Reclaiming Bossy

Maahika Singh
  • 4.8 (6)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated weekly

If you're bossy and in pursuit of building a bold and brilliant life, career, and collection of side quests, you're in the right place. I'm Maahika, and Reclaiming Bossy is for ambitious women in their 20s navigating career, money, and identity, the messy middle nobody really posts about. Real conversations with founders, creators and leaders, plus honest solo episodes, health, wealth and happiness. Originally Empower Sounds, we are now streamed in 65+ countries with 3 international seasons, come join our global community. New episodes every Wednesday 3

  1. 3 days ago

    Everything You’re Too Scared To Ask Your Accountant

    If you’re building a business, freelancing, starting a side hustle, or feel anxious about managing money, this episode is for you. This week on Reclaiming Bossy, I’m joined by accountant, founder and creator Emily Vass to ungatekeep the financial side of running a business and answer all the questions you are too scared to ask.  This is the conversation I wish someone had sat me down and explained earlier as it would have saved me so much money, time energy and unnecessary stress. Today We talk about: ● How to financially prepare before starting a business ● Creating personal and business runways ● Budgeting when your income changes every month ● Taxes, VAT, dividends and paying yourself properly ● Revenue vs profit (and why they’re not the same thing) ● How to confidently price your services ● Managing money anxiety as a founder ● Knowing when to hire an accountant ● Building a profitable business sustainably ● The emotional side of money and self-worth ● Why founders often undercharge TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction 01:05 Meet accountant & founder Emily Vass 01:28 Finance jargon explained simply 02:34 Leaving corporate to start a business 03:40 Creating a financial runway before quitting your job 05:16 Business runways, money pots & burn rate explained 06:59 Overcoming money anxiety as a founder 07:38 How to budget when your income changes every month 09:43 Revenue vs actual profit 10:24 When should founders start paying themselves? 11:40 When to hire an accountant 13:24 How to organise your business finances properly 14:24 Taxes every founder needs to understand 15:26 Corporation tax, VAT & dividends explained 17:07 Capital gains tax & long-term planning 17:47 Salary vs dividends explained 18:59 Pension contributions & tax efficiency 21:49 Managing salary + dividends while living in London 25:39 Why founders undercharge 27:33 How to price your services properly 29:38 Calculating your freelance day rate 35:21 Money shame, confidence & founder anxiety 39:42 Reclaiming the word “bossy” as a founder Connect with Emily: Instagram & TikTok: @emilyvass Website: nourishedaccounting.com Connect with the Pod / Me: Podcast Instagram: @reclaimingbossy My Instagram: @maahika.s Podcast TikTok: @reclaimingbossy My TikTok: @maahika.s For collaborations & enquiries: team@empowersoundsmedia.com

    42 min

  2. 17 Jun

    The Pitch Method I Used To Win £1,000 In 90 Seconds For My Business (Steal My Method)

    On today’s episode of Reclaiming Bossy, I’m sharing the story of how I won £1,000 in 90 seconds through pitching and why learning how to pitch yourself is one of the most valuable skills you can build in your career, business and life. Whether you’re applying for jobs, building a business, growing a personal brand, trying to get clients, or simply learning how to speak about yourself with more confidence, this episode is for you. We talk about: - How to structure a strong pitch -  Creating a hook that grabs attention -  Understanding the problem you solve - Why knowing your audience matters -  Building confidence through evidence - Communicating your value more clearly - How pitching applies to jobs, friendships, dating, content creation and business If you’ve ever struggled to talk about yourself, doubted whether you’re “qualified enough”, or felt scared to put yourself out there, I hope this episode reminds you that you probably know more than you think you do. Timestamps 00:00 Intro: How I won £1,000 in 90 seconds 00:37 Welcome to Money Month 01:10 Why pitching is a life skill 01:55 How my business journey started 02:26 The pitch competition that changed everything 02:39 Overcoming limiting beliefs before pitching 03:11 How to pitch yourself clearly 03:12 Start with a strong hook 03:46 Identify the problem you solve 04:39 Create a clear solution 05:25 Example: my viral “learn to learn” video 06:01 Know who you’re speaking to 07:27 Test, iterate and improve your pitch 08:51 Build confidence through evidence 09:48 Back yourself and collect the receipts 10:20 Communicating confidence clearly 11:03 Know what you want and what you don’t want 11:54 Why we are always pitching 12:37 How pitching can create opportunities 13:19 Pitch yourself in the comments 13:35 Final thoughts If you like this episode send it to a friend who would benefit from learning about pitching :) Connect with the Pod / Me Podcast Instagram: @reclaimingbossy My Instagram: @maahika.s Podcast TikTok: @reclaimingbossy My TikTok: @maahika.s For collaborations & enquiries: team@empowersoundsmedia.com

    14 min

  3. 10 Jun

    Is Fundraising Like Dating? A VC Explains How To Actually Raise Money

    On today’s episode of Reclaiming Bossy, I’m joined by Vanesa Pazos from Noba Capital to ungatekeep venture capital and break down what actually happens behind the scenes of raising money. If you’ve ever wondered how founders get funded, what investors are really looking for, whether you actually need VC investment, or how to confidently pitch yourself and your ideas, this episode is for you. We talk honestly about the things that often feel confusing or intimidating when it comes to fundraising and career growth, from networking and rejection to female founders, leadership, and building opportunities before you feel fully ready. We talk about:  Breaking into venture capital through a “squiggly career” pathWhat investors actually look for beyond just a good idea How founders can pitch themselves and raise money more effectively Common mistakes founders make when fundraising Building genuine relationships and networking authenticallyNavigating rejection and hearing “no” Female founders and bias in business spaces Hiring, leadership, and building strong team cultures Understanding whether VC funding is actually right for your business Balancing ambition, motherhood, and personal life TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:03:00 – Entering VC Through A “Squiggly Career” 00:05:33 – Why Investors Back Founders, Not Just Ideas 00:06:50 – What Makes An “A-Player” Founder 00:08:00 – How To Pitch Investors Effectively 00:10:08 – Female Founders, Bias & Building Traction 00:11:16 – How To Start Learning About Investing 00:14:04 – The Story Behind Empower Her 00:16:04 – How To Ask For Help & Build Genuine Connections 00:18:18 – Why “No” From Investors Isn’t Always Final 00:20:08 – Do You Actually Need VC Funding? 00:22:25 – Why Fundraising Is Like Dating 00:24:46 – Biggest Red Flags Investors Notice 00:27:41 – Balancing Motherhood, Career & Leadership 00:33:29 – Hopes For The Next Generation Of Female Founders 00:36:03 – Reclaiming The Word “Bossy” Connect with Vanesa: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanesa-pazos/ Noba Capital: https://www.nobacapital.com Get involved: https://www.nobacapital.com/get-involved?referrer=luma&utm_source=luma Connect with the Pod / Me: Podcast Instagram: @reclaimingbossy My Instagram: @maahika.s Podcast TikTok: @reclaimingbossy My TikTok: @maahika.s For collaborations & enquiries: team@empowersoundsmedia.com

    38 min

  4. 3 Jun

    I Read 30 Books On Money, Here’s How You Can Actually Get Rich

    In this episode of Reclaiming Bossy, we’re kicking off Money Month, a series all about money, career growth, entrepreneurship, investing, confidence, and trying to build financial security in your 20s. I’m sharing some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from reading 30+ books on money, business, psychology, habits, productivity, and wealth as a 22-year-old navigating starting a business, managing my money and living in London. If you have ever avoided opening your banking app, felt behind financially compared to everyone online, or struggled with money anxiety, this episode is for you. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro 00:33 Welcome to Money Month 01:38 My personal money journey at university 02:15 Reading 30+ finance & career books 03:27 Why I hate the phrase “girl math” 04:08 Money is emotional, not just logical 04:24 Attachment styles & money habits 05:09 Building healthier financial habits 05:22 The 12 Week Year & financial goal setting 06:03 Tracking spending without shame 07:21 Best budgeting & money tracking apps 07:58 Automating savings & investments 08:44 Paying yourself first 09:54 Reframing limiting beliefs around money 10:52 Atomic Habits & financial growth 11:07 Weekly “money homework” habits 11:45 Why talking about money matters 12:34 Being busy doesn’t always make you money 13:03 Productivity vs actually generating income 14:14 Working hard vs working strategically 14:31 Focus on your core competencies 15:23 Spending in alignment with your values 16:50 Setting boundaries around money 17:54 Courageous money conversations increase income 18:44 Curating your environment & mindset 19:12 Your environment shapes your income 20:18 Building systems instead of relying on discipline 20:50 Final thoughts on building financial confidence Some Of The Books Mentioned In this Episode: 1) The Psychology of Money 2) The 12 Week Year 3) Atomic Habits 4) Money: A User’s Guide 5) Working Hard, Hardly Working 6) We Need To Talk About Money 7) 168 Hours If you want to go deeper into some of the ideas from this episode, I’ve linked a few resources for you… Here are some reflections and summaries on some of the books mentioned in this episode over on my LinkedIn there are 12 summaries on there: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maahikasingh/recent-activity/articles/ For my London girls trying to navigate the cost of living crisis, career anxiety, and the reality of building a life in this city, I also loved this article: https://londonistcitykeys.substack.com/p/broke-in-london-theres-an-app-for And if you enjoyed the conversation around “girl math,” money mindset, and financial empowerment, I wrote a longer piece on why I think we collectively need to Kill “girl math” https://open.substack.com/pub/maahikasingh/p/lets-collectively-kill-girl-math Comment what else you want to see for this finance season and send this to a friend who wants to feel more confident about money and let me know if you want reading recommendations. Connect with the Pod / Me Podcast Instagram: @reclaimingbossy My Instagram: @maahika.s Podcast TikTok: @reclaimingbossy My TikTok: @maahika.s For collaborations & enquiries: team@empowersoundsmedia.com

    21 min

  5. 27 May

    How To Build Self Trust Again After A Flop Era

    This episode is for you if you are going through a “Flop Era’ In this episode of Reclaiming Bossy Madrid Season, I’m joined by Tatiana, founder of Deep Chats, for an honest conversation about self-trust, moving abroad, navigating uncertainty in your twenties, and finding your people when life doesn’t go to plan. After experiencing redundancy and navigating a season of uncertainty, Tatiana rebuilt her life in Madrid and created Deep Chats, a community focused on meaningful conversations and genuine connection. We talk about trusting yourself before you have all the answers, embracing awkwardness, creating authentic community, and why some of your most confusing seasons can actually become the beginning of something better. If you’re navigating change, feeling behind, trying to rebuild trust in yourself, or questioning whether you’re on the right path, this episode is for you. We talk about: ● Building self-trust through trial and error ● Moving abroad and navigating uncertainty in your twenties ● Coming out of a “flop era” and sitting with difficult emotions ● Learning to trust life’s timing ● Finding your people and building authentic community ● Journaling, affirmations and practical mental health tools ● The power of silence and meaningful conversations ● Breaking social scripts and asking better questions ● Learning how to talk about yourself more positively ● Starting something before feeling fully ready TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction and welcoming Tatiana 00:44 - Tatiana’s background, moving to Madrid, and starting Deep Chats 01:39 - Navigating your twenties and the uncertainty of moving abroad 03:49 - Tangible ways to build self-trust through trial and error 05:48 - Trusting life’s timing and adopting a spiritual perspective 07:45 - Filtering through the wrong crowds to find your true community 09:06 - Dealing with a “flop era” and sitting with difficult feelings 11:07 - Practical tools for mental health: journaling and affirmations 12:32 - The power of silence and the concert story 15:27 - The journey of creating Deep Chats and embracing awkward silence 17:51 - Breaking the social script to have more intentional conversations 20:24 - Asking better questions to learn from others 21:34 - How to talk about yourself authentically and practice positive self-talk 23:13 - Where to find Tatiana and Deep Chats online 23:39 - Reclaiming the word “bossy” as a female business owner Connect with Tatiana: Tati: https://www.instagram.com/tatianafyodorov/ Deep Chats; https://www.instagram.com/havedeepchats/ https://linktr.ee/deep.chats?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGny8RyuS295HMG5TIRMpm7DidMo87ezXmWfgSdWFPU-jmtdSMnEMl4jfTDgHQ_aem_E6yLaNHXU3-RMwrfLK7PEg Connect with the Pod / Me: Podcast Instagram: @reclaimingbossy My Instagram: @maahika.s Podcast TikTok: @reclaimingbossy My TikTok: @maahika.s For collaborations & enquiries: team@empowersoundsmedia.com

    25 min

  6. 20 May

    How To Get A Self Employed Visa In Spain & Build Your Dream Creative Career

    On today’s episode of Reclaiming Bossy, I’m sitting down with Nena, a fashion photographer who moved to Madrid and built her creative business from scratch while navigating the Spanish freelance visa process, finding clients through social media, and learning how to back herself in a completely new country. If you’ve ever dreamed about moving abroad, becoming self-employed, building a creative career, or starting over in a new city, this episode is for you. We talk about the realities of becoming self-employed in Spain, writing a business plan for a creative visa, building a portfolio, networking as an introvert, freelancing in the creative industry, and how to stop waiting to feel “ready” before putting yourself out there. This episode is full of practical advice for creatives, freelancers, digital nomads, and ambitious people trying to build a life that feels more aligned, independent and exciting. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction and welcoming Nena 00:50 - Nena’s background and journey into fashion photography 02:20 - Navigating the Spanish visa process and becoming self-employed 03:51 - Advice for international expats dealing with Spanish bureaucracy 05:34 - The creative community in Madrid vs other cities 06:41 - Networking and making friends as an introvert abroad 07:28 - Transitioning from student work to a professional portfolio 08:46 - Getting your first freelance clients through social media 09:34 - Overcoming the fear of embarrassment online 11:10 - Writing a business plan for a creative visa 13:37 - Learning business skills as a creative freelancer 15:37 - Protecting your mindset and mental health as a freelancer 16:34 - Dealing with imposter syndrome on big production sets 18:46 - Ignoring criticism and taking small brave steps 20:16 - Founding Swap Party Madrid and building community events 21:31 - How to become more action-oriented with your goals 22:35 - Where to find Nena online 22:56 - Reclaiming the word “bossy” as a woman in business 23:53 - Final reflections and episode wrap-up Follow/ connect with Nena https://www.instagram.com/artisticmind.n.p/ https://www.threads.com/@artisticmind.n.p?xmt=AQG0raAAprmUhuEwOQ6cxrxawvB0cSCNl4Ml1V4F2BVVUxE Connect with the Pod / Me Podcast Instagram: @reclaimingbossy My Instagram: @maahika.s Podcast TikTok: @reclaimingbossy My TikTok: @maahika.s For collaborations & enquiries: team@empowersoundsmedia.com

    25 min

  7. 13 May

    How To Build A Global Remote Business And Real Life Community As A Digital Nomad

    What does it really look like to build a business that gives you freedom, flexibility, and community at the same time? In this episode of the Reclaiming Bossy podcast, I’m joined by Laura Smyth, founder of Butterfly English Education and Found Her Madrid, to talk about how she built a fully remote language learning academy with a team of 20+ teachers whilst  also creating an in person community for women in Madrid. We talk about the reality of scaling an online business, building systems that allow you to work remotely without burning out, and why community still matters so much in a world that is becoming increasingly digital. This is a conversation about creating a business and lifestyle that actually feels aligned, whether that means working across time zones, running events in a new city, or building a team you trust. If you are interested in entrepreneurship, remote work, online business, community building, digital nomad life, or creating more freedom in your career, this episode will give you both practical advice and a lot of reassurance. We also explore hiring, leadership, SOPs, AI tools for scaling a business, how to get people to show up to your first event, and the lessons Laura learnt from growing two businesses at the same time. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to the episode 00:23 - Laura’s background and introducing her two businesses 00:56 - The burnout that inspired her to start a language academy 01:31 - First steps to starting a business and getting fully booked 03:01 - Why you should hire before you’re ready 03:39 - How to choose the right team and the “hire slowly, fire quickly” rule 04:49 - Navigating difficult conversations and letting go of a friend 05:50 - Scaling to a team of 20 using Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) 06:51 - Using AI to build out your business structures and systems 07:24 - Running a remote company with zero daily meetings 08:34 - Trusting your team and avoiding micromanagement 09:28 - Managing a global team across multiple time zones 10:17 - Time management and structuring a schedule to run two businesses 10:53 - Why Laura built the “Found Her” community in Madrid 11:31 - How to get people to show up to your very first event 12:26 - Creating an English-speaking community in a Spanish-speaking city 14:10 - Applying lessons from your first business to your second 14:55 - What Laura wishes she did differently when starting out 15:24 - Where to find Laura and the Found Her community online 15:42 - Final advice on building a life and business you love 16:09 - Reclaiming the word “bossy” 16:33 - Actionable homework for starting a local community 17:07 - Actionable homework for launching an online business 17:36 - Conclusion and outro Follow Laura / Butterfly English / Found Her Madrid Laura’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurasmyth/ Laura’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laura.inmadrid/ Found Her Madrid: https://www.instagram.com/foundhermadrid/ Butterfly English Education: https://butterflyenglisheducation.com Connect with the Pod / Me Podcast Instagram: @reclaimingbossy My Instagram: @maahika.s Podcast TikTok: @reclaimingbossy My TikTok: @maahika.s For collaborations & enquiries: team@empowersoundsmedia.com

    18 min

  8. 6 May

    Before You Book Your Flight to Madrid, Listen to This Episode (The Ultimate Madrid Guide)

    What if Emily in Paris was actually set in Madrid and was culturally accurate? In the first episode of the Reclaiming Bossy Madrid season, I sit down with Maddy, the creator behind Maddy in Madrid, to talk about what building a real life abroad actually looks like beyond the romanticised TikToks and Netflix versions. We talk about the reality of moving to Madrid, learning Spanish as an adult, making friends when you know nobody, navigating culture shock, understanding the unspoken social rules in Spain, and creating a life that feels exciting and authentic. This episode is part Madrid city guide, part deep dive into identity, reinvention, and what happens when you stop waiting for “someday” and actually move abroad. We also get into the cafés worth working from, the rooftop bars and picnic spots locals actually go to, how to find community in Madrid, and why embracing the culture instead of recreating your old life abroad changes everything. If you’ve been dreaming about moving abroad, taking a solo trip, becoming a digital nomad, or building a slower and more intentional life overseas, this episode will either make you book the flight or finally give you the honest guide to doing it properly. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction and moving to Madrid 00:50 - Maddy’s background and learning Spanish 01:54 - Embracing a new culture vs. Emily in Paris 03:12 - Why English speakers struggle with learning languages 05:16 - Advice on making friends in a new country 07:12 - Biggest culture shocks in Spain 08:27 - Best coffee shops for working, dates, and relaxing 11:26 - Finding Madrid’s authentic hidden gems 12:41 - Cultural norms and respecting the Spanish way of life 15:21 - Representing Spain online and navigating expat stereotypes 17:15 - Dealing with reverse culture shock and homesickness 19:07 - Advice for taking the leap and moving abroad 20:03 - What people get wrong about Spain and Americans 21:16 - Best bars, rooftops, and picnic spots in Madrid 23:58 - Communities to join to make friends 26:15 - What’s next for Maddy 26:51 - Reclaiming the word “bossy” Connect with  Maddy Website: https://maddyinmadrid.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maddyinmadrid_/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maddyinmadrid Connect with the Pod / Me Podcast Instagram: @reclaimingbossy My Instagram: @maahika.s Podcast TikTok: @reclaimingbossy My TikTok: @maahika.s For collaborations & enquiries: team@empowersoundsmedia.com

    28 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

If you're bossy and in pursuit of building a bold and brilliant life, career, and collection of side quests, you're in the right place. I'm Maahika, and Reclaiming Bossy is for ambitious women in their 20s navigating career, money, and identity, the messy middle nobody really posts about. Real conversations with founders, creators and leaders, plus honest solo episodes, health, wealth and happiness. Originally Empower Sounds, we are now streamed in 65+ countries with 3 international seasons, come join our global community. New episodes every Wednesday 3

Information

  • Creator
    Maahika Singh
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    93
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Maahika Singh
  • Show Website
    Reclaiming Bossy