Baroness Young of Old Scone has held many posts including Vice Chairman of the BBC, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency and Care Quality Commission, Chair of English Nature and is currently Chair of the Woodland Trust.

As a Scottish Labour member of the House of Lords for over 25 years she discusses being at the heart of politics and the ways in which the detailed work on legislation brings change. She also shares a fascinating insight into the routines and organisation of the House of Lords and discusses the different pathways that women can take to move into a career in politics.

TOPICS DISCUSSED

• Childhood and early ambitions
• Growing up in a small-scale rural community in Scotland
• Working in the health service and moving into health politics
• Being active in the Institute for health service management and becoming president
• Moving into work for the environment and the transference of skills
• Twenty-five years in the heart of politics
• Working on detailed legislation and the changes it brings
• The House of Lords being a window into politics as a whole
• The changes to legislation that have meant the most  
• Specialising in areas that you are an expert in and have knowledge about
• The routines of the House of Lords
• Being part of select committees and the in-depth work that is undertaken
• How a self-regulating house works and the Theatre of the House
• Being a woman in the House of Lords and the strong women who are part of the cohort
• The differences between the House of Lords and the House of Commons
• Having varied and mixed representation in the House
• The friendships and social events of the House of Lords
• Appreciating others as different individuals
• There are many groups that span all parties and come together because of the area of interest
• The balance of tradition and keeping up-to-date and modern
• The challenges of working in an old building
• Ways for women to get into politics and the qualities they need from persistence to having a meticulous approach
• Environmental climate change and the changes that can make a difference
• The importance of smarter land use moving forward
• Finding your purpose in life and taking the opportunities in life

BEST BITS

‘Nobody was clear about what you could do with a classics degree at that time it was supposed to be good for helping you to think, so I could have done anything’

‘I transferred what I knew about advocacy, lobbying, campaigning and policy analysis and the rest as they say is history’

‘It’s a bit like war 95% hanging about and 5% exhilaration

‘My environmental and political work all fitted together really well’

‘You can direct findings and be the voice of common sense’

‘There is nothing that gets your blood going more than a really good amendment that has public support and harnessed round the house support’

‘The people you met were stunning and formidable’

‘The House of Lords is much more forensic and civilised but it’s tough we don’t pull any punches

‘The combination of relying on secondary legislation and it not being very effective  is not good and something that needs to be fixed’

‘A lot of people in the Commons don’t value the Lords’

‘There are a lot of people who don’t understand what we do and when there are new leaders you have to train them up in understanding how to use us effectively’

‘We are part of the glue that holds the whole thing together’

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Woman Self Made podcast brings you interviews with hugely successful women from all walks of life – world-renowned business leaders, disruptive entrepreneurs, world-class athletes, self-made multi-millionaires, entertainment and TV personalities. In these conversations, we dive into their unique stories with the aim to deconstruct their secrets for success. We talk about their journeys, ups and down, while distilling along the way the habits, tools, tactics and tips, which you can learn and use.

So, grab your favourite drink and join us every Thursday for open conversations with the most inspiring women talking about building successful businesses, careers and living the lives of their dreams.

ABOUT THE HOST

Marina Bennett had a high-flying international career in strategy and finance, and in 2019 she decided to leave her £300k/year City job to take the entrepreneurial plunge from scratch. She is now a multiple business owner on the way to her first 7 figures. Marina is also a founder of Woman. Self-made. (@womanselfmade.inc) - an online community of confident, ambitious women who want to achieve success and live the lives of their dreams

Jessica Hepburn, adventure activist, award-winning author and arts producer is a leading voice in the UK on fertility and family and in this episode, discusses her inspirational adventures and personal motivation.

Having been unable to conceive following 11 unsuccessful rounds of IVF, she felt (by her own admission) failed by Nature. So, she decided to challenge Nature back and became the first and, so far, the only woman in the world to achieve ‘The Sea, Street, Summit Challenge’: she has swum the English Channel, run a road marathon and climbed Mount Everest. She has become a pioneer in inspiring people to live big and bravely when life doesn’t go to plan, and championing the benefits of going on adventures to improve your physical and mental health. 

TOPICS DISCUSSED

• Early experiences and working in theatre
• Running the Lyric theatre and having a secret life
• The journey of trying to become a mother and a decade of project baby
• Writing about fertility in The Pursuit of Motherhood and discovering a passion for writing
• Deciding to swim the English Channel and writing about it as a healing process
• Becoming the first woman to swim the English Channel, run a road marathon
• and climb Mount Everest
• Writing the book 21 Miles - Swimming in Search of Motherhood, the journey of coming out from 11 rounds of IVF and meeting and eating with 21 inspirational women prior to swimming the channel
• Asking inspirational women if motherhood makes them happy
• The parallels between swimming the sea, climbing mountains and conceiving and carrying a baby
• The profound relationship with nature and its power
• Climbing Mount Everest as a very different experience from swimming the channel
• Seeing the challenges with nature initially as battles to be won
• The intimate and different relationships with the sea and the mountain
• The different relationships and fertility journeys that are now possible
• Working to support early education of the choices available for reproduction
• The importance of family and coming from a feminist family
• Being a parent to your own parents because they have not had the right influences early on
• Future adventures and doing smaller adventures and challenges that bring learning
• Advice on how to set goals and make them happen
• The importance of being brave early on in your life and not waiting to do things
• Taking the first step and how this will lead to the next

BEST BITS

‘I’m best at playing me and to be a good  actress you have to be good at playing other people  so I decided if I wasn’t going to be an actress I’d run a theatre instead’

‘My secret life was that I was trying to become a mother’

‘I became the first woman to have swum the English Channel, run a road marathon and climbed Mount Everest’

‘I’ve used the adventures I’ve been on for activism in the field of fertility and family and I’ve also become an activist for the power of adventure to change your life’

‘It’s part of the human existence that we have sad things’

‘Now I feel in an amazing place in my life and living the best life I’ve ever lived and the sea and the mountains have played a massive part in this, they are my religion’

‘I changed my mind set and then it became about a different relationship’

‘I hope to use my experiences to help other people find their way through the sadness of life with the power of adventure’

‘I can’t imagine that anything else in my life will come in and replace the sea and the mountain as a spiritual presence

‘Our families are fundamental to who we are’

‘If there are things you want to do in life, listen to what your soul and your heart is saying, your heart and soul know the answer and all you have to do is take one step to start’

CONTACT DETAILS
https://www.jessicahepburn.com

ABOUT THE PODCAST
Woman Self Made podcast brings you interviews with hugely successful women from all walks of life – world-renowned business leaders, disruptive entrepreneurs, world-class athletes, self-made multi-millionaires, entertainment and TV personalities. In these conversations, we dive into their unique stories with the aim to deconstruct their secrets for success. We talk about their journeys, ups and down, while distilling along the way the habits, tools, tactics and tips, which you can learn and use.

So, grab your favourite drink and join us every Thursday for open conversations with the most inspiring women talking about building successful businesses, careers and living the lives of their dreams.

ABOUT THE HOST
Marina Bennett had a high-flying international career in strategy and finance, and in 2019 she decided to leave her £300k/year City job to take the entrepreneurial plunge from scratch. She is now a multiple business owner on the way to her first 7 figures. Marina is also a founder of Woman. Self-made. (@womanselfmade.inc) - an online community of confident, ambitious women who want to achieve success and live the lives of their dreams

Kate Strong is an elite athlete and business coach, she is an Iron Lady, a world triathlon champion, a sustainability and environment champion, the founder of a seven-figure hospitality business, an engineer, a public speaker and a performance and leadership coach and in June 2023 she is embarking on a 3 month 3 thousand mile tour of the UK on a bamboo bike

TOPICS DISCUSSED

-   Being yourself and living for you and what you want

-   Training to be a world champion alongside running a business

-   Setting scary goals and achieving them

-   Deconstruction and the creation of micro targets to achieve your goals

-   The 5 key elements (focus, love, journey, passion and inspiration)  as drivers for the achievement of goals

-   Creating a team that you trust and allowing others to see your vulnerability

-   Working towards your North Star every day to get to where you want to be

-   Owning your actions and the joy of the journey to your goal

-   The evolution of desire from the competition with others to competition with self

-   The impact of family and relationships and the importance of connection

-   The upcoming cycle journey, championing the planet and connecting with people who are making a difference

-   Cycling on a bamboo bike and why it’s a visible example of deconstruction and building back up ethically

-   The online platform ‘Climate Games’ engages employees in long-term carbon reduction

-   The next challenge and being drawn to inward journeys of healing

-   Generational trauma and being able to overcome and let go of trauma

-   Climbing Mont Blanc one step at a time and understanding it’s never too late  

BEST BITS

‘To me, sport was joy, sport was pleasure, sport was exploration’

‘You can’t go through an iron man without hurting but it was my reward for all the sacrifice’

‘The goal has to scare you if it doesn’t scare you then it’s not going to stretch you

‘When you are at the point where you feel you are going to fall or break that’s when the magic happens, where the growth is

‘Deconstruct every aspect of the goal and understand each component and who or what can help you to learn and excel’

‘Create a plan and work backwards into micro targets

‘Keep the goal in stone but understand the journey is in sand it will not go to plan’

‘Review every week what went well and what didn’t go well and what you can do differently’

‘There is gold in learning what you can do to support yourself to succeed’

‘Today we are the youngest we will be and it’s never too late to start ‘

‘It’s taken ten long years of work but I love my life there isn’t one element of what I do that doesn’t excite me’

CONTACT DETAILS

https://katestrong.global/

https://www.instagram.com/katestrong01/

ABOUT THE PODCAST
Woman Self Made podcast brings you interviews with hugely successful women from all walks of life – world-renowned business leaders, disruptive entrepreneurs, world-class athletes, self-made multi-millionaires, entertainment and TV personalities. In these conversations, we dive into their unique stories with the aim to deconstruct their secrets for success. We talk about their journeys, ups and down, while distilling along the way the habits, tools, tactics and tips, which you can learn and use.

So, grab your favourite drink and join us every Thursday for open conversations with the most inspiring women talking about building successful businesses, careers and living the lives of their dreams.

ABOUT THE HOST
Marina Bennett had a high-flying international career in strategy and finance, and in 2019 she decided to leave her £300k/year City job to take the entrepreneurial plunge from scratch. She is now a multiple business owner on the way to her first 7 figures. Marina is also a founder of Woman. Self-made. (@womanselfmade.inc) - an online community of confident, ambitious women who want to achieve success and live the lives of their dreams

Sharon Lechter is a 5x New York Times best selling author and a co-founder of the Rich Dad Poor Dad company, talks about her amazing journey, gives her top 3 money tips and reveals the mathematical formula of one’s personal success!

TOPICS DISCUSSED

What makes an entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs serving a need and solving a problem

Becoming an entrepreneur

Being a Founder and CEO of Rich Dad Poor Dad

Working with Napoleon Hill Foundation

The connection between success and power of association

Power of association and who you have in your team and bring in to an organisation

Taking action every day to make a difference

Building assets to grow wealth

Men and women approaching the steps to success differently

The formula of passion, talent, power of association, and team combined with action and faith

Personal Success Equation

The mindset of the truly successful entrepreneur

Being an employee and becoming rich

Top 3 money tips

Secrets of a happy 40-year long marriage

BEST BITS

‘Entrepreneurship was really where I wanted to be and its where I still am

‘People still come up to me and talk about the impact Rich Dad had on their lives, it

impacted on people at a very strong level’

‘You can be an employee and still become rich, your personal balance sheet is your business and you can build a basis of financial strength that can become generational wealth’ ‘Women look more at success, not as money in the bank, but as impact  significance’

‘True success comes from passion plus talent along with power of association, the right people on your team and taking action and all of this also needs faith’

‘The rich don’t work for money they build assets but it’s a message that most of the population don’t understand, they’ve been taught to be employees to get a job’

‘The steps to success are the same for men and women we just approach them very differently’

ABOUT THE GUEST

As an entrepreneur, international speaker, best-selling author, mentor, philanthropist, licensed CPA for 35 years and a Chartered Global Management Accountant, Sharon Lechter is the premier expert for financial literacy and entrepreneurial success.

A lifelong education advocate, in 1989, Sharon joined forces with the inventor of the first electronic ‘talking book’ and helped him expand the electronic book industry to a multi-million dollar international market.

In 1997 Sharon co-authored the international bestseller Rich Dad Poor Dad, and has released 14 other books in the Rich Dad series. Over 10 years as the co-founder and CEO, she built the empire into the world’s leading personal finance brand.

In 2008, she was asked by the Napoleon Hill Foundation to help re-energize the powerful teachings of Napoleon Hill just as the international economy was faltering. Sharon has released three bestselling books in cooperation with the Foundation, including Think and Grow Rich-Three Feet from Gold, Outwitting the Devil and Think and Grow Rich for Women.

Sharon is a highly sought-after mentor and has worked with major brands like Disney and Time Warner and served two U.S. Presidents as an advisor on the topic of financial literacy. Everything about Sharon’s career centers around impacting others to improve their financial IQ, access untapped potential personally and in business, and create their own legacy.

https://sharonlechter.com/

https://www.instagram.com/sharonlechter/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonlechter/

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Woman Self Made podcast brings you interviews with hugely successful women from all walks of life – world-renowned business leaders, disruptive entrepreneurs, world-class athletes, self-made multi-millionaires, entertainment and TV personalities. In these conversations, we dive into their unique stories with the aim to deconstruct their secrets for success. We talk about their journeys, ups and down, while distilling along the way the habits, tools, tactics and tips, which you can learn and use.

So, grab your favourite drink and join us every Thursday for open conversations with the most inspiring women talking about building successful businesses, careers and living the lives of their dreams.

ABOUT THE HOST

Marina Bennett had a high-flying international career in strategy and finance, and in 2019 she decided to leave her £300k/year City job to take the entrepreneurial plunge from scratch. She is now a multiple business owner on the way to her first 7 figures. Marina is also a founder of Woman. Self-made. (@womanselfmade.inc) - an online community of confident, ambitious women who want to achieve success and live the lives of their dreams

Venetia Archer Founder and CEO of Ruuby (www.ruuby.com), an on demand beauty service marketplace is in conversation with Marina and discusses starting her business, being an entrepreneur and how her goal is to change the beauty services space and for Ruuby to become a household name

TOPICS DISCUSSED

• Whether entrepreneurs are born or you can grow into it
• Formative experiences that shape you
• Starting and growing a business and constantly learning
• Finding the right people for your business
• The role of the CEO in solving problems 
• How family influences the work life balance
• Making the first step into a start up
• Market saturation and doing things differently
• Where Venetia’s ideas come from
• Being outside of your comfort zone and learning
• Personal growth and  having mentors for different aspects of your business
• Supporting and mentoring others on their entrepreneurial journey
• Understanding what you really want and going out and getting it

BEST BITS

‘I don’t think people are necessarily born entrepreneurs there are lots of examples when someone sees an opportunity and are well positioned to be involved in it but it’s also a personality trait that the person sees the opportunity and wants to be the one to solve the problem’

‘There was nothing like it for beauty, it  was the business I wanted to start and the life I wanted to live through it’

‘We’ve achieved product market fit, we know what we are doing and  we are changing people’s lives, the way they consume the service and how professionals deliver them’

‘My goal is I want to make Ruby a household name and change the way people consume beauty services’

‘If you initially pursue a side hustle as an entrepreneur you can keep the economic security of your job’

‘Talk about what you are doing with people and call on your contacts to teach you, people are so much more open than you think they are going to be’

‘There is a lot of data that proves how amazing female entrepreneurs are so building success stories makes a difference’

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Woman Self Made podcast brings you interviews with hugely successful women from all walks of life – world renowned business leaders, disruptive entrepreneurs, world class athletes, self-made multi-millionaires, entertainment and TV personalities. In these conversations we dive into their unique stories with an aim to deconstruct their secrets for success. We talk about their journeys, ups and down, while distilling along the way the habits, tools, tactics and tips, which you can learn and use.

So, grab your favourite drink and join us every Thursday for open conversations with the most inspiring women talking about building successful businesses, careers and living the lives of their dreams.

ABOUT THE HOST

Marina Bennett had a high-flying international career in strategy and finance, and in 2019 she decided to leave her £300k/year City job to take entrepreneurial plunge from scratch. She is now a multiple business owner on the way to her first 7 figures. Marina is also a founder of Woman. Self-made. (@womanselfmade.inc) - an online community of confident, ambit

Transformation coach Bolutiwi talks to Marina about helping high achieving women to transform their lives and make a difference and leading lives that they celebrate rather than ones they tolerate.

TOPICS DISCUSSED

• Mind, body, spirit and space
• How to create results
• Awareness as a superpower
• Getting rid or limiting beliefs and certain actions your take that don’t serve you
• The importance of resting and the different types of rest
• The effects of burnout and how to spot it before it’s too late
• Nutritional and exercising tips and tricks
• Being unapologetic about who you are and being confident
• What success means to her
• Leaving bad jobs for better ones
• The power of criticism, negative and constructive
• Dealing and coping with failures
• How you can be successful without being rich
• Her relationship with money

BEST BITS
‘The path to living a life that you celebrate rather than tolerate is; clarity about who you are and what it is you desire, the confidence to actually go out there to be it and do it, and then of course vitality which is so important.’
‘Release what’s no longer serving, change your behaviour and this will produce the results you’re after.’
‘People get stressed about resting, and the important thing about that is that when we do not actively take the time to rest it becomes counterproductive because we become less productive. When we’re less productive we do less with the limited time that we have.’
‘I was operating under the belief that I was my results and I would do anything for those results to be conditioned, perfectionist, perfect. Because of that I invested far too much time, far too much energy working too many hours. Basically, my identity was wrapped up in my job. Because of that I was ignoring everything else. Deep down it was coming from a place of “I’m not enough”.’

ABOUT THE GUEST
Bolutiwi is a philanthropreneur, transformational coach for high achiever women, International speaker, and founder of Magniessence a global movement inspiring women on a mission to make a difference. Her unique path during her 14-year international career at L'Oréal and her experience of burnout gave her a unique perspective of the challenges that women on a mission to make a difference face. Bolutiwi's transformational programs have been attended by thousands of people.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bolutiwi-aiyesimoju-executive-coach-women/
Instagram: @magniessence

ABOUT THE PODCAST
Woman Self Made podcast brings you interviews with hugely successful women from all walks of life – world renowned business leaders, disruptive entrepreneurs, world class athletes, self-made multi-millionaires, entertainment and TV personalities. In these conversations we dive into their unique stories with an aim to deconstruct their secrets for success. We talk about their journeys, ups and down, while distilling along the way the habits, tools, tactics and tips, which you can learn and use.

So, grab your favourite drink and join us every Thursday for open conversations with the most inspiring women talking about building successful businesses, careers and living the lives of their dreams.

ABOUT THE HOST
Marina Bennett had a high-flying international career in strategy and finance, and in 2019 she decided to leave her £300k/year City job to take entrepreneurial plunge from scratch. She is now a multiple business owner on the way to her first 7 figures. Marina is also a founder of Woman. Self-made. (@womanselfmade.inc) - an online community of confident, ambitious women who want to achieve success and live the lives of their dreams.

On this episode of the Woman Self Made Podcast, Marina talks to Healthtech Entrepreneur, Author, Professor at Imperial College Business School and fellow at the Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge, Pam Garside. Pam is also a board member of and advisor to a number of companies and private entities in the public sector and an active angel investor herself as well as the first female chair of Cambridge Angels, a leading UK business angel network.

TOPICS DISCUSSED

• The importance of a good education.
• Getting into technology in health.
• The differences between the public and private sectors.
• What it takes to become a successful business founder.
• What makes a good entrepreneur, for good or bad.
• What sets HealthTech founders apart from an investor.
• Women in the investment and founder spaces.
• The importance of having mentors.
• Her best piece of advice to women applying for jobs.
• What success means to Pam.
• Failures, how to deal with them, and what they taught her.
• Tips and routines to help with success and productivity.
• Managing work/life balance.
• How she would save the NHS and the healthcare sector.

BEST BITS
‘I nearly did a PhD and I’m so glad I didn’t, I wouldn’t have been very good at research as an extrovert, I wouldn’t have been good at it. But I really like teaching young people in the business school in Cambridge because I bring the real world in.’
‘Doctors think they can do everything, they’re very smart people, but some people can’t bear the risk of entrepreneurship, they prefer the comfort of the corporate or public sector environment, which is much more stable..’
‘Apparently, 7% of entrepreneurs are slightly crazy. I would say Elon Musk – hugely talented – Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Richard Branson are hugely successful but on the edge of doing crazy stuff. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. I think entrepreneurs have to deal with their egos quite a lot, but they have to passionately believe in what they do to get them where they want to be.’
‘The “not another one of those” areas at the moment are mental health apps, wellness apps, menopause, fertility, etc. It’s difficult to say those spaces are overcrowded because they are so important. Underserved areas include male infertility and SpermTech (although it’s being better served), and helping to reform public sector services (software).’

ABOUT THE GUEST
Pam Garside has had a career in health care systems and digital health in the UK and internationally and is an angel investor in early-stage health tech companies. She is a Fellow of the Judge Business School of the University of Cambridge and a member of the Investment Committee of Cambridge Enterprise, the technology transfer company of the University. Pam founded and co-chairs The Cambridge Health Network, is Chairman of Cambridge Angels investment group and sits on the board of Crown Place Venture Capital Trust.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pam-garside-9018b55/ 

ABOUT THE PODCAST
Woman Self Made podcast brings you interviews with hugely successful women from all walks of life, world renowned business leaders, disruptive entrepreneurs, world class athletes, self-made multi-millionaires, entertainment and TV personalities. In these conversations we dive into their unique stories with an aim to deconstruct their secrets for success. We talk about their journeys, ups and down, while distilling along the way the habits, tools, tactics and tips, which you can learn and use.

ABOUT THE HOST
Marina Bennett had a high-flying international career in strategy and finance, and in 2019 she decided to leave her £300k/year City job to take entrepreneurial plunge from scratch. She is now a multiple business owner on the way to her first 7 figures. Marina is also a founder of Woman. Self-made. (@womanselfmade.inc) - an online community of confident, ambitious women who want to achieve success and live the lives of their dreams.

On this episode of the Woman Self Made Podcast, Marina talks to actress, writer and social media star Clara Batten whose hilariously witty, self-deprecating comedy sketches have gone viral on TikTok and other social media. She gained a massive following with lots of celebrities joining her in her comic acts. She’s been featured in You Magazine, The Daily Mail, The Sun, BBC Breakfast, and Loose Women, and is now co-writing a TV comedy series and has been invited to act in a Sky Original film.

TOPICS DISCUSSED

• The rise of TikTok during the pandemic and how it became part of her career. 
• Creating comedy sketches.
• Standing out in the creative industries. 
• Having dinner with Carrie and Boris Johnson.
• Her artistic and supportive family.
• How to handle acting auditions.
• Writing and pitching a sit-com for TV and film scripts.
• Finding your niche and succeeding on social media.
• Dealing with internet trolls and negative comments.

BEST BITS

‘TikTok isn’t my full-time job but a lot has come out of it which has given me the income to have a job in the arts.’
‘My friends might say I was funny when we were younger, but I’ve never really given too much of a y’know about what people think, I’m fine with making a bit of a fool of myself and always have been.’
‘I didn’t want to be anyone specific, I just knew I always wanted to act. That was my passion.’
‘I’m really excited about the future, the next decade for me is going to be one of my most exciting ones.’

ABOUT THE GUEST

Clara Batten is an actress and comedian with a large fanbase on TikTok.

TikTok: @clara_batten_

Instagram: @clara_batten_

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Woman Self Made podcast brings you interviews with hugely successful women from all walks of life – world renowned business leaders, disruptive entrepreneurs, world class athletes, self-made multi-millionaires, entertainment and TV personalities. In these conversations we dive into their unique stories with an aim to deconstruct their secrets for success. We talk about their journeys, ups and down, while distilling along the way the habits, tools, tactics and tips, which you can learn and use.

So, grab your favourite drink and join us every Thursday for open conversations with the most inspiring women talking about building successful businesses, careers and living the lives of their dreams.

ABOUT THE HOST

Marina Bennett had a high-flying international career in strategy and finance, and in 2019 she decided to leave her £300k/year City job to take entrepreneurial plunge from scratch. She is now a multiple business owner on the way to her first 7 figures. Marina is also a founder of Woman. Self-made. (@womanselfmade.inc) - an online community of confident, ambitious women who want to achieve success and live the lives of their dreams.

Donna Kennedy, CEO of Donna Kennedy International, explains how every single mental illness or disorder can be overcome, that success is a skill that can be learned, and she gives three actionable steps on how anyone can become confident.

TOPICS DISCUSSED

• Mindset for success
• Success is a skill to be learned
• Simplifying tasks
• Overcoming struggles in life
• Brain training for success
• Surrounding yourself with positive material
• Getting the basic human needs in balance
• Meditation and visualisation
• Get outdoors and active
• Practising gratification
• Helping people to help herself
• Setting up and growing a business
• Dispelling mental health labelling and misinformation
• Simple, actionable steps to confidence

BEST BITS

‘Success is something a lot of people see as a thing that they have to have or wait for, whereas people who are successful don’t have that attitude, success is an outcome of decisions.’
‘You’re always successful, it just depends on how you look at it and what you do and what your outcome is and whether you're working towards or away from it. Success is about making consistent choices.’
‘The past doesn’t exist, the future is only a projection, so all we have is now.’
‘The key to success is blowing out the notions of beliefs and limits and that conditioning you’ve been brought up with and being more adaptable and flexible in your approach.’

ABOUT THE GUEST

Donna Kennedy is a seven times bestselling author, psychologist, mentor and professional speaker who regularly features in national and international media as an expert in the area of personal development. 

Despite challenges endured in her youth, Donna has become a confident successful woman who says yes to life, embraces opportunity and enhances the lives of all who come in contact with her. 

Website: https://www.donnakennedy.com/  

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Woman Self Made podcast brings you interviews with hugely successful women from all walks of life – world renowned business leaders, disruptive entrepreneurs, world class athletes, self-made multi-millionaires, entertainment and TV personalities. In these conversations we dive into their unique stories with an aim to deconstruct their secrets for success. We talk about their journeys, ups and down, while distilling along the way the habits, tools, tactics and tips, which you can learn and use.

So, grab your favourite drink and join us every Thursday for open conversations with the most inspiring women talking about building successful businesses, careers and living the lives of their dreams.

ABOUT THE HOST

Marina Bennett had a high-flying international career in strategy and finance, and in 2019 she decided to leave her £300k/year City job to take entrepreneurial plunge from scratch. She is now a multiple business owner on the way to her first 7 figures. Marina is also a founder of Woman. Self-made. (@womanselfmade.inc) - an online community of confident, ambitious women who want to achieve success and live the lives of their dreams.

Rosie Shephard, the founder of Shephard Communications and The Luxury Communications Council, talks to Marina about her rise to success in the world of luxury PR, about working with King Charles; and she gives her advice on how to build your personal brand.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• I’d mark success as being more about progress than anything. If you’re doing bigger, better, more exciting things, things that fulfil you more than the year before (and there are the financial implications as well) I think you’re always moving towards success and progress. 2022 for Luxury Communications and Shephard Communications has been a successful year, but next year we hope to be even more successful.
• It’s really smart to have a personal brand. Firstly, people buy into people. So, starting with that as one of your fundamental pillars of communication is really important. However, it’s very difficult to have a product or a brand without being a little bit disruptive these days and having a unique point of view. That doesn’t mean what you’re creating has to be unique, but the conversation and your opinions around it has to be.
• The classic misconception of PR is Absolutely Fabulous where they just drank champagne all day, and there are days like that, but in essence it’s essentially about reputation management via the media and how the public, or whoever the target market is, is seeing a person or brand. It’s changed a lot since I’ve been in it, for example social media changed everything.
• Since Covid people are behaving very differently and we’ve had to really watch and adapt to that. I genuinely think the most useful tool in watching public sentiment is the TV show ‘Gogglebox’. It is brilliant – it’s highly entertaining as well and my absolute guilty pleasure – in terms of seeing what’s landing, what they’re reacting to, what people are seeing, it’s the most wonderful spread of different demographics from all over the different parts of the UK. It’s incredibly informative.

BEST MOMENTS

"We did the PR for the Platinum Jubilee for the Royal Family, working with Downing Street and Buckingham Palace. We worked on it for 16 months and it was just so unique, wonderful and exciting.’
‘Hospitality is the thread that runs through my career.’
‘It depends on the objective, but being talked about negatively still shines a light on you, the individual or brand, but obviously there are challenges with that: there’s only so much negativity a brand can take, especially with cancelling culture and trolling.’
‘It’s really, really important to me that we bring other women up and at LCC we do a big part of bringing other women in luxury up.’

ABOUT THE GUEST

Rosie Shephard is a highly influential figure in the luxury world with 16 years of award-winning communications experience. 

Frequently cited as one of the most connected influencers in luxury, Rosie is Founder of the Luxury Communications Council, the exclusive network for luxury brand communication and marketing directors. 

Website: https://shephardcommunications.com/ 

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Woman Self Made podcast brings you interviews with hugely successful women from all walks of life – world renowned business leaders, disruptive entrepreneurs, world class athletes, self-made multi-millionaires, entertainment and TV personalities. In these conversations we dive into their unique stories with an aim to deconstruct their secrets for success. We talk about their journeys, ups and down, while distilling along the way the habits, tools, tactics and tips, which you can learn and use.

So, grab your favourite drink and join us every Thursday for open conversations with the most inspiring women talking about building successful businesses, careers and living the lives of their dreams.

ABOUT THE HOST

Marina Bennett had a high-flying international career in strategy and finance, and in 2019 she decided to leave her £300k/year City job to take entrepreneurial plunge from scratch. She is now a multiple business owner on the way to her first 7 figures. Marina is also a founder of Woman. Self-made. (@womanselfmade.inc) - an online community of confident, ambitious women who want to achieve success and live the lives of their dreams.