Working Hard with Grace Beverley

Candice Brathwaite discusses black maternal health awareness, challenges of being a mumfluencer, systemic racism in healthcare, and an online trolling scandal in a candid and empowering conversation.

Michelle Kennedy is the founder and CEO of Peanut, one of the fastest-growing social networking apps for women focusing on fertility, pregnancy, motherhood and menopause, which has raised $23m to to date. Peanut was founded in 2017 when Michelle had her first baby, serving as a gift to like-minded mothers during their most uncertain and uncanny moments. Women now use the Peanut app for all sorts of reasons, whether that be trying to find a playdate for their children or networking with other working mums.Having worked as Deputy CEO of dating behemoth Badoo, Michelle has extensive experience using swipe-right technology to match people online, her expertise invaluable to Peanut. While Peanut continues to flourish, Michelle has joined the chase for the next unicorn brand and is now a strategic investor in several early and late-stage start-ups including TALA.While the internet is full of advice for women, in this episode Michelle shares the prestigious tale of how Peanut changed the female demographic forever. Michelle talks candidly about the importance of surrounding yourself with other great women, both in business and personally, being open to new experiences and knowing how to fail fast without getting broken by it. Michelle stands out as a true example of how to be a respected leader in today's society: ambitious and driven yet taking challenges with a heart and passion unlike no other.Topics:- Whistle-stop tour of career: tech and the dating industry- Building and expanding the concept for Peanut- The personal toll of entrepreneurship- The beauty of making business mistakes- 'Women making products for women' - it just makes sense. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Mahendran is a Senior Investor at Active Partners, one of the UK’s leading investment firms committed to the search for the next prosperous unicorn brand. Through his venture capital and investing experience, Jason has helped to build several outstanding consumer-based, founder-led brands including the reputable LEON, Honest Burgers and Rapha. Active Partners have also recently invested in my own brand TALA in our $5.7m seed round, Jason himself joining the board.While getting your head around investment may seem like a minefield, obtaining funding could be the difference between making one's business a success, or having it never take off the ground. Investors like Jason offer so much more than just funding - they also provide founders with business advice, industry contacts and innovation, riding all the highs and lows along the way.Today I get the inside scoop on entrepreneurship from an investor's standpoint, including the process of securing investments, marshalling resources and utilising opportunities to achieve the unicorn. Topics: • Early years in the retail sector at the Woolworths Group• Investible businesses and their equally investible founders• Should I seek funding for my business?• 'The reality of pitching is NOT Dragons Den'• Investment in TALA (I get roasted) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*Trigger Warning* Nicola Kilner is the co-founder and CEO of DECIEM, ‘the abnormal beauty company’ and hub of science-backed beauty brands that pave the future for skincare. Part of the DECIEM family ‘The Ordinary’ has taken the skincare world by storm, providing an evolving collection of clinical technologies and treatments at drugstore prices. In just 9 years DECIEM has completely revolutionised the beauty industry, its long-term mission to curate brands that educate and inform consumers about products best for their skin.Starting her career as a sponsored beauty buyer for Boots, Nicola is not short of corporate beauty exposure. As a CEO Nicola has navigated $2.2 billion-dollar sale to Estée Lauder, achieving nearly £500m in annual sales and in 2021 she made the Forbes 40 Under 40 list. She is also, much to my delight and surprise, one of my investors at TALA.In our heartfelt conversation Nicola and I discuss the extraordinary growth of DECIEM, her personal successes as a CEO and friendship with co-founder Brandon Truaxe who tragically passed in 2019. Today, with one product being reported to be sold every second, I delve into Nicola’s story of success, heartbreak, and phenomenal business growth.Topics:• Early career and sponsorship from Boots• Building 10 brands at once and the fun of being a start-up• Co-founding and Nicola’s close relationship with Brandon• Brandon’s public mental health decline• Taking on new responsibilities: becoming a mother and becoming sole CEO• Phenomenal growth during COVID-19• Building an inclusive company, women in the workplace, flexible and remote working Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today is Tolani Shoneye, writer, producer, host of 10/10 Would Recommend and 1/3 of The Receipts Podcast - a leading award-winning UK podcast and one of my personal favourites for YEARS. While Tolani is best known for hosting The Receipts, she has established herself as a trusted voice that resonates with millennial women on and off the mic. A former beauty editor for Buzzfeed UK, Tolani's credits include Elle, The Independent and Refinery29. Her breadth as a creative is undeniable as a one-time playwright for the Young Vic, with commissioned monologues under her belt and TV credits including hit Netflix series Top Boy. TopicsBuilding a career based on your talentsTesting and learning to build a careerThe joy of storytellingThe importance of taking opportunities and dreaming bigDealing with grief at work Buy the Working Hard, Hardly Working book here: http://linktr.ee/whhw Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracebeverley/Keep updated on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-beverley-574a10102/Shop Sustainable Style at TALA: http://wearetala.comGet everything you need to reach your fitness goals at SHREDDY: http://shreddy.comWorking Hard, Hardly Working is produced by Burning Bright Audio, the series producer is Ben Tulloh, editing by Ben Tuloh and video editing by Chris Ahjem. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today is Nicola Elliot, Founder and Creative Director of NEOM Organics - one of the first, and fastest growing wellbeing brands in the UK, which specialises in 100% natural fragrances. Nicola’s inspiration for NEOM came whilst working as a magazine editor, when she realised the wellbeing of her friends and colleagues was suffering due to the demands of their fast-paced lives. She chose to retrain in aromatherapy and fast forward to today, NEOM has 4 standalone stores and is stocked with renowned retailers. I'm so thrilled to have her on today.TopicsWomen in work and women in entrepreneurshipTurning a side hustle into a businessIdentifying your ideal customerWorking mothersBuy the Working Hard, Hardly Working book here: http://linktr.ee/whhw Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracebeverley/Keep updated on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-beverley-574a10102/Shop Sustainable Style at TALA: http://wearetala.comGet everything you need to reach your fitness goals at SHREDDY: http://shreddy.comWorking Hard, Hardly Working is produced by Burning Bright Audio, the series producer is Ben Tulloh, editing by Ben Tuloh and video editing by Chris Ahjem. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today is George Heaton, Co-Founder of luxury British streetwear brand Represent. Represent was founded by George and his brother Mike in 2012 after he started creating T-shirts while studying at the University of Salford. The brand now has more than 150 stockists worldwide, including Selfridges and Harvey Nichols in the UK. Inspired by British designs, the brothers showcase their ranges at top fashion destinations worldwide, and their pieces have been featured in top publications from British GQ to Vogue Paris. I discovered George and Represent recently and was instantly struck by their strength of brand, a quality as essential as it is rare in creating a powerful business today. I’m delighted to be joined by George today. TopicsHow Represent made the transition from T-shirt brand to a high-end streetwear Rules to live your life byPivoting a businessConscious scaling vs. going viralHow Represent found its USPThe rule of continuous improvementKnowing your strengthsBuy the Working Hard, Hardly Working book here: http://linktr.ee/whhw Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracebeverley/Keep updated on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-beverley-574a10102/Shop Sustainable Style at TALA: http://wearetala.comGet everything you need to reach your fitness goals at SHREDDY: http://shreddy.comWorking Hard, Hardly Working is produced by Burning Bright Audio, the series producer is Ben Tulloh, editing by Hunter Charlton and video editing by Ben Tulloh. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Grace Lordan discusses the science of work, challenges of writing, building resilience, and finding fulfillment in a career. She emphasizes the importance of gratitude, using behavioral science to boost pitches, and the balance between work and personal life.

My guest today is Reece Wabara, CEO of Manière De Voir - former professional footballer turned e-commerce powerhouse. West Midlands born Reece began his career playing for Manchester City in the Under 16s team and went on to play for the England U21 squad before a strategic pivot into the fashion industry. MDV, the design-driven brand founded by Reece in 2013 has gone on to see incredible growth, listed in the most recent Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100, and with 187% year on year increase in net revenue, worn by stars from Raheem Sterling to Anthony Joshua. Reece is vocal online about his views on strategy and leadership, and I’m very excited to have him here today to delve deeper into what got him here.TopicsImportance of brand identityCreating affordable luxuryReinventionThe definition of successReece's journey to starting MDVInstagram vs realityReading to further yourselfBuy the Working Hard, Hardly Working book here: http://linktr.ee/whhw Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracebeverley/Keep updated on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-beverley-574a10102/Shop Sustainable Style at TALA: http://wearetala.comGet everything you need to reach your fitness goals at SHREDDY: http://shreddy.comWorking Hard, Hardly Working is produced by Burning Bright Audio, the series producer is Ben Tulloh, editing by Silvia Malnati, video editing by Chris Ahjem. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today is Shopé Delano, VP of Marketing at Charlie Oscar, a new-era group of digital consumer brands, and Founder of her own upcoming workwear brand Kind Regards . Shopé's internet life began back in 2010, with a fashion blog and youtube channel that saw her work freelance with the likes of Nike, Puma and ASOS. After a successful stint in academia, she entered the world of startups and venture capital, working with the likes of Depop, Forward Partners and now Charlie Oscar. I originally came into contact with Shopé after her viral open letter to working women - I read it and just had to message her about just how nail-on-head it was - so we got talking about the topics in my book, and her work. I’m incredibly excited to have her join me today.TopicsBrand buildingContent creationThe pressure to have a 'purpose'The representation of working womenFinding enjoyment in your career, especially at the beginning Girlboss cultureThe art of doing nothingThe dangers of comparing yourself to others on social mediaBuy the Working Hard, Hardly Working book here: http://linktr.ee/whhw Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracebeverley/Keep updated on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-beverley-574a10102/Shop Sustainable Style at TALA: http://wearetala.comGet everything you need to reach your fitness goals at SHREDDY: http://shreddy.comWorking Hard, Hardly Working is produced by Burning Bright Audio, the series producer is Ben Tulloh, editing by Stuart Beckwith and video editing by Chris Ahjem. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.