Female Founder: Nadine La Reine and EBN
Name: Nadine La Reine
Company: Effective Business Network
Date started: 2024
Industry: Networking
My story
My entrepreneurial journey began at 8 years old. My dad had his own business as a builder and at 8 years old I bought a beginners guide to learning to type, and taught myself how to use a typewriter I received for my birthday. From then onwards I was an unofficial secretary and typed all of my dads estimates and invoices for his business, and I absolutely loved it!
I have always had a very strong work ethic, and took it upon myself to get a weekend and school holiday job as soon as I turned 13 (when working at that age was a thing!) When I was in the last year of secondary school, we had to start a project with a partner for Business & IT, and for this I started making and selling jewellery with a friend. She almost immediately lost interest and did the bare minimum for the course work, while I continued with it for several years. I loved designing the pieces, crafting unique items which I sold at local craft fayres and to friends and family.
When I was 17 I got a job at Topshop and continued designing, making and selling jewellery, including to a friend at my job who had her own clothing business. I would sell wholesale to her so she could sell them on her stalls. I was always on the lookout for opportunities, and had additional jobs whilst at Topshop, such as doing underwear and Body Shop at home parties in peoples homes. And also several different jobs in bars and restaurants, always keen to take on the chance to earn money! I had a plan to buy my first home before I was 25 and managed to do this at just 24 years old from saving all the money I’d earnt from my extra income jobs for the deposit. I ended up have a successful 15 year career within Arcadia, Topshop/Topman/Dorothy Perkins and worked my way up to being a senior manager responsible for large sites with multi-million turnovers and big teams.
I loved my job, and I was good at it, but I had to make the decision to step away from this when I became a single parent. When my daughter started pre-school, I had a few hours each day to myself, so immediately started doing some cleaning jobs for a friend.
This quickly escalated and I soon had a jam-packed diary of customers who I not only cleaned for, but decluttered, organised, and even designed, and decorated their homes. I loved being able to make a difference in my customers homes, and their lives. They told me how much they loved coming home on the days I had been in their homes, and I took pride in the work I did.
About 8 years ago, I discovered business networking events. I loved meeting and chatting with people, but hated the standing up in front of everyone and talking part! So when I was asked to start hosting events for someone, I decided that the only way I was going to get over myself was to make myself do it more often. So I did exactly that!
In lockdown I started a new business, online speed networking events, and people loved it, including me. Bringing people together, seeing conversations and connections, and support and business being done filled me with joy! I became known as the networking queen! I taught myself how to do everything I needed in order to run a business. I spent time learning everything, from building websites, social media, ads, sales funnels, landing pages, mastering all kinds of different tech systems and processes, email campaigns, soaking up as much knowledge as I possibly could. I loved learning and sharing what I learnt with other people to help them in their own businesses, and that’s when I realised that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. Make a difference in peoples lives in some way, shape or form.
Why I started my business
When the opportunity to purchase EBN came up, I decided it perfectly complemented everything I was already doing. So on 1st July 2024 I became the new owner of a business which had been around for 20 years.
Challenges you have faced & how you have overcome those challenges
EBN has been a roller coaster of a ride so far, as I quickly discovered this was a business which ran like it was still 20 years ago.
There were no systems or processes in place for anything, not even a CRM system, or full details of the members within the network. It has been like started a business from scratch, but with all the fast moving parts of an established business, and it has been very hard.
The website disappeared 2 weeks into owning the business, and I have been lucky to have the skills myself to be able to build all new websites, and completely overhaul the business. I have had challenges and problems galore which I have taken a lot to deal with and are still ongoing.
Your greatest achievement whilst having your own business
I could very easily have given up at many points throughout my life as I have struggled with depression and had several complete breakdowns, a huge amounts of trauma since childhood. But I don’t want to be defined by that, I don’t want to let any of that bad stuff win. If I give into it, then it has taken control of my life and I won’t allow that to happen. Yes, I might have bad days, but I get back up and come back stronger than ever, and I truly believe that as women we all have that instinct within us.
Anything else you think would empower women to start their own business
There is something very special about women supporting women in an environment that empowers, which is why I started the WEBN group of EBN. You may not know how you’re going to achieve your goals, but by staying focused on what you want your life to be like, you stay open to opportunities to make it happen. Listen, learn, soak up knowledge from people who are already on their journey and surround yourself with women who 100% have your back. I have always told my children that they can do, be, have, anything they want in life by being a decent, kind human. And I think that applies to everyone. Keep open minded and trust that everything happens for a reason