Out of office: Business Woman special

Need some advice, motivation or feel stuck in your career? Consider this to be your pick-me-up dose of business inspiration

The influencer we follow for leadership recruitment tips

Suzie McCafferty

It would be impossible to talk about franchising in the UK without mentioning Suzie McCafferty. If there ever was someone that championed the franchising cause, especially when it comes to encouraging women into business, it would be Suzie. As the CEO and founder of franchise consultancy Platinum Wave, she is continuously releasing blogs, articles, social media updates and even podcast episodes to promote the model, including educating politicians and students. It’s fair to say that her advice has an authenticity that is difficult to duplicate because she franchised her own printer cartridge business from a single retail store in Edinburgh to a network of over 70 franchised stores across six nations, from the Caribbean to the Middle East. For her efforts, she was even recognised at the 2019 Business Women Scotland Awards and recently took home two accolades at this year’s NatWest EWiF awards for Service Provider of the Year and EWiF Ambassador of the Year. She is a mentor to fellow female entrepreneurs and a true ambassador for the franchise industry, at all levels.

Podcasts

The podcast we tune into for help with our mindset

CEO Psyche Podcast

‘Brain-based business coach and speaker’, Jen Casey, is the creator of the CEO PSYCHE brand and podcast. Over the years Jen found that the main reason people don’t achieve results was because of their mindset. On her podcast, Jen has a knack for asking thought-provoking questions as she talks to a diverse range of leading female entrepreneurs, as well as doing solo episodes with practical advice to help women grow. It is the podcast for coaches, healers and thought leaders who want to build a seven-figure business, just like her. However, it also focuses on understanding our own psyches which will ultimately lead to breakthroughs in our “businesses, bodies, brain and bank accounts.”

Must-listen episode: The Power of Emotional Intelligence: Sharing Your Truth While Sharing Your Humanity ft. Topsie VandenBosch

The podcast we listen to for inspiration to aim high

The Goal Digger Podcast

Host Jenna Kutcher attempts to answer one of the ultimate questions – how to turn your passion into profits? The podcast is all about not just setting the big goals but managing them realistically. Whatever stage of business you’re at – if you are a business newbie or a veteran looking to scale or trying to make your side hustle your full-time gig – Jenna offers up a wealth of tools and advice that boss women can implement in their businesses today. Being a marketing entrepreneur herself, the topics covered show that she really cares and understands the issues of the female entrepreneur. Episodes range from shorter talks to longer insights into business and marketing.

Must-listen episodes: How to Attract, Hire and Manage Your Business Dream Team and It’s Possible to Be a Mindful, Productive Parent: Here’s How

Books

The book we read to delve into the world of Mcdonald’s

From French Fries to a Franchise: A Macca’s Memoir by Michele Layet

You can’t talk franchising without McDonald’s popping up in the conversation. In this book, Michele Layet, one of Australia’s first female franchisees, draws on her own experiences to provide a fascinating insight into the real world of the famous burger giant. Although funny, it is full of factual information. You get a front-row seat to Michele’s journey from trainee manager to franchisee, including learning about flag protocol, dreaded inspections and why Ronald McDonald never appears in advertisements. The book exemplifies the fact that the golden arches are more than just a fast food restaurant, it is a public place for people from all walks of life to converge together.

The book we read as a reminder that we can achieve anything

Secrets of Six-Figure Women by Barbara Stanny

This book is for any woman looking to take home the big paycheck – from entrepreneurs to corporate executives, white collar professionals to freelancers and part-timers. Despite the odds, women have been quietly and steadily earning more than ever. For the book, Barbara interviewed hundreds of women, including more than 150 women whose annual earnings ranged from $100,000 to $7m and turned each finding into a specific strategy to increase earnings. Through an informative blend of research and interviews, Barbara Stanny’s classic identifies seven key strategies of female high-earners: A Profit Motive, Audacity, Resilience, Encouragement, Self-Awareness, Non-attachment, and Financial Know-How. The book is seen as a pick-me-up for women to realise that they are worth more than what they probably think they are and are just as capable.

The book we read about when we need a reminder of who we are

Girl, Stop Apologizing by Hollis Rachel

This book is a guide for women on how to unlearn their lessons in passivity and stop defining themselves through their roles as wife, mother, daughter, friend, or team member. Instead, we should define ourselves through our own personalities and start pursuing our dreams. Rachel identifies “the excuses to let go of, the behaviours to adopt and the skills to acquire on the path to growth, confidence and the biggest possible version of their lives.” In a nutshell, this book is about embracing who you truly are and being unapologetic about it.