Coffee & Oysters: The London Business Babe Podcast

Building a purpose-led London talent agency that doesn’t compromise on values requires hard work. Phie McKenzie , a female founder in the creator economy, reflects on year four of betting on impact-driven creators and building her talent agency Creative Ally. She joins host and Notion consultant Frances Odera Matthews to unpack her journey into entrepreneurship after a career working with emerging...

What’s it actually like running a business with your partner? And can you be Black, queer, African and fully yourself in business? What boundaries do you have to put in place to build an intentional life? Eniola Abioye and Obsidian Adebayo — the founders behind UX Out Loud and The Influence Index — join host and Notion consultant Frances Odera Matthews with business tips on running a business with...

Can ancient mythology really sell a climate tech startup? What does running a UK business from an Italian village look like? And how do you grow slower without losing clients? Emma Pegg , fractional product marketer and founder of Cantadora, the product storytelling studio for nature and the climate, joins host and Notion consultant Frances Odera Matthews with business tips on brand storytelling f...

In this throwback episode of Coffee & Oysters, we're revisiting the guides of the best places to eat, work and relax in London shared by six brilliant London Business Babes who've graced the show. Whether you're after your next date-night restaurant at a Michelin-starred Nigerian restaurant, a quiet corner to work from, or a networking group that actually feels like home, consider this your little...

How do you build a 200-woman collective from a single dinner table? Are AI and the arts actually in conflict? And what does a cancer diagnosis at 26 teach you about saying no? London founder Miriam Fearon , co-founder of Muses in the City, joins host and Notion consultant Frances Odera Matthews with business tips on AI transformation, protecting your energy in a demanding city job, and building a...

How do you start an agency four months postpartum? Can AI actually find your business? London founder Gala Jackson-Coombs , the woman behind Glint Marketing, joins host and Notion consultant Frances Odera Matthews with business tips on AI search visibility, building a B2B service business around a baby’s nap schedule, and why betting on herself felt safer than staying in an agency. Gala spent 13 y...

How do you build a six-figure business with under 5K Instagram followers? How do you grow a personal brand when you’re the face of your business? And how do you run it all sustainably while living with a chronic illness? London content strategist Jess Bruno , the woman behind Ne’Twerking and some of your favourite personal brands joins Coffee & Oysters with business tips on building a small but lo...

Can sea moss really clear your skin? How do you turn a home remedy into a real wellness brand? London founders Oyinka Yusuff and Jessica Richards, the duo behind Moss & Glow sea moss gel, join Coffee & Oysters with business tips on building a health and wellness brand from scratch, growing through word of mouth, and scaling a side hustle as a two-woman team. Oyinka and Jessica break down how a cas...

Why would you leave BlackRock as an investor to become a startup founder? What does it actually take to find co-founders at an accelerator? And which AI tools should every early-stage founder have permanently open on their desktop? London founder Sofia Hamilton , COO and co-founder of Souk — the world's first AI partner development manager — joins Coffee & Oysters with business tips on leaving a p...

How do you survive corporate as a Gen Z woman? How do you build a community while working a 9-to-5? And what are the best workwear brands for tall girls in London? London founder Wesleigh-Jane, the woman behind Sisters Protect, joins Coffee & Oysters with business tips on building a community for early-careers women in corporate, navigating office politics, and balancing a finance career with a th...

London food & drink development expert Grace Bryan , co-founder of CPG agency Juicy Brick, joins Coffee & Oysters with business tips on trend forecasting, founder lifestyle, and building innovative food & drink brands. Grace breaks down how she spots trends by tracking repeated signals across CPG, pop culture, fashion, and TikTok, and discusses Gen Z’s changing relationship with alcohol. She compa...

Meet Meg Hutson , a Human Marketing Strategist for service-based businesses, as she breaks down LinkedIn marketing strategy, personal branding and how to build a business you actually love. Meg Hutson left school at 16, started a shop with her mum, and built a freelance marketing business the hard way. She breaks down why being too vague cost her early opportunities, how she now helps bold service...

Kamya Marwah is a London-based, top 1% LinkedIn creator, and Marketing & Content Manager at CRM startup Jely. She shares London lifestyle tips, London cafés + food market favourites, plus a super practical LinkedIn personal branding playbook (without the cringe). In this episode, Kamya breaks down how she moved from Delhi to London at 19 for UCL, the reality of being the first (and only) full-time...

London/Swiss female founder & luxury beauty entrepreneur Anju Rupal shares lifestyle tips, best London restaurant picks & wellness secrets on Coffee & Oysters: The London Business Babe Podcast. The Abhati Suisse founder blends Indian heritage rituals with Swiss biotech for performance-driven scalp and hair health, charting her path from social work to building a brand. We also hear about turning d...

Meet Dami Lawal , award-winning interior designer and founder of NateBel Interiors, who shares her pivot from 16+ years in IT project management (agile/scrum) into interior design after discovering a design app, training at KLC, and being pushed full-time into her business during 2020 lockdowns. She explains how her project management structure builds client trust, why she expanded into transforma...

What happens when the first Black female commissioner of BBC Comedy walks away from a 20-year career in TV and bets on herself? Meet Sarah Asante : creative consultant, former TV exec and founder of Asante Space , the scripted consultancy for “outsiders and underdogs.” In this episode, Sarah unpacks how she went from advertising to commissioning hit shows at the BBC, BAFTA and UKTV, and why she le...

Meet Alexandra Lunn , founder of Well-Crafted , a platform for talented artisans to share their skills through corporate workshops. In this episode Alexandra discuss the unique value of craft-based team-building activities compared to traditional corporate events. She delves into the therapeutic benefits of engaging in crafts and how these workshops foster genuine connections and networking. Alexa...

Meet Jo Wong , founder of Let’s GROW Black Female Founders ( Let’s Grow BFF ), as she discusses her journey from climbing the corporate ladder in companies like Estée Lauder and Farfetch to launching a consultancy specifically for Black female founders. Jo shares her passion for connecting people and supporting businesses with strategic insights and commercial growth. The episode dives into overco...

Meet Hannah Makonnen , founder of Place , an event discovery and ticketing platform. In this episode, Hannah shares her journey from journalism to tech entrepreneur, emphasising the importance of creating spaces for communities and culture. She discusses the complexities of building a tech platform, the need for self-belief and the significance of listening to user feedback. Discover insights on l...

Meet Laura Nagiel , ex-Public Relations professional turned life coach and now a specialised dating strategist for ambitious women. Laura shares her journey from general life coaching to helping high-achieving women find love through her unique and results-guaranteed dating coaching program. Laura discusses the distinct challenges faced by ambitious women in the modern dating landscape, framed by...

Meet Phoebe Parke , a social media coach specialising in helping wellness experts build their personal brands. In this episode, Phoebe discusses her professional journey from newsroom journalism at CNN to heading social media at Grazia Magazine and Gordon Ramsay Restaurants before going freelance. She shares valuable insights on the importance of defining your niche, building a consistent social m...

Meet Valerie Morris , co-founder of You’ve Got To Say It and chapter lead on relational intelligence at Culture First. In this episode of Coffee and Oysters, Valerie discusses the importance of open communication, trust and a supportive company culture. We dive into her transition from podcasting to launching a cultural training organisation, her strategic pivots and the benefits of having a co-fo...

Meet Debs Lewis , who spent 20+ years as a womenswear designer in high-pressure environments of fast fashion, generating £100M+ in sales. Now, she coaches fashion entrepreneurs to build profitable, ethical, and sustainable businesses with purpose. In this episode, Debs reveals invaluable insights on business foundations, resilience and effective marketing strategies, while also delving into her pe...

Meet Lex Hearth , a multi-hyphenate DJ, broadcaster, music producer, Fractional CMO, Founder of record label/media platform Dance Music Digest and Substack communities Writers IRL and Five Good Things . In this episode, Lex dives into her multifaceted career journey from corporate marketing roles for global brands like Nike, Off-white, and Lego to now building Start Up Brand Lab and making waves a...

Meet Louise Duncum , founder and stylist at Weiz Styles, a London-based personal styling and colour consultancy. We dive into Louise’s inspiring journey from fashion design to empowering ambitious women and founders with style and confidence. She shares her personal styling tips on the power of colour psychology in corporate settings, the nuances of personal styling, and the digital styling tools...