As a Founder - Take Heart 💗 as New Beginnings Unfold >>>
Take Heart 💗 as This New Beginning Unfolds
There are other ways.
Imagine waking up this Monday with a genuine pep in your step, a real glide in your stride—not because you're forcing it, but because you're moving toward something that truly fits.
We’re all different: from when we like to wake up, to where we like to work, to how much we need to move (or not). But for so long, many of us invest so much energy masking and trying to 'be' in a world of work that just isn't a natural fit.
This is your moment to shift the focus.
Reclaim Your Natural Energy
1. Where are you coming from? Where do your strengths more naturally shine?
2. When was the last time you truly took a step back?
3. What is your why, and what do you really want from this day, this week, and the coming months?
Share your #mydreamdayis
Anna B Sexton Open To Create »»» popping up as part of MerseyRail Local Business week Moorfields Station 2nd October 2025
To add to the opportunities to open up conversations about work, life and our dreams, I am doing a competition to win 3 x 3 1-2-1 coaching programmes with me
We help you find new love for your career, create a plan B or make the leap into freelancer or Founding
- Share To Win - what would your dream day look like ?
How - Via Instagram use #mydreamdayis
Tag in
@annabsexton
@opentocreate_
To win one of 3 coaching programmes [3 x 1 hour online coaching sessions]
Closing date:
12th October 2025 11.59pm
Founders talking tech for creative good >>>
Summary
In this episode of the Everyday Creativity Podcast, host Anna B Sexton engages with Fiona Shaw, a journalist, writer, and publisher based in Liverpool. They explore the intersection of creativity, AI, sustainability, and social enterprise, discussing how these elements contribute to community engagement and the evolving landscape of business in Liverpool. Fiona shares insights on her work with Ethos Magazine, the importance of good business practices, and the role of community spaces like Kitty's Laundrette in fostering social connections. The conversation highlights the need for a stronger vision for Liverpool's social enterprises and the impact of chance encounters in sparking creativity.
Founding in the spaces in between >>>
IN BETWEEN...
Where are you right now as a Founder? As we round out this week...
This question is a potent reflection and inflexion point...
These last 3-4 weeks in founder coaching, mentoring and training sessions, the following theme is emerging
"I am in between the old me and the new me..."
"I don't yet feel like who I know I'm meant to be - it's an in-between time..."
"I am feeling into the new, and it feels like I don't really know myself anymore..."
SOUND FAMILIAR?
It's ok - you are not broken, you are not behind, and you are so 'not late' you are in the becoming...
SO TAKE CARE - allow in ease, leaning into the richness of a vital phase of growth into the next phase of your Life...
Show up whilst you build foundations >>>
REAL TALK...
We are all in the process of growing ourselves, & our careers whether its as a Founder of a business [ad]venture, leaning into your next promotion or applying for that next round of funding for your passion project...
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE REEADY...
-- Perfect isn't it - progress is, do it messy, do it anyway - find your brave
-- Polished does not cut it - going for it with your heart forward sleeves rolled up gets way more traction
-- Hiding out doesn't help you - showing up helps others believe they can too
-- Broken or even broke is a mindset - building from the ground up is foundational
-- Ducks all in the order - nah, ducks all over the bathroom floor, towels all wet... still doing it in the pockets of time whilst the kettle boils!
-- Putting out your own inner spark - no way, you are bold, bright and a blaze with passion, drive and purpose
SO, SHARE IT... [thats what these platforms are for...]
Who is up for sharing more of the realness of our lives on here?
Let's show up and show out...
#writtenbyahuman #notAi #humans #beingreal #growthmindset #doitmessy #leadyourself #ownyourpower #foundersfound #careerbuilders #passionprojects #selfdrive #knowyourself #helpothers #mentors #coaches #consultants #livefully #doitanyways #beokwithfear #leanintolearning
Founders grow other Founders >>>
I'm starting the week on a high note and I want to celebrate with all of you!
Over the weekend, I reached a personal milestone: Bronze Builder. But the real win isn't a title; it’s the opportunity to welcome three phenomenal people into our travel network.
Each of these individuals is a creative powerhouse, dedicated to making a difference. They're already building freelance portfolios that support community engagement and lift up under-resourced communities.
Now, they’ll be adding global brands like Exodus, Not in the Guidebooks, Jet2, Disney, and Virgin to their toolkit, learning social selling, and stepping into new leadership roles.
Join me in celebrating these three leaders! Who's ready to go into the week with some good news?
Flourishing Fridays >>>
Anna B Sexton free self coaching end of week review goal sheet - access award winning global tools to improve your own performance and progress towards your goals and dreams
Let's be real. As founders and ecosystem builders, the Friday afternoon siren song is powerful. The lure of an early lunch that stretches into an early exit, the feeling of the weekend just around the corner—it's completely okay to lean into that flexibility. We're building lives, not just businesses, and that freedom is one of the biggest perks of being our own boss.
But here’s the thing: Is that a slippery slope? Are we so eager to escape the desk that we miss a crucial opportunity to set ourselves up for success? How many of us close the laptop on a Friday feeling like we're not quite sure which way is up, especially when we're juggling remote work, parenting, or other responsibilities? We tell ourselves a quick glance at our calendar on Sunday night is enough to "boss it" on Monday, but deep down, we know that’s not always the case.
RISING & SHINING...
I'm honoured and excited to share that I've been selected as the fully funded candidate for the prestigious TU RISE Master by Research Scholarship at Munster Technological University within the Faculty/School of Business / Department of Management & Enterprise, Cork, Ireland.
Thank you SO much Dr Trudie Murray, for opening the door to this opportunity to co-design, develop & co-create a series of actionable tools and strategies for entrepreneurs, educators, and policymakers, supporting regenerative transitions in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
My research will focus on Nature-Inspired Entrepreneurship: Exploring Biomimicry-Driven Regenerative Business Models for Freelancers, Startups, Microbusinesses and SMEs.
I am delighted to have this time to incubate my thinking, being, and doing by leveraging nature-inspired innovation. This research seeks to empower SMEs as leaders in the shift toward a regenerative economy, fostering resilient, ethical, and financially viable businesses that deliver positive environmental and social impact. A mission that has driven my work since a very early age as an outdoor youth worker.
Massive thanks to Jan Brown for egging me onwards towards even thinking I could go for an opportunity like this and the nddge to attend a conference that led to me meeting Dr. Trudie...
SO it goes without saying I'm eager to get going in Cork, Ireland and build out my work developing sustainable and regenerative practices, starting this September!
NEW SEMESTER GROWTH INCOMING...
Funding Acknowledgement
MTU TU RISE Master by Research scholarship funding is co-financed by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-27 and the Northern & Western Regional Programme 2021-27.
Winning female founder coaches connect >>>
Unlock Your Potential: A Creative Coaching Journey with Anna B. Sexton
Join host Anna B. Sexton on the Everyday Creativity Podcast for a dynamic conversation with fellow coaches Tina Neve and Veronika Sucha. Each brings a unique flair to their coaching spaces, collaborating across the EdTech, corporate, startup to scale, and creative industries.
Though their paths to coaching diverged, they're united by a shared mission: to empower clients with person-centred, creative, and measurable tools.
Discover how their 2024 shortlisting for the GSCA [ESCA] Global Startup Coaching Competition propelled them to help EdTech founders transform their personal purpose, leadership vision, and mission. These three remarkable women were the inaugural 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize winners of the DOHE global coaching talent award!
What If Founders Don't Need Motivation?
What If Founders Don't Need Motivation?
As the week wraps up, how often do we truly review before hitting that out-of-office button?
It's a common story: many founders seek coaching for "motivation" or to "sense-check" their ideas. But what if motivation isn't the missing piece? What if what we truly need is consistent discipline in taking the right daily steps?
Think of your goals, milestones, and action steps not as lofty dreams, but as daily reps. They're the guardrails that help you move the needle, far more than any motivational quote ever could. While inspiration has its place, it's those small, productive steps that compound over time that truly drive success.
So, ask yourself: What are you doing, or not doing, that actually moves the needle forward?
Anna B Sexton award start up coach woth Founders in ed tech travel tech creative industries eco business freelancers microbusinesses
Liverpool London New York Cork Ireland
Co-creating holistic, well rounded Founders >>>
Are We Supporting Founders Holistically?
I've been thinking a lot about the long-term well-being of founders. As coaches, mentors, and trainers, are we inadvertently setting up future challenges by not focusing enough on the whole person? What if we shifted our approach now to get ahead of these issues?
Imagine if, across all the ecosystems we're building together, we made these areas a foundational emphasis:
Happiness
Health
Relationships
Personal growth/development
Finances
Career
Impact
What if we embedded these crucial elements into more of our work, right alongside the business planning, canvases, models, and acceleration programs?
Let’s talk Anna B Sexton +44 [0] 7484 184 292
Drawing out creative narratives threading together deeper community >>>
Drawing out creative narratives threading together deeper community >>>
Jul 22
In this episode of the Everyday Creativity Podcast, Anna B Sexton speaks with Quince Garcia about his creative journey, community engagement, and the importance of resilience and self-love. Quince shares insights into his artistic expression through illustration and filmmaking, as well as his work with young people in the criminal justice system through his organisation, Roadworks Media.
Collective imagination & collaboration are needed… with Olivia Bellas >>>
In this episode of the Everyday Creativity Podcast, host Anna B Sexton speaks with Olivia Bellas
Facilitator / Coach / Thinking Partner / Learning Experience Designer / Social Impact Enabler I Lego® Serious Play® / Open to NED roles / Travel Tech
They delve into the multifaceted nature of creativity, the importance of coaching, and innovative methods like
They explore
How creativity is defined
The role of embodiment and outside thinking
The power of co-dreaming in personal and collective contexts.
Creating ripples one creative action at a time>>>
Who can relate?
Posting each day, blogging, doing DM’s, writing emails, attending networking events and pitching…
It can feel relentless, and often we are looking for the ‘instant’ results vs’ seeing each interaction, creative nudge and conversation as the ‘bricks’ in the foundations of the lives we are crafting for ourselves towards our dreams
SO IT’S BLOODY ACE to have found out I have been nominated for a
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD in the 2025 Liverpool Lifestyle Awards
I asked the founder Amanda Moss what had got me onto this shortlist, as we have really online chatted a bit online and exchanged a few emails. She let me know she has been seeing my posts about my journey and that it connected with her…
SO KEEP SHOWING UP
Global Start Up Coach 2024…
A Historic Win: What My Global Startup GSCA Coach Award Means for You
As a founder or a leader of a world-class incubator or accelerator, you understand the relentless pursuit of excellence.
Today, I'm thrilled to share a significant milestone in my journey that I believe underscores the calibre of support Open To Create>>> offers:
I have been named the winner of the inaugural Global Startup Coach Award.
This isn't just a personal accolade; it's a validation of the impactful, world-class coaching I'm committed to bringing to founders like yours, and within the ecosystems you foster. The award, launched by EdTech startup accelerator DOHE, sought to identify and celebrate exceptional startup and scale coaches worldwide – professionals who consistently demonstrate success in enabling EdTech ventures to thrive.
Building Bridges Through Sound & Stories: Marek J. Smagala
In this powerful opening episode of the Everyday Creativity podcast Series 3, host Anna B. Sexton welcomes Marek J. Smagala—a Liverpool-based video game composer and founder of the inclusive Liverpool Game Dev Network.
From South London’s buzzing creative scene to Merseyside’s growing games industry, Marek shares his inspiring journey of fusing music, storytelling, and community-building. Learn how his love of video games and deep belief in connection led him to create one of the Northwest’s most inclusive networking events—bridging studio heads, students, freelancers, and curious creatives alike.
Together, Anna and Marek explore: 🎮 The creative power of music and storytelling in games 💬 Why genuine networking is still revolutionary in digital spaces 🎯 How rest, rhythm, and structure support sustainable creativity 🌆 The growth of Liverpool’s creative tech scene 🎉 And a sneak peek into Marek’s upcoming Game Dev Summit at Boxpark Liverpool (June 5th)!
Using creative play to solve big world challenges…
WHERE DO YOU BRING YOUR CREATIVITY TO LIFE for more fun, hands on solution focused problem solving?
WORLD CREATIVITY & INNOVATION DAY... has come into being to highlight the pivotal role of creativity and innovation in problem-solving and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
When humans come together in shared creative curiosity, exploration and playful enquiry the magic happens - the innovations, the quirky ways of tackling some of our most 'sticky' problems...
And even if this was not mind blowingly amazing the chance to come together, sit and talk whilst playing with materials gives us connection points and opportunities to open up whilst being creative and doing the making.
I love blending in paper prototyping, collaging new vision boards or making something out of recycled materials in answer to open, coaching questions using my 'Bag of Creative Surprises' workshop toolkit.
What drives a Founder to launch?
WHAT DRIVES FOUNDERS TO LAUNCH?
Well… a lot. After years of coaching and facilitating founders to grow themselves and their ventures, a few core themes show up time and time again:
1. They’ve lived the problem. It’s personal—either something they’ve struggled with directly, or seen someone close to them wrestle with. It bugs them so much, they have to do something about it.
2. It’s a natural evolution of a passion project, side hustle or deep-dive research area. The kind of thing they could talk about for hours.
3. They’ve worked for someone else’s dream long enough to know they could do it differently—better, more ethically, more creatively, or just more them.
4. They’ve invested in a business-in-a-box or franchise—wanting the freedom to be their own boss, with a blueprint to follow.
Founders need more playful approaches >>>
Founders need more playful approaches when tackling creative thinking challenges in their teams and businesses
Yesterday I had the pleasure of playing out in my local area, The Bread Streets L8 Liverpool. It was so much fun making with materials I'd not have thought to use to make prints out of... simple white tac sticky putty
With friends who get how vital giving it a go with new ways of making is not just for the mind, but body and soul too...
Hands down the most fun with white tac, drain coverings and other 'printable' surfaces ive had, will probably since a kid...
The experiences of playing around with new materials in unusual places and spaces got my brain firing off so many other ideas 💡 for more walking and making sessions
COACHING FOUNDERS CHANGES LIVES + BOOSTS SUCCESS >>>
COACHING CHANGES LIVES + BOOSTS FOUNDER’S AND THEIR TEAMS SUCCESS >>>
Coaching unpins the huge variety of internal and external successes for Founders - key among them from my experiences;
growth mindset
greater connection to values, mission and motivation
deeper more meaningful team and partner relationships
pride in the results of the business venture so far, including the highs and lows
great sense of personal authority to lead, and lean into change
Read the Sifted article by Sarah Drumm on the power of coaching in Edtech start and scale ups for driver success and ROI https://sifted.eu/articles/coaching-founders-brnd
Ask us more…
We love good questions…
anna@opentocreate.com
+44 [0] 7484 184 292