My Story
I have a wealth of business experience and am known for my optimism and ability to simply make things happen.
With an early career in marketing and agency life, in 2010 I became a freelance business support professional and went on to partner with hundreds of entrepreneurs, helping them develop and grow their businesses. I was on the frontline of overcoming daily operational challenges and I'm very proud to say made positive (and profitable!) contributions to every client.
Whilst working with extremely ambitious entrepreneurs, I single-handedly grew my own brand, The Passionate PA, into a successful franchise too. I was responsible for strategy, leadership, marketing, recruitment, training and everything in between! I have also held advisory positions with companies that operate to make a difference to the world around them.
For as long as I can remember I have been one of life's doers. But I'm also a planner, a strategic thinker, a great communicator and a seriously creative individual. Every chapter of my story has had a part to play in the person I am today.
I believe authentic, wholehearted communications and leadership are what make businesses great. Now, in this new chapter of my career, I offer a selection of services to share my vast experience and passion for great business with others...
With an early career in marketing and agency life, in 2010 I became a freelance business support professional and went on to partner with hundreds of entrepreneurs, helping them develop and grow their businesses. I was on the frontline of overcoming daily operational challenges and I'm very proud to say made positive (and profitable!) contributions to every client.
Whilst working with extremely ambitious entrepreneurs, I single-handedly grew my own brand, The Passionate PA, into a successful franchise too. I was responsible for strategy, leadership, marketing, recruitment, training and everything in between! I have also held advisory positions with companies that operate to make a difference to the world around them.
For as long as I can remember I have been one of life's doers. But I'm also a planner, a strategic thinker, a great communicator and a seriously creative individual. Every chapter of my story has had a part to play in the person I am today.
I believe authentic, wholehearted communications and leadership are what make businesses great. Now, in this new chapter of my career, I offer a selection of services to share my vast experience and passion for great business with others...
Where it all began
I started my career in London in 1999 doing work experience as a personal assistant for the TV celebrity and Interior Designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. I worked on tasks such as book launches, public appearances, office organisation, supplier management and even got to demonstrate my creative streak by hand painting china ready for a photo shoot. It was the experience that kick started my passion for getting things done and working with entrepreneurial, inspirational people with very busy lives.
At this full-service advertising agency in Southampton, I spent two years specialising in recruitment advertising for both local businesses and national household names. The experience was priceless as this was also where my love for entrepreneurial business blossomed. With small businesses everybody mucks in, and that is exactly what I did – from the mandatory tea duty to the high-flying pitches to global brands, from getting the Director’s child to school, to attending London award ceremonies – it was a job with a difference and a great time for learning. I even appeared in an ad campaign for Hertz Rent-a-Car when the model failed to show up!
Time for a galivant?
At just 22 I decided I wanted to see Australia before making any firm roots so I packed my bags and off I flew – on my own, to the other side of the world, with no real plan and not a huge amount of money!
Reality check
Upon my return to the UK, the reality of life hit – no money, no job and no home as my parents had just retired to a small holding in West Dorset. I spent time temping as a Store Fit Coordinator for Toys R Us which progressed into a role organising everything from floor plans to printed signage… very quickly I was right back to my ‘take charge and get things done’ workaholic self.
Passionate about business
However, as with all great things, there had to be an end. That end came in 2009 when I met Sarah Howells, the founder of The Passionate PA, and to be honest, fell in love… in love with the personality behind the brand, the idea that there was a way I could work as hard (if not harder!) than I was already but have much more fun and control over the financial and personal rewards.
Joining The Passionate PA as a freelancer in July 2009 gave me the opportunity to bring together all of my experience and really make a difference to local business. I was so incredibly excited about the future...
However, just one month after giving up my secure, sensible employed job to go all in with The Passionate PA, I inadvertently became the proud new sole owner - Sarah sadly and very unexpectedly lost her battle with Cancer. It wasn’t quite ‘the plan’, but she wanted the business to live on and so the years that followed were more than character-forming, they were life-changing.
You can learn more about this experience through my appearance on Warren Munson’s Evolve to Succeed Podcast.
Franchising for growth
After trying various growth models, I stumbled upon franchising in 2012. Not caring much for its (then) grey-suited reputation, I decided the principles were sound for The Passionate PA and my own life plan, so set about creating a franchise… from scratch… all by myself. Never one to shy away from a challenge, this chapter of my career was hands down the most fun, and the biggest learning curve.
After the groundwork and becoming established, the franchise took off. For the best part of a decade, my career centred around being the best franchisor I could be. I continued to work with a handful of clients (because I do love a good project) but I spent 70% of my time recruiting, nurturing, mentoring and supporting my incredible team of Passionate PAs and building relationships with potential clients.
I was responsible for absolutely everything, from business strategy to brand marketing, franchisee training to crisis management. I led the business through a recession, a pandemic, and countless commercial challenges. It was incredibly hard work but so rewarding – the feeling of taking a new franchisee from £0 to £5k a month turnover in 3-6 months was phenomenal, every single time! I loved every moment, even the hard bits as that where I learned the most about myself, my business and people.
After the groundwork and becoming established, the franchise took off. For the best part of a decade, my career centred around being the best franchisor I could be. I continued to work with a handful of clients (because I do love a good project) but I spent 70% of my time recruiting, nurturing, mentoring and supporting my incredible team of Passionate PAs and building relationships with potential clients.
I was responsible for absolutely everything, from business strategy to brand marketing, franchisee training to crisis management. I led the business through a recession, a pandemic, and countless commercial challenges. It was incredibly hard work but so rewarding – the feeling of taking a new franchisee from £0 to £5k a month turnover in 3-6 months was phenomenal, every single time! I loved every moment, even the hard bits as that where I learned the most about myself, my business and people.
The next chapter
Life threw me some significant curveballs in 2023 and early 2024.
I lost my darling Mum to her fourth battle with Cancer in April 2023. She was only 73. It was one of the most humbling periods of my life to share her final chapter. Whilst I am very grateful to have had a business and team that enabled me to make that choice, providing end-of-life care for someone so special was a soul-changing experience. I see now I returned to ‘normal’ far too soon and the relentless pressures I put on myself to be an extraordinary franchisor took their toll.
Couple my personal grief with a few too many other ‘difficult situations’ - both business and personal - and the result was significant burnout. Closing my business was one of the most heart-wrenching decisions I’ve ever had to make but I know it was the right one for my health, my family, my franchisees (who’ve all gone on to fly solo with my full and unwavering support) and indeed my future.
For the remainder of 2024, I am working with only a handful of clients but am still active in the business community. I will be taking on new clients, projects and adventures in 2025.
I lost my darling Mum to her fourth battle with Cancer in April 2023. She was only 73. It was one of the most humbling periods of my life to share her final chapter. Whilst I am very grateful to have had a business and team that enabled me to make that choice, providing end-of-life care for someone so special was a soul-changing experience. I see now I returned to ‘normal’ far too soon and the relentless pressures I put on myself to be an extraordinary franchisor took their toll.
Couple my personal grief with a few too many other ‘difficult situations’ - both business and personal - and the result was significant burnout. Closing my business was one of the most heart-wrenching decisions I’ve ever had to make but I know it was the right one for my health, my family, my franchisees (who’ve all gone on to fly solo with my full and unwavering support) and indeed my future.
For the remainder of 2024, I am working with only a handful of clients but am still active in the business community. I will be taking on new clients, projects and adventures in 2025.
Creating a life I don't need a holiday from...
I live on a tiny farm on Dartmoor with my family. My personal mantra has always been to "create a life I don't need a holiday from" and slowly, I am getting back to that after the challenges of the last few years. This is just a peek inside my beautiful world:
Photos: 1) My wonderful husband Col (aka The Asset Finance Man), 2) "The Kids", 3) My gorgeous Labrador, 4) My love of baking and cheese, 5) Breath-taking travel adventures, 6) My life-long bestie, 7) My rescue Dartmoor ponies, 8) Hands-on work on our little farm, 9) Celebration cake making, 10) Our gorgeous new Grandson.
Photos: 1) My wonderful husband Col (aka The Asset Finance Man), 2) "The Kids", 3) My gorgeous Labrador, 4) My love of baking and cheese, 5) Breath-taking travel adventures, 6) My life-long bestie, 7) My rescue Dartmoor ponies, 8) Hands-on work on our little farm, 9) Celebration cake making, 10) Our gorgeous new Grandson.