Season 15
In Season 15, we welcome new Creatives, Leaders, and Thinkers! It brings eight new members with amazing and inspiring stories, including authors, health and well-being Coach, Leadership Coach, CEOs and Entrepreneurs. Please help us to welcome them into our community!
“I believe tough people are made from tough times, and I absolutely love life now. I don't regret anything. I actually believe everything happens for a reason, and that's why I'm doing what I do now.”
Shona Hirons
Shona Hirons
Author & Founder of Mindset in Motion
Increase productivity, 'Working Smarter, NOT Harder'!
Shona Hirons says her troubles started on the day she was born, having been born very prematurely. Her dad was told that she wouldn't survive the night, "but I'm still here," she says.
However, in her late teens, she started to experience severe migraines, and when she was 22, she had a mini-stroke. She fully recovered but had to take a medication cocktail, which she was told to do.
When she was 32, she discovered that her mini-stroke was caused by a hole in her heart, which she had been born with. Shortly after the heart surgery, to fix the hole by placing a titanium device in her heart.
“It would be best if you went to bed every Sunday evening wishing that the next morning you'll wake up and have a great week. If this is not happening, it is because you aren't doing the right thing for yourself! Change your career scares a lot, but in the end, when you start to see the results, you will feel happy.”
Simone Holz
Simone Holz
Nutrition, Health & Well-being Coach
Simone Holz is a certified Nutrition & Health Coach. She helps busy professionals take control of their health by making better eating and exercise choices.
Providing her clients with a long-term change by improving their eating choices, exercising strategy, and mindset. More importantly, she relates to her clients on their own level by imparting wisdom from her own health transformation story.
Before moving to Ireland, Simone grew up in a small town on a farm in Mato Grosso, Brazil. Where she learned how to grow her own vegetables, milked a cow, and collected eggs.
“The only limitations are the ones we put on ourselves. Success is about living a meaningful and purposeful life. My advice is to define your own measure of success based on what matters to you.”
Carol Stewart
Carol Stewart
Executive, Career, Leadership Coach, Facilitator, Trainer & Speaker
Carol Stewart is known as the Coach for High Achieving Introverted Women. She is an Executive and Career Coach, Founder of Abounding Solutions and author of Quietly Visible: Leading with Influence and Impact as an Introverted Woman (listed as one of the 10 best self-development books written by women to read during lockdown by BE YOUR OWN).
With over 25 years of coaching and leadership experience, Carol coaches women (with a specialism in introverted women) who are senior leaders, to raise their visibility and profile, exude presence, and excel as leaders, whilst being their authentic selves.
“Failure is not a word I consider as a bad thing. You cannot fail at something unless you try it - if you believe nothing is impossible, you should never fail. You have just simply learned that a particular approach or path is not working for you, and you need to change it.”
Chad Gilmer
Chad Gilmer
Founder & CEO of iPLANiT
Chad Gilmer is the Founder and CEO of iPLANiT, a specialist Web Development company that he established in 2000. After graduating from Trinity College in 1996 with a degree in Engineering and Mathematics, he has worked with bluechip Companies such as Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) and Kerry Group before setting up iPLANiT.
Chad is passionate about technology and customer service, and keeps himself up-to-date on technology by lecturing in the evenings on web development technologies and project management.
“Nothing beats drive and determination to get you there, so make sure your vision and goals are aligned. Drop the microwave mentality and work each day diligently. You only get out of anything or life what you put into it.”
Brenda Dempsey
Brenda Dempsey
Entrepreneur & Publisher
Brenda Dempsey is a Visionary, Action Woman and Spirited Leader. From a young age (10), Brenda took action for starving children in Biafra, raising money and vowing she'd one day visit Africa and build a school.
Her strength, self-belief and resilience were her armour when she found herself homeless with four children after her abusive marriage broke down.
Brenda's grit, determination and vision of a better life for herself and her family were the staying power she needed to complete her B.Ed (Hons) degree during this challenging time to fulfil her childhood dream of becoming a teacher.
“Freedom and flexibility are my key drivers. The freedom to work when and where and at what I want and, of course, with who I want. Determination, tenacity, resilience, thick-skinned, bloody-mindedness, grit, common sense… They are important to make it through.”
Sharon Brown
Sharon Brown
Businesswoman, Managing Director, Editor in Chief & Bestselling Author
Sharon Brown left Glasgow 18 years ago and set up home in the West Midlands in 2003. After starting her own events agency in 2015 called Lydian Events Ltd whilst still holding down a full-time job, Sharon realised fairly quickly that business was heading in the direction of digital platforms.
After struggling to find a network or community she felt could support her, Sharon launched Revival Sanctuary for Women in Business in 2018 to do just that!
Sharon developed a model that allowed women to work together to achieve success by embracing the mindset of 'Collaboration over Competition.'
“It is no good complaining or moaning about our state of well-being if we carry on doing the same things. Health is our greatest wealth; our body has the power to heal itself in a way no one else can. We all hold the magic wand. No one can do it for us. We have to want to change.”
Caroline Purvey
Caroline Purvey
Former Teacher, Businesswoman & Award-Winning Bestseller Author
A former teacher and successful businesswoman, Caroline Purvey is an award-winning, No 1 bestselling author, with her book 'Feel It to Heal It'. International speaker, CEO, and founder of TRE UK®.
A specialist in her unique program, the Total Release Experience®, effectively empowers people to release stress and trauma symptoms where traditional methods have failed. She comes highly recommended by professionals, including Drs, Psychotherapists, and Therapists.
The program reaches the heart of organisations, families, key workers, and everyday people worldwide. The Jewish Community, Fire and Rescue, the Police, and Prison Service have adopted the program. Caroline was voted in the top 10 women to watch in well-being.
“Nothing creative ever needs to be hurried! The best creative projects come from the heart and soul and not from the wallet. Chase the money first, and you end up producing crap and working with assholes!”
Simon Trewin
Simon Trewin
CEO, Literary Agent and Brand Manager at Simon Trewin Creative
Simon Trewin graduated from the University of Kent in 1988. He spent 5 years in the theatre world before spending the last 28 years working as a literary agent at various agencies, including Sheil Land Associates, Peters Fraser and Dunlop & United Agents and, more recently, as a Partner at WME (William Morris Endeavor), the American sports and entertainment group.
He is a former Secretary of the Association Of Authors' Agents and a two-time finalist for Literary Agent of 'The Year' at the British Book Awards.