Show Me The Way

Vivien Wong is the co-founder of Little Moons, the cult brand that transformed a niche Japanese dessert into a household name. A bold disruptor in the global ice cream market, Vivien is a finalist for the 2025 Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award. In this episode, we explore Vivien's remarkable journey from helping in her mother's bakery to founding one of the UK's most talked-about brands. She reflects on the importance of female role models, what starting her own business has brought her personally and professionally, and how one viral social media moment can transform a company's success overnight. From navigating Little Moons' TikTok explosion to the importance of integrity in company culture, Vivien shares the lessons she learned from scaling her values-led business. In this episode, we dive into her experiences working with family, what being woman in business means today, and what awards like Veuve Clicquot are doing to raise the visibility of female success. Vivien believes that creating opportunities for women to connect, learn, and invest together is key to building collective power. An audacious champion of female success and self-belief, her insights offer an honest, hopeful roadmap for founders and future leaders alike. Much like Madame Clicquot herself. Widowed at the age of only 27, she took control of her own destiny and became one of the first modern entrepreneurs. Book for Emmeline recommendation: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery For more about the Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman awards and shortlist, click here.  

Isabel Berwick is a journalist, podcaster, and advocate for workplace evolution. Having navigated the changing landscape of media and corporate culture, Isabel is dedicated to sharing her expertise on the future of work and career development and re-defining what ambition and fulfilment mean today. In this episode, we discuss the post-pandemic workplace, important distinctions between management and leadership, and the value of creativity. Isabel also shares insights from her upcoming book, "The Future-Proof Career", which offers insights into finding your purpose and achieving success in today's rapidly changing job market. As the host of the Financial Times's acclaimed podcast "Working It", and the hugely successful newsletter Isabel has been a leading voice in discussions about workplace dynamics and career progression, drawing on her extensive experience and conversations with industry leaders.  But Isabel believes that success isn't just about climbing the corporate ladder; it's about finding purpose and balance throughout one's working life. Her insights are invaluable for understanding the challenges we face in modern work environments. Check out her ‘Book for Emmeline' recommendation, as well as some of the other wonderful books and resources we discuss in this episode:  Book for Emmeline Recommendation:  The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster https://www.amazon.co.uk/Phantom-Tollbooth-Essential-Modern-Classics  Other books and resources:  Ambition Redefined by Kathryn Sollmann  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ambition-Redefined-Corner-Office-Instead/dp/1473679095  Arthur Brooks at The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/author/arthur-c-brooks/ Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bullshit-Jobs/dp/B07CTT2DT3/  The Fearless Organisation by Amy Edmondson https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fearless-Organization-Psychological-Workplace-Innovation/dp/1119477247  

Shweta Aggarwal is an author and activist fighting for a world free from conscious and subconscious bias. Drawing from her personal experiences with colourism, Shweta is dedicated to exposing this often unrecognised, trivialised form of discrimination and its impact on individuals and communities globally. In this episode, we explore the complexities of colourism, the subtle, pervasive ways it manifests itself across global communities, and her personal journey of self-discovery through writing. Shweta also shares insights from her recent book, "The Black Rose," which offers a powerful narrative on identity, family, and the path to self-acceptance. Shweta is a leading voice in discussions about racial bias and promoting cultural understanding. Her work bridges cultures and generations, enabling open conversations about difficult topics and helping individuals unpick their own unconscious biases. As well as her recently published ‘Black Rose', she has authored a children's book and is a transformative speaker at prestigious institutions including Columbia and NYU.   Shweta believes that combating colourism isn't just about addressing overt discrimination; it's about recognising and unpicking our own subconscious biases. Her insights are invaluable for understanding the nuanced ways prejudice manifests in our daily lives and what we can collectively do to build a more inclusive society.  Book for Emmeline Recommendations:  ‘Sunflower Sisters' by Minka Singh Gangotra ‘How Our Skin Sparkles' by Aditi Wardhan Singh  Other material that we discuss during this episode:  ‘The Vanishing Half' by Brit Bennett ‘Caste' by Isabel Wilkerson ‘In Search of Our Mother's Gardens' by Alice Walker weta's books: Dev and Ollie The Black Rose: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Rose-Shweta-Aggarwal/dp/0993232876/ref=sr_1_1?crid=CS

Sharmadean Reid MBE is an entrepreneur and passionate advocate for female empowerment. Having navigated the male-dominated world of business and venture capital, Sharmadean is dedicated to unmasking and deconstructing patriarchal barriers to female success. In this episode, we discuss financial empowerment, her experience as a female entrepreneur and what it means to have a supportive network around you. Sharmadean also shares insights from her latest book, New Methods for Women. Drawing on the wisdom of sources from business books to neuroscience to mythology, she has created her own unique methods to help women live purposeful and empowered lives. In 2018, Sharmadean became one of the only black women in the UK to raise over £1 million in seed funding for her beauty-booking app, BeautyStack. But Sharmadean believes that even if she has won, it doesn't mean the work is done for everyone. Success is not about praise or accolades, but about acknowledgement - knowing that her work has made a difference to even one woman's life. Sharmadean's insights are crucial for understanding the challenges we face and what can be done to build a better, fairer future for everyone.  Book for Emmeline Recommendation: Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger https://www.amazon.co.uk/Franny-Zooey-J-D-Salinger/dp/0241950449

Jenny Biggam is the trailblazing founder of the7stars, the UK's largest independent media company. They're doing things differently- no job titles, equal profit shares and unlimited holiday for everyone. The key to attracting the best people, Jenny believes, is building the best place to work. In this episode, we discuss starting a business, the importance of ‘side hustles' and how to keep people engaged at work. As companies face a crisis of employee burnout and high staff turnover, the7stars marks a new kind of workplace, one built around ‘talent encouragement' and career development. They have been consistently ranked as one of the best places to work, featuring on the Sunday Times' ‘Top 100 Companies to Work For' list for the last 11 years and winning Campaign's Best Place to Work every year since 2020.   Since founding the7stars in 2005, Jenny has also started her own ‘side hustle', a sister agency called Bountiful Cow. Jenny is the founder and trustee of the7stars Foundation, a charity supporting vulnerable young people in the UK, and was shortlisted for the 2024 Verve Cliqout Bold Women Award. ook for Emmeline recommendation:  Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan https://www.amazon.co.uk/Small-Things-These-Claire-Keegan/dp/0571368689  

“It's unacceptable to say to somebody in their 30s, when are you having children? Yet, on a daily basis, we've got people that are in their early 50s being asked, when are you going to retire?” Lyndsey Simpson is an entrepreneur and advocate blazing the trail for how workplaces can adapt to an ageing population. In this episode of Show Me The Way, we discuss population change, why ageism is so normalised and what hiring and retraining older workers can offer a business. Her organisation, 55/Redefined, advocates for age positivity and diversity across all areas of life, from age-inclusive hiring to challenging stereotypes in media and advertising.  Despite living longer and healthier lives than ever before, over-50s are feeling increasingly forced into retirement and corralled by ageist stereotypes. But by 2050, our working age population will shrink by 25%, while our over-60s population will grow by 40%. Lyndsey's aim is to add another decade of productive years to life, fighting for age-inclusive hiring, educating businesses on the benefits for age diversity and empowering people to live the life they want at any age. About Lyndsey: Lyndsey Simpson has been recognised by Management Today as one of the UK's 50 Most Inspirational Female Entrepreneurs and The Sunday Times' Top 35 Business Women. She has received a Young Gun and Global Women in Staffing Power 50 award and was shortlisted for the Veuve Cliquot Bold Women 2024 award. Book for Emmeline Reccomendation: The Usborne Creative Writing Book To find out more about 55/Redefined visit: https://55redefined.co/

Author, entrepreneur, cook and trailblazing champion of women across the globe, Pinky Lilani might just have done it all. In this episode of Show Me the Way, Pinky shares with me her newly-published memoirs, ‘Some Kind of Wonderful', which weaves together her remarkable career journey with recipes, anecdotes and testimonies from friends. From cooking in bookstores to having dinner at Buckingham Palace, Pinky shares remarkable and personal stories of how determination and courage can yield amazing opportunities and unexpected friendships. We discuss the lessons she's learnt across her career, the importance of celebrating female achievement and how to connect with one another with kindness and authenticity. Pinky is the founder and chair of multiple awards celebrating influential women, including the Asian Women of Achievement Awards and the Women of the Future Awards. She is also an Indian cooking expert, having authored two cookbooks and worked as a development consultant for major food companies. For her work in female advocacy, she has won a lifetime achievement at the CBI First Women Awards, been named on BBC Radio 4's 100 Most Powerful Women in the UK, featured on Desert Island Discs and received an OBE and CBE. Today, she leads an international network of female advocacy, helping women connect, share their expertise and help one another succeed. Her work helps celebrate female talent, break down cultural stereotypes and inspire the next generation of women. Her recommendation for Emmeline's bookshelf is also a wonderful choice for this. Book for Emmeline recommendation: A Many-Splendoured Thing by Han Suyin: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Many-Splendoured-Thing-Han-Suyin/d Pinky's own book: Some Kind of Wonderful: https://somekindofwonderful.co.uk

Tesco Clubcard Creator and Founder of The Female Lead Edwina Dunn is a globally renowned Big Data pioneer.  In this episode of Show Me the Way, the author of When She's in the Room talks about using data science to unlock the spending power of women and believes knowing women better will release billions of pounds of new income. We discuss her data-driven, not-for-profit, The Female Lead which encourages girls to increase their self confidence and self belief through inspiring role models.  Edwina says in business, (and life),  two is better than one and believes the greatest gift you can give a child is imagination. Her recommendation for Emmeline's bookshelf is an inspiring and creative choice. Edwina Dunn is a pioneering and successful leader in the data industry, known for delivering transformative business change. She co-founded Dunnhumby, which revolutionized the retail and consumer goods industry by pioneering Tesco Clubcard and other global loyalty programs. Her vision and work transformed the way retailers used customer data to drive their businesses, providing insights that had previously been unimaginable. The success of Dunnhumby has been replicated worldwide, becoming the industry standard for customer insights. Its strategic importance was underlined when it was acquired by Tesco in 2011. Edwina has served on a number of government boards including HMRC (NED), The Geospatial Commission (Commissioner) and The Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (Chair). She also invested in a new generation of data and predictive algorithms when she became Chair of Starcount. Her pioneering work has earned her numerous accolades, including an OBE for her services to data and business in 2019, honorary doctorates from a number of universities. Today, Edwina is at the helm of The Female Lead which is an active community of 8 million women, underpinned by an educational foundation, and focused on celebrating the achievements and diversity of women who shape our world. Using data to understand the challenges women face, Edwina works with businesses and the government to create new, mutually beneficial models and policies for the workplace. Books for Emmeline recommendation: The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant https://amzn.eu/d/bLPJb4k Edwina Dunn's  Book: When She's in the Room https://lnk.to/WSITREdwinaDunn Resources: The Fulfilment Finder Engage with The Female Lead: LinkedIn - thefemalelead Instagram @the_female_lead Tik Tok - @thefemalelead  

Journalist Josie Cox is a leading authority on the relationship between economics, business and gender. In this episode of Show Me the Way, the author of "Women, Money, Power: The Rise and Fall of Economic Equality" talks about the history of women's fight for economic emancipation and the barriers to gender equality that still exist today. We discuss the untold stories of female financial pioneers, sexism in the workplace and how Covid has impacted the gender pay gap. Despite the harrowing reality of the data, Josie's book is a call to action to unite in collective effort against gender inequality and create a fairer, better workplace for us and for future generations. As she tells me, “the book I wrote is called ‘Women, Money, Power'- but it's not a book that is for women, it is a book that is for everyone". About Josie: Josie Cox is a journalist, editor and broadcaster covering business, economics, and gender equality. She has worked for the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Independent, The Guardian and Forbes among others and is a regular guest on the BBC. Josie is an Associate Instructor at Columbia and her book ‘Women, Money, Power' is out now in March 2024. Link to Josie's new book: Women, Money, Power: The Rise and Fall of Economic Equality. For Emmeline's bookshelf Josie recommends:  Pauli Murray: The Life of a Pioneering Feminist and Civil Rights Activist by Rosita Stevens-Holsey and Terry Catasús Jennings Proud Shoes by Pauli Murray  Other links: In my conversation with Josie I reference the Harvard Implicit Association Test. You can take a test here.

Sociologist and  University of London Fellow Dr. Louise Ashley is a leading authority on social class, its effect on career progression and access to elite professions. In this episode of Show Me the Way, the author of “ Highly Discriminating: Why the City Isn't Fair and Diversity Doesn't Work” talks about what needs to be done to make the City less exclusive. She believes as well as focusing on diversity and recruitment, it needs to think about its impact on society at large. . We discuss that book title (and why she doesn't like it now),  social mobility, “fitting in” and why “confidence is often confused with competence”. As well as her recommendation for Emmeline's bookshelf. It's a good one! Dr Louise Ashley is a senior lecturer at Queen Mary University of London, and a Fellow of its Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences. A Sociologist studying how social class affects access to the elite professions, and subsequent career progression. Dr Ashley has published articles in leading academic journals and her research has been widely covered in media, both in the UK and internationally.  She specialises in researching diversity and inclusion in large multinational organisations and ‘elite' occupations with a particular focus on social mobility and social class. She has led teams appointed by the government's Social Mobility Commission to understand barriers to entry on the basis of socio-economic background, in law, accountancy and investment banking. Dr Ashley is a member of advisory boards including the social mobility charity UpReach and is a Research Fellow for the Bridge Group. She is also a working group member on the City of London Socioeconomic Diversity Taskforce. Books for Emmeline recommendation: The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper https://amzn.eu/d/h04sDhgFeel the Fear and do it Anyway by Susan Jeffers https://amzn.eu/d/iHGBiHB Dr Louise Ashley's Book: Highly Discriminating: Why the City Isn't Fair and Diversity Doesn't Work https://www.amazon.co.uk/Highly-Discriminating-City-Diversity-Doesnt/dp/1529227674    

Sarah Desmeules, aka Lady Boo, sells handpicked vintage and handmade jewellery from her home, online and at south London markets. She's known for her bold, bright unapologetic clothing that makes you feel great. Her catchphrase is ‘Dress for fun, dress for you. I salute you'! Dawn French is a fan - she recently was seen sporting a dress made entirely from tea towels.   Lady Boo opens up her home four times a year for the Boo Open House and lets clients peruse all things vintage whilst eating cake and drinking tea and something stronger from vintage tea cups.  From actress to HR manager to crafter, creator, community maker, Lady Boo is fun and fabulous and offers a bucket-load of fun in this episode and over on her instagram feed.  For Emmeline's bookshelf she recommends A Prayer for Owen Meany. Links to her instagram and others: Lady Boo on instagram Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet! Lady Boo's next open house on publication of this episode is on Feb 17th 2024. DM via instagram to book your spot.  

If you're thinking about expanding your business or personal brand globally then this episode is for you.  In Show Me The Way with Allyson Stewart-Allen, the woman dubbed the "muse of marketing" and author of "Working with Americans" talks about what you need to do to be successful when launching or expanding globally. Allyson's tips include:  bake a global strategy into your business from the outset  know the "smell of the place" before you market there  keep an naive eye to retain an edge don't forget qualitative analysis. Too much leadership and business direction is based on the quant We discuss how to lead in an age of the "disloyal worker" - those who work to live, no longer living to work. As well as her recommendation for Emmeline's bookshelf and her fascinating fact about the Guiness Book of World Records. About Allyson: Allyson is CEO of International Marketing Partners and associate fellow of Oxford's Said Business School. She is an expert in international marketing, branding, business expansion and localisation and has advised more than 260 businesses across 27 countries including Accenture, Burberry and HSBC.  Fans of Lord Sugar will know Allyson as one of the advisors for The Apprentice You're Fired.  Allyson's book "Working with Americans" here Books for Emmeline recommendation The Guinness Book of World Records  

Erin Baker is the UK's most senior female motoring journalist and a Global expert in automotive content that drives women to buy cars. She is the Editorial Director of Auto Trader and a Vogue, Marie Claire and Vanity Fair motoring contributor. She's also a Goodwood content consultant and is licenced to drive and race some of the world's coolest cars and motorcycles. Erin knows a lot about cars and talks about them in a way that makes you want to drive them...with the ultimate aim of buying them. But she is far from a petrol head. She is passionate about the next generation of transporation and how it can become accessible for all.  In this episode of the podcast we talk about her mission to get more female motor journalists to ultimately engage a female audience in being actively interested in car buying; electric vehicles - the many myths and opportunities they pose; debunking "vegan" interiors (a load of rubbish in her opinion) and taking "She's Electric" - a moment to engage women curious about driving electric - on tour.      For Emmeline's bookshelf she recommends: There is no such place as away - a book that leads children and adults to question just chucking stuff away. _______________________________________________________________________________________ Learn more about Erin here and read her work here and on AutoTrader and follow her in X and LinkedIn Learn more about She's Electric: spaces for women curious to learn more about living a more sustainable lifestyle and making the switch to driving electric.  

“The light on women's sport has never been stronger and it will continue to grow'”. This week on ‘Show Me The Way', I am joined by the amazing Ishveen Jolly, founder and CEO of ‘OpenSponsorship'. Frustrated by the ‘difficult' dealmaking involved while she was a sports agent, Ishveen was inspired to create a solution. OpenSponsorship provides an efficient platform for athletes to connect with brands and become the face of their marketing campaigns. From Christ Bryant to Sydney Leroux, Walmart to Footlocker, the platform has taken the sports world by storm, landing investment from Serena Williams and Ishveen a well-deserved spot on the Forbes 30-Under-30 list in 2015. In this episode, Ishveen gives her unique perspective as a leading woman in the sports industry, discussing the challenges she's faced, her hopes for the industry's future, and the move to ‘focus on female'. Tune in for a fresh perspective on women's opportunities in sport, manipulating misogyny to work for you and the life of a female founder. For Emmeline's Bookshelf: Ishveen recommends ‘The Island' by Victoria Hislop. Recommended by her father, this book fulfils Ishveen's ambition to read more stories. Following the hunt for family history and self-discovery, illuminated by the Cretan backdrop.

“There seems to be a feeling of sustainability continuously now. People are wising up and not buying new anymore.” Andrea and Toni from Arsenic & Tea.  On this week's episode of ‘Show Me The Way', I am joined by Andrea and Toni, the founders of vintage fashion company ‘Arsenic & Tea'.   Born out of a mutual love of fashion, Arsenic & Tea sells its hand selected, high-quality pieces via Depop and Instagram Live to its community of loyal customers. Be it pre-loved, vintage or simply just the unique and unusual, Arsenic & Tea supports sustainable fashion all the way, ensuring their carefully selected, unique pieces receive love and avoid landfill. In this episode, Andrea and Toni discuss the world of vintage clothing, tips for buying vintage and finding the confidence to say: “this is me, and I look fantastic.”  Tune in to hear them expand on the challenges of women starting a business, sustainable shopping, as well as their experience in the supportive industry of empowering women. For Emmeline's bookshelf: Toni recommends ‘Flossy Teacake's Fur Coat' by Hunter Davies: a magical book which explores the imaginative desires and impatience of young girls to grow up and discover jobs, boys, parties and more…  Andrea recommends ‘Catcher in the Rye' by J.D Salinger: which is about a teenage boy's quest for truth in the adult world. It explores the struggle against growing up and the protection of childish innocence.

No one's perfect, not even Barbie, and we should stop expecting it of our female leaders. That's the view of Tamara Box, this week's guest on Show Me The Way. She's a global business leader and Managing Partner, Europe and Middle East for law firm Reed Smith, as well as the trustee on the Chartered Management Institute board and chair of the CMI Women's Committee.  In this week's episode, Tamara talks about breaking expectations of female perfectionism in the workplace, and the need to create an environment where women can not only get to the top, but want to be there and stay there.  We discuss society's expectations of female leaders and the sad fact this means many end up falling off the glass cliff and we go into some depth on Alison Rose, the CEO of NatWest who recently resigned.  Hear her expand upon her view of the importance of kindness in leadership and the power of the corporate sisterhood, reinvention and resilience. Tamara also has some great book recommendations.     For Emmeline's bookshelf Tamara recommends:  The Magic Treehouse series Jack Stalwart Secret Agent

More than one in two women across the UK find it challenging to start their own business. Why? New research says it's down to limited access to finance. That's the most significant barrier as well as a lack of mentors, operational knowledge and self-confidence.  Tinuke Awe is a social entrepreneur. She is the founder of Mums and Tea, a social platform for Black mothers which has a 13,000 strong community. And she's the co-founder of FIVEXMORE which campaigns for improvements in Black maternal health in the UK.  Heather Cobb is the SVP of Member Engagement at Tide, the businesss banking platform which has committed to helping 200,000 women launch businesses across the UK by 2027 and conducted the research.  Mums and Tea are one of the businesses they're supporting.  Tinuke and Heather join me on Show Me The Way this week to talk about the solutions out there to overcome the challenges women are facing setting up news businesses and Tinuke shares her experience and wisdom on how she's managed it.  For Emmeline's bookshelf: Heather recommends The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery: A beautiful story that is relevant for children and adults, reminding the grown-ups to reconnect with a childlike sense of wonder, creativity and imagination. Tinuke recommends Speak Up by Nathan Bryon (Author), Dapo Adeola (Illustrator) which is about a little girl's passion for her local library and how she stops it from closing. To find out more about the Tide Women in Business 200k campaign go to https://www.tide.co/supporting-women-in-business/ And for Mums and Tea https://www.mumsandtea.com/ And FIVEXMORE https://www.fivexmore.com/

Tessa Clarke is the co-founder of OLIO, the local sharing app that connects users with unwanted food and household items with neighbours living nearby who would like it. She recently won the Veuve Clicquot Bold Business Woman Award 2023.  Olio now has 7 million users who have together shared over 100 million portions of food and 9 million household items. In this episode of Show Me The Way Tessa gives great tips on how to fundraise successfully as a woman in tech (surprising and really really good advice); the huge green house gas emmisions from household food waste and how we can all make a difference; how being an outsider can be your superpower and the simple hacks she and her family use to waste less.   Did you know?  - Food waste created globally each year amounts to a gargantuan £1 million - The average UK family is throwing away £700 worth of food each year  - Food waste is 10% of global green house has emissions. Five times the aviation industry and larger than the entire fashion industry.  In each episode of the podcast, host Naomi K asks guests to recommend a book for her daughter Emmeline and children like her, to inspire them to be fearless, fabulou and happy. For Emmeline's bookshelf Tessa recommends The Lean Start Up by Eric Reis. Some other links Tessa shared that you might enjoy: Hear more about Tessa's  mission in her TED talk Explore Tessa's 75 simple swaps to reduce your waste Consider how to stop wasting food at home Understant the Reason Female Entrepreneurs Get Less Funding by listening to this TED talk from Dana Kansey Shop sustainably with pre-loved stylist Emily London

Anne Aslett is the CEO of the Sir Elton John AIDS Foundation and with Sir Elton, she's launched The Rocket Fund - a $125 million campaign to help end AIDS by 2030.  The ambition for the fund is to create a world free from AIDS, for everyone. To reignite the conversation around HIV/AIDS and turbo-charge the mission to reach vulnerable people in most need of support as we celebrate PRIDE month in the UK.  On the latest episode of Show Me The Way, Anne talks about her 20-year career with Sir Elton John and his foundation. Her brother, whose death inspired her to join. And the global initiatives she's involved with that are helping provide access to HIV prevention and treatment services for over 1 million people. Did you know? LGBTQ+ people account for 17% of total HIV cases globally yet receive only 0.04% of development funding that provides medical care across the disease spectrum. Every two minutes in 2021, an adolescent girl or young woman was newly diagnosed with HIV.  Nearly 5,000 young women contract HIV every week. To find out more about the Fund go to The Rocket Fund or visit the Sir Elton John AIDS Foundation website here. For Emmeline's bookshelf Anne recommends The Rainbow Parade by Emily Neilson – a story about the diversity of family life and relationships.  Subscribe so you don't miss any new episodes.  

Rokeya is the founder of the luxury fashion brand, Khanums. She is a British Bangladeshi, born and raised around what she calls the “dodgy” ends of East London. She came from a working class family of seven siblings, with parents who immigrated from Bangladesh for better opportunities. She became a young teen mum and ended up a lone parent.  Statistically, the odds were stacked up against her but she wouldn't let societal expectation (or lack of it) hold her back.  Rokeya put herself through law school and started a job in the corporate world. On the side she started to design her own clothes and launched her own brand. And it went from strength to strength. So she quit the day job.  Khanums has grown to become a luxury brand stocked in Harvey Nichols and on track to a turnover of £1 million this year. Rokeya is also an ambassador for the Bangladesh Education Trust dedicated to ending child labour. For Emmeline's bookshelf she recommends The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy. The brand: https://khanums.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rxkeya/?hl=en Marie Claire feature: https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/fashion/khamuns-designer-profile  

Too often parents feel they have to choose between family life and their leadership career. But we shouldn't have to choose between an ambitious career and raising young children. Not only can it lead to the start of the wealth gap between women and men but it can also lead to a loss of confidence in returning to work, for both men and women who decide to take a break. We will hear from two people at the heart of driving change in this area. Verena Hefti is the CEO and Founder of Leaders Plus which celebrates and supports parents who unapologetically want both career and family. Natalie Goldwater has spent the last three years at the BBC building the Global Women in News network, the corporation's largest and most successful staff networks with over 2000 members globally in 25 locations around the world. Verena's podcast: Big Careers, Small Children

It's 267 years before we'll get to close the financial gender gap and 132 before we get  equal pay. And 37% of women globally earn around 37% less than men in similar roles.  Bloomberg TV anchor Caroline Hyde is at the heart of financial markets daily and knows the importance of getting more women involved in finance. In this special episode of Show Me The Way, first broadcast live on LinkedIn she demystifies the world of financial markets and gives tips on where to start to get to grips with investing, pensions and saving.   

As Martha Lane Fox so succinctly put it recently: "Your country needs you – to be a non-exec director". It may seem like a pipe dream, or you may never have even considered it but when you've rolled your eyes at another corporate blunder, ask yourself, how would I have handled that differently. Then ask yourself, can I be part of the change?  And the answer is yes.  And the how is where Sarah Pierman from Dynamic Boards comes in.  She set up what is effectively a jobs board mining all the non-exec positions out because she didn't see enough people like her on the boards that she was on. So she decided to do something to change that.  Tune in to hear how you can become a non exec, broaden your network, your experience and get paid to do it.  My favourite tip:  “Nose in. Hands out.” Listen to find out what that means!

We may wish it weren't the case but how we present ourselves visually matters as much as what comes out of our mouths. Research shows that clothing influences first impressions. It affects how people perceive and interact with us. In this 20-minute masterclass I'm speaking to personal brand stylist Clare Chambers about how female leaders can use their wardrobe to improve confidence, perception and ultimately their careers. #femaleleadership #stylist #personalbranding  

This episode is for everyone. Please listen. If you're a woman, you need to know about this. If you're not...you need to know about this. Menopause. A word that often strikes fear, embarrassment, denial! Its onset comes with a myriad of symptoms that affect many women differently. It may be a natural part of ageing that effects half of the population but its effects can have a severely detrimental effect on that 50%s working life. Given it usually occurs between 45 and 55 years - its peak careerr/ earning potential...Research shows that 10% of women leave their jobs, and many more reduce their hours or pass up promotions because of their menopausal symptoms. Not only does that hit the pay packet, it can hit your long term living too. Recent research has found that menopause could leave a £63,000 dent in a woman's retirement savings as a result of moving to reduced hours. To talk about all this, and how she's navigated this time herself I'm joined by Paula Fry, Global Head of Fixed Income and FX Trading Liquidity at Bloomberg - the global financial data and media company who also has an impressive instagram following as @cityfashgal and appeared on Davina's Menopause documentary series: Sex, Mind and the Menopause. Paula feared she was developing dementia when she began going through perimenopause in her early 40s. She describes how the brain fog was so debilitating thing and how she questioned whether she was clever enough any more to do the job. Please share this episode. It's by speaking up, and listening, that we normalise conversation about something that is so normal and recognise that as all of us will be working well into our 60s, we need to keep going during the menopause and support each other, and be supported to get through it. Otherwise we get lost. And we miss out on not only career opportunities but also a chunk of cash for later in life. For Emmeline's bookshelf Paula recommends: Sally Hughes: Everything Is Washable

Welcome to this special edition of Show Me The Way podcast with me Naomi kerbel. It's special because we recorded it on LinkedIn Live Audio so you'll excuse some of the tapping and tinny sounsd as we get to grips with this new platform.  Today I'm talking to Kim Arnold, the founder of the world's No. 1 email writing training course, Email Engagement and Author of Email Attraction: Get what you want every time you hit send Given we spend 6 years on email over the course of a lifetime (that's longer than time spent eating, socialising or going on holiday) it's time we focused on getting it right so we can do less of it and have more fun! This episode is packed with top tips and information. Please share widely and buy the book which I have found invaluable.  The book: Email Attraction: Get what you want every time you hit send

"This isn't a story. This is my confession. I have killed my ex's new partner." Punchy opening to this feminist revenge thriller by debut novellist Scarlett Brade.  In it Charlotte is dating a famous boxer. All is champagne and roses, until it's not and social media has a huge part to play.  On Show Me The Way Scarlett explains how she came to write the book, how she got an agent, life imitating art as she'd had a relationship with a famous boxer which inspired the book, and her 'gal' group which got her through the break up.  For Emmeline's bookshelf she recommends The Unmorrow Curse - a mythical fantasy perfect for 8-12 year olds. Its author also happens to be her sister Jasmine Richards.

What was the most painful breakup of your life? Was it a romantic relationship or was it a friendship? Certainly for me both rank pretty highly in terms of sucker punches in my history. On today's show, Claire Cohen, author of BFF? The Truth About Female Friendship suggests that from infancy we are fed a diet of 'Best Friends Forever' - the idea that you should have a female soulmate to whom you tell all your secrets and who always has your back. A myth she tells me that she wants to bust. She's coined a new term: BBFN - best friends for now. Rather than spending years striving for a vision of female friendship that isn't realistic, she has spoken to dozens of experts and suggests we look for what suits us best and appreciating what we've already got. Claire also explores toxic friendships and how to figure out if you're in one; competition within a friendship being the last taboo and how to pay it forward if your friendship plate is full. Finally she encourages us to celebrate and show some love to those longlasting friendships that have stood the test of time.  For Emmeline's bookshelf she recommends:  Bess Kalb's Nobody Will Tell You This But Me.A brilliantly original memoir of a grandmother speaking to her granddaughter from beyond the grave, telling the story of her life with hilarious candor and love.  

Welcome to Show Me The Way - the podcast that speaks to women at the top of their game about what it takes to get there. Emma Moseley is a feminist campaigner and the voice behind the hugely popular instagram account @EmmaInProgressUK which dissects misogynistic behaviour on reality TV. And right now her life is deep in Love Island. By shining a light on these relationships playing out she creates a space to have a conversation about what is right and what is definitely wrong in modern love.  For Emmeline's bookshelf Emma recommends All About Love by bell hooks.  

Love it or loathe it. As soon as the first letter of the month turns to J, the reality show Love Island is EVERYWHERE from slogan tees to water bottles to wash bags.   Now in the past the show's been sponsored by fashion brands like BooHoo and the stars often go on to do collections for sites like Pretty Little Things but the programme makers have faced a backlash for promoting fast fashion – there has been criticism of poor standards for for workers and the environmental impact is huge. So ITV studios have made a major shift. eBay is the new sponsor. And all the items will be pre-loved. i.e. second hand…so basically you can't shop the look exactly but you can shop a look of the look. Their aim – to help shoppers “find the pre-love of your life.” And my guest on Show Me The Way this week is someone who believes that "everything a person needs to wear or use is already in existence." Stay tuned for tips on how to buy the best pre-loved and how it really can make a difference to the planet and your pocket. My guest today is Emily, founder of Emily London – vintage and preloved style. She's a former fashion and beauty journalist for Tatler and Vogue and e-commerce exect for Net-a-Porter's TheOutNet and Refinery29…so basically she knows a LOT about fashion.  

Lucy Johnson is the CEO and founder of Green Salon, a company that helps people stick to their good intentions for good. She combines psychology and sustainability to make our lives and the planet better. And the good news is that by doing it, we feel good about ourselves! New research from the household cleaning brand Ecover reveals that 66% of those surveyed find that taking measures to reduce their impact on the environment puts them in a good mood but 52% feel guilty about the amount of single-use plastic they're using. Lucy explains that if we believe sustainability is about sacrifice, we're much less likely to embrace any kind of alteration in our lifestyles but celebration and compassion both tap into the reward centres of our brain. So it's important that we celebrate small changes and forgive the lapses. Here are the Top 10 environmentally-conscious activities that put us Brits in a good mood: 1.    Taking a reusable bag shopping 53% 2.    Turning lights off when not in use 52% 3.    Reusing food leftovers 45% 4.    Washing out plastic containers and recycling them 45% 5.    Turning things off at the socket when not in use 40% 6.    Using a reusable water bottle 39% 7.    Turning down the heating/using the heating less often 38% 8.    Washing out packaging/ plastic bottles to reuse them 37% 9.    Cycling or walking instead of driving somewhere 37% 10.  Washing clothes at 30 degrees 34% *Research conducted by One Poll with 2,000 UK adults, 25-28 January 2022 You can find out more about Lucy's work here: Green Salon websiteGreen Salon Directory  Green Salon on Instagram And more about Ecover's Refillery here

Content Warning: intrusive thoughts of harm  Being a new parent can be very, very tough. Amidst the delicious snuggles and downy smells can be upset, anxiety and sometimes even rage. This can be compounded by lack of sleep and it's quite common for women to experience intrusive thoughts of harming their baby. Often these thoughts are accompanied by intense emotions of shame, horror and fear. Clinical psychologist Dr Caroline Boyd specialises in intrusive thoughts and anger particularly around parenting. Her new book ‘Mindful New Mum' helps women find more head and heart space to transform those early years of parenting with compassion and kindness. In this episode she explains how common these thoughts are and explains that research backs up the fact that when women feel ashamed and horrified it's a strong sign that they're not going to hurt the baby. Caroline's new book 'Mindful New Mum' goes deep into this stuff and helps the reader manage the muddle of motherhood through mindfulness and meditation.  For Emmeline's bookshelf Caroline recommends The Tigon and the Liger by Keilly Swift - a story about appreciating your differences and learning to love the skin you're in. Warning: in this episode we talk about  depression, anxiety, and unwanted, intrusive thoughts including harming babies. If you are in the UK and struggling with unwanted intrusive thoughts or are experiencing any other mental health challenges, please do speak to a trusted health professional or your GP who can refer you to further support. The PND charity PANDAS is a great resource with a free helpline as well as free email and text support. Or you can contact Samaritans whose 24hr free helpline as well as email and in person support options. Or text the word 'SHOUT' to 85258 to start a conversation with a trained Shout Volunteer, who will text you back and forth, sharing only what you feel comfortable with.

Do people in your family say you look just like your great grandmother? Do you love to cook just like your great aunt? Do have a hot temper just like your father? In this episode of Show Me The Way we explore whether the past  could be more than just a story book, whether it could be a manual for how things might play out in the future. And whether by recognising it, and honouring those who went before we can transform ourselves, our futures and that of our families.  This week Naomi speaks to Natalia O'Sullivan, a holistic therapist and spiritual counsellor. Her new book Ancestral Healing Made Easy: How To Resolve Ancestral Patterns and Honour Your Family History explores how inherited wounds and traumas passed down by our ancestors can be healed to transform the present and stop repetition in the future. Links: Natalia's book Natalia's website Discover more about your history Natalia's recommendation for Emmeline's bookshelf For Emmeline's bookshelf Natalia recommends Women Who Run With Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. Natalia says the book which is filled with fairy stories teaches women to connect with their wild selves.

As a child Caroline Hyde dreamed of being a diplomat but it was her Mum's obsession with the news and seeing strong female news anchors presenting it that inspired her to a take a different path - to becoming a TV presenter. "Joy of opportunity", as she says has taken her from London to Berlin to San Francisco to New York where she now lives with her  two children and her husband Ben who works in tech.  Together they have set up Inspire , a charity born out of the Covid-19 crisis to encourage kindness and to raise money for the most vulnerable families.  Their first product is a beautiful Advent Calendar, rather than a chocolate, each day inspires an act of kindness.  Links: Caroline at Bloomberg Caroline's charity - Inspire Caroline's recommendation for Emmeline's bookshelf  

Spending time at home as part of a hybrid working week is now a norm, not an exception. Yet apart from some beautifully curated framed art on your walls (we all envy a good Zoom backdrop) how much thought have you given to the space you're now working in and how tweaking it could maximise your potential? That's where Zoë Vita James comes in. She's a classical feng shui practitioner who uses the centuries old practice to help women understand their true selves, desires and help make their dreams come true. Classical Feng Shui is the very much tailored to the person, however there are still some tips that you can pick up and use straight off the bat and she shares some of those with us here. Zoe spent 17 years in the professional services industry (PwC) advising internationally renowned investment banks (and as a Chartered Accountant). Now she brings that same clarity, calm confidence and gentle empathy to Astrology & Feng Shui work.

Ebinehita Iyere left school and went into care at 15 by that time she had lost five of her friends to violence. She was put in an 18+ hostel and says she was forgotten about. Having been taken in by the system, she felt invisible to the system. She turned into a nurturer looking after older males and females who were in the care system. Ebinehita thinks she was forced to become an adult too early but says she learnt from the people there how to protect herself. And without that experience she believes she wouldn't be doing what she's doing now. Ebinehita is a therapeutic, diversion practitioner working with boys and young women who come into contact with police custody as well as safeguarding issues. She is also the founder of Milk Honey Bees, a black-girl led expressive safe space for young women to flourish and put H.E.R (Healing, Empowerment and Resilience) first.  It gives them a safe space to express themselves and heal from their experiences of youth violence. Ebinehita was nominated for the 2021 Veuve Clicquot Bold Future Award.  For Emmeline's bookshelf she recommends Look Up  by Nathan Bryson and Dapo Adeola about little girls dreaming big.  The book is written and illustrated by two men which she thinks perfectly demonstrates the fact that it's not just about women understanding each other but about men and boys understanding the role they play in making women more visible.

Julia Yule is the co-founder of Bloom and Blossom which provides natural skincare products for the whole family. She started the company 10 years ago with her sister-in-law Christina Moss. In that time alongside growing a business they have had 5 children between them. not to mention caring for a dog, cat and a tortoise. She left her job at Glamour Magazine to start the business and has grown it from just two people with an idea to a large team with stockists including SpaceNK, Waitrose and Sainsbury's. For Emmeline's bookshelf Julia recommends Roald Dahl's Matilda and Kindness Rules by Hello Lucky which she says is a particular favourite of her youngest daughter. She says it's about what truly matters and shows how we can teach our children about being kind.

Being a female bodyguard isn't one that was top of the list of potential jobs when I was speaking to my careers advisor at school but Kate Bright thinks it should be. She is one of only a handful of female bodyguards in the UK. In today's episode she explains how important safety is for the smooth-running of our lives and gives simple tips on how we can protect ourselves and our families.    

The chance of you being born is 1 in 400 trillion and so I believe that everyone is on this planet for a reason and everyone has something remarkable about themselves Holly Tucker MBE, Founder of Holly & Co Holly Tucker is a woman on a mission to change business forever. The co-founder of Not On The High Street and creator of Holly & Co did an Instagram live every day during the first lockdown to help small businesses navigate the choppy waters of those times. She believes there’s a real opportunity to thrive despite the year we have had. As the UK Ambassador for Creative Small Business, her aim is to empower everyone to turn their passion into profit. Her new book "Do What You Love What You Do" is a love letter to the transformational joy that can come from running your own business because you get to directly tap into your creativity. Holly believes identifying your purpose will help you build a business that you love. Holly Tucker MBE, Founder of Holly & Co In this episode of Show Me The Way Holly tells her story of how she came to start Not On The High Street, the challenges she has faced and how she used creativity to overcome them and gives one of her 'Holly Hacks' to help you to identify your purpose.     Holly's new book Do What You Love, Love What You Do is out now.   In this episode of Show Me The Way Holly explains one of her 'Holly Hacks' which helps you to identify your purpose which in turn will form a foundation on which you can build your business. For Emmeline's bookshelf Holly recommended Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman.     Holly's podcast is packed with inspirational guests who run their own businesses.   You can find out more about Holly on her website Holly & Co. Every Monday we are treated to a new episode of Holly’s Conversations of Inspiration podcast. And on her instagram @hollytucker she does a regular Mastering your Money on Mondays and Holly’s Business Pharmacy LIVE every Wednesday at noon. Holly's book Do What You Love Love What You Do is out now.  

Gillie Barlow had anything but a conventional start to life. She went from working in a fish farm to buying her first property in a French ski resort with no money at the age of 21. She then built a property portfolio and is now a successful mentor and coach teaching the property strategies she has learnt through her career.   In the latest episode of Show Me The Way she explains her assertion that our success must come from a belief in ourselves - if we do not like ourselves, how much harder is it to like other people and ultimately do business them. Gillie's book ‘Understand Your Truth to Find Success’ aims to help anyone who wants to excel and succeed. It is for those who feel something is holding them back from being the best version of themselves.  Gillie Barlow, property entrepreneur, coach and philanthropist

When you’re rushing through the mayhem of life it is sometimes hard to stop and consider what someone would actually want as a gift. New mum. Flowers. Tick. Mother-in-law Birthday. Flowers. Tick. Best friend’s heart break. Flowers. Tick. But Steph Douglas, the founder of the alternative gift company Don’t Buy Her Flowers has another idea – gifts that require no effort but that produce a little pocket of TLC. In this episode Steph tells the story of how life can get in the way of connecting properly to those around us. She set up her company to help those connections go a bit deeper through thoughtful gifts that people actually want. She gives tips on the best thing to say to a new mum (“you must be shattered” doesn’t cut it), advises you not knock the day job (having a salary and colleagues to chew the cud with shouldn’t be underestimated) and how it’s ok to lower your domestic standards to get just get on with life!

Kim Palmer was in the middle of a major presentation for her company when she had a panic attack. That led her confidence to spiral downwards...out of control until eventually she couldn't speak at meetings and would delegate juniors to do it in her place. She went on long journey of therapy to find the thing that worked for her. On this episode Kim explains how hypnotherapy worked for her and how it was so good she founded an app to enable others to find help.

2020 may have been a washout but that doesn't mean 2021 has to be the same. The guest in this episode has used property to propel herself into a different life. Ayesha Ofori started life as a banker. She advised very rich people about how to get richer effectively! Whilst doing that she was building a property portfolio on the side. When she started making more money from property than from banking she ditched the day job and put all her focus into bricks and mortar. Since then she has set up organisations to help other people who wouldn't normally have access to resources, networks and funds. In this episode she explains how property had an empowering impact on her life and how she's using her knowledge to inspire others. For Emmeline's bookshelf for her age now Ayesha recommended Maybe by Kobi Yamada which she explains is a story about the endless potential in all of us. And for Emmeline in the future she recommended Becoming by Michelle Obama. Ayesha found so many things in it about being a woman, race, dealing with failure and raising a family.

Imposter syndrome can cause a constant fear of being found out   - you feel like a fraud and are paralysed by the idea you're not good enough and you're going to be humiliated. Saatchi and Saatchi's former Vice Chair, Rita Clifton CBE has the answer. In this episode of Show Me The Way she debunks the "fake it 'til you make it" myth and advises us to be properly prepared with personal branding, financial literacy, and perfecting the art of excellent communication. Love Your Imposter: Be Your Best Self, Flaws and All is out now. For Emmeline’s bookshelf Rita recommended the Ruby Ferguson Jill series.

It's safe to say that watching people be intimate on screen can either be electrifying or extremely cringe-making and if we feel that as the audience, imagine how it feels as an actor.  That's where the intimacy co-ordinator comes in. This relatively new role in film, TV and theatre facilitates conversations first between the actors about what they're comfortable with doing and then acts as liaison between them and producers, directors and crew. It not only helps to set boundaries but also enables deeper conversations about why the scene is there and how to make it the best representation of that moment between two consenting adults. Ita O'Brien is the leading light in this field, pioneering an intimacy playbook on how to do this work with the highest possible standards. She started out as an actor and then became a movement director and is now the go-to for this type of work.  Some of the most compelling scenes of 2020 (lockdown) TV have been as a result of her input. Remember the unhurried sex between Marianne and Connell in Normal People; when Arabella doesn't give her consent to sex without a condom in I May Destroy You and the exploration of sex in all its guises in Sex Education....she's the magic sauce behind all these.   Hear how she got to where she is today and how she creates the beautiful, consensual, compelling scenes that she does. 

Anna Downes is the author of this Summer's most addictive crime thriller The Safe Place. It's her debut novel and in this episode she reveals her journey from actress to mother to author and how the writing process helped ease anxiety that she was suffering. Anna grew up in Sheffield and started life as an actress having trained at RADA. She went on  to do roles in EastEnders, Casualty, Holby City as well as a long running stage production of The Dresser in the West End.  In 2009 she left the UK to go travelling around the world before settling in Australia. The safe place is partly inspired by working as a live-in housekeeper/caretaker on the French coast during her travels.  In this episode of Show Me The Way we talk about how the story came to her, the writing process, how she got published and the pressure of a second novel. Anna's debut is out in the UK August 2020: The Safe Place Anna's recommendations for Emmeline's bookshelf: Big Magic and The Girls Synopsis: Emily Proudman has been offered the chance of a lifetime - leave her messy London life, move to a beautiful estate in France and help her boss's wife take care of their daughter. It seems like the perfect opportunity to start again. But once there, Emily soon starts to suspect that her charismatic new employers aren't telling her the whole truth. That there are even dangerous secrets hidden beneath the glamorous facade.

Katherine Moore is Head Coach at Track Record. She spent 10 years in sport working with multiple Olympic champions — she was Head of Sports Science and Medicine for British Canoeing and Lead Physiotherapist for The English Institute of Sport. In those roles she used biometric measures to help improve performance and she now applies those methods in the business world helping FTSE 100 bosses and others improve their stress resilience and confidence. In this episode we talk about those methods: how to take control of your confidence and unleash your potential by exploring her four domains of resilience that will enable you to perform at your best: the physical (how well you're sleeping, nutrition, recovery); mental (what's your mental load); the emotional (how good are you at self regulating and shifting out of negative moods) and identity (what are your values and what do you want your legacy to be). Emmeline’s bookshelf: Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls Katherine's book: Take control of your confidence: The inside track to unleashing your potential

"I walk into diamond bourses around the world. I’m the only black person. I’m the only black woman. People expect me to fail. Yes I’m a small fish in this big pond full of sharks but I don't care. Things have to change. We will try to fix it because it’s our own people." Vania Leles, founder VANLELES DIAMONDS Vania Leles is the first African woman to own a fine jewellery store on London’s Bond Street. That’s pretty remarkable in itself but her journey to this point is even more so. Vania Leles is shortlisted for Veuve Clicquot BOLD woman award 2020 CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO SHOW ME THE WAY WITH VANIA LELES Vania was born in Guinea-Bissau - a small country on West Africa’s Atlantic coast and moved to Lisbon to be educated when she was six.  She saved all her money to do an English course at SOAS, working in restaurants to pay her bills and eventually took a job as a social worker in Camden but then got scouted by Select Models and landed a massive Diesel campaign. That campaign would pay her four times what she would have made in a year so she decided to become a model full-time and moved to New York. She came up with the idea for her business Vanleles Diamonds when on a photo shoot in New York. It was whilst on a photo shoot on New York that she started to release that although 75-80% of the gems that exist in fine jewellery comes from the continent but as she says "it’s absurd that we don't have representation on this side of the industry - more African fine jewellery brands, more African diamond dealers across the bourses of this world." Because as she says, "how come countries do not produce an ounce of diamonds and they trade all the diamonds in the world....We have to be human enough to realise that is unfair." Recommendation for Emmeline's bookshelf: I Can Be Anything. Don't Tell me I Can't by Diane Dillon

Every couple wants a happy relationship and a meaningful career but how do we balance both especially when we're both at home, sharing office space and childcare? That's the question for this week's guest Professor Jennifer Petriglieri. Professor Jennifer Petriglieri, author of Couples That Work CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO SHOW ME THE WAY WITH PROF PETRIGLIERI She is a Professor of Organizational Behaviour at INSEAD, Paris and has pent over a decade researching how people’s close relationships shape who they become professionally and personally, and for the past 6 years she's been studying the lives of dual-career couples which has culminated in her book Couples That Work: How Dual-Career Couples Can Thrive In Love And Work. One of the biggest career decisions you will make is who you choose as a partner, she says. And one of the things that the global covid lockdown has highlighted for some is that they've made the wrong decision. There are many couples who are spending all this time together but feel like they’re drifting apart. She says a lot of couples who she is speaking to are feeling the strain because they’re polarising in terms of how they’re reacting to the crisis and it’s putting a lot of strain on the relationship itself. Professor Petriglieri asks us to consider when the last time was that we had an annual review with our partners as you would at work. Possibly/ probably never! She says that right now just a little time each day to check in with each other can make the world of difference. It can be over lunch to find out how the morning has gone or whilst cooking dinner. In the episode she explains that the more we understand about our partner and the more they understand about us, the more it flicks us into an mindset of empathy. "When we’re in that mindset of empathy we are much more likely to be sensitive to each other and to support each other. So it’s a win, win and it doesn’t take a lot of time". Her recommendation for Emmeline's bookshelf is Sophie's World. Her book is Couples That Work: How Dual-Career Couples Can Thrive In Love And Work.

“There were so many moments especially in that first six months after I left [Tom Ford] where I thought: "What have I done? I’ve thrown away my career.” Whitney Bromberg Hawkings is the founder of FlowerBX - the go-to florist for the fashion set. Its clients include Louis Vuitton, Dior and Jimmy Choo. But her ambition for the business has always been to democratise flowers, bringing that little bit of luxury to all. Whitney learnt the art of luxury working for 19 years for Tom Ford, first as his PA when he was at Gucci and climbing up the ladder to become his Senior Vice President of Communications. But she says, after her third child she knew she wanted something different. In this episode of the podcast we talk about that something different. - finding a solution to a problem that she kept having - how she never dreamt of being a PA but realised that this was the opportunity of a lifetime and her way in - how hard graft really does pay off even when you doubt yourself - the importance of relationships and friendships in keeping your dreams alive - And her recommendation for Emmeline's bookshelf written by her rather famous friend.... Recommendation for Emmeline's bookshelf: The Boy in the Dress, David Walliams

Leaf Arbuthnot, journalist and author of Looking for Eliza Leaf Arbuthnot is a journalist, editor and author based in south London. She has written primarily for the Sunday Times for the past 5 years and  has interviewed the likes of Prince Charles, Jilly Cooper and Hilary Mantel. Her work spans everything from divorce parties to wild swimming and her first novel Looking for Eliza came out in May 2020. The book tells the story of a widow and a student who form a friendship amidst the cathedral spires of Oxford. It's about connection in solitude - topical in the light of the lockdown era in which it has been released. Debut novel from Leaf Arbuthnot On this episode we talk about how she came to write the book and get it published; how writers have to be unapologetic about "selling their wears" on social and how challenging that can be for some; how the lockdown could produce quite a "large pile of introspective male fiction about tortured men" and her recommendation for Emmeline's bookshelf. Leaf's book Looking for Eliza (out now) Leaf's recommendation for Emmeline's bookshelf: The Glass Essay by Anne Carson