What if the way we work isn’t driven by habits, but by principles? In this FoundHers Notes piece, I explore the ideas that shape how I make decisions, from health and freedom to systems, organisation and agency. They’re the same principles that have shaped the evolution of STYLISA FoundHers and my belief that entrepreneurship, leadership, wealth and influence are all ultimately about creating greater choice and opportunity.

A stronger North needs more than investment. It needs more people with the opportunity to build businesses, create jobs and shape the future of our region. Inspired by today’s conversation about devolution and a No. 10 presence in Manchester, this FoundHers Notes explores a question I believe deserves far more attention: How do we ensure more women are creating, scaling and leading businesses in the North?

Visibility. Access. Influence. Power. Capital. These are words that can make people uncomfortable, particularly when women say them out loud. I’ve been reflecting on ambition recently and questioning why we’re often expected to soften it or explain it away. Perhaps the real conversation isn’t about whether we should want these things at all, but what we choose to do with them once we have them.

Building a business and accessing capital are only part of the story. There is another layer that is far less visible, where decisions are made, influence is exercised, and direction is set. In this FoundHers Notes piece, I explore the gap between visibility and power, and why understanding what happens inside these rooms matters more than we often acknowledge.

There’s a phase in building something meaningful where it feels like nothing is happening. You’re doing the work, but the response hasn’t caught up yet. I’ve been sitting with that recently, and I think we’ve misunderstood it. This isn’t a waiting room. It’s a proving ground. The question is whether you recognise it before you walk away.

One year ago, I published the first STYLISA FoundHers interview. No big announcement, just a decision to start. A year later, it has become something far more layered than I imagined. Not just a series, but an ecosystem. In this piece, I reflect on what building this platform has actually taught me about visibility, structure, and the quiet work that sits behind something real.

Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of speaking with twelve remarkable women through the STYLISA FoundHers platform. Different industries, different journeys, different ambitions. Yet when you sit with these conversations long enough, patterns begin to emerge. In this FoundHers Notes reflection, I step back from the interviews themselves to share twelve observations about purpose, reinvention, courage and the realities of building something meaningful.

Five interviews. Five patterns. FoundHer FundHers was created to open up honest conversations about money. What I didn’t expect was how clearly those conversations would reveal the deeper truths about confidence, protection, identity and financial literacy. This is what five women have taught me so far, and why this platform is only just getting started.

In a world where inclusion remains conditional, access alone is no longer enough. This article reflects on why building our own structures has become essential, not reactive. Rooted in history and lived experience, it explores the difference between visibility and ownership, and why STYLISA FoundHers exists as a deliberate, enduring act of authorship and power.

There is a stage in the founder journey where visibility is no longer the issue, yet progress still feels elusive. This piece explores the quiet plateau that sits between being seen and being selected, and why clarity, not confidence or more content, is often what moves founders forward.

What do six extraordinary women founders have in common with my own journey? More than I ever expected. In this personal reflection, I share the lessons I’ve learned from the STYLISA FoundHers so far—and how their stories have held up a mirror to my own. From burnout to bold pivots, this piece is about building with purpose, even when the path isn’t clear.

AI has changed how we work, but not why we do it. In The Age of AI: Why Your Voice Matters More Than Ever, Lisa Maynard-Atem explores why personal branding, clarity, and human connection are still the most powerful differentiators in a world of machine-made content — and why visibility without strategy is just noise.

Introducing FoundHer FundHers - the latest branch of the STYLISA FoundHers platform. It’s time to move the conversation from visibility to viability. This new strand will spotlight the funders, ex-founders and changemakers working to close the investment gap and build real access to capital for women. We’ve found her. Now let’s fund her. First feature drops Monday 13 October 2025.

Founders don’t fail from a lack of ideas. They fail from too many. In my latest article, I introduce Progress or Park™, a decision-making philosophy that cuts through overwhelm by putting every idea in one of two places: progress it, or park it. No maybes. No wasted energy. Discover how this simple shift creates clarity, momentum, and focus for purpose-driven entrepreneurs.

Every founder has a story, but are you telling the right one? My latest article introduces The Authority Audit, a simple tool to help you check if you’re leading with borrowed credibility, inconsistent messaging, or generic positioning. Discover how to shift into a story that builds lasting authority, visibility, and growth.

We’ve all leaned on borrowed credibility - the big brands, the powerful names, the glittering associations. But real influence comes when you stop leading with someone else’s story and start owning your own.

What do six extraordinary women founders have in common with my own journey? More than I ever expected. In this personal reflection, I share the lessons I’ve learned from the STYLISA FoundHers so far—and how their stories have held up a mirror to my own. From burnout to bold pivots, this piece is about building with purpose, even when the path isn’t clear.

Discover the new digital home of the STYLISA FoundHers series, a growing platform spotlighting bold stories of female entrepreneurs building businesses with purpose. Explore past features, find out how to be involved, and see what’s coming next as the series continues to grow in reach, impact and intention.

Marketing strategist Lisa Maynard-Atem shares her new business direction in Prolific North, focused on helping underrepresented founders build powerful personal brands. Drawing on two decades of experience, Lisa’s mission is rooted in purpose, visibility, and impact. Read the full story by Rachael Hesno.

Clarity, courage & starting again—here are 3 powerful lessons I’ve learnt just one week into my rebrand.