Letter To My Younger Self with Dame Stephanie "Steve" Shirley CH Tech Pioneer, Businesswoman & Philanthropist

A child refugee, tech pioneer, philanthropist, businesswoman, and true trailblazer, Dame Stephanie paved the way for generations of women to come. And in this micro episode, Dame Stephanie shares the soul-stirring letter she wrote to her younger self.  Dame Stephanie’s words are drawn from a life of extraordinary resilience and remarkable achievement. They are a powerful reminder that with determination, vision, and unwavering self-belief, we can transcend almost any circumstance and achieve greatness. This is your micro shot of inspiration and an episode that brings to life the transformative power of a simple letter.

Did you know that 30% of the new clothes made every year are never sold? This year that will be 26 billion items of clothing!   CEO and co-founder of This Is Unfolded, Cally Russell, is a pioneering force in sustainable fashion. Known for his bold decision to walk away from lucrative offers on Dragon’s Den, Cally has dedicated his career to disrupting the fashion industry by tackling waste and promoting conscious consumerism. In this episode, Cally shares his journey from humble beginnings to leading a movement that aims to make fashion more sustainable and ethical. Learn about the challenges he faced in turning his vision into reality, the strategies that helped him succeed and the impact This Is Unfolded is making on both the industry and the planet. Discover how Cally’s innovative approach is not just about selling clothes, but about creating a new model for fashion retail that values people and the environment over profit. His story is a powerful reminder that with determination and the right mindset, it’s possible to challenge the status quo and make a lasting difference. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that will make you rethink how you shop and why sustainability is the future of fashion. If you enjoyed this discussion, we think you’ll love Holly’s Conversation of Inspiration with Lucy & Yak’s founders, who are also at the forefront of sustainable fashion. Plus, for weekly inspiration, creative ideas and more from brilliant small businesses, sign up to Holly's emails. Or for more insights into building a purpose-driven business, subscribe to Holly’s monthly newsletters. You'll also get exclusive offers and 'ungoogleable' business advice delivered straight to your inbox. Win an Independent Ad Break on Conversations of Inspiration: Are you a founder with a story to tell? Enter for a chance to win your own ad break on this podcast. This competition is delivered in partnership with Dell Technologies, supporting startups with expert advice and scalable solutions.  Exclusive Dell discount code for Conversations of Inspiration listeners: You can save up to 20% off via Dell Exclusive Offers with your email and your exclusive Holly & Co password ‘HCO’. Time stamps: Cally’s Entrepreneurial Journey (00:03:12): From turning down Dragon’s Den offers to launching This Is Unfolded. Challenges in Sustainable Fashion (00:10:45): The hurdles Cally faced in creating a zero-waste fashion brand. The Impact of Fast Fashion (00:20:30): Cally discusses the environmental toll of fast fashion and how This Is Unfolded is offering a solution. Building a Purpose-Driven Business (00:29:57): Insights on balancing profit with social and environmental impact. Engaging the Conscious Consumer (00:36:22): Strategies for educating and inspiring customers to make sustainable choices. The Future of Fashion (00:45:11): Cally’s vision for the industry and the role of innovation in driving change. Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs (00:52:40): Cally shares his tips for those looking to start a purpose-driven business. Letter to Younger Self (01:02:30): Cally reflects on his journey and offers advice to his younger self.

This is a micro episode absolutely full of soul and one in which Kanya King CBE, founder of the MOBO awards shares a profound and heartfelt letter with her younger self. Full of hard won advice, Kanya’s words are a lesson in self discovery, of what it means to look inwards and how that laser focus can be used to build your ideas and dreams. This is your micro shot of inspiration and an episode that brings to life the transformative power of a simple letter.

In this captivating episode, Holly sits down with visionary entrepreneur Nick Hounsfield, founder of The Wave and One Blue World, for an inspiring conversation about creating change, overcoming challenges, and his journey from osteopath to social impact pioneer. Nick's story is nothing short of an entrepreneurial fairytale—a dream born from £500, a love for water, and a relentless determination to bring a piece of the ocean to Bristol. He shares the decade-long journey of building The Wave, an inland surfing destination, where purpose-driven vision meets groundbreaking engineering. As Nick recounts the highs and lows of raising £23 million, navigating personal health challenges, including a stroke, and seeing his dream come to life, the conversation delves deep into resilience, purpose, and the power of nature. His passion for health and well-being, connection to people, and Blue Health (the therapeutic benefits of water) shines through in every story. Key Takeaways: The Power of Blue Health: Nick explains the concept of Blue Health—how being around water improves our mental and physical well-being. Entrepreneurial Resilience: From facing financial obstacles to experiencing personal hardship, Nick’s story of overcoming adversity is both humbling and motivating. A Purpose Beyond Profit: The Wave is more than just a surfing destination. It's a place that fosters connection, wellness, and social impact. Impact and Legacy: Nick’s vision doesn’t stop at surfing. With One Blue World, he’s working to create spaces that connect communities to nature and each other, redefining how we live, work, and play. Whether you're an entrepreneur, creative, or simply looking for inspiration, Nick’s story will remind you that the impossible can be achieved with unwavering passion and a clear sense of purpose. Grab your pen and paper for this one—you won’t want to miss the life lessons from a man who's created waves, both literally and metaphorically. Tune in now and prepare to be inspired by Nick’s incredible journey of creating impact through connection to water and community.  Win an Ad Break on Conversations of Inspiration thanks to Dell Technologies   Thank you Dell Technologies for helping us bring Conversations of Inspiration to life. Did you know that each week they give a small business the chance to win an Independent Ad Break on this very podcast? If you’re a founder yourself and would like to be in with a chance to share your story with hundreds of thousands of potential customers head over to holly.co/dell. This competition is delivered in partnership with Dell Technologies and their programs Dell for Startups and DWEN (Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network) — which provide startup expertise from dedicated technology advisors and scalable solutions to ensure your business is always ready to grow. Exclusive Dell Discount Code for Conversations of Inspiration Listeners You can save up to 20% off via Dell Exclusive Offers with your email and your exclusive Holly & Co password ‘HCO’. 

In this micro episode, beauty mogul Bobbi Brown – founder of Bobbi Brown and Jones Road Beauty –  shares insights from her incredible journey of building a billion-dollar beauty brand with a heartfelt letter to her younger self. Genuine and unfiltered, at the heart of Bobbi’s letter is the message that feeling comfortable in your own skin is the ultimate key to freedom. This is your micro shot of inspiration and an episode that brings to life the transformative power of a simple letter.

In this micro episode, Sir John Timpson, chairman and owner of Timpson shares his depth of knowledge and experience.  His words are testament to a life lived with purpose, a career built on unwavering principles and an astonishing commitment to kindness and understanding. This is your micro shot of inspiration and an episode that brings to life the transformative power of a simple letter.

In this micro episode, join Fearne Cotton, broadcaster, writer and founder of Happy Place whilst she shares advice with her younger self. Honest and heartwarming, Fearne’s letter is full of sage advice, encouragement and acceptance. It’s a letter that allows an insight into a younger version of all of us, one that might be searching for the right path to follow when our older selves know that if you just trust in the process, life will always take you in the right direction. This is your micro shot of inspiration and an episode that brings to life the transformative power of a simple letter.

In celebration of 200 episodes of Conversation of Inspiration, this special episode tackles some of the greatest challenges faced by our society today. Set against the backdrop of political fever as the general election looms, Holly explores what the future could look like, if the most brilliant minds and founders were spearheading the policies of our country — those who truly are experts, those who have actually ‘walked the walk’. How would they reshape our world with their boundless creativity, limitless common sense and a relentless drive for improvement?  From reimagining the education system or creating a plan to save our high streets, to an alternative vision for social media or tackling climate change, this episode covers some of society's real challenges, and crucially, how we might overcome them. With ideas from Dame Anya Hindmarch, Sir Tim Smit and Mo Gawdat to name just a few, and with two heartfelt letters (prepare with tissues!), this is a very special episode not to be missed.

A micro episode with Dame Mary Perkins DBE, visionary founder of Specsavers and a woman with a passion for people. Whilst sharing her letter to her younger self and reflecting on her 40 plus years spent building an empire, Dame Mary shares her words of wisdom, the things she wished she had known at the start of her journey. Gracious, grounded and utterly genuine, Mary’s words which resonate as much today as they have. This is your micro shot of inspiration and an episode that brings to life the transformative power of a simple letter.

Meet Tom Herbert, the man whose life and work and steeped in the rich aromatic legacy of baking. Tom hails from a family of bakers, where the art of crafting exceptional bread has been passed down through the generations. In this episode, Holly speaks to Tom about the story of his family business, Hobbs House Bakery and delves into his journey to becoming one half of the TV show, The Fabulous Baker Boys. But Tom’s journey didn’t stop there. Fueled by a sense of purpose to change the world through food, Tom founded the community driven initiative The Long Table. A restaurant with a difference and one that fosters community, combats loneliness and one that has created a lasting social impact. Sharing his vision, his experience and his unwavering commitment to using food as a force for good, this episode is a celebration of tradition, vision and the incredible power of breaking bread together. Win an Independent Ad Break on Conversations of Inspiration: If you’re a founder yourself and would like to be in with a chance to win your own ad break on this podcast, head over to holly.co/dell.  This competition is delivered in partnership with Dell Technologies and their programs Dell for Startups and DWEN (Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network) — which provide startup expertise from dedicated technology advisors and scalable solutions to ensure your business is always ready to grow.