Happy MBA

The average age of an entrepreneur in the UK is 46, and more than a third of businesses are run by people over 50. Entrepreneurship isn’t just for the young; in fact older individuals bring valuable wisdom, experience, and networks to their ventures.Midlife entrepreneurs are often more thoughtful in their approach, focusing on meaningful work rather than just scaling for the sake of it.This conversation will help you:Understand that there is no age limit to starting a businessRecognise that previous career experience isn't wasted effort but can be creatively applied to new venturesFocus on what truly matters in your next chapter by keeping what serves your purpose and discarding what doesn't

In this episode, we open a new chapter of the podcast.After years as The Happy Entrepreneur, we’re evolving the show into Happy MBA, a name that better reflects the work we now do and the people we serve. This conversation is about: what’s changing, why it matters, and who this podcast is really for.If you’ve ever felt a bit out of place in traditional business culture… this one’s for you.🎧 About this episodeIn Episode 171 of the Happy Entrepreneur podcast, Carlos and Laurence talk candidly about:Why Happy MBA felt like the right evolutionThe kinds of struggles we repeatedly see in founders, freelancers, and solopreneursWhy “knowing the theory” rarely solves the real business challengesThe limits of traditional MBA-style thinkingBuilding businesses from the inside outWhy energy, fun, and sustainability matter just as much as moneyThis isn’t a rejection of business fundamentals, it’s a rebalancing. A reminder that businesses are built by humans, with lives, values, families, fears, hopes, and changing seasons.🧠 Key themes we explore1. Business problems are often personal problemsYes, pricing, customers, and sales matter. But what often blocks progress is confidence, isolation, fear, or having too many ideas and no clear place to start.2. Not everyone fits the “successful entrepreneur” stereotypeIf the loud, ruthless, growth-at-all-costs model leaves you cold, you’re not doing it wrong. You’re just building something different.3. Why Happy MBA isn’t an MBATraditional MBAs focus on plans, prediction, and scale. Happy MBA focuses on:Action over overthinkingLearning by doingDesigning a business that fits your life nowDefining success on your own terms4. Sustainable businesses need sustainable energyBurnout and “bore-out” are real. If the joy goes, the business usually follows. We talk about how to build something that’s financially and energetically viable.5. Structure as a playground, not a cageWe believe in giving people enough structure to feel safe but enough freedom to play, experiment, and reconnect with why they started in the first place.👋 Who this podcast is forThis show is for you if you’re:A solopreneur or freelancer without a big teamSitting on ideas but unsure which one to commit toFeeling like the “mad one” for wanting something differentIn transition from employment to self-employment, or from an old business to a new chapterWanting to build work that makes money, does good, and feels more like you🚶 What’s coming nextFuture episodes of Happy MBA will:Tackle the real questions people ask on this alternative business pathShare stories, frameworks, and experiments from real humansHelp you move from ideas → action → clarityOffer reassurance that you’re not doing it “wrong”We’ll also be answering listener questions, so if something’s been quietly niggling at you, we’d love to hear from you (email us on questions@happy.mba).Thanks for being here at the start of this new phase.We’re glad you’ve found us and we’re looking forward to walking this path with you.Until the next episode.

Ever wondered what 500 million years of mountain wisdom could teach you about where you take your business or work from here?Laurence and Carlos explore how the French Alps create the perfect environment for profound perspective shifts.Discover why conversations beside Alpine lakes spark innovations that stuffy conference rooms never could, and how shared adventures build deeper connections than any networking event.More importantly, hear about the magic that happens when exceptional minds gather in an ego-free setting – where CEOs, founders, and changemakers explore and encourage, rather than swap business cards.LinksJoin the next Alptitude retreatJoin the next Vision 20/20 cohort

Kevan Smith, founder of Epiphany Content and a visibility specialist, joins the conversation to tackle the challenges of showing up authentically online. He shares insights on overcoming camera anxiety, asserting that personal branding thrives on consistent service rather than self-promotion. Kevan emphasizes reframing cringe-worthy moments as opportunities for genuine connection and outlines strategies for crafting content that builds trust. He also discusses how visibility can advocate for marginalized communities, creating momentum for systemic change.

In this engaging conversation, Amanda Baker, a story coach and founder of the Tell Five Stories methodology, helps creators reconnect with their authentic selves. She explores the delicate balance between being true to oneself and market visibility, emphasizing authenticity as a practice rather than a strategy. Amanda shares her journey of overcoming social media burnout and the importance of storytelling grounded in clarity and connection. With insights on escaping algorithm-driven pressures, this dialogue champions joy-driven creativity and the significance of choosing to show up as your true self.

What if we reframed failure as a step toward clarity rather than away from success?In this episode, Laurence and Carlos sit down with Anne-Laure le Cunff, neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and author of the book Tiny Experiments, to explore why failure isn’t failure – it’s feedback.Anne-Laure’s work is all about curiosity-driven learning; turning doubt into discovery through small, low-risk experiments. Her approach aligns deeply with how we support entrepreneurs, coaches, and creatives inside our Vision 20/20 group coaching program:Curiosity leads to clarity. What fascinates you is often pointing you toward the work you’re meant to do.Small experiments create momentum. You don’t need a master plan—just a first step.Failure is data, not a dead end. When you stop seeing failure as personal, you start seeing opportunity.Exploration before exploitation ensures alignment. Before you "scale" an idea, make sure it truly fits you.Structure + flexibility = a sustainable, fulfilling business. The key is having just enough structure to guide you, but enough freedom to adapt.If you’re navigating a career transition, designing a business that truly fits, or just wrestling with the fear of getting it wrong, this conversation is for you.LinksJoin the conversation liveBecome a member of the Happy Startup SchoolJoin the next Vision 20/20 cohort

Carlos, Laurence, and Lana present the fourth and final session in their Vision Tribe Summit from February 2025.This conversation will help youReframe sharing your voice on social media from self-promotion to a tool for personal clarity and connectionOvercome perfectionism, fear of adding to the noise, and imposter syndromeBuild authentic connections by asking questions, curating content that inspires you, and championing othersLinksJoin the conversation liveBecome a member of the Happy Startup SchoolJoin the next Vision 20/20 cohort

Carlos, Laurence, and Lana present the third session in their Vision Tribe Summit from February 2025.This conversation will help youDevelop a healthier relationship with money by understanding your personal money stories and how they affect your current attitudesCreate multiple income streams through a product pyramid approach rather than solely relying on selling your timePrice your services based on value rather than hourly rates, allowing you to better communicate the transformation you provide to clientsLinksJoin the conversation liveBecome a member of the Happy Startup SchoolJoin the next Vision 20/20 cohort

Carlos, Laurence, and Lana present the second session in their Vision Tribe Summit from February 2025.This discussion will help youShift from traditional marketing approaches that target everyone to creating deeper impact with those who truly resonate with your valuesDiscover why vulnerability in sharing your journey can be your greatest asset in building genuine community connectionsUnderstand how stories serve as "light for others to follow," providing guidance through shared experiences of challenges and transformationSee how the principle "People like us do things like this" creates powerful cultural bonds that transcend traditional marketing approachesGain practical frameworks for using stories not just to sell products but to mobilize action, inspire change, and create safe spaces for deeper workLearn the value of crafting "future stories" that invite co-creation and collaboration, even before your vision has fully materialisedLinksJoin the conversation liveBecome a member of the Happy Startup SchoolJoin the next Vision 20/20 cohort

Carlos, Laurence, and Lana present the first session in their Vision Tribe Summit from February 2025.In this session they explore four key dimensions of success:Finding ways to earn while doing what you love rather than chasing wealth at the expense of fulfilmentPrioritising what genuinely energises you rather than constant multitasking driven by feelings of "not-enoughness"Surrounding yourself with people who energise you and share your valuesCreating ripple effects by simply being your authentic self rather than trying to change the world through effortLinksJoin the conversation liveBecome a member of the Happy Startup SchoolJoin the next Vision 20/20 cohort