2Inspire Profile: Hazel Oatey, professional trainer and coach.

Hazel Oatey is the founder of assess4success, an organisation which offers recruitment and development services to various clients. She ignored doubts from others to set up a company that matched her values on life and business, read her inspiring story.  

Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?  

There is no typical day, it is very varied and it includes writing, working with new ideas, running training/workshops, 1-1 coaching/mentoring sessions, psychometric profiling, client meetings.

 What made you start the business and how did you get started?

Ten years ago I just felt it was the right time to work in a way that matched the values I held about life and business.  Values of integrity, honesty, collaboration, empowering and so forth.  I felt that I could do better by working for myself rather than have the message diluted through others/organisations.  It was a fairly quick decision and I trusted and somehow knew it was right, despite a lot of other people worrying and calling me for quite a while after I set up the business with their concerns.  I have never looked back.  I set up a limited company and had on-going clients from day one.    

Greatest accomplishment in the business world to date

The feedback I have received is that I act as a positive catalyst and inspire people to tap into and take the journey towards the highest potential of themselves in life and business.  Being able to educate and make an impact in terms of positive shifts in consciousness in people and businesses towards empowerment vs power/control and collaboration vs competition continues to be a passion.

What has been your biggest challenge so far

Having the courage to be bold and go for the big dreams and trust it will all work out

What are your future plans for the business?

I am soon to re-brand using my own name and bring out a range of new workshops and products as well as starting to write the bones of a book.  

If you had to do it all over gain what would you do differently? 

Early on I would listen to the messages and intuition I have about how I contribute and get expert advice sooner in areas that are not my forte.

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?

Women are not the underdogs by any stretch.  I believe everyone has an important contribution to make whether they are male or female.  So, I think it is vital to inspire young women to be authentic, step out and be confident about what they are here to contribute and help to lead the way, in a society that hasn't quite caught up.  

There is still some old fashioned thinking and ingrained beliefs about women in business (particularly in some industries) and I do think the balance needs addressing.  However, I feel it is more important that young women be supported to achieve in the world we are in today and without giving to much energy or attention to the old paradigm thinking that is currently dissolving at a rapid pace to make way for the new.  

Women have a lot to offer and men and women can collaborate effectively, so having the courage to follow their passion and dreams and help to dissolve the gender imbalance in senior business positions / influence so worthy.  It's time for more women to take centre stage.  If women embody what and how they want to be the world will shift around it rather than give power to the outdated views.  Many of the indigenous tribes, such as the first nation tribes in the US/Canada, understand and respect the contribution of women and the immense power women hold.

I found an interesting article about the increase on women on boards of companies (see press release https://www.gov.uk/government/news/women-on-boards-2013-two-years-on) in the last few years although there is still a long way to go.  Never mind the statistics, let's stride out and make it happen.

What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?

I'm in the "people" business so ensure you are passionate about people, be authentic to yourself, be an expert in your subject .

What or who inspires you in business and why?

I know several inspiring women friends who are successful in business and all are characterised by passion for what they do, innovative and inquiring thinking, tenacity, humour, intelligent and open minds, high quality delivery and the desire to make a difference for others

In terms of famous women - Oprah of course and the emerging younger generation such as Mary-Kate Olsen

For famous people the first that spring to mind are Steve Jobs and Richard Branson - for their creativity and not limiting ideas - understanding their strengths and gathering the right people around them to bring a project through to fruition. 

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

There are many quotes although in particular I like are:

"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle."  Steve Jobs

and

"Simplicity is the key to brilliance"  Bruce Lee

 Contact details

Hazel Oatey

hazel@assess4success.com

Twitter : HazelOatey

Tel: +44 (0)7957 162103

2Inspire Inspirational Women in Business Profile: Shoot It Yourself

In this inspirational business interview we meet the team behind Shoot It Yourself - Andrea and Becs!

Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?

Our day starts at 6:30 when the alarm goes up and the first thing I do is read my emails. It’s hard to keep on top of things when you’re rushed off your feet so if there have been any emails that have come in over night, it’s good to prioritise them before you get into the office so that you know what you’re dealing with!

With two small children the morning school routine is busy so when I get to the office at 9 it usually feels like I’ve done a whole day already! Most of my time is spent co-ordinating the busy post production schedule for the wedding edits. We have 200 weddings this year and 10 freelance editors to manage, which is full time job! All of the videos are quality controlled by me before they are sent to the client and there is a lot of media management and backing up that goes into a looking after people’s precious video files. It’s not like we could do it all over again.

I eat lunch at my desk, check the bank account and reply to emails in between watching videos, scheduling quality control meetings and training new editors. I leave at 5 in order to get home of the kids dinner, bath and bed routine and then back to the emails from 8 – 11pm. It’s a long day but it does mean that I can do 5 days work in 3 days which keeps me sane and happy!

What made you start the business and how did you get started?

Shoot It Yourself started after we, myself and Becs, decided to give up our careers as TV directors. At the time we were both planning our own weddings and after searching high and low for fun, unique wedding videographers we were surprised to find that there weren’t many offering a more personal wedding video. Having directed plenty of BBC3 and MTV youth programs with ‘home video’ footage we knew there was a market for ‘filming it yourself’, especially in the wedding market where the intimacy of the day is important. So with 2 examples wedding videos, a interest free credit card and a great idea, we headed to the National Wedding Show in February 2010 and we haven’t looked back since. Shoot It Yourself was an overnight success!

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?

Our biggest achievement is receiving the offer of investment on Dragon’s Den in September 2011. We were the first ever wedding company to appear on the programme let alone walk out with £60,000 from Hilary Devey. We knew that it would define our business for the future and set us apart from the competition who were obviously going to copy our idea. Over 4 million people watched that episode and we are still recognised in the street! It was also a big confidence boost to know that we had been given the thumbs up by four of the UK’s leading business entrepreneurs as having a good idea. We always knew we did but now everyone else did too!

What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?

Our biggest challenge has been trying to manage our work/life balance. We started the business thinking that we were going to be millionaires but soon realised that working 24/7 wasn’t making us happy and was putting pressure on our families. We have decided to manage the growth for the next couple of years to allow us to have babies and work part time from the office. We’re happier as a result and enjoy being mumpreneurs!

What are your future plans for the business?

Our future plans for the business are to explore the other markets in the wedding industry as we feel that there is huge scope for our Shoot It Yourself in the Asian market as well as the Jewish and Chinese market. Watch this space!

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

Nothing!

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?

It is a shame that so much pressure is put on women to pursue a high flying career and be a mum at the same time. Sometimes it’s nice to be able to use the pregnancy and maternity leave to think about using the skills that you have and applying them to a new and exciting venture. Money isn’t everything and working for yourself means that you can set your own working hours!

What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?

The wedding industry is brilliant fun and we couldn’t recommend it enough! Make friends with the wedding magazines, get on Twitter and Facebook and make sure that you LOVE what you do. Very important!

What or who inspires you in business and why?

Richard Branson for following his crazy dreams despite what anyone else says.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

“Entrepreneurship is about turning what excites you in life into capital, so that you can do more of it and move forward with it” Richie B x

Contact details

Office 13,
Spinners Court,
55 West End,
Witney,
OX28 1NH

Tel: 01993 224 185
web: www.shoot-it-yourself.co.uk
follow us: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shoot-It-Yourself/492611190295
Twitter:@shootityourself 
Google Plus: +shootityourself  

Hazel Chawapiwa shortlisted as “Social Entrepreneur of The Year” at the BB Awards.

The 2Inspire Network is proud to announce that Hazel Chawapiwa has been shortlisted for a BB Award in the “Social Entrepreneur” of the year Category. 

Hazel Chawapiwa was born in the UK in the mid-70s but originates from Zimbabwe. She is a passionate business woman who started her first business in 1999 whilst studying at University. Hazel often says the financial strains of being a young single mother and a student was the motivation for her to start her own business. A redundancy and the need to raise a deposit to get on the property ladder led to her becoming involved in a number of business ventures one of them being an events company which she started with an old time friend. It was a successful venture and it was during this period that she realised that working full-time was suppressing her entrepreneurial spirit.

The 2inspire network was launched in May of 2012, “Empowering individuals and helping them to realise their potential is something that I am passionate about. I believe that women should work together and support each other on their journeys, this belief is the foundation of the network, an organisation that provides forums and platforms that help to empower, promote and inspire women” says Founder Hazel Chawapiwa. In 2013 Hazel also launched the social enterprise The 2Inspire Academy; a personal development and life-skills programme for young people aged 16-21. The 2Inspire academy has been established to help young people focus on what's important for them now and in the future, to learn the mindset and life-skills for success, and to help them set and achieve personal targets.

Basic Business Initiative UK (BBIUK) is a charitable enterprise support agency that was established in 2001 with a mission to Promote Entrepreneurship and Self economic Empowerment.  BBI UK has developed significant level of expertise and experience in Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) development and support for both existing and prospective new businesses/ social enterprises ranging from advice, information, guidance, mentoring, training and capacity building since its inception. Its annual business awards recognise excellence amongst the SME and social enterprise community.

Notes to Editor

Images available upon request

Marketing@2inspirenetwork.com

www.2inspirenetwork.com

http://www.bbinitiative.com/

2Inspire Inspirational Woman in Business:Collette Registe - gold plating and customisation business

In today's interview, Collette Registe tells 2Inspire how she managed to overcome her fears and  start her gold plating business. She encourages other young women not to doubt themselves, but to go for it and start their businesses early. Read on and be inspired by Collette's story.

 

Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?

 I am lucky enough to have the flexibility to run my business around my family – that’s the beauty of being your own boss. Some days will be focused on customising products such as 24ct gold plated high heels or Swarovski embellished Converse trainers, other days I will be meeting new customers and attending networking events to build new relationships. Every day is so different which is what I love the most about having my own business.

What made you start the business and how did you get started? 
I’ve always been a very creative person and wanted to have a job where I could be inventive and try out new things. When I saw Laban Roomes from Goldgenie pitch his idea on BBCs’ Dragon’s Den for his gold plating and customisation company, I suddenly had lots of different ideas for products and felt really inspired. I ended up buying one of Goldgenie’s ‘Business Opportunities’ which has allowed me to set up my own gold plating and customisation company and start designing my very own unique product range. 

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date? I think receiving my very first order as it was a real achievement and boost of confidence for me. I was so worried about setting up my own business and getting the orders in, so I was over the moon, and relieved, to receive my first order.

 What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?

Without any formal qualifications, setting up my own business was overwhelming at times. Many people have degrees or higher levels of education to draw upon however I was lucky enough to have Laban from Goldgenie as a mentor who has helped me with all the processes of running a business, such as finances and accounts.

     
What are your future plans for the business?

I would love to grow the business and continue to develop my product range . I have lots of ideas, but with so many orders to meet, I often struggle to find the time to develop new ideas. I’d like to be in a position where I can employ a member of staff, and one day even a team, so that I can really grow the business. 

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

I would have done it sooner! Starting up your own business is never going to be easy, but I wish I had had the faith in myself and taken that leap of faith sooner.

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams? I think so many young women probably see the idea of starting their own business as daunting and, like me, probably didn’t know where to start. I encourage others to follow their dream and start their own business as so many people out there just need that little bit of encouragement. I attend a lot of networking events, women in business seminars and have even set up my own Women Empowerment Facebook page to inspire other women, particularly young mums who are out of work. Of course you need drive and ambition to set up your own business, but I think if someone like me, with no qualifications, can do it – anyone can!

What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?

 Just go for it – but you need to be prepared to work hard and realise that success isn’t going to be handed to you on a plate.

What or who inspires you in business and why?

Karen Brady. She is a very strong and successful business woman and I think women can learn a lot from her.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

Contact Details

www.coatofgold.com

07956 225 807

Info@coatofgold.com

Win Free Tickets to YEAh Live Fashion & Beauty Special 2013

Want to win a free ticket to the YEAh Live Fashion & Beauty Special on Saturday 21 September 2013 in London United Kingdom?

YEAh Live has worked hard to bring you our Africa Inspired Post Fashion Week Special. We’re aiming to make this is our biggest event ever!

And we’ve come up with a great way to get you involved.

First, What is YEAh Live, what is this event?

A Fashion & Beauty Special

YEAh Live is a business advice event with a twist. Providing sound business advice via selected guest speakers with shopping networking and live entertainment all under one roof.

The next YEAh Live is on Saturday 21st September 2013 and we have a stellar line up of business speakers and entertainment for your pleasure.

How says business cannot mix with pleasure!

Between the hours of 3.30pm and 8.30pm at:
Montgomery Hall
58 Kennington Oval
London
SE11 5SW

Read more here
www.yeahliveuk.eventbrite.co.uk
How can you win tickets?

We have three free tickets to the event, plus the opportunity to be entered free of charge into the prize draw to win a years free subscription to Choices Magazine and ½ hour of coaching with Success Coach Anthony Charles!

For your chance of winning a free ticket, follow @YEAhLiveUK on Twitter and retweet the following
I want to win a free ticket to YEAh Live Fashion Special September 2013 #winYLFS13 via:@yeahliveUK Enter here at https://promotion.binkd.com/Home.aspx?id=11466

The contest closes at 23.59 BST on Wednesday  18^th September 2013 and the winning entries will be chosen from the followers with the #winYLFS13.
You can enter as many times as you wish by retweeting to your followers and encouraging them to do the same
Good Luck