I have always had a love-hate relationship with London. I grew up in the Northwest, only glimpsed the capital from a car window on the way to the Dover ferry and was 17 before I properly visited. I later spent my twenties up and down to London like a yo-yo, and a few short months living there in 2014 taught me that the city energises me in small doses and drains me in large ones.
In this solo episode, I reflect on a busy week of networking in London and why I keep going back, even though there are perfectly good events closer to home. The answer is the women. Earlier this week I attended Wilder Live, hosted by Nicky Denson-Elliott, and the following day my first in-person MOB meetup in Stoke Newington. Both left me energised, expansive and surrounded by women who understand what it means to dance between ambition and nurture.
In this episode I reflect on:
✨ Why London still feels like a playground in small doses and a drain in large ones, and why I keep making the trip for the women I find there
✨ What a year changed at Wilder Live: from walking in knowing three or four people to finding myself among friends, and why community over competition was the agenda of the day
✨ What came up in a brand narrative workshop at my first in-person MOB meetup, and the resistance many millennial mothers feel about getting visible and telling their story without centring themselves too much
✨ Why women can be cruel to one another but can also be the greatest support, and why I have seen far more of the latter since becoming a mother
✨ Why being a founder is a lot like being a mother: it is up to us to build our own village
Takeaway for Mums in Business:
We were never meant to parent in isolation, and nor can we build a thriving business in isolation. If nobody in your real life understands what you are building or why, there are women out there who do. Step into a room with them, online or in person, in your local town or 200 miles away. Whatever works for you.
If you’re ready to connect with like-minded women, here are the communities I mentioned:
Wilder Live 2027 tickets
The Wilder Collective
Doing It for the Kids
Mums Who Build
About The Host:
I’m Victoria Phipps – a Mum of two, analogue family photographer, personal brand photographer, educator, charity co-founder, marketer and now podcaster! 🎙️
I was raised by a nurturing Mother and an entrepreneurial Father and have inherited traits from both, so the tension between ambition and motherhood is one I grapple with on a daily basis!
I’m fascinated to hear the stories of other women on a similar path, who are striving to build thriving businesses whilst being present for their children. It's a tough juggle, but I hope the conversations shared on this podcast help Mums in business feel less alone and inspired to keep going in pursuit of their dreams.
Head to the Mum Means Business Podcast website for full show notes.
I would love to hear your thoughts on the topics discussed in this conversation, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @victoriaphippsmbe or @mummeansbusinesspodcast.
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