What Small Business Really Looks Like: Voices From the Inside
Wed Jan 07 2026
Welcome to this special episode of Powering Productivity, created in celebration of Small Business Saturday and our place in the UK’s SmallBiz100.
Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of sitting with founders, freelancers, independent coworking operators, community leaders and small teams, all people who've shared their truths with such honesty and generosity.
What struck me, time and time again, is how similar their stories are, not in the details but in the heart of them.
Again and again, our conversations returned to the same quiet realities: the responsibility of holding things together, the emotional load that often goes unseen, and the importance of connection, care and support along the way.
Small business isn’t powered by perfect strategies or flawless plans.
It’s powered by people.
By community.
By the courage to keep going when things feel heavy and the relief and joy of finding support in places you didn’t expect.
Across Series 4 of Powering Productivity, guests spoke openly about what this looks like in practice.
From Claire Carpenter (Claire Carpenter Coaching) and Roland Stanley (Dragon Coworking), we heard how belonging, everyday check-ins and genuine care can turn a workspace into something far more meaningful than an office.
Through voices like Stacey Sheppard (Tribe Coworking) and Maria do Céu Bastos (Nowhere Coworking), themes of resilience, vulnerability and the need for peer support came to the fore, particularly for those juggling many roles, responsibilities and expectations.
With reflections from Benjamin Carew (Othership) and conversations linked to Connected Hubs, the lens widened to include flexible work, regional opportunity and the ripple effects that occur when people are enabled to work closer to home and contribute back to their communities.
And through insights shared by Pauline Roussel (Coworkies) and Yoshio Tsuda (Morino Office), we were reminded that coworking is deeply shaped by place and culture and that care for community, whether urban or rural, sits at the heart of sustainable work everywhere.
So in this special wrap-up episode, I’m bringing together some of the moments that have stayed with me most. The short reflections, insights and truths that show what small business really looks like from the inside.
This is a celebration of the humans behind the work.
A recognition of the emotional and practical support systems that hold us up.
And a reminder that none of us are building alone.
As you listen, I’d love you to reflect on this:
What’s been quietly holding you up in your own work or business lately and who’s part of that support system for you?
I hope you enjoy these voices as much as I did and that they help you feel a little more seen, understood and supported in your own small business journey.
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Welcome to this special episode of Powering Productivity, created in celebration of Small Business Saturday and our place in the UK’s SmallBiz100. Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of sitting with founders, freelancers, independent coworking operators, community leaders and small teams, all people who've shared their truths with such honesty and generosity. What struck me, time and time again, is how similar their stories are, not in the details but in the heart of them. Again and again, our conversations returned to the same quiet realities: the responsibility of holding things together, the emotional load that often goes unseen, and the importance of connection, care and support along the way. Small business isn’t powered by perfect strategies or flawless plans. It’s powered by people. By community. By the courage to keep going when things feel heavy and the relief and joy of finding support in places you didn’t expect. Across Series 4 of Powering Productivity, guests spoke openly about what this looks like in practice. From Claire Carpenter (Claire Carpenter Coaching) and Roland Stanley (Dragon Coworking), we heard how belonging, everyday check-ins and genuine care can turn a workspace into something far more meaningful than an office. Through voices like Stacey Sheppard (Tribe Coworking) and Maria do Céu Bastos (Nowhere Coworking), themes of resilience, vulnerability and the need for peer support came to the fore, particularly for those juggling many roles, responsibilities and expectations. With reflections from Benjamin Carew (Othership) and conversations linked to Connected Hubs, the lens widened to include flexible work, regional opportunity and the ripple effects that occur when people are enabled to work closer to home and contribute back to their communities. And through insights shared by Pauline Roussel (Coworkies) and Yoshio Tsuda (Morino Office), we were reminded that coworking is deeply shaped by place and culture and that care for community, whether urban or rural, sits at the heart of sustainable work everywhere. So in this special wrap-up episode, I’m bringing together some of the moments that have stayed with me most. The short reflections, insights and truths that show what small business really looks like from the inside. This is a celebration of the humans behind the work. A recognition of the emotional and practical support systems that hold us up. And a reminder that none of us are building alone. As you listen, I’d love you to reflect on this: What’s been quietly holding you up in your own work or business lately and who’s part of that support system for you? I hope you enjoy these voices as much as I did and that they help you feel a little more seen, understood and supported in your own small business journey.