Anatomy of a Leader with Maria Hvorostovsky

Check out this course ⁠⁠https://corporateladderdecoded.com/aff/6/⁠ to accelerate your career and unlock your earning potential - full transparency: purchasing the course supports us, at no extra cost to you. Are you a young manager leading a team of people who are all older than you? This week, I sat down with Heather Elkington, a leadership coach, author and social media star helping new managers become high-performing leaders. If you’re feeling a lack of confidence in your management role, and want both advice and inspiration, then this episode is for you. Timestamps: 02:01 - Becoming Obsessed with Working From a Young Age 04:55 - Firing People as a Young Manager 08:02 - Why You Should Work for a Small Company in the Beginning of Your Career 14:15 - From Being a Ruthless Control Freak to Learning to be Kinder 18:55 - Trying to Meet Harrods’ Impossible Standards 23:00 - Why Seeking Approval in Decision-Making Can Make You a Bad Manager 27:20 - Having the Courage of a Straight White Man 30:19 - Good Bosses, Bad Bosses, and Why You Should Take Control of Your Own Career 47:48 - Gen Z: Are They Entitled, or do They Just Know What They Want? 57:08 - Why You Should be Having More Difficult Conversations 01:08:08 - Emotional Intelligence 01:11:32 - Blame and Jealousy: Why We Feel it and How to Cope With it 01:18:57 - Leading With Intention 01:27:39 - What Are the Skills a Young Leader Needs to Develop? 01:33:30 - Why You Should Let Your Team Fail 01:39:21 - Learning How to Get Yourself Out of a Problem Heather is the founder of In the Making Leadership, a company which was born from her own experiences of managing teams where everyone was older than her. She’s spent the last 10 years leading fast-growing and effective SaaS companies like GoProposal and Sage, where she was Director of Operations, and she’s not even 30 yet! *** Love Anatomy of a Leader? Help us grow! Check us out on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/ba3uVmwxVRvOXgEzBs4e Heather Elkington: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/heather-elkington Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipheather/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leadershipheather Website: inthemakingleadership.substack.com/ Maria Hvorostovsky: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com Podcast filmed, edited and produced by: https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Help us grow - check out Fountain fountain.fm This week’s guest is Isabel Berwick, an expert in helping people navigate post-pandemic careers and understand workplace cultures, in order for them to thrive at work. The workplace has long been a site of drama - dealing with bad bosses, navigating office politics, salary negotiations, and the dreary 9-to-5 routine, not to mention sexist comments in the boardroom. But, as the workforce evolves with the entry of Gen Z, current workplace cultures are being questioned, as they no longer align with contemporary work expectations. If this is something you’re interested in, then this episode is for you! Timestamps: 00:00 - The Messiness of Workplaces and Human Drama 04:09 - Workplace Emotions and Handling Polarisation Within Companies 09:18 - Workplace Anger and Factors Driving Employee Departures 10:37 - Main Reasons People Leave Their Jobs and the Role of Managers 12:13 - Challenges in Recruitment and Making Placements Work 14:21 - Questions to Ask Your Potential New Boss in an Interview 17:35 - Boomerang Employees 19:26 - Gen Z’s Perspective on Bad Bosses and Evolving Mentorship 21:06 - Gender Pay Gap and Transparency Measures in the Workplace 23:45 - Salaries and Negotiation: To Ask or Not to Ask? 25:53 - Closing the Gender Pay Gap: Strategies for Pay Equality and Diverse Leadership 26:49 - Shifting from Token Diversity to Inclusive Leadership 28:11 - Charisma in Leadership: Inspiring or Dangerous? 31:16 - Messy Workplaces: The Impact of Fear, Avoidance, and Communication Gaps 33:07 - The Problem with Feedback 38:11 - Accepting Your Blind Spots 40:52 - Why Radical Transparency is Unhelpful 41:58 - Learning from Younger Generations 42:48 - Isabel’s New Book: The Future-Proof Career 45:03 - AI, Pandemic, and the Future of Work 48:42 - Office Pros and the Notion of Belonging 52:34 - The Biggest Changes in Employee Expectations 55:55 - Matching Personal Strengths with Company Needs: Neurodiversity and Skills Alignment 01:01:41 - New Year’s Resolutions for Professional Growth 01:07:53 - Books that Shaped Isabel’s Thinking in the Past Year 01:11:07 - Exploring Failure and Its Role in Success 01:12:31 - Becoming Better Followers and Leadership Loneliness Isabel is the host of the Financial Times Working It podcast and author of its namesake newsletter. She moderates FT events, serves as the editorial lead for the FT Women in Business Forum, and is author of an upcoming book about thriving in the workplace - The Future-Proof Career. Isabel Berwick: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabel-berwick-8b4922167/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/isabelberwick/?hl=en-gb X: https://twitter.com/IsabelBerwick Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/working-it/id1591925469 FT: https://www.ft.com/working-it Maria Hvorostovsky: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com Buy the Books: The Future Proof Career by Isabel Berwick - https://amzn.to/3NRirpm From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks - https://amzn.to/3tzaa2E The 100-Year Life by Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott - https://amzn.to/48nVVgd Right Kind of Wrong by Amy Edmondson - https://amzn.to/3TNBjcN Playing Big by Tara Mohr - https://amzn.to/3TS5wrg Podcast filmed, edited and produced by: https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com Check out the podcast on Fountain - https://fountain.fm/show/ba3uVmwxVRvOXgEzBs4e LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Happy New Year from all of us at Anatomy of a Leader! Are you wrapped in a warm blanket not ready for the world, considering quitting your job so you don’t have to face your toxic boss ever again? Before you make any rash decisions - I’ve put together a clip from one of the most downloaded episodes of 2023 with Kate Waterfall Hill - leadership coach and TikTok sensation with her Linda the toxic boss persona. In this clip I ask Kate: - How to spot a toxic boss - How to have a tough conversation with them - How to figure out your values Are you struggling with a toxic boss? Let me know in the comments or leave a review in Apple Podcasts with your thoughts. Kate Waterfall Hill: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-waterfall-hill/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katewaterfallhill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katewaterfallhill/ Website: https://www.waterfallhill.co.uk/ Maria Hvorostovsky: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com Buy the Books: The Intentional Leader by Tim Hebert - https://amzn.to/3LG6kdE The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier - https://amzn.to/3rmMBsM Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Dr Julie Smith - https://amzn.to/46tQyKZ Podcast filmed, edited and produced by: https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Buy the book: https://amzn.to/3MCG8jT (Bill Bailey's Remarkable Guide to Happiness) Bill is witty, humble and full of wisdom. I felt very fortunate to have spent two hours getting to understand his mind. I’m sure you will love this conversation as much as I did. #billbailey #humour #christmas Timestamps: 02:40 - Bill growing up with many interests 05:36 - When did you discover you were funny? 09:30 - Being an outcast 11:34 - How do you measure success for yourself? 13:51 - What’s your process of writing shows? 24:09 - How to balance the need for being funny and combining serious topics? 26:09 - What is humour? 29:23 - Why do we have the need to laugh as humans? 32:49 - What’s your worst joke? 39:33 - The thrill of performance 41:32 - Sharing the stage with Robin Williams / depression 46:23 - Feeling down at Christmas 50:27 - What hardship have you endured and what did they teach you? 52:31 - Grief & loss of Bill’s mother 58:29 - Loss of Sean Lock - comedian and close friend 57:53 - Performing at Royal Opera House 01:04:56 - What did you enjoy more, Strictly Come Dancing or Royal Opera House? 01:08:49 - How did what you learn at Strictly inform future performances? 01:19:52 - Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? 01:23:23 - Advice for younger self & finding your own voice Bill Bailey is one of the most brilliant performers of our time. Although renowned for his stand-up comedy, Bill is much more versatile than that. He is a skilled musician, incorporating musical elements in his shows. He did that brilliantly recently at The Royal Opera House. It turns out he is a very skilled dancer as well, having won Strictly Come Dancing in 2020 with his dance partner Oti Mabuse. He has appeared in a variety of television shows and films, including Black Books, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and Doctor Who and has written several books, including Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide to Happiness, which we discuss on the show. We talked about: * His many interests and how he has combined them in unique ways * Being an outcast * Performing with Robin Williams / depression in comedians * Grief and the death of his mother * His advice on happiness at Christmas * Finding your own voice * Finding confidence * Role of humour in society * His worst joke * And whether Strictly Come Dancing was his most favourite performance Bill Bailey: X: https://twitter.com/BillBailey IG: https://www.instagram.com/billbaileyofficial/ Website: https://billbailey.co.uk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/billbailey Follow Maria Hvorostovsky: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com Contact: anatomyofaleader@hvosearch.com Podcast filmed, edited and produced by: https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com/ Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

To win the giveaway: fill in this survey - https://form.typeform.com/to/Tyq9H0gd - subscribe and follow the show, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Do skincare businesses need to be more deliberate and thoughtful? These days, the desire for flawless, untextured, dewy skin has brought in a wave of skincare products which supposedly help you achieve it. But are these businesses prioritising speed over substance? Today’s guest shows that doing something slowly and authentically - rather than what everyone else is doing - can produce the best results. If you want a glimpse into the success story of a business that is a force for good in the world, or if, like me, you’ve got a passion for skincare, you don’t want to miss this episode! Timestamps: 00:00 - How Did Pai Skincare Start? 01:32 - Being Diagnosed with Chronic Urticaria 03:11 - Navigating the Beauty Abyss: A Sensitive Skin Journey 06:43 - Limited Options for Sensitive Skin 08:37 - Skincare for the Sensitive Customer: Pai Skincare's Vision 10:09 - 3 Years of Urticaria Flare-Ups and No Improvement 11:19 - Entrepreneurial Spirit: From Selling Crosswords in School to the Wine Industry 13:06 - The Final Flare-Up: A Turning Point in Sarah's Career 14:29 - Noticing Patterns and Making Lifestyle Changes 18:04 - Which Skincare Ingredients Made Her Skin Worse? 19:35 - Common Skincare Ingredients you Should Avoid 23:11 - Pai Skincare Formulas: Thoughtful Ingredients for Sensitive Skin 25:32 - Maintaining Control over Manufacturing 29:47 - Staying True to Your Values: The Heart of Pai Skincare 35:52 - The Lowest Low: Nearly Losing Her Eyesight 38:56 - Pai Skincare's Pivotal Moment: Natalie Portman's Seal of Approval 45:08 - Personal Qualities and Business Growth: Sarah's Journey 46:03 - Fundraising Insights: From Bank Debt to Angel Investors 56:21 - Business During COVID: Challenges and Contributions 59:54 - How Pai Skincare Made a Difference During Covid by Making Hand Sanitizer 01:06:39 - Ethical Pricing: Navigating Tough Choices During Crisis 01:10:17 - Personal Growth: Resilience and Problem-Solving 01:15:15 - How to Stay Focused 01:20:14 - Skincare Tips 01:26:43 - The Importance of Sleep for Healthy Skin 01:30:13 - Gut Health and Skin: Understanding the Connection Meet Sarah Brown, the Founder of Pai Skincare. She founded it in 2007 as a solution to her own skin allergies. Having suffered with Chronic Urticaria since age 25, she felt let down by products claiming to be “hypoallergenic” and “organic”, when all they did was irritate her skin further. Pai offers certified organic products, now revered by those seeking skin confidence after trying numerous alternatives. With an ingredient policy focused on transparency, Pai helps its global following of sensitive souls navigate the tricky world of skincare. The brand, which started in a garage in West London now exports to over 50 countries. All Pai products, endorsed by A-list celebrities like Natalie Portman, are crafted in-house by London-based organic cosmetic specialists. Sarah Brown: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarah-brown-3616113 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paiskincare_sarah/ Brand Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paiskincare/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@paiskincare?lang=en X: https://twitter.com/PaiSkincare Website: https://www.paiskincare.com/ Follow Maria Hvorostovsky: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com Contact: anatomyofaleader@hvosearch.com Podcast filmed, edited and produced by: https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com/ Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

We’re not older, we’re just hotter. To win the giveaway - fill in this survey - https://form.typeform.com/to/Tyq9H0gd / subscribe and follow the show and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! I admit, I am in denial that I will ever be going through menopause (I’m sure many women are). I don’t want to think about yet another life change. I just had my kids. And maybe that’s the problem. As a society we are pretending that these issues don’t exist, resulting in a lack of representation and systems that reflect women’s needs at different life stages. We still prize youth in women and don’t see enough models of what life looks like as you age. My guest today is a trailblazer who is rewriting the narrative and proving that you don’t need to be 30 under 30 to overcome addictions, battle self-hate AND start a new business. Tune in if you want to be seriously inspired about carving out your own path and doing it on your own terms. Timestamps: 00:00 - Trailer and Introduction 00:53 - Turning 50: Thriving in Health, Wisdom, and Defying Norms 06:00 - Facing Failure and Embracing Authenticity 09:30 - Confronting Menopause: Reflecting, Adapting, and Redefining Ageing 11:50 - Cherishing your 40s: Confidence, Inner Connection, and Breaking Free 17:07 - Overcoming Addiction and Self-Destructive Patterns 19:12 - Ditching People-Pleasing for Authenticity 26:06 - The Power of the Mind: Intrusive Thoughts and Learning to be Vulnerable 30:22 - Understanding Your Shadow Self 33:52 - Embracing Discomfort and Rejecting the Idea of Retirement 35:17 - Masculinity and Femininity: Debunking Gender Stereotypes 38:26 - Moods, Emotions, and Menstrual Cycles 45:06 - Demystifying Menopause: Challenges, Lifestyle, and Lack of Education 51:30 - Empowering Women: Sexuality, Ageism, and Knowledge Sharing 53:37 - How to Recognise the Signs of Menopause 55:39 - Taking Accountability for your Health: Ageing, Vitamins, and Self-Care 56:51 - Just Hotter: A Platform for Women's Health and Empowerment 01:02:28 - The Inner Mentor: How to Know Yourself Better 01:07:08 - Embracing Change: The Power of the New Generation Meet Sarah Curran, the visionary Founder and self-proclaimed Chief Menopause Officer of Just Hotter, a retail platform which delivers a personalised experience for women going through perimenopause and the menopause, giving them access to products, as well as health and wellness content. Sarah’s mission is to bring menopause out of the shadows, and to empower Gen X women so they can continue to lead happy and fulfilled lives heading into their 40s, 50s and beyond with the mantra: We’re not older, we’re Just Hotter. Sarah Curran: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarahcurranmbe Website: https://justhotter.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/just.hotter/ Follow Maria Hvorostovsky: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com Contact: anatomyofaleader@hvosearch.com Buy the book: Playing Big by Tara Mohr: https://amzn.to/3GIXDfK Podcast filmed, edited and produced by: https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com/ Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

In this short clip, I’m revisiting my conversation with Stuart Trevor, the founder of AllSaints. I ask Stuart what the early days of AllSaints were like, from the strategies he used to expand the store, to connecting with younger demographics, as well as why he decided to sell the business. If you’re a fan of the AllSaints brand and want to peek behind the scenes of an iconic British brand, are looking for insights into expanding your own brand, or are thinking about selling, then tune in! Since selling AllSaints, Stuart has created a new fashion brand - STUART TREVOR - which is focused on producing clothes from recycled clothing or deadstock fabric. You can find out more on his website: www.stuarttrevor.com  If you enjoyed this short clip, check out the full episode with Stuart Trevor, which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiSV1zGUuOY&t=3823s  Stuart Trevor: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-trevor-b201b912/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/stuart_trevor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stuart.trevor/ Follow Maria Hvorostovsky: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com Podcast filmed, edited and produced by: https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com/ LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

When you’re a founder, when is it the right time to sell your business? In this short clip, I speak to Aaron Chatterley, the co-founder of FeelUnique - the largest online retailer of beauty products in Europe - about his experience with exiting the business. He tells me about deciding to sell to Sephora, and whether it was the right decision to sell to private equity. Additionally, Aaron provides valuable advice for founders planning their own exit. If you’re a founder planning your exit, or thinking about whether to sell to private equity then this episode may be for you. Since exiting FeelUnique, Aaron has started a new brand - Indu - a teenage skincare brand, created with teens, for teens. Check it out! If you enjoyed this short clip, check out the full episode with Aaron Chatterley, which you can find here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5EEWXFBWDizF1OyaCbKIWN Aaron Chatterley: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-chatterley IG: https://www.instagram.com/aaronchatterley Maria Hvorostovsky: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com/ Podcast filmed, edited and produced by: https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com Need help HIRING – https://www.hvosearch.com/ LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Pre-loved fashion used to be a shameful secret you didn’t want your friends to know about. Now, it’s a global business which is showing no signs of stopping. As the owner of a pre-loved marketplace business, how do you navigate the delicate balance between sustainability and profitability? If you’re interested in what it takes to run a pre-loved fashion business, then this episode might be just for you. Timestamps: 00:00 - Trailer and Introduction 04:31 - Antonia's Journey into Sustainable Luxury 06:04 - Acquiring Sign of the Times and Merging Businesses 08:07 - How to Outshine your Competitors 10:28 - How to Balance Profitability and Sustainability 10:35 - Strategies for Educating Customers on Sustainable Choices 12:05 - How the Perception of Resale Products has Changed 13:39 - Behind the Scenes: How do you Ensure Authenticity of your Products? 15:22 - What are the Fashion Items that get Bought the Most? 17:01 - Does the Value of Luxury Handbags Increase over Time 17:59 - Handbag Trends: Tips and Tricks 18:56 - What Fashion Items Stand the Test of Time? 19:38 - Top Tips for Shopping Pre-Owned Fashion Items 22:17 - Why did you Want to Start a Business in the Pre-Loved Market? 23:05 - Starting a Business was Easier than Going for a Job Interview 24:47 - Making Mistakes and Growing from Failure 25:57 - Factoring Failure into your Business 27:26 - The Game-Changing Impact of Social Media 28:41 - Embracing the Unpredictable 30:53 - Antonia’s Perspective on Leadership 31:18 - Not Seeing Yourself as a Leader 33:11 - Business Tips: How to Build a Good Business 43:50 - The Importance of Reflection and Disconnecting 49:46 - Challenges Faced as a Founder: Covid and Fundraising Meet this week’s guest, Antonia Johnstone, the Founder and CEO of Sign of the Times (SOTT) - a luxury pre-owned marketplace pioneering the authentication and valuation of designer goods. In 1976, Sign of the Times began as a store for selling celebrities' clothes. Antonia, a devoted fan, joined the store in 2008. Inspired to democratise luxury fashion and reduce over-consumption in the fashion industry, she founded her own store, Timpany's, in 2009. In 2019, Antonia acquired SOTT, transforming it into what it is today. Antonia Johnstone: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/antonia-johnstone-b6759b72 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sign_ofthetimes/ Website: https://www.wearesott.com/ Maria Hvorostovsky: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com/ Podcast filmed, edited and produced by: https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com Need help HIRING – https://www.hvosearch.com/ LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Are you a female founder with an amazing business, but struggling to raise capital? Or are you an investor who is serious about investing in female founders? For all the incredible female founders out there seeking to secure investment, elevate your networking skills, and make your business shine, this episode is a must-watch! Timestamps: 0:00 - Trailer and Introduction 01:13 - Why do Female Founders Receive Less in Venture Funding? 07:13 - How to Empower Yourself with Skills for Raising Investment 12:09 - Why There’s a Low Success Rate for Funding 16:53 - How to Find the Right Investors 19:01 - How to Network 19:36 - Are Women Bad at Networking? 21:31 - How to Approach Conversations with Potential Investors 24:50 - What Should Investors be Thinking About When it Comes to Funding Female Founders? 25:19 - How Can We Speed up the Process of Achieving Diversity in Investment Firms? 29:07 - How Can Female Founders Assert their Power when Pitching to Investment Firms? 33:03 - The Importance of Gender Balance in Business 35:20 - Supporting the Underdog: Julia’s Personal Experience as a Female Founder 37:26 - How Julia Started Upper Street 38:08 - Taking Inspiration from Bespoke Shoe-making in Hong Kong 42:28 - Funding Challenges in the Footwear Industry 45:36 - What Makes Founders Investable? 01:07:25 - Building a Sustainable Business and the Role of Co-founders ​​Introducing Julia Elliott Brown, a serial entrepreneur with a passion for empowering female founders. She's behind successful ventures like Upper Street, UpMyStreet.com, and is currently the CEO and Founder of Enter The Arena, which helps female founders fly through offering investment expertise and business coaching. Julia is not only a business expert but also a compelling keynote speaker and host of the "Fundraising Stories with Female Founders" podcast. Her book, "RAISE: The Female Founders Guide To Securing Investment," is making waves with a 2023 Business Book Awards nomination. Julia Elliott Brown: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/juliaelliottbrown X: https://twitter.com/juliaelliottb?lang=en Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0o2pNa2BqPaxowewAjSBOF Website: enterthearena.co.uk Books: Eldest Daughter Effect: How First Born Women like Oprah Winfrey, Sheryl Sandberg, JK Rowling and Beyoncé Harness their Strengths - Lisette Schuitemaker and Wies Enthoven https://amzn.to/3Qwr3lJ Maria Hvorostovsky: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com/ Podcast filmed, edited and produced by: https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com Need help HIRING – ⁠http://www.hirewithmaria.com⁠ LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.