UK Mailchimp Expert, Business Mentor and SME Advocate

Top 10 fully certified global Mailchimp Expert Pro Partner

I’ve been been working with Mailchimp for longer than most people who work at Mailchimp, so that means there’s not much I don’t know or haven’t come across. But if I don’t know the answer, I will always know someone who does.

I’ve also worked closely alongside the leadership team at Mailchimp for many years – learning, feeding back customer experiences and helping shape the platform’s development.

As a Pro Partner I get the heads up with changes and new features in Mailchimp, and my clients get access to priority support and opportunities to beta test. I’m also part of a network of incredible other Mailchimp Partners and know many personally – we often collaborate with one another to bring different skills to the mix.

I’m also fully certified in all areas of Mailchimp, 5* rated across all reviews, ICO registered and fully insured.

(Here’s me on stage at their head office in Atlanta as part of a feedback panel of Mailchimp experts from around the world.)

And I don’t only know about Mailchimp…

Email marketing works best when it’s a part of your tech eco-system. So over the years I’ve picked up a good working knowledge of multiple CMS and website builders, CRMs, middleware, design software, booking and calendar tools, donation apps, membership platforms, ecommerce systems, payment processors, surveys, plugins, apps and form-builders.

The list includes WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Woocommerce, Magento 2, Payhip, Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce,  Donorfy, Capsule, Upilot, Zapier, Make, Calendly, Acuity, Jotform, Typeform, Gravity Forms, Booking Factory, Memberpress, Membership Works, Mighty Networks, Teachable, Thinkific, Google Analytics, Canva, etc etc etc. And if I don’t already know it, I’ll figure it out quickly – my brain just seems to be wired that way!

(In this photo I’m speaking to members of the Department for Business and Trade about digital adoption for SMEs.)

Email marketing expert for the real world

A thought-leader in email marketing – not just the theory but making that work in practice. There’s a lot of opinion out there trying to dazzle you with detail and blind you with science. I make it work in the real world, shaped to the level you’re at.

Clients have been from numerous B2B and D2C sectors, including global enterprises, education, non-profits, membership communities, influencers and content creators, a west-end show, a TV psychic, finance, law, industrial, right down to small local businesses and “one-person-bands”.

Everything is underpinned by 25+ years’ varied business experience and strategy (see the bit below about mentoring).

(Here’s when I unexpectedly discovered I’d been quoted as an expert at an exhibition about email at the British Design Museum in London in 2024!)

Working with the British Government

Part of the Intuit UK Small Business Growth Council – a team of 15 business owners from around the UK working directly with the British Government fighting the corner for SMEs as they shape policies and services that affect us all.

Here’s me at in a roundtable with the Minister for Business and Trade in Westminster to discuss how they can support AI adoption for businesses and make it easier for us to get paid faster – late payments are unfortunately a huge issue with a far-reaching knock-on effect for many.

We go to Westminster twice a year to meet and talk matters through with different government stakeholders in Parliament, the House of Lords, shadow ministers and the Small Business Commissioner.

Qualified business adviser and mentor

Before leaving “the rat race” in 2009 I was a health & risk consultant in the city, and have carried on advising and mentoring businesses ever since. That includes growing a large networking and learning community for “mums in business” for 13 years, before franchising and selling it.

I’ve been mentoring smaller businesses looking to grow for many years, and more recently became a volunteer business mentor through the British Library’s Get Ready for Business Growth scheme.

That broader business experience and strategic approach underpins everything I do when working with every single client.

Business for good

Chimpology may be small-fry in the grand scheme of things, but that doesn’t mean it can’t create ripples of good in the world.

As a matter of course, every time I start working with a new client, I make a donation to Centrepoint to cover a room for the night so that a young homeless person can have a safe and comfortable night’s sleep. It breaks my heart that a difficult start in life will affect the rest of their lives and potentially generations to come – we all have a responsibility to help change that cycle.

Learn more about Centrepoint here.

My most important job

I decided to start my own business because I had kids and wanted to spend more time with them. That was back in the day when flexible working was less normal and commuting back and forth to London daily was just, well… you know…

I live in Tunbridge Wells (Kent, UK) with my husband of 26 years Neil, Jamie 21 who’s just graduated in Bioscience and is embarking on his career, entrepreneurial 17 year old Erin who’s doing her A-Levels, and our cocker spaniel Daisy who pops-up at the end of every Zoom call to say goodbye.

Stuff I do when not working

Get lost a lot walking Daisy because I’m tempted by public footpath signposts and not very good at map reading. Sing in a choir called Natural Harmony – a complete joy every Monday evening. Crafternoons, activities and exhibitions with my friend Janet. Random adventures with my friend Jo (we do ALL sorts). Weight lifting and laughing with an amazing group of women at LG Fitness. Live comedy, festivals, travelling and eating out with Neil and the “kids”. Regular lunches, dog walks and catch-ups with friends made through the years. Oh and I’m a very fortunate stroke survivor and tee-totaller.

Artist & Arabic Calligrapher

I’ve painted just about forever (with off-and-on-periods), went to art college briefly and also have a degree in Arabic & Islamic Studies. Those two things came together at some point and turned into Qalbi (which means “my heart” in Arabic. I used to run it as a sideline business but now just paint for pleasure and continue to do my daily dose of Arabic on Duolingo  as there aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything. I even ended up being interviewed for the 9 o’clock news on a Pakistani TV channel. To this day I have no idea what they actually said about me in the feature…