Advice From Female Founders In Business Together

Olivia Burton Founders Jemma And Lesa Interview | The Elgin Avenue Blog

Lesa Bennett and Jemma Fennings, co-founders of Olivia Burton

“It’s one thing to achieve something on your own, and something else entirely to share it with a friend.”

Have you ever thought about going into business with a friend?

Over the course of the past couple of years I’ve launched two new ventures with close friends of mine. First, with Big Small Business, alongside my great friend Laura Turner. And second, with Let’s Discuss podcast, co-created with the gorgeous Ella Gregory.

On both occasions, there’s been such a sense of camaraderie between us. It’s one thing to achieve something on your own, and something else entirely to share it with a friend.

From the logistics, and hard slog of founding a new business, through to the accolades you’ll (hopefully!) reap. It’s all shared and magnified.

In celebration of International Women’s Day tomorrow, and in line with mine and Ella’s partnership with Olivia Burton this year, I’m sharing an insight into the inner working of female founders, and working with friends.

Jemma and Lesa, founders of the hugely successful accessories brand Olivia Burton, and real-life best friends, kindly opened up their experience of working alongside one another for today’s post.

As business-owners and friends too, Ella and I have added our two cents as newcomers!

Advice From Female Founders in Business Together

Olivia Burton Founders Jemma And Lesa Interview | The Elgin Avenue Blog

Jemma Fennings and Lesa Bennett, founders of Olivia Burton

You met on your first day at the London College of Fashion, how has knowing each other for so long prior to starting Olivia Burton, impacted your journey as joint business-owners?

Lesa: Having a solid friendship has been invaluable to the business.

We’re close friends, so it’s a very instinctive relationship – we kind of know what the other person’s thinking without them having to say anything at all!

We also can talk so openly and honestly with each other. The best part is being able to celebrate all the good times together.

How do you pick each other up on the days when things are tough? And how do you celebrate a big win together?

Jemma: We just know when either of us is having a bad day, and it’s the little things that usually help.

Sometimes Lesa will pop a little gluten-free brownie on my desk to cheer me up, or we’ll just head out for a coffee to take a little time out.

We’ve also know it’s so important to laugh – having a giggle is the perfect pick-me-up on a hectic day.

When it comes to celebrating, we like to involve the whole team. For the brand’s sixth birthday, we got the most incredible personalised cake. Celebrations at Olivia Burton HQ often involve lots of cake!

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Work/life balance is a huge topic of conversation for women, how do you both approach this?

Lesa: Switching off is so important.

I’m a big believer in having a digital detox every once in a while.

We’re both mums to little boys, so spending time and playing games with our sons is also such a good distraction from work.

What advice do you have for other women looking to go into business with a friend?

Jemma: Be prepared for the friendship to change because, naturally, it will. But it can be for the better. Lesa and I have such a close, unique bond now.

We’ve built something amazing together that we’re so proud of — I feel so lucky to the experience with one of my best friends.

What advice would you give your 18 year old selves now?

Lesa: Just go for it. Don’t worry so much about planning and preparation. If you have an idea, just run with it. You’re just one try away from something amazing!

Monica Welburn and Ella Gregory | Olivia Burton Accessories | The Elgin Avenue Blog

Ella Gregory and Monica Welburn, founders of Let’s Discuss Podcast

You met unexpectedly via a brand six years ago; how has knowing each other for so long prior to starting Let’s Discuss, impacted your journey as joint business-owners?

Ella: We’d been friends for a generous amount of time before starting Let’s Discuss, so we really understood the ins and outs of each other’s personalities.

By that point we were well versed in talking to each other about business too. Combined, that gave us the baseline to work from when launching the podcast together.

Monica: Although we met in a work environment, we were friends first. At the core of it, we want each other to be happy and enjoy our work together.

Fortunately, having worked together through blogging projects first, we were really comfortable talking to one another about business from the get-go. Being able to un-awkwardly have the money, and ‘work division’ conversations really helps.

Along the way, it’s a LOT of fun working with a close friend.

How do you pick each other up on the days when things are tough? And how do you celebrate a big win together?

Ella: I think it’s important to consistently check-in throughout the week, and actually be really open with each other when you are struggling.

Sometimes a quick phone call to say, “Are you okay? Tell me what’s going on…” can be enough to pull your friend out of a funk and turn their day around.

And we usually celebrate the wins – big or small – with a gin and tonic. Or a peppermint tea, if we’re feeling far less hardcore…

Monica: We are friends first and foremost, and we talk all the time. Therefore it’s easy for us to sense when each of us may need picking up.

We are still so new to this journey, that a lot of it is ‘figuring things out’. We are constantly each others’ sounding boards for new ideas, or hurdles. A phone call, dancing GIF (ella is the QUEEN of GIFs), or taking some work off of each others’ plates can be a huge help on a tricky day,

To celebrate, we try to do something really lovely together. For small wins it may be a “yay!” phone call, for big achievements it may be a meal or day out together. And, as Ella says, a great G&T never goes amiss.

Lets Discuss Podcast | Ella Gregory and Monica Beatrice Welburn

Work/life balance is a huge topic of conversation for women, how do you both approach this?

Ella: To be honest, I don’t have much of a balance right now, but I’ve decided to embrace that fact.

I’m single, in my 20s, running my own business, and am taking advantage of the fact I’m able to be selfish right now and say yes to opportunities that take me away at the weekends and keep me really busy.

I know that further down the line, when I’m a in relationship and have children, I’ll want more of a balance. So I’ve decided to fully enjoy the ‘hustle’ while I can.

Monica: A little while ago I was introduced to the theory of work life satisfaction, and now I use this as my barometer instead of ‘balance’.

In short, I try to listen to how I am feeling at any one time, rather than allocating myself 50/50 to ‘work’ and ‘life’.

I give myself permission to have seasons of really long work hours, and days when I can get a manicure at 11am. For me, it’s all about learning what makes me feel happy, healthy and inspired at any one time.

What advice do you have for other women looking to go into business with a friend?

Ella: Try working together on a few smaller projects first, to check that you have a good working dynamic. You may be the best of friends, but it’s possible you won’t be as compatible in a work environment. Test things out before committing to something that could end up causing conflict in your friendship.

Monica: Divvy up responsibilities within the business so that you are both working to your strengths. It’s a hugely productive way of working, and ensures that you are both working in your ‘genius zones’.

What advice would you give your 18 year old selves now?

Ella: Be brave and take more risks. They usually end up paying off, and even if they don’t you’ll learn so much that it will benefit you in the long-run.

Monica: Learn to listen to your instincts more, and to not compare yourself to others. Also – stop taking the tube and walk more ????

What’s Your Take?

International Womens Day has become one of my favourite dates in the year.

It’s absolutely incredible to see the camaraderie we share as women. Supporting one another is absolutely invaluable, we will all progress further, and enjoy our journeys more, if we continue to cheerlead, lend a helping hand or offer a kind word.

Join Ella and I, Jemma and Lesa and the whole Olivia Burton team this year supporting your fellow women.

Happy IWD tomorrow ladies!

Love, Monica x

Photos of Jemma and Lesa c/o Olivia Burton | Photos of Ella and Monica by Charlotte Bryer-Ash | Flatlay photo by Marlene Lee for Coco’s Tea Party

** This post is created in partnership with Olivia Burton **