The interest in the causation and impact of stress began when Paula’s husband, aged 35, had a heart bypass and she had three children aged under 5; this was at a time when the word stress wasn’t used nor was it recognised as a cause of ill health.  Today’s stress and anxiety levels adversely impact 71% of the work place, not just emotionally and physically.  Chronic stress impairs creativity, clarity, focus and confidence.  What does an entrepreneur need above all else? The ability to duck and weave, to see possibilities and what can be rather than what is.  Stress and anxiety kills that stone dead. Her work enables people to manage their reactions and responses with impressive, measurable results across the board. 

Paula is particularly concerned for the emotional and mental health of children and their increasingly shortened childhood experiences due to the unnatural pressures they face today.

Her message is that any woman can do anything she sets her mind to; all she needs is a catalyst to trigger the change and a need greater than the obstacles. www.paularuane.com

Business Founded: Claire Harvey Leadership

Biography: Claire is a business educator for courageous, determined female entrepreneurs, helping to develop their business knowledge and message, elevating their confidence to take exceptional action, and dream bigger.

Since stepping into the business world, Claire has been focused on building profitable businesses and incredibly curious about the psychology of women and their potential in building successful businesses; wanting to understand more about how women operate in business, why some women struggle with limiting beliefs and self-confidence, while others thrive despite challenging personal or business circumstances.

She is passionate about supporting women to reach their financial goals and step into their power with superior confidence to achieve the best they can be. Whether you’re starting or growing your business, Claire and her team help women to reach their highest level of potential for where they want to be; whether that’s a full-time power house, or a desire to be focused part-time on their business. Claire is focused on making it her clients’ reality, leading them through impartial, actionable and measurable steps to own a profitable, successful business.

Claire’s core belief is that no matter your goal or obstacles, it is YOU who has the power to change your life…with a little support and mentorship from leaders who have walked before you!

Business: Founded Bank Solicitors Limited

Biography: Sobea is the principal solicitor and owner of Bank Solicitors Limited with branches in Redditch, Bromsgrove and Leicester. She started the business in 2008 to provide a more modernised and client lead service to meet their legal needs in her local area. Her practice has gone from strength to strength with the opening of two further branches and the team consists of 4 lawyers. Sobea attributes her growth to providing exceptional services and delivers on her robust reputation locally. Sobea is also a director in a not for profit organisation called Redditch Business Club which she has helped to set up to provide Redditch with a business community. Sobea is also the recipient of an award held by Unison and Redditch Borough Council in 2018 under the category of Achievement in Business.

Sobea is a passionate advocate for female entrepreneurs.

Name:

Business Founded: Juliette Lee Gardens

Biography: Though yet to have a garden of her own, Juliette Lee embraced growing plants in containers on her balcony so eagerly that she made a career out of it. She began by studying Professional Gardening and Plant Design at Capel Manor College when her daughter was at nursery full time. Juliette adopted an honest, give-it-a-go approach with her early clients, most of them members of the North Kensington community she met at her exercise class or daughters nursery. She had honed her people skills during her long experience in Retail, as PA to a TV personality and as a Community Support worker, which also gave her an outlet for her creativity and eye for detail. She nurtures plants and maintains gardens as though they were indeed her own. Married to a busy Director of Photography, she successfully manages her clients with school hours in mind, and has assembled a team of multitasking mums and dads to help her keep up with the workload generated through Nextdoor, Bidvine and existing clients.

Virginia started her career as a dolphin trainer for Terry Nutkins (Animal Magic, BBC1). Thanks to Colchester County High School (a grammar school) Virginia became the first person in her family to take A levels and go to University where she studied Microbiology. Virginia worked in the pharmaceutical industry for GlaxoWellcome and then as a pharmaceutical analyst at UBS and HSBC.

Following a successful business career Virginia retrained as a teacher and for the last four years has taught maths to disadvantaged adults in her North Kensington community. Virginia also mentors young adults for IntoUniversity and is a Development Coach for the charity ParentGym where she teaches parenting classes in local Primary Schools.

‘Teaching has taught me the most: to work with people where they are, to work out their needs and to work to add value to their lives. It takes passion and strength to run a classroom, imagination and humour to keep students motivated, and empathy and patience to provide useful feedback.’ Virginia Crosbie

Virginia has lived in Kensington for over 20 years. She supports her community and helps young adults develop their skills, celebrate their values and creates opportunities for them to succeed. Kensington is a place of exciting contrasts that draws people to work and live and Virginia wants to play a part in its future.

‘Virginia believed in me. She encouraged me and supported me and dragged me. Now I have my own textiles business and its me who is encouraging other women to develop their talents. My children are so proud.’ Talibah, Social Entrepreneur

Virginia was inspired by her Great Grandfather who ran a post office, was a JP, a special police officer and mayor (twice). He instilled in her a profound sense of community spirit and dedication to helping others.

As Director of Women2Win, Virginia leads the campaign to ensure women are represented at every level of politics and in public life in the UK. Virginia stood as the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate in Rhondda in the 2017 General Election and achieved the highest increase in vote share (+58%) across the country with a digital campaign and just £300 budget. Virginia is also Deputy Chair of the Kensington, Chelsea and Fulham Conservative Association and organises policy discussion evenings and networking events.Virginia Crosbie is our MIYB champion for North Kensington.

Name:

Business Founded: We Get Digital

Biography: Carol has been helping women in business gain digital literacy for over 30 years. Having computerised the company she worked for in 1986, and armed with a degree in Visual Communications, Carol founded her company We Get Digital over 10 years ago. The first thing she did was write a book called ‘Smart Website Planning’. And now, We Get Digital is renowned for helping businesses get their website and online presence right.

Her new project for 2019 is Women On the Web [WOW] – a platform which hosts a range of carefully chosen experts who have created a balance of motivational and practical advice in short, sharp, bite-sized tutorials.

Business Founded: PJ Care Ltd

Biography: Jan Flawn CBE is founder of PJ Care Ltd.  Leaving school with no qualifications Jan became a registered nurse, rising to be a senior manager in the Department of Health. In 2000 Jan started PJ Care after seeing young people with neurological conditions living inappropriately in care homes for the elderly.  Employing over 500 staff, PJ Care is a national leading, award-winning provider of specialist neurological care and neuro-rehabilitation.

Jan won the national CBI First Women Business Women of the year award in 2013 and was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honors in 2014, for “services to the care home business and charitable fundraising”. Jan also received an honorary degree of Master of the Open University in 2015.  Jan Is founder of the Women Leaders UK Awards and is also promoting STEM into schools visa annual STEM Festivals to support of the government’s vision for the Cambridge – Milton Keynes – Oxford corridor.

Business Founded: Lifetise

Biography: Caroline Hughes started out as a lawyer in the fashion industry. Her greatest achievement was negotiating for Prince to open Matthew Williamson’s catwalk show.

Business Founded: Yellowgem Marketing

Biography: Sorrell is very active in her local community as a Hastings Borough Councillor and
Chairwoman of a local Private Garden that puts on regular events and shows to fund itself.

She is the founding partner of Yellowgem a local Marking Consultancy which has its roots in Events
Management in Bahrain where Sorrell worked for 20 years.

Now back in the UK Sorrell has refocused her talents and remodeled her business which now helps
local charities with administration, fundraising and event management.

Sorrell also works at her local Academy Senior School; helping to inspire the next generation of
women entrepreneurs.

Name:

Business Founded: Yogi in the Lakes

Bio: Leigh-ann Newburn, 29 year old from Shap, Cumbria, began teaching yoga as Yogi in the Lakes in 2017 after falling in love with the practice of yoga many years before. Having always had a love for the human body, she qualified as a Physiotherapist in 2011, but never felt that this way of helping people with their physical health was the right one from her, so she stepped away from the profession to pursue other avenues -7 years on and the knowledge base she developed as a physiotherapist is now invaluable to her yoga practice and business.

Leigh-ann left a management roll to begin her journey as a self employed yoga teacher, having been teaching now for a year and a half is now running a full time yoga business as well as assisting her husband to run a 30 bed B&B.