Reclaiming Bossy

On todays episode of the Empower Sounds podcast we are joined by Two Chicks: Anna Richey and Alla Ouvarova. Anna and Alla talk us through their journey of starting their business, creating a new market for a product that didn’t exist in the UK, scaling their business and the challenges they faced along the way. They also discuss the importance of networking and mentoring by sharing the story behind why and how they established the “Two Chicks Empowerment Fund” and the “Future Female Entrepreneurship Network”

Their long-lasting partnership highlights the importance of effective collaboration, a theme which the two chicks explore, highlighting how their complementary skills have allowed them to successfully navigate the ups and downs of their business journey.

They also discuss how they identified a new market opportunity with their products and the effort it took to establish their niche. Diving into the challenges of educating customers about a product which didn’t exist before, Anna and Alla highlight how to innovate effectively.

Alongside discussing the creation of a market and a product, the Two Chicks relay how they scaled their business and made their products well known throughout the UK. The unveiled the difficulties of this process, especially in regards to raising capital since in the UK, women only get 2% of the venture funding available. Alongside discussing the difficulties of gender inequalities in entrepreneurship the Two Chicks shared how they overcame these obstacles and ultimately succeeded.

On the theme of combatting inequalities in business and entrepreneurship, the Two Chicks share how and why they stared the Future Female Entrepreneurship Network and the Two Chicks Empowerment Funds, going to schools to educate young girls , starting mentorship schemes, hosting pannel discussions, networking events and so much more. The upcoming Two chicks event is on the 25th, to get involved follow @twochicksffe on instagram and TikTok.

Some of the key themes and takeaways of todays conversation include:

• How to have effective business partnerships
• How anyone can start a business
• Gender inequalities in investment and business
• How mentors can help level up your career
• The value of networking
• How to scale and grow a business and a market

Tune in to learn more and listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and all other major streaming platforms.

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For episode 7, the halfway mark of Season One of the Empower Sounds podcast, we are joined by Rubina Pabani, Co host of the Brown Girls Do it Too Podcast.

Brown Girls Do It Too is “fierce, funny and frank podcast” that touches on sex and all the stigmatised topics that are taboo in the South Asian community. The podcast has amassed a large following for its fresh and candour content, resulting in it winning the ‘Best Podcast of the Year’ at the British Podcast Awards in 2020.

Rubina shares her journey to where she is today, revealing what she wanted to be when she was younger, and how production, film and writing has always been a passion of hers. She also discusses her diaries from her adolescence reflecting on what she advice she would give her younger self and advice she gives to other young women listening in. She also details several anecdotes from her younger years and touches on her love for creativity which is touched her life in a myriad manner.

When discussing her younger years Rubina also reflects on her education around sex and how it was limited. She highlights what she wish she learnt sooner whilst also being transparent about how learning as she went along served her well. When talking about sex education, Rubina advocates for better resources in schools, curriculums and online so that young people can have the support she lacked.

In the theme of passing down ideas and education, Rubina talks about how her journey into motherhood has really emphasised the need to pass down positive attitudes towards sex to her son. She emphasises the need to teach him about consent and boundaries in the bedroom. Alongside passing down healthy mindsets towards sex and his body Rubina discusses what themes she wants to pass down to her son from the South Asian community, ensuring that he doesn’t feel the shame around being brown.

Touching on this idea of stigma Rubina elaborates on her experiences of shame as a south asian women in society, in sexual relationships and also in the podcasting industry which is dominated by cis-gender, straight, white men. She details how she has made steps to over come this stigma, also highlighting the work she has done to eradicate personal prejudices and embracing herself and community. She also shares how she has addressed hate and responded to online trolls, ensuring that her podcast creates an inclusive and safe community for herself and her listeners.

When talking about her journey, alongside sharing the challenges and learnings she has faced along the way, Rubina highlights the ,milestones and all the exciting moments. This includes the Brown Girls Do It Too live show, which was premiered at the London's prestigious Soho Theatre and subsequently toured the UK.

Some of the key themes and takeaways of today's conversation include:

• What Rubina wish she learnt about sex growing up
• The best way to learn about sex
• How to stop caring what others think and follow your own path
• The importance of challenging stigmas
• What ideas around sex and culture should mothers pass down to their children
• How we can learn from our friends and colleagues
• Rubin’s three most important values for a healthy life

Tune in to learn more and listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and all other major streaming platforms.

Follow Brown Girls do it too on social media @browngirlsdoittoo

And listen to the podcast on BBC at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p08k5cp0, or type in “Brown Girls Do it Too” into all streaming platforms.

Follow Rubina at @rubinapabani

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Todays episode of the Empower Sounds podcast is all about realities of taking over the family business and navigating all the challenges that come with it…

Laura Cooper-Jackson is the Managing Director of I-Signs, one of the Uk’s leading Manufacturers. She shares her journey of becoming MD and how her career ambitions and prospects changed, with her originally wanting to be a midwife, then eventually working in Dubai for Harpers Bazaar to then changing industry and working manufacturing and running the family business.

Whilst Laura shares her how she ended up on her path, she emphasise the need to create your own detailing how instead of following the traditional route she left college early and moved to Dubai to start working. By accepting that higher education is not the only route, and choosing something more unconventional, she provides insight into how she dealt with resistance from her peers and managed to stay true to her own vision.

Although running the family business was not originally, in the plan Laura conveys her motivations for choosing to change career and the process of doing so. She discusses how she overcome imposter syndrome, learnt about a new industry, and how she was able to grow and scale the business even during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Alongside providing insight and advice on the this, Laura relayed how to manage the burnout associated with entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of boundaries in the workplace. She also discusses the importance of boundaries in the family when running a family business and the realities of combining business with pleasure.

Regarding family, Laura also shares her journey into motherhood and how it has influenced her as a Managing Director. She confesses how she was initially naive about the difficulty of being a parent and juggling motherhood with business. However she provides advice and inspiration to other working moms as to how to incorporate balance and how motherhood has made her a more empathetic boss highlighting how every employee is an extension of the Cooper family.

Some of the key themes and takeaways of todays conversation include:

• The importance of creating your own path and not conforming what other people expect of you
• The process of changing industry and careers
• Navigating boundaries with family and colleagues in the workplace
• Finding balance between working and making time for rest
• The process of modernising the family business
• How to overcome imposter syndrome
• The “firm but fair” management style
• How to ensure feels like a family but works like a business

Tune in to learn more and listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and all other major streaming platforms.

To learn more about I-Signs Visit: https://isignsgroup.co.uk/

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On todays episode we are joined by Saloni, singer-songwriter who has created music that has been featured in the Rolling Stone, BBC Asian Network and many more with her music including 10 languages.

Saloni shares how singing is not only her profession, but her true passion, detailing her journey into making it in the music industry overcoming its associated challenges and competition. A big part of this is overcoming self doubt and navigating criticism from others, a continuing exercise that Saloni touches on.

She also explores the importance of cultural and linguistic representation and diversity in music. Her use of 10 various South Asian languages across her several tracks exemplify this by bringing visibility to the richness and variety of South Asian cultures. Nee Gundellounna, her most recent track perfectly demonstrates this combining, Telugu and Bangla- which have never been fused in such a way.

Alongside celebrating South Asian culture in her music, Saloni talks about incorporating South Asian elements in her music videos through clothing, jewellery and other items and combining them with western elements so that they resonate with both audiences and the many people that associate with both cultures simultaneously.

Saloni also emphasises the importance of community in her journey, mentioning the greatest influences in her life and career and sharing the value of creating a support network to guide you through your endeavours.

Some of the key themes and takeaways of todays conversation include:

• How Saloni got started in the music industry
• How singing as a passion became a profession as well
• Overcoming the stigma of being South Asian and celebrating it through music
• How to have a healthy voice and the routines of a professional singer
• Saloni’s dream collaborations and career milestones
• The value of creating a community as an artist and individual

Tune in to learn more and listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and all other major streaming platforms.

Follow 'Saloni' on Spotify , @saloni_music on instagram and her website https://www.salonimusic.com/

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On todays episode of the Empower Sounds podcast, we are joined by Jill Pay.

Jill is a remarkable woman who has made significant contributions in various fields. She holds an impressive list of achievements, including being the first female to be appointed as Serjeant at Arms in the House of Commons In 600 years, developing the security strategy to ensure the personal safety of the 3,500 people who work in Parliament and the million visitors annually, and to protect the asset of the two Houses of Parliament. Additionally Jill serves as the Chair of the Savvitas Senate and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Coram Beanstalk, a children's literacy charity. Alongside these several impressive accomplishments, Jill chairs the Gender Index, an innovative initiative that aims to promote gender equality, by regularly publishing gender data across the UK.

Jill’s details her ‘kaleidoscope career’ touching on her career path which ultimately led her to make history as the first ever female Serjeant At Arms in The House of Commons in 600 years, a role typically reserved for men in military positions. She shares the story of her first job in the House Of Commons and how her prior experience in the private sector aided her in managing her team and work. Discussing the importance of good planning, Jill shares the value of a team who works with aligned and clear goals, giving advice to other managers and leaders on how to unite team members under one mission.

She also emphasises how to combat the feeling of imposter syndrome and gives advice to those suffering with feelings of inadequacy giving her tips on how to challenge negative self belief. Whilst discussing confidence , Jill also talks about compartmentalising stress and anxiety in the work place and how to keep going when times feel tough.

Additionally, Jill shares her passion for reading and literacy, recommending the books that have influenced her core philosophy and her motivations behind volunteering in a children’s literacy charity. She also shares what changes need to made to curriculums to promote young people learning key life skills.

In the spirit of learning, Jill educates us with the value of data, imparting the idea behind the Gender Index, an organisation that she chairs which focuses on supporting women and small businesses to create a more equal future through greater transparency of data. She delves into the importance of data and how the gender index has promoted female entrepreneurs in the UK with its work, sharing what more needs to be done to further progress.

Some of the key themes and takeaways of todays conversation include:

• The importance of enterprise
• How to overcome imposter syndrome
• The importance of literacy for children
• The value of data transparency
• The lonely realities of being at the top of a field
• The challenges of breaking the glass ceiling
• The reality of gender inequality in the economy
• How progress is being made and will continue

Tune in to learn more and listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and all other major streaming platforms.

Follow Jill on Linkdn at Jill Pay, and to learn more about the gender index visit https://www.thegenderindex.co.uk/

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On todays episode of The Empower Sounds Podcast, we are joined by Tia Tatts, Resident Tattoo artist at Reverse Cowgirl Tattoo studios in London. 

Join us for this candid chat about Tia’s journey of becoming an artist and overcoming her struggles as someone who has ADHD. Tia shares her relationship with tattooing and how it has acted as a tool of empowerment in her life acting as her “armour” to fight the struggles she has faced.

She provides insight into the challenges of the tattooing industry both as an artist and as a tattooed individual, highlighting how the stigma around tattooing can be addressed to make society more inclusive to individuals who don’t conform to the norm whether that be tattooed people, neurodivergent people or both.

Tias perspective provides us amazing advice which can be implemented into everyones life regardless of their circumstance or background. 

Some of the key themes and takeaways of todays conversation include:

• The story behind her first tattoo and advice to people wanted to get their first tattoos
• Her personal philosophy around what tattoos mean for self expression and dealing with body insecurities
• How to challenge the stigma associated with tattoos and have conversations with people who are against them 
• The therapeutic influence of tattoos and how they have helped her with mental health struggles
• How having ADHD has influenced her role as an artists and entrepreneur and advice for people to navigate similar struggles 
• Her favourite tattoo that she has given someone

Listen to the full episode to learn more, and follow Tia at @tiatatts and her studio at @reversecowgirltattoo

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Today we are joined by Summaya Mughal, an award winning TV and radio presenter for the BBC, journalist, podcast host and a TEDx speaker.

Recently Summaya undertook the challenge of learning to swim mentored by Olympians Rebecca Adlington and Alice Dearing during the five-part series in a bid to complete her challenge of swimming 500m in open water in 8 weeks, with her journey being documented on a BBC podcast winning the Sports Journalists Associations winner of podcast of the year this year.

In todays conversation Summaya discusses her experiences creating “Brown Girl Can’t Swim” and her journey leading up to it, sharing why she decided to not only learn to swim at the age of 28 but also to broadcast it to the whole world.

After explaining her motivations for Brown girl Can’t Swim, she dives into the details about the challenges that she faced whilst learning to swim and creating her podcast, highlighting key challenges that are particularly relevant to the South Asian Community in Britain. 

She also discusses the importance of identifying your natural talents and nurturing them, utilising her passion for performing as an example to illustrate how she has been a performer in several contexts including , plays, television, the radio and most recently a Ted Talk. 

To listen to Summaya's Ted Talk click this link : https://youtu.be/RVgawVXuETs

Summaya also delves into her experiences of creating and delivering a ted talk and how sharing the idea of finding and using your gift has changed her outlook on life and her relationships. 

Some of the key themes and takeaways of todays conversation include:

• The journey to self acceptance and embracing who your are
• The importance of being your authentic self 
• How to challenge fears of shame and inadequacy
• The motivation behind starting Brown Girl Can’t Swim and the journey of learning to swim in 8 weeks
• Why there are barriers to learning swimming in the South Asian community were . 6.9% of British Asian women swam once in the last year compared to 80.6% of white British women 
• How to balance your faith, culture and the expectations of others whilst staying true to yourself 
• How to take care of your mental health as a public figure
• Why Summaya gave a ted talk on finding and celebrating your “gift” as an individual 

Tune in to learn more, and follow Summaya at @summaya.mughal on instagram, @summayamughal on twitter, and you can listen to Brown Girl Can’t Swim on BBC sounds. 

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Welcome to the first episode of the Empower Sounds Podcast. For our pilot we are joined by Ava Langridge.

Ava is a climate activist, educator, and founder of “Our Youth for Climate”- a global grassroots education-oriented organization and movement with the mission of empowering young people to use their voices to advocate for systemic change, informing people of the key issues without overwhelming them.

In todays discussion Ava touches on how she incorporates sustainability into her life as a university student, living in university accommodation, highlighting how you can make an impact on an individual level with small choices everyday. She also shares that sustainability is not a black and white issue, but an imperfect practice that can be implemented with small, daily actions.

Whilst these actions involve daily practices they are also centred around education and having climate-conscious conversations. Ava provides advice on how to initiate conversations about climate issues outside the classroom and how to navigate climate conversations with people who don’t care about the issue.

Ava also recognises that constantly thinking about the climate can cause “eco anxiety” and goes advice on how she maintains her mental health to ensure that she can work on addressing climate change without overwhelming herself.

Some of the key themes and takeaways of todays conversation include:

• How one video changed Ava’s life and made her become a climate activist
• How to live sustainably as a student
• The importance of climate education and how to become a climate educator
• The importance of intertwining information with action
• How her passion for football influences her work as a climate activist
• How to have good mental health whilst thinking about climate issues.

Listen to the full episode to learn more and follow @ava.langridge / @ouryouth4theclimate , Ava’s website is : https://ouryouth4theclimate.org/about

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