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Welcome to the Peer Suite Monday Edition, the weekly newsletter where female founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, and professional women get the latest trends, opportunities, and advice.
Inside today's edition, you will find:
- How to build confidence when you are starting something new
- The best colours to give to refresh your branding in 2025
- 50+ funding opportunities for your business
- Where to connect with fellow career pivoters in London
- The importance of vulnerability
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In this week's deep dive, we’re exploring confidence, and specifically, how to build it when you’re starting something new.
Back in 2016, I quit my career as a private banker to pivot into a new industry and start a business - nothing like taking on two major changes at once! I had no experience running a business, and I’d never worked in the travel industry, yet I set out to create what eventually became one of the leading luxury women’s group trip companies, reaching millions of readers and followers every year.
Was I confident? Surprisingly yes. Even though I didn't have experience as a founder I was excited and driven to learn, and that excitement is ultimately what gave me the confidence to push through to succeed.
But after selling my first business and starting something new (this Peer Suite community!), I noticed something different. I didn’t have the same blind confidence I had the first time around, and it made me stop and ask myself why.
I realised that when I started my first business I didn't know what was ahead of me, and the second time around I led with more caution because now I knew all the things that needed to go right to make a business work and all the things that could potentially go wrong along the way.
So, how can you build confidence when starting something new?
Confidence isn’t something you magically wake up with. If you’re starting something new and feel overwhelmed or unsure, here are a few strategies to help you:
- Make sure the 'something new' is something you are passionate about. Whether it’s a new job, pivoting to a different industry, or launching your first business, passion is what will ultimately drive you to invest the time and effort needed to grow, learn, and gain confidence.
- Lean on a mentor, peer, or community. Getting advice from someone experienced and confident in the area that you feel unsure about will help build your knowledge and confidence.
- Break your goals into smaller, manageable tasks and focus on completing one at a time. Achieving small wins triggers the release of dopamine, which is associated with motivation and confidence.
- Learn through action, not perfection. The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman emphasizes that confidence is built through action, not waiting until you feel "ready." Taking action will allow you to learn and in turn, boost your confidence.
- Reframe failure as feedback. Research by Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck on the growth mindset tells us that viewing failure as feedback builds resilience, so shift your mindset to see mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow.
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Show Her The Money Virtual Screening, 1-6th March: This documentary explores the barriers female founders face in securing venture capital, with only 2% of funding going to women. It highlights challenges, biases, and the fight for change in the funding world through inspiring stories. Get your tickets here
Women On Our Way Pivot Club, 5th February: Connect with fellow career pivoters to work towards your next career steps, and get/give feedback to support others towards theirs. Book tickets here
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The Peer Suite Grants Database has been updated for 2025 with 50+ grants and funding opportunities to apply to today.
The Database Includes:
- 50+ open grant opportunities
- Grants starting at £1,000, up to £2 million
- Key grant details, application requirements and where to apply for each of the grants
- Searchable database that can be sorted by location, grant size, entry dates and industry
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How Female Entrepreneurs Will Win In 2025
In this episode, Jessica shares three key strategies female entrepreneurs must embrace in 2025 to thrive, from building authentic personal brands to leveraging community connections. Packed with actionable advice, it’s a must-listen for anyone looking to turn challenges into opportunities this year.
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The Power Of Vulnerability
Brené has become a household name as the author of some of the best books on leadership and vulnerability, including Daring Greatly. However, her TED Talk on Vulnerability put Brené on the map for most people. In her talk, she shares her insights from studying vulnerability and how those learnings can apply to all of us.
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As you head into this week, I hope this edition has sparked some new ideas, whether it’s building confidence to take that first step, refreshing your branding, or exploring new opportunities to fund or grow your business.
Remember, confidence comes through action, so the best cure for feeling unconfident is to push through and just start!
If any of these topics resonate with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts or learn about what you're working on this year. Hit reply and let me know!
Your friend, Rebecca from Peer Suite x
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