Stepping into your own business brings freedom

As soon as I left university, I decided to travel the world alone. The trip inspired me by the bucket-load – but crucially, it granted me lifelong itchy feet. Ever since then, I’ve been focused on education and travel – and my journey has kept me on a path of constant learning.

Currently, I’m working in three businesses. I founded the first, Coco Airlie Consulting, back in 2017. As the company’s Chief Change & Planet Officer, my focus is on sustainability, change and impact consulting. I’m also the founder of an e-commerce platform iRegen Limited, for all things regenerative agriculture (think: the Amazon of regenerative agriculture) and Reclaim Earth CIC – a community investment and funding initiative for all things climate positive in developing countries.

Before making the decision to go solo, my career took me through a decade’s worth of sales, marketing and events – initially with Red Bull, then Red Bull Racing and Air Race. I then went on to work in innovation, projects and commercial for a few beer companies, including Heineken, before finally ending up as Director of Sports and Entertainment at the National Exhibition Centre.

It was here that I knew there was a better balance to be sought in life, career and family – so I decided to leave my job and set up on my own. Scary times.

Thankfully, stepping into my own business brought a sense of freedom, as well as control. I grew my network further and importantly, I addressed the previously encroaching work-life-balance issue. With that, however, came the flipside: not knowing when the next client may come, and having to battle through imposter syndrome, questionable price quotes and red-flag business-folk.

I call this process The Good (a sense of freedom), The Bad (instability) and The Ugly (being taken for a mug by non-payers).

Since leaving the day-to-day grind of the commercial world, I’ve worked across B2B and B2C, both as an employee and a consultant, but my last five years have all been in the sustainable space. I’m also a trustee to the UK board of Education Africa, where our focus is to raise funds to provide education for the most disadvantaged. My work as a business mentor with the Prince’s Trust has been a great addition to my voluntary work and give back philosophy.

Along the way (humble-brag alert), I’ve received a letter from David Attenborough in relation to my sustainable work.

My advice to anyone going into business is to give back and pay it forward. Yes, this is the long route through to success – but the benefits of moving in this manner far outweigh the time put in.

You’ll help to inspire friends, family – and remember: the world is bigger than you.

So, where am I today? I’m working on various projects for clients, with some exciting upcoming events for fundraising and refugee support. I look forward to engaging with you all – remember nothing lasts forever, if you are offered something and you are not sure, go for it and work it out later. Never give up (unless it’s on people who drain you!) and above all have fun.