The Unstoppable 5%

Charis Marr spent years running advertising for some of the biggest banks in Australia and the UK, then lost her brother, her father and later her mother, each without warning. What made the final loss bearable was a phrase her mother lived by: dying tidily.

Watch to hear how she stepped in to run an offshore shipbroking business the day after her father died, why she believes bank marketing struggles to educate anyone, and why she rejects both FIRE and YOLO.

You will leave knowing why so many UAE expats go home with less than...

Welcome to another episode of The Unstoppable 5%

Tara Rose arrived in the UAE 17 years ago with £200, no grades and no plan, and has since built four company owned salons, the Tara Rose Academy and a first franchise in Bahrain with no outside backing. 

She tells Laurie how scaling 50% three years ago nearly cost her everything, and why she has now moved her family into a one-bed apartment.

You will hear the conference moment she realised she was the problem, the upgrade every founder needs before the next expansion, why her newest franchise runs si...

Nadia launched Hello&Goodbuy, a pre-loved boutique in Abu Dhabi, after replying to a stranger's Facebook comment with a promise she hadn't built yet. Since January 2022 it has saved roughly 20,000 pieces of clothing, shoes and accessories from potential landfill, and it still nearly closed.

You'll hear how she started with 2,000 dirhams, why 65% of her stock is donated and its proceeds fund girls' education in Uganda, what 250 free tickets taught her about no-shows, why she barely uses AI, and the March that left her with 1 booking days after paying a full year's rent. It is an honest look...

Lynsay Kilbane spent 15 years inside some of the most elite households on the planet. Royal families. UHNW principals. People whose names you'll never see in a Google search. She was trusted with everything and nobody knew who she was.

Then she lost her brother. And everything changed.

In this episode Lynsay shares the traffic light moment in Abu Dhabi that cracked her open, the Kenya retreat that made her dare to dream, and how she went from nanny to founder of The Private Standard, one of the most discreet and sought after household staffing and...

Shelley Bosworth spent 25 years in corporate. Big brands, big teams, big budgets. KFC, Tesco, Starbucks. She was the person organisations called when things got hard.

And then life got hard for her.

In 2019, after personal loss, a health scare and a growing feeling that none of it made sense anymore, she walked away from everything she'd built. Three months later, the world went into lockdown. Most people would have gone back. She didn't.

In this episode Shelley and I get into the real story underneath the pivot. What it actually felt like to...

Episode Description

She spent over a decade doing PR for some of the biggest names in the region. Then she walked away, went boutique, and built NikNak PR on one premise. Less fluff, more impact.

In this episode I sit down with Anika Berger to find out what PR actually does for a founder, why most people are getting it wrong, and what it really takes to build credibility in a market as noisy as Dubai.

We also get into something I didn't expect. Why Dubai, why this city, and what Anika found...

She had the career. The money. The success.

And it was taking her soul.

Keila Doyle built and sold a tech company in London, then quietly fell apart. The anxiety crept in, the identity started to unravel, and she had to make a call: keep going, or step back and actually take care of herself.

She chose herself.

What came next was a move to Dubai, a golf club in her hands for the first time, and a front-row seat to just how intimidating and exclusionary that world can be for...

If you've ever looked at someone who's rebuilt from nothing and wondered what they actually have that you don't, this episode is going to answer that question.

Samantha Williams has had more full-stop moments than most people have excuses. Wall Street trader. UK's first female trampoline park owner. A business that hit $10M in two years, then fell apart. A toxic partnership that forced her out of something she built. Both hips replaced. Perimenopause. A late ADHD diagnosis that reframed her entire life. And through all of it, she kept building.

She's now an EOS...

Why HR Has an Image Problem (And How to Fix It) | Natalie Cairns

Most people think HR is there to protect the company.
And that's exactly why it has an image problem.

In this episode of The Unstoppable 5%, I sit down with Natalie Cairns, who's spent over 20 years inside HR… and chose to do it differently.

We talk about the moment that changed everything for her, losing her father, and the one question from her manager that completely reshaped how she saw leadership, work, and people.

From there, we get in...

Hannah Lucy spent 16 years in corporate, working her way from carer to Chief Operating Officer, managing £2 million worth of services and leading a team of 50+ staff. From the outside, she had it made.

But it was the quieter moments, sitting with people at the end of their lives, carrying grief no job title could prepare her for, that shaped who she was becoming.

In this episode of The Unstoppable 5%, Laurie sits down with Hannah to explore the real story behind the pivot: a divorce, a bodybuilding stage, a coach who pushed her in the wrong d...

In this episode, I'm joined by Kelly Lundberg, someone I've known for over 13 years and had a front-row seat watching evolve.
From building a successful styling business in Dubai to stepping onto global stages, delivering TEDx talks, writing books, and moving into personal branding, Kelly's journey is one of reinvention, courage, and intentional growth.
This conversation focuses on the decisions behind that evolution.   We discuss: What it really takes to walk away from something that's working How to navigate the in-between phase when you're building your next chapter Why so many people stay in roles they've outgrown The r...

In this episode, I'm joined by Kelly Lundberg, someone I've known for over 13 years and had a front-row seat watching evolve.
From building a successful styling business in Dubai to stepping onto global stages, delivering TEDx talks, writing books, and moving into personal branding, Kelly's journey is one of reinvention, courage, and intentional growth.
This conversation focuses on the decisions behind that evolution.
We discuss: What it really takes to walk away from something that's working How to navigate the in-between phase when you're building your next chapter Why so many people stay in roles they've outgrown...

In this episode, Laurie sits down with her good friend Lori Warren, a former FBI agent, polygrapher, and crisis negotiator, for an honest conversation about human behaviour, deception, manipulation, and trust.

It's a conversation about the subtle signals we often sense but talk ourselves out of… in business, relationships, leadership, and everyday life.

Drawing from decades of experience sitting across from people under pressure, Lori shares what she noticed again and again, not in a technical way, but in a deeply human one.

Together, we explore how deception and manipulation actually show up...

Welcome to another episode of The Unstoppable 5%

You are smart, capable, and motivated.

So why does it feel like you're just treading water?

In this episode, Laurie sits down with Naima Spencer, a mindset facilitator for high-performing leaders, to answer a critical question: What separates the people who actually move forward from the ones who stay stuck in the "safe" zone?

Naima argues that success is 80% mindset and only 20% strategy. She shares her own powerful story of self-sabotage, turning down a life-changing career opportunity because she didn't feel "good enough", and...

In this episode, Laurie is joined by Dr Liesl Keen, an industrial psychologist and applied neuroscience practitioner, for a grounded conversation about navigating uncertainty, rebuilding identity, and developing real resilience when life no longer looks the way you expected.

After spending 20 years in the corporate world, Liesl shares her personal experience of leaving structure and certainty behind, facing an identity crisis, and learning how stress, self-doubt, and overwhelm affect the brain. Together, they explore why uncertainty often hits our sense of self before anything else, and how resilience is built through nervous system regulation, self-awareness, and small...

Welcome to another episode of The Unstoppable 5% High performers don't just work harder… they operate differently.

In this interview, I speak with Sally about the conscious choice to lead, build, and connect from **presence over pressure**, and why this way of operating consistently produces better outcomes.

From Sally's perspective, we explore:

- How pressure creates urgency, but presence creates clarity -

Why the best decisions are made from grounded awareness, not reaction -

What changes when leaders slow down enough to truly connect -

How meaningful experiences na...

In this episode of The Unstoppable 5%, Laurie sits down with the powerhouse that is Dr Katherine Iscoe… speaker, author, self-respect advocate, and a woman who has reinvented herself more times than most people dare to try once.

From Canada, to Australia, to Dubai, Dr K's journey is anything but linear. What looks like success on the outside was, for many years, fuelled by external validation, perfectionism, and deep internal battles. In this conversation, she opens up about the moments that broke her, the beliefs that kept her stuck, and the clarity that finally set her free.

Rosie Gunn: From Corporate Burnout to Building Endless in the UAE

Rosie Gunn had a corporate career at M&S, hit a ceiling, and walked away during one of the darkest times of her life. She co-founded Endless, a circular fashion platform in the UK, secured funding, then watched COVID shut everything down two weeks later. Most people would've called it quits. Rosie moved to Dubai and started again from scratch.

In this episode, Rosie shares:

• Why she left the corporate ladder to build the future of fashi...

Marlené Brewis (Marms Hope) landed in Dubai with $500, a suitcase, and no job. She was sleeping on a friend's sofa with no idea what came next.

This is the first time Marms has shared her full story publicly. We talk about growing up as the unwanted child, the husband who isolated her, the moment she said yes to the divorce, working 22-hour days while the company crumbled, being nearly homeless, and what it takes to keep choosing yourself when life keeps testing you.

If you've ever felt like the outsider or you're standing on the e...

You had the vision. You knew exactly what life would look like once you reached your dream, until it didn't go the way you imagined. But what if the dream is still there, just showing up in disguise?

In this episode of Lounging with Laurie, we talk about:

How dreams often unfold in unexpected ways

Why a detour doesn't mean you've failed or missed your chance

The role of mentors and trusted friends in helping you see what you can't on your own

How to stay open and flexible...

You hit the goal. You did the thing. So… why doesn't it feel as good as you thought it would?

In this episode of Lounging with Laurie, we're talking about the messy, unspoken truth behind success: that sometimes the moment you've been working towards doesn't feel like much at all.

Whether you've launched the business, landed the role, or finally made the move and you're still feeling a bit flat this is the episode you didn't know you needed.

What I cover:

Why your brain loves the chase more than the fi...

In this episode, I'm discussing routines, results, and releasing the pressure to "do it all perfectly."

Inspired by conversations with my mentees (and reminders from my own messy weeks), we're talking about what actually matters when it comes to progress and it's not ticking off a 6-step morning routine before sunrise.

You'll hear why I don't chase perfect anymore, what I focus on instead, and how to create momentum that actually works for your life.

Whether you're in a full sprint or just doing your best to show up once a week, this...

We're in an era where AI can write everything, but just because it can, doesn't mean it should. In this episode, I'm highlighting a powerful reminder that was sparked by a podcast I recently listened to, and a message I received that resonated so profoundly: people are craving real connection, not perfectly polished, auto-generated messaging. I am one of those, I want authentic connections.

If you've been second-guessing your words, filtering your tone, or outsourcing your personality to tools like ChatGPT, this episode is for you.

We'll unpack:

How the overuse of AI...

So many incredible women are reaching out to me lately, all saying the same thing in different ways: "I want more."

Maybe you're feeling it too, that quiet pull toward something different. A new chapter. A new business. A life that feels more aligned. But you're not quite sure what that looks like or how to begin.

In this episode, I'm breaking down what to do when you find yourself at that crossroad. Whether you're dreaming of the beach life, itching for freedom, or just craving stimulation and purpose again, this is your sign to...

If you've been stuck in your head lately, questioning your decisions, doubting your path, and wondering if this is really the life you're meant to be living, this episode is for you.

Today I'm joined by the incredible Naima Spencer, a mindset facilitator and coach who helps women build emotional resilience, rewrite the stories holding them back, and create real change from the inside out.

This conversation dives deep into what it really means to be unshakable… not perfect, not fearless, but grounded in self-trust and truth.

Whether you're navigating a major life sh...

In this episode, I'm diving into something that hits all of us from time to time… that stuck, uninspired feeling where life just feels a bit... meh. You're doing the right things, showing up, ticking the boxes, but it's not lighting you up anymore.

If you're feeling flat or a little foggy, this is your reminder: it's not always your goals that need changing. Sometimes, it's your environment. You might be craving new energy, new people, new places, new stimulation; and this episode is here to help you recognise it and shift out of the rut.

In this episode, I unpack the real reason decision-making feels so heavy and how to move through it with more clarity and confidence. From closing chapters and walking away from safe choices, to redefining what it means to trust your gut, this one's for the women who feel stuck.

In this episode, I cover:

The hidden fear under your indecision

Sunk cost theory and how it keeps us stuck

My 3-question framework to get clear and move faster

A personal story and what it taught me

In this episode, I challenge the belief that your next big breakthrough lies in a perfect business idea. Spoiler: it doesn't. What you actually need is a mindset that backs you! One that fuels your confidence, gets you moving, and helps you show up even when it feels messy or uncertain.

I'll take you through the origin story of Ultra CrossFit, a dream that was born in one of the hardest seasons of my life… and share the exact mindset shifts that helped me rebuild, restart, and realign when things weren't working.

If you've been st...

Feeling stuck in the same old routine? You're not alone. Life can feel "fine" on the outside but inside, you might be feeling flat, uninspired, or like you've lost that spark that makes you feel you.

In this episode, I'm sharing what helped me shake off the fog and get re-energised after a recent trip to Australia and New Zealand and why breaking out of your everyday norm might be exactly what you need right now.

Whether you've been cancelling plans, avoiding the things you used to love, or just feeling a bit... blah, this...

In this episode, I'm joined by Kylie Pinwill from the Hormone Hub to dive into the key hormonal shifts women experience after 35. We talk about how hormones impact energy, mood, and overall well-being and more importantly, what you can do about it!

Kylie shares her insights on recognising hormonal imbalances, simple strategies to support your body naturally, and practical steps to feel more in control of your health. Whether you're navigating perimenopause, dealing with unexplained fatigue, or just want to feel your best, this conversation is packed with some helpful takeaways.

Tune in for:

Ever held back from taking action because you didn't feel ready? Waiting for confidence before making a move is a trap, and in this episode, we're breaking free from it.

I'm sharing some of the biggest moments in my life where I had to back myself before I had proof it would work, including one decision that completely changed the trajectory of my business, and another that meant walking away from something "secure" with no backup plan.

In this episode, we'll cover:
- Why confidence isn't about being fearless (and what it really takes...

Do you ever catch yourself looking for validation, whether it's through likes, comments, or the approval of others? In this episode, I delve into what it really means to stop seeking external validation and start trusting yourself.

I share personal experiences of breaking free from people-pleasing, learning to build confidence as a skill, and why rejection is often the redirection we need. We'll unpack the sneaky ways we hold ourselves back and, more importantly, how to break the cycle.

If you're tired of letting other people's opinions dictate your choices, this episode is for you.<...

Sometimes the biggest growth comes from letting go. In this episode, I share my decision to step away from my role as a mentor at Two Brain Business after seven years. It wasn't an easy choice—Two Brain has been a huge part of my journey, shaping me as a leader, business owner, and mentor. But when I sat down to plan for 2025, I realised it was time to reallocate my time and energy toward my own goals and growth.

Leaving a safety net—whether it's a job, relationship, or commitment—can feel scary, but it's often the ke...

In this episode, I share how one simple word is reshaping my life in 2025 and what it really means to reclaim your strength by putting yourself first. Staying true to your path often means making tough decisions and saying no, setting boundaries, and letting go of what no longer serves you. I'll take you through the lessons I've learned and how you can apply them to your own journey.

I'll take you through a powerful conversation I had with a friend who's rebuilding her life and struggling with over-giving to everyone else. I'll also share my own...

In this final episode of 2024, Loz reflects on a year of taking risks, embracing growth, and redefining what success means. Join her as she shares 8 powerful lessons learned along the way, designed to inspire you to step into 2025 with confidence, clarity, and conviction. If you're ready to stop waiting for perfection, start owning your story, and make bold moves, this episode is for you.

If you have any questions for Laurie on the podcast, send us an email to [email protected] 

Links

Join our Community in our Free Lounge Room 

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, Loz sits down with her best friend and business partner, Lauren, to talk about life's twists and turns, from traveling the world to stepping back into the workforce after 15 years. Lauren opens up about her journey from superyacht adventures to becoming a single mum, rediscovering her confidence, and landing a part-time event planning role.

Tune in to hear about:

The power of taking chances, even when it feels scary.

Juggling work, mum life, and the all-too-familiar mum guilt.

Practical tips for rebuilding confidence and pursuing...

In this episode, Laurie explores the big question: Are you really living the life you want, or are you just playing it safe? With the average person spending around 90,000 hours at work over their lifetime, Laurie challenges you to think about how you're spending your time and whether your current job is lighting you up or draining you.

Laurie discusses the fear of the unknown, the risks of changing careers, and the importance of pursuing your passions—whether that means exploring new job opportunities or starting a side hustle. With real-life examples and her signature cheeky attitude, La...

In this episode of the Sisterhood Collective Podcast, Laurie looks into the powerful choice between authenticity and fitting in. Inspired by Brené Brown's words on belonging, Laurie explores why staying true to yourself is essential, even in a world that often pressures us to conform. Laurie shares personal stories of breaking free from expectations in her career and relationships, emphasising the freedom that comes from choosing a life aligned with your own values.

You'll discover practical steps to start recognising when you're slipping into "fitting in" mode and learn simple actions to stand firm in your authentic s...

In this special episode of the Sisterhood Collective Podcast, Samantha Jackson, psychologist, organizational coach, and human factors professional, takes the host seat to interview our founder, Laurie. 

They take a deep dive into her journey of building the Sisterhood Collective, the story behind her passion for empowering women, and her transition from solo entrepreneur to community leader. Laurie shares her insights on overcoming limiting beliefs, creating supportive networks, and balancing ambition with enjoying the journey. 

The episode is packed with real-talk (from playing netball with the bullies and why has she become a crazy cat la...

In today's episode, I sit down with the incredible Jess Richards—Australian fitness influencer, entrepreneur, and daughter of one of Shark Tank Australia's familiar faces. We dive into the importance of authenticity and how Jess stays true to herself in an often filtered and polished world. She shares her journey into fitness, her entrepreneurial influences, and her powerful mindset around navigating the ups and downs of both fitness and life.

One of the key insights Jess shares is the concept of treating life like seasons, rather than getting stuck when things don't go as planned. Whether it's a...