Full of energy, creativity and fun that’s my entrepreneurial guest this week.  An incredible lady who I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know over Instagram during the past year.  Hela Wozniak-Kay tells her story from being a ‘trouble shooter’ to ‘connectress’ and ‘a soul sister’ – as founder of the award-winning business networking club for women ‘Sister Snog’. Already intrigued?  You should be, as she says, ‘it’s time to tell my story’, and I can assure you it’s a colourful one… 

With Tracy

From closet florist, crafty crafter to connectress – time to tell my story…

Talk about storytelling! In this episode I meet a storytelling guru who shares her wonderful colourful story that spans her career, life and future plans.  Now in her 60’s my guest Adrienne Rosen tells us in a witty, informative and warm way how she started out - from doing ‘indentures’ (yes, I know what are those?), facing the challenges of short-hand, to writing a novel, interviewing Poet Laureate Ted Hughes to being kissed by Tom Cruise.  Her journey also took her into the world of business, but the temptation of shopping and the call to write a novel were too strong. Intelligent, funny and open Adrienne chats about all this along with trying to find the courage to publish her novel and finding love.  One episode not to be missed. 

Journalist, lecturer, author – lessons learned and what’s next?

This is a great story of not letting go of that ‘nugget of an idea’ and knowing when the time is right to go for it.  My guest, NavyGrey owner, Rachel Carvell-Spedding talks about how her obsession with knitwear started from the memories evoked by her mother’s favourite jumper. After years of searching and never being able to find one like it she took a decision to start her own knitwear company and make the beloved jumper herself.   A big step and not without its challenges, Rachel chats about steep learnings, her passion for wool and how her journey’s been so far.   NavyGrey has already been featured in Vogue, Harpers, The Sunday Times Style, The Daily Telegraph, Stella, The Financial Times, Red Magazine, to name a few.   

How a favourite jumper inspired a knitwear company…

Starting his entrepreneurial life at the age of 17 my guest has been running his own businesses for nearly 6 decades and yet remains one of the most laid back people I know.  He tells some of his story, (name dropping along the way) on how his business life unfolded and some of the decisions he nearly didn&apos;t make.  Entertaining and interesting join me with Steve Beney owner of Beanie Socks, London.

Roadie turned multi-entrepreneur

This podcast gets a glimpse behind the scenes of a woman whose alter ego is Claudia – ‘Organising Claudia’ in fact, and the name she also gave the company.  Rachel Fox aka Organising Claudia chats about why she did this, why she hates ‘wasting time’, how she became a torch bearer for the London Olympics and explains why her Grandmother says; ‘Rachel is ready to kick you up the arse when you need it’.  This is a wonderful insight into the real world of a start-up; the challenges, dedication and instinct that Rachel’s utilised to launch her own business.  Honest, open and fun, I defy you after listening not to head straight to Organising Claudia and get Rachel to sort you out. 

Discover a lady whose turning chaos into calm, clutter into charm and chores into chilled-out…

This podcast covers the frank and open account of Jack Rivlin’s entrepreneurial journey from setting up a Uni newspaper at Cambridge to becoming CEO of an international news media business. He tells what it was like building a fast paced, dynamic company on both sides of the pond to the challenging realities of selling it.  He created The Tab to provide students, ‘fast news and entertainment direct to their rooms" and that’s exactly what he did.  Gaining investment and a massive social media following success and growth happened quickly - it was all heady stuff.  But this is not a story about plaudits and glory but an insightful and honest interview full of key learnings, throwing a spotlight on questions rarely asked - this an education for any one in business.    

Growing a business to selling it – the hardest challenge of all…

In this episode we hear from Jill Bausch co-founder of Vivepoint, an executive coaching organisation, but that is just a snippet of what she has been up to.  Living and working  across Asia, Africa, North America and Europe her career has been as vibrant and diverse as those countries.  With a MSc in Population and International Development, she’s also a qualified Practitioner in Executive Coaching and been CEO at Futures Group Europe, managing healthcare impact and behaviour change programmes globally.   On top of that she set up VivePoint a business that specialises in talent management and executive coaching, she says to “convert thinking about doing into action”, and currently also sits as a Director for SRI Executive a global Executive Search and Strategy consulting practice.  And guess what I have left out a fair bit so join in the conversation With Tracy and Jill and find out the rest of her story. 

Entrepreneur, academic, coach, CEO – Find out why there’s no stopping this lady…

This podcast charts the career of Laura Dinham a lady who started life as an accountant but thought ‘no’ this is not for me so took off sailing across the Pacific having only ever been out in a dinghy before!  She then spent 2 years ‘yacht hopping’ round the world before becoming a chef on super-yachts.  When suddenly on a trip home she suffered a severe allergic reaction to dairy.  After trying prescribed medication with no luck, she turned to a naturapath which actually worked, so Laura decided to make another career move this time to research and study functional nutrition and lifestyle medicine.  Passing with flying colours her passion grew and she launched Laura Dinham Nutrition.  Another adventure which she has now expanded to include the new Hocatt Ozone therapy travelling around the South of Britain.  Listen and find out more about this incredible woman. 

It All Started at Sea!

There’s magic in the air on this podcast as I talk to Magician and Mind Reader Chris Wall.  Since the age of 10, after watching his first magic show, in his words ‘I immediately knew I wanted to amaze my own audience’.  This kick-started years of learning the art of magic and then just as he had mastered that he decided to add mind-reading to his repertoire.  But turning this kind of dream into a money making business has it’s challenges – reading minds does not equip you to see the future, and suddenly COVID-19 struck just as he was getting up and running.  But like so many he was determined to survive and online was the only option – YES magic and mind-reading over zoom.  Listen to Chris’s story so far and how he is ‘amazing’ his own audiences.

Magic, mind reading and the art of determination

This episode takes us to Canada and a peek into the business journey of female scientist and entrepreneur Raquela Cheemond, owner and creator of Étymologie Skin Care.Combining science with an in-depth knowledge of botanical ingredients and a passion for sustainability this young woman decided she wanted to make a difference by creating products that were not only great for the skin but also kind to the planet.She says: “As a scientist I’m passionate about using research to create effective products made up of ingredients that do not irritate the skin and are safe for the environment. I named the brand ÉTYMOLOGIE because in the same way you can trace the etymology of a word back to its origin, we can trace our products back to the fields, orchards and laboratories who helped create them.Not often you meet someone who really knows what they are talking about but she won’t bamboozle you with science.  Take a listen and find out more.

Scientist turned beauty pioneer

Yay I really lucked out this time:  got to catch up with some old chums who now run the Madame Jennifer Distillery and of course tasting was obligatory - after the podcast in case you are wondering.  My guests started life as a biologist and chemist but inspired by a book and a trip to Amsterdam they decided to put their science skills to new uses – and make gin.  Discovering they had quite different ideas of what makes a perfect gin they launched not 1 but 2: ‘The Chemist’ and ‘The Biologist’ and this proved to be a great business decision.  Listen and find out about their journey so far and how they have expanded their range of products and vision for the future.

How a long-held idea turned into reality - launching a craft distillery.

This episode hears the story of a woman who as a child life was carefree and fun but then suddenly at the age of 13 was struck with a debilitating illness.  This led to many years of struggle and an uphill battle with health issues but amidst all this she hit on an idea that would trigger the launch of Lucy Rose Ltd.  Combining Formula 1 high tech engineering – thanks to her Dad and Dan Fleetcroft from PES Performance - with high-end fashion my guest is pushing the boundaries in every way.  Emily is determined, passionate and on the verge of inventing something amazing that every woman will love.  This podcast will definitely be one of many. ? 

A battle for winning position.

This is a story of surprises, learnings and challenges from the amazing Becky Daley owner of Digital Eaze.  Becoming the owner of a tech company was not on her horizon when extraordinary circumstances threw her a curved ball and almost overnight that is exactly what she became.  Her experience was working for entrepreneurs not being one.  Becky tells a candid tale of why she took up the mantel and what the journey so far, has been like.  This is proof that everyone has their own unique experiences of life in business, listen and find out hers.

Opportunity or challenge? The day I took on a tech company.

Smart, results driven and with a passion for marketing - this is a chat with the upbeat and fun Jane Guest owner of Adaray Marketing.  This exuberant lady has spent her career in marketing working with some serious big hitting brands then she decided to make the jump and set up on her own.  Hear her story about working in the corporate sector and the transition to start out on her own venture. 

Marketing Guru Going it Alone

Where entrepreneurs from start-ups to long-established companies, share their journey, challenges and successes in an informal, friendly, chatty style With Tracy. Either from the comfort of a sofa over a cuppa or at the office during a break. This podcast is about the real people who took the step to build their own business. It's full of interesting, revealing, informative and fun insights plus offers some advice and inspiration - listen to discover whose With Tracy and who knows it could be you.

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