Finding Courage, Creating Change: My Journey as a Female Founder in the UK

Inspired by Female Founders Rise

I was inspired to write this after completing the Female Founders Rise survey for The Rise Report — a brilliant project shining a light on women building businesses that make a difference.

The report will be published in January 2026, and there’s still time to take part. If you’re a female founder in the UK, I’d really encourage you to complete the survey and share your story. The more voices included, the more powerful and representative the report will be.

Filling it in made me reflect on my own journey and why I started, what I’ve learned and what still needs to change if we truly want to see women flourish in business.

So, here’s my story:

From employment to entrepreneurship

After more than 20 years in employment, I did something I never imagined I would, I left a career I loved. At the time, I didn’t know what I was going to do next, just that I needed difference.

I’d spent years working alongside incredible people who ran their own companies or freelanced. I admired their freedom, creativity and courage. I loved my job, but deep down, I knew I wanted to explore something different and - although I couldn’t articulate it at the time - I wanted something that was mine.

So, after a lot of reflecting and completing my coaching training (and a fair amount of self-doubt, I made the decision that I was going to see if I could create something myself.

A week before lockdown, I launched my business. Not exactly great time but maybe it was meant to happen that way.

The best part of being a founder

The biggest benefit of being a founder is freedom. The freedom to shape your days (mostly), your projects (mostly) and your values.

For me, being a business owner means creating something that feels meaningful with work that reflects who I am, how I want to show up and the difference I want to make. Even though I’d say most of my career strongly aligned with my values, it was always someone else’s ‘thing’.

So, even on the hardest days, there’s nothing like the quiet pride of thinking, “I built this.”

If you’re thinking about starting a business, that feeling of turning an idea into something real is worth every ounce of uncertainty.

The hardest part of running a business -

Definitely, the hardest part of running your own business is uncertainty.

When you’ve spent your career in structured environments, you know where you stand. As a founder, that structure disappears. Suddenly, you’re everything from strategist, marketer, bookkeeper, decision-maker…the IT department.

It’s overwhelming at times. But it also builds a kind of resilience and trust in yourself that I didn't learn in employment.

I’ve learnt to make decisions without someone else’s approval. I’ve learnt to keep going even when progress is invisible and I've learnt that fear doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. Sometime, it just means you’re growing. Like when my fitness instructor shouts ‘the burn means change!’

Redefining what success means

My vision of success has changed completely since I started. When I first started I got a little lost in the ‘success = 6k months’ narrative. Coming from the not-for-profit sector where my salary had always been a bit pants, that was very attractive. But it didn’t work because that’s just not what motivates me. Of course I want my business to be financially sustainable but it’s not the thing I will say I am most proud of on my deathbed.

For me, it’s all about alignment with my pro-social values (yep, worthy, I know!). I want to build a business that feels purposeful, sustainable and kind to myself, to others and to the planet.

I want my work to help others find confidence and clarity, to take brave steps in their own journeys.

That, to me, is what long-term, meaningful success really looks like.

What I’m most proud of

I’m proud that I started.

It sounds simple, but it took a huge amount of courage to take that first step. Launching a business a week before lockdown was never the plan but it definitely showed me what I’m capable of.

I’m proud that I trusted myself enough to try (I also realise there is a lot of privilege in this position) and that I’ve built something from the ground up that reflects who I am and what I care about.

The support that helped me flourish

One of the best things about being a female founder in the UK is the incredible community of women in business.

From mentors and peers to friends who cheered me on when I doubted myself, absolutely every bit of support mattered.

The most helpful support hasn’t always been formal. Often, it’s been the small things - a conversation with another founder, a what’s app message, or a moment of honesty about the challenges we face.

Formal support has mattered too. Retraining and professional networks have given me structure, confidence and connection.

If you’re starting out, find your people. They don’t have to be many, quality over quantity. Just people who see you and believe in what you’re trying to build.

My advice for anyone starting a business

I’m not an expert but if I could give one piece of advice to anyone starting out, it would be to
trust yourself even when it feels uncomfortable.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You’ll learn by doing. Every step teaches you something about your business, your craft, your values and your resilience.

Oh, and build something that feels true to you, not what you think success should look like.

Championing women’s stories

I believe one of the most powerful ways we can support women in business is by sharing and amplifying our stories.

Every path into entrepreneurship is different, but each one matters. When we share those stories, we give others permission to dream and to begin.

We need more role models of what’s possible and we need to redefine our idea of success. Success can mean creating a business that’s profitable and purposeful, one that helps people and the planet to flourish too. What if we all reimagined what it could look like rather than ‘business as usual’ methods and tactics?

And real change happens when women not only step forward for themselves but also turn back to hold the door open for others.

Those of us with experience, resources or networks have the privilege and I’d argue, the responsibility, to use them to help others grow.

How do we connect better across generations, industries and experiences to make that happen?

Because when we support each other, when we share openly and lift each other up, everyone flourishes.

Final thoughts and an invitation

Being a female founder isn’t always easy but it’s deeply fulfilling. It’s about courage, creativity and community.

If we can keep championing women’s stories, redefining success and using our resources to help others, we could build something extraordinary.

If you’re feeling that pull to purpose, whether it’s

• exploring a change in career

• thinking through a new idea or

• getting support to grow something you’ve already started

then I’d love to help you navigate that next step.

Let’s connect and start a conversation about where your purpose might be leading you.