Getting Pregnant Was Her Best Leadership Decision - Amelia Christie-Miller, founder of Bold Bean Co - Ep 73
Wed Feb 04 2026
This episode The Maternity Hustle is called “Getting Pregnant Was Her Best Leadership Decision” and we’re thrilled to be joined by Amelia Christie-Miller, founder of Bold Bean Co. Amelia was around six weeks away from her due date and deep in the most intense version of “the messy middle”.
Amelia was at that very specific founder crossroads: the business was growing, big brand moments were landing (including a major book launch and PR push), and she’d just made her biggest hire yet - a new Marketing Director - right as she was preparing to step back for maternity leave. Terrifying? Yes. Also potentially the best thing she could have done for the business.
In this conversation, we go beyond the surface-level “how are you feeling?” and get into the operational and emotional reality of pregnancy as a founder: the transition period before the baby arrives, why coming off Slack and email matters, how to set escalation points so you can truly switch off, and the pressure women feel to perform ambition while becoming a mum.
Amelia shares why she wants to take 3–4 months out (and prove that founders don’t have to be on investor calls two weeks postpartum), how pregnancy has already changed the way she leads, and why she’s intentionally building maximum self-compassion into her plan - so she doesn’t trap herself in promises she might not be able (or want) to keep.
We also talk about how moving to Barcelona changed everything: boundaries, pace, childcare infrastructure, and the cultural difference of living somewhere where families are actually supported. It’s a sharp contrast to the UK, where even high-performing founders still feel the financial pressure of childcare - and where the lack of structural support quietly shapes women’s career decisions years before they ever have kids.
Finally, we get into Bold Bean itself: what it looks like to scale a brand that’s grown through organic PR and community magic, why the next stage may require changing gears (without losing the soul), and how stepping away can create the vacuum that lets a team thrive.
We cover:
Planning maternity leave as a founder: the “wind-down” before birth and the return-to-work transition
Hiring a Marketing Director right before mat leave (and why it might be the best forcing function)
The “power woman” pressure vs the reality of what you actually want
Identity, ambition, judgement, and modelling what’s permissible for your team
UK vs Spain: maternity cover, childcare costs, and the culture of family support
Scaling Bold Bean beyond early adopters while protecting the magic
The most underrated advice: “There’s never a good time” + “Good enough is good enough”
If you’re a founder, marketer, or ambitious woman thinking about kids - or already navigating it - this episode will feel like someone finally said the quiet part out loud.
🎙️ New episodes every fortnight.
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This episode The Maternity Hustle is called “Getting Pregnant Was Her Best Leadership Decision” and we’re thrilled to be joined by Amelia Christie-Miller, founder of Bold Bean Co. Amelia was around six weeks away from her due date and deep in the most intense version of “the messy middle”. Amelia was at that very specific founder crossroads: the business was growing, big brand moments were landing (including a major book launch and PR push), and she’d just made her biggest hire yet - a new Marketing Director - right as she was preparing to step back for maternity leave. Terrifying? Yes. Also potentially the best thing she could have done for the business. In this conversation, we go beyond the surface-level “how are you feeling?” and get into the operational and emotional reality of pregnancy as a founder: the transition period before the baby arrives, why coming off Slack and email matters, how to set escalation points so you can truly switch off, and the pressure women feel to perform ambition while becoming a mum. Amelia shares why she wants to take 3–4 months out (and prove that founders don’t have to be on investor calls two weeks postpartum), how pregnancy has already changed the way she leads, and why she’s intentionally building maximum self-compassion into her plan - so she doesn’t trap herself in promises she might not be able (or want) to keep. We also talk about how moving to Barcelona changed everything: boundaries, pace, childcare infrastructure, and the cultural difference of living somewhere where families are actually supported. It’s a sharp contrast to the UK, where even high-performing founders still feel the financial pressure of childcare - and where the lack of structural support quietly shapes women’s career decisions years before they ever have kids. Finally, we get into Bold Bean itself: what it looks like to scale a brand that’s grown through organic PR and community magic, why the next stage may require changing gears (without losing the soul), and how stepping away can create the vacuum that lets a team thrive. We cover: Planning maternity leave as a founder: the “wind-down” before birth and the return-to-work transition Hiring a Marketing Director right before mat leave (and why it might be the best forcing function) The “power woman” pressure vs the reality of what you actually want Identity, ambition, judgement, and modelling what’s permissible for your team UK vs Spain: maternity cover, childcare costs, and the culture of family support Scaling Bold Bean beyond early adopters while protecting the magic The most underrated advice: “There’s never a good time” + “Good enough is good enough” If you’re a founder, marketer, or ambitious woman thinking about kids - or already navigating it - this episode will feel like someone finally said the quiet part out loud. 🎙️ New episodes every fortnight.