The Impact Specialist Rachel Dunford is a management consultant turned entrepreneur who specialises in helping businesses and charities to prioritise the impact they create through the work they do. She joins us on the podcast to discuss her vital work and how she got there. While eight months' pregnant, Rachel was made redundant. It led to a decision to work for herself, to care for her baby as much as to control her own destiny.

Turning a challenging situation into an opportunity to redefine her career, she leveraged her consulting background to transition from managing youth programs to establishing her own business. Drawing on her two decades of experience of delivering change programmes and running evaluation projects, Rachel now runs a multi-award winning business, giving her clients the tools they need to capture and measure their impact, empowering them to have the vocabulary they need to talk about it, and equipping them with the confidence to share and showcase it.

Rachel sheds light on a unique approach to aligning business practices with impactful outcomes. Consequently, she offers valuable insights into how businesses can confidently assess and communicate their impact for success and transformation.

We uncover the critical role of evidence-based insights in guiding strategic decisions, improving staff morale, and optimizing resource allocation. Rachel shares how challenging assumptions and aligning team roles with business objectives can drive success and credibility in a crowded marketplace.

Being the Business Awards Show, we have to celebrate Rachel's recent award wins. Having won a Golden Peacock Award followed by two silver awards at the 2024 Best Businesswomen Awards, we discover the transformative power of external recognition. Rachel explains how awards like "Businesswoman of the Decade" can significantly boost credibility and open new opportunities.

Throughout, Rachel emphasizes the importance of seeking help and investing in professional development. She offers advice from her 13-year journey that is sure to resonate with both new and established entrepreneurs. Join us for an episode filled with inspiration, practical advice, and a celebration of impactful business growth.

{2:12} Rachel's path to starting her own business.

{6:41} How impact can be measured.

{10:43} Taking a deep dive into the client's mindset.

{16:06} Entering the Colden Peacock Awards.

{19:51} Winning two Best Businesswomen Awards in 2024.

{23:06} The impact of awards on Rachel's business.

{26:37} Rachel's words of wisdom.

{29:52} Plans for 2025.

Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk

Connect with Rachel Dunford: https://racheldunfordconsulting.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimpactspecialist/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theimpactspecialist/