Bella Pollen began her career at nineteen as a self-taught fashion designer, founding her own label and becoming one of Britain’s best-known young designers. She later reinvented herself as a journalist and novelist, writing for publications including Vogue, The Financial Times and The Observer, and publishing five novels, among them the bestselling Hunting Unicorns and the critically acclaimed The Summer of the Bear.
Her work has increasingly taken her beyond the worlds of fashion and literature. After first visiting Afghanistan in 2013, she became deeply involved in education for Afghan girls as the cofounder and UK trustee of 30 Birds Foundation, supporting Afghan women and girls through education, mentorship and opportunity.
Bella has followed an instinct for finding possibility in unexpected places. Her story illustrates that even though our lives and careers may not always go to plan, we can use what we learn along the way to achieve more than we ever imagined possible.
We talk about:
- Career reinvention and adaptability
- The importance of resilience and hard work
- Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship
- Lessons learned from success and failure
- The impact of personal values on professional choices
- The significance of community and responsibility
Follow Bella's Work:
- 30Birds Foundation: 30birdsfoundation.org
- Jonah X Projects - jonahxprojects.org
- Bella’s Website - bellapollen.com
Join the Conversation:
Instagram: @myunlikelycareer
Substack: myunlikelycareer.substack.com
© 2026 Unlikely Careers. All rights reserved.