Bump to Business Owner is the go-to podcast for mums who don’t want to compromise on their careers but know that traditional full time employment just isn’t compatible with family life. It’s a space for female entrepreneurs and future founders creating autonomy and a deeper sense of purpose for themselves, their business and their children.
Join your host, Caroline Marshall, founder of award winning Virtual Assistant agency Upsource and mum of two boys, in conversation with real women: mothers and entrepreneurs juggling the challenges of growing a successful business whilst raising a family.
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S5 E23: Operational overload, purpose and performance with Nonie White and Yvonne Biggins of Positive Entrepreneurship
Season 5 · Episode 23
Thursday, July 10, 2025 • Duration 48:57
Have you heard of operational overload? Maybe not, but chances are you know how it feels.
This week my guests are Nonie White and Yvonne Biggins of Positive Entrepreneurship, authors of the The True Cost of Female Entrepreneurship report.
The report makes for stark, but not surprising, reading - 83% of female founders are experiencing high stress, 66% experience extreme loneliness, we have 75% greater responsibility for the household, but 97% of us enjoy the journey.
We know the system is not built for us, we know the challenges we face as female founders. Nonie and Yvonne are here to tell us we are not alone, and the practical steps we can take to protect our wellbeing and ultimately improve our performance as entrepreneurs.
Takeaways:
The genesis of the Positive Entrepreneurship report and the problems and solutions it identified
Why we need systemic change in the entrepreneurial ecosystem
Hormonal changes and their impact on wellbeing and performance
Operational overload and isolation
Self care is a strategic and radical act for female founders
Purpose can be a double edged sword
Failing and non attachment
Six best practices for female founders for their performance and wellbeing
Chapters:
02:29 The Journey of Collaboration 05:05 Researching Female Founders' Experiences 08:01 Understanding the Ecosystem for Female Entrepreneurs 11:46 Hormonal Impacts on Female Founders 14:20 Isolation in Female Entrepreneurship 17:00 The Importance of Support Systems 19:47 The Burden of Operational Overload 24:17 Finding Joy and Self-Care in Business 26:16 Finding Joy and Self-Care in Entrepreneurship 27:45 The Double-Edged Sword of Purpose 29:29 The Paradox of Enjoying the Entrepreneurial Journey 32:48 Starting the Journey of Self-Care 34:46 Learning from Failure and Growth 36:53 Best Practices for Flourishing Female Founders 42:11 Encouragement for Overwhelmed Entrepreneurs 45:43 Rediscovering Joy in Everyday Life
Nonie White is a positive psychology practitioner, researcher and founder coach.
Yvonne Biggins is a serial entrepreneur, founder, coach and positive psychology expert.
Together they are the authors of one of the most insightful research studies on female entrepreneurship to date and they are on a mission to change the entrepreneurial ecosystem to work from a place of wellbeing, particularly for female founders.
S5 E22: New borns and new businesses with Anna Bailey founder of Pally Talk
Season 5 · Episode 22
Thursday, July 3, 2025 • Duration 45:32
My guest on the podcast this week is Anna Bailey, founder of the Assistant community Pally Talk. She launched her business and 2 months later had her first baby, in her own words, the last year has been ‘hardcore’.
Anna has a lot of practical insight into navigating a business and new baby concurrently - this is your sign to start sliding into people’s DMs on LinkedIn.
We spoke really honestly about social media v reality, not only of motherhood, but the assistant world and when, for Anna, revenue finally started coming in from the business.
For me, there’s a theme - you will get through it. Whether that’s the newborn stage, the not making any money stage or being too busy for friendships stage, you’ll come through and it will get better.
Takeaways:
Anna’s career journey from early entrepreneurship to the assistant world
Why having a mentor is so important for new assistants
How Pally Talks has changed as a business since inception
Navigating a new business and newborn concurrently
Anna’s first revenue month and how she’s funding the business
What Anna’s work week looks like
Why workplaces are failing new mothers
TikTok v reality in the assistant world
Anna’s sister’s experience of baby loss and its impact
Why we should all be DMing people
The hardest part of the first year of motherhood
Newborns aren’t for everyone, but you’ll get through it
Chapters:
00:30 Introduction to Pally Talk and Anna Bailey
04:53 Anna's Journey from Assistant to Entrepreneur
09:33 Navigating Motherhood and Business Launch
S5 E13: Radical acts, building confidence and navigating PTSD with Lauren Currie founder of Upfront
Season 5 · Episode 13
Thursday, May 1, 2025 • Duration 54:31
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 raising a family is a radical act. Women even working is so new for us as a society, let alone being business leaders. It’s hard, but it’s worth it and it will get easier.
Lauren is the founder of Upfront, an organization on a mission to change confidence, visibility and power for 10 million women. Thousands of women from over 50 countries have now graduated from Upfront's flagship program, The Bond. It's become the go-to to for women and organisations who want to grow confidence from the inside out. Their clients include global names like Nike, Just Eat Takeaway, the Ministry of Defence, the British Red Cross and PLEO, a true sign of the movement Lauren has built.
S5 E12: Why you don’t need more strategy with Nicola Ward, founder of CakeDrop
Season 5 · Episode 12
Thursday, April 3, 2025 • Duration 38:33
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 strategy, you just need to take action.
Takeaways:
The unique dynamic between cofounder sisters
Covid forcing you to pivot and get creative
The benefits of being a small business in challenging times
Relationship building
Nicola’s fundraising experience
What happens when your cofounder steps away
The trade offs working mums make - guilt and code switching
Advice for founders thinking about motherhood
Why you don’t need more strategy
Chapters:
00:30 Introduction to CakeDrop and Nicola's Journey 02:36 The Dynamic of Sister Co-Founders 05:03 Navigating the Business Landscape 07:49 Adapting to Challenges During the Pandemic 10:32 Transitioning to Solo Leadership 13:03 Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship 18:35 Fundraising Challenges and Experiences 19:02 Navigating Angel Investment and Fundraising Challenges 21:41 Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship 26:15 The Impact of Parenting on Business Perspective 28:49 Embracing the Uncertainty of Motherhood 30:45 Building Relationships with Major Brands 31:49 The Importance of Execution Over Strategy 34:01 Future Growth Plans for CakeDrop 35:06 Finding Joy in Everyday Moments
S5 E11: Birthday reflection: celebrate how far you’ve come - Solo episode with Caroline
Season 5 · Episode 11
Thursday, March 27, 2025 • Duration 23:08
When 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.
Your business can be a lifeline in difficult times
Working on yourself will make you a better leader
Rediscovering yourself post motherhood
Take time to reflect on how far you’ve come
It’s important to be selfish sometimes
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
S5 E10: Lightbulb moments and Wellbeing Practices with Kat Wellum-Kent, founder of Fractional Finance
Season 5 · Episode 10
Thursday, March 20, 2025 • Duration 46:15
What was the lightbulb moment for your business? Did you recognise it and mark it as the life-changing moment it was?
Kat Wellum-Kent, founder of Fractional Finance and one of the top 50 women in accounting took a selfie that day, because she knew ‘this was the thing’.
From her ‘dream job’ at a Big Four accountancy firm, to starting her business, Kat has had some incredible support in her career journey: not only a fantastic mentor, but a strong spiritual practice. She’s also navigating a husband in the army who was often away for 6 months at a time, and a youngest who has recently been diagnosed with autism.
Takeaways:
Kat’s dreamt of becoming an accountant, but realised that becoming a partner wasn’t for her
Her experience of both mat leaves employed by one of the Big Four
Kat’s lightbulb moment for her business
The importance of mentorship
Adapting and flexing in response to Kat’s partner’s Army career and how she navigates space for herself and her business too
Kat’s spiritual wellbeing journey and how it’s supported her in business and personal growth
Autism test and supporting the whole family
Replicating a business model and bringing in co-founders
Finding joy in the everyday moments
Chapters:
01:09 Career Path and Transition to Entrepreneurship 04:23 Navigating Motherhood and Corporate Life 09:28 The Challenges of Balancing Family and Work 14:21 The Birth of Fractional Finance 19:32 Building a Business with Ambition 24:46 Reflections on Resilience and Growth 27:12 The Importance of Self-Care and Personal Time 30:58 Exploring Spirituality and Personal Growth 36:35 Navigating Parenting Challenges and Autism Awareness 40:05 Future Plans for Fractional Finance and Business Growth 42:38 Finding Joy in Everyday Life
S5 E9: Why I was targeted by a multi-level marketing scheme - Solo episode with Caroline
Season 5 · Episode 9
Thursday, March 13, 2025 • Duration 16:02
This week I am unpacking the sometimes controversial topic of multi-level marketing schemes.
I have been targeted by representatives of various MLMs 3 times in my life; because I’m a woman, with a performance background (aka poor!), and a mother. I was targeted within months of having my first child.
MLMs often target women, who are more vulnerable to their ‘opportunities’
S5 E8: Fundraising, health tech and personal branding with Dr Dupé Burgess, founder of Bloomful
Season 5 · Episode 8
Thursday, March 6, 2025 • Duration 48:49
How clear are you on your values? An arresting question! I’m asking because my guest on the pod this week is Dr Dupé Burgess, founder of Bloomful, medical doctor, speaker, content creator and mum of 3. At the heart of everything she does? Her values.
That’s why she’s been able to build such a compelling personal brand on LinkedIn, and why she’s such a compelling speaker and founder. Because mission drives it all.
If you’re building a personal brand, fundraising or building a founder network from scratch, this episode is for you.
Takeaways:
Dupé’s career transitions from NHS to consultancy to entrepreneurship - why it’s so important to have a career that reflects your values
Bloomful’s context of 2020 and Covid as we all became more aware of healthcare inequality for women and minorities
How crucial education is for women to be able to advocate for their health
Building a founder network from scratch
Dupé’s experience of angel investor fundraising as a pregnant black woman
Trust your instincts when dealing with potential investors
Aligning your actions with your personal values
Why it’s so powerful to build a personal brand especially for women
Where Dupé finds joy
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Dupé Burgess 02:21 Journey from Medicine to Entrepreneurship 12:21 The Birth of Bloomful 22:49 Bloomful's Mission and Services 26:01 Navigating Fundraising Challenges 30:10 Building a Personal Brand on LinkedIn 37:03 The Importance of Personal Values 40:32 Balancing Work and Family Life 48:38 Finding Joy in Work and Life
S5 E7: How and why I changed my business mindset - Solo episode with Caroline
Season 5 · Episode 7
Thursday, February 27, 2025 • Duration 17:15
In this episode I’m talking about something that I think is a constant, if not battle, then area for improvement: mindset.
Mindset has been a hurdle that almost prevented me from achieving a business goal. But I was able to recognise it and work on it. So I’m talking about:
- How I recognised my mindset was the problem
- The goal it was hindering
- The steps I took to change it
- The support and resources I turned to (a surprise to me too!)
This episode is sponsored by Ancient + Brave (www.ancientandbrave.earth/). If you’d like to try any of their products (I am a big fan of True Collagen!) you can use our discount code BTB20 for 20% off your first order.
Why Caroline wanted to work on business growth and her application to the Goldman Sachs 10000 Small Businesses programme
Recognising old thought patterns and where your mindset is holding you back
Mindset is a key piece for founders and needs constant work!
Self care is essential for sustainable business growth
Where to find support in breaking out of old mindset patterns
S5 E6: USPs, survival mode and growth with Jen Fuller founder of Etta Loves
Season 5 · Episode 6
Thursday, February 20, 2025 • Duration 50:04
Do you have that ‘on the cusp’ feeling? I think it’s something that unites founders. There’s always something on the horizon that helps keep the faith in your business, even when on paper it’s not always clear.
My guest on the pod this week is Jen Fuller, founder of Etta Loves, science backed baby sensory products that are also absolutely beautiful. Jen is really open that it’s the ‘cusp’ feeling that keeps her going rather than revenue or income goals.
I loved this conversation, as a service business owner, it’s always fascinating to hear from product founders. Jen shares so much empathy, inspiration and nuts and bolts practical advice.
How to deal with copycat businesses, direct sales v working with retailers, opening in new territories, celebrity endorsements and what she gained from a business growth programme, Jen gives her perspective on it all.
This episode is sponsored by Ancient + Brave (www.ancientandbrave.earth/). If you’d like to try any of their products (I am a big fan of True Collagen!) you can use our discount code BTB20 for 20% off your first order.
Takeaways:
Balancing a corporate career with a family
Jen's light bulb moment for her business
How Jen used her mat leaves to launch her business
Struggling with the lack of control that comes with motherhood
Goal setting and ‘the next thing’ as a founder
Appearance v reality and businesses in survival mode
Committing to ‘doing it properly’ and Etta Loves’ USP
Copycat businesses and products
Direct sales v working with retailers
Celebrity endorsements and influencer marketing
14:12 Building a Community for Assistants
18:44 Challenges of Balancing Work and Family Life
23:19 The Future of Pally Talk and Business Growth
Anna Bailey is the founder of Pally Talk, a platform designed to empower female assistants through community, flexible job opportunities and a fresh modern approach to networking.
Launched in March, 2024, just weeks before giving birth to her son, Pally Talk reflects Anna's deep belief that mothers returning to work deserve flexibility, empowerment and support. What started as a place to help moms explore freelance assistant roles has rapidly evolved into a vibrant community of hybrid, remote and part-time professionals sharing resources, job leads and real life advice.
Lauren is a sought after keynote speaker. Her goal is to help everyone in the room turn their own lights on. And she's not afraid to use her voice where it matters most. She was chair of the brilliant campaign group Pregnant Than Screwed for seven years, championing women against maternity discrimination. Her work has been recognised globally from being awarded an OBE for services to design and diversity, to being named one of Elle's Women Changing the World and one of Management Today's top businesswomen under 35.
Originally from Scotland, Lauren now lives in Uppsala in Sweden with her partner and their seven-year-old son, juggling motherhood, business and a mission that only gets louder.
Nicola Ward is the founder of CakeDrop, the award-winning solution bringing sweet treats to some of the UK's most exciting places, including Meta, Ladbible, Beauty Pie, and Netflix. Cake Drop specialises in branded treat experiences and automated gifting for employee birthdays and work anniversaries, making workplace celebrations seamless and delicious.
Nicola's journey into entrepreneurship began alongside her sister Anna, inspired by their own experiences working in the city, where they noticed the challenges of organizing office celebrations. This insight led to the creation of CakeDrop, aiming to make office celebrations effortless and enjoyable. Nicola has faced many highs and lows on her journey, from the shift to becoming a solo founder to navigating major business challenges, including the pandemic and operational hurdles.
Kat Wellam-Kent is founder of Fractional Finance and one of the top 50 women in accounting. Kat's accounting career started in the Big Four, but after becoming a mother, she found the demands of corporate finance incompatible with family life. She transitioned to a smaller practice where she worked closely with small and early stage businesses. There she saw a critical gap; businesses were missing out on the financial strategy they needed to grow successfully. This inspired her to launch Fractional Finance in January 2023 an outsourced finance director service that provides startups and scaling businesses with expert financial guidance without the cost of a full-time hire. Kat and her team help business owners understand their numbers, make informed decisions and drive sustainable growth.
All of course, while navigating motherhood. Kat started her business while raising two children and managing life as the wife of a military husband who spends long periods of time away. Beyond finance, Kat also has a belief in manifesting, wellness and even crystals.
Why you should research MLMs, their origins and who ultimately is making the money
Personal experiences of being targeted by MLM recruiters
Red flags to recognise if you’re being targeted
Ethical concerns surrounding MLM practices
Documentaries and shows to watch if you’re also interested in MLMs
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Unexpected Solo Episode 02:15 Understanding Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) and Its Impact 04:50 Personal Experiences with MLMs 07:54 Recognizing Red Flags in MLMs 10:30 Raising Awareness and Ethical Considerations 13:45 Documentaries and Further Exploration of MLMs
Dupé is a medical doctor, keynote speaker, health tech founder, content creator, online writer and mum to three young kids. She spent eight years working as a medical doctor before transitioning into strategy consulting at BCG.
Dupé founded Bloomful in 2021, a health tech business on a mission to close the gender health gap and improve access to gynae care for women globally. It provides digital support for women dealing with common gynae health issues and has won multiple awards and grants over the past few years. As a leader, Dupé's biggest realisation has been that attention is the new currency and her role is to drive brand awareness.
Over the past three years, she's built her career by openly sharing the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, offering candid insights into what it really takes to start and grow a business. Dupé has two key missions, transforming women's health through Bloomful and leveraging her personal brand to not only amplify her impact, but also help other entrepreneurs to do the same.
There’s nothing better than a good old fashioned pep talk
Balancing family with the growth programme requires a lot of planning and communication
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Goldman Sachs Growth Programme 02:51 Mindset Shifts and Overcoming Doubts 06:05 Navigating Growth as a Mother and Founder 08:51 Preparing for the Interview Process 12:04 Building Confidence and Embracing Challenges 14:49 Practicalities of Balancing Work and Family
00:00 The Birth of Etta Loves 05:00 Navigating Career Transitions: From Stockbroker to Entrepreneur 10:00 The Challenges of Motherhood and Entrepreneurship 15:12 Building a Business: The Balancing Act of Income and Passion 19:59 The Science Behind Etta Loves: A Commitment to Quality 24:56 Facing Competition: Coping with Imitation and Industry Challenges 26:01 Navigating Copycats and Retail Relationships 28:06 Shifting Sales Strategies: Direct vs Retail 30:02 Celebrity Endorsements: The Kardashian Effect 34:10 Investing in Business Growth 39:41 Future Plans and the Uncertainty of Business 41:27 Balancing Work and Family Life 45:27 Finding Personal Joy Amidst Chaos
Jen Fuller is the founder of Etta Loves, and mum to two little girls. Etta Loves was born from Jen's passion for providing babies with the best possible visual experiences to support their development while making everyday moments easier for parents and carers.
With a strong commitment to excellence, she collaborates with leading experts in infant vision and her dedicated team to create the most optimised sensory essentials in the world, designed with both science and sustainability in mind. The idea for Etta Loves came to Jen when her first daughter Etta was just six weeks old. She noticed Etta staring intently at the black and white pattern jumper she was wearing while feeding, completely ignoring the plain muslin on her shoulder. To Jen's surprise, Etta fed for longer and the usual overwhelm of feeding seemed to lift.
The light bulb moment sparked her fascination with infant vision and inspired her to harness the science behind what babies can see. Driven by this newfound passion, Jen set out to transform everyday baby essentials, starting with muslins, and expanding into powerful sensory tools that captivate tiny eyes and bring calm to daily routines. Today, Etta Loves offers beautifully designed, science-led products that provide babies with the wonder and focus they need while offering parents and carers moments of calm throughout their day.
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