Isn’t it funny how life works sometimes.

I kept in touch with one of my tutors from The Essex University called Sally Waterworth. Sally was always great with advice and so when I decided I was going to make the jump and go self employed back in December 24’ I knew she would have good words of wisdom.

We jumped on a Zoom call together and she told me about Essex Startups, which was something the University offered post graduates as part of the Alumni support.

The call with Sally was on the Tuesday, by the Friday I had contacted The Essex startups team and was signed onto a female entrepreneurial course called ‘Empower’. This started in the next couple of weeks and the timing of it all was a little bit too perfect.

I joined the course and threw myself into everything it had to offer, getting to hear advice and vital steps to acheive success by female business owners and lastly getting the chance to meet a group of likeminded women in the same position, it was all really eye opening for the start of my business journey.

After having to deliver a pitch to investors, I would go on to win the Empower course and the prize money funding. Wow.

Although public speaking has never been my forte, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and the feedback I got from the panel was that my passion shone through in my delivery. Even though I was sweating and shaking life a leaf.

I guess what you can take from this story is that you never know whats around the corner. Sometimes things can feel like a risk, but if you never make the jump then you will never know.

Shoutout to the runner up prize winner and new friend of mine Becky Scott who owns Missfits Workout - the award winning movement sessions for those who dont feel at home in the gym.

Another special shout out to Weronika who owns the luxury silk scarf brand KOI London and to all the other empowering women I met on this course. Good luck with your businesses.