Resilient Entrepreneurs: Recent Episodes
Vicki Abraham and Laura Bell
Resilience means different things to different people and in business, being resilient can help us thrive. In this podcast we chat with entrepreneurs from all walks of life, in different stages of business and across industry sectors. You'll hear their stories and can find comfort, strength and humour in knowing that whatever we go through, we're not alone! In each short episode you'll find something to relate to. It's our hope that these real life stories will lift your resilience so you can create a business that's everything you want, and more.
If you’re able to attend the Power of Women Digital Conference 2023 online this September 8th to 10th, do yourself a favour and jump on. Intentionally running in parallel with the Global Leaders G20 Summit, Power of Women is for men and women - to amplify the voice of women in world leadership and to bring a better balance to globally-impacting decisions.
In this Episode we discuss these issues with Conference Founder Shenali Rajaratnam. As an extraordinary entrepreneur she also shares wisdom beyond her years about the power of collaboration, personal responsibility, self-belief and resilience. She discusses the concept of ‘Edutainment’ as well as personal growth that can lead to global change.
Tuning in to this conversation with Shenali will be sure to change something in your world, which is exactly her intent!
To register for the Power of Women Digital Conference 2023 online this September 8th to 10th, visit powerofwomen.info/d-pow
In this episode Maureen Falvey is amazing. She’s the dynamic Corporate Coach and Co-author of "Peak Performance: Mindset Tools for Entrepreneurs" and she drops pearls of wisdom, great sayings and mindset markers from the first minute.
Maureen's mantra "Do the thing, and you will have the power" is how she takes action in the face of fear.
This is a candid conversation about dancing with fear - with practical guidance that will motivate. Enjoy!
Russell Harvey is an engaging Leadership Coach and Facilitator from Leeds, UK and he is known as The Resilience Coach.
His mission is to impact 100,000 lives by 2025, having already touched over 40,000.
He's well on his way to achieving that with his public speaking and his podcast How To Build Your Resilience.
Russell talks about the power of recognising your strengths and playing into them, rather than trying to improve what you’re not good at.
He discusses the impact of focusing on what you love to do.
He challenges conventional wisdom on weaknesses.
He introduces the "step back, reflect, spring forward" formula and a Challenge, Action, Results approach to realign with purpose.
Key takeaways are to ‘spring forward with learning’ vs the concept of ‘bouncing back’.
If you love this, hit subscribe and select other inspiring stories here on Resilient Entrepreneurs where we explore the journeys of remarkable business leaders.
In this episode of Resilient Entrepreneurs, we're joined by Judy Wilkins-Smith, an internationally renowned organisational and family patterns expert. Judy is the author of 'Decoding Your Emotional Blueprint' and has been featured on morning television across the US.
Judy shared some deeply personal life events as we chatted as well as her childhood dream of bringing the magic to Disney when Walt Disney no longer could. The discussion sparks self reflection on our money DNA and creating a healthier money mindset. We talked about how to break free from victimhood, and the power of transformation talk (not toilet talk)!
Tune in for empowering insights - Judy is dynamic!
BOOK: Decoding Your Emotional Blueprint - https://amzn.to/3QkrJwf
In this inspiring episode, join us as we sit down with Davida O’Brien, a visionary entrepreneur and CEO of Vida Fusions. Together, we explore Davida's remarkable journey in the ready-to-drink, non-alcoholic beverage space, driven by passion, authenticity, and her unique background in hospitality and tourism. Discover how she turned her creative vision into reality, crafting unique sparkling blends and flavours that perfectly capture the essence of Bermuda.
Tune in for valuable insights and motivation to pursue your own dreams, fueled by the belief that anything is possible with dedication and perseverance. Subscribe now and stay inspired with more incredible stories on Resilient Entrepreneurs Podcast.
Connect with Davida: https://www.vidafusions.com/
Denise Carnihan is an extraordinary entrepreneur who, driven by her passion, has founded and built two schools in a Kenyan village, providing children with education, who otherwise wouldn’t have access - it’s the first step to a path out of poverty. Now Denise takes small group tours to Africa, to experience the local community and meet local people.
Her book, "I Share My Heart with Africa", shares her life-changing experiences and the resilience of East African communities.
Denise's journey exemplifies the power of belief in oneself, removing barriers, and following passion and intuition despite having no prior experience in education or tourism. Through her entrepreneurial spirit, Denise is making a lasting impact on education in Africa while providing unforgettable experiences for travelers.
Listen in to Denise's inspiring story and you’ll find her enthusiasm contagious!
For more information or to follow Denise, her website is: http://www.helpinghandafricatours.com
Book: I Share My Heart with Africa, by Denise Carnihan
Karl Schwantes, a genius gemologist and jeweller. Known as a 'diamond surgeon' for his extensive knowledge about experience, Karl's gems are not limited to the jewellery business - he now shows business owners how to get 5-Star Google Reviews, because he does it so well in his own business. ‘My 5 Star Reviews’ help businesses harness the power of online reviews to achieve remarkable growth and customer satisfaction.
In this episode you’ll hear Karl describe how to select the perfect engagement ring, how to write a book in 30 days, and how to create delightful customer experiences in your business. It’s varied, it’s fun and it’s Karl’s take on Being Exceptional.
We trust you’ll take something from Karl’s story to add to your own. Enjoy!
My 5 Star Reviews: https://my5starreviews.com.au
Xennox Diamonds: https://www.xennoxdiamonds.com.au
Season 3 of Resilient Entrepreneurs Podcast kicks off with a dose of holistic wellness guidance from Dr. Ayesha Peets Talbot, co-founder and medical director of Ocean Rock Wellness in Bermuda.
Medical science shows there is a vital connection between emotions, stress and health, which in turn impacts your business success and how much you’re enjoying it.
Discover the five pillars of good health, learn how to assess your hormonal and micronutrient health, and gain insights on the medical condition called ‘burnout’ or Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome.
This episode is captivating and you’ll gain valuable knowledge on how to enhance your health and wellbeing as an entrepreneur. Enjoy!
For more information Ocean Rock Wellness: https://oceanrockwellness.com/
Contact Dr. Ayesha Peets Talbot: drpt@oceanrockwellness.com
Dr. Ayesha’s Recommended Books:
21 Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell
Start With Why by Simon Sinek
Who Not How by Dan Sullivan
What It Takes by Stephen Schwarzman
Follow Resilient Entrepreneurs on Podcast Platforms
Spotify Music
Apple Music
Google Podcast
Welcome to Resilient Entrepreneurs, the podcast that celebrates inspiring business people who have overcome adversity to build thriving businesses.
In this special episode, we bring you the highlights from Season 2, featuring 21 incredible guests who embody the true meaning of resilience. Throughout the season, our guests shared their personal stories of resilience, sharing their learnings from the challenges they faced. From setbacks and failures to moments of self-doubt, they candidly opened up, in some cases bringing us to tears. There’s also a lot of laughter and joy in these powerful conversations.
With guests from Germany, New Zealand, Bermuda, Australia, America, UK and across many types of businesses, including para-athlete, life coach, business strategist, relationship expert, technology and infrastructure, electric vehicles, cooking school, a charity solving the hunger problem, digital marketing, product inventors, interior design and others… many of these speakers highlight the best thing about being an entrepreneur!
Have a listen to this episode, the Highlights of Resilient Entrepreneurs, Season 2 and get ready to be inspired, motivated, and uplifted by their stories of resilience.
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/b2OLVGU-XIo
Samantha will soon be a Dr in decision-making, for real!
You might sometimes wish you were a decision-making expert, especially when it comes to doing something for the first time. Decision-making and entrepreneurship go hand in hand and Samantha Rush helps small businesses do this every day. She’s particularly interested in how to make team decision making easier.
This year Samantha produced a deck of decision cards called Marvellous Women. Each of 52 cards feature an inspiring, resilient woman from history and present day. They include artists, an architect, scientists, authors, sportswomen, and world leaders. For example, Queen Elizabeth II, “Know what fight is worth fighting for.” and Rosa Parks, “You don't deserve less than others because of who you are, standing for something will make you strong.”
Samantha shares in this episode; “The cards are to empower people to stop that little voice in the back of their head holding them back, they’re designed to read the words of a really inspirational woman, to tap into the wisdom and strength of a marvellous woman and make it easier to keep going or to stop that voice.”
Tune in to learn more about the Marvellous Women cards (www.marvellouswomencards.com) and to hear Samantha’s tips on how to make the tough decisions!
Marvellous Women Cards can be ordered online: www.marvellouswomencards.com and can be followed on Instagram and Facebook: @marvellouswomencards
Daniel Edwards, of PosterBoy Printing is an award-winning leader in the print industry with fascinating twists and turns in his journey as an entrepreneur.
Once a chef and for the last 20 years, a printer - where he's been recognised since 2017 winning the Word of Mouth Gold Service Award, and now an author of the book: The Power of Print.
In this episode, Daniel shares a marketing strategy that will help every business. To understand that print is a communication tool and how to use it most effectively, he shares his core principles for success. Listen in and learn from Daniel’s book - The Power of Print!
Enjoy the episode and subscribe to Resilient Entrepreneurs with Two Four One if you like it!
Do you struggle with calling yourself an "Entrepreneur?" This episode's podcast guest admits he struggles with it - he calls himself a consultant.
We start this episode with a fun and spirited debate! Hey if we're not having fun in business, we're taking it all too seriously. Martin Lewis founded Orb Services, a Brisbane business consulting firm that specialises in supporting small business owners with:
☑️ How to achieve business excellence, product pricing
☑️ Creating efficiencies, how to prioritise workload
☑️ Getting stuff done, scaling and having a realistic view of the future.
This conversation is like speed-reading a business book - it's a must listen for early stage small business owners and "entrepreneurs." 😉
In this episode you'll take a leadership journey with the Founder and Leadership Development Consultant of Phenomenal People, Felicity Lerouge. Felicity has worked with corporate clients such as British Airways, Guinness World Records, Costa Coffee, Royal Bank of Scotland as well as startups, some small to medium enterprises and non-profits.
Specialising in heart-centred leadership, she uses proven methodologies such as Dr. Joe Dispenza's neurochange solutions, and scientific principles from Heartmath Institute.
Felicity recently migrated to New Zealand from the UK and in this episode we exchange views on resilience, failure mindset, the neuro-pathways of the comfort zone, self-care, and difficult conversations.
Whether you're an early stage business or managing a large corporate team, Felicity has wisdom and inspiration for all. Enjoy the episode and subscribe to Resilient Entrepreneurs with Two Four One if you like it!
Sandra DeSilva is the Founder, CEO and Chief Software Architect of Nova Ltd, a software engineering and consulting firm she started in 2006. Nova provides bespoke software development solutions primarily to the reinsurance and capital markets sectors worldwide. She has worked with billion dollar reinsurance startups and has driven the innovation and execution of large enterprise software systems including assisting global Silicon Valley startups. Her repertoire also includes working for companies that developed software that was deployed to NASA and the Pentagon.
She learned early on, the know-how, insights and techniques for building quality engineered systems which formed the foundation for her business Nova. Spurred on from a young age when she was told tech ‘wouldn’t suit her’, Sandra was determined to excel in the field. She loves the innovation and problem-solving aspect of the work.
Tune in to Episode 15 to hear from Sandra how:
- Even in software engineering, the technology is rarely the problem - she finds herself involved in strategic and operational areas of the business to optimise the value of the tech solution
- When you’re starting out be prepared to ride the plethora of emotions and stay focused on your purpose
- The employee-employer relationship is humbling that others will choose to join you on your journey as you build your business
- Marketing yourself is more important than you might think at the start, to attract clients and develop your profile
- To find time for yourself when juggling time between family and business
- To be open and willing to ask for help
Sandra frequently speaks at Tech Summits and industry conferences.
Enjoy the episode and please remember to subscribe to this channel on your pod app to be the first to know when next week's episode drops in.
Dr. Dionne Payn is a speaker and author of E.T.H.I.C.A.L Property Investing, the Busy Professionals Guide to Double-Digit Returns from Affordable and Sustainable Homes.
Tune in to Episode 14 to hear Dionne’s thoughts on:
- The importance of leaning in to personal development when building a business
- How business growth invites personal growth
- The power of community and how 2000 people in a small village stood up for change and won!
- The fear of selling and the mindset shift to overcome the fear
- Being of service and making money at it - it’s the responsible thing to do
- Burnout prevention
- E.T.H.I.C.A.L Property Investing and so much more!
Dr. Dionne can be found on Instagram @highimpactproperty.investments and on LinkedIn - search for Dionne Payn.
Her book E.T.H.I.C.A.L Property Investing is available on Amazon and the first chapter can be downloaded from her website www.hipi.global
Enjoy the episode and please remember to subscribe to this channel on your pod app to be the first to know when next week's episode drops in.
Michelle White, owner of Executemps shares examples in this episode how opportunity presents itself everywhere, when we're ready to see it and say yes! She bought the business just weeks before the 2020 global pandemic shutdown and has gone from strength to strength. Tune in to hear Michelle's views on business, she talks about..
- Acknowledging all the little skills that you've learned along the way - it all leads to opportunities - often when we least expect them.
- Opportunity is born from relationships. Just be you, be your true self with people and they value who you are and what you bring to the table.
- Having an abundance mindset and not pressuring clients or yourself! "There's a lot of work out there; what I don't get from you, I may get from someone else, or you may need my services another time."
- Failure mindset - the only failure is to simply give up, you throw your hands in the air and walk away. As long as you stick with it, it's an expected part of the journey. If it feels like something may fail it's OK to take it slowly, be more cautious, take a different route, but stick with it - that's important.
- Because of the global pandemic since 2020, any entrepreneur who started their business in the last two to three years can consider themselves still at the starting point.
- As a new entrepreneur you have flexibility and more opportunity to adjust, pivot, change, modify, create new revenue streams, it's the best time to be an entrepreneur.
It’s not unusual for an entrepreneur to start many different businesses, some grow and others don’t, it’s all part of the process.
Abigail Chee’s story is a great example of that; a secondary school teacher by profession, she has tried her hand at many businesses while also raising her children.
What makes Abigail’s current business as a Parent Coach different, is that she’s finally found the sweet spot - the place where her skills, passion and personal experience overlap to create great value for her clients, and she finds it most rewarding.
Tune in to Episode 12 to hear Abigail’s views on:
- Undiagnosed ADHD and ‘distracted’ kids
- How she helped her son to bounce back
- Building a business on the real problems she's solving
- Marketing - don’t force it, learn from feedback and adjust
- There is no direct path, we always evolve as entrepreneurs, our offers will change as we grow on the journey.
Abigail is a parent and education coach for parents with distracted kids. She is a wife of a wonderful supportive husband and mom of 3 kids, one of them (at least) is an out-of-the-box kid. She now runs a membership which helps other parents improve their child’s focus and motivation so they can complete tasks independently!
She can be found on Instagram @freedom_montessori
Membership at freedom-fam.com/membership
Enjoy the episode and please remember to subscribe to this channel on your pod app to be the first to know when next week's episode drops in.
By all accounts in the news we're heading for a global recession - which is why right now is the best time to be an entrepreneur!
While everyone else is tightening their belt and contracting as a small business owner (or side hustler), we have a window of opportunity to build and prepare for the inevitable growth spurt that will come immediately after this downturn.
We're not economists but we have first hand experience and help clients to launch and grow their business whatever the economy says. Tune in to hear why we think it's time to double-down for the recession.
And if community is what you crave, take a look at the Level-Up League, we talk about it in this episode.
In this episode you'll hear from award-winning Coral Wells, crowned Woman of the Year and the Most Inspiring Woman in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) by the Bermuda Government. She is also Executive Director of the Technology Leadership Forum, owns a software development company and a cybersecurity company, and she describes her day job as the charity she founded, called Connectech, which teaches and prepares kids for careers in technology.
We talk with the self-taught programmer about:
- Juggling all her businesses and how she does it - including how she accelerated through the pandemic
- Why it's important to love what you do
- Addressing the gap in the market - and researching thoroughly before launching.
- Why the answer is yes to 'Do I really need a business plan?'
- How every client is a relationship
- Why learning to fail is key to success, and it builds resilience.
Enjoy the episode and please remember to subscribe to this channel on your pod app to be the first to know when next week's episode drops in.
When you think of business as a well-seasoned traveller, you are resilient! Being on standby in an airport means you'll get to your planned destination, even if it's not the way you expected.
In this podcast Michelle Viera reveals her success secrets from her years of experience as an entrepreneur. Owner of a retail store and a fitness instructor, she thrived through the pandemic - here's how!
Nico’s secrets to success as he juggles his business and his schoolwork at 14-years-old, is probably his keen time management, his superpower of being organised and his interest in long-term planning.
This young art-repreneur is creating unique works of art, managing his marketing, attracting media attention, setting up sales distribution channels and creating Instagram reels that ‘go viral’! He explains what he does to create a big hit reel (we can all learn from this young man).
We were proud to interview our youngest ever Resilient Entrepreneur, and he’s in our Two Four One family, Laura Bell’s son, Nico Bean. This short episode can encourage us all in any business and is a peek into the future.
Without resilience, we’d all quit! What’s interesting about resilience is that everyone defines it differently. Does resilience mean pushing through the tough times or easing up when you need to? Both!
In this episode we share the 5 keys to resilience as we see it - and as we’ve experienced it in our lives and in our business. These 5 things are what we work on every day to keep building our own resilience. Tune in to find out what they are and share with us, do you do these things too?
We believe resilience is what got us to where we are today and it’s part of our journey to help others be resilient, that's where we’re heading! It's great to have you with us on that journey.
Our guest today is Kidist Pinky Emery, owner of the award-winning salon pink and a speaker and leadership mentor for team-based businesses. In this episode, we talked about how she managed through the pandemic and how it changed her business model for the better. We talked about how to keep your confidence when you're in business for yourself. We also talked about how she brings her 50% to the table every day by making sure that she pours into herself first before pouring into others. It counts even more than usual when you're running your own show!
Kidist's energy and excitement for leadership are contagious; you'll want to listen to this episode again and again so that you can soak up all that she has to offer!
Kidist's energy and excitement for leadership are contagious!
If you loved this episode we’d love you to review on apple pods or give us a star rating on spotify and tell your friends, tell your mom, tell your neighbours, heck tell your clients! Thanks for sharing the love!!
Entrepreneurship is a roller coaster, sometimes you're riding high and the clients are coming in, and the money's coming in, and everything is booming and then there's other times that It can be a struggle.
In this episode, let's connect on how Vicki and Laura surpass those trying times as entrepreneurs and how to move forward from those around you that's still wasn't convinced on what you're doing as an entrepreneur.
If you loved this episode we’d love you to review on apple pods or give us a star rating on spotify and tell your friends, tell your mom, tell your neighbours, heck tell your clients! Thanks for sharing the love!!
Mia Munro is the Founder at The Human Reinvention Academy, and a Mentor & Business Strategist. Mia is a three-time Amazon Best-Selling Author, and an International Speaker.
She has created leading edge methodologies for the reinvention of humanity. We go into some of that in this episode…
We also spoke with Mia about tangible ways to be resilient.. including how to thrive on every level. Her book ‘The Human Reinvention Formula’ is available on Amazon - and we’ve included a special gift for our listeners from Mia - her e-book free.
https://thehumanreinventionacademy.com/giftforyou/
In this podcast Mia shares real-life advice and steps to thrive…
From the darkest depths of a deeply personal business failure to co-founding a successful marketing company, Two Four One, Vicki Abraham has lived a life of constant change.
In Bermuda Vicki is a well-known TV and radio news anchor and producer and for the last 15 years has worked for herself as an entrepreneur in Bermuda, Australia, South Africa and the UK.
In this episode, Vicki talks about the life-changing story of one woman's journey from the brink of complete failure and despair, to finding her feet and regaining her confidence to co-found a successful startup.
For more insights to being a Resilient Entrepreneur, subscribe to Resilient Entrepreneurs Podcast on your favourite podcast player.
While most kids mow their neighbours' lawns for pocket money, Laura Ann Bell, the brilliant graphic designer and brand strategist of Two Four One, as a kid she would make her cash by fixing lawnmowers for the neighbours!
Laura, who is celebrating ten years as an entrepreneur, explains what true independence is like.
Through this Resilient Entrepreneurs audio series, we'll be interviewing business owners to learn more about them and their adventures. We start with Laura.
Rose Zuill was fired from her first job… and you’ll never guess why! She later built a career in corporate HR and took the plunge to quit her job and go full time in her own business. Now she’s celebrating her 10th anniversary as co-founder of a leading luxury jewellery studio, DavidRose, based in Bermuda, and doing business internationally.
- Rose, like many small business owners was hit hard by the pandemic lockdowns in 2020 and here she shares how she navigated through it, and what she's doing now for future growth.
- We talked to Rose about what resilience means to her as a woman of colour, and she shared how it’s a concept that she’s lived with all her life.
- And get this, Rose still has a decade-old piece of paper that’s so important to her business - without it, she wouldn’t be where she is today! Tune in to this episode to find out what it is and how it helps her focus on future success.