Here’s my story
I first contacted Lucy when my previous website no longer suited my needs. I wanted to work with a web designer who understood what I was trying to achieve but who also was patient as I am not a techy person. Having spent a while searching I came across Lucy’s website and immediately I felt she would be the right person for me. From our first meeting we had a great rapport and Lucy put me at ease. Lucy went on to build my website, that I love and she has continued to be a wonderful support. I know I can always call on her when I am stuck or want to change or add anything and her humour and kindness always makes working with her a pleasure.
I spent 25 years in the fashion industry, which I absolutely loved, starting out as a designer and within a few years as a director. Very sadly my career ended abruptly when I was badly injured after being assaulted on my way home from work. I was devastated as I loved my job and I can’t begin to describe how it felt.
It was a challenging and difficult time for me and as I spent almost a year recovering from my injuries it gave me time to reflect on what I wanted to do next. Having always loved supporting and empowering staff, graduates and students who were eager to get into such a competitive and fast paced industry I decided I wanted to focus on this rather than get back into design.
Coincidentally I attended a heath and wellbeing event in London where I met a woman who had recently started up her own coaching training organisation. She was so inspiring and I immediately felt a strong rapport. She invited me to experience a day at her training establishment and as I walked in the door I knew it was where I was meant to be. At the end of the day I decided to sign up to do a Post Graduate Masters Certificate in Business and Personal Coaching. From day one the course was amazing and fulfilled more than I could have ever expected. The lecturers were experts and highly experienced in their particular field but moreover were passionate and inspiring. It was a wonderful and positive transformational experience and something I will always be grateful for.
In 2010 having qualified as an accredited coach I started my own coaching practice. Initially I coached owners of small businesses as that was my background but as time went on I decided to focus particularly on supporting women entrepreneurs. I found that many women running small businesses were struggling with the stress of running a business as well as having to develop it. Alongside trying to juggle work and home life it could be very stressful and challenging. Many found themselves feeling isolated and asking for help or support wasn’t easy for them to do.
For the last few years I have returned to focus specifically on coaching in the fashion industry, as that is where my passion lies. I help women entrepreneurs and creatives/designers to thrive not just survive in challenging times. Of course none of us expected that we would have to manage the challenges of a pandemic as well. There are many in the industry that have lost their businesses, jobs or contracts as self-employed freelancers as a result of the pandemic. For new graduates what is a difficult industry to enter in normal times Covid19 has thrown them an extra challenge.
The fashion industry is wonderful to be part of and is very important to our economy. We have some of the most talented designers in the world so any little contribution I can make to help support owners of small businesses, freelancers or designers to thrive not just survive in these challenging times is my passion.
Kate Darbyshire Evans
www.finerthinking.com
