How my Help to Grow: Management mentor helped me get over imposter syndrome and lead with confidence

When head of finance Nicole Owen went on maternity leave, she returned to work with a fresh perspective – she was determined to sharpen her business skills to ensure she could help Bradford manufacturing company Powersheds achieve the global expansion it was poised for. 

Nicole enrolled on the Help to Grow: Management Course at the University of Huddersfield in September 2024 and quickly found the modules and mentoring forging a razor-sharp clarity in her mind on how she could drive the business forward. 

While the company was already on an upwards trajectory, this combined with Nicole’s clear financial management skills saw Powersheds grow from £1m turnover in the first year to a forecasted £20m this year. The company has won multiple awards for business growth and was ranked the fastest-growing company in the Yorkshire Fastest 50 list. 

Nicole said: “I had just had nine months off on maternity leave and had a fresh perspective on the business. I came in for Keeping in Touch (KIT) days and had many ideas and I thought that the Help to Grow: Management course would help put some applied theory behind my ideas.  

“My role had evolved from pre-maternity leave to being head down in the transactional work to coming back to a solid team who can manage on their own so that I can focus on the strategy and the business road map. 

"The course was really good. Most courses are all about theory but the Help to Grow: Management course applied the theory to real businesses. I learnt a lot in the ‘Winning New Markets’ module, which was based on Ooni Pizza ovens, which have diversified into different countries and product ranges.  

“This is a model that we want to follow.” 

As part of the training, Nicole worked closely with Help to Grow: Management volunteer mentor Stephen Baxter. One of the key issues she was keen to get over was imposter syndrome.  

Nicole said: “The mentoring was the best thing about the course. After connecting with him on the Enterprise Nation platform, Stephen and I just clicked. His expertise is working with business leaders to improve their confidence and imposter syndrome to reach new levels. I have come on so much since working with him.” 

Stephen said: “When we're talking about this issue, I reassure my mentees not to try and get over it or get past it. It's something you should hold on to, because imposter syndrome is the feeling that keeps you learning. That's the feeling that keeps you growing. That's the feeling that makes you want to get better.  

“And when I started talking to Nicole in that way, it felt like there was a bit of a light bulb moment. She understands now that it's something that she should hold on to while understanding the benefits of it and the positives.  

“I think that that combination of slightly different approaches reframing how we talked about it and reframing how she thought about it helped to just put it in perspective.” 

Wakefield-based Stephen, founder of Nine Dots Coaching and before that founder of successful financial planning business Robertson Baxter, also worked with Nicole to help her feel more confident presenting to the board and to her directors at Powersheds. 

He added: “We did a lot of work on body language and communication skills and how she could just compose herself a little bit if she was asked questions and so not necessarily improving her presentation, more working on the delivery.” 

Stephen said he became a mentor because he wanted to give back. He said:  I've been in business for 20 years. I made every mistake in the book and I learnt from some of them and had to make a few of them a few times before I learned from them. And it was a vehicle to be able to give people some shortcuts and I am really enjoying helping people like Nicole realise their potential and grow businesses.” 

Polly Dhaliwal, COO of small business support platform and membership community, said: “When we started to recruit volunteer mentors to support small businesses, we had no idea what the response would be. It involved pledging at least ten hours of your own time per candidate, as well as undergoing training, but time and time again, we have seen thousands of knowledgeable individuals like Stephen step forward to help – many mentoring multiple founders. 

“We’ve been genuinely blown away by the most amazing national network of business leaders and advisers willing to step in and help businesses to thrive like the amazing Powersheds. 

“Small firms are more innovative, they support their local economies and create sustainable jobs with all the benefits that brings to their local community. Good mentoring for businesses is so key to success for everyone.” 

Led by business support group Newable, technology partner and business membership platform Enterprise Nation and the Association of Business Mentors, the consortium was appointed by the Government to develop a national network of business leaders and experts who can share their skills and experience with firms on the practical management training course to support economic growth. 

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