Discover the INCREDIBLE journeys of the women in our community.
In our Member Stories, we hear from our members about the experiences that have shaped them, the challenges they’ve overcome, and how they are driving impact in their industries and beyond.
Clare Taylor
Clare Taylor Consulting
Clare designs the client experience behind premium brands, helping founders and businesses turn one-time clients into loyal returners. Her work spans two worlds: female founders running masterminds and retreats, and luxury hospitality and premium service providers, from boutique hotels to high-end consultancies.
Share an experience or challenge that has shaped you? Trying to build a business while raising three children has probably shaped me more than anything. It’s
taught me that ambition doesn’t disappear when you become a mum, but the way you pursue it has to
change. I’m still working out the balance, if I’m honest.
taught me that ambition doesn’t disappear when you become a mum, but the way you pursue it has to
change. I’m still working out the balance, if I’m honest.
Best piece of advice you have ever been given? Never underestimate the power of making someone feel important. It was true when I worked in luxury
hospitality, and it’s just as true in business. People don’t always remember what you said, but they
remember how you made them feel.
hospitality, and it’s just as true in business. People don’t always remember what you said, but they
remember how you made them feel.
What advice would you give to your younger self or a woman just starting her career? Never put a ceiling on your potential. Keep looking up. The more possibilities you expose yourself to, the
more you realise what might be possible for you too.
more you realise what might be possible for you too.
What does success mean to you? For me, success has always meant reaching my potential, being financially independent and not dancing to anyone else’s tune.
How do you handle challenges and changes? What's in your toolkit? My therapist. A good walk. Perspective.
Why is it important to support women in business and women-led business? Just 2p in every £1 of UK venture capital goes to all-female-founded businesses. All-male founding
teams receive somewhere in the region of 80 to 89p. When you consider that female-led businesses
frequently outperform their male-led counterparts, it’s clear that backing female entrepreneurs isn’t just
about equality. It’s smart business.
teams receive somewhere in the region of 80 to 89p. When you consider that female-led businesses
frequently outperform their male-led counterparts, it’s clear that backing female entrepreneurs isn’t just
about equality. It’s smart business.
60 Seconds with Clare Taylor
My inspiration is: I take inspiration from everywhere. I don’t have one person, book or place I look to. I find ideas in books,
podcasts, travel, restaurants, hotels, retail and the things I see online. I’m naturally good at spotting
something brilliant in one world and thinking, how could this work over here? Then reshaping it into
something useful for me or my clients.
podcasts, travel, restaurants, hotels, retail and the things I see online. I’m naturally good at spotting
something brilliant in one world and thinking, how could this work over here? Then reshaping it into
something useful for me or my clients.
My greatest fear is: Camping. Or, frankly, any holiday where I’m expected to bring my own bedding.
The most courageous thing I have ever done is: Back myself. Starting again professionally when I could quite easily have stayed with what was familiar,
and building a business around what I’m genuinely very good at.
and building a business around what I’m genuinely very good at.
I am most proud of: Leaving the security of corporate life and building a business in an entirely new niche, at the start of a
global pandemic, with three children under three.
global pandemic, with three children under three.
Guiltless pleasure: A very long lunch with friends, in the sunshine, by the sea.
Mantra I live by: “Focus on the problem and the problem gets bigger. Focus on the solution and the solution gets bigger.”
I borrowed this one from Elle Macpherson. When I credited her with it in a post, she replied to thank me
for the reminder, saying she needed to hear her own words again in that moment.
Female role model: I don’t think I have just one. I admire different women for different things: their ambition, style, resilience,
creativity, humour or the way they’ve built their lives. I’d rather borrow the best bits from lots of brilliant
women than try to emulate just one.
creativity, humour or the way they’ve built their lives. I’d rather borrow the best bits from lots of brilliant
women than try to emulate just one.
Women-led brand I love: Anya Hindmarch. I loved her book If In Doubt, Wash Your Hair, particularly her honesty about the juggle
of building an ambitious business while raising a family. As a mother of three building my own business,
that resonated enormously. I also love the wit, creativity and very British sense of fun she brings to
luxury.
of building an ambitious business while raising a family. As a mother of three building my own business,
that resonated enormously. I also love the wit, creativity and very British sense of fun she brings to
luxury.
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