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Hey! 👋🏼 ...welcome back to the Circle of Influence by WILD & WILD!

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What've we got today →

• ✨Spotlight: Jeannie Pickering

• 💰 One Funnel Away Challenge

• ⛺️ What’s Coming up

✨Jeannie Pickering - How to Rethink Life’s Challenges

Jeannie Pickering, a trailblazer in childcare, co-founded KidsUnlimited, transforming it into a nationally recognised brand before launching her innovative venture, Back to the Garden Childcare. Her story is a testament to passion-driven entrepreneurship and a deep commitment to child development.

Jeannie and her husband Stewart started KidsUnlimited in the 1980s, pioneering workplace nurseries and setting new standards in childcare. Their entrepreneurial journey began with a single nursery and expanded to over 50 locations, eventually becoming part of the prestigious Bright Horizons family of nurseries. In 2008, after selling KidsUnlimited for around £45 Million.

Her mission was to give women the opportunity to get back to work after giving birth - despite mounting push-back from people that didn’t believe that’s what women were looking for.

After years of building her small childcare empire - in 1993 after hearing the announcement that well-known campaigner and founder of The Body Shop, Anita Roddick, was launching an in-house nursery at the business’s headquarters, Jeannie hopped straight on a flight to Gatwick to ensure their nursery was chosen for the major million-pound development.

“When we got this contract it was all over the press at the time, we ended up on breakfast TV and talking to media outlets about the nursery. It was such an exciting time,”.

After the sale, Jeannie did not retire her ambitions; instead, she ventured back into the childcare industry with Back to the Garden Childcare, a concept focusing on holistic, outdoor-based learning experiences for children.

Career Achievements:

• Co-Founder of KidsUnlimited: Grew the brand into a leading childcare provider in the UK, recognised for its innovative approach to early years education.

• Pioneer of Workplace Nurseries: Collaborated with influential figures like Anita Roddick of The Body Shop to integrate childcare solutions into workplaces.

• Creator of Back to the Garden Childcare: Focuses on a nature-centric educational philosophy, integrating Forest Schools and outdoor learning environments to foster child development.

• Advocate for Healthy, Organic Food in Childcare: Prioritises local, organic food providers to ensure nutritious offerings for children, underscoring her belief in the importance of diet in early development.

Challenges Along the Way: Transitioning from a well-established brand like KidsUnlimited to starting anew with Back to the Garden was not without its challenges. Jeannie navigated changes in the industry landscape, evolving regulations, and the complexities of introducing a new educational philosophy focused on outdoor and experiential learning.

Vision for the Future: Jeannie remains dedicated to enhancing the childcare experience, advocating for environments that are not only safe and nurturing but also stimulating and conducive to natural learning. Her ongoing work aims to set new benchmarks in childcare, emphasising sustainability and the holistic development of children.

Philosophy and Motivation: Driven by a passion for early childhood education, Jeannie believes in empowering children through innovative and natural learning environments. Her approach goes beyond traditional childcare, offering children the foundations for lifelong learning and development through exposure to the natural world and creative play.

Jeannie Pickering's contributions to childcare have reshaped the industry, offering profound insights into the role of environment and nutrition in child development. Her work inspires parents and educators alike to reconsider and reshape how childcare is approached, making her a true pioneer in her field.

We asked Jeanie for her thoughts on the latest trends and opportunities she feels are popping right now - that female entrepreneurs could be working on.

What are the biggest opportunities you see right now that female entrepreneurs could be working on, and why do you think these areas are ripe for innovation?

I feel that business requires a more conscious approach. We need to take into consideration - in business - what impact that we might have on the planet and the future for our children. We as women intuitively look at things from a lateral point of view.  

“I wish the women would hurry up and take over” - Leonard Cohen 

 There’s your answer!

What was a pivotal moment of adversity in your career, and how did it shape your path forward? 

A pivotal moment for me was being faced with a serious issue in that our conviction for smoking marijuana in the 70’s was used after 15 years by a manipulative individual to discredit us with a major client. That client stepped up and believed in us. She said, “who in the 70’s at university hadn't smoked cannabis”. She believed in us and we delivered for her 100%.

Can you share an unexpected lesson you learned along your journey that has significantly influenced your approach to business or leadership?

When somebody says no …do it anyway!

For more insights into Jeannie Pickering's innovative approaches to interior design and her work with crystals, you follow and connect via her personal Instagram account → @jeannie_pickering and through various interviews and articles discussing her impactful career.

Also, check our her beautiful Etsy Shop Edge of 17 Rocks to fulfill all of your crystal desires! 💎 

That's the post!

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