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Arts + Lifestyle

Calling all fabulous women

International Women’s Day is the perfect call for a change – worrying less about status and focus more on self-empowerment and self-expression. And what a better way to motivate ourselves then celebrating acts of determination and women that have decided to convert the ordinary into extraordinary? Let’s meet these go-getters and get inspired by the pursuit of their passions.

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A former professional dancer in London’s West End, in 2011 after getting married, Adrienne became a Mummy. As a new Mum, she had the opportunity to meet lots of women and many of them have experienced their bodies change due to pregnancy. Always with an interest fitness, health and living an active life, she decided to make a career out of this, and in 2012 become a personal trainer. As a result, she started blogging to share, inspire, learn and showcase ways for women to lead a happy and healthy lifestyle. This year’s series of talks is about ‘Body Confidence’. ‘Adrienne London’ is a platform for women’s fitness, active style, recipes and more. . 

Stay in touch and inspired via Adrienne’s blog here

You have a very interesting background. What made you follow this path and have you been inspired by anyone?

I have been inspired by so many women through out my life. To be honest, I didn’t really plan the career that I have now but it is the result of saying yes to new opportunities and then working really hard. In moments of doubt I talk to my sister or a girlfriend, sometimes we just need to get another perspective and to ask for help and advise.

You have many strings to your bow! A personal trainer, working with leading brands like Adidas, Women’s Health Magazine, NEXT, Under Armour & Virgin Active and are involved in several fitness projects. All this whilst being a fabulous mum. How do you keep up? 

I guess these days we are all mega busy. Who isn’t? I try my best to manage my commitments and to find a good work/life balance. The online world is constant, it’s 24/7, so when I need a break from the social media world I switch my phone to airplane mode for a couple of hours. It helps me to focus without distractions.

How do you use social media to make an impact and inspire the female audience?

Social media is an incredible way to connect like minded women. I use social media to share my ideas and passion of fitness and health. There are so many incredible women around the world that are using social media to spread a message of empowerment! It’s amazing to be a part of that.

We all know how difficult maintaining a discipline can be. Can you give us tips on balancing health with indulgences?

It’s important to work hard but also to take days off, to relax and have fun. Life is way to short to count calories and to count steps! Find a balance that works for you and makes you feel great.

What are your 5 must-have travel items?

My must have travel items are … A book, coconut oil, headphones, trainers and of course a portable phone charger.

How do you inspire women in their body goals and their aspirations?

I encourage women to celebrate their body. To respect it, own it, celebrate it and embrace it. We are all unique, find your own personal style and just do you.

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Bindi was born in the UK, raised in Canada, with her entire family from Kenya. But her passion and expertise lies in all things startup in Europe and connecting Investors, Founders, Corporates and Government. In 2016, Bindi was named by Computer Weekly as one of the 50 Most Influential Women in UK Tech, Innovate Finance named her as Top 100 Women in FinTech, and Business Cloud Magazine named her as Top 100 Women Blazing a Trail in Tech. In late 2015, Bindi was named Asian Women of the Year at the UK Asian Achievers Awards, the list is endless.

Having worked with PwC Consulting, Microsoft BizSpark /Ventures, Startup Europe, Silicon Valley Bank (and more), she has now launched her own business, using her connections and helping businesses drive commercial success. She is a strong advocate for promoting Women in Tech, and as such, six of her Advisory Board roles are for women-founded businesses.

Take a look at Bindi’s website to find out more about her, upcoming events and her regular blog

How did you get your title the ‘Queen of Startups’?

I was interviewed for an article in 2009 about the work I was doing with startups, which, at the time, was cutting edge and forward thinking for a Global Corporate. The final article described me as “Queen of Startups”.  The name has since stuck around with mainstream press and the Innovation industry!

What have you found are the greatest skills required to start up a business, having worked with so many thousands of startups?

There are so many to mention, but to pick out a few that I see as a consistent trait amongst all entrepreneurs I’ve ever had the privilege to work with:

1)  Absolutely no fear of taking risks, no salary, no problem.  It will work out.
2) Willingness to pick themselves up and start over in the event of failure.  No success this time?  No problem, they’ll take the lessons learned and apply to their next business.
3)  Always questioning –  a refusal to accept the status quo and commitment to finding solutions to obvious problems.

4) Dogged singular focus and obsession with the company and the problem they are solving.
5) Ability to execute an idea – willingness to just roll their sleeves up and deliver.
6) If successful, they will always “pay it forward” to other entrepreneurs through investment and mentoring the next generation of companies. So many actually do this even if not successful.

Technology is moving at such a fast pace. How do you manage to stay relevant in this ever-changing industry? 

Being part of and contributing to a larger tech community in your area, meeting new companies and innovators, mentoring companies and making connections to enable them to be successful, means you are part of a thriving ever-changing ecosystem, despite rapid change.  I spend a lot of time at tech conferences, both as a speaker and an attendee, as it’s their role to produce forward thinking, relevant content and draw in the top speakers. I also spend an incredible amount of time reading industry press, analysts and thought leader blogs to ensure I continue to be relevant in my thinking.

 

What are you top 5 tech travel items?

1) Laptop
2) Tablet
3) Smartphone (and all associated travel apps)
4) External Battery charger (super important at long tech conferences!)
5) Travel converters (because I am always travelling)

What is holding women back from entering IT or venturing into technology? Do you have any advise for women wanting to follow this path?

I think a lot of women mistakenly believe that you have to be fully technical to enjoy a career in technology. Whilst tech knowledge is important, it’s also ok to not have coding and deep technology skills. If you are equipped with a good understanding and appreciation of technology, you can enter a career in so many disciplines focused on the industry. i.e. Sales, Business Development, Finance, M&A, Marketing, PR, Comms, Policy. I’m certainly not deeply technical, but I have a solid understanding of technology and my skills of Sales, Business Development, Product and Connecting have served me well in the industry.  I love working with and really understand the geeks.

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Bronte Aurell is a Danish entrepreneur, restauranteur and cook. Together with her Swedish husband, Jonas, she started the acclaimed ScandiKitchen café and shop in central London. Brontë started her career in finance, but quickly realised that life was about doing stuff that makes you happy (and more importantly, making other people happy), so she joined Innocent drinks in 2003 before setting up by herself in 2007. She is the author of two books (a third is on the way) and is a regular speaker on entrepreneurial business success stories. Brontë has also helped with brand and recipe development for various companies. She also set up the #proudimmigrant movement in 2014.

She is the author of The Essence of Hygge (Ryland Peters & Small, £9.99) Photography by Peter Cassidy. She is speaking at Waterstones Piccadilly on Tuesday 14th March for London Book and Screen Week (13-19 March 2017)

You moved from finance to ‘Innocent Drinks’ to entrepreneur? Tell us about this journey.

Innocent drinks was full of entrepreneurs. In my role there, as Head of People, we were active in seeking our entrepreneurs. So, I was one already myself! The day I started, I told them I had five years before I was ready to do my own thing. I stayed five years. It was amazing to be part of innocent drinks in those early years. There was no money for fancy benefits, but we got free breakfast and personal scholarships. We cared deeply about the fruit quality in the smoothies and we worked harder than any team, ever. It was and continues to be one of the most inspiring companies in the UK. I grew up there and shedded all my finance skin whilst there (I worked in banking before joining innocent).

Doing your own thing, if you are a true entrepreneur, is a calling. You have to do it. It never ends, either. Entrepreneurs often drive old cars – because as soon as we make any money, we use it to create something else. We never spend it on the fancy car as a first choice. Setting up on my own was simply a planned next step. It was tough, but the owners of innocent were extremely supportive.

What are your tips on balancing work with a family?

Switch off your phone and tablet when you are with the family, even when they are babies. I don’t always do this, I have to admit, but I do know it to be the most effective way of connecting with people you are with. Being present. Listening.

Also, know that saying ‘no’ to an opportunity that will create more work than rewards it can yield is often your strongest super power. Spend that time instead with the people you love. It is not always about money and long as you have enough to get by.

Tell us about ‘hygge’, the use and impact on daily lives?

Hygge simply means to appreciate the nice moment you are in, while you are in it. We often forget that, in 2017, we often try to be present both in a physical space – and at the same time, in a cyber space (Facebook, Instagram, email etc). It’s conflicting. There is no way you can truly be present if you have an iphone glued to your hand. We know this because there are no mediation or yoga classes that allow iphones inside – and this should tell us something.

Switch off. Create a wonderful space for your self or with people you love… Eat some cake or have a glass of wine. Throw the phone out of the window or at least switch the ringer off. And then, just as you sit down and exhale, think to yourself: Oh, isn’t this nice? Then exhale again. Maybe even say to the people in the room: Isn’t this super nice? I’m having such a hyggelig time.

That’s it. Candles are merely optional. Being present is essential.

How have you developed your target market for Scandi Kitchen and what are your ambitions for the business?

We have several targets because the business has several ‘heads’. We have our main focus on the homesick ex-pat Scandinavian. We also supply to a UK supermarket, so we are aware of the British consumer’s love of Scandinavia. We have our own brand, too. We write books and we of course also have our busy café in central London – again, a different consumer. We are very lucky to be able to interact with many different people who all have slightly different needs and wants.

I think now it is time to expand, and we’re looking doing this in 2017. Lots of ideas are brewing.

Where do you travel to find your relaxation, your balance?

Sometimes, I pick a city and I get on a plane and I just book myself into a little hotel and I sit there for a few days, on my own, and I write. I really enjoy that. I do love getting away to places where I know nobody and I can just close the door. I go for long runs and walks, I sit in cafes and I write.

With the family, we often escape to my father in law’s house in the North of Sweden. Up there, there is nothing to do other than relax inside the wooden house – or go skiing on the nearby hills (or hiking in the summer). Again, long runs in nature is the absolute perfect way to recharge. In the snow or in the rain or during those never ending midsummer nights when the sun never sets

What’s your top 5 list of restaurants in the world and why?

-Okay, it’s not a restaurant… but… My husband’s cooking. At home. Jonas can make a feast with a bag of spinach, a tin of beans and some left over ham. Honestly, he’s one of the best cooks I know. True skill is in seasoning and he is amazing.
-I still LOVE the Ledbury in Notting Hill. Classic and wonderful and if I could afford it, I’d pop in every time I pass by. But I can’t, so I keep it for those extra special occasions.
– One of the most special meals we ever had was at Arzak in San Sebastian.  The owner Juan Mari Arzak joined us. I’ll never forget trying to communicate in broken Spanish about the joy of a lobster sauce.
– Barrafina. Amazing.
– This weekend, I ate lunch at Paradise Garage in Bethnal Green. It was great. One of those lunches you think will be ‘nice’ and then you leave on an unsuspected food-high. I can’t believe I never went until now.

 

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