MEET TRICIA SCOTT, FOUNDER OF THE FEMALE CEO & CREATE EVOLVE OVERCOME COACHING
You will likely recognise Tricia Scott as Founder & Editor of The Female CEO and Create Evolve Overcome Magazine but what you may not know is that Tricia is also the UK’s only certified BARE Coach as well as a Speaker, Author, Mentor, Passionate Charity Volunteer and an Eternal Entrepreneur. She is obsessed with cats, live music and hair dye and you would be forgiven for thinking there were more than one of her, such are her rapid hair transformations on a weekly basis. Tricia’s editorial team thought it was about time she told her story and let her community and followers know more about the woman behind the business! You’ll notice that apart from the questions always asked of our Spotlight Entrepreneurs each has been posed by a different editor to give an all round perspective (and stop Tricia from answering easy questions!)
So here is the woman behind all that you see and read here. Over to you Tricia….
SO, TRICIA, WHAT’S YOUR STORY?
I am the Founder and Editor of The Female CEO and Create Evolve Overcome magazine, a digital support and education platform of entrepreneurs and small business owners coming together in support and empowerment worldwide. I guess you already know that! I am also a Certified Coach, Visual Content Designer and Serial Entrepreneur.
When I look back, working towards others' freedom and empowerment is always something I've held close to my core. In fact, I still have a somewhat rebellious nature at heart (no shit I hear my family chorus!). Growing up, I always gravitated to those people who were interesting and different for one reason or another, preferring to spend my days away from school's conformity and structure and in my own thoughts and the comforts of home.
Leaving my school days behind, I was quickly and easily swept into the corporate world, climbing every ladder of every job I was ever presented with. I was never happy to stand still, always looking for a higher position, more to learn and more to do. My free time was spent with people who preferred to stay outside the norm, with different ideas and tastes. My mantra was always (and still is), never judge a book by its cover. Some of the most beautiful and exciting souls I've ever had the pleasure of spending time with were the friendships I developed at this time, and I'm proud to say they continue to this very day.
Forever passionate about career progression I started work in an area I had absolutely no idea about at age twenty-one and was thrown in at the deep end (literally) it was a sink or swim scenario. I accepted the challenge head-on, and ten years later, I was awarded the title of Director to one of the most prestigious Real Estate companies in my area. It was then that I started to address the not so little voice I'd had tapping away at my subconscious for as many years as I would admit to.
Over the years I'd faced my own personal hurdles, family tragedy and divorce to name just a couple. I'd also started a couple of my own sideline businesses and explored the world of entrepreneurship. When I stopped and looked around, I realised that people everywhere, especially women, were stalled, scared and hiding their brilliance. I started to work with small groups of women at first, creating topics to start or further their businesses, focusing on the inner work and the outer. Confidence, support, empowerment, focus, and passion became the foundation of my work, leading to more prominent groups, large-scale speaking engagements, and eventually, The Female CEO's birth.
I feel so ridiculously fortunate to have met some of the most memorable and inspirational people on my journey so far, and I still feel like this is only the beginning! From small coaching groups to a global platform with 14 editors across six countries holding space for over 60,000 (and counting) entrepreneurs to come together for learning, inspiration, connection, empowerment and support it's been a crazy journey and I can't wait to see where it takes us next!
DO YOU BELIEVE THERE IS SOME PATTERN OR FORMULA TO BECOMING A SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR? (SUBMITTED BY NICHOLA ENGLISH)
I believe in community and the power of the collective. I have experienced repeatedly and heard from our community members that working as a solopreneur or small business owner can be lonely, especially if you're the only one in your family or peer group. Having the opportunity to connect with others working through the same or similar issues is an absolute game-changer. It's why our mantra at The Female CEO is 'You are never alone here'
HOW DOES THE ENERGY FEEL FROM FIRST ESTABLISHING A SOUND AND SUPPORTED ONLINE MAGAZINE TO EXPANSION INTO BUILDING A WORLDWIDE ONLINE COMMUNITY? (SUBMITTED BY SUSAN SMALLEY)
When I look back at The Female CEO's journey, I am continually surprised and delighted. If someone had told me that we would have a global digital magazine, 14 Guest Editors across six countries and 60,000+ followers not to mention our fabulous 1800 community members and worldwide readership within three years, I would have laughed at you! It's been 10000000 better than I could have imagined. Every day, I get to wake up knowing that I am creating and evolving something extraordinary and you just can't beat that energy!
HOW DO YOU HANDLE CRITICISM?
Ah Criticism, my favourite! Says no one ever.
No one likes to be criticised, it always stings, but the crucial thing to remember is that if you have a voice or an opinion on anything, someone somewhere probably won't like it. So, I remind myself that it's totally ok to have a different perspective; in fact, it would be pretty dull if we all thought the same! In those cases, I step back and evaluate. Is this a matter of opinion? Am I wrong? Could I have put that better? When I've had a chance to think it over, I act accordingly, or not depending on my conclusion.
What's not ok is to use shaming of any kind to force your views onto anyone else or to be rude about it. That I don't tolerate under any circumstances and nor should you.
WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU COULD GIVE AN ASPIRING ENTREPRENEUR? (SUBMITTED BY CLAIRE WINTER)
I would pass on one of the best bits of advice I ever received when I was first starting, which is to allow for change. Have a vision and a direction but don't hang on too tightly to it. I took that advice to heart, and I believe its the reason the Female CEO has expanded so vastly in the last couple of years. If I had kept the business in it's 'box' It would still be a blog!
WHAT HELPED YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO LEAP FROM AN ESTABLISHED SECURE CORPORATE POSITION TO RUNNING AN ONLINE COMMUNITY AND MAGAZINE? (SUBMITTED BY SUSAN SMALLEY)
That one was tough. I had been building The Female CEO in my spare time for a couple of years, working evenings and weekends to keep up and deliver valuable content to our followers. Although I was able to expand the business a lot in this time, I knew that I would either have to accept a limit to its growth or go all in one day. However, as a company Director for a highly successful property company, this was no small decision to undertake. Not only because I had dedicated my entire corporate career to working my way from data input assistant to Director but also because I had the BEST team I could have asked for. It was both a significant emotional and practical decision to undertake.
In May 2019, the unthinkable happened, and after an incredibly short illness of just nine days, my hero dad passed away. He was the first person to read every email, blog and article I wrote, and he always responded by telling me how proud he was of my achievements. After his death, my entire perspective on life changed, in some ways that made the decision to 'go all in' easier because I genuinely felt, for the first time, the weight of the often throw away statement of 'life's too short.' Leaving my corporate career behind was still challenging. Still, ultimately I knew in my heart that the only way I could fulfil my ambition to serve as many people as I could would be to dedicate myself to it fully and here we are!
WHERE DOES YOUR PASSION FOR SEEING WOMEN EVOLVE STEM FROM? (SUBMITTED BY NATASHA LEE)
I've always loved to help others to succeed. Long before I got involved with women's networking or supporting others in business, I spent Christmasses working with charities, mentored young people and got involved with charitable endeavours wherever I could. I believe it's just part of who I am. When I discovered my love of business and entrepreneurship, that part of me was amplified because I realised that I could make a tangible difference and do what I loved all in one place, queue excitement overload!
IF YOU COULD GO ON ANY HOLIDAY IN THE WORLD, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? (SUBMITTED BY AMBILA NATH)
The answer to this question changes depending on how busy I am! Today, I would love dearly to take ten days out on a Maldives beach with a good book and cocktails, but I also have days when I want to try ALL OF THE THINGS and go Skiing and Snowboarding and Shopping and taking a health retreat...
Given the situation the world is in travel-wise just now, I'd love to sit around a pub table with good friends, good wine, and maybe an open fire.
WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND DIFFICULT ON YOUR JOURNEY AND WHAT WOULD YOU AVOID IF YOU WERE ABLE TO DO IT ALL AGAIN?
If I were to start again, knowing what I know now, I would have asked for more help sooner. Trying to juggle two careers, grow a business, have a life and stay sane was a balancing act I wouldn't want to have to repeat.
WHAT’S YOUR TOP TIP FOR OUR AWESOME FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS READING THIS ARTICLE?
Don't think you have to do everything alone. Even if your job is something only you can physically do, surround yourself with like-minded people facing the same issues and climbing the same hurdles. There is a lot of strength (and sanity) in community. A sound support system, especially now during the Coronavirus pandemic, is vital for our basic human connection need. Having people to lift you when things are tough and cheer for you when they are great is good for your soul (and your business)
WHAT IS YOUR NUMBER ONE, NON-NEGOTIABLE, FULL-BODIED VALUE THAT YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE BY AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU? (SUBMITTED BY KATIE FOSTER)
Ah, this is easy, and I got it from my dad. Integrity. Every time and without question. When I wrote our company values, it was top of the list.
WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER ONE SONG?
I have so many! I can't believe I pitch this question to people every month and ask them to choose just one! I am a rock kind of girl, and the song currently played most days is probably Afterlife by Avenged Sevenfold or Insomnia by Kamelot, or The Light by Disturbed... Ok, I'm rule-breaking, but by now you've probably guessed I'm not great with rules and they are my rules so....
When I need a pick-me-up, I default to The Female CEO #Girlboss playlist, created by our community members. It's free, and you can access it here. You're welcome.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW FOR SURE?
I know for sure that life's too short—don't wait. Love the shit out of everything and take ALL of the photos because you'll never regret any of those things.
DO YOU HAVE A BOOK OR FAVOURITE PODCAST RECOMMENDATION FOR OUR FEMALE CEO MEMBERS?
I've just finished reading The Middle Finger Project for the second time. I adore Ash Ambirge. If you like your authors straight-talking with more edge than a fancy broken glass vase (like I do), you'll love it.
I also adored Michelle Obama's 'Becoming.'
Starting a Create Evolve Overcome podcast is on the list for 2021, so I'm going to go out on a limb and tell you it's going to be awesome :) That aside, I do love listening to Susan Hyatt's Rich Coach Club and also Jay Shetty's On Purpose Podcast.
HOW IMPORTANT IS FEMALE EDUCATION IN THE PURSUIT OF EQUALITY? WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MADE IN EDUCATION? (SUBMITTED BY HAYLEY MCDONNELL)
I firmly believe that education is key to our young people in the pursuit of equality. Education from school, communities and peers is an absolute must, and its importance should not be underestimated. In tackling the issue of equality, we must work with all of the sexes, targeting one group or another only leads to more imbalance.
I interviewed a fabulous lady called Mari-Anne Kheler a little while ago for A Seat At The Table, and I always remember she said "It starts with the willingness to keep talking, the more we talk, the more we get over the fear of offending another. We have to keep talking." I never forgot that. We tend to get so wrapped up in what to say we end up saying nothing at all and so the issues continue. I would like to see schools embrace a much more expansive view of education, taking into account shaping the whole person instead of just academic nature. Then I believe progress will be forthcoming.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE FEMALE CEO?
So much is happening in 2021! I can barely contain my excitement. The first to launch will be our Evolve membership platform. This has been a dream of mine for a couple of years, so to see it coming to fruition is a beautiful process. What I love most is that we absolutely aren't taking anything away from our current followers or community, just adding more for those who want or need it. It will be ready to launch towards the end of January, and I'll be looking for 50 founding members to beta test for us so watch this space and if you're interested in becoming a founding member drop me a line and you'll be the first to know! It's literally packed with all of the good stuff!
We also have a podcast launch and a substantial new charitable venture coming up in 2021 so stay tuned because I can't wait to tell you all about it.
WHAT MAKES YOU TRULY HAPPY AND HOW DO YOU HANDLE DOWNTIME?
I'm still learning when it comes to real downtime. The fact that I used to take very little of it (to my detriment and near burnout) was one reason I started The Retreat section of The Female CEO site and trained as a BARE Coach. When you know better, you do better right?
My brain still runs at 400mph and throws out random ideas 100000 times per day but rather than follow each one down the proverbial rabbit hole I'm much more mindful of my time and take my rest as seriously as I do my job (thank you, Susan Hyatt!) If I know I have a lot to do, I'll set timers for breaks and make sure I move around during the day, and I rarely work at the weekends. I also practise transcendental meditation and EFT daily (lifesavers!). If I'm not working, you'll usually find me near the beach, with lots of coffee!
If you want to know more about Tricia or Create Evolve Overcome Coaching you can visit the website or catch up on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.
