S5 E11: Birthday reflection: celebrate how far you’ve come - Solo episode with Caroline
Release Date: 03/27/2025
S5 E21: 5 learnings from 5 years in business - Solo episode with Caroline
Bump to Business Owner
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: Nick Elston: Anna Marthur episode: Takeaways Not everything will or needs to be done...
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S5 E20: Poop, pre-seed and policies with Lisa Macfarlane, co-founder of The Gut Stuff
Bump to Business Owner
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 is passionate about the policies we as business owners need to create to support women...
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S5 E19: Burnout, neurodiversity and rediscovering yourself with Dr Claire Ashley, The Burnout Doctor
Bump to Business Owner
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 now fully recovered and shares the signs, symptoms and means to recovery...
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S5 E18: Reframing cold sales and my worst experiences - Solo episode with Caroline
Bump to Business Owner
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: Dripify: Takeaways Coldselling - maybe it’s time to try it The worst thing that...
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S5 E17: Matrescence, healing and purpose with Danielle Lauren, The Way Too Honest Mom
Bump to Business Owner
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...
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S5 E16: Keeping going when business gets tough - Solo episode with Caroline
Bump to Business Owner
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 your business Trumps tariffs are worrying for many founders March 2025 was my best month in...
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S5 E15: Mum guilt, cash crunches and K-drama with Ning Cheah founder of The Beauty Crop
Bump to Business Owner
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 cash flow, and why she chose...
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S5 E14: PR tips for small business owners - Solo episode with Caroline
Bump to Business Owner
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 for you Resources Editorelle: Pressflow (FREE): Lightbulb: Rosie Davies-Smith, founder of PR Dispatch episode: Jelena Skene co-founder of Press...
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S5 E13: Radical acts, building confidence and navigating PTSD with Lauren Currie founder of Upfront
Bump to Business Owner
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 we really see it. Building a business whilst...
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S5 E12: Why you don’t need more strategy with Nicola Ward, founder of CakeDrop
Bump to Business Owner
What happens when your co-founder (and sister!) steps away and you’re managing a business solo, as well as being mum to 2 kids? In this week’s delicious episode I’m in conversation with Nicola Ward, founder of CakeDrop, who talks me through her experience of exactly that. Nicola has run her business incredibly intuitively and flexibly, focusing on building relationships and leaning into creativity when Covid meant a pivot. She has some incredible advice to other founders thinking about motherhood and the trade offs we as working mums make. My main takeaway? You don’t need more...
info_outlineWhen was the last time you reflected on how far you’ve come?
In this special birthday episode, I’m reflecting on the last five years - Motherhood, trauma, recovery, business, COVID, and giving myself the advice I needed five years ago.
My business and motherhood journey are intrinsically linked, and in this period of my life - out of the baby years and able to put more energy into business growth, it’s been emotional to see how much I’ve achieved. Take a moment to look back on what you’ve achieved, everything you’ve experienced, good and bad, and celebrate yourself.
Resources
Snoop Dogg: https://youtu.be/NfF3bThOW0Q?si=I-ASqOrYhQMzIK4-
Takeaways
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The advice I’d give myself
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Building a business through the baby years
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Your business can be a lifeline in difficult times
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Working on yourself will make you a better leader
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Rediscovering yourself post motherhood
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Take time to reflect on how far you’ve come
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It’s important to be selfish sometimes
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Learn to ask for what you need
Chapters
01:00 Celebrating Growth and Reflection
03:08 Navigating the Baby Years
05:26 The Intersection of Business and Motherhood
08:02 Finding Purpose and Community
10:51 Empowerment Through Business
13:22 Lessons from the Journey
16:13 Gratitude and Moving Forward
Links:
Website: www.bumptobusinessowner.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/
Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/