This week on Mum Means Business, I’m joined by Rachael Twumasi-Corson - a multi-award-winning serial entrepreneur, public speaker and non-executive director.

Rachael founded her first company, Afrocenchix, at just 18 years old and scaled it to international success, raising over $2 million in investment before exiting the business in 2023. An advocate for ethical leadership and powerful storytelling in business, she’s delivered talks for global organisations including Google, Meta and HSBC.

Today, Rachael serves on multiple boards, was recently appointed Vice Chair of British Mensa and is on the cusp of launching her new haircare brand Ayaa Botanicals. She lives in London with her husband and four children.

As a busy Mum, Rachael believes work-life balance is a myth. Instead, she champions the idea of work-life harmony - a more compassionate and realistic way of approaching ambition, family life and personal wellbeing.

As she puts it, balance leads to stress and frustration, while harmony creates freedom.

In this rich and practical conversation, we explore:
✨ Rachael’s journey from teenage founder to scaling and exiting Afrocenchix
✨ The realities of building ambitious businesses alongside family life
✨ Why work-life balance doesn’t exist - and what to aim for instead
✨ How health challenges can reshape priorities and redefine success
✨ Navigating public spaces, expectations and pressure as a working mother
✨ The orchestra metaphor - and why harmony needs both mindset and systems
✨ Rachael’s simple 5-4-3-2-1 method for starting the day with intention
✨ How identity evolves through motherhood, exits and new beginnings

Rachael shares both the mindset shifts and the practical tools that have helped her navigate different seasons - reminding us that when family life feels settled, we can go again and when it doesn’t, stepping back is not failure but part of being human.

During our conversation Rachael also recommends a book called "Coherence" which I can confirm is by Dr. Alan Watkins.

About Rachael Twumasi-Corson:
Rachael Twumasi-Corson is a serial entrepreneur, speaker and non-executive director. She is the founder of Afrocenchix, a pioneering haircare brand she scaled globally before exiting in 2023.

Her work focuses on ethical leadership, storytelling and helping others build lives and businesses that feel aligned - rather than perfectly balanced.

She lives in London with her husband and four children and continues to explore new ventures inspired by resilience, lived experience and a commitment to long-term impact.

Learn more about Rachael via her website or connect with her on Instagram or LinkedIn.

About The Host:
I'm Victoria Phipps – a Mum of two, family photographer, charity co-founder, marketing person and now podcaster! 🎙️

I was raised by a nurturing Mother and an entrepreneurial Father and have inherited traits from both, so the tension between ambition and motherhood is one I grapple with on a daily basis!

I’m fascinated to hear the stories of other women on a similar path, who are striving to build thriving businesses whilst being present for their children. It's a tough juggle, but I hope the conversations shared on this podcast help Mums in business feel less alone and inspired to keep going in pursuit of their dreams.

Head to the Mum Means Business Podcast website for full show notes.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the topics discussed in this conversation, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @victoriaphippsmbe or @mummeansbusinesspodcast.

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