#148 Sheri-Leigh Miles -  Playing around at the edges 

Sheri-Leigh talks to us about the joy of playing around at the edges. 

We talk about:

• The power of making sure you’re doing what you enjoy.
• Knowing environmental science was her thing, before it was a thing.
• And learning all she needs to know about rocks in a week!

Sheri-Leigh is Co-Founder and Director of NETpositive Futures. She helps organisations, teams and networks understand how sustainability links to organisational excellence.  Her Master’s degree is in Education for Sustainability and her career has focused on learning and education in its broadest sense.

She was involved in the development of the UKs first sector-level sustainability strategies and spent 7 years on the Board of the Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges alongside her main role as part of the award-winning Ecoversity team at the University of Bradford, the first whole-institution sustainability engagement programme in the UK.

She was invited to become a Fellow of the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) in 2018 in recognition of her sustainability work in the education sector. She teaches sustainability on Newcastle University Business School’s Executive Education programmes as a visiting lecturer and collaborates with the team on an innovative project to embed the Sustainable Development Goals into their programme. 

She is also Director of a Social Enterprise and Worker’s Co-operative called 4Seasons which supports individuals who are differently able to ‘live the life they choose’, primarily through supported employment linked to the outdoors.

She has recently become an ‘accidental software developer’ and her current focus is based around the NETpositive Software developed to support sustainability engagement across complex organisations.

Key Resources:

Inspiration North Website - www.inspirationnorth.com

Inspiration North Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/inspirationnorth 

Inspiration North Twitter - https://twitter.com/Inspirationorth 

Inspiration North Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inspiration_north/ 

Inspiration North LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspiration-north

Sheri-Leigh on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheri-leigh/

NETpositive Futures Website -  https://netpositivefutures.co.uk/ 

#146 Michelle Jones - A world where kindness is currency

Michelle talks to us about imagining a world where kindness is currency.

We talk about:

• How being content in the moment is a huge gift. 
• How in helping others we can help ourselves.
• And watching Father of the Bride so many times!

Michelle is the Founder and Director of Kind Currency, she also owns a successful wedding consultancy and has had other businesses.

She’s a Champion of Kindness, A believer in the power of community and an eternal optimist who is always smiling.

As a North East Entrepreneur, Charity Worker & Volunteer - Michelle was recently awarded with a 'Friendship Bench' for her social impact work.

She’s incredibly Resilient and describes herself as a Chronic Illness, Mental Health and Invisible Disabilities Warrior.

Michelle is also an Ambassador for Inclusion - working with local and national movements such as BE HEARD and Northern Power Women.

And most importantly, she is Wife to Steven and Mam to Dylan and Isla.

Key Resources:

Inspiration North Website - www.inspirationnorth.com

Inspiration North Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/inspirationnorth 

Inspiration North Twitter - https://twitter.com/Inspirationorth 

Inspiration North Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inspiration_north/ 

Inspiration North LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspiration-north

Kind Currency Website - https://www.kindcurrency.co.uk/ 

Michelle Jones Weddings Website - https://www.mjweddingplanner.co.uk/ 

Michelle on Twitter - https://twitter.com/shellskindworld

Michelle on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kindnessmakestheworldsparkle/ 

Kind Currency on Twitter - https://twitter.com/KindCurrencyCIC

Kind Currency on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kindcurrencyclub/

Kind Currency on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kindcurrencyclub/

Kind Currency on Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kindcurrencyclub 

Michelle Jones Weddings on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mjweddingplanner/

#145 Kev Price - It all ends up good

Kev talks to us about how it all ends up good! 

We talk about:

• His hard-won entrepreneurial lessons.
• The importance of finding great people to work with.
• And how he found his current adventure!

Kev has more than 15 years of business experience. From co-founding a full-service digital agency in 2007 he then transitioned to digital tech products co-founding back to back start-ups. Both companies, Reframed and Ricochet, were backed by investment from both angels and VCs, the latter being successfully acquired in December 2020.

Prior to founding businesses Kev got a degree in Physics, worked freelance as a developer/programmer and online marketer then went on to work at a few digital agencies in the North East.

Key Resources:

Inspiration North Website - www.inspirationnorth.com

Inspiration North Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/inspirationnorth 

Inspiration North Twitter - https://twitter.com/Inspirationorth 

Inspiration North Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inspiration_north/ 

Inspiration North LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspiration-north

Kev on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevprice/ 

Kev on Twitter - https://twitter.com/KevPrice 

Sub 10 platform sign up - https://sub-10.co.uk/safeguarding/ 

Sub 10 on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SUB10Learning 

#144 Linzi Trafford - Say yes and see what happens

Linzi talks to us about saying yes and seeing what happens. 

We talk about:

• Going on holiday to Thailand and deciding to stay there for 13 years and counting.
• Being in the right place at the right time.
• And the absolute joy of salt & vinegar crisps!

Linzi is a passionate writer and content marketer specialising in creating original and engaging web copy and blog articles.

She hates bad grammar, but loves a good pun. She likes to travel, but sucks at packing. She laughs loudly and often, and her spirit animal is a zebra.

When she’s not at her keyboard, you’ll find her hiking in the jungle, scuba diving, sunset gazing, or running around on the beach with her rescue dog, Blix. 

Key Resources:

Inspiration North Website - www.inspirationnorth.com

Inspiration North Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/inspirationnorth 

Inspiration North Twitter - https://twitter.com/Inspirationorth 

Inspiration North Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inspiration_north/ 

Inspiration North LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspiration-north

Linzi on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/linzi.trafford 

Palm Tree Digital on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PalmTreeDigi

Linzi on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/linzi-trafford-b106591b5/ 

#143 Maria Watson - Creating order from chaos

Maria talks to us about the joy of creating order from chaos

We talk about:

• Not really having any ideas about what she wanted to do when she was little.
• How to make a living doing something she is great at.
• And her hunt for the perfect Chinese takeaway! 

Maria Watson - The Details Director - helps creative-minded solo business owners find simple ways to bring calm, order & organisation to their life & business so that they can get more done with less stress.  

After 18 years in Accountancy, working with hundreds of small businesses, she took her love of details, deadlines and talent for improving efficiency and created her own small business which is in its 7th year. Originally from Lancashire, Maria now lives in Cornwall working remotely with clients across the UK and the globe but she remains a no-nonsense Northerner who has an innate ability to bring calm and clarity to any business project, and that’s what her clients love.

Key Resources:

Inspiration North Website - www.inspirationnorth.com

Inspiration North Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/inspirationnorth 

Inspiration North Twitter - https://twitter.com/Inspirationorth 

Inspiration North Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inspiration_north/ 

Inspiration North LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspiration-north

Maria’s Website - www.thedetailsdirector.com

Maria on Linkedin -  https://www.linkedin.com/maria-watson

#142 Suzi Payton - Listen, accept, commit!

Suzi talks to us about how the 3 golden rules of comedy improvisation also help with life!

We talk about:

• Her childhood dream of wanting to be a stunt woman!
• How making stuff up is the best thing in the world. 
• And how reward charts are not just for children! 

 A dynamic life coach, comedian/improv teacher and neurodiversity trainer; Suzi supports amazing people to access their strengths, build confidence and achieve their goals.

She spreads the joy of comedy improvisation and helps absolute beginners to take their first steps into a world where we make short scenes up 'on the spot', play and have SO MUCH FUN!

As an autistic ADHDer, Suzi is passionate about delivering meaningful autism and ADHD training where outdated stereotypes are kicked out of the window! She promotes a strengths based approach where ND people are accepted and understood and not 'encouraged/made' to be neurotypical.

Key Resources:

Inspiration North Website - www.inspirationnorth.com

Inspiration North Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/inspirationnorth 

Inspiration North Twitter - https://twitter.com/Inspirationorth 

Inspiration North Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inspiration_north/ 

Inspiration North LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspiration-north

Suzi’s website - www.suzipayton.com

Suzi on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/suzipayton_coach_comedian/ 

Suzi on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/suzipaytonadhdwarrior 

Suzi’s Driven ADHD+ mindset warriors Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/353964556132593 

#141 Fiona Kearns - Being CEO confident

Fiona talks to us about being CEO confident

We talk about:

• How we should all work at being good at public speaking.
• Becoming self employed during the pandemic.
• And what her hilarious DJ name would be!

 Fiona Kearns is a Business Psychologist who helps people get rid of self-doubt, own their skillset and feel confident about playing huge in life and work. She is experienced in the IT/Telecom and non-profit worlds. 

Fiona is a member of the Association for Business Psychology and author of ‘How to Increase your Confidence’. She specialises in helping leaders fulfil their potential in business. She loves the thrill of helping clients manage their imposter syndrome to become confident, visible and more impactful. 

Key Resources:

Inspiration North Website - www.inspirationnorth.com

Inspiration North Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/inspirationnorth 

Inspiration North Twitter - https://twitter.com/Inspirationorth 

Inspiration North Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inspiration_north/ 

Inspiration North LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspiration-north

Fiona’s Website -  https://kearnsconsultancy.com/ 

Fiona on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionakearns/ 

Fiona on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KearnsConsultancyGlobal/ 

Fiona on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kearnsconsultancy/ 

Fiona on Twitter - https://twitter.com/FionaFKearns 

Create Your Signature Talk - https://kearnsconsultancy.thinkific.com/courses/createyoursignaturetalk 

Fiona’s book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07VP8Y4RP/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1