Conclusions are still being drawn by experts about the effects of the pandemic on our marriages and relationships, because, let’s face it, we’re not out of weeds yet. And while the numbers will continue to become clearer, a recent study revealed a 21% increase in couples initiating divorce in 2021 over 2020.

Most of us probably wouldn’t be surprised by that figure. When the world came to a screeching halt in March of 2020, we were thrust into foreign new routines with little time to adjust. In some households, couples found themselves working elbow-to-elbow at the same dining room table for hours on end. In others, struggles popped up about how to keep restless children engaged in online school. And for still others, the loss of one partner’s stream of income meant reducing a comfortable lifestyle overnight.

Change is always difficult to manage, even in the healthiest of relationships. But for many, the whirlwind of changes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic drove the wedge deeper between struggling couples and further exacerbated already existing marital woes.

And although no one likes the “d” word, divorce is sometimes the healthiest option – especially when the marriage begins to negatively affect your physical, mental, and emotional health.

As a financial planner and money coach who specializes in divorce, I’ve had the opportunity to walk thousands of women through some of the most challenging seasons of their lives. As we continue to manage and mitigate the fallout from the pandemic, here are a few things to keep in mind if you are considering divorce during this unprecedented time:

If Your Relationship is Abusive or Unhealthy, Leave Now

Fear can immobilize us. Your mind may scream that you cannot get a divorce in the middle of the pandemic because there are too many unknowns, but this simply isn’t true. You have the power to change your life on your time and your schedule. If your relationship has become abusive or unhealthy, waiting for things to return to “normal” when the pandemic ends is a false solution and one that could be dangerous for you in the long run. I know because I’ve been there – more on that below. You can also call 800-799-SAFE (7233) for confidential support and help.

Getting Court/Legal Appointments Might Be Easier Than You Think

There’s a misconception about the current availability of legal, financial, and mediation services. Many courthouses and attorneys are running full-steam online, even if they’ve reduced in-person hours and options. Scheduling key appointments on Zoom means less driving, less hassle, and less stress – you don’t even have to change out of your yoga pants. While most of us don’t particularly love virtual meetings, in this case, moving some of your proceedings to digital spaces affords convenience and privacy.

The Financial Impacts of Your Divorce Can’t Be Ignored

There’s a tendency to want to pull the covers over our heads about the finances. However, as your divorce looms, some hard financial decisions will need to be made. Statistics show that to maintain the same lifestyle you had before your divorce, you may need up to a 30% increase in income or revenue. And while that can sound daunting, especially amid an uncertain economy, it can also be an opportunity to shore up your foundations and discover new streams of income for yourself. A seasoned financial planner can help you put the appropriate puzzle pieces in place.

Don’t Go It Alone

Too many women try to go it alone. We’re used to being the ones who keep it all together; the ones who fix scraped knees and feed hungry bellies and make special occasions shine. But by isolating yourself, you run the risk of digging a deeper hole to climb out of down the road – especially when it comes to rebuilding your life after divorce. Admitting that you’re facing down a challenging season and honoring that journey is the first step. The second is being brave and reaching out to your network of friends, family, and professionals for help. You may be surprised at the wave of support that washes over you when you connect with the right resources.

The bottom line? People are going through unique relational, financial, and interpersonal challenges right now that put an extra layer over the already-complicated process of divorce. If that’s you or someone you know, I get it.

Over 20 years ago, I found myself trapped in a volatile marriage marked by mental, emotional, and physical abuse. The relationship imploded, thankfully, but left me broken and my abuser imprisoned. At the time, I had no job, no child support, and no money to keep my family afloat. I did not know who to turn to for guidance or how to pick up the pieces of my life. I felt completely lost and isolated.

That was over 20 years ago. I am no longer a victim; I am a victory.

Today, as a Transformational Life & Money Coach, consultant, author, and speaker, I empower women going through life-changing events to gain control over their lives and finances. I’ve helped hundreds of women manage their toughest seasons victoriously: divorce, loss of a spouse, career transitions, and retirement. My clients become equipped with the mindset, motivation, and money confidence necessary to live a truly epic life. A life on their terms.

If you’re standing at the brink of a divorce (or have recently filed for or completed one), let’s talk. To learn more about how we can work together, visit my website at https://www.swanfinancialadvisors.com/ or connect with me on social media.

 Ankie van Wersch knows business. 18 years of experience in the corporate world, first as part of a major US based FMCG and then as a corporate consultant, have given her a deep understanding of the incentives and requirements that drive ‘traditional’ business, which is why she knows things have to change.

“We live in a world with no shortage of problems. From financial access and inequality to plastic pollution and the climate crisis, the scope of the challenge we face is enormous. We all know something needs to change, but what? I believe businesses that aim for more than just profit have the power to build a better future and an economy that serves both people and planet.”

Before joining Enviu, it was in Nepal in 2006 that Ankie realized she wanted more than a career that simply challenged her mind. The Nepalese civil war had just ended and in the ensuing chaos, Ankie saw first-hand the challenges that faced the nation’s dislocated and disadvantaged children. No matter how gifted, no matter how hardworking, a fundamental lack of access to education meant these children had no future and no means of escaping a desperate situation. Ankie was resolved and in the same year founded the Tika foundation which today provides education, food, safety and shelter to nearly 1000 children in Nepal. Awakened by this experience, her desire to create positive change grew, leading Ankie down a new path. One driven by her mind, but led by her heart.

The path led to Enviu, one of the most innovative and exciting venture-building studios. Ankie joined, determined to focus Enviu’s expertise and passion for impact.

How Enviu builds world-changing companies

 Enviu uses the power of business to build an inclusive economy that serves people and planet. As a serial entrepreneur Enviu, identifies a problem, ideates business solutions, validates them with lean tests then builds impact driven businesses (impact ventures). The ventures Enviu builds generate profit and create impact with a view to inspiring and influencing the market to adopt new sustainable models. As one of the world’s first venture building studios to adopt a steward ownership model, all the profits from Enviu’s venture building are reinvested into building new ventures, and maximising impact. Ankie joined Enviu with the strong belief that this model and these kinds of businesses, who use impact alongside profit as an indicator of success, have the potential to drive the economy towards a sustainable new normal.

When she joined Enviu the starting point for a solution was a thorough understanding of the problem, and the same is true today. Enviu does not build solutions that simply clean up the mess we’ve created, or alleviate damage done. Each and every business built is designed to tackle the problem at the root, correcting the initial market dysfunction where it first occurs.

Together with co-Managing Director Michiel Elich, Ankie formalized this process with the introduction of a programmatic approach to venture building. Rather than build one company to tackle one issue, Enviu sets up a venture building program dedicated towards solving the greater problems in a particular industry. Ankie understood that neither the world nor the economy are simple and rarely is an issue clear cut enough that one intervention alone can fix it.

“Take apparel. Pollution, waste and inequality are created at multiple points along the industries value chain, from cultivation and refinement towards production and retail. With the team we have created a program consisting of multiple businesses which intervene at key points in the value chain to create a wide reaching, system level solution. This is visible in the businesses that make up Reweave, they provide solutions to leather tanning, textile production, garment creation, and waste management. Four key interventions that together span the whole apparel value chain, correcting it at each instance it malfunctions.”

Five years after Ankie’s arrival, Enviu has vastly expanded its program portfolio. From its beginnings with Reweave’s circular take on the apparel and textile industry, the studio has grown into five active programs, from zero-emission shipping and a zero waste food chain in East Africa, to financial inclusion and a plastics program in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Creating business through impact

To many, ‘sustainable business’ might sound a little like an oxymoron. After all, we are so often told that issues like climate change are driven by unrepentant businesses who put profit above all else. Though in cases this may be true, Ankie and Enviu know that not only does business have the power to correct our course and put us on a trajectory towards a better future, it is the most sustainable way of doing so. And no, this doesn’t mean that businesses shouldn’t be profitable, far from it.

As Ankie explains “a profitable impact business can exist as a self sustaining impact machine. Once funded and up and running, a business will self-sustain through profit and create impact indefinitely, long after the initial investment has dried up”. Businesses need to be profitable and impactful businesses are no exception. Awareness of the potential of this model is growing and is today reflected in the rapid growth of the fields of venture philanthropy and impact investing.

Ankie believes in changing business priorities and mindset. “Too many businesses are not only failing to consider their social or environmental impact, they are actively externalising the cost of doing business on to society. As governments start to play a more active role in ensuring companies pay the actual cost of doing business (via legislation like the carbon tax) businesses will soon be forced to adjust to new models where impact is held in as high regard as profit. At Enviu, when we build world changing ventures, we’re not only making it clear that there are business opportunities in doing this, but showing what those opportunities might look like.”

To Ankie, this is what makes the work she does at Enviu so meaningful. She points to Enviu’s venture Khaloom in India as an example of being able to profitably produce a beautiful product, whilst at the same time minimizing environmental impact and providing fair and meaningful work for its employees. At its essence Enviu’s venture building is about creating both impact through business and business through impact.

This is the opportunity in sustainability

 Ankie points out that it’s not just impact, but huge financial opportunities that await those willing to invest in or set up impact ventures. “In the field of plastics, The Ellen MacArthur Foundation calculated switching 20% of plastic packaging to reusables could yield an economic opportunity of $9 billion.” She notes that as legislation will eventually require businesses to transition towards more sustainable practices, there is much to gain from early adopters and funders who embrace the transition early.

However, the difficult reality is that it is still hard for start-ups with an impact mission to secure funding when compared to traditional profit-driven businesses. A longer time to market and non-traditional risk-return profile mean that impact businesses struggle to attract investment. Furthermore, foundation capital is typically tied to rigid deliverables and difficult to make compatible with the testing, pivots and changes that are inherent to running a business.

In Ankie’s time she has been fortunate enough to see a great willingness to embrace these differences in Enviu’s key partners including the DOEN Foundation and IKEA foundation, who have supported Enviu’s programmatic approach to impact venture building, aware of the dynamic and flexible nature of the work. However, more is still needed.

“If we’re to create impact and seize the opportunity presented by this new way of doing business, we need more like minded funders and investors to come aboard and make the change happen.”

It can’t be done alone

 If we can do this alone, we’re not dreaming big enough. “Anyone who knows Enviu” says Ankie “knows this phrase”. Creating a new inclusive economy that serves people and the planet is a huge task and Ankie is aware that if she and Enviu claimed this could be done alone “we just wouldn’t be telling the truth.”

“We need corporates, funders, stakeholders, knowledge partners and entrepreneurs to come together” admits Ankie. “The problems of our time require great shifts in the way most businesses work. Today Enviu and its ventures are already having an outsized impact, but to create real, meaningful change these ventures, concepts and models must be taken to scale.”

The work Enviu has already done would not have been possible had it not been for its partners who support the vision of a future driven by impactful business. “In the last few years alone, in addition to our traditional foundation partners we’ve seen an increase in large corporates getting involved, from major FMCGs joining our work with plastics in Indonesia to discussions with key players in the apparel market.” Says Ankie. “We think this shows the way the wind is blowing. The question now for those not involved is, can you afford to wait?”

Lauren Tickner had a similar dilemma. While still in school, she knew she wanted to be successful and that too in the finance industry. At 18, braving all the interviews, assessments, judgments of being just a graduate pitted against masters, she managed to get a position at one of the UK’s top financial firms. She was now viewed as “successful”.

After the honeymoon period had worn off, she realized this is not where she belonged to. What seemed a dream come true started to become a mundane, dreadful daily task. “My parents even told me that they’d “lost the Lauren they used to know,” and it was true. I’d even lost myself,” says Lauren.

Finding her True Dream

Lauren was unsure of her next step. Staying in the job meant a good paycheque but that was not what her heart sought. So she quit and took a break. This was the time when she first started posting fitness-related content on social media. She started getting some good responses there.

Soon the random posts tuned into an online personal training (online coaching). At first, Lauren had no clue what she was doing and it felt like a bit of side cash rather than something which would ever go anywhere. But she loved learning about business. So she decided to upskill herself and so decided to enroll in University to get a degree in Business. Soon she realized she would be taught about business who didn’t own one. “It made no sense to me. What I was learning wasn’t directly applicable to my online business. So after a year and a bit, I quit.”

That was when Lauren went even more ‘all in’ on everything she was doing, and hired her first couple of team members. From there, people began asking me how she built an online business, and she was trying to help so many people that it was getting unmanageable.

That was when her idea for Impact School was born. “I realized that I was great at building online businesses, so I wanted to help others build theirs,” says Lauren. “And now, with over 30 team members, I’m grateful that I get to help aspiring entrepreneurs turn their existing experience and knowledge into online coaching/consulting/service businesses. It’s so rewarding and I can’t wait to jump out of bed every day.”

The next set of Challenges

Online coaching had not gained the massive popularity that it enjoys today. The first challenge Lauren had to face was dealing with people who had an opinion about her leaving her cushy job, chasing a wild goose, and playing the guilt trick on her.

On the work front, having little guidelines about the online world, Lauren overcomplicated everything. She saw what big businesses were doing, and tried to mimic. She invested money in the wrong things and people. “It took many mistakes, mostly trial, and error, to figure out what I needed to do to build a successful business within the complexities of the business world. Most people thought I was throwing everything away and giving up because I chose to leave a successful job, where I had a safe career progression laid out for me,” recalls Lauren.

So what kept her Going?

Amid so many obstacles, one is bound to feel demotivated. What inspired Lauren every day was her younger brother who is specially-abled. He’s two years younger than her but his mental age and ability are around 1-2 years old. “Seeing him grow up without the ability to take control and do the things that he wants to do, always needing 2:1 care, has always made me question why those who ARE able, don’t make the most of their freedom.”

When she worked in asset management, she saw so many people who were ‘successful’ but only from the outside. This led to her establishing her two core values for life – freedom, and fulfillment. Everything Lauren does has to be in alignment with both of them.

Making an Impact

Impact School helps people start their own online coaching and consulting businesses, and then scale beyond 7 figures. Lauren’s team walks their clients through their unique process and frameworks to create wildly profitable businesses without spending money on paid ads, writing ebooks, or doing things the “slow way”. Their new method of online business helps the clients create their own high-ticket offers that their dream clients can’t resist, and then Impact School helps them bring that offer to the market.

The strategy Lauren uses is what she calls the “Impact Triangle” – where one takes his/her idea, validates it, and then scales it. So many people try to run before they can walk. Which is what ultimately causes them to fail. Instead, Lauren helps her clients ensure that their idea is profitable, and then she assigns them the right project at the right time, so they can stay focused and ultimately profit and grow.

With everything that’s going on, more and more people aren’t just wanting to move online, but they’re also noticing that it’s critical for their survival. The online consulting space is growing faster than ever and will continue to do so, not only because the practitioners and business owners love the freedom it gives them, but also because clients are now more willing to get help online.

Impact school has helped over 1,800 successful clients in just the past 2 years. Lauren has featured in Forbes top 10 entrepreneurs and London Stock Exchange Top 5 Entrepreneurs. The Impact School Podcast has been Featured In the Top 10 In The World.

Looking forward to Growth

“I believe that if you’re not growing, you’re shrinking. So I always aim to get even just 0.1% better every day. My aim is to constantly empower my team to make their visions happen so that our clients can achieve theirs,” says Lauren. She’s looking to acquire new companies so that Impact School can turn its liabilities into assets (video production/social media marketing) – and then diversify her portfolio. Financially, Lauren wants to make sure that over 50% of Impact School’s clients are hitting an income of over 25k/month within the first 3-6 months of working with them.

For the Budding Entrepreneurs

Lauren advises young entrepreneurs to study and learn from the people who have gone from where they are now to where they want to be. With the right guidance and knowledge, she believes one can build a business one has only ever dreamed of.

She wants them to bet on themselves and understand that it’s possible. There will be naysayers and doubters, but they should stay true to themselves. “Regret is more painful than failure. I truly believe that you never lose, you learn. And that you get to make your own luck,” says Lauren.

Her parting advice is this quote from Les Brown

“The graveyard is the richest place on earth because it is here that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered, all because someone was too afraid to take that first step, keep with the problem, or determined to carry out their dream.”

The threats posed to individuals of wealth and public interest is growing, the threats faced by our local communities are growing and the methods and technology used by the criminal element of our society are always evolving and advancing. Increased competition in the market, dependency and the growing value of data has also given rise to evolving and more complex illegal activities across the globe. The recent rearrangements of operations by businesses due to the pandemic leading to restrictive containment measures coupled with stringent government regulations has led businesses and personnel to adopt security systems at various levels.

The rise in illegal activities across the globe coupled with stringent government regulations has led to a surge in the adoption of security systems both manual and automated. This is not scaremongering but an unfortunate stark reality. There are a select few in this world that care enough to step into harm’s way and try and do something to address the balance. Gareth Burgum and The Consec Group are proud members of the exclusive club of those who make this world more secure.

Kickstarting a new Phase

Following exemplary service with specialist elements of the British Army, Gareth retrained as a professional Security Consultant and Close Protection specialist. He gained a vast wealth of knowledge and experience spread over two decades operating globally, culminating in negotiating, planning, and conducting corporate and high-risk security operations throughout the world, specializing in some of the planets most hostile environments. In 2016, he returned to the U.K. and launched Consec Risk Management, successfully expanding to a global entity, and developing it into a group structure capable of providing a complete and unique range of security services and solutions worldwide.

The Consec Group is an executive and dynamic security & risk mitigation services provider. Based in the heart of London and with offices across the UK, in the US, Dubai, Hong Kong and Colombia, it protects and safeguards corporate and private clients on a truly global scale. Its security solutions are a mix of traditional services with technology-led modern thinking, utilising the latest in cutting edge electronic and digital products. The Consec Group works closely with a vast range of clients, covering prominent corporate businesses, UHNW individuals, UK & foreign dignitaries and public figures as well as providing community safety and crime reduction initiatives locally.

The personnel comprise former members of the armed forces, highly experienced security industry professionals and governmental security servicemen and women that have combined their wealth of knowledge to become some of the industry’s finest security officers, close protection operatives, secure chauffeurs, and security consultants. The senior leadership team combines its wealth of knowledge, adaptability and high calibre personnel to ensure that the client’s property, assets, people and reputation are safe and secure.

The Consec Group’s range of bespoke security solutions covers areas such as; Close Protection, Secure Chauffeuring, Surveillance & TCSM, Venue & Event Security, Mobile Response Services, Key Holding & Alarm Response, Concierge & Security Management Services, Risk Management Solutions, Consultancy & Advice. Working in adherence to ISO 9001 and the British Standards, they follow an optimum blend of delivery methodologies on all the projects and operations that they undertake.

Building a Company on Values

For Gareth, the transition into an entrepreneur took patience and a focus on the goal in mind from the outset. As an entrepreneur, he was never scared to ask for help or advice but he was also wise and confident enough to be selective when it came to following them and choosing his sources. He feels entrepreneurs should surround themselves with strong individuals who can support them at all levels. But also cautions them to be prepared for their exit and be willing to look at all candidates. “Some of the best people I have worked with were the ‘wild card’,” says Gareth.

His faith in people, values and his countrymen translates into the company’s emphasis on employing British armed forces veterans, retired police officers and, where possible, buying British. “We were the first security company in our area to sign and adhere to the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant pledge, and also the first security company in the region to join the Living Wage scheme. As a leading security company, we act as an ambassador for Britain to many overseas visitors and countries, and as such we operate to the British Standard’s, which are recognised worldwide for promoting excellence, innovation and efficiency,” adds Gareth.

Leading on all fronts

Individually and collectively Gareth and his team have achieved a lot in the short space of time that they have been trading. From operating on a small select scale to being able to successfully deliver their services on a global scale. This has all been achieved whilst working hard to develop and promote relationships and initiatives to bridge the public and private sector gap. Taking the lead to instigate, at times, difficult conversations and promote clear transparent collaboration. This has led to Consec Risk Management becoming an integral part of several safeguarding initiatives for the local communities.  Gareth feels, “Through The Consec Group, we have been able to actualize our flexible, professional and sincere desire to help and protect those that need it.”

As a well-established entrepreneur today, Gareth has this to say to the budding ones:

“Don’t think, do! No one will take the step for you, believe in yourself and your ideas and go for it. You will be a better and stronger person for it. “

Staying ahead, today and tomorrow

Gareth feels one has to be aware of one’s competition, but not get fixated. While keeping abreast of what they are doing one should focus on their product or service. “Regularly check with staff, clients, customers and consumers to keep you on track and on-point with your delivery,” he adds.

As for The Consec Group, Gareth wants to future proof the business, clearly map the progression of his senior management team to take the business forward with the flexible thinking that he has tried to instill. This will mean adapting to an ever-changing social climate, both on a local domestic and global scale.

“I hope to create a new wave of collaborative thinking helping to bridge the gap between traditional Policing and the Private Sector in order to deliver safer environments for our communities,” concludes Gareth.

Your Consultant, Your Budget

Natascha started Pinwheel with the intent of making her learnings within ‘Big 4’ consulting available to anyone who needed it. She started her venture to democratize her expertise. Pinwheel was founded on a ‘help fist’ principle meaning the firm does not shoot to make top dollar on every engagement. Its core values center around giving back and making high-quality Procurement and Cost Transformation expertise available to anyone who needs it. “We will help anyone who needs it even pro bono if warranted.  We are not going to let your business go belly-up if we can help you save it. We’ll figure out the cost at a later point in time,” says Natascha.

Tracing the Founder’s Journey

Natascha started her career in Operations Project Management for a large European Packaging conglomerate back in the Netherlands, where she was born and raised. She loved the entrepreneurial aspect of the role and enjoyed that every couple of months there was a new challenge to tackle. After about 5 years in Operations and Procurement Natascha was approached by high-end consulting firm, Kearney. She spent the next 10 years on the cutting edge of Procurement and Analytics, working her way up from Manager to Vice President. In her role, she helped many Global 500 executives across the globe exceed Procurement savings expectations they never thought possible through the application of innovative, analytics-based sourcing approaches. In 2017 she joined Deloitte, one of the Big 4 professional service firms. As a Partner at Deloitte, she was able to work with exceptional talent in the area of exponential technologies like Big Data, AI, IoT, machine learning, and blockchain and started fine-tuning approaches that allowed clients to unleash the power of ‘digital’ in the procurement arena. In June 2019, Natascha ventured out on her own and founded Pinwheel, offering high-end cost transformation consulting with a personal touch, empathy, and premised on authentically wanting to help.

Offering Services with a Human Touch

Natascha describes the current industry status as a ‘gig economy’ where more and more folks are becoming consultants successfully going from gig to gig. Through independent consultant community platforms such as Catalant, BTG and others, clients are finding premium-quality, fit-for-purpose consulting solutions without being constrained to engaging the big, established consulting giants.

The relationships Natascha fostered over the years along with the changing landscape have allowed Pinwheel to thrive, helping companies across industries take millions of dollars of cost out of their external spend base and training dozens on the ins and outs of project and complexity management. Its most important achievement, however, has been, per Natascha: “Leaving my clients feeling more comfortable with their day-to-day challenges and workload and more confident in knowing how to exceed their targets. Essentially, leaving people in a better place than they were before meeting us.”

Tackling the Competition

As it relates to ‘tackling competition’, Pinwheel adopts an interesting strategy, one of letting go and trusting that what the firm is meant to help with it will end up helping with. The focus is on putting energy towards the positive i.e., simply focusing on what the company knows it excels at and has proven it does better than others. Natascha adds, “We aim to always over-deliver and leave folks in a better place than they were before. Through our engagements and training, we ensure that people feel comfortable and capable, and ready to handle the day-to-day challenges without our support. We listen to and authentically care about the people we’re working with and go above and beyond to ensure their success. When you give positivity, it comes back to you. Our clients often become friends and recommend us ahead of our competition. In our experience, this happens organically and the way we work with our clients generates “pull”. Human nature is to give back and pay it forward.”

Tell It Like It Is

Being a female entrepreneur has not been easy for Natascha. Getting traction as a woman in a male-dominated world was a big challenge. In her opinion, today still, women have to work harder than men to gain access to similar opportunities. Natascha mentions she never fit into the typical corporate business consultant mold and often felt like she had to give up part of her ‘authentic self’ to make it work. Growing up in a direct culture where people ‘tell it like it is’, she developed a communication style that did not always resonate within the big, corporate consulting firms she worked for. While her C-level clients, with limited time to spare, consistently appreciated this ‘efficient candor’, the corporate consulting world was anchored in the premise of the client always being right even when the client was paying the consultant to challenge their opinion, knowing they were wrong.

Starting Pinwheel helped Natascha achieve the peace and equilibrium she had been looking for. She feels she is finally where she is supposed to be. She elaborates: “I’m right where I want to be in life, to be honest. I’m helping companies optimize cost and get to support them with empathy and authenticity. I’m valued for who I am; for, respectfully, telling it like it is.  I’ve never been great at paying lip-service and telling you what you already know; where’s the value in that?”.

For the Budding Entrepreneurs

Natascha believes that all successful entrepreneurs have a couple of things in common. She elaborates: “I believe successful entrepreneurs thrive in an ambiguous environment; it excites them as opposed to paralyzing them. Secondly, successful entrepreneurs are also great listeners, they spend hours listening to customers and clients before offering solutions. They realize that spending enough time understanding exactly what the problem is first, saves a lot of time at the back-end and makes solutions more efficient and effective. Successful entrepreneurs also take risks, continuously pushing themselves outside of their comfort zones. That’s where innovation lurks, only in the discomfort can you truly find new ways of problem-solving. Entrepreneurs actively fight myopia and seek to always open the aperture. Lastly, they seek out diversity of thought by bringing in people from different backgrounds, ethnicities, upbringings, and cultures. Leveraging diversity uncovers new ideas and often sparks “light bulb” moments as every person brings their own unique way of contributing knowledge, and the resulting whole is far greater than any one individual could provide.”

Her advice for the budding entrepreneurs is, “Be open, be bold and be brave. Never let ‘naysayers’ stop you from going after your dreams. Negativity is often rooted in insecurity, and unfounded by facts.”

Taking Pinwheel Ahead

Pinwheel offers broad-based solutions to optimize cost for companies of any size. This translates into operational efficiency and effectiveness support, strategic sourcing support, procurement organization design, strategy work, and complexity reduction work, to name a few options.

Pinwheel absolutely stands out when it comes to strategic sourcing. It has an unparalleled bench of deep subject matter expertise in advanced, analytics-empowered strategic sourcing of direct materials such as commodities, ingredients, and packaging and broad-based experience in sourcing indirect materials such as contract labor, facilities, all types of business services, and MRO/CAPEX. Most importantly, Pinwheel gives back and consults with heart.

Graham’s initial professional journey was driven by world-renowned brands like Pfizer, Coke, General Mills, and Johnson & Johnson, rising up to VP Marketing. Stirring across these corporations for two decades, he never had the idea of building his own business empire.

However, with a unique vision in mind and dedication in heart, he laid the foundation of Beloved Brands in 2010. Since then, it has been a journey defining a ‘never looking back’ attitude.

Exploring the True Essence of Brand Management

Meeting everyday challenges by looking in the eye and being confident in converting those challenges into opportunities is what keeps Graham ahead of all. His hands-on expertise and experience have successfully fuelled many brand management pursuers with exceptional strategic thinking, brand positioning, planning, execution, and decision-making capabilities.

As the Founder and CMO of Beloved Brands, his sole aim is to help brands create a brand idea that is capable of being loved as a way to unlock the doors to countless business opportunities. “Everyone who works behind the scenes or those on the front line must describe the brand in the same way,” is what he believes in.

Being at the helm, Graham ensures that Beloved Brands not only curates brand positioning strategies that consumers adore but also stimulate it with a seven-second pitch that defines the organization. His prowess brings the smartest of the brand-building plans to the table that helps the brand leaders to tackle their most difficult challenges and hit the right opportunities head-on.

Exploring every aspect of brand management, Graham has won numerous accolades including Marketing Magazine’s ‘Marketer of the Year’, BusinessWeek’s ‘Best New Product’, and Four ‘Effie Advertising Awards’. In 2020, Graham was recognized among the ‘10 best CMOs’, by the Silicon Review Magazine.

He is also the author of two bestselling five-star rating books – ‘Beloved Brands’ and ‘B2B Brands’ and his third book ‘Brand Leader’ hit the market in early 2021.

Helping Clientele Reach the Epitome

Over the past decade, Graham has successfully pushed Beloved Brands to boost brands across 25 countries, including Canada, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Mauritius, the Maldives, China, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia. Under his aegis, brands like NFL Players Association (NFLPA), Shell, Pfizer, Acura, Reebok, The Mayo Clinic, Miller beer, and Slack have reached their full potential.

Let’s walk through some of Beloved Brands’ cutting-edge imperatives:

• Guided the NFL Players Association to crystalize a new business model to enable their internal sports agency to open up new opportunities and innovation, and the former players group to significantly increase their membership
• Shell was vitalized with a brand planning workshop followed by hands-on coaching of eleven marketing teams across Asia
• Taught the Mayo Clinic’s marketing team to go deeper on strategic thinking, brand positioning, brand plans and marketing execution
• A start-up food brand was furnished with holistic brand management that enabled them to gain incredible success in China and the UK
• Coached a major consumer packaged goods (CPG) to find advertising strategies to support new products that moved consumers based on compelling consumer insight
• Created a new brand idea for a premium restaurant chain with an end-to-end strategic roadmap supported by service values and behaviors that transformed their culture as a whole and guided their front-line team of 6,000

Beloved Brands has worked across nearly every industry including consumer packaged goods, food and beverage, tourism, technology, telecommunications, retail, alcohol, sports, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, and industrial products.

Why Beloved Brands is so Beloved?

When questions like how to – think, define, plan, execute, and analyze the brand start taking the centre stage, Beloved Brands takes over to corner them with contemporary brand management solutions. Being a distinct boutique brand consulting and training provider, Beloved Brands helps business professionals to embrace growth to its best.

Under Graham’s guidance, the company cultivates its exclusive brand strategy playbook and brand idea tools that create a win-win situation for the businesses. Defying challenges with innovative thinking is team Graham’s forte. They keep no stone unturned in contouring enterprises with a brand idea map to generate utmost customer satisfaction.

Graham emphases on building a robust brand-customer relationship backed by a shared vision. He says, “We don’t give you answers. We  just keep asking more questions until we find the answers that will inspire and excite you. I want you to love what you do and that starts with what you stand for.” This collaboration leads Beloved Brands in addressing the key challenges and building result-oriented strategies.

Acknowledging that a stronger team can reciprocate smarter thinking and better decision-making for a brand, the firm rolls out decisive coaching programs for the executive teams. These programs are potential enough to inspire and adopt exuberating advertising and media choices.

Besides, Beloved Brands gives brand leaders access to best brand management toolkits and online templates within a few clicks.

Graham’s Take on Entrepreneurship

“Entrepreneurs must be able to think strategically, define the brand, build a plan everyone can follow, make the right decisions on execution, and analyze accordingly. Focus on playing up your competitive advantage – whether you use your brand positioning, product innovation, or distribution channels – to enhance the purchase moment or the overall consumer experience,” says Graham.

Leaders should take ownership of their decisions and make sure these decisions result in profitable outcomes. Their decisions should fortify the workforce and exhibit broad influence across the organization. Strategic thinking, leading strategic debates, and making a 360^o brand plan is what sets an entrepreneur apart from the competitors.

Graham believes in leadership that can identify the target customers, understand their requirements, create a tangible & motivating brand positioning statement, and build a brand idea around it.

Brand Idea Matters the Most

To be a frontrunner in all aspects of business, one should consistently focus on the brand’s strength and outshine its weaknesses. “Attack with a full assault when you recognize an opportunity in the market where your strengths are considered superior to your competitor, and you see a chance to gain share,” says Graham.

“Building businesses around a brand idea can increase success rates by 2X. The brand idea must be interesting enough to engage and entice consumers on a first encounter to want to know more. Keep it simple enough to gain entry into the consumer’s mind and heart,” he stated further.

He believes that a good brand idea needs to be effectively aligned with five customer touchpoints – brand promise, brand story, innovation, purchase moment, and consumer experience. The uniqueness of this brand idea will help to build a market reputation and withstand ever-changing consumer demands. Later, this uniqueness will prove to be a significant source of customer retention alongside attracting new ones.

Graham’s advice to every emerging entrepreneur is to come up with a brand idea that reflects the vision, passion, and soul of the people working on it. This would inspire employees to deliver the brand promise and amazing experiences in the longer run. “The brand soul defines the moral fiber for why everyone who works on the brand wakes up each day to deliver greatness on behalf of the brand,” he explains.

The brand idea matters the most as it can influence teamwork across the brand and align them to seek a common purpose. Enlightening about the same he concludes, “Like the soul of a human, every brand brings a unique combination of unexplainable assets, culture, motivations, and beliefs. Support your brand purpose with a set of values and beliefs, deeply held in the heart of everyone who works behind the scenes of the brand.”

Dr. Ryan has diverse healthcare and functional expertise, with a tenacious commitment to driving results and motivating staff to peak performance. She achieved a doctorate in healthcare administration and holds a master’s degree in the science of nursing. Dr. Ryan is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner with a specialty in Emergency Medicine.

Dr. Ryan has a distinguished career in for-profit, non-profit, tertiary care, and most recently, a critical access hospital. She has been the driving force behind Cottage Hospital’s many accomplishments such as being honored by the Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center for taking a leadership role in a collaborative outreach program centered on cancer prevention and early detection. Cottage Hospital has received national awards such as a 2013 HealthStrong Award for Excellence in Efficiency, a 2014 HealthStrong Top 100 Critical Access Hospital by iVantage Health Analytics, and a Top 20 Best Practices in Quality designation by the National Rural Health Association. With Dr. Ryan’s leadership, Cottage Hospital was also the only hospital in New Hampshire, and one of eight in the country, to successfully attest to Meaningful Use Stage 2 in the first qualifying period. Additionally, Cottage Hospital was the recipient of the 2015 Business of the Year Award given by the Cohase Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Ryan has been recognized on a national level as well. She was selected in Becker’s Hospital Review’s list of “Top Rural Hospital CEOs to Know” in the United States for seven years in a row. Amongst all hospitals, regardless of size, Dr. Ryan was identified again by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of “300 Hospital and Health System Leaders to Know.” She was selected as one of NH Business Review’s Outstanding Women in Business 2017. Maria received the Louis Gorin Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Rural Health by the National Rural Health Association in 2019. Most recently, she was listed on NH Business Review’s “NH 200-The Granite State’s Most Influential Business Leaders” for Healthcare in 2020.

Her secrets to success are simple: Be transparent and passionate, have enthusiasm and insight, listen well and be visible.

Into the Shoes of Dr. Maria Ryan

Dr. Ryan started her career as a nurse’s aide in a nursing home when she was just 16 years of age. She married after high school and was a mother of three children by the age of 21. Despite her husband working two jobs and working as a nurse’s aide herself, they struggled to pay rent and often did not have enough food to feed their family.

Don’t fear taking a critical look at your strengths and weaknesses. Steadily and persistently polish and expand the natural talents that you have. You can work to improve some weaknesses, but don’t focus too much on them, instead surround yourself with a team who will complement you, and you them.

In order to get out of poverty, the couple began to discuss the idea of one of them going to college. The couple came to a mutual agreement that Maria would go to nursing school, as she had always excelled in math and science. After her first degree, she went on to continue her education and received a Bachelor’s degree in the Science of Nursing, followed by a Master’s degree in the Science of Nursing and Board Certified as a Nurse Practitioner. This enabled her to be a provider; in New Hampshire, a Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner does not need a Physician Supervisor. Finally, Maria pursued and received a Doctorate of Philosophy in Health Administration.

During her journey, Dr. Ryan worked her way up, starting off as a staff nurse, then a charge nurse, followed by a Director over multiple units, next she worked in Leadership but also worked as an Emergency Department Provider, a Chief Nursing Officer, and Chief Operating Officer until reaching her current role as a Chief Executive Officer. Her career has been in for-profit and non-profit organizations, as well as in Community and Tertiary care hospitals.

About Cottage Hospital

Founded in 1904 and Headquartered in Woodsville, NH, Cottage Hospital is an atypical rural hospital, as it is a designated trauma center.

As an expert businesswoman, Dr. Ryan is always looking for opportunities to expand and meet the needs of the people. She noted the lack of acute mental health care in the state of New Hampshire as well as neighboring states. She researched, developed, and implemented a specialized unit for older adults. This unit is named the Ray of Hope after long-time executive counselor Ray Burton. This unit takes referrals from New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Maine.

Dr. Ryan helped to solve a dire issue in her rural community by erecting the Rowe Health Center in 2015, and as a result, strengthening the primary care network in her service area. The Rowe Health Center is named after Dr. Harry Rowe who was an inspiration to all. Dr. Rowe served Cottage Hospital and the community for many years. He was one of the first providers to greet Dr. Ryan when she moved to Lisbon, NH. Dr. Rowe sponsored Dr. Ryan in joining the Wells River, VT, and Woodsville, NH Rotary. They became fast friends. Today the Rowe Health Center is home to Internal medicine, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Mental Health, and Podiatry Services. Cottage Hospitals Physical Therapy department is a source of great pride. The PT department receives referrals from Providers near and far due to their expertise and positive clinical outcomes. The hospital also takes referrals from other hospitals for emergency surgery as well as intensive care.

Dr. Ryan is a fierce defender of patient rights, and she eliminates all barriers for those who are seeking healthcare. She is one of the few CEOs who works tirelessly to keep prices at a reasonable rate.

Source of motivation and future goals.

Dr. Ryan describes herself as mission-driven as an individual and as a leader. She is motivated to work harder and smarter especially when she is protecting those who are vulnerable. This publication is confident we will see Dr. Ryan as a positive role model and in the future we will see her advocating for and lifting up the vulnerable and oppressed.

Current industry scenario and strategies to contribute effectively in a hyper-competitive market

Sharing her perspective on the current scenario of the market Dr. Maria said: Leading a hospital is complex and has a lot of variables. Reimbursement continues to decline as employee wages continue to increase. The investment in technology is vast, and it is imperative to continuously implement cutting-edge cybersecurity. The healthcare workforce has been a struggle and will continue to be a struggle. Cottage Hospital invests in local high school graduates to start at entry-level hospital jobs, as well as in college scholarships to pursue medical lab technicians, Licensed Nurses Aides, Nursing and Physical Therapy roles. Cottage Hospital assists current employees who would like to advance their degrees and has also assisted registration persons and other roles obtain a registered nurse degree.

Dr. Ryan doesn’t consider herself to be in a competitive market at this time. Her previous hospital was a 400-bed tertiary care hospital in a very competitive market in Pennsylvania. She would consistently look for win-win situations for the patient and the hospital, and sometimes the insurance company. If great quality care is given and the patient gets out of the hospital in a timely manner, everyone wins.

Her Take on Challenges Faced by women in the corporate world and piece of advice to emerging professionals.

Dr. Ryan would tell any individual to always remain engaged, no matter the circumstance. Seek to understand those around you, don’t be afraid to take risks, and strive to always be visible.

She advises to not fear taking a critical look at your strengths and weaknesses. Steadily and persistently polish and expand the natural talents that you have. You can work to improve some weaknesses, but don’t focus too much on them, instead surround yourself with a team who will complement you, and you them. For instance, Dr. Ryan is a visionary and a strategist. She requires people who are very detailed oriented, so that is what she pursues. A highly functional senior-level team will fill in each other’s gaps!

Dr. Ryan believes that it is imperative to mentor others. Opportunities must be given to those who work hard and have talent. She believes that it is priceless for aspiring women entrepreneurs to see and be mentored by a strong, successful woman, to inspire them and show them that anything is possible, regardless of gender!

In 2015 he launched his own innovative office concept: Tribes Inspiring Workplaces. Tribes now offer flexible and inspiring workplaces, offices, meeting rooms, and business addresses at locations in the Netherlands, Brussels, and Germany. Within a short period of time, this concept will be global, offering a large network of inspiring meeting places.

Tribes is more than just a great place to work. It’s a modern fireplace, where you can meet like-minded professionals who come from all places over the world. You can also boost your creativity, by all the stories, hidden treasures and amazing design in the locations. All the Tribes locations have a different design, based on one of the nomadic tribes from all over the world. So everywhere you go, you’ll find different colors, materials, and most of all, stories from which they – the business nomads who just need a laptop, WiFi, and mobile phone to work – all can learn. For example, the Kazakh (in the location in Rotterdam), have invented ‘drones’ ages ago. With their Golden Eagles, they could scan the entire area for intruders and prey. They knew the importance of an ‘eagle-eye’ view to do their business – hunting, which you need as an entrepreneur just as much.

Struggles and successes.

The biggest challenge they have to face in this industry is to explain to the building owner how much more value you can add to a building as an office operator. They don’t see the opportunities for substantial value creation and are not open to the less traditional business – in their eyes. Only now, when the consumer ‘pushes’ for short term contracts instead of the traditional long-term ones, the building owner seems to realize that he/she needs to move with the times to survive. They are used to work with a property/building manager, who is system-oriented, instead of client-oriented, which can result in much more value. As an operator, they always are looking for ways to satisfy the client, and thus generate more value.

His own major achievement is creating the Tribes concept. He said “ Who would have thought that such a – crazy – idea would be such a success. I mean, all those nomadic tribes are amazing, but a CEO modeling in its own commercial prints?! But the Dutch newspapers went crazy and headlines all over it. Our members also really love it, so it’s quite a personal accomplishment. Tribes’ major achievement is getting one of the biggest American private equity firms as a shareholder on board.

Future goals and advice

He says that his and the Tribes’ goal is the same which being the most unique and exclusive operator in the world. In the last years, he said he’s realized it’s not about quantity but about quality, and that’s what they want to realize. The number of locations will not be the most like global networkers, but they’ll offer the best services and quality.

His words of wisdom for the emerging entrepreneurs are “ Always stay close to yourself and be passionate about what you do. And I always follow these rules:

• Trust yourself
• Break the rules, not the law
• Don’t be afraid for failure
• Stay away from naysayers
• Work like hell
• Give something back!”