Bump to Business Owner

As a child, Nikki dragged her parents round holiday karaoke bars so she could sing My Heart Will Go On. At 14 she found a drama school prospectus in the school library and decided that's where she was going. Her careers adviser told her to come back with a better idea.

She did go to drama school. After years of auditions, near misses and temping to pay the bills, she landed roles in Hairspray and Fame. Then, wanting to settle down and start a family, she put performing on the shelf. She and her husband Simon started Jam...

Trigger Warning: This episode talks about baby loss, extreme premature birth, NICU and PICU stays, an infant cardiac arrest, birth trauma, PTSD and parental mental health. Please listen when it feels right for you, and look after yourself.

In 2015, Lottie King went into extremely premature labour with twin boys, Leo and Oscar. Leo died shortly after birth. Oscar spent more than 100 days in neonatal care and then years in and out of hospital, so Lottie left her PR career to become his full-time carer.

Lottie talks to Caroline about the years after NICU...

Caroline Marshall shares her personal journey through redundancy, motherhood, and building confidence. She offers practical insights on overcoming challenges, external validation, and the importance of time and perspective in healing.

This podcast is the third in a three part series all about redundancy.

You can hear Part 1, here https://pod.fo/e/433a31

And Part 2, here https://pod.fo/e/4392e1 

Key topics:

Redundancy and its impact on confidence

The role of motherhood in personal growth

External validation and awards as confidence boosters

T...

Caroline Marshall shares her personal experience navigating unfair redundancy, highlighting the importance of support networks, strategic responses, and self-care during career crises.

This podcast is the second in a three part series all about redundancy, you can hear Part 1, here: https://pod.fo/e/433a31 

Key topics:

Chapters:

00:30 Introduction

01:03 The emotional impact of redundancy

02:25 Navigating the initial shock

04:08 Seeking support and g...

Caroline Marshall shares her personal redundancy story, highlighting the importance of fair treatment and systemic issues in startups. This episode offers insights into navigating redundancy with dignity, supporting women and mothers, and understanding systemic flaws.

This podcast is the first in a three part series all about redundancy: stay tuned for advice on how to manage the process, and how to recover from it.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:30 Redundancy and Caroline's personal journey

03:36 The impact of redundancy on women and mothers

08:41 Navigating workplace challenges during pregnancy

14:19 Caroline's...

In this episode, Caroline Marshall interviews Sophie Catto and Nicole Goodwin, leaders of AllBright everywoman, about supporting women in their careers, motherhood, and leadership. They discuss the impact of motherhood on career confidence, the importance of community and corporate support, and initiatives like Motherhood Works to empower women at key life stages.

Resources:

The All BrightYellow Nest

Topics:

Why purpose is so important for women in their careers

How motherhood impacts ambition and definitions of success

Merging two businesses with different MOs but the same purpose

In our final episode in our collaborative mini series with Lucy Legal, Caroline chats to Rachel Childs. Rachel is a relationship coach and founder of Parents That Work, and shares insights on maintaining connection, equality, and emotional support in relationships after parenthood. This episode explores the impact of COVID, gender norms, and practical strategies for healthier partnerships.

This episode is brought to you in collaboration with Lucy Legal and her Get Legit Hub. Don't trust ChatGPT for legal advice! Go to www.lucylegal.co.uk/the-hub for real legal guidance, templates and support.

To hear...

Caroline and Lucy Legal explore the multifaceted use of AI in business and daily life, addressing misconceptions, legal considerations, and practical applications. They discuss how women are navigating AI's challenges and opportunities, emphasising responsible use and strategic integration.

This episode is brought to you in collaboration with Lucy Legal and her Get Legit Hub. Don't trust ChatGPT for legal advice! Go to www.lucylegal.co.uk/the-hub for real legal guidance, templates and support.

To hear the rest of collaboration with Lucy Legal listen to

Episode 102 - Mum guilt, leveraging audiences and making £23k...

Sophia Jarvis, CEO of Mia Wealth, shares her journey through high-risk pregnancy, neonatal intensive care, and building a fintech startup while navigating motherhood. Discover insights on balancing ambition, personal resilience, and innovative approaches to children's financial futures.

This episode is brought to you in collaboration with Lucy Legal and her Get Legit Hub. Don't trust ChatGPT for legal advice! Go to www.lucylegal.co.uk/the-hub for real legal guidance, templates and support.

To hear the rest of collaboration with Lucy Legal listen to

Episode 102 - Mum guilt, leveraging audiences and making £23k i...

In this conversation, Caroline Marshall and Lucy Legal discuss the often unspoken realities of maternity leave for business owners. They explore the differences between expectations and reality, the challenges of maintaining identity while navigating motherhood, and the importance of flexibility in work-life balance. The discussion also touches on shared parental leave experiences, the impact of different children on parenting, and the struggles of returning to work after having a baby. Ultimately, they emphasise the need for open conversations about the complexities of motherhood and the choices women make.

Please note, Lucy and Caroline are both UK based...

Trigger Warning: Discussion of Sudden Infant Collapse and PTSD

In this special episode Lucy interviews Caroline as she reflects on her journey through motherhood, entrepreneurship, and overcoming challenges, sharing insights on balancing business and family, mental health, and the importance of community support.

This episode is brought to you in collaboration with Lucy Legal and her Get Legit Hub. Don't trust ChatGPT for legal advice! Go to www.lucylegal.co.uk/the-hub for real legal guidance, templates and support.

To hear the rest of collaboration with Lucy Legal listen to

To...

In this episode, Caroline Marshall and Lucy Legal discuss the transformative journey of designing a career around family rather than conforming to traditional work structures. Lucy shares her experiences transitioning from a conventional legal career to creating a flexible business that aligns with her values as a mother. They explore themes of success, personal challenges, societal expectations, and the courage it takes to pursue a different path in life and work.

This episode is brought to you in collaboration with Lucy Legal and her Get Legit Hub. Don't trust ChatGPT for legal advice! Go to www.lucylegal...

Amy Grilli shares her inspiring journey from teacher to co-founder of Five Hour Club, a platform revolutionising flexible work for parents. Discover how her viral LinkedIn post sparked a movement, the importance of flexible careers for mums, and practical tips for balancing work and family.

Topics:

Chapters:

00:00 Intro<...

Caroline reflects on the challenges of maintaining momentum in business, especially during tough times, and shares practical tips on resilience, human connection, and self-care. She emphasises the importance of showing up, normalizing rest, and pivoting when needed, all while celebrating her podcast milestone.

Topics:

Consistency is key - keep showing up even when it feels hard

Normalise taking rest and personal days to recharge

Build human connection to support mental health and business growth

Pivot and change your mind without guilt, explore new paths

Chapters:

In this episode, Caroline Marshall interviews Olivia and Tanyka Davson, sisters and co-founders of Cubbi, the UK's first parental leave discount platform. They share their journey from no-code MVP to national platform, navigating entrepreneurship during early motherhood, pitching on Dragon's Den, and building a mission-led business that supports new parents financially and emotionally.

Topics:

Building a no-code MVP during early motherhood

Securing brand partnerships and investment

Navigating pregnancy and entrepreneurship

The impact of AI tools on startup development

Chapters:

00:30 Introduction to Cubbi and Its Founders<...

Rosie Nixon, former editor-in-chief of Hello Magazine, shares her journey from high-profile journalism to coaching and retreats. This episode explores her career pivots, overcoming burnout, and redefining her identity and values in midlife.

Topics:

Career transition from magazine editor to coach
Overcoming burnout and stress management
The importance of values and self-awareness in reinvention

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Rosie Nixon's Journey
08:14 The Impact of Motherhood on Career Identity
11:10 Balancing Work and Family Life
14:07 Experiencing Burnout
16:37 Redefining Identity Beyond Work
19:19 Creating Supportive Work Environments for Women<...

How was your first Christmas with a baby? Mine was…not as I had hoped. And I think that's the same for everyone. Your life has changed fundamentally, but Christmas just keeps being Christmas, with the same old family dynamics. And I found that rough, I definitely had a Christmas Crash - if that is/was you too, you're not alone

Christmas is a triggering time for everyone, and we all need to do what we gotta do to get through it. I'm sharing what I've learnt for how to manage (mitigate?) Christmas, Bailey's in hand, from th...

There's a lot of expectation when you become a mum: how it will be, the friends you will make, the support you'll have, what work will look like; what Christmas will look like.

The gulf between our expectations and reality is very real, and Dr Tuesday Watts-Overall is here to tell you: you're in the messy middle, and that's OK.

Dr Tuesday shares her tools for navigating the huge pressure we put on ourselves as mums, particularly at this time of year, and how we can be more human to ourselves. We're in the messy...

What do you do when your boss tells you your pregnancy is "inconvenient"?

Start your own business.

Alice Holland-Lu used her 15 years of experience in luxury fashion to launch her own brand, based on her own experiences and struggles as her body changed throughout pregnancy and beyond.

Alice has built a hyper-local business model, a community and an emotionally-led brand, whilst carting her kids to the factory after school. What else can you do when you only have 2 days a week of childcare?

Our conversation is full of advice for women...

Trigger Warning: there is a brief discussion of maternal mental health and suicide.

2025 has gone really fast, and it has been A Lot. There have been a lot of lessons, and I'm sharing 3 of mine in the hope that it will encourage you to reflect, celebrate how far you've come and recognise the challenges you've faced.

Bonus lesson? Don't ask ChatGPT to tell you what you've learnt, before you ask yourself! I'll share the 3 tiered lessons AI told me I've learnt this year - and as with everything AI does, the answers were pretty bland...

Kira Mahal has never taken the conventional route - from holding a marketing event in lieu of interviewing for jobs, to leaving a lucrative finance career with no plan, no savings and no clear vision.

Self-described as "barking mad", Kira and her husband went all into their business. On the cusp of a life and business changing corporate contract, the world went into lockdown and they lost £1.8million in VC funding. Pivoting back to their B2C business, Kira turned to the journals she'd been keeping along the way and put into practice what she learnt from h...

Rachel and I met on the Goldman Sachs 10KSB programme in February and instantly gravitated towards another. Both mums, both struggling with being away from family, but determined to grow our businesses, despite all the challenges that motherhood/founderhood bring.

My conversation with Rachel is almost excoriatingly honest about the impact of motherhood on her business, and herself. These are the conversations we need to have with women, founders, mums and would-be mums. Because the internet will tell you, you can have it all, but the reality isn't quite like that.

The economy, the strength...

I don't do New Year's Resolutions. December isn't a straightforward month for me, personally, and my energy levels in January after juggling school holidays and all the Christmas fun just aren't up to "starting the new year strong". So I've restructured my business year, and my mindset to fit my realities.

In this episode I'm sharing:

Rebel with me.

More o...

Something a little different this week. I was at the UK Virtual Assistant awards last week celebrating the industry and gratefully receiving a couple of awards, on behalf of the business and the podcast team!

While I was there, I did some live interviews with some incredible VAs and business women, who also happen to be mums, my industry peers and friends. They are sharing their wisdom and experiences of building businesses, working flexibly and prioritising their family.

It was a very fun (by which I mean loud) atmosphere, so apologies for the background noise...

Trigger warning: This episode was recorded during Baby Loss Awareness Week and includes discussion of miscarriage and baby loss. Please take care of yourself.

This conversation is long overdue. Amanda Johnson, or The Amanda Johnson as she's known in the Virtual Assistant industry, is founder and coach at the VA Training Academy, host of the UK VA Awards and my mentor.

Before becoming a Titan of the VA industry, Amanda had a 23 year career in the military, until personal tragedy changed her priorities. Despite not personally inventing the field (listen in!) Amanda pivoted to becoming...

We're wrapping up the Assistant miniseries with a big-picture conversation, the future of the assistant and VA industry.

I've been in this world for over 15 years, and in that time I've seen the role change again and again, from the 2009 crash, to the explosion of tech tools, and now to AI.

In this episode, I'm talking about where I see things going, what makes our work truly irreplaceable, and why assistants need to be visible, strategic partners (not an exec's "secret weapon"). I'm also sharing my thoughts on niching, the growing operational side of our...

Onboarding is my area of geek, my Mastermind subject.

In this week's episode I am sharing my best practice tips for creating a great onboarding process, why it's so important, where your focus should be throughout and why you should be trying to remove yourself from it as much as possible.

This is episode three of a four-part mini series for the Assistant community, each episode is accompanied by a free downloadable resource.

Download your free onboarding checklist here

Listen to the rest of the series:

Inbox Zero
...

The question I get asked the most by Virtual Assistants is: 'How do I find clients?'

There is no secret recipe - it takes time, it takes work, and it takes trying things out.

I'm sharing how I found my first client, where I've invested money and time to find them and the one thing that really sets me apart when it comes to sales.

In December I'm hosting a panel for the Strategic PA Network: Clients for Keeps: Building a sustainable client base and coworking afterwards, if you'd like more client...

I came close to cancelling the podcast. In this episode I tell you why, and why I think it's healthy to reevaluate every so often as a business owner.

But we're back! And with something slightly different. A miniseries for my Assistant community especially, but with a lot of value for anyone starting a business.

This week I'm sharing my tips for Inbox Zero - why it's so important and how to get there.

This is episode one of a four-part mini series for the Assistant community, each episode is accompanied by a...

Have you heard of operational overload? Maybe not, but chances are you know how it feels.

This week my guests are Nonie White and Yvonne Biggins of Positive Entrepreneurship, authors of the The True Cost of Female Entrepreneurship report.

The report makes for stark, but not surprising, reading - 83% of female founders are experiencing high stress, 66% experience extreme loneliness, we have 75% greater responsibility for the household, but 97% of us enjoy the journey.

We know the system is not built for us, we know the challenges we face as female founders. Nonie and Yvonne...

My guest on the podcast this week is Anna Bailey, founder of the Assistant community Pally Talk. She launched her business and 2 months later had her first baby, in her own words, the last year has been 'hardcore'.

Anna has a lot of practical insight into navigating a business and new baby concurrently - this is your sign to start sliding into people's DMs on LinkedIn.

We spoke really honestly about social media v reality, not only of motherhood, but the assistant world and when, for Anna, revenue finally started coming in from the business.<...

In 5 years I've gone from a one woman Virtual Assistant 'agency' to a team of 36. And I have learnt A Lot.

Much of which I have learnt the hard way. 

In today's episode, I'm sharing my 5 biggest learnings (there are so many still to talk about, I feel like I could do a whole season on it!) from the last 5 years.

I've learnt from mistakes, I've learnt from the people around me, some of these lessons I am still learning, and might be a lifelong process. 

Resources:

Nic...

Be honest - how is your poo?

My guest this week is Lisa Macfarlane, co-founder of The Gut Stuff, and she wants you to take better care of your gut. Lisa explains why gut health is so important, some easy wins to improve your own and why she went from Love Island DJ to gut evangelist.

We also talk about the nuts and bolts of scaling a business - from building a brand and community as market research for the business, to pre-seed and VC funding, and creating an ecosystem with 3 different business arms. Lisa...

The 5 stages of burnout are very familiar to me. I've been there, and even when I thought I had learnt my lessons, narrowly swerved burning out again. As a mum, especially a mum with a business, I'm sure at least a few of the stages are familiar to you too.

My guest on this week's episode is Dr Claire Ashely, aka The Burnout Doctor. Claire was a highly successful doctor, used to pretty extreme levels of stress. And then with 2 small kids, a house renovation and a difficult work environment, she burnt out.

Claire is...

Last year I decided to push myself and try something new for me and my business. As a founder and mum of 2, I don't have time to be out there relationship building rather than selling.

So I tried cold sales - and it worked!

Cold sales have, sometimes justifiably, a bad rap - I'm sharing my worst experiences from both sides of the sale. But it really worked for me. In this episode I share my conversion rates, my 'how to' and the mindset tips that helped me succeed.

Resources:

LinkedIn...

This week on Bump to Business Owner, I'm joined by Danielle Lauren, creative powerhouse, former media exec, and founder of Way Too Honest, a business born from the depths of postpartum struggle and radical maternal honesty.

From working at the top of global media giants like CNN and Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine, to battling severe pre- and postnatal depression, Danielle opens up about her experience of motherhood, identity loss, and rebuilding a life and business with purpose.

TRIGGER WARNING: Discussion of pre/post natal depression and suicidal thoughts

Takeaways:

The identity...

How do you stay motivated to keep going when times get tough in your business?

Good question. And an increasingly important one as the economy continues to fluctuate with tariffs, UK legislation and uncertainty creep in.

In January I was in a difficult situation with my business, but I got through it and learnt a lot. This week, I'm sharing my tips for keeping going when times are tough in your business.

Takeaways

The realities of being a working mum

Keeping going when times get hard in y...

This week on Bump To Business Owner, I'm joined by Ning Cheah, founder of The Beauty Crop, mum of two, and former banker turned beauty entrepreneur. What started as a side hustle to solve her own skin struggles has grown into a multi-million dollar brand, stocked by the likes of Boots and ASOS.

In this honest and wide-ranging chat, Ning shares how burnout led her to rethink everything, the fertility struggles she faced while building a business, and the two very different maternity leaves that followed. She opens up about the realities of scaling, the pressure of...

What is your story?
What is your super power?
What do you want to be known for?

In today's episode of the podcast I'm giving away all my PR tips.

In the last 5 years me and my business have been featured in
Grazia
The Guardian
The Independent
The Daily Mail
Waitrose Magazine

To name just a few. And all of that has been under my own steam, no PR experience, no connections. 

If you're looking for some PR coverage for your business, this is f...

My guest this week is Lauren Currie OBE, mother of one, founder of 6 businesses and PTSD survivor. Lauren is a serial entrepreneur, who after being featured as the only woman on an event bill decided she needed to build something to challenge the lie of meritocracy. Her business, Upfront, was born.

As a systems and organisational designer, Lauren is ideally placed to see where the holes are in our society and where we need to work on them, together. The game is rigged, it might just be that our privilege means that motherhood is the first time...