‘De-risking scale-up with coaching and consulting, and a passion project or two’
17th March 2025
Author EditorPosted on Categories Business
By strategic coaching consultant and passion project queen Helena Jevons.
‘Accelerate action’. I’m delighted with this as a theme – given that, at the moment, my great, great, great granddaughter will still be growing up in a world where the gender pay gap isn’t closed! Here is a bit about me, my path, and a few top tips on things I think could accelerate action in your business (or your side hustles).
I started my career in the marketing departments of ‘big food’. It was the 90s. Not quite the mad men days, but the lunches were long, the expense accounts were healthy and the budgets were, by today’s standards, insane. I remember wondering if all of it was wrapped up in the price of a can of beans. It was, of course. In the corporate sector, I honed my skills in strategic planning and project management, and often ended up working on initiatives that aimed to integrate sustainable practices into traditional business models – fairtrade, whole grain, organic. Since then I’ve had a squiggly career spanning start ups, scale ups, not for profits and consultancy, and now I run inflection consulting.
Inflection coaching, consulting and grant writing
Inflection is a strategic coaching and consultancy that primarily works with B corps and scale-ups that have just received series A funding. It was born out of coaching and consulting with hundreds of businesses in Sussex Univerity’s Innovation Centre, and observing there were key inflection points at which scaling businesses (across multiple sectors) tripped and fell.
I’m a passionate believer in small business as a force for societal change – unlike large corporations, small businesses are agile, responsive and deeply connected to people. I help businesses increase their chances of success by addressing inflection points around.
1. Clarity on market demand & product-market fit
2. Key messaging
3. Talent and leadership
4. Operations and systems
5. Economic and regulatory environment
I’m a seemingly rare creature – a three times funded female founder – once in electronics, once in food and once in travel – so I also know what it feels like to be taking that journey first hand.
The grant writing strand of Inflection was born from my experience of working with hundreds of businesses at Sussex Innovation and the insight that 1. SMEs don’t know where to go to find grants and 2. They don’t know how to write compelling copy and win them once they do. The landscape of grants and funding opportunities can be daunting.
Inflection provides expert guidance and support throughout the grant application process, from identifying suitable funding sources to crafting compelling proposals (and managing awarded funds effectively if needed). We work closely with clients to understand their missions and goals, ensuring that each application reflects their unique value propositions, allowing scaling organisations to continue to thrive, innovate and be resilient at a time when funds are tight.
My passion projects
A staggering 39% of British adults now have a passion project, netting them on average £918 a month – worth having, hey? For me they help me connect people who have been told they’re not creative or artistic with the feeling that, actually, we all are.
The Urban Wildling
Urban Wildling started in my own garden in lockdown, turned into a book (out September 2025), and emerged into a passion for reconnecting urban dwellers with nature. In an era where urbanisation is rapidly increasing, our disconnect from our ‘wildness’ and from nature has profound implications for mental health, the environment, and community well-being. The Urban Wildling seeks to bridge this gap by encouraging individuals and neighbourhoods to ‘get wilder’ in their back gardens, balconies or window sills. This brand also holds my ‘making’ courses: stained glass-making, artist’s way, women’s singing circles, and baby loss remembrance feathers.
Hot Flashes – The Menopause Monologues
Hot Flashes – The Menopause Monologues started as my own jottings to help cope with becoming perimenopausal during covid. As I ‘emptied out’ my own thoughts, more creative perspectives on menopause started to come through in my writings… A producer friend suggested turning it into a podcast, another into a stage show, another wrote a theme tune, and it ‘caught a wave’ of interest. Sometimes you just happen to have the right idea at the right time – with no strategy. Then my mantra is, just enjoy the ride! It’s about to develop into writing workshops….
Things I wish I’d known earlier that would have ‘accelerated action’ my business
1. ‘Beware the dream stealers’ – be careful who you share your early stage thinking with. People will always see things through their own lenses, seedlings are fragile things. Keep them warm and in the light. Frost will kill them.
2. Paradoxically: be vulnerable – share your heart and your dreams and ask for help – you’ll be amazed who comes forward to support you. ‘The art of asking’ by Amanda Palmer is a great book, if this is something (like me) you find hard
3. It’s okay to be a polymath. You don’t have to just do one thing. The Linkedin algorithm wants to fit you in a box. Society wants to fit you in a box. If you’re a polymath that’s fine. In fact, in tricky economic times, it’s probably even wise.
4. Hold a clear vision and have a North Star. It will keep you on track when things are hard. But also jump on the RIGHT unexpected opportunities….
5. Don’t be afraid to pick things up and put things down. Everything will come to fruition in its time. Sometimes the things that go on the back burner come back stronger than ever because you’re grown while they’ve been waiting for you.
6. Get a good coach. Get some good mentors. They will make all the difference to your growth, progress and mindset and ask the tough questions your friends won’t.
7. Start with an attitude of ‘how hard can it be?’ Whilst you don’t want to tip into hubris, I’m pretty sure if people had told me ‘’women couldn’t raise’’ that would have affected my ability to raise. Nobody told me it was hard. It wasn’t.
8. Sell products, not hours. Sell value, not hours. Productise your offerings against the value they give your client, especially in the age of AI.
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