Hello and Welcome to We Are Mimosa
Join other women building brands which are aligned with their purpose and values, and who care about making the world a better place in this vibrant, growing community.
Hi, I’m Denyse, a former Chief Executive turned business coach/ consultant, with over 25 years of business experience under my favourite (B Corp certified) Sézane belt. I left my career as a CEO to pursue my dream of running my own business and being an actual writer.
My work is about closing the the gender gap in entrepreneurship. Because by supporting women’s entrepreneurship, this will help to build create a gender-equal future and progress the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
We Are Mimosa is a space for ambitious, curious, female founders to gather and a place for inspiration, conversation, and exploration. Basically, this is the space I wish had existed when I was first starting out in business.
This inspiring community spans a diverse range of sectors and varying levels of ambition - from small kitchen table businesses to global brands - all united by a common desire for success that’s aligned with our purpose and values. Here:
I share inspiring stories of female founders and women leaders who’ve made bold choices, bucked convention and carved their own furrow.
I also offer practical strategic support and guidance to those who want to start, grow and scale a purpose-led businesses.
And I write a lot about building a purposeful life and business.
What is We Are Mimosa about?
The premise is simple: female founders and women leaders thrive in supportive communities. We learn from each other. We grow bolder and more confident. We gain the strength to go against what is expected of us. Together we are unstoppable.
This is important because the odds are stacked against women-led businesses. As female founders, we face serious barriers to growth, including limited access to finance, networks, and business support. Did you know that:
78% of women entrepreneurs are stuck at a low-income level, trying to keep their heads above water, turning over less than £50,000/ year.
And $5 trillion is missing from the global economy because of the gender gap in entrepreneurship.
Why the mimosa flower?
I chose the mimosa flower because in Italy, it’s been the symbol of International Women's Day, or La Festa Della Donna, since 1946. The flower is given to women on March 8th to represent strength, sensibility, and sensitivity, and to show appreciation for women's contributions to society.
During the women's rights movement in Italy in the 1940s, women would wear mimosa in their hair and on their lapels to symbolize hope and appreciation. The mimosa's other symbolic meanings include the sun, prosperity and victory, and solidarity and resistance.
What do you get when you subscribe?
This newsletter is structured sort of like a magazine and each month I write a variety of different columns. Themes include championing women in business and leadership, business strategy and brand building, purpose-led business, the Sustainable Development Goals, positive psychology, and ways of seasonal and sustainable living.
Every Tuesday and Friday at midday, you’ll receive an email in your inbox with one of the following:
A story about a female founder or woman leader who’s paving the way for others.
Thoughts on what we face as female founders and women leaders.
Practical advice about how to transform your brand, and increase revenue and profitability, doing what you know and love.
Discussion Threads where you’re invited to join a more in-depth conversation.
In each email, you will be invited to join the conversation in the comments section at the end.
You’ll also be part of a growing community that will soon include more features that allow us all to connect more and learn from each other.
Paid subscribers make this community possible for £45/year
I am very grateful to the paid subscribers, who help this community grow. With more contributions, I’ll be able to write more frequent posts, host regular chats, hold workshops, and perhaps start a book club.
Founding Members, who contribute £120/ year, also receive a free coaching session with me on an aspect of business or any other matter you think I could be helpful with (for far less than my hourly coaching rate).
If you’re new to me and my work
So, who am I? I’m Denyse Whillier and I support women entrepreneurs to transform their brand, and increase revenue and profitability, doing what they know and love. A former CEO, I built a seven-figure business before leaving my corporate role to pursue my dream of creating financial independence doing something I loved.
I’ve taken my big business learnings and experience to help ambitious, purpose-led female founders grow successful, sustainable brands they’re passionate about, and which are aligned with their purpose and values. For years, I wrote an award winning business blog; now I want to pursue my writing dreams here on Substack.
To work one on one with me, use this link.
To find more about the results my clients get, here are my case studies.
Connect with me on Instagram here.
My “why”
I’m passionate about making the UN Sustainable Development Goals a reality; in particular SDG, gender equality. I have 5 main goals for We Are Mimosa:
To empower you to fully understand and realise your unique purpose, goals, strengths and skills and step into leadership.
To challenge what Mary Ann Sieghart calls “the Authority Gap” by sharing female founder stories and championing women leaders. Because seeing is believing.
To share practical and proven frameworks from my experience as a CEO, so that you can confidently and happily build a successful and profitable business, doing what you know and love.
To give you regular opportunities for connection and accountability so that we can get to know and support one another.
To discuss topics of interest, particularly as they relate to the Sustainable Development Goals and positive psychology, and to help us learn new things.
I’d LOVE you to join me below – it’s easy to do and only takes an email address.
Denyse
