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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Buy Dear Female Founder: www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Female-Founder-Letters-Entrepreneurs

In another episode brought to you in partnership with 50:50 Parliament, this week I sit down with the formidable Baroness Jenkin of Kennington, or Anne as she prefers, to talk about the challenges of getting conservative women elected to Parliament.  As the Co-Chair of Women2Win, a campaign group she co-founded with former Prime Minister Theresa May, Anne has been on the front lines of the fight to get more women elected on behalf of the Conservative Party. Anne and I explore what Women2Win does to help women candidates, what she’s learned from a lifetime in Parliament, and the pride she feels for her family’s role in achieving women’s suffrage in the UK. She'll also share her thoughts on imposter syndrome as a Baroness and why women don't talk about their health enough. So grab your popcorn because we're about to dive into a real-deal conversation about empowering women in politics!

About Baroness Jenkin:
“Gets stuff done, rattles cages, and wings it much of the time” as her bio puts it,  Anne Jenkin is a powerhouse in UK politics. A Member of the UK’s House of Lords, and Great-granddaughter of Sir Willoughby Dickinson, who introduced the 1907 Women’s Enfranchisement Bill in the House of Commons, she is part of a political dynasty that covers all three of the UK’s major political parties. After a career working as a Conservative parliamentary researcher, Anne co-founded Women2Win with former Prime Minister Theresa May in 2005 and currently serves as the organisation's Co-Chair. In 2011, she was made a Life Peer by David Cameron and has continued to work tirelessly to promote women in public life. She is also a vocal campaigner for reducing waste in all its forms and promoting sustainable development, at home and abroad.

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Explore Baroness Jenkin’s work at: www.women2win.com
Share your support at @women2win

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 wonder what it takes to build a successful brand that's true to your values? Join me as I sit down this week with Jan Livingston Mokhtari, Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer of Gray Whale Gin. We explore how family and environmental purpose is driving this premium gin brand from strength to strength while helping the planet, one “glass of California” at a time. Jan shares the story of how nature inspired the brand, the innovations she and her husband made to help conserve capital, and what ‘good’ looks like through their partnership with ocean conservation charity Oceana. Throughout the episode, Jan shares her insights on entrepreneurship, balancing work and family, and how to build a brand that's true to its roots, one that her daughters can be proud of. You'll hear all about Jan’s experience scaling her business, including the pivotal moment when she and her husband had to choose between growth and staying true to their values. So, grab a glass of gin (preferably Gray Whale!) and join us as we explore the story behind this highly successful and purpose-driven brand.

About Jan Livingston Mokhtari:
Jan Livingston Mokhtari is an award-winning Creative Director turned social entrepreneur and gin connoisseur who, after generating over $190 million in revenues as EVP of Branded Entertainment at FOX Networks Group and being named “Most Creative Women in Advertising” by Business Insider, is doing her part for ocean conservation through the launch of a purpose-driven gin brand that celebrates Californian values through and through. Prior to joining Fox, Jan served as Managing Partner and Executive Creative Director at Rec Room, Creative Director at 72andSunny and FCB Global, and was the Founder of production company Jolly Good Productions, working with Hollywood talent including Eva Longoria, Darren Aronofsky Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Jan Founded Gray Whale Gin with her husband, producer, and TV presenter Marsh Mokhtari, whose work can be seen on the Food Network and National Geographic Channel.                                         

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Joining me for the first of a very special new sub-series looking at getting more women elected to power across the UK is Frances Scott, the driving force behind 50:50 Parliament, an organization dedicated to increasing the number of women in parliament. In this episode, Frances shares the mission and vision of 50:50 and how her daughter's election to school council opened her eyes to the lack of representation for women in leadership roles. She explores how that representation for women isn't just limited to politics - it's an issue that affects us in all areas of life - and shares her thoughts on what needs to be in place for women to thrive in leadership roles - representation, resources, responsibility, and respect. Tune in to hear more about how 50:50 is working to create a more equal and representative government for all.

About Frances Scott:
Frances launched 50:50 Parliament in 2013 with the 50:50 Change.org petition, and in 2016 started the "Ask Her To Stand" campaign to inspire and support women in running for Westminster. Since then, she has been working to help women get selected and elected across all political parties. Before entering the world of political activism, Frances had a  background in operations and marketing, having worked in the hotel and tourism industry. In addition, she also taught antenatal classes and sat on the Maternity Services Liaison Committee of Mary's Hospital Paddington. In 2018, she was named one of the Evening Standard's #Progress1000 most influential political change-makers, while in both 2020 and 2021, she was included in the list of Women in Westminster: The 100, which celebrates the achievements of women who are shaking things up and challenging policymaking in Westminster.

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Share your support at @5050parliament

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. 

To kick off a new season, I’m joined by one of my personal heroes, Elizabeth Lesser as we dive into the power of women's storytelling and the modern woman's fight for agency. In this episode, Elizabeth delves into her book "Cassandra Speaks," the #MeToo movement, and her own journey toward claiming her power. We discuss the fear of being disliked for speaking up and the importance of being true to oneself, even if it means making waves and ruffling some feathers. Elizabeth shares the lessons she learned from Brené Brown about the difference between being nice and being kind, and why being clear and upfront is often the most compassionate choice. Get ready to be inspired by Elizabeth's wisdom and experiences as a woman leader, author, and activist.

About Elizabeth Lesser:
Elizabeth Lesser is a bestselling author and co-founder of the Omega Institute, a conference and retreat center in Rhinebeck, New York. She's the brains behind books like "The Seeker's Guide," "Broken Open," and "Marrow," and her latest release, "Cassandra Speaks," empowers women to trust their instincts and tell new guiding stories. Elizabeth co-founded the Omega Institute in 1977, which has since become a leader in holistic education, offering a wide range of workshops and training programs. She's also the co-founder of the Women's Leadership Center, which grew out of the popular Women & Power conference series. Each year, over 30,000 people participate in the Institute's programs on its campus and travel sites, and more than a million people visit the website for online learning.

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Explore Elizabeth’s work at: www.elizabethlesser.org
Buy Cassandra Speaks: www.amazon.com/Cassandra-Speaks-Women-Storytellers-Changes/dp/0062887181 

For my last episode of the season, I’m joined by my fellow American in London: Joy Morrissey. Joy is the Member of Parliament for Beaconsfield and currently serves as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. I wanted to talk to Joy in part because she has such an incredible story. She’s only the third American-born female MP in UK history, the first to enter Parliament after a general election, and the first to hold a seat in over 80 years. At the 2019 election, Joy unseated Dominic Grieve, the former UK Attorney General who had held the seat for two decades. I also wanted to understand what being a Conservative meant in a post-Brexit context and so that’s exactly what I did. We delve into how she first got involved in politics and why, despite voting Leave in 2016, she once thought she’d be working for the European Commission. We explore healthcare inequality in the US, the rise of nationalism and finding the middle ground in divided political cultures, how women are carrying the uneven burden of child-care in the pandemic, and why it’s well worth time we make politics boring again (along with many other topics along the way). Delivering balanced and intelligent answers to some really quite probing questions, and proving that you can disagree without being disagreeable, Joy is exactly the type of elected official we need more of. So until I see you all again in September with another batch of good troublemakers doing power differently, stay brave, stay kind and stay powerful. You can change everything for the better.

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Explore Joy’s work at: www.joymorrissey.uk