Episode Details
Back to EpisodesEP28: Michelle Pughe-Parry de Klerk, founder of The Women’s Chapter®, a purpose-led community championing the economic and personal growth of women in business.
Description
In this episode of The Midlife Entrepreneur podcast, Jo introduces Michelle Pughe-Parry de Klerk, the founder of the Women's Chapter, a community fostering the growth of women in business. Since 2014, the Women's Chapter has reached over 30,000 women through events, thought leadership, mentoring, and initiatives, becoming the first women's network in the UK to achieve B Corp certification for its social and environmental impact. Michelle shares her journey from varied career roles to founding the Women's Chapter as a passion project driven by a need for meaningful business connections. Michelle also discusses the pivotal moments that led to the growth of the Women's Chapter, including personal challenges and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. She emphasises the importance of building a community that promotes genuine collaboration over transactional networking. This insightful episode highlights Michelle's dedication to empowering women and fostering connections that drive positive change. The conversation also covers key aspects of managing and scaling a business, outsourcing, maintaining a work-life balance, and future goals focused on simplicity and core strengths.
00:00 Welcome to The Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast
00:56 Introducing Michelle Pughe-Parry de Klerk
02:18 Michelle's Career Journey
03:52 The Birth of The Women's Chapter
06:23 Challenges and Inspirations
12:37 Building a Digital Home
15:26 Navigating Personal and Professional Changes
20:32 Expanding the Community
21:34 Managing Growth and Team Dynamics
25:45 Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Opportunities
28:24 Balancing Ambition and Realism
29:13 The Entrepreneurial Mindset
29:43 Building a Supportive Community
30:19 Diverse Inspirations and Success Stories
30:57 Aligning Passion with Purpose
31:23 Reinventing Career Paths
34:59 The Value of Midlife Experience
42:44 Future-Proofing Your Life and Business
45:56 Investments Worth Every Penny
48:45 Reflections and Gratitude
50:51 Looking Forward to 2026
Edited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025.
Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BX
For bookings: eightworks@eightclub.co.uk
Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change.
Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneur
Contact: enquiries@joglynnsmith.com
www.joglynnsmith.com
MUSIC CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.io
PHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com