Matho and ExponentialChangemakers
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jmmatho
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/exponentialchangemakers/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exponentialchangemakers/
Website: https://exponentialchangemakers.com/

McKinsey's Women in the Workforce 2022 report confirms that the "broken rung" of the career ladder for women remains at the first step up to manager.  For every 100 men promoted to their first manager role, only 87 women are promoted, and only 82 women of colour are promoted.

In this episode, Dr Becky Sage and Amy Armstrong hear from Janine Matho, about how she is leading ExponentialChangemakers to address this critical gender gap.  It is a special episode for us, not only because this is an issue close to our hearts, but also because Becky is one of Janine's co-founders.

ExponentialChangemakers is the only global private membership network focused on connecting and supporting women in the first 10 years of their careers.

We discuss:

• The scale and impact of the career dropoff for so many women;
• Why this may be happening and how it can be addressed;
• How important it is to make your strengths visible to both yourself and your employers;
• The power of intent for both career design and life design.

Reflecting on Janine's transition from high-flying corporate leader to early-stage founder, we note:

• The difference between intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship; 
• How to survive corporate burnout; and
• The necessity of transitioning to new ways of working in order to drive business growth from a pre-seed pilot to seed capital and beyond.

Are you an entrepreneur who started their career in the corporate sector?  Have you experienced burnout?  Or perhaps you struggle to identify and communicate your strengths, or are a woman early in your career rethinking your career ambitions.  We would love to hear from you.  Please connect with us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter using the links below and subscribe to The MindStyling podcast.

About Exponential Changemakers
Website: https://exponentialchangemakers.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/exponentialchangemakers/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exponentialchangemakers/

About Janine Matho:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jmmatho

About MindStyling
Sign up for the MindStyling Newsletter: https://mindstyling.group/sign-up/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindstylingpodcast/
Instagram:  www.instagram.com/mindstylingpodcast
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/mindstylingpod

Host: Amy Armstrong
Website: https://amyarmstrongcoaching.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyarmstrongcoach/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/amyarmstrongcoaching

Host: Dr Becky Sage
Instagram: www.instagram.com/drbeckysage
Twitter: www.twitter.com/becky_sage
Website: www.beckysage.com

Supporting resources:
'Women in the Workplace 2022' report by McKinsey & Company
'Visible Strengths' by Mary Mosope Adeyemi

On this Top Tip, Amy and Becky reflect on Vic Forrest's powerful top tip to take a break and be kind to ourselves. 

We reconnect and remind ourselves of:

• The importance of making space for ourselves, in order to help ourselves to keep going, to boost productivity, insight and capacity for wisdom.
• To remember it is the responsibility of a leader to role model this positive behaviour for the sake of our team and our business.
• How taking regular rest breaks is an often forgotten but critical factor of success.

We ask ourselves and listeners what is one small thing I can do to create space for myself today?

About MindStyling
Sign up for the MindStyling Newsletter: https://mindstyling.group/sign-up/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindstylingpodcast/
Instagram:  www.instagram.com/mindstylingpodcast
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/mindstylingpod

Host: Amy Armstrong
Website: https://amyarmstrongcoaching.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyarmstrongcoach/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/amyarmstrongcoaching

Host: Dr Becky Sage
Instagram: www.instagram.com/drbeckysage
Twitter: www.twitter.com/becky_sage
Website: www.beckysage.com

About Victoria Forrest
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriaforrest
VIKA Books Website: https://vikabooks.com
VIKA Books Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vika.books
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vikabooks

We would like to apologise for the variable quality of sound in this episode.

Self-described dyslexic bibliophile, design geek, entrepreneur, and mother, Victoria Forrest is an award-winning graphic designer specialising in book, brand and XR design for The Arts. As founder of VIKA Books, Victoria works at the cutting edge of book design. 

In 2022, Victoria won InnovateUK’s Women in Innovation Award as well as D&AD Future Impact. She’s also Great British Entrepreneur of the Year for Creative Industries and one of the UK’s TechWomen100.

We discuss: 

•The contradictions and tensions in being a creative entrepreneur

•The importance of taking time away to gain perspective

•An overlooked language: British Sign Language and the beauty of learning it

•Tips for slowing down and the power of breath

About Victoria Forrest:

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

VIKA Books Website: https://vikabooks.com

VIKA Books Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vika.books

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vikabooks

About MindStyling
Sign up for the MindStyling Newsletter: https://mindstyling.group/sign-up/
Instagram:  www.instagram.com/mindstylingpodcast
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/mindstylingpod
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mindstylingpodcast
Website: mindstyling.group

Host: Amy Armstrong
Website: https://amyarmstrongcoaching.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyarmstrongcoach/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/amyarmstrongcoaching

Host: Dr Becky Sage
Instagram: www.instagram.com/drbeckysage
Twitter: www.twitter.com/becky_sage
Website: www.beckysage.com

In this week's Top Tip episode, Becky and Amy reflect on Nithya Prabu's recommendation for entrepreneurs and leaders to: 

• Be really clear of your values, purpose and goals;
• Make sure your goals track directly back to your purpose and values; and highlights that, 
• "If your goals are important enough on a spiritual level, the rest are just details."

We discuss:

• How goals should reflect purpose, and purpose be driven by values; and how all too often espoused values aren't reflected in an entrepreneur's or company's behaviours and actions.
• The importance of thinking through practically how your values play out in your business.
• How scaling a business can sometimes result in a mismatch between a founder's values and their team's interpretation of these.
• The power of reflective writing and how it can help you shift your perspective and thinking to build your self-esteem, resilience, and ultimately your wealth.
• How much fun goals are!

Nithya has published a range of books, including motivational poems. From her 2017 collection 'Lionness on Fire', Amy reads the opening to,

'The Universe and You'

You are not inferior. 
You're not negligible.
You are not an excuse.  

You are exclusive. 
You are significant to this world. 

You are an answer to the prayers 
of this universe, for a purpose
which you and you alone 
can accomplish.

The universe wants you,
desires you, demands you
to be here.

That, my love, is the reason
why you are here
in the first place.

Forget what others have 
to say about you.

Fall in love with you,
submit yourself to the universe
as it tries to work its way
through you.

We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we have.  We would love to hear your experiences with values, purpose, goals, reflective writing and any other distinctions you have taken from this podcast. Please connect with us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter using the links below; and subscribe to The MindStyling podcast and newsletter.

About MindStyling
Sign up for the MindStyling Newsletter: https://mindstyling.group/sign-up/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindstylingpodcast/
Instagram:  www.instagram.com/mindstylingpodcast
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/mindstylingpod

Host: Amy Armstrong
Website: https://amyarmstrongcoaching.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyarmstrongcoach/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/amyarmstrongcoaching

Host: Dr Becky Sage
Instagram: www.instagram.com/drbeckysage
Twitter: www.twitter.com/becky_sage
Website: www.beckysage.com

About Nithya Prabu and Lurnable Ltd.
http://nithyaprabu.com/ - discover more of Nithya's poetry and insights
https://www.lurnable.com/ - on a mission to enable international students to make the right educational decisions

Supporting resources:
In this episode Amy references 'Essentialism: the disciplined pursuit of less' by Greg McKEown. (2014, Virgin Books). 

Nithya Prabu is the founder and Managing Director of Lurnable, a data-driven education technology company focused on delivering bespoke international student services.

Nithya describes herself as a misfit and a rebel, who has always been an entrepreneur.  At the same time she is a published poet who has written over 1,200 motivational poems.  

In this warm and wide-ranging conversation, Amy Armstrong and Nithya explore:

• What it means to be an entrepreneur.
• Authentic leadership - you do not have to be cutthroat to be a leader, you can be emotionally connected and vulnerable and be successful.
• Productivity, flexible working, and learning from generation z employees.
• Nithya's deliberate choice to rise above challenges which scare her.
• How Nithya has learnt everything she knows about life and running a business from sport.
• The power of writing to make sense of ourselves and the world.

About Lurnable
http://nithyaprabu.com/ - discover more of Nithya's poetry and insights
https://www.lurnable.com/ - on a mission to enable international students to make the right educational decisions

About MindStyling
Sign up for the MindStyling Newsletter: https://mindstyling.group/sign-up/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindstylingpodcast/
Instagram:  www.instagram.com/mindstylingpodcast
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/mindstylingpod

Host: Amy Armstrong
Website: https://amyarmstrongcoaching.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyarmstrongcoach/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/amyarmstrongcoaching

Host: Dr Becky Sage
Instagram: www.instagram.com/drbeckysage
Twitter: www.twitter.com/becky_sage
Website: www.beckysage.com

In part two of our MindStyling End of Year Special, Amy chats with Becky about her decision to leave Interactive Scientific in 2019.  We reflect on:

• The gifts and challenges of being a start-up CEO
• The unsustainable frenzy of a constant sprint
• Saying no to bad behaviour and toxic relationships
• How do you know when it's time to walk away? 
• Is a graceful landing possible?

For Becky, a trusted mentor, supportive Chair, and compelling Vision Board played important roles in helping her to bring to a close her time at Interactive Scientific, and open the door to a raft of new opportunities.  Which of these are playing a positive role in your life at present?  How have endings brought you gifts over the past year?

About MindStyling
Sign up for the MindStyling Newsletter: https://mindstyling.group/sign-up/
Instagram:  www.instagram.com/mindstylingpodcast
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/mindstylingpod
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mindstylingpodcast
Website: mindstyling.group
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/mindstylingpodcast

Host: Amy Armstrong
Website: www.amyarmstrongcoaching.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/amyarmstrongcoach/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/amyarmstrongcoaching

Host: Dr Becky Sage
Instagram: www.instagram.com/drbeckysage
Twitter: www.twitter.com/becky_sage
Website: www.beckysage.com

As 2021 draws to a close, MindStyling enjoys two end-of-year special podcasts, reflecting on the gifts in endings.

In part one, Amy Armstrong and Dr Becky Sage catch up with Nathalie Alpi to reflect on the acquisition of Cookies HQ.  We discuss:

• Pivoting and purpose
• When pressure is unsustainable and change is necessary
• The value of sleep!
• Creating space for opportunity
• Navigating an exit with values intact
• The challenge of redundancies
• Reconnecting to joy and purpose at work each day

We ask, how can you create hope for yourself in 2022?

If you would like to hear more about Nathalie's experiences, enjoy our first interview with her published on 31 August 2020: 'Nathalie Alpi: Relationships are at the core of everything we do' https://themindstylingpodcast.buzzsprout.com/1032514/5174497


About MindStyling
Sign up for the MindStyling Newsletter: https://mindstyling.group/sign-up/
Instagram:  www.instagram.com/mindstylingpodcast
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/mindstylingpod
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mindstylingpodcast
Website: mindstyling.group

Host: Amy Armstrong
Website: https://amyarmstrongcoaching.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyarmstrongcoach/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/amyarmstrongcoaching

Host: Dr Becky Sage
Instagram: www.instagram.com/drbeckysage
Twitter: www.twitter.com/becky_sage
Website: www.beckysage.com

Guest: Nathalie Alpi
Twitter: https://twitter.com/natalpi
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nat_alpi/

In today's Top Tips episode, Amy and Becky reflect on Kerstyn and Suzi's warning:

"Don't kitchen-sink it: keep it simple. It's all about the problem."

We muse how easy it is as entrepreneurs and instinctive innovators, to try to do everything, and be everything, to everybody.  Instead we think about:

• How to say no, and prioritise effectively.
• Finding the sweet spot where the needs of your customers, the needs of your audience, and your own needs overlap.
• The power of mastery and getting really good at one key area of focus

Amy asks, when you say yes to one idea, what are you saying no to?  The 3 P’s can help you refine your focus and clarity on how to organise your resources:

• Projects: What projects do you need to abandon or postpone? What meetings will you no longer attend? What resources do you need to divert to the yes? 
• People: What expectations do you need to manage? What relationships will be affected? 
• Patterns: What habits do you need to break? What old stories or dated ambitions you need to update? What beliefs about yourself do you need to let go of?

Finally, Becky flags the importance of taking others with you, and nurturing relationships when you implement change.

Do you share our tendency to 'kitchen-sink' it?  How do you get clear on what to say yes to, and therefore say no to, too?  We would love to hear your thoughts and experiences.  Please rate, review, and subscribe to The MindStyling podcast and newsletter.

About MindStyling
Sign up for the MindStyling Newsletter: https://mindstyling.group/sign-up/
Instagram:  www.instagram.com/mindstylingpodcast
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/mindstylingpod
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mindstylingpodcast
Website: mindstyling.group

Host: Amy Armstrong
Website: https://amyarmstrongcoaching.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyarmstrongcoach/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/amyarmstrongcoaching

Host: Dr Becky Sage
Instagram: www.instagram.com/drbeckysage
Twitter: www.twitter.com/becky_sage
Website: www.beckysage.com

About MeeToo, founded by Kerstyn Comley PhD and Suzi Godson
Website: https://www.meetoo.help/how-meetoo-works

Kerstyn Comley PhD and Suzi Godson, soon to be PhD are co-founders of MeeToo, an app that allows people to talk anonymously about difficult things with other people of a similar age or experience. The MeeToo mission is to provide mental help to everyone, everywhere by delivering pre-moderated, anonymous digital peer support which is effective, accessible, cheap, safe and scalable. 

Co-CEO Suzi Godson has been The Times sex and relationships columnist for 16 years and her books have been translated into fifteen languages.

Co-CEO Kerstyn Comley  has twenty years experience in development, product and business management. Before starting MeeToo she founded a successful IT consultancy and co-led a project to open a new Free School.


We discussed:

• Lean methodology and misconceptions around what an MVP is
• The value of going slow whilst you still can
• Getting impact investment
• How writing a book helped their business
• Mental ill health and the impact of COVID on their business

About MeeToo:

Website: https://www.meetoo.help/how-meetoo-works

About MindStyling
Sign up for the MindStyling Newsletter: https://mindstyling.group/sign-up/
Instagram:  www.instagram.com/mindstylingpodcast
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/mindstylingpod
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mindstylingpodcast
Website: mindstyling.group

Host: Amy Armstrong
Website: https://amyarmstrongcoaching.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyarmstrongcoach/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/amyarmstrongcoaching

Host: Dr Becky Sage
Instagram: www.instagram.com/drbeckysage
Twitter: www.twitter.com/becky_sage
Website: www.beckysage.com