E32 Overcoming Post-natal Depression to Start a Business that Helps other Mums, with Victoria Rothwell

The My Journey to Fearless Podcast

Welcome to episode 6 of the “How She Did it” mini-series where I’m interviewing 8 inspiring women who have kindly agreed to share their stories about how they found their passion and purpose, started their businesses and left their day jobs.

Today I’m speaking to Victoria Rothwell and Victoria is sharing her story of how she had her dream job traveling the world for 10 years, but later, severe post-natal depression meant she had to close her business to focus on herself and her family. We talk about how she overcame postnatal depression, built herself back up, and started the most amazing new business that not only supports her family but so many other mums too. This is one strong and inspiring lady!

Timestamps:

1:57: Victoria explains how she has always been a creative person and she went to uni and got her dream job and traveled the world for 10 years!

3:15: Things changed when Victoria started a family and had a very traumatic birth. Victoria suffered really bad PND after having her son and how she has very few memories from this time.

5:00: Victoria tried to go back to work when her son was 18 months old, but she knew something wasn’t right when being away from her son felt wrong. So she took some time out to spend that with her son.

6:10: One day Victoria knew she needed something else to work on so she started a Cashmere brand which allowed her to balance her time as a mum with doing something for herself.

6:50: Victoria decided to have another baby and found out she was expecting twins! When the twins came it was great and Victoria felt completely different.

8:05: When the twins were around 5 months old Victoria was diagnosed with PND again and her whole world fell apart, her business folded. She knew at this time she needed to focus on her mental health and on being the best mum she could be, so she got rid of everything in her life that wasn’t needed to concentrate on her and her children.

9:25: Victoria few more positive and more connected to herself and her children, and she knew she needed more than being a mum, so she decided to start a new business!

12:45: Victoria started a new business to help other mums. She realised there was a gap in support for families so she decided to create a business to fit it. She wanted to start a business employing other mums and giving them a secure job and income, so they didn’t have to choose between having a job and being a mum.

15:00: Victoria’s business also allows other mums to gain time back with their families because their household tasks are taken care of.

15:55: Victoria has turned her own difficult experience into something really positive for lots of other mums!

18:05: Victoria is taking her business a step further by creating a franchise to allow other mums to start their business.

24:29: Victoria shares her biggest piece of advice for people who are unhappy in their jobs. How do you want to spend your days? You can start a business even if you have anxiety or you lack confidence.

27:15: Being in a network of other women lets you see what other women are doing and it gives you so many ideas! You can take the journey with other people. You don’t have to go it alone.

28:37: We talk about the fears Victoria has had to overcome on her journey. We talk about confidence, making that first decision to just start, and how mindset work is so important. Victoria works on her confidence every day.

30:55: How doing this podcast interview is part of Victoria building her confidence!

33:25: Victoria shares more about how you can find out about her and her business.

Find out more about Victoria:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Get help with starting your own business:

Freebies to help you get started