Bump to Business Owner

This week I'm sharing my mat leave as a business owner experience with you. When I was pregnant for the first time, I looked around for positive narratives about maternity leave that weren't horror stories. Maybe I was looking in the wrong places, but I couldn't find anything at the time that told me I was going to be OK! With my second pregnancy I was in a very different situation - self employed, with some foresight of the intensity and changes I was about to go through (although believe me, it was not what I had expected!) I'm giving you a breakdown of how I prepared my business, what went to plan and what didn't, what I learnt in the hope that it will give you something to cross reference if you're looking at mat leave as a business owner or self employed. Yes it can be tough, but it can be done! And I share a little perk that I didn't realise was coming from HMRC, listen out! Links: Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/ Bubble App: www.joinbubble.com

This week I'm in conversation with fellow ex-performer Dominique Woolf of Woolf's Kitchen and author of Dominique's Kitchen: Easy everyday Asian-inspired food. A singer/songwriter in a previous life, Dominique shared how her experience as a performer, but also as a recruiter and in sales built the skill set she needed to create a successful business. Every part of your experience in some way will benefit your business, even if it isn't immediately obvious how - we don't necessarily know how the dots will join up. Dominique is also known for her networking, having created an 800 woman strong networking community local to her and she's really honest about the support we as business owners need from our peers and those further along in our industries. Her network gave her a designer, copywriter, sold out her two book launch events and gave her a safe space to test her products. We had a really honest chat about "how she does it", the laundry isn't done, the house isn't tidy, and yes her kids might be on screens more than she'd like, but Dominique has accepted that she's not going to be a perfect mum, and I love that! Links: Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/ About Dominique Woolf: Half-Thai mum of three, entrepreneur and TV winning chef. Dominique Woolf won the Channel 4 television show The Great Cookbook Challenge with Jamie Oliver in 2022. The resulting book, Dominique's Kitchen is a #1 Sunday Times Bestseller. In a past life Dominique was singer-songwriter and recruitment consultant. Dominique decided to change careers and focus on her first love - food - after realising just how much she enjoyed getting creative in the kitchen. She trained at Leiths School of Food and Wine to immerse herself in the industry and hone her skills, then became a food writer, before starting her own business, The Woolf's Kitchen, in the middle of lockdown 2020. Initially selling a range of sauces inspired by those her Thai auntie used to make, she has now expanded into chilli oils, pastes and nuts, too. Dominique is passionate about sharing her love of big, bold flavours and Asian-inspired cuisine. Dominique's Links: Website: https://thewoolfskitchen.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dominiquewoolf/ https://www.instagram.com/thewoolfskitchen/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominique-woolf-0668ab7/

This week I'm sharing my 3 must dos when you're starting up a business. Bonus: they are all free! Where to start when you're setting up a business?! I was keen to take myself and my business seriously when I was starting up, and I was working to create a business, as opposed to being self employed. These 3 steps were crucial for me to design an ambitious business that potential clients and associates would credit, and let's be honest, get some buy-in when it came to emotional investment at home. These tips aren't very sexy, but they will set your business up for success. Let me know how it goes! Links: Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/ Princes Trust business plan template: https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/how-we-can-help/tools-resources/business-tools/business-plans

In today's episode, I'm talking to the wonderful Rebekah Clark, Founder of Happy Marlo and Chief Operating Officer Joanna Glenn. Both of them have such interesting journeys up to Happy Marlo and speak really candidly about the struggles they had negotiating their new identities as mothers, trying to find their place in the business world as mothers and the social isolation that can come with pregnancy and maternity leave. Rebekah shared how the traditional hiring model didn't work for her and how she and Jo came to work together, and they both share some of the nuts and bolts of how Happy Marlo and their home lives work, 4 day weeks, productivity hacks and game changing delegation at home. Honestly such great tips! We also spoke on the "doom and gloom" of fundraising for female founders. How to acknowledge the structural limitations we have as females and strategies on how to get around them. Community and networking has been a huge part of Happy Marlo and Rebekah shared some practical advice on how to focus your networking on your priorities and cut through a lot of the noise out there. This was such an inspiring conversation with a lot of practical advice - see below for links to all the resources Rebekah and Jo mentioned Links: Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/ About Happy Marlo, Rebekah and Jo: Happy Marlo is an emotional wellbeing platform and community on a mission to help raise a new generation of resilient and mindful children. Happy Marlo's tailored tools empower three- to 11-year-old's so that they can understand and manage their emotions, feeling prepared for the ups and downs that lie ahead. Following a career in international media, marketing and communications, spanning over 22 years, Rebekah Clark launched Happy Marlo in response to the high levels of stress, worry and anxiety children in the UK (and around the world) are experiencing. Rebekah's passion for Happy Marlo is borne of personal experience, and she understands that how our children develop, impacts the adults they become. Joanna Glenn is the Chief Operation Officer, Rebekah had this amazing business in motion, and the story of how she found Joanna to support her on her mission - is not your usual hiring story! Happy Marlo's Links: App: https://www.happymarlo.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happymarlolife/ LinkedIn (Rebekah): https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebekahclark/ LinkedIn (Jo): https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannaglenn/ Resources mentioned in the episode: The real reason female entrepreneurs get less funding TED x Dana Kanze https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hokUdXYRe2Q "Invisible Women" by Caroline Criado-Perez https://www.waterstones.com/book/invisible-women/caroline-criado-perez/9781784706289 Alexandria Angels - investor community https://alexandriaangels.persona.co/ Odin - fundraising community https://www.joinodin.com/ Happy Marlo Love Manifesto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9TZcdnZ3Po

One thing I ask a lot of clients as the founder of a Virtual Assistant agency is: "Are you really the only person who can do this?" Asking for and getting the support you need is what I am ALL about at work. But I'll admit, I find it a lot harder to ask for help when it comes to my home and family life. Being a parent and business owner can be really overwhelming. If you feel like you're failing, please know that you are NOT, you just need some help. I'm talking about my tips for deciding where you need support, getting past the mental load hurdle and why it's not easier to just do it yourself. Spoiler alert: everything can probably run just fine without you if it has to. Links: Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/

This week I'm speaking to Danielle Wallington - founder of, count 'em, THREE businesses and mother of two young boys. Danielle's request for flexible working was denied when it was time to return to her work as an events manager after the birth of her first child so she decided to go all in on Milk'N'Fizz, her first business. FLOCKHERE, Danielle's latest venture, an app connecting WFH women to places to work from and people to work with, launches in August. I loved how honest Danielle was in our chat. She shared some great advice and experience on the practicalities of how to create a community and a business around it; the different routes to secure funding, and what she and One Direction have in common. Danielle is also really honest about how difficult it is to run a business while also growing a family, where she feels the inevitable mum guilt, and why "doing it all" is not something we should be aspiring to. I've been following Danielle from the start, pre Milk'N'Fizz even, and have loved her in person events with Kindred. As someone who works from home most of the time, I will definitely be signing up to her new platform FLOCKHERE https://flockhere.app/ Links: Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/ About Danielle: Dannielle Wallington is a mum of two young boys, founder of The Kindred THE NON "NETWORKY" NETWORK & CO-WORKING COMMUNITY FOR FEMALE FOUNDERS AND also FLOCKHERE an exciting new app connecting you to places to work from + people to work with that is coming later this year. It all started when Danielle had her first baby, with her job being within the Events Industry she found the industry so inflexible for a mother who wanted to return to work. She left and started Milk'N'Fizz. From unforgettable evenings and workshops to blogger panels and expert advice, Milk'N'Fizz offered a new kind of 'social calendar'; a series of events inspiring mothers to help build and feel part of a community – a community set on banishing those feelings of isolation and loneliness that are often shared in motherhood. This soon turned into The Kindred - a business she then completely pivoted and reached female founders online and supported them during a pandemic with online events, learnings, networking and workshops. In 2022 Danielle launched a crowdfunding campaign for her business Flock Here, an app that is launching in August 2023. Danielle's Links: App: https://flockhere.app/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielle_wallington_/ https://www.instagram.com/flock_here/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-wallington-22a13234

Another solo episode from me this week. Before I started a business, I had heard a lot about the loneliness of self employment, and having experienced a lot of career and social loneliness in my job and first pregnancy, when I set up my business it was a strong intention of mine NOT to feel lonely. I was lucky - there were so many online networking and learning opportunities when I was building my business. Which was perfect for a pregnant lady! I joined so many online groups, approached people I admired on Instagram and it not only helped me find my community, but helped me find clients too. Tell me - how did you find your community? Links: Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/

For our third episode I'm speaking to Hollie Grant aka the Pilates PT. Hollie fell in love with Pilates after being burnt as an apprentice pastry chef and working on reception at a studio. From running her own studio, she has grown an empire including an online pilates offering, two books and a podcast, all while raising two children. We talk about how scary it can be being a business owner and navigating huge personal and business changes. Hollie spoke on the pros and cons of working with your partner, both incomes being dependent on your business and both dealing with being new parents at the same time and the differences between her two maternity leaves with the business being at different stages. Hollie also had some really encouraging things to say about the realities of being a mother and business owner, and how it will look messy but only to you. To everyone else you'll look like you've got your sh*t together! I used the Bump Plan programme to see me through both my pregnancies and prepare for birth and couldn't recommend it highly enough. There are options for trying to conceive, pregnancy and postpartum, you can find out more here: https://thebumpplan.com/ Links: Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/ About Hollie: Hollie Grant is an inspiration not just to all women in business, but especially for any mum in the fitness industry. Hollie set up 'Pilates PT' in 2015 which includes her own Studio in London and online platform, then in 2020 went on to create The Bump Plan which came from her lifelong desire to help TTC, pregnant, and postnatal women enter into these amazing times of their life. Alongside growing and raising a baby and a toddler of her own, The Bump Plan has supported over 30,000 women globally and Hollie has gone on to create fitness plans to support both women conceiving and postnatal mums to be strong and prepared for the demands of pregnancy and motherhood. Hollie's second book 'The Bump plan' is out now. One which she wrote whilst heavily pregnant with her second baby and then had to edit and record the audiobook whilst he was a newborn. Hollie's Links: Websites: https://pilatespt.co.uk/, https://thebumpplan.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepilatespt Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pilatespt1/

The second episode of the podcast is a solo exploration as I discuss what my working week looks like and the 'blend' of business and family time that I've found works for me. It took a lot to get here - lots of failure and learning curves - and it will need to change as my family grows and the business develops. I let you in on my 'Mummy Day' what my weekly non negotiables actually are, and where I choose to invest in support - family or the business.. I'd love to know what your working weeks look like, and what your non negotiables are. Links: Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/

I'm delighted that my guest for this first episode is Steph Douglas, founder of gifting business, Don't Buy Her Flowers. Steph started her business after receiving a whopping eight, well meant bouquets following the birth of her first baby and realising what a terrible gift flowers are for new mums. She has successfully grown her business over the past nine years, alongside raising her three young children Don't Buy Her Flowers has grown from Steph packing boxes in her spare room to having an incredible team and a warehouse. Our conversation covers everything from the challenges of running a business through the pandemic, juggling a business and a young family, and managing maternity leave when you are a business owner. We also talk about how women are still the ones that carry most of the mental load of running a home, we've both experienced unhelpful comments from other people when we mention our husbands taking on jobs such as cooking and shopping, and Steph has some wise words of advice about how we all need to be questioning traditional gender roles. Don't Buy Her Flowers is continuing to expand and is now offering gifting services for businesses offering an alternative to terrible and uninspiring corporate gifting. They are the company I personally use for team gifting for my agency and I highly recommend them. If you want to use them for your growing business you can find out more here: https://www.dontbuyherflowers.com/corporate-gifting/ Links: Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/ About Steph: Steph Douglas founded Don't Buy Her Flowers in 2014, leaving a role in brand and marketing, to offer a more personal and thoughtful gift initially for new mums; the idea came from receiving eight well-meant bouquets after having her first baby, that Steph saw were 'another thing to care for when you're doing more caring than you've ever done in your life'. The company now offers gift boxes for all occasions as well as for men and children and B2B. DBHF have partnerships with Stand Up To Cancer, Home-Start UK and Baby Loss Charity Teddy's Wish. Steph also writes and talks honestly about motherhood, relationships, business and juggling in this 'rush hour' of life many of us seem to be in. She started the Don't Buy Her Flowers podcast last year with guests including Jessie Ware, Annie MacManus and Kate Lawler Steph's Links: Website: https://dontbuyherflowers.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dontbuyherflowers/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dontbuyherflowers

Welcome to the very first episode of the Bump to Business Owner Podcast. The go-to Podcast for mums who run a business, want to start a business, or are simply curious about what makes mums choose the entrepreneur life. Being a business owner can be hard, being a mum is even harder but both together?! Caroline is on a mission to find out why more and more mums are leaving the employment world for the entrepreneur life. Whether you're a working mum, an advocate for mothers, a mum-to-be or an empty nester this podcast is for you. In this short intro episode host Caroline Marshall, tells us a little bit about her story and what we can expect from Season One of the podcast. Links: Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/