My Charm Story - Female Founders

In the entrepreneurial journey, sometimes the smallest objects carry the deepest meaning. We recently met these inspiring female founders at Rosie Nixon’s reinvention retreats and asked them to share their stories through Lily Charmed charms, each selecting a piece that resonated with their personal and professional paths. Their choices reveal the power of symbolism in our lives and how these small treasures can represent our biggest transformations.

Wendy Welpton - The Compass of Forward Movement

@reclaim.movement

"I'm Wendy, founder of Reclaim Movement, and I help people to move well in daily life to age well," shares Wendy, who selected a compass charm. Her choice speaks volumes about her current mindset:

"I chose that because I'm at a point where I need to start looking forwards, not looking backwards. I've learned a lot through my journey so far, but it's all about me now, growing and learning from all the experiences that I have had through my chronic pain, and how I can help people to move better in life. And how I can help myself to move forward."

The compass symbolises direction and purpose, exactly what Wendy offers her clients while simultaneously finding her own path forward.

Gillian Ridley Whittle - Manifesting Fashion Magic with Purpose

@peachaus_life 

Gillian Ridley Whittle, founder of Peachaus, tells a story of transformation within an industry she both loved and grew to question:

"My story is that of a little girl who always wanted to be in the fashion industry. She worked very hard and achieved amazing success, but the higher she got, the more miserable and the more she started hating the damage and the cruelty of the fashion industry."

Her solution? "She decided she had to use her expertise to actually create something which gave value and was there to do good and show that fashion could be a force for good."

Fittingly, Gillian chose the "Manifest Magic" charm: "I'm so thrilled to have Peachaus as a brand that actually definitely does give out and attracts magic." 

Karen Tatlow - The Butterfly of Change

@karentatlowgardendesign  

Karen Tatlow, founder of Karen Tatlow Garden Design, selected the "Manifest Change" charm depicting a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis:

"It seems really pertinent for gardens. I'm going through quite a lot of change for the business at the moment as well, which is all sorts of really exciting things are coming up."

She sees the symbolism extending to her clients as well: "I like to think as well that it's a bit symbolic of what I can do for other people's gardens." Just as she transforms outdoor spaces, Karen embraces transformation in her own business journey.

Kirsty Raper - The Power of Protection

@rebuildagram https://www.rebuildagram.com/ 

Kirsty chose the Black Onyx Healing Stone Charm for protection: "The Black Onyx is for protection, and we've got a double-sided design so that the Black Onyx can sit next to your skin so that you can get the healing vibes and the energy from the stone."

As a single parent for 19 years, she explains, "This symbolises protection, so I can keep my tribe safe."

Sometimes the charms we choose reflect not just our business journeys but our most fundamental priorities, protecting those we love most.

 Lucinda Railton - Embracing the Goddess of Nature

@the_iwellness_method https://www.i-wellness.club/

Danielle Seatter - The Hummingbird of Sustainable Impact

@eco_able https://eco-able.co.uk/

Paige Mengers - Energising a New Career Path

@mrsphoenixstyle https://www.phoenixstyle.co.uk/

"My name is Paige Mengers and I run Phoenix Style, which is a group of boutiques that sell preloved luxury items," shares Paige, who selected the Manifest Energy Charm.
"It resonates for me because I switched careers about 7-8 years ago, and this is going to give me the energy to carry on with my newfound love in luxury retail."
Paige's charm choice speaks to the revitalisation that comes with career reinvention and the ongoing energy required to sustain a new business direction.

Tamara Fearnley Whittingstall - The Moral Compass of Business

@bybeautifulbrands https://www.bybeautifulbrands.com/

Tamara, who established By Beautiful Brands to support small British businesses, chose a Compass Charm that represents multiple aspects of her journey:
"I'm Tamara and we are 'By Beautiful Brands' set up 5 years ago, set up to support small British businesses. We hold events a couple of times a year, 4 times this year in London and in Oxford."
Her Compass choice has layered meaning: "I've chosen a Compass which represents my journey, our journey getting here today with our business, and it also represents our small brands because one of the big things that we look at is what they stand for."
For Tamara, the compass symbolises not just direction but integrity: "We felt a bit of a moral compass what they have in their beliefs of their business and ethicality, how they produce their goods."

Caroline Firth - The Circle of Fortune

@bybeautifulbrands https://www.bybeautifulbrands.com/

Working alongside Tamara at Beautiful Brands, Caroline selected a Koi Fish Charm with deep symbolic meaning:
"I chose the Koi Fish Charm and the inner sort of circle that it represents as wealth and good fortune."
The circular nature of the charm perfectly represents her business philosophy: "Because it also goes round, we keep brands happy by promoting them, and then also customers that come along with shops so they love it. So it's a sort of ring, a circle of fortune."
The cyclical nature of supporting brands, delighting customers, and creating prosperity is beautifully captured in Caroline's charm choice.

 Nikki Glazer Hodge - The Mixtape of Life's Soundtrack

@nikki_glazerhodge @romcomentertainment

Working for RomCom Entertainment Talent Agency, Nikki selected a Cassette Charm that bridges her past and present:
"I have chosen my Cassette because when I was much younger and I had something called a stereo, which not everyone would be aware of, and it had my record player at the top and the two cassettes, I used to make mixtape after mixtape because music is very important to me."
Her charm choice represents both professional passion and personal growth: "The Cassette speaks to me because when I was younger, I wasn't as confident or as competent or as happy as I am now. So this reminds me of the little girl I was who used to make those mixtapes, and now I'm just really happy and so grateful for so much in my life."

Chrissie Rose - Manifesting a New Chapter

@chrissiereeves @thewestmill @therivermillvenue    

https://thewestmillvenue.com https://therivermillvenue.com 

Chrissie Rose, founder and co-director of wedding venues in Derbyshire, was immediately drawn to the Manifest Magic Charm during a particularly challenging time:
"I have literally been drawn to this so much today, first charm I saw, and it really resonates with me because it's all about manifesting. We moved up to Derbyshire in Covid and last year, my three children lost their father and I lost my husband. Since then, it's all about manifesting the best lives for me and them now, moving on in the next stage of life."
Her powerful story reminds us that sometimes our symbolic choices reflect not just our business journeys but our deepest personal transformations: "For me it's all about manifesting, and that's why it's so important to me."

Rosie Dalling - The Vinyl Record of Remembered Wisdom

@rosie_dalling https://theboostglobal.com

 Rosie Dalling, founder of The Boost Global and confidence coach, selected a Vinyl Record Charm that carries deep personal significance:
"I picked this which is a little Vinyl Record and it's got an A side and a B side. I chose this one because when I was growing up, one of the things that I used to do with my dad is listen to his records of Frank Sinatra."
The charm represents not just cherished memories but also carries forward words of encouragement that continue to inspire her work as a confidence coach: "There was one song that I used to always ask for on repeat and the words were 'the best of everything, that is what I wish for you'."
For Rosie, the charm serves as a tactile reminder of this sentiment: "I'm going to wear this and whenever I need to hear those words, I'm gonna give it a little rub."
Her story beautifully illustrates how our personal histories influence our professional paths, with childhood memories providing strength and inspiration for the work we do today

What's remarkable about these stories is how each woman found a small symbol that captured something essential about her journey, whether professional, personal transformation, or her core values that guide both family and business life.
These charms serve as daily reminders of purpose, progress, and potential. They're not just accessories, they're capturing the journeys these women are on.
What would your charm be? What symbol would you carry to remind you of your purpose, your progress, or the change you wish to create in the world? Sometimes the smallest objects can carry our biggest dreams.
These stories remind us of the power of symbolism in our lives and businesses. A small charm can represent enormous change, deep values, or the new directions we're moving toward. What charm would tell your story?