Do you ever struggle to feel heard in the boardroom? Do you want to use your voice to make a positive change? Well, you're in the right place.  Join me as I sit down with Florence Bavanandan, a classically trained soprano and vocal coach, turned podcaster, and entrepreneur as we talk about finding your voice through what she's learned in both the performing and the business worlds. Doing power differently starts with speaking differently, and as Founder of Clear Voice Consulting, Florence is working to address the wider conversation surrounding women speaking up, feeling heard, and retaining their authenticity while doing so. In the episode, we delve into the importance of advocating for yourself, why women speaking up is only solving half the problem of getting a more inclusive workplace, and Florence’s own journey from farm girl, to a classical singer, to an entrepreneur. Florence also discusses the value of having difficult conversations despite not finding common ground, and why the pressure of making a career out of your passion isn't always a good idea. 

About Florence Bavanandan:
Florence is a classically trained opera soprano who, having performed at the Royal Albert Hall, and Alexandra Palace, alongside touring Europe and Asia, doing studio work for the BBC and Channel 4, and recording at Abbey Road Studios, is now using the skills she learned to use her voice and hold space on stage to help women speak up and make changes in the boardroom. A former Course Manager at the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain and Guest Lecturer at the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance, Florence now works as a VC associate and Founder of Clear Voice Consulting, where she’s worked with HSBC, The Prince’s Trust, and Apple to build more inclusive working cultures for female leaders. She also hosts the Clear Voice Podcast “where successful women speak about how they found their voices and are using them for change”,  filling in some of the gaps left in many discussions surrounding female “empowerment.”

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Listen to the Clear Voice Podcast: www.pod.link/1480870251 

Brought to you in partnership with 50:50 Parliament, I’m joined this week by Wera Hobhouse MP, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and Spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change and Transport as we delve into the importance of championing an open society in Parliament. In the episode, Wera reflects on how her upbringing in post-war Germany helped shape her commitment to protecting the values of liberal democracy, flaws and all, and why you need to defend these from the centre. We explore her passion for protecting the environment, how serving in local government influenced her approach as an MP, and how a backbench MP in the minority can influence legislation. Wera also opens up about the firsthand bloodbath of crossing the political aisle, and her memories of the night the Berlin Wall came down, so settle in, and get ready to listen as we explore the life and career of one of the Liberal Democrats rising stars. 

*** Please note at the time of the interview Wera was Spokesperson for Justice, Women, and Inequalities, and is referred to as such in the intro for the episode.***

About Wera Hobhouse:
A committed pro-European and environmentalist, Wera is the Liberal Democrat MP for Bath. She was born in Hanover, West Germany where her passion for politics started with the anti-nuclear movement. She moved to the UK in 1990 after meeting her husband shortly before the fall of the Berlin Wall, becoming a teacher and local council member in Rochdale, first for the Conservative party, before defecting to the Liberal Democrats over her opposition to the development of 650 homes on contaminated land at a former asbestos factory. In 2014, she moved to Bath and stood against Jacob Rees-Mogg in the 2015 general election, before going on to be successfully elected in 2017. As an MP, Wera’s achievements have included helping more than 15,000 constituents with casework, making up-skirting a criminal offense in England, the successful campaign to re-establish a public-facing police station, and fighting for better mental health services and strengthening protections for domestic abuse survivors.

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Explore Wera’s work at: www.werahobhouse.co.uk

Notice:
This episode of the Power Done Differently podcast was brought to you in partnership with 50:50 Parliament, the campaign to promote equal seats and equal say for women in parliament. The views and opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect the views and positions, or official policy of 50:50 Parliament, and do not constitute an endorsement guarantee, warranty, or recommendation. The Power Done Differently podcast assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy contained in third-party materials or on third-party sites referenced in this podcast.

Do you ever feel like your life is all about achieving what other people expect of you, ticking boxes to get ahead in a corporate career that, while others are excited… you’re not? Have you thought about launching your own business, but felt startup culture wasn't inclusive enough? Well, you’re not alone. My guest this week has been there, done that, and wrote the book on it! Joining me is Lu Li, Founder of Blooming Founders, aka the ‘Wikipedia of startup content’ and Author of Dear Female Founder. In the episode, we look at how Lu is redefining the UK’s startup ecosystem away from Silicon Valley wannabe tech bros, and towards a better, more inclusive, community-driven model. We also explore Lu’s resilience in the face of challenge, how in March 2020, after delivering 150 events, almost 3 years of workspace operations, and building a community of 6000+ members, the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to shut everything down, before pivoting and coming back even stronger. Throughout the episode, Lu shares her advice on bootstrapping your business, making business more human, changing investor culture, and why there has never been as much potential capital in the hands of women as there is now.  This is an episode I can't wait to share with you!

About Lu Li:
Lu Li is a serial entrepreneur and business consultant with interests in web3 and NFTs. She is the founder of Blooming Founders, the ‘Wikipedia of startup content’, an award-winning company with a mission to make the startup journey easier for founders by helping them expand their network, provide practical business education, and by facilitating access to investors. She is also the founder of Luna Talents, a boutique recruitment service for growing startups looking for marketing and operations talent. In 2016, Lu published the book Dear Female Founder which contains 66 personal letters of advice written by female entrepreneurs from 20 countries. It is available to buy globally on Amazon and Kindle. In her previous corporate career, Lu launched FMCG products for Procter & Gamble across Western Europe and worked on several consulting projects for McKinsey, BMW, and T-Mobile.

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Explore the Wikipedia of startup content: www.bloomingfounders.com
Buy Dear Female Founder: www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Female-Founder-Letters-Entrepreneurs