Kelly launched her own executive coaching business whose main mission is to develop senior women to achieve balance without burnout. We’ve had the opportunity to find out more about her business and how she managed to make a move from her corporate role to setting up her own coaching services to help other women.
Tell us about your entrepreneurial journey
At the beginning of 2013, I experienced severe burnout resulting in two operations in 48 hours. When I returned to work I vowed to set better boundaries, work in line with my values and create the changes I’d been employed to make, but the environment was toxic. As part of a women in leadership development day, I found myself saying for the first time ever that I wanted to start my own consultancy. Within three months I’d left my corporate role, my six-figure salary, and all the benefits that went with it and started my own consultancy with no financial cushion whatsoever. For 7 years I worked as a consultant and coach leading a growing team and working with incredible clients as well as speaking to audiences from around the world. In June 2020 I decided it was time to make a change and focus entirely on my coaching. I launched Kelly Swingler in 2020 during the pandemic and work with women who are close to or have reached burnout.
Could you tell us more about your coaching business Kelly Swingler
I work with senior women and professional women who have reached or are close to burnout. I work one to one with women, run masterclasses, events, and retreats, and facilitate the Be Your Own VIP online Community for women
All of my work is about educating, preventing, and helping with recovery from burnout. I know all too well the impact that burnout can have on our wellbeing and career, and we need to change this.
What does being a female entrepreneur mean to you?
When I worked in corporate I had no balance. It was all about the job and on far too many occasions family came second. I told myself that everything I was doing was for my family, as I look back now my priorities were all wrong.
From day one in my business, I set boundaries about working hours, client work and made a promise to always have a family meal of an evening together. I didn’t achieve any of this until two years later – mostly because my conditioning from the corporate world wouldn’t allow me to change my behaviours and mindset. In 2015 I gave myself permission to create more balance. In January 2019 my consultancy started working a four-day working week, closed on Monday’s and with full pay. I’ve maintained a four day work week ever since. My family and my relationships are what matter most to me in the world, and this is where I prioritise my time. My business needs nurturing to grow and I work hard to make it successful. Balance and boundaries are what I speak to all of my clients about, I lead by example on what this looks like and in addition to a four-day working week I take one week off in six
What’s been your major challenges or obstacles so far?
Where do I start with this one! Mansplaining, unsolicited advice, being told it’s just a hobby, having men that do less than me, and with terrible reputation being pitched as the experts on panels. In having boundaries and being firm on these I’ve been told I don’t take business seriously and won’t succeed. I receive emails of abuse every time an article is published or I’m quoted in the press.
What’s been your success story so far?
I’ve won awards, been a finalist in several others, grown my team and my business and my clients, and started a second business during a pandemic whilst the first was growing during the pandemic.
But the thing I am most proud of is the success and change that I see my clients make. I receive countless messages from women who have made a change as a result of my talks, my writing, and my coaching, and this is what makes it all worthwhile
Which other female entrepreneur would you recommend?
Rachel Flower from Active Orbit, a wellness brand that helps people to live healthier, happier lives by creating better habits around activity – move more and move happy.
What top tips can share with other female entrepreneurs?
- Take it day by day
- Celebrate every single achievement no matter how small it may feel
- Outsource early, the time and cost will all be worth it in the end
- Get a coach, a group, a community anyone, who understands what you are going through. Friends who are employed, family members who are employed, won’t get why you are doing what you are doing or why you want to do it. They will give advice – they are not your ideal clients and they won’t get it so find women like you that do.
Finally any final word or offers for our community?
20% Discount for the first 6 months of the Be Your Own VIP Community. This applies to new members only and the 6 months must be paid in full to receive the discount.
To learn more about Kelly Swingler visit the following:
Website: Kelly Swingler
LinkendIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyswingler/
You tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Z6iJPB4gYz1MZoUPOgdlQ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyswinglerltd/?hl=en-gb
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kelly_swingler