Interwoven from The Weave

The Weave
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This is the voice of the North Essex startup community. Join us for our monthly show where we will be sharing stories, information and music from the region. Hosted by Adam Roxby https://www.wearetheweave.co.uk

  1. Jul 20

    Interwoven Episode 21 - Doing the Opposite: How Bold Choices Built Cloud FM

    FULL EPISODE SUMMARY When Jeff Dewing began his career as a young refrigeration engineer, the idea of entrepreneurship was far from his mind. The world he entered was hands-on and technical, with little access to the inner workings of the businesses he served. Yet, it was precisely this outsider’s perspective—and the challenges of fixing “impossible” problems, often alone and against the odds—that quietly set the stage for his future. Frustrated by the lack of transparency and resistant management, Jeff Dewing began experimenting: teaching himself computing at home, building software in his spare time, and slowly uncovering the invisible mechanics of business. But recognition didn’t come easily. When his innovation was dismissed by his employers, the frustration pushed him into action—he left to start his own company, despite the financial strain and the need to bluff through unfamiliar territory. “As an entrepreneur, you bite off more than you can chew, and then you learn very fast how to chew it,” he reflects. Early success brought not expertise, but hidden cracks—complacency, boredom, and a loss of purpose that would eventually upend his business and sense of security. Only after experiencing major business failure did Jeff Dewing realise the difference between chasing wealth and solving real problems. His eventual return to entrepreneurship was shaped by new skills, clearer priorities, and a measured willingness to do the opposite of industry convention, even if it risked ridicule, resistance, or financial insecurity. For listeners considering a fresh start or wrestling with uncertainty, Jeff Dewing’s story offers candid proof that identity and expertise are always a work in progress. The founder’s path is less about bold visions and more about reflection, adaptation, and the courage to challenge what “everyone” does—again and again—until your own version of success becomes possible. KEY THEMES Reinventing through adversity The risk and honesty of change Learning across roles and industries Defining success beyond wealth LISTENER TAKEAWAY This conversation reminds us that growth comes not from certainty, but from experimenting, adapting and having the courage to challenge our own assumptions—especially when the alternative is simply following the herd. awake.WeAreTheWeave.co.uk Jeff Dewing

    Interwoven Episode 21 - Doing the Opposite: How Bold Choices Built Cloud FM

  2. Jun 18

    Interwoven Episode 20 - Breaking the Stigma: Talking Mental Health with Vish Narbheram

    Vishal Narbheram spent years on construction sites before founding Onward Shift, confronting both his own mental health struggles and the industry’s deep-rooted stigma. This episode follows his gradual, sometimes messy journey from electrician to founder, and the lessons he learned about self-compassion and taking imperfect action. Before founding Onward Shift, Vishal Narbheram spent sixteen years as an electrician immersed in the masculine culture of the construction industry. Working “Monday to Sunday,” he experienced firsthand the severe challenges—both personal and cultural—around mental health and wellbeing on site. For years, he struggled privately, searching for help across a fragmented landscape of podcasts, blogs, counselling, and coaching, yet never finding one place that felt welcoming or complete. The seed for Onward Shift was sown less as a business plan and more as a nagging frustration: why wasn’t there a single, safe space covering all these needs? The transition didn’t happen overnight. Six years passed between Vishal Narbheram’s first personal crisis and the founding of his company. It was an accumulation of small experiments, research, and a growing conviction that change was needed—despite moments of uncertainty about what form that change should take, or whether he was “enough” to lead it. He carried deep knowledge of the industry, empathy for others’ struggles, and a capacity for resilient action—even if, as he notes candidly, the process often meant “just getting started with anything” and learning as he went. The conversation, hosted by Sandrine Singleton-Perrin, explores the cost of stigma, the challenge of unlearning old definitions of strength, and the practical techniques founders can adopt to pause, reconnect, and manage the cycle of stress and burnout. Vishal Narbheram’s story is not about flawless reinvention but rather an ongoing transformation—where self-kindness and allyship matter as much as tenacity. For anyone considering their own shift, this episode is a reminder that the route to becoming a founder is navigated not with certainty, but through reflection, vulnerability and the willingness to “just be kind to yourself.” KEY THEMES Breaking industry and gender stigmas Learning through personal struggle The power of small, repeated actions Building self-compassion as a founder LISTENER TAKEAWAYThis conversation reminds us that the journey to becoming a founder is shaped by persistence, openness to growth, and the courage to care for ourselves along the way. Vish on LinkedIn Onward Shift Join The Weave

  3. 10/21/2025

    Interwoven Episode 19 - Systems Thinking: Kindness, Curiosity & Changing How We Think

    Before finding her footing in systems thinking, Carolina Cunnington navigated a winding and unconventional early career—dabbling first in acting, then motorcycle mechanics, and finally landing in software engineering. Although successful as a software developer and later a product manager, she often sensed a disconnect: she could see the bigger picture in organisations but struggled to communicate her insights with confidence and felt stifled by her lack of authority. A turning point came from a chance encounter and a gifted book at the Innovation Center, which introduced her to the world of systems thinking. The discovery was profound—revealing frameworks and a language to express the interconnectedness she always sensed but lacked the means to apply. Yet, the next move wasn’t simple. When Carolina Cunnington tried to stake her claim as a systems thinking consultant, she met confusion and self-doubt; “Nobody knows what systems thinking is and why they need it…I felt like a total imposter.” Financial uncertainty and a drought of product management work heightened the pressure, until a serendipitous opportunity to teach changed her path entirely. Stepping into education, she found meaning and energy in demystifying systems thinking for adult learners. Drawing on her own neurodiversity and past challenges, she leads with vulnerability and kindness, making complex ideas accessible and encouraging others to learn from discomfort. Her journey is testament to the creative power in letting go of certainty, embracing mistakes, and simply starting—even while feeling unqualified. Listeners facing their own crossroads will find reassurance in Carolina Cunnington's story: that founders aren’t born with a master plan, but rather shaped by trying, reflecting, and being open to change, uncertainty, and learning. KEY THEMES Navigating Imposter Syndrome and Self-Doubt Making Expertise Accessible Embracing Career Serendipity Finding Purpose in Teaching Others LISTENER TAKEAWAY This conversation reminds us that meaningful change often begins with uncertainty, and confidence is built not before—but through—stepping into new roles and learning on the go.

  4. 08/15/2025

    Interwoven Episode 18 – Bridging the Education Divide: Serena Siebel on Equity, Innovation, and Resilience

    What drives someone to leave the safety of a conventional career and invest all their energy in uncertain, challenging change? In this episode, we meet Serena Siebel, once a manager in the freight forwarding business, whose life was irrevocably changed by crisis and compassion. Serena’s journey into entrepreneurship began during the conflict in Ivory Coast, where she found herself, with her young daughter, a refugee in a military camp. The urgent need for children’s education amid chaos led her to co-found a makeshift “camp school”—her first, unplanned step into teaching, born not of ambition, but necessity and empathy. The experience planted a seed that would, years later, draw her away from private school classrooms and privilege, towards the realities faced by the majority of the world’s children. As Serena witnessed stark educational inequality—luxury within glass walls for a select few, destitution for many more—her sense of purpose crystallised. Inspired by encounters in Kenya and resilience gained from Finland’s learner-centric approach, she co-founded Claim, focusing on teacher capacity-building in the harshest contexts. Along the way, she confronted daunting questions of scale, impact, funding and personal resilience. Serena’s story is not one of confident leaps, but of gradual, sometimes uncertain transformation. It’s a reminder that founders are shaped by letting discomfort in, by collaborating with others, and by staying rooted in their values. For anyone navigating their own crossroads, her journey offers hope, honesty, and practical wisdom. KEY THEMES Responding to crisis with action Confronting educational inequality Building through collaboration and adaptation Motivation and resilience under uncertainty LISTENER TAKEAWAY This conversation reminds us that real change begins with empathy, a willingness to act before feeling ready, and the courage to build alongside—not apart from—the people we wish to serve.

  5. 06/15/2025

    Interwoven Episode 17 – From Military Roots to Resilient Leadership with Alison Charles

    Before stepping into entrepreneurship, Alison Charles’ path was shaped by an early passion for the military—captivated as a teenager by the structure, camaraderie, and opportunity it promised. Her military career placed her at the frontline of change, joining the Intelligence Corps just as barriers for women were breaking down, and navigating a world traditionally closed to her gender. But Alison’s determined trajectory was upended by an unexpected accident and medical discharge, disrupting her sense of direction and identity. Entering the corporate world, she encountered a starkly different environment—a place where, in her words, “people didn’t really want to make the effort to overcome differences.” The loss of camaraderie and the challenge of integrating her directness and accountability into new professional dynamics were profound, at times isolating. This blend of upheaval and ambition nurtured her resilience framework—a philosophy rooted in mindset, self-accountability, and embracing change as opportunity rather than threat. Overcoming the dislocation and culture clashes between her military past and business present, Alison gradually shaped her founder’s journey: building not just a business, but a practice to help other organisations and leaders traverse their own transitions. What emerges is less a story of straight-line success than of iterative learning, self-reflection, and tested conviction. For listeners eyeing a change or wrestling with uncertainty, Alison’s experience shows that resilience is developed, not found—that the passage from one professional identity to another is fraught with challenge, but also rich in meaning and potential. KEY THEMES Navigating identity after career disruption Building resilience through uncertainty Adapting leadership across sectors The slow process of entrepreneurial becoming LISTENER TAKEAWAY This conversation reminds us that becoming a founder is not about certainty, but about drawing on lived experience, growing through discomfort, and learning to reimagine setbacks as foundations for new beginnings.

  6. 05/19/2025

    Interwoven Episode 16 - Breaking Barriers: Women, Leadership & Mental Health in Tech

    Before launching Female Product Lead, Becks Yelland spent years navigating male-dominated industries, often finding herself without examples of women in leadership. That absence was both a daily frustration and a formative force. The lack of visible female role models left her questioning not just how leadership should look, but how authentic, confident leadership could develop in environments not built for her. The seed for Female Product Lead was less a lightning-bolt idea than a quietly insistent need—one Becks Yelland could no longer ignore. She saw women “who need lifting up every now and then” and realised that thriving individually wouldn’t be enough if others remained isolated and unsupported. The initial community wasn’t born with grand ambitions; it grew from curiosity, persistence and the simple urge to test if others felt the same. Achieving traction took over a year—proving that even experienced professionals are forced to “put something out there” and wait for uncertain feedback, all the while questioning whether it will connect. Throughout, Becks Yelland drew on her confidence and capacity to encourage others, but also faced doubt and learned by doing. Event planning, mentorship models, and standing against burnout all came with setbacks, shifts and decisions made in real time. Her definition of success changed, too: from individual achievement to serving as a catalyst for collective growth and equity. For listeners, her story is a gentle reminder that becoming a founder is less about already having the answers and more about responding to needs, experimenting with support, and being willing to grow—again and again, often from the beginner’s seat. KEY THEMES Finding confidence in male-dominated spaces Building community from need, not perfection The evolving role of mentorship and allies Experiencing and preventing burnout in tech LISTENER TAKEAWAY This conversation reminds us that founding is less about certainty and more about responding to genuine needs, building together—and knowing that experimentation and self-doubt are part of the process.

  7. 04/16/2025

    Interwoven Episode 15 - Jack Sykes: Fostering an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

    Before becoming the founder behind Founders Associates, Jack Sykes was a philosophy student at the University of Edinburgh, flirting with a traditional career in law. His early interest in entrepreneurship emerged while still at university, as he sought to bridge the gap between students seeking real-world work experience and startups in need of fresh talent. Yet, Jack admits that for a time, the pull of a conventional path—summer internships in law and academic commitments—pulled him away from startup ambitions. It was only after graduation, working closely with a founder in the paddle sports world, that Jack encountered the reality of startup life—and its many demands. Experiencing first-hand how easily early-stage founders become overwhelmed, he saw an opening: many tumble because they lack accessible support, yet full-time hires remain out of reach. Jack’s own journey was solitary at first—“a pretty solo journey, which is weird because I’m trying to help people who are solo”—but eventually he brought in a co-founder and recognised the psychological value of sharing problems and decisions. Jack draws on skills from a mosaic of experiences—hospitality, philosophy, legal internships—to connect quickly with teams, weigh competing perspectives, and endure uncertainty. He candidly shares the doubts and hesitations, the temptation to believe that experience or age is a barrier, and the competitive spark that keeps him going. Mistakes and course corrections have defined his path far more than any grand plan. For Jack, success is less about individual achievement and more about creating opportunities for young people to find their place in startups. Listeners considering their own leap into entrepreneurship will find reassurance in Jack’s honesty: there is no secret playbook, and essential skills are built through doing, learning, and sometimes simply asking for help. KEY THEMES Navigating uncertainty as a young founder The power of collaboration and conversation Carrying forward skills from unexpected places Redefining success and purpose LISTENER TAKEAWAY This conversation reminds us that founders are made—not born—by stepping into uncertainty, seeking support, and daring to learn through experience rather than waiting for perfect readiness.

    Interwoven Episode 15 - Jack Sykes: Fostering an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

  8. 02/10/2025

    Interwoven Episode 14 - Empowering Change: From Environmental Activism to Harmonious Living

    Before she founded City to Sea, Natalie Fee had built a varied life as a TV presenter, author, singer, and even a yoga teacher. But a sense of imbalance crept in as she moved through a lucrative corporate world, until two pivotal experiences—the devastation of South American deforestation and discovering plastic-filled albatross chicks—began to pry her from the old path. These images of environmental harm were no fleeting worry; they became, as she describes, moments that “completely floored me,” shifting her from concern to conviction. At first, her response was creative—a song and crowdfunding campaign that didn’t have the reach she hoped for, but planted the seed for City to Sea. The move into entrepreneurship wasn’t tidy or pre-planned. Burnout hit early, and balancing advocacy, leadership, and authorship—often while dealing with personal upheaval—forced her to rethink sustainability not just for the planet, but for herself and her organisation. Initiatives like the four-day week were born from necessity as much as ideals. What distinguishes Natalie Fee’s story isn’t a single lightning-bolt moment but a willingness to experiment, collaborate, and change course—bringing her skills in communication, advocacy, and creativity to bear in a new context. Her journey speaks honestly about overwhelm, periods of doubt, the pain of shrinking a team, and the challenges of working outside the mainstream. Step by step, she reshaped her professional identity to match her values, allowing her campaigning voice—and even her music—to serve others seeking meaning and action. Listeners weighing their own pivots will find encouragement in her refusal to settle for easy comfort or heroic certainty. Entrepreneurship emerges not as a destination but as a continuous, human process of learning, regrouping, and finding purpose beyond job titles. KEY THEMES When conviction fuels reinvention Turning burnout into organisational change Navigating risk and uncertainty Merging creativity with environmental action LISTENER TAKEAWAYThis conversation reminds us that lasting change—and confidence—often come from embracing uncertainty, experimenting with new identities, and allowing personal values to guide the next step, not the whole map. https://nataliefee.com/ https://www.wearetheweave.co.uk/

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This is the voice of the North Essex startup community. Join us for our monthly show where we will be sharing stories, information and music from the region. Hosted by Adam Roxby https://www.wearetheweave.co.uk

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