Steer Your Business

Sally speaks with Kate Manton of Baobab Works about her unconventional career path, from studying international business with Japanese to teaching in Japan and then spending more than two decades in market research and operations. The conversation centres on what makes teams work, why many teams quietly underperform, and how leaders can turn difference into a genuine advantage. Kate shares practical ways to spot team misalignment, use a structured team audit, and create the kind of psychological safety that allows healthy challenge and better results. 

Key topics 

• In this episode, Kate Manton explains how a chance decision at university led her into Japanese language study, three and a half years teaching in Japan, and a long career in market research and operations. 
• She shares how a long-held desire to do aid work in Africa helped shape her thinking about purpose, even though her career took a different route for many years. 
• Kate describes the moment three years ago when changing values, a workplace restructure, and the loss of her dad forced her to pause and reassess what she wanted to do next. 
• She introduces Baobab Works and explains how she now works with teams and leaders to help them think, work, and perform better, with an emphasis on impact for the business, the team, and the individual. 
• Kate outlines the warning signs of a struggling team: poor communication, missed opportunities, disengagement, lack of connection, missed goals, wasted time and energy, and talented people starting to look elsewhere. 
• She explains why leaders should regularly audit team health, especially after restructures, mergers, acquisitions, or when a new team has formed. 
• Kate shares her “vibe audit” approach, which looks at how people voice ideas, speak up, interact, believe in each other, execute, and evolve. 
• She discusses Insights Discovery and how understanding communication styles and preferences can quickly shift how people interpret and work with each other. 
• Kate and Sally explore the idea of Ubuntu, meaning “I am because we are,” and how community, interdependence, and shared success strengthen teams. 
• They discuss “positive tension” as a healthier alternative to forced harmony, where people challenge each other constructively while staying anchored in the same goal. 
• Kate points out that teams are not just people employed by the same company - solopreneurs and founders also build teams around them through suppliers, collaborators, and advisors. 

Connect with Kate through her website - https://baobab-works.com/

How to Build a Business People Trust | Kathy Hayman

Sally speaks with Kathy Hayman of Better Mind Better Business about her journey from Citibank and event management to mindset coaching and helping employers address workplace stress.

Kathy explains why mental health, legal compliance, and practical support belong at the centre of business operations—not as an afterthought. In this episode,

Kathy shares how personal and professional setbacks led her to reshape her work around coaching and employer support.

They discuss workplace stress risk assessments, why many small businesses may not know about them, and how Kathy’s membership platform aims to help companies support both managers and employees. 

 Website - Home - BMBB 

Email Kathy - [email protected] 

Nicola Ellwood on leadership, mindset, and why great teams start with self-awareness 

Sally speaks with leadership development specialist Nicola Ellwood about how her career began in double glazing sales and led to decades of coaching, leadership, and mindset work. The conversation focuses on what makes teams high performing, why culture starts at the top, and how fear and resistance shape change in organisations. Nicola also shares how her work extends beyond business into sport and high performance, helping leaders and athletes show up at their best when it matters most. 

Key topics 

• Nicola Ellwood’s career path from English literature graduate to top double glazing sales rep in East Anglia, then into leadership development and coaching 

• The moment she realized genuine curiosity and relationship building were her strengths 

• How working for Dale Carnegie shaped her long-term focus on communication, leadership, and influence 

• Why her consultancy now centres on mindset, personal transformation, and helping the person within the role 

• The kinds of clients she works with, usually director level and above, across sectors 

• Her work with senior leadership teams to align around vision, direction, and high performance 

• Why culture is created from the top and reinforced by leaders and managers 

• The difference between healthy career progression and turnover caused by a poor culture 

• Why resistance to change is often fear, not stubbornness 

• How self-awareness and self-management separate good leaders from high-performing ones 

• Nicola’s closing message that leaders already have the resources they need to achieve what they want 

[email protected] 

Thank you for listening to the Steer Your Business podcast.  I hope you enjoyed the conversation. 

You can view the magazine here and subscribe to the FREE digital magazine here 

We also have a Facebook group – Steer Your Business Port – which you can join here. 

From corporate to entrepreneurship with Emily Dorschler of NurtureWorks 

Sally speaks with Emily Dorschler of NurtureWorks about her squiggly career path from drama graduate and hospitality leader to training, consultancy, and finally business owner. The conversation focuses on what changes when women leave corporate, why early-stage entrepreneurs need mindset support before they build the visible parts of a business, and how to stop thinking like an employee.We discuss identity, self-worth, money blocks, visibility, and why experimentation matters more than perfection in the first months of business. 

Key topics 

• Emily shares how a drama degree led to hotel events, global hospitality, and senior leadership  

• We discuss the value of a “squiggly path” and why trying different roles can clarify what you do and do not want. 

• Emily explains how supporting a community of around 3,500 practitioners helped her discover she was strong at advising people, not just managing operations. 

• She describes the accidental path into virtual assistant and operations support work, and why it felt too disconnected from the people element she really wanted. 

• Emily introduces NurtureWorks and her focus on women leaving corporate who are still thinking like employees. 

• We discuss the “corporate hangover” - the habits, expectations, and people-pleasing patterns that follow people out of salaried roles. 

• Emily breaks down the early mindset work around identity, self-worth, money, selling, and visibility. 

• She argues that websites, branding, and social media strategy are not the first step, because early-stage founders need clarity before polish. 

• Emily stresses that small business ownership is hard, but community, alignment, and experimentation make it far more sustainable. 

Emily Dorschler

Consultant, Coach & Mentor

E: [email protected]

W: https://nurtureworks.uk

T: 07440 667268

Timestamps 

(00:21) Drama degree, hospitality, and the first squiggly career moves 
(01:46) Moving to Spain and staying for four years 
(02:42) The service mindset that shaped Emily’s career 
(03:11) Global events, senior hospitality leadership, and training consultancy 
(04:08) Supporting a 3,500-person practitioner community 
(05:24) Leaving corporate and the first move into self-employment 
(06:47) Why operations support did not feel like the right long-term fit 
(08:10) Coming back to the original mission of helping people 
(09:06) Why pivoting and experimenting are essential in business 
(10:24) What NurtureWorks does and who Emily helps 
(11:12) The “corporate hangover” and leaving employee thinking behind 
(12:08) Identity, self-worth, and redefining value outside a salary 
(13:33) Money blocks, selling, and visibility fears 
(14:30) Why mindset work comes before a website 
(16:24) Why Emily works with clients in the first three to six months 
(18:04) Choosing the right visibility channel and getting comfortable through repetition 
(18:58) Early-stage experimentation and why small audiences reduce the fear 
(20:09) Pressing send on the first newsletter and learning nothing terrible happens 
(21:14) Writing from the heart instead of using AI-generated content 

Embracing Growth and Balance: Lessons from Sport and Business 

In this episode, Dave Christie from Flourish Foundry shares insights on how principles from sports can shape successful business strategies. Discover how balancing effort, reflection, and strategic planning can lead to sustainable growth and avoid burnout. 

Key topics 

• The parallels between teamwork in rugby and business collaboration 

• The importance of focusing on survival before aiming for growth 

• Strategies for managing energy and avoiding burnout 

• The significance of taking intentional pauses for reflection 

• How to identify the right clients and opportunities to grow sustainably 

• The concept of ‘being fired’ as a true measure of coaching success 

• Managing information overload and finding your personal navigation system in business 

• The importance of empowering clients and knowing when to let go 

• Strategies for small businesses to stay resilient in changing markets 

• Practical tips for integrating reflection and self-care into busy schedules 

• Enjoy learning how to leverage sports strategies for business success, embrace balance, and empower yourself and your clients to thrive independently. 

Timestamps: 
00:00 - Introduction to Dave Christie and his background 
00:21 - Early life lessons on work ethic from childhood jobs 
01:19 - Insights from playing team sports and lessons on teamwork and adversity 
02:18 - Linking sports strategies with business growth and challenges 
02:43 - The importance of understanding league shifts in sports as a metaphor for business levels 
03:12 - The need to focus on survival at new levels and gradual progress 
04:24 - Managing energy, avoiding burnout, and the importance of recovery 
05:02 - The mental and physical benefits of taking breaks and pauses 
05:45 - Overcoming guilt associated with taking time off for self-care 
06:36 - The significance of recovery and focus for productivity 
07:29 - The impact of gradual decline in energy levels and the importance of protection through reflection 
08:18 - Recognizing the dangers of external overwhelm and infobesity 
09:02 - Strategies for clarity and filtering information overload 
09:48 - Finding your unique approach and not succumbing to ‘infobesity’ 
10:54 - The importance of having a personal compass to navigate business decisions 
12:10 - Recognizing the pitfalls of overcommitment and opportunities that aren’t right 
13:09 - Practicing selective collaborations and understanding client fit 
14:30 - Protecting time for reflection and strategic re-evaluation 
16:34 - Why treating your business like a marathon and not a sprint is vital for long-term success 
17:13 - The goal of coaching to empower clients to become self-sufficient 
19:31 - The philosophy of ‘being fired’ - coaching success as client independence 
20:13 - The importance of knowing when to step back and let clients lead their journey 
21:42 - Closing thoughts and connecting with Dave for further insights 

Read more about Dave's work in Steer Your Business magazine

Flourish Foundry — More progress. All in. | Flourish Foundry 

From Military Roots to Mind Mastery: Unveiling Leadership and Personal Transformation with Ben Price 

Discover how a military background, including interviewing a suicide bomber, shaped Ben Price’s approach to mental mastery, leadership, and coaching. This episode explores the importance of mindset, identity, and authentic relationships in personal and business success. 

In this episode: 

• Ben Price’s unique journey from military intelligence to coaching leadership 
• Insights into brainwashing, identity, and mental resilience 
• The power of mastering the six inches between your ears 
• The impact of mindset on business decisions and team dynamics 
• The significance of wilderness retreats for leadership development 
• Building authentic relationships through vulnerability and shared experiences 
• How regulation of the nervous system enhances leadership capabilities 
• The value of collaboration and integrity in coaching and business growth 

Thank you for listening to the Steer Your Business podcast.  I hope you enjoyed the conversation. 

 You can view the magazine here and subscribe to the FREE digital magazine here 

We also have a Facebook group – Steer Your Business Port – which you can join here. 

 
Resources & Links: 

• Ben Price Coaching (website) 
• Ben Price on LinkedIn 

Russell Harvey 

Most leaders stumble into resilience without truly understanding what it takes—until now. Russell Harvey, the resilience coach, reveals the surprisingly simple yet powerful framework that transforms not just your leadership but your entire organisation.   

In this episode, Russell shares how a traumatic exam experience led him to explore human behaviour and resilience, ultimately shaping his approach to leadership. 

Discover the story behind the resilience wheel—seven key aspects that you can apply personally, to your team, or across your organization to thrive in chaos.  

You’ll learn how using a diagnostic tool helps leaders identify if they’re just surviving, coping, or truly thriving - and what it takes to get there. 

We break down practical tactics like articulating your leadership purpose, mastering the art of delegation, and nurturing resilience at all levels. Russell discusses how to shift from toxic positivity to authentic optimism and the importance of communication, support, and servant leadership in today's unpredictable world.  

He emphasises that resilience isn’t about avoiding stress but engaging with it consciously, starting from the top. If you’re a leader feeling overwhelmed by change or a manager eager to unlock your team’s potential, this episode is your blueprint for building resilience from the ground up.  

Learn why development is possible for everyone - yes, even those who seem to resist change - and how attitude, self-awareness, and intentional effort create resilient leaders who can navigate any storm.  Whether you're stepping into leadership for the first time or are a seasoned executive, Russell’s insights will challenge your assumptions and provide clear steps to make resilience your competitive advantage. 

Perfect for managers, entrepreneurs, HR professionals, and anyone committed to leading with purpose in a world that refuses to stand still.  

This episode is your invitation to reset how you view resilience—it's not a trait you’re born with but a skill you cultivate. Don’t miss the chance to transform chaos into clarity and stress into strength. Hit play now to become the resilient leader you’re meant to be. 

Why this works: 

For more details, check out Russell’s website - The Resilience Coach – Resilience Coaching for Individuals and Teams 

Thank you for listening to the Steer Your Business podcast.  I hope you enjoyed the conversation. 

You can view the magazine here and subscribe to the FREE digital magazine here 

In this episode, Antonio Fletcher from Eclipse HR shares insights on employment law, HR support for small businesses, and recent legal reforms affecting employment practices. Discover practical advice for managing HR and legal challenges in a changing legal landscape.

Eclipse HR - https://eclipsehr.co.uk 

Whitehead Monckton Law Firm - www.whitehead-monckton.co.uk

Rebecca Lister - Steer Your Business

Steer Your Business

You can view the magazine here and subscribe to the FREE digital magazine here 

We also have a Facebook group – Steer Your Business Port – which you can join here. 

If you’d like to promote your business with a premium directory listing, then please book a space here 

To book a double page article, reserve your space here or, if you’d prefer a single page, reserve your space here 

To book a call with Sally to discuss the magazine or the podcast, please find a suitable time in her diary here. 

Unlocking the Secrets of Effective Credit Management for Small Businesses 

In this episode, Anita Pickersgill shares her expertise on credit control, debt recovery, and dispute resolution - topics often overlooked but crucial for maintaining healthy cash flow in small businesses. Discover practical tips, common pitfalls, and how to build a resilient financial process from the ground up. 

Key topics 

• The importance of credit management and credit control in small business success 

• How to establish clear terms and conditions that prevent disputes 

• Common mistakes in invoice payment terms and how to negotiate them effectively 

• Recognizing the difference between debt recovery and debt management 

• Practical steps to handle disputes quickly and efficiently 

• The role of online platforms and tools in modern debt recovery 

• Building a scalable process for credit management as your business grows 

• The impact of financial literacy and online payment methods on cash flow 

• Legal considerations for verbal vs. written contracts 

• Tips for new entrepreneurs on starting with basic credit policies 

Resources & Links 

• Steer Your Business Magazine Articles 

Connect with Anita: 

• LinkedIn 

Steer Your Business 

You can view the magazine here and subscribe to the FREE digital magazine here 

We also have a Facebook group – Steer Your Business Port – which you can join here. 

If you’d like to promote your business with a premium directory listing, then please book a space here 

To book a double page article, reserve your space here or, if you’d prefer a single page, reserve your space here 

To book a call with Sally to discuss the magazine or the podcast, please find a suitable time in her diary here.