The Female Focus: Kaitlin Fritz

Meet the co-founder of Musemio

Kaitlin, along with her female co-founder, wants to make arts and cultural education fun for the kids of today. Musemio blends digital and physical learning that bridges culture with curriculum. We met Kaitlin at our workshop with Startups Magazine and Mac&Moore and we’re excited where Musemio goes next to make cultural learning accessible and immersive.

Did you have a female role model or someone you admired as a kid? 

I think for me my number one role models have been in my family. I have always been surrounded by professional, driven women since a young age. My mum, first and foremost, went back to university in her 40s to follow her passion and become a teacher. There is no age limit on dreaming! I’m also the youngest of 4 siblings, and my sisters have become really successful in law and medicine. 

How do you think your early years have influenced what you do today?

In those early years I didn’t realise how the dots linked together until looking back on it all. As a kid, I was painting before I was writing. I had a creative spark but didn’t know how to harness that. I was the kid saying to my parents, “I’m gonna save the world!”. Now I have honed my creativity and love for the arts and am seeing tangible results from these passions colliding.

What was the spark in which Musemio was born? 

It wasn’t my spark but that of my co-founder Olga who had the idea for Musemio for 2 years. We met at a University of London-wide marketing hackathon programme. It was a serendipitous moment - she wanted to make museums more interactive, whilst I  wanted to make the arts more accessible. We swirled the ideas together, and Musemio was born. For forever, I’ve had a passion, and I didn’t know how to do it. Meeting Olga changed it all. She’s got a background in arts management and the technical know-how that I didn’t have to make it a reality.

What has been your most exciting milestone so far?

For me, it was the findings from a big piece of research we did with the UCL Educate and xEdu  in which we tested 3,000 kids over the course of 6 months. We visited schools across the UK - at one point we saw 400 kids in one day! - and across the spectrum, from those with different backgrounds, learning abilities and ethnicities. The reaction to Musemio from the children was so encouraging. They were genuinely excited and interested to learn and tugging on their parents’ arms to get them to sign up to Musemio.

Musemio’s ambition is to make cultural education accessible to every child. That’s no mean feat. How are you taking the steps to reach so many children?

We’ve partnered with Bethnal Green Ventures because although we’re a commercial entity, we have a social mission to work with museums and charities, as well as create access to all with a set of free levels. We have worked with children in London who have never even stepped foot in institutions like the British Museum, and we think that needs to change.  We’re eager to help bridge this gap to knowledge and access for children.

What has surprised you most about building Musemio? 

There are both good and bad surprises. The best is seeing your ideas come to fruition in a way you didn’t think was possible. Things change so quickly and getting the recognition from universities and outlets has been amazing, as has the reaction from kids, who are definitely our harshest critics. When you are in the tech space though, there are so many bugs and glitches you have to deal with. Entrepreneurship is the road of surprises!

What have been the essential factors that have enabled you to get to where you are today that you think you'd struggle without?

Our mentor support has been incredible. We’re connected to women in business and industry specific experts in the arts and education sectors, who have paved the way for us. Our universities have helped accelerate us, and it’s been necessary as two foreign women in London. Our mentors provide a non-judgemental, supportive space for us to learn and grow.

What do you think is missing from businesses in building true diversity?

I actually gave a talk about this the other day to university students! People don’t realise diversity is so critical. The world doesn’t need another you on its team, but teams need people with a variety of skills and backgrounds to strengthen and challenge ideas and solutions. I’ve been lucky enough to have been a judge on different entrepreneurship schemes and competitions, and unfortunately teams still look the same. People have to recognize the benefits of diversity and apply this on their teams.

Who's a woman to watch or someone you admire in 2019?

I think Marie Forleo, founder of B-School and author of book Figureoutable, is up there as someone making huge strides in being honest in business. Also, there are so many women in the London enterprise network worth mentioning, but if I listed anyone I’d be leaving out plenty more. I admire the startups coming out of London universities from diverse backgrounds tackling issues like women’s health, educational equity, and new financial solutions. More and more women are getting vocal about entrepreneurship and bringing forth new directions with their visions.

Check out what Musemio is doing right now on Twitter and Facebook.

The Female Focus: Hui Wang

Meet

Hui Wang, founder of Zebee

We had the pleasure of connecting at our workshop with Mac&Moore and Startups Magazine last year and this woman is on a mission to get people connected. Zebee is a community platform for people in their 20’s and 30’s who seek awesome experiences and friendships. Find out how Hui is making it happen.

Did you have a female role model or someone you admired as a kid?

No, not really. That’s probably why I didn’t really want to have a business for a long time. I wanted a normal life, nothing too crazy. I quit my job and went travelling and realised how difficult it is to meet people and travel with. I wanted to solve that problem, more than I was drawn to the concept of building a business. 

How do you think your early years have influenced what you do today?

It’s based on a bit of everything. I hated business from an early age - mainly because my dad was (and is) a businessman and was away a lot. My parents divorced and my mum then set up a business and then I recently found out that my great grandparents had done the same. It clearly runs in the family. As much as I disliked the concept of business as a child, I’ve come to realise that these were all positive influences on me down the line. I took a leap of faith to set up a business. I waited until something triggered me to take that jump. 

Before Zebee you honed your career in product development at brands such as John Lewis, Net A Porter and Rightmove. What skills have you been able to take with you into your venture? 

My soft skills have been invaluable and actually more so than my tech skills. I started gaining these skills at university when I was social secretary of the maths society running loads of events. Having worked in tech for several years I’ve learnt the importance of good practice and process and constantly communicating with people have all served me well in getting Zebee off the ground. 

Is there anything that has surprised you in building Zebee? 

Everything! It definitely hasn’t gone the way I thought it would. For example, the product and business model have changed a lot. The only thing that hasn’t wavered is the vision.

Zebee is a London based community platform for people in their 20’s and 30’s. What’s your ambition for the brand as it starts to take off?

I want to turn Zebee into a global community of people who want to do fun things with each other. Building an online platform is not my main goal - I want to do the reverse and bring people offline. There are so many apps these days and people aren’t connecting. They are lonely, they can’t trust people or companies and they don’t know who to do with their time. I want the platform to bring genuine value to society. 

Do you think we’re facing an epidemic of loneliness?

100%. People don’t talk about it enough. Loneliness doesn’t necessarily mean being alone but being in a state where you don’t feel supported and don’t have anyone to talk to. We want to help champion these people and make sure they’re doing things they want to do, not having to go along with what others want to do when slotting fun and leisure into their lives. I also aim to champion good causes and make people feel good in the process. 

What have been the essential factors that have enabled you to get to where you are today that you think you'd struggle without?

I had some savings to bootstrap the company and I wouldn’t have been able to get to where I am without that buffer. Having good people around me has been essential. I struggle to find female founders to talk to, which is essential as being a female founder can be lonely.

What do you think is missing from businesses in building true diversity?

I think there are two things. Awareness; you don’t know what you don’t know. Your parents would have done things a certain way, exposing you to a collection of people and places. You don’t think about it but being in certain circles means that you may have a lack of awareness of different cultures and ways of living. And then there’s resources. It can be difficult to find good female developers and those from ethnic backgrounds that can do the job you want them to do.

Who's a woman to watch or someone you admire in 2020?

Kerstin Robinson, co founder of Nix and Kix, has been really inspirational to me personally. I saw a talk with her when I was really in need of some advice from a female founder. I took her for coffee and she kindly took the time to talk to me and offered me great advice. There is a huge lack of support for women and Kerstin has taught me the importance of giving back as much as taking help when I need it.

Keep updated on Zebee’s events and movements on Facebook and Instagram.

The Female Focus: Lynsey Pollard

Lynsey Pollard is determined to make all bookshelves diverse

We met Lynsey when we hosted our joint marketing and PR workshop with Mac&Moore and Startups Magazine and were so excited to hear more about her business, Little Box of Books, whose ambition is for more children to see themselves in stories.

“We want to be the benchmark to highlight the industry of inaction and the need for change.
”

Did you have a female role model or someone you admired as a kid? 

Yes. I grew up in a small village in the North East, where there wasn’t much going on. But there was a library. From age nine I was sneaking books from the teen section - (like Harry Potter going for the restricted books at Hogwarts). I accidentally picked up a Judy Blume book and she immediately became my hero. ‘Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret’ absorbed me and opened up a whole new world  that I didn’t know existed. Judy Blume was the first young adult writer who covered topics like sex, that were absolutely taboo. She wanted to make teenagers feel less alone. By simply writing honestly about real life experiences she created massive controversy. I still love her now. 

How do you think your early years have influenced what you do today?

I was a huge reader, there wasn’t much to do living on a farm, so reading was what I did. It was my escapism. My parents definitely taught me to make a difference. My mum used to be a social worker, working on different cases in deprived areas, which taught me the spirit of generosity. They were also part of the church and whilst I rebelled against that part of my childhood, their philanthropy has influenced the work I do today. I want to create freedom for families and books help do this. By reading stories and different life experiences children can feel less alone. 

You are a former journalist and you have years of experience working in communications. Has your career path and skills made your new venture any easier?

There are a lot of life experiences and skills that can make life easier and there are definitely things that I have brought to the business. I was Head of Media at Samaritans and Great Ormond Street Hospital, so I take it for granted but the communication of the brand and knowing how to create exposure comes easy to me. I have a vast network of contacts that I lean on too. Your life is a set of building blocks and you use the blocks at different times. I’m now working closely with people who I met fleetingly years ago in various jobs. 

“By reading stories and different life experiences children can feel less alone. ”

We’re really excited about Little Box of Books. It’s time that children’s books reflected the diverse society we live in. What’s your ambition for the brand as it starts to take off? 

We set up as a business because we want to prove to the publishing industry everybody school and home should have a diverse bookshelf. Paths into publishing are cemented and archaic. There is a belief that certain books aren’t commercially viable and we’re here to show that there is a demand. People have been looking for these books and haven’t been able to find them. Our ambition is for more children to see themselves in stories. BAME children often won’t see themselves in books as the characters are predominantly white, whilst there are hundreds of relics in school libraries of boys portrayed as the heroes, rarely girls. A recent article indicated that children’s career ambitions are set by the time they’re 7. If a child is in an environment where their parents don’t work and the books they read reinforce this, it’s crucial to change their outlook. It’s also important for the economy to encourage children to reach their full potential. We are part of that machinery. We want to be the benchmark to highlight the industry of inaction and the need for change.

We’ve had a great reaction from writers, frustrated with the lack of inroads on diversity and inclusion in literature. We’re championing quality to ensure the books we supply are as top quality as those from reputable publishers. 

Has the literary world taken too long to catch on to diversity? What has been the reaction to your mission so far?

Yes - it’s a tough one. Publishers need to commission more writers and illustrators of colour, they need to commission stories that reflect a diversity in cultures, that speak to a broader range of society. There’s a long line of talented people waiting for the opportunity to publish their stories. It’s outrageous that an industry that produces material for children is not more carefully regulated like the TV industry. It’s not that publishing doesn’t want to be more diverse, it’s just taking far too long to get there. 

Do you have a piece of advice for those looking to start a business? 

Presuming you’ve got the idea and are in the early days of starting your business, here’s my advice. You’ve got to know what you’re going to use social media for. Be strategic, otherwise it will amplify your biggest fears and suck time away from potentially more important things. So understand your end goal. Also look after yourself, to maintain your own mental health and wellbeing. You’ll be consistently challenged so pour into yourself so you can continue to think creatively, challenge yourself and be bold . Finally, know who your cheerleaders are and you may find them in the most unexpected places. A couple of weeks ago we were contacted by the founder of a production company, who has 2 adopted mixed race children. He loves Little Box of Books and offered to shoot a series of films for us for free. Christmas came early!

What have been the essential factors that have enabled you to get to where you are today that you think you'd struggle without? 

I don’t think I can answer this question without mentioning privilege. It’s really tough to start a business. I was a single mum with my first kid and managed to carry on my career at the same time. I was lucky enough to make ends meet to do this. When I set up Little Box of Books my partner invested in it to start it up which enabled me to kickstart it whilst on maternity leave with my second child. More information needs to be shared on how women can get funding to support their startups as there’s less that goes around. Also, my cheerleaders have helped pick me up and keep me motivated, as I don’t have endless assuredness to keep me going!

What do you think is missing from businesses in building true diversity? 

I think it’s about the honest conversation of the network you bring to your business and facing the reality that we all have prejudices which can be hard to face up to. Business leaders need to confront them and look outside their networks. Maybe you consider your network to be diverse but you need to be intentional and committed to the process as various groups don’t have access to training and knowledge. As we look at growing Little Box of Books in the future we want our staff to look like our business. You can’t just talk about representation and inclusion, you need to be authentic and live it.

Who's a woman to watch or someone you admire in 2019? 

Gina Miller, for sure. She has been stoic in the face of abuse. She is doggedly determined to do the right thing. There is controversy around her every move to challenge the government and she shows up again and again with an unbreakable will for justice. Incredible. 

Stay abreast of Lynsey’s journey and The Little Box of Books on Twitter and Instagram.

THE FEMALE FOCUS: EMMA SEXTON

Meet Emma, Serial entrepreneur and Connector

She is the epitome of the word ‘entrepreneur’ and we’re never sure how she makes time to run her business MYWW™, present on talkRADIO for The Badass Women’s Hour, advise at board level on design strategy to brands and businesses, feature as Creative Pool Top 100 Influencer 2017 & 2018 and take up the post of Creative In Residence at King's College, London, Entrepreneurial Institute. Phew!

“I am a bit tired of businesses who decide on a set of values to operate by and decorate them onto a wall but in reality they never get authentically lived”

Did you have a female role model or someone you admired as a kid?

I can’t remember anyone specifically but there were lots of people I admired for different reasons. There were those who intrigued me and had attributes of the person I wanted to become. I suppose I was drawing up my own human Pinterest board. I don’t mean celebrities, I mean people I looked up to and thought, “I want to do that one day”. I was aware of a theme I was drawn to and it was those running a business or a person’s mindset towards life.

How do you think your early years have influenced what you do today?

As much as I had a great upbringing I don’t think I was exposed to enough of the world as a child. I lived in a very comfortable bubble. My desire to go to London and then to finally move here really opened up my world. I had never felt like I fitted because I know I wanted to experience a very different life than what I was seeing around me. I couldn’t identify with them in many ways and I really struggled with that. I sometimes wonder what I would be doing differently had I grown up around more diverse people, lifestyles and culture, for instance.

You’re a business founder, a broadcaster, a speaker and connector and you don’t have an office. How do you create a culture amongst the people you work with?

I can’t count the times I’ve heard people say, “if we don’t have an office, we don’t have a culture”. This couldn’t be further from the truth. At MYWW™, our culture is built on the way we communicate - it is about how we interact with each other, be that face-to-face or via a smartphone. I am a bit tired of businesses who decide on a set of values to operate by and decorate them onto a wall but in reality they never get authentically lived. From the very first day I started my business the culture has been focused on being respectful to one another. We embrace candour and honesty and make sure we have the difficult conversations. We also just get the fucking work done while weaving our lives around our client’s needs. There have definitely been some learnings mastering this approach but it works. It’s a culture we can sustain because it is authentic and people can thrive as individuals.

You’re a propagator for pushing real women’s conversations into the mainstream and redesigning ‘business as usual’ to make it better, not just for women but for everyone. What would be the first thing you’d do in your redesign?

I feel like I am doing it all the time by allowing people to weave life into their work and challenging our traditional ‘masculine’ approach to business. As an employee you are often a resource - there to make someone else more money while the business interest is in paying you the least. I stand by a people first, business second principle. I do not have a business without great people so my job is to keep my team content so they can do the best job for our clients. Happy team = happy client!

What do you think is missing from businesses in building true diversity?

A lack of consciousness. It’s about consciousness versus unconsciousness. If you’re unconscious you’re only seeing the world from your point view. If you’re conscious you learn that there are things you haven’t experienced that others have and you try really hard to understand this as best you can. We have lived in a very one dimensional society for so long and it’s high time we all listen more, raise our awareness and massively dial up our empathy.

What does ‘badass’ mean to you?

For me, it’s about living life on your terms. It’s about being authentic, seeing multiple dimensions to one thing and choosing the one that fits with you and how you want your life to be.

You are positive impact personified! What have been some of the most positive results you’ve seen from the work you do?

It makes me happy that I can make my staff happy. Recently, one of my employees told me that MYWW™ has changed her life. She’s always worked agency-side and was never able to balance work with looking after her child. Now, she can do pick-up from school, work at home when she chooses and vary the times of days she works. She’s happier, less stressed, and no longer feeling like she’s torn between two worlds. That’s important to me. The more money I make the more I can help others live happier work lives. Work has become such a cumbersome thing where people end up self medicating at the weekend and head towards extremes to escape their working lives. It doesn’t have to be this way. I had read so much about better ways to work and what we need to be happy human beings, now I am practicing it rather than talking about it and always happy to share my learnings with anyone else who wants to know how to make it work for them.

“(Being a badass) is about living life on your terms”

How do you keep learning more whilst on the many jobs you have?

I think having a mindset that the more I know the more I realise I don’t know! And you don’t have a choice to keep learning if you want to have a successful business! I am a work in progress and want to keep evolving even if I am 90 years old. As the business changes, I change with it. As I change, the business changes. The day I don’t want to learn is probably the day I am done with life!

What have been the essential factors that have enabled you to get to where you are today that you think you'd struggle without?

Resilience; overcoming fear of rejection; sheer bloody mindedness!

Where do you get your inspiration?

People always inspire me. There are lots of different sources and I keep it varied in the types of people I interact with. Working with the ventures at King’s in my role as Expert in Residence on their award winning accelerator scheme has opened up my eyes to new ideas, technology and fresh business perspectives. Every year, through the initiative, I meet over 40 of some of the smartest entrepreneurs from all the over the world - I gain so much from my sessions with them.

You’re constantly interviewing interesting women on a weekly basis as part of the Badass Women’s Hour. Who's a woman to watch or someone you admire in 2019?

We had an amazing author on, called Tomi Adeyemi, who is the author of the very successful book ‘Children of Blood and Bone’. Her interview was so inspiring so she was one (of so many guests) who really stood out for me. Tomi is only 21 and tipped to be next JK Rowling. She had always really wanted to be an author and hearing her journey of how she went from quitting her job to getting the book published was really special. As a teenager she’d been fixated with fiction but could never identify with it because of her African heritage. She’s rewritten for the genre from her perspective.

Name the quote you live by

“The world will not invite you to the feast. You must burst in, demand a seat, and take it.” John Carlton

I realised early on that no one was going to go, ‘here you go Emma, here’s all the opportunities you are waiting so patiently for’, so I got my head down, decided what I wanted and worked bloody hard to get them all - but I am not stopping yet!

Keep up to date with what Emma does next (we’re sure there’ll be something exciting) on Twitter and Instagram.

THE FEMALE FOCUS: GEORGIE POWELL

Georgie Powell, Founder of SPACE

We’ve been lucky enough to work with Georgie and SPACE, the app she founded to encourage us to have more tech/life balance and less mindless phone scrolling. Georgie tells us why her own tech overdose led her to create SPACE and why millions are downloading it.

“(Having kids) made me realise more than ever that if I am to be working away from them, I need to care about what I do. ”

Did you have a female role model or someone you admired as a kid?

My first headmistress. Her motto was to always make a difference. She had gravitas, poise and purpose.

How do you think your early years have influenced what you do today?

Both of my parents showed me how what you put into life you get out. They both worked hard and I lived abroad for much of my youth, experiencing different cultures whilst living in different places.

What led you down the path of building Space and what has surprised you most about the process so far?

I had been thinking about my relationship with technology for a while - how it didn’t always make me feel great. I had a wakeup moment when I became a new mum, whilst breastfeeding my child, that I was scrolling through photos of her on my phone. She was right there in front of me and I was missing the moment! I instantly became interested in the technology overdose that so many of us are experiencing.

I never anticipated that startup life would be such a rollercoaster. One of the things that put me off corporate life is that success is often based not on what you do, but how you communicate what you do to your peers and bosses. I know I’m having an impact in making this app, but communication is still so important. I have learnt I need to make storytelling present in everything SPACE does. I know I need to find the right way to communicate our successes, our vision, our impact. If this business was run by guys they would spin it into something bigger. I’m conscious of this but haven’t found the solution yet.

Georgie and her baby

How do you keep learning more whilst on the job?

I care so passionately about the issue of tech/life balance and am constantly on the hunt for more research and findings on how it’s impacting people’s lives. It was really important for me to choose a business I really care about. I learn a new skill every day, from building a new email template, to understanding how PR works. There’s an element of enforced learning with start-up life.

What have been the essential factors that have enabled you to get to where you are today that you think you'd struggle without?

Having kids. They gave me the impetus to make this a reality. They made me realise more than ever that if I am to be working away from them, I need to care about what I do. Technology and social media is going to have an impact on their future too.

SPACE has had a lean model from the outset which has allowed for flexibility. I was able to have a day job and launch the venture alongside it, which was great. This meant that I learnt whilst still on the job and we didn’t have upfront fixed costs. I was looking for partnerships from the beginning to avoid capital risk.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I have a few things. A close friend who has a very successful startup - Messly, an NHS recruitment service - definitely inspires me. He has amazing tenacity and drive. I get ongoing inspiration from my kids and I continue to be inspired by the sector I’m in. Having a flexible lifestyle keeps me alive too. The thought of being back in corporate life makes me feel grey.

You led YouTube’s content business in Australia and New Zealand. Do you think businesses of such a large scale can have a grip on staff work life balance? And if they don’t, what can they do about it?

They can. Google did it really well. For them, it’s not about having staff face-time but about deliverables - it’s on you to make it work. It’s a fine line to make sure people have enough work; complex enough but not too stretched so they don’t lose their balance. And it’s about ensuring it’s flexible enough so that time is carved out specifically not for work.

What do you think is missing from businesses in building true diversity?

There’s still a lot of unconscious bias out there in the way people are hired and promoted. Business leaders often hire versions of themselves and it’s evident particularly in tech.

Who's a woman to watch or someone you admire in 2019?

Women in my daily life inspire me - friends, family and other mums who give so much to everything. And this might be controversial, but to be honest, at the moment Theresa May is also a huge inspiration. The way she has conducted herself with class and tenacity throughout the Brexit process and how she took on a job that was always going to be a poison chalice is impressive.

Name the quote you live by

Always make a difference, as my headmistress taught me, and what you put in you get out, following in my parents’ footsteps.

Check out Georgie on LinkedIn and if you feel you need more time away from your phone but are unsure of what to do next, find out more about what SPACE can do to help here.

THE FEMALE FOCUS SERIES: LACEY HUNTER-FELTON

Lacey Hunter-Felton, Founder of Hunter Collective

Hairdresser Lacey saw an opportunity to build a space for beauty and fashion people wanting to be independent and work flexibly. Hunter Collective is an incubator for the mums who still want to work and the next generation of tastemakers who want to forge their own path. We caught up with her on why the co-working salon studio and event space is filling a dying need for change.

“If I can give women flexibility and independence through the business, I am doing what I set out to do. And even if it’s helping just me and one more woman, Hunter Collective is giving us another option.”

Did you have a female role model or someone you admired as a kid?

Very much so. From a young age I was surrounded by strong female cheerleaders throughout the generations and into my adulthood. My mother, grandmother, friends, my hairdresser, Cheryl, who inspired me as a kid to become a hairdresser. I’ve taken different things from each of them and carried them with me. For me, it’s so important to have strong female influences and keep gathering them. And there’s a couple of my clients too, who are powerful, articulate and beautiful women who have been following my career and invested time in me. When I was mulling over the genesis of Hunter Collective, I realised that they were stepping up and motivating me to do it. And since the birth of the business they haven’t steppedback. For me it’s not a gender thing. The women in my life are strong influencers with my priorities at heart. I’ve expanded my network as an adult and have tried to bring others into it - to inspire back.

A pic of Lacey with her grandmother May Ivy Hunter. She takes the name from her and she symbolises the amazing women who have influenced Lacey’s upbringing.

What led you to start Hunter Collective?

I needed to. I had to. Hunter Collective was born out of waking up and looking around, thinking ‘where do all the women in my industry go?’ It’s crazy but 70% of women drop out of the industry by the time they’re 34 years old. In hairdressing, the strongest influencers are men and they’re usually the owners of the salons, while women are the mentors. In my experience, women were having kids and not coming back. I was working in central London and the chance of having a long career in hair as a woman wasn’t sustainable. I kept in touch with my mentors, who went on to diversify their careers, which was great, but in reality they didn’t have a choice. Classic salon life did not accommodate them and their families.

I definitely learnt from these mentors before deciding to potentially have a baby myself. (Lacey had her baby Gene last year). I thought to myself, ‘if I become pregnant, I can’t wait for these barriers to move as I could be waiting forever.’ Instead, I built my dream of what I wanted for my career and as a mother. I quit my job, feeling very frustrated with the situation. I set about spending two years collecting and building what is Hunter Collective now. I am a creature of consistency and cosmic ordering so it was ultimately fear that put a rocket up my arse.

How do you think your early years have influenced what you're doing today?

My mother raised 3 children on her own. The stability my mum created in a tough situation is a cornerstone that I have replicated for myself. She supported me to become a hairdresser at the age of 16. We couldn’t afford for me to train at Vidal Sassoon London but she encouraged me to learn the skill and do it well. Hairdressing gets a bad rap outside the industry but not everybody can be a hairdresser.

I learnt a skill rather than studying a skill, one which I could use anywhere in the world. This gave me loads of confidence. I moved to London, which was the making of me. I wouldn’t have had the career opportunities, I wouldn’t have met my husband and friends, and built my aspirations of how I would raise my child. London’s vibrant diversity and beautifully complicated way was oxygen for me.

The Hunter Collective space

How do you keep learning more whilst building a business?

Listening. Simple as that - I listen all the time. I’ve made it my job to take every person I work with for coffee and get feedback. I’ve also learnt to say ‘I don’t know’. This was difficult at the beginning but it’s massively rewarding now. I work with interesting, dynamic characters every day and I always ask them to tell me what they’re doing. I have realised that asking for 5 minutes of their time to listen, people will share.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Where to start! My connections from Hunter Collective - our members, my son – are massively inspiring. Through the business, I meet people with diverse careers and backgrounds - that’s inspirational enough. These are the people who I wanted to build Hunter Collective for and help them build their own businesses. And Nico, my co-founder, is inspirational - he took on a major risk doing this. Ultimately, inspiration is people.

“It was ultimately fear that put a rocket up my arse.”

What do you think is missing from businesses in building true diversity?

Awareness. Businesses don’t understand bias. A lot of businesses remain unconscious. Many of us are guilty, including me. I was always conscious of culture and diversity but even I was complacent. Hunter Collective, alone, has proven to me how everyone has a responsibility to take diversity seriously and actively take part in building a diverse society around them. In some parts of our lives we’re just cruising to be happy and support ourselves. But some businesses need a reality check and structure within so that diversity becomes second nature and part of everyday life. We’re not there yet.

What brands are on your radar right now and why?

We’re always looking at brands to partner with and inspire us. They won’t interest me if they don’t back themselves up ethically and sustainably. At Hunter Collective, we build long term relationships with partners so it’s in our culture to work with businesses who celebrate ethnicity and address waste and pollution, which is a big issue in the industry. We’re trying to set an example so we can influence others and create a knock-on effect. We’re quietly encouraged that brands are being more responsible and future-proof.

What have been the essential factors that have enabled you to be an entrepreneur that you'd think you'd struggle without?

The knowledge that it takes a village. I didn’t know what the phrase meant until I needed a village. When s*** gets real you need people around you and a support network cheering you on. I thank my family and husband on a daily business as I couldn’t come to work if my family couldn’t look after my child and I couldn’t have done it without my husband financially supporting me. Their commitment is still high even a year after my son was born. This pushes me forward as I’m determined not to let them down.

The Hunter Collective meeting room

What's your biggest learning so far since starting Hunter Collective?

I have learnt a lot from working with Nico. That everything we want do we’ve got to do ourselves. From the structure and framework of the business, to how it’s run. It’s endless and I’m still learning. I still have confidence wobbles but I know that as long as I keep going, it will get better. Being a hairdresser has given me a good basis for knowing how to treat every meeting with a high level of customer service. And then there’s the stamina. Fourteen hour days standing on my feet has taught me what a hard day’s work feels like.

How has work changed since having a child relatively recently?

It was the best thing that ever happened. I was treading water and not really sure about whether to set up Hunter Collective. In my mind I was an unemployed girl with an idea and I couldn’t do anything with it. When I got pregnant, my mindset changed. I needed to step up and look after my family and future. My son, Gene, was a ticking time bomb – and kicked me into getting some funding and a location. I met Nico when I was already 6 months pregnant and 12 days after the birth, together we signed the lease. By week 3 of Gene being born I was working full time and by week 7 Hunter Collective opened.

If I can give women flexibility and independence through the business, I am doing what I set out to do. And even if it’s just me and one more woman, Hunter Collective is giving us another option.

Who's a woman to watch or someone you admire in 2018?

Well, two that I need to name are my clients and they’ve been quiet pushers for me to grab life. Firstly, Nishma Robb, Marketing Director at Google, who is someone whose career I see getting bigger and bolder. And Emma Sexton has been a massive influence on me. I can only thank her and keep beating her drum. She is the ultimate badass. Emma was one of my first clients and she ignored the fact that I was on gardening leave when I left a former salon and took me for a drink. These are two women who I want to be even more publicly successful so that they can inspire lots more women.

Name the quote you live by

“You have as many hours in the day as Beyonce”, which is on the side of a mug my husband bought me. Otherwise, it has to be “It takes a village”, which I constantly cling to as my guiding prophecy. My husband, Liam, is the best man and he’s been in this 100% with me. I feel that men are often taken for granted these days because equality has shifted. Liam and I both co-parent our son. He’s never told me not to go to work so he can prioritise his work. He has not let me down when I’ve needed to push harder. But beyond my husband, the quote reminds me that I need everyone. It’s not just about having a husband and girls squad around me, it’s about everyone who has a genuine impact on my life. We’re all in it together.

Find out more about this incredible woman’s creation here and follow Hunter Collective on Instagram.

THE FEMALE FOCUS SERIES: DANIELLE NEWNHAM, CO-FOUNDER, F =

We're big fans of F =, and their GIRL POWER TEES, so much so there's a picture of our founder wearing one on this website. We caught up with one of the women behind the brand to find out more about the online store and empowerment platform for women and children, which recently launched the Our Stories Matter campaign. F = was founded by twins ~ tech entrepreneur and author Danielle Newnham ~ and fashion doyenne Natalie Bardega. They created the platform to inspire, motivate and empower women to rise. They practise what they preach too, with an ongoing GIRL POWER partnership with Worldreader, a global non-profit organisation on a mission to deliver digital books to every child and their family. Check out our conversation with Danielle below!

“Women need to take ownership of the sisterhood and come together more”

Thandie Newton

What drove you to create F =?

Having spent ten years in tech, I was acutely aware that women were almost invisible in the industry and, after spending a day at a tech conference where all the men were wearing their startup t-shirts, I realised one way to make the women stand out more was with slogan tops. I saw guys approaching others when they recognised the logo on their t-shirt – it was almost a conversation starter so I looked into what existed for females in tech and female founders and saw there was nothing. At the time, my sister was taking a well-earned career break so we came together, discussed the idea of how we could make women more “visible” in general and F = was born! 

With my background in tech and hers in fashion, we decided on the idea of selling empowering slogan tops alongside a site filled with incredible stories from women doing amazing work. We also knew our fashion couldn’t reach everywhere but our message of empowerment could so we partnered with Worldreader to create the GIRL POWER t-shirt with proceeds going to the non-profit which elevates girls out of poverty in the developing world.

What's the biggest lesson you've learnt from starting up F =?

There is an assumption that in the tech world that if you build something, people will just appear – like some mythical pull to your product. That’s just not the case. The same has happened to us – we get big hits when celebs wear our tops but the biggest lesson for us has been around building a community first. All the hard work for us has really been in building up a community who are loyal and engaged. People underestimate the effort that goes into community building through providing great content but, in this day and age, it is one of the most critical aspects of our business. We’re proud to now reach over 100,000 on a daily basis.

How have you been able to turn what was a side project into a mission-driven business?

It really happened organically. We definitely didn’t see it as a full-time thing to start with but it started to demand more and more of our time and because our mission was so aligned with our purpose in life, it made sense. I don’t think I could have committed more hours to a business without really believing in it. I am a mother, I write books – my time is pretty full but there has been a seismic shift when it comes to female empowerment in the last three years since we started. We could never have predicted it but it definitely made our business more necessary.

It has been hard work though – we often talk about the good aspects of entrepreneurship such as the fact you manage your own time but there are also a lot of hard times and that is where having a well-defined mission really helps. It certainly gets you through the more difficult times and helps you put in the hours necessary to build something you really want to see in the world.

@coral_pearl_ and her daughter

Was there ever a point when you wanted to give up?

There have been definitely a few. When some big brands and well-known TV stars first copied our GIRL POWER tops, I have to say, they were low times. We had built up a brand, and a mission and this was a charity tee so we were devastated - and we felt we couldn’t compete with a high street retailer or a celeb with x million followers. 

We felt like this for a few hours but then our community started posting their anger and disappointment on the celeb’s feed and as well as our own mission snapped back to the forefront again. So we decided to fight and we fought hard. We started emailing those concerned – the brand, the celeb, the agent, the manager explaining the history of our GIRL POWER tees and the charity, and explained our legal rights to the design… and after a while, they accepted it, apologised and pulled the tees. So the lesson here is never give up, never give in and never forget your worth.

What's been the biggest milestone for the business so far?

Our latest launch – OUR STORIES MATTER - because it ties up everything we are about from inspiring girls to empowering women and telling the untold stories of great heroines. And, most importantly, we can see the difference it is going to make.

We only launched recently and we are already selling out. But this launch isn’t just about fashion – it’s about education. It’s about reaching more and more young girls with inspiring stories about incredible women – stories which we know will have impact.

By wearing the tees, we hope you spark conversations around our own stories, and the books that accompany the tees — we ask customers to donate them to local schools and libraries to inform, inspire and empower the next generation with the stories of incredible women which have gone before them. If each school had these books on their shelves and hundreds of thousands of children had access to them, we know what a difference it would make. 

We want to make the books as inclusive and diverse as possible so will be starting with both Vashti Harrisons’s Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History and Kate Pankhurst’s Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World but we will be adding more in due course.

As sisters, does this bring up complications in your business relationship when it comes to making decisions?

The trouble we have is also what works – despite being twins, we are VERY different. Natalie is very logical, uses a lot of common sense and is risk adverse. She likes order whereas I am far more impulsive, “reckless” she would probably say but I always go on my gut. I can’t do something unless I 100% believe in it and when I do, I go for it – feet first. She likes to work out everything beforehand but I think the two different personalities can help us find a sustainable middle ground! 

Why do you think Fequals t-shirts have been so well received by women?

When we started, there really wasn’t anything like it around. Selfish Mother existed but she was firmly in the mother camp and we were more focused on women at work – sharing inspiring stories about women kicking ass in their field. No one was really telling the stories of inspiring women and we like to think we changed that area somewhat.

Allbright Founders Anna-Jones and Debbie-Wosskow with Sadiq Khan

On the flipside, there has been some discussion amongst women in the media on whether a female empowerment statement on a t-shirt goes far enough to support the sisterhood. What are your thoughts?

I think it depends on the brand and their mission. When high streets stores put vacuous messages on their tops which have been made in a factory filled with underpaid workers then clearly, there is a disconnect. But our mission has always been three-fold and I think this cements our commitment to a “sisterhood”.

Brands need to be more aware that their customers are no longer passive – customers want to know more about their mission, that if they have empowering tops, that this message is aligned with how they treat women in their own company. Today’s world requires much more from the seller. And I think that is a good thing.

Proceeds from each t-shirt sale go to Worldreader. Have you seen positive impact through this?

Yes, we regularly meet with Worldreaders to see the work they are doing and the impact they have on girls in the developing world. We know how transformative books are and the fact that we are able to contribute to that makes us very proud.

It feels like the #girlpowertee is cresting the wave of female solidarity, following the swell of movements such as #metoo and #timesup. Do you think women are feeling more confident to stand up and be heard right now?

100%. When we started designing our tops, it was to make women feel more empowered – we used to get messages from customers about how they wore our tops to meetings under blazers and just wearing them, made them feel stronger. This was our intention but then 2017 was a catalyst and led to our recent launch of #ourstoriesmatter.

What more do think we can do to build action in the sisterhood community and create change?

Women need to take ownership. We talk a lot about what support we need and how our stories need to be told but we also think women need to come together more. We need to share our stories with each other more because they help and they heal. They have the power to inspire and empower and the world needs more of that.

With thousands of people around the world now wearing your t-shirts, what’s next for Fequals this year?

We’re wholly committed to our Our Stories Matter campaign to get more young children reading stories about diverse, female heroines but also to get women talking about their own stories. Our voices have been held back for so long – it’s time for us all to now speak up.

THE FEMALE FOCUS SERIES: JESS MACINTYRE, CO-FOUNDER, MAC&MOORE

If you follow CLO PR at all you'll know that we're fierce cheerleaders of marketing consultancy, Mac&Moore. We have a tight partnership based on a shared vision, attitude and we also share some stonking client work too! We caught up with one half of Mac&Moore, Jess MacIntyre, to delve into why she aims to promote equality with attitude and her perspective on creating positive impact for clients, people and the world.

“I don’t want to just talk about the unfairness of equality. I want to do something about it.”

Jess's love of sassy female musicians played out in her teenage years

Did you have a female role model or someone you admired as a kid?

I was completely obsessed with music when I was a kid and instead of going stir-crazy over boybands I was more interested in singing an angst ridden female anthem a la Alanis Morrisette and Gwen Stefani. In real world terms I was lucky enough to have some kick-ass BFF’s who served as my everyday role models by bucking the status quo with a general “I’ll do whatever I damn please” sassy attitude. This definitely taught me the importance of being a part of the sisterhood and how we’re stronger together.

What led you to start Mac&Moore?

I’d been thinking of going solo for a few years before Mac&Moore was dreamt up as quite frankly I had a perpetual headache from being pressed up against the glass ceiling.

Aside from that, in my 20s I’d always felt like something was missing doing the 9-5 grind and working for somebody else. It became especially difficult when some of the interactions I had in business showed how little integrity and empathy was present. I just wanted to work hard and be nice to people! As soon as I set-up on my own I knew I’d found my calling.

How do you think your early years have influenced what you're doing today?

As a child I really didn’t understand some of the injustices of being a girl. I was often scolded for being “difficult”, “bossy” and “opinionated” whilst noticing that when boys (or adults) acted the same they were treated differently. It genuinely perplexed me as to why this was the case. I was a really curious child and being silenced when I spoke out had a huge effect on my self-esteem. So I’ve always wanted to prove people wrong and that anger about being silenced initially fueled me to do things differently, take risks and build a huge amount of resilience which is needed in today’s business world. That anger has dissipated now but I’m grateful for where it got me.

How do you keep learning more whilst building a business?

I’ve always been obsessed with reading. However especially in the digital age coupled with my severe lack of patience I struggle to make it through a full book or dedicate daily reading time. So to counteract this I consume blogs/podcasts and Ted Talks which cover a wide range of subjects from philosophy, women’s rights to science. I’m currently obsessed with Farnam Street a blog dedicated to “mastering the best of what other people have already figured out.”

I also love meeting new people especially if they come from a different world than I inhabit. You can learn a lot by asking the right questions and taking the time to listen to others. I try and meet one new person a week – it’s a hard task but I’m all the better for it.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I love the “underdog” so whenever I see somebody who has overcome an incredibly difficult situation/life experience I always feel hugely inspired. I’m currently in awe of Hannah Gadsby and her Netflix comedy special Nanette. Her intelligence, self-awareness and passion to speak out about her story using the vehicle of comedy absolutely floored me.

Jess with her BFF, Jade

Why do you promote equality with attitude? 

I’m a strong believer in “action speaks louder than words”. I don’t want to just talk about the unfairness of equality. I want to do something about it. I’ve been subjected personally to sexual harassment in the work place and been undermined repeatedly because I’m a woman. Enough. I want my business to be platform for women and men who want to push for a fairer workplace and world. Working as a mentor for the incredible charity YouMakeIt is another small way I can use my privilege as a platform and create positive change.

What do you think is missing from businesses in building true diversity?

The total female population worldwide is roughly 49.6% (3.52 billion) and yet most businesses have way less than 50% of women in their workforce – how is this reflective of today’s world? Whilst businesses are becoming more diverse I still believe there’s a long way to go in order to create more equality and diversity at management/board level where most critical business decisions are made.

Jess, during Mac&Moore's sojourn in Amsterdam

What are marketing agencies doing right / wrong in 2018?

Being short sighted by thinking more about revenue than about what’s right for their customers, employees and culture. The very best agencies are just being themselves and constantly challenging the status quo. Creative work should be brave and you shouldn’t be afraid to challenge the client.

Also the best agencies nurture talent. Giving autonomy and confidence to young people is crucial if you want to get the best out of them.

What advice can you give to businesses that want to make a mark through their marketing?

I love this quote from Dave Trott: “People buy a product for what it DOES. But they buy a brand for what it SAYS about them.” Think about what your business and customers stand for. Then communicate these values effectively and consistently via all of your chosen marketing channels. I’ve recently purchased a Chilly bottle as I’m super aware of how much plastic I’m using day-to-day and wanted to reduce the amount of plastic water bottles I buy on the move. Reusable water bottles are a bit of a “statement” piece of kit so I chose Chilly as I loved the brands style, ethics and product benefits.

Name a brand you admire and why?

Here’s a few:

Aesop: Beautiful design paired with ethical quality ingredients.

Vice: They saw a gap in the market and gave the next generation a platform and voice. It’s incredible to see how much they’ve achieved in such a short space of time and truly are the voice of a generation.

Bodyform: Two GREAT ads the first a hilarious tactical campaign in response to a Facebook post – check it out here. The second is their latest Blood Normal campaign. We loved the second ad so much Nat wrote a piece for the Huffington Post about it!

What have been the essential factors that have enabled you to be an entrepreneur that you'd think you'd struggle without?

I’ve always hugely relied on external validation and I’m working hard to change this as I’m aware this isn’t a healthy habit. So practicing self-care and setting up new daily habits/routines such as exercise, good eating, new ways of learning and avoiding toxic people have made me better as a person and at what I do. Also my amazing boyfriend, friends and family who give me that boost of support when I need it the most.

What's your biggest learning so far since starting Mac&Moore?

1. Stop listening to what other people think. Have the self-confidence to listen to yourself. You’re better than you think you are.

2. Lots of men will mansplain to you.

Who's a woman you watch or someone you admire in 2018?

I tend to look in the real world first than to someone well known. We’ve recently made pals with loads of incredible females in the creative entrepreneur/advertising world so I can give a few shout outs here! Cookie and Alexa from Mellor&Smith, Jana who runs The Completist, Jess Sims, Natalie Cutler, Sophie Livingston and of course our favourite Claudia from Clo PR!

Friends Anneli, Jade and Jess

Name the quote you live by.

“For what it’s worth… it’s never too late, or in my case too early, to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit. Start whenever you want. You can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people who have a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.” F. Scott Fitzgerald.

“Stop saying yes to shit you hate.” Unknown legend.