Successful AF Pod

Can You Be Ambitious Without Burning Out? Riah Patel on Networking, Mentorship & Slowing Down to Succeed

Riah Patel has the career, the drive, and the results to prove it. A senior leader and surveyor in the real estate industry, she's spent a decade building an impressive career through sheer intentionality — moving from graduate scheme to business development, team leadership and strategy, while becoming one of the most respected networkers in her field. But the most interesting part of her story isn't the promotions or the business development wins. It's what she discovered when she finally gave herself permission to slow down — and realised her results actually got better. In this episode of Successful AF, Riah gets refreshingly honest about the cost of always being full throttle, what sustainable ambition really looks like in practice, and why she still does power poses in work bathrooms before big presentations. In this conversation, you'll hear: * Why career networking doesn't have to feel transactional — and how to build genuine human connection in professional spaces * What Riah learned when she stopped working at full speed (spoiler: she didn't fall behind) * How she finds and works with mentors — including why her longest-standing mentor wasn't who she expected * The confidence-building habits that actually work, from coaching to body language * What burnout prevention really looks like when you're wired to be competitive * Why her definition of success has shifted — and what "complicated" really means This one is for anyone who's ever wondered whether ambition and sustainability can actually coexist. Turns out, they can. You just have to be intentional about it. Love this episode? Hit subscribe and leave us a review! And if you know someone who's redefining success on their own terms, nominate them at successfulafpod@gmail.com - we're always looking for incredible people to feature. Connect with Jess: Instagram: @kalicoaching.co Website: www.kalicoaching.co.uk

When Your Doctor Won't Listen: Risa August on Brain Tumours, Radical Reinvention, and What Success Really Feels Like

What if you spent seven years knowing something was wrong with your body — and every doctor told you nothing was? Risa August is a two-time Ironman athlete, cyclist, author, and one of the most quietly compelling people I've ever spoken to. For seven years, her body was changing in ways she couldn't explain. She was dismissed, minimised, and told to drink more water — while completing Ironman triathlons. It was only when Risa demanded her own MRI that doctors discovered a large tumour on her pituitary gland and a rare condition called acromegaly that had been reshaping her body for years. What followed was brain surgery, radiation, lifelong medication — and six months later, Risa had signed up to cycle from Meixco to Canada, cycling 1,845 miles down the Pacific Coast Highway to Mexico. She had injections shipped to remote locations along the route. Because that's just who she is. But this isn't really a story about physical feats. It's about what happens to your identity when the version of yourself you've built everything around is no longer available to you — and who you find when you stop trying to get her back. In this episode, you'll discover: ✨ How to advocate for your own health when medical professionals aren't listening (and why women are disproportionately dismissed)  ✨ What identity collapse really feels like — and the surprising first step Risa took toward recovery (spoiler: it wasn't getting back on the bike)  ✨ Why receiving help used to feel like weakness — and the mindset shift that changed everything  ✨ How to find forward motion when you can barely get to the front door  ✨ What success feels like when you stop measuring it in achievements and start measuring it in days that just flow  This episode is for you if: * You've been dismissed by doctors and are looking for validation that you know your own body * You're a high-achiever going through a health crisis, burnout, or major life disruption * Your identity is deeply tied to what you do — and that's starting to feel fragile * You're rebuilding after loss and wondering what the first step looks like * You want to redefine success on your own terms, not someone else's About Risa August: Risa August is an athlete, author, and speaker who has competed in two Ironman triathlons, completed a 1,845-mile Pacific Coast cycle six months after brain surgery, and channelled her experience of acromegaly and pituitary tumour diagnosis into her debut book, The Road Unpaved: Border to Border with a Brain Tumour and a Bike. You can find Risa at risaaugust.com. Love this episode? Hit subscribe and leave us a review! And if you know someone who's redefining success on their own terms, nominate them at successfulafpod@gmail.com - we're always looking for incredible people to feature. Connect with Jess: Instagram: @kalicoaching.co Website: www.kalicoaching.co.uk

From Invisible to Unstoppable: Building a Business That Heals with Marcella from On A Sew

Marcella spent years feeling invisible—so she built a business where everyone is seen, heard, and valued. Marcella's story is one you'll want to listen to twice. She grew up speaking only Spanish after moving from Columbia to the UK at the age of 2, struggling to find her voice in a system that didn't see her. Picked on by classmates, dismissed by teachers who accused her of cheating when she excelled. Fast forward to motherhood—postnatal depression, isolation, mistaken for a nanny by other mums who wouldn't give her the time of day. But instead of staying small, Marcella taught herself to sew. And then she built On A Sew—a sewing school where adults and children don't just learn a craft, they find their voice, their confidence, and their community. In this episode, you'll discover: ✨ How to build a business from lived experience (not credentials or formal education) ✨ Why taking it slow actually accelerated Marcella's growth (she went from one class a week to a thriving school without burning out) ✨ The real difference between teaching a skill and creating transformation ✨ How Marcella uses her past pain to heal others—including apologising to children on behalf of adults who failed to listen ✨ Why surrounding yourself with people who see you is non-negotiable for success ✨ The non-negotiable boundary that protects her from burnout (and why saying no became her superpower) This conversation is for you if: You've built something meaningful, but still feel invisible You're starting a business without traditional qualifications and wonder if you're "enough" You've experienced loneliness, isolation, or postnatal depression and want to channel it into purpose You're a creative entrepreneur looking to build community, not just customers You want to see what sustainable, slow-but-steady business growth actually looks like About Marcella: Marcella is the founder of On A Sew, a sewing school in London where she teaches adults and children the art of sewing—but more importantly, helps them find confidence, community, and creative expression. A self-taught sewist with no formal education past age 16, Marcella has built her thriving business purely from lived experience, patience, and an unshakeable belief that everyone deserves to be seen and heard. Connect with Marcella: Instagram: @on.a.sew Website: onasew.co.uk Connect with Jess: Instagram: @successfulafpod Website: kalicoaching.co.uk Love this episode? If Marcella's story resonated with you, screenshot your favourite moment and tag us on Instagram @successfulafpod and @on.a.sew. I'd love to hear what landed for you. And if you're ready to build something meaningful without burning out, subscribe to Successful AF so you never miss a conversation that might just change everything. How to build a business without a degree Creative business ideas Self-taught entrepreneur success story Postnatal depression and entrepreneurship Building community in business Love this episode? Hit subscribe and leave us a review! And if you know someone who's redefining success on their own terms, nominate them at successfulafpod@gmail.com - we're always looking for incredible people to feature. Connect with Jess: Instagram: @kalicoaching.co Website: www.kalicoaching.co.uk

Breaking Cultural Expectations: From the Singapore Dream to Strategy Consulting - Clara Ho

Clara Ho crossed international borders with a passport every day just to get to school. Six hours round trip on the worst days. She was raised on the "Singapore Dream"—five C's that defined success: cash, credit card, condo, country club, and car. This episode of Successful AF is about what happens when you stop asking for permission. Host Jess West sits down with Clara, now a strategy consultant at Roland Berger in Dubai, for a conversation about breaking cultural expectations and career transitions. From selling Louis Vuitton whilst studying pre-law, to becoming head of operations in Bangkok at 27, to taking a career sabbatical in Cambodia and Central America that horrified her grandmother—Clara's journey is about doing the hard things. Clara's unflinching honesty about toxic conditioning hits hard. Being taught to suppress every feeling. The favouritism towards boys. The narrow success markers that left no room for being human. But she also shares how she unlearned it all through solo backpacking, therapy, and building the muscle of being different. She redefined success entirely: breaking through self-imposed limitations whilst maintaining integrity. No permission needed. Perfect for listeners navigating career pivots, cultural expectations, or anyone tired of asking permission to live their own life. About Clara Ho Clara Ho is a strategy consultant at Roland Berger in Dubai. Born in Malaysia, raised between Malaysia and Singapore, she studied law in Wales before pivoting into education and eventually strategy consulting. She spent a transformative year teaching at the Harpswell Foundation in Cambodia and learning Spanish in Central America before her career change into consulting, whilst her family questioned why she wasn't earning money. Key Takeaways 1. Your body is wiser than your brain - Listen to every signal you've been taught to suppress 2. Success needs two pillars - Breaking self-imposed limitations AND doing it with integrity 3. You don't need permission - If you feel you do, ask whose voice is in your head 4. Do hard things constantly - Comfort breeds complacency; discomfort drives success 5. Face your fear gremlins daily - Even small, uncomfortable things count 6. Being different is a muscle - You build tolerance for being the odd one out Reflection Questions * Whose voice is in your head when you think you need permission? * What cultural expectations are you carrying that don't belong to you? * Are you honouring how far you've come, or only measuring where you think you should be? Love this episode? Hit subscribe and leave us a review! And if you know someone who's redefining success on their own terms, nominate them at successfulafpod@gmail.com - we're always looking for incredible people to feature. Connect with Jess: Instagram: @kalicoaching.co Website: www.kalicoaching.co.uk

Accessible Yoga for All Bodies: From Moving to London Alone to Building a Thriving Yoga Business - Maria Peace Yoga

Maria Caballero moved to London in 2013 with a thousand euros in cash, one friend, and a vision. She walked down Regent Street handing out CVs to every shop until someone gave her a chance. Fast forward to 2025, and she's built one of the most vibrant yoga communities in London—retreats that sell out in days, students who laugh so hard they get stomach aches, and a teaching method centred entirely on accessible yoga for every body type. This episode of Successful AF is about what happens when you stop hiding who you are and start building the life you actually want to live. Host Jess West sits down with Maria for a conversation about body positive yoga, career transitions from fashion to teaching, and why making yoga available for all bodies—regardless of size, age, or ability—became her mission. As a former ballet dancer who never looked like anyone else in the room, Maria knows what it feels like to be the biggest, curviest person in a space that wasn't designed for you. Now she's rewriting the rules. Her inclusive yoga method works backwards from complicated poses to create pathways everyone can walk, not just modifications for people who "can't keep up." Maria's definition of success? Freedom. Freedom in your body, freedom in your relationships, freedom in your work. And the freedom to show up as your authentic self—purple Crocs and all. Perfect for listeners interested in yoga business, female entrepreneurship, career change stories, or anyone tired of fitness spaces that weren't built with them in mind. About Maria  Maria Caballero is the founder of Maria Peace Yoga and creator of an accessible yoga method that makes every pose available for all body types. Born in South America, raised in Spain, she moved to London in 2013 and built a career in fashion before transitioning to teaching yoga full-time during the pandemic. She runs sold-out retreats, teaches at East of Eden and More Yoga in London, and mentors new yoga teachers through her six-month Evolve programme. Maria's approach to yoga is rooted in her experience as a ballet dancer with curves in a room full of people who looked nothing like her—and her determination to create something different. Connect with Maria: * Instagram: @mariapeaceyoga * Classes: East of Eden (Walthamstow) & More Yoga Key Takeaways 1. Accessibility over perfection - Working backwards from complicated poses to create pathways everyone can walk 2. Your body is not the problem - Yoga spaces should adapt to bodies, not the other way round 3. If you can see it, it will happen - Closing your eyes and truly visualising yourself doing something is the first step to making it real 4. Create the life you want to live - Give yourself permission to build something different, even if it means walking away from what looks good on paper 5. Authenticity builds community - Showing up as your rawest self is what makes people gravitate towards you 6. Confidence comes from knowing yourself - You can't be truly confident whilst wearing a mask or pretending to be someone else 7. Success is freedom - The ability to be fully yourself across all areas of your life Reflection Questions * What would change if the spaces you entered were designed with your body in mind? * Are you building the life you want to live, or the life you think you should want? * Who would you be if you stopped hiding parts of yourself? Love this episode? Hit subscribe and leave us a review! Nominate someone redefining success at successfulafpod@gmail.com [successfulafpod@gmail.com]. Ready to redefine success? Work with Jess one-on-one or join her workshops on sustainable success and leadership Love this episode? Hit subscribe and leave us a review! And if you know someone who's redefining success on their own terms, nominate them at successfulafpod@gmail.com - we're always looking for incredible people to feature. Connect with Jess: Instagram: @kalicoaching.co Website: www.kalicoaching.co.uk