“My new mission in life...is about helping women be seen, heard, and valued in their space, whether that's in work and beyond”

In this episode, I talk with Aimee Bateman, an incredible entrepreneur and advocate for women in the workplace.

Aimee shares her story of how experimenting helped her through a closing door after selling her business Careercake. She had spent 10 years building a successful company, then sold it, which was the plan all along. But after the sale, she faced a new challenge: What’s next? She was also adjusting to life as a new parent, balancing her drive with the demands of motherhood. Rather than jump straight into her next big project, Aimee took a different approach: she gave herself a year to experiment.

Aimee’s “year of experiments” wasn’t about perfect plans or guaranteed outcomes. It was about trying things out without pressure. She explored new ideas, met new people, and tested projects to see what resonated. Some ideas worked; others didn’t. And that was okay.

Aimee admits it wasn’t always easy: “At points, my ego was on fire. What if I fail? What will people think? What if I need to change things?”

But she learned to embrace the experimenting mindset. Looking back, she now sees her year of experiments as one of her most valuable experiences. It helped her figure out what truly excites her and what direction to take next. “It can feel unnerving to experiment. Like you have to get everything right the first time. But I’ve learned so much, and I know that 2025 is going to be a brilliantly focused year because of how clear I am now about what I want to do.”

Here are the highlights:

03:39 Helping women be seen, heard, and valued in all aspects of life.

08:57 Facing gender bias in the workplace.

11:47 Massive life changes after having a baby led to an identity crisis, and selling a company

17:45 Pursuit of success overshadowed happiness

20:23 Core values, especially kindness, are vital for personal transformation

33:34 Take a career break, be gentle, there's time to go hard later

46:44 Discover your North Star values

The things that helped Aimee navigate change

Book: “The Long Game" by Dorie Clark

Music: "Sympathy for the Devil", The Rolling Stones.

The one piece of advice: “Go and figure out what your values are, which are conflicting with each other, and work out not just what your values are but what's your north star. So we've got our north, our east, our but there will be one value that overrides everything else. That's your north star.”

More about Aimee

A former recruiter, turned award-winning career coach and the founding CEO of the venture-backed Edtech startup, Careercake (Voted UK’s #1 career development platform), which was acquired in 2022. Aimee defied the odds by securing venture and angel investment across two continents, despite operating in a global landscape where less than 2% of funding goes to a female founder. 10million+ professionals in 42 countries have taken Aimee’s career development courses, including 3million on LinkedIn Learning and featuring as a career expert for the BBC and Sky TV. A busy mum to a toddler and 2 rescue dogs and Aimee hosts the weekly, Seen. Heard. Valued. Podcast and runs Female Further coaching programme.

Find out more: https://www.aimeebateman.com/

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

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

About your host

Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.” Eleanor is the founder of Another Door and the author of Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you.

Connect with Eleanor:

Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Website: eleanortweddell.com

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

"For me opening the door was the same door that had shut in my face previously. But going back there and thinking, well, what am I able to do? …I tried many things, but I realised it's music. So I sat down with a blank piece of paper and thought, I've got to make my way again."

Imagine being at the height of music stardom in the 90s, performing on Top of the Pops, being helicoptered between gigs, and having fans waiting outside your house. Then suddenly, there is silence.

In this episode Lee Murray shares what happens when the music stops. Lee was the drummer in the band Let Loose, which enjoyed headline and chart success in the 90s. And then, due to various moving doors, and sliding doors moments the record contracted ended. Lee shares the moment he got the letter, sitting on his stairs thinking now what do I do?

It wasn’t an easy few years, navigating what to do next, trying things that didn't work out. But eventually returning to his roots and the love that was there all the time, drumming. Lee set up his own drum school Lee Murray Drum Hub, and now specialises in using lessons to help people with their mental health and to help neurodivergent children in particular.

Here are the highlights:

03:37 As a kid, I was obsessed with music, I dreamt of a music career.

07:48 Non-stop touring and performances for eight years.

21:02 Try new things without fear; be in the right mental space to succeed.

24:16 Drumming, which offered direction and mental wellness benefits.

38:20 Childhood dreams of being a pop star drove adult ambition.

The things that helped Lee navigate change.

Music: "Are Friends Electric" by Gary Numan

Boos: ‘The Secret’ by Rhonda Byrne

The one piece of advice: “You’ll have real highs and you will have the lows. It’s about trying to equip yourself with the tools to ride through that. So you can experience the highs and enjoy them knowing that it may not last forever, and you will get times where it's going to dip. Equip yourself with the resilience to think it will pass…Keep telling yourself that you're worth it.”

About Lee:

Lee Murray, drummer of 90s boy band Let Loose, found salvation in music amid mental health struggles. The band, known for playing their instruments and writing songs, had a hit with "Crazy For You" in 1994. Lee joined at 17 in 1987, but faced challenges after their 1996 split. Drumming helped him recover, leading to work with artists like Westlife, Ronan Keating and Lisa Stansfield.

Recently, Lee founded the Lee Murray Drum Hub, using music to support mental health and neurodivergent children. Let Loose reformed in late 2023 with Matthew James Pateman as lead singer, performing at shows and festivals. They're set to release a new single, "Glorious," while Lee's solo single "Never Give Up On Us" launches on January 31st.

Find out more here https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0g45wn6

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

More about the host Eleanor

Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.”

Eleanor is the founder of Another Door and the author of Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you.

Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Website: eleanortweddell.com

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

"I made the decision to jump off that entrepreneurial ledge, which was incredibly intimidating at the time… But, I was so compelled to see what was on the other side of fear, which was leaving full time, gainful, fantastic employment and chase a dream"

In today's episode, we have Ant Duckworth, the co-founder of Dear Coco.

I’ve been following Ant’s journey and the evolution of ‘Dear Coco’, his award winning coffee truck, since the dream started. We all have these tiny ideas, small dreams, but how many of us decide to take action and step into trying, and giving it a go.

Ant shares the moment he decided to go for it, and how he now navigates each step to be very intentional with where his business goes. He shares the importance of setting rules and guiding values for yourself - he has his Five Codes he lives by. The first rule being ‘owning the dark’ - the concept of acknowledging the most defining, meaningful work happens in the dark away from the spotlight when no one is watching.

Ant has made that corporate to entrepreneur leap, from director at American Express to owner of a coffee truck in a side street in London. Dear Coco is growing, and continues to make its mark in the competitive coffee market. It's a story to encourage you to take tiny steps to action your small flickering flame of an idea, and when the moment is right, back yourself to make it happen.

Here are the highlights:

06:05 Launched renowned coffee truck as side hustle.

10:19 From surfing to serving London's best coffee from a truck.

20:43 Coffee truck work: it’s hard, challenging but extremely rewarding.

31:10 Maximize life through personal code and improvement.

36:06 Relatability attracts non-coffee followers online.

43:48 Confront fears; make the jump despite resistance.

The things that helped Ant navigate change.

Music: Jack Johnson

The one piece of advice: “There is something great and powerful sitting on the other side of fear. Maybe fear is stopping you from reaching out and grabbing the door handle and walking through. But know that there is something very valuable on the other side of that fear for you.”

More about Ant

Ant is Founder & CEO of Dear Coco Coffee, former International Marketing Director for American Express, Australian surfer, father of three daughters and coffee lover.

Ant spent 16 years leading International Experiential Marketing teams within some of the world’s most powerful brands. In 2021, during a global pandemic Ant built Dear Coco as a side hustle to his corporate career. He built the business as a love letter to his youngest daughter, Coco.

In three years, Dear Coco became the world’s most popular and successful coffee truck, with a cult local and global following. It is the most followed coffee truck in the world on Instagram.

Ant is now full-time Founder & CEO growing venture-backed Dear Coco into the world's next great coffee company and enabling other coffee entrepreneurs.

Instagram @dearcocolondon

Website www.dearcoco.com

More about the host Eleanor

Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.”

Eleanor is the founder of Another Door and the author of Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you.

Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Website: eleanortweddell.com

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

"My big door closing moment was when I was made redundant in the pandemic with 2 small children who were 1 and 3, and thought I would never get a good job again.”

Turing adversity into opportunity. In today's episode I’m talking to Elizabeth Willetts, founder of Investing in Women. Elizabeth’s company grows from strength to strength, if you follow her on socials she is smashing it. But that wasn’t always the case - and, like many success stories, starts when a door is slammed shut.

Like many of us, Elizabeth found herself redundant during Covid in 2020 and decided it was a moment to channel her inspirational grandmother’s entrepreneurial spirit and start her own business.

Elizabeth shares her navigation of overcoming challenges, from grappling with imposter syndrome to tackling the technical hurdles of starting a business. With insights from nearly 20 years in recruitment, Elizabeth also discusses her forthcoming book "Flex," aiming to help others achieve career success on their terms.

"The journey from redundancy to creating my own business wasn't straightforward, but recognising my unique experience in recruitment became a vital pivot point. This inspired me to launch 'Investing in Women', and my upcoming book, 'Flex', shares exactly how you can have career success on your own terms."

Here are the highlights:

04:34 Realisation of redundancy took several months

06:49 Wanted part-time job; started home business instead

11:49 Talked to mum about previous self-employment

21:30 Experiencing impostor syndrome

32:26 Redundancy often leads to positive outcomes

The things that helped Elizabeth navigate change.

Book: Atomic Habits, by James Clear

Music: Fighter, by Christina Aguilera

The one piece of advice: “As one door closes, another one definitely, definitely opens. It's about going for things, being curious, and not being afraid because I think life's too short to be afraid.”

More about Elizabeth:

Elizabeth started Investing in Women from her dining room table during the pandemic after being made redundant from her In-House Recruiter role at one of the Big 4. With two toddlers, she didn’t want to work full-time but struggled to find a part-time job at her level of experience, so she decided to put her 17 years of recruitment experience to good use and founded a recruitment company to help people find flexible and part-time jobs. Investing in Women is now an award-winning recruitment company, and her debut book, Flex is due out in January 2025.

Find out more: https://investinginwomen.co.uk/

Connect with Elizabeth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-willetts/

More about the host Eleanor

Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.”

Eleanor is the founder of Another Door and the author of Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you.

Connect with Eleanor:

Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Website: eleanortweddell.com

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

In this special solo episode, it's just you and me pondering the intricacies of navigating change. The past few years I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs, and so in this chat I'm sharing my reflections on pausing, embracing messiness, playing with ideas, and the power of trying. We'll also explore the concept of restarting with a fresh perspective, anchored in self-care and gentle intention.

Join me as I explore these themes, offering insights and tools to help you face uncertainty and thrive through change. This framework is part of my upcoming book, all about how to navigate change.

Let’s roll up our sleeves and embrace the messiness of change together.

"The answer is never in the panic. The answer is always from a really slowed down intentional space, when you know exactly what you want and you’ve figured out how you're going to get it."

If you are rethinking work and want a space to explore what happens next check out rethinkers.space.

About your host Eleanor Tweddell:

Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.”

Eleanor is the founder of Another Door and the author of Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you.

Connect with Eleanor:

Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Website: eleanortweddell.com

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

"Career transitions may feel uncertain, but aligning your daily actions with your core values can guide you through any ambiguity. It's not about having every step mapped out; it's about being directionally correct and consistent in your efforts."

This episode I’m with Micheal Glassocks who shares his career shifts, aligning work with personal values and the power of being "directionally correct”.

Michael discusses his transitions from a successful role in project management in the NHS to project managing a new career as a coach, prompted by his father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

We discuss how people around you react when you are changing, how there are often a few wrong moves in change before the ‘right’ one and how having one goal can help focus you - Michael shares his goal of ‘coach every day until 80’.

His story is filled with valuable insights and lessons for anyone considering a career change or looking for more alignment in their professional lives.

"The reason why I'm very good at switching into a growth mindset, is because of the practice and the past experiences of it I've had. The way I've built confidence in most of the things I've done is by doing them.”

Here are the highlights:

03:25 Career transition after personal and professional realizations.

07:01 Experiencing disconnect between career progress and enjoyment.

10:49 Confidence grows with directionally correct actions.

19:10 Growth mindset through practice and past experiences.

20:56 Emotions are data; use them for decisions.

26:07 Practical exercise: envision your ideal gravestone message.

The things that helped Michael navigate change.

Book: "Start With Why" by Simon Sinek

Music: "Iron Lion Zion" by Bob Marley

The One Piece of Advice: “Look at anybody who's deemed in a societal sense as successful, they've been consistent in the actions they've taken and they've always been curious. They're always learning, not just more about themselves, but about the industry, the business that they're operating in. If you can be consistent and always be curious, that will stand you in good stead.”

More about Michael

Michael has a notable background in the NHS, specialising in Project and Programme Management. Despite thriving in this role, a significant life event in 2021—his father's diagnosis with Alzheimer's—prompted Michael to reassess his career and life goals, ultimately steering him towards a more fulfilling path in coaching.

In 2022, Michael became an ICF-approved coach, adding a credible and structured framework to his coaching practice. His experience extends beyond the NHS to supporting small businesses with start-ups, launches, and attracting investments for organic growth. Known for his positive and easy-going demeanor, Michael adopts an informal yet professional approach, guiding, supporting, and challenging his clients to achieve their career ambitions and live a meaningful life.

Connect with Michael:

https://www.michaelglassockcoaching.com/

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

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelglassockcoaching

More about Eleanor Tweddell:

Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.”

Eleanor is the founder of Another Door and the author of “Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you”.

Connect with Eleanor:

Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Website: eleanortweddell.com

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

"I have learned so much over this process of what matters and what doesn't, how to protect yourself, what boundaries to put in place, whether you're giving up alcohol, a person, or an eating disorder."

In this episode, I talk to Hannah Harvey who shares her story about closing a door on alcohol, which also led to her leaving her marriage.

Hannah opened up about her liberating journey to sobriety, revealing how quitting alcohol transformed her life and led her to write "How to Divorce Sober." We talk about overcoming societal pressures, personal growth, and finding clarity through challenging transitions. Hannah shares how she turned life's obstacles into opportunities and her inspiring vision for helping others do the same.

Here are the highlights:

00:59 Hannah's book explores divorce and personal recovery.

04:48 Struggling with drinking, self-esteem, male-dominated industry.

11:35 Life change affected blogging identity and direction.

16:36 Discovering new reality through immersive book reading.

19:02 Sudden clarity led to quitting drinking.

23:27 Putting out metaphorical fires; learning boundaries.

27:10 Fear and curiosity deter exploration of the unknown.

30:17 Unwanted change led to personal growth unexpectedly.

31:38 Writing the book on divorce journey.

36:37 Challenges reveal healing opportunities for personal growth.

The things that helped Hannah navigate change.

Book: "Control Alcohol" by Annie Grace

Music: "I Feel Free" by Cream

The One Piece of Advice: “I think when you choose or you're pulled through a door, you can almost certainly expect that whatever needs to be healed is going to show itself. So often you'll go through something and you're like, right, I'm on my new path, this is exciting. And then, something will happen. And you're like, are you actually kidding? But almost certainly that is happening for a reason because that is going to heal something within you that will then take you further on your path.”

More about Hannah

Hannah is on a mission to help people find hope after trauma and embrace a bright future.

Alongside her book How to Divorce Sober, Hannah’s support network incorporates online courses, an immersive mentoring service, day and weekend retreats, yoga classes and her popular podcast, Happily Ever After with Hannah Harvey.

Hannah frequently contributes to BBC Radio Newcastle, where she engages in discussions on the critical issues addressed in her podcast. She also forged close links with Escape Family Support, an organisation that helps the families of people suffering from problems related to drugs and alcohol by delivering restorative yoga programmes.

Previously, Hannah ran Mums’ Days, an amazingly successful award-winning parenting blog that led to her creating content for John Lewis, Tesco, and Argos.

Hannah lives with her two children in Whitley Bay, just a stone’s throw from the ocean. She loves being near the sea and often enjoys ice-cold swims to clear her head. The beach is also perfect for her special meditation sessions and ceremonies.

Connect with Hannah:

https://www.hannahharvey.uk/

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-harvey-uk/

More about Eleanor Tweddell:

Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.”

Eleanor is the founder of Another Door and the author of “Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you”.

Connect with Eleanor:

Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Website: eleanortweddell.com

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk