Startup Life: Expectations vs. Reality

Laura Wheatley Career Journey

🎙️ On this episode of The Impactful Podcast... Claire [https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lowry-hubball/] is joined by the brilliant Laura Wheatley [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-wheatley-infusion-group/] for a proper heart-to-heart on change, courage and carving your own path. Laura’s story takes us from bookshop shelves to boardrooms and beyond, as we unpack what it really means to step away from the corporate world and build something that’s truly yours. We talk about the messy middle of transition, the power of asking better questions (of ourselves and others), and how coaching can offer the clarity and confidence so many women are craving in times of change. There’s lots in here about trust, curiosity, and finding your voice plus some real talk on what happens when you stop playing by someone else’s rules and start leading your own way. Meet Laura Laura is a transformational coach, co-pilot, and self-confessed people whisperer.  After a decade leading multi-million-pound projects in Financial Services - outwardly thriving, but inwardly questioning everything - she discovered NLP and found a new path. Today, she co-runs Infusion Group, a small but mighty Business Growth Consultancy based in St Albans, and is the founder of messy wisdom, where she shows high-achieving women in the messy middle of life how to shift from disconnected to alive. She’s delivered thousands of coaching and leadership sessions across sectors, helping business leaders and brilliant women alike unlock clarity, performance, and purpose. A certified coach, NLP Master Practitioner, and GCologist, Laura’s work has helped clients secure promotions, scale businesses, rebuild self-trust, and rewrite the second half of life on their terms. https://infusion-group.co.uk/ [https://infusion-group.co.uk/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-wheatley-infusion-group/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-wheatley-infusion-group/]

Why Leaders Need to Speak Up

What happens when leaders stop communicating? (Spoiler: it’s not nothing, it’s chaos.) In this episode of the Impactful People podcast, Claire Lowry-Hubball [https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lowry-hubball/] is joined by Brett Engeman [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-engeman/] (founder and communication coach at Aspirational Leaders Co [https://www.aspirationalleadersco.com/]) for a conversation about why communication is one of the hardest and most important parts of leadership. They cover: * Why silence breeds confusion, not calm * What to do when people still don’t get what you’re saying * How to lead with clarity (without sugarcoating it) * And the messy but powerful role of trust, transparency and two-way conversations If you’ve ever thought “Why don’t they get it?” this one’s for you. Meet Brett I've spent over 20 years leading teams, building companies, and coaching leaders. The one pattern I've seen again and again is this: communication clarity is the difference between leaders who scale and those who stay stuck. My background in neuro linguistics and behavioral change means I don't just give leaders theory, I build experiences that shift how they show up, permanently. When leaders get communication right, everything gets lighter: Teams align faster, decisions move quicker, and you get back time, energy, and headspace to focus on the life you're actually working so hard to live. Connect with Brett - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-engeman/

Startup Life: Expectations vs. Reality

In this episode of the Impactful People podcast, Claire [https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lowry-hubball/] is joined by Nadia von Oesterreich [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadiavonoesterreich/]to discuss the realities of startup life, contrasting the expectations versus the actual experiences. They delve into the dynamics of founder-led businesses, the importance of emotional resilience, and the challenges of communication and culture within startups. Nadia shares her insights on self-leadership and the necessity of setting boundaries to maintain well-being in a fast-paced environment. Meet Nadia Nadia von Oesterreich is the Head of People & Culture at MAGNOTHERM [https://www.magnotherm.com/], a deep-tech company for sustainable cooling technology. With a background in Strategic Design and Management from Parsons in New York, her work now focuses on recruiting, retention, leadership development and building company structures for scaling. Previously, she worked in intrapreneurship, innovation, and organizational development at one of Germany’s largest public transportation providers, Deutsche Bahn, while volunteering in national leadership roles within the youth organisation Rotaract Germany. Alongside her role, she is a freelance coach for personal and team development as well as a spiritual practitioner. Connect with Nadia - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadiavonoesterreich/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadiavonoesterreich/]

Synne Lindén Career Journey

In this episode of the Impactful People [https://impactfulpeople.co.uk/] podcast, Claire Lowry-Hubball [https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lowry-hubball/] interviews Synne Linden [https://www.linkedin.com/in/synnelinden/], founder of SheSells, who shares her diverse international journey and passion for creative writing. Synne discusses her early influences, the challenges of gender inequality she witnessed in Eswatini, and her drive for justice and fairness. She reflects on her experiences living in various cultures, the transition to freelancing in Kurdistan, and the empowerment she found in working for herself. The conversation highlights the importance of empathy, storytelling, and actionable steps in achieving success. In this conversation, Synne Linden shares her journey of self-discovery and the challenges she faced with external validation. She discusses how her understanding of success has evolved, emphasizing the importance of inner conviction and the need for women to take agency in their business endeavors. The conversation highlights the significance of authenticity in achieving success and the empowerment of women in the business world. Bio Synne is a business and sales strategist and founder of She Sells Club, the empathy-first sales membership for female small business owners. Synne's mission is to put more money in the hands of all women, everywhere. She support women to get in the driver's seat of their sales and business growth using the empathy-first sales method, which teaches her members and clients how to lean into their natural sales superpowers with authenticity and purpose. Find Synne LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/synnelinden/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/synnelinden/] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/synnelinden/ Web - https://shesells.club [https://shesells.club/]

Performance Starts with Psychological Safety

In this episode of the Impactful People [https://impactfulpeople.co.uk/] podcast, Claire Lowry-Hubball [https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-lowry-hubball/]speaks with Ruth Kent [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthkentsunrisewell/], a workplace wellbeing consultant, about the complexities of wellbeing in the workplace. They discuss the interconnection between wellbeing and psychological safety, the impact of recent legislative changes, and the role of leadership in fostering a culture of wellbeing. Ruth shares her personal journey that led her to focus on wellbeing and emphasises the importance of self-awareness for leaders. The conversation highlights the need for organisations to move beyond tokenistic approaches to wellbeing and to genuinely understand the needs of their employees. Bio Ruth Kent is a workplace wellbeing consultant, trainer, and executive wellbeing coach. She founded Sunrise Well [https://www.sunrisewell.com.au/] in 2014 to help businesses support the wellbeing and performance of their employees and leaders. With a love of sharing evidence-based health and wellbeing education, Ruth partners with progressive organisations to create a culture of wellbeing at work and life. Ruth has worked with people from over 25 countries and facilitated over 15000 hours of workshops throughout her 25 year career, working with companies such as ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, Adelaide University, Australian Venue Co., and more. With a lifelong passion for health and wellbeing, Ruth first learned to meditate at the age of 15. This curiosity sparked her motivation to continue learning evidence-based health and wellbeing studies including Psychology, International Public Health, Yoga Teacher training, a Master's in Biomedical Meditation Therapy and Allied Health, and Professional-level Health Coaching. She lives in Brisbane and loves escaping to the coast on the weekends with her husband and two loud and fun-loving kids. Find Ruth: On LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthkentsunrisewell [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthkentsunrisewell/] On Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sunrise_well/# [https://www.instagram.com/sunrise_well/#] Check out more about - Sunsise Well [https://www.sunrisewell.com.au/]