FEOIgnition Interview with Rhiannon Beeson, The Be Brand

Following her completion of the FEO Ignition programme, we had the opportunity to sit down with Rhiannon Beeson from The Be Brand to discuss why she decided to become a part of the programme and the invaluable lessons she gained from it.

What motivated you to sign up for the FEO Ignition programme?

When I started to think seriously about starting my own business, I knew I wanted to join the FEO Ignition Programme. I know a lot of people who have been through the sessions, and they got a huge amount from it, from gaining the confidence to take the leap to getting the basics right in those early months.

I was leaving a 20-year career in the corporate world, and I was really nervous about it. The FEO ignition programme covered all of the areas I was concerned about, but best of all, the sessions were delivered by lots of different entrepreneurs who had walked the walks.

What was your favourite part of the programme?

It has to be the people I met across the course, from the wonderful FEO Team, to the business owners delivering the content and the delegates attending. For the full 7 weeks, everyone was so supportive, wanting each other’s businesses to succeed, sharing top tips and making relationships that will last for many years to come.

What key takeaways or knowledge did you gain from the workshop that you believe have been most valuable to your business or entrepreneurial journey?

Oh there are so many, but I would say:

Focus - running a marketing agency is incredibly full on with a huge amount of tasks. I really enjoyed Sally Wray’s session, where she shared her tips for staying focused, getting things done in order of priority and keeping a work-life balance.

Working on the business and not just in it. This is something I’m still working on, and some weeks are better than others, we’re growing really fast, so having this as a constant reminder is really important.

Resilience. Both Christina Colmer McHugh and Jonathan Elvidge shared some incredible stories of resilience and drive. Things might not always go the way that you planned them to, but they are an incredible learning experience and a step on the journey to where you are meant to be.

What advice would you give to someone else thinking about starting their own business?

There will never be a right time, so do your research, be prepared to work harder than you ever have before and take the leap - you will never look back!

What’s next in your FEO journey?

FEO Ignition has really only been the start of my journey. I signed up to be a member as soon as I could, and it has been one of the best investments for me and the business. I’ve also taken part in one NxGen event, and I’m looking forward to doing more and working closely with local schools.

I’m also really excited to start on the 360 journey. We are growing so fast I can’t always keep up. I know that this time out of the business and with so many experts is just invaluable.

Would you recommend this programme to others who are considering starting a business, and if so, why?

Absolutely, you will get so much out of it. Life-long contacts, strategies and processes for your business and the confidence to take the leap. I would recommend signing up to as much of FEO as you can because you will get so much back.