Blog

We put our questions to Yvette Ankrah who attended our event back in June.

1.    Your details

Name: Yvette Ankrah 

Where do you live: Harlow, Essex 

Family – how many children and what age One child, 5 on Halloween! 

Past Occupation Business Development manager, project manager

Twitter - @AnkrahAssociate 

2.     What is your current work/business situation? 

 I have my own business development and coaching consultancy, Ankrah Associates. I go by The Kitchen Table CEO as I help women who are building their businesses from the kitchen table.  I am a marketing specialist and have over 20 years of business experience. I have a portfolio career so I am also a non-executive director in the NHS and am completing my P.hD.  I juggle all this around my son’s school hours as he has just started school.  I launched the business whilst still in a ‘normal’ job. I used my commute to write my website copy and can’t say I miss getting up at 5.45am and commuting for 1 hour and a half to get into London.

 I love coaching and seeing women grow and succeed!

 3.    What is the vision for your future, where are you trying to get?

 Going forward I would like to do more public speaking and help more women build thriving businesses and develop that side of my business.  I also want to write some books - on the business areas I work in and linked to my academic work.  Eventually I want to be able to work and travel internationally helping women achieve their dreams.

 4.    What challenges are you facing?

 My biggest challenge is my health as I have a condition called fibromyalgia - it is a painful and unpleasant condition which can mean I’m exhausted and in agony.  It’s a hidden disease but can be debilitating.   To look at me you would never know and I don’t let it stop me achieving or having fun.

5.    What positive results have you seen recently with what you have achieved?

For my clients, I’ve seen them make huge changes in their lives and watched them grow as women and as business owners.  I love getting people together and new businesses have been created from these introductions.  For myself, I’ve realised that one person can make a difference.  I push myself outside of my comfort zone all the time and new and amazing opportunities have come my way.

 6.   How are you managing to balance family VS work or business?

 I had figured out my balance and then my son started school!  I have more or less the same amount of hours but just spread across the week and no in week three of term, I’m starting to find my rhythm.  I’m considering getting a slow cooker for when I have a busy day so I don’t have to worry about dinner!

 7.    How did attending the Mums Enterprise Roadshow in 2016 help you?

It was a good opportunity to network and also meet people I knew from Facebook groups, always good to see what other services are out there and also what competitors are doing.

 8.    Lastly from what you have experienced so far from your own mission – do you have any tips or lessons you’ve learnt which may be helpful to others?

Things always take longer than you think so factor in more time.  Stop beating yourself up if you haven’t made a million pounds in your first week of business - most businesses take five years to break even and if you are creating a business alongside a family and/or your day job it might take longer.  Don’t forget to have fun and be thankful for the little things. As long as you are taking steps towards your goals you will achieve them.