The Nicola Rylett Group

📢 Applications are now open for the Female Founders Forum

👉 Apply here: https://lnkd.in/ewyR8gyK

Across Wales, women are building incredible businesses. But too often they're doing it alone and without access to the networks, support, and investment that can help them grow.

That's why we're launching the Female Founders Forum.

Created by Women Angels of Wales and supported by the British Business Bank, this new pan-Wales community is designed for women who are running a business, growing a business, or thinking about starting one.

Here's what's included:

✅ Online launch event on 15 October with Anne Boden MBE, founder of Starling Bank

✅ Three online masterclasses covering: • What investors really look for
• How to raise investment
• How to prioritise for growth

✅ Networking events in North, Mid and South Wales

✅ A Growth Pod for founders preparing to raise investment

✅ The opportunity to take part in a Pitch Battle in front of our angel investors

✅ A year-round community through WhatsApp and LinkedIn

The Forum is open to women at any stage of business and in any sector, and there is no charge for the first six months.

If you know a woman in Wales building something exciting, please tag her in the comments or share this post. The best opportunities are often discovered through trusted recommendations.

🔗 Apply now: https://lnkd.in/ewyR8gyK

There's lots of talk at the moment about AI and the importance of having "humans in the loop."

For me, AI is about enhancing what we already have and helping us work more effectively.

One of the discussions at Leadership Live focused on getting AI to do, not to think. That distinction really resonated with me.

Do you really want to outsource your thinking?

Or do you want to continue doing the thinking yourself and use AI to help organise, structure and communicate those thoughts?

That's how I use it.

As many people know, I'm dyslexic. When I'm writing, I'll often start with a complete brain dump of ideas. I don't worry about grammar, spelling, formatting or structure. I just focus on getting my thoughts onto the page.

Then I use AI to help shape those thoughts into something clearer and easier for others to understand.

The thinking is still mine.

The experience is still mine.

The judgement is still mine.

AI simply helps me communicate it more effectively.

If we use AI to do all our thinking, we're missing an opportunity to develop ourselves. We're not building our judgement, challenging our ideas or learning from the process.

For me, the value of AI isn't in replacing human intelligence. It's in amplifying it.

Perhaps I feel particularly fortunate because I've built up years of experience, knowledge and perspectives that help shape how I think. AI doesn't replace any of that. It simply helps me work with it more effectively.

Do you use AI?

This month's Business Book Club read is The Innovator's Dilemma.

It's one of those books that comes up again and again in startup, leadership and innovation conversations. A true classic. In fact, it's such a classic that I pushed it up the reading list because I felt it was one I really should have read by now.

However, I have a confession...

I'm finding it really difficult!

Every time I pick it up, I seem to fall asleep. That's genuinely unusual for me. In all the years I've been running the book club, I can't remember another book having this effect. With just 10 days to go, I'm only on page 80 of 293, so it's time to stop making excuses and really knuckle down.

That said, don't let my experience put you off. Sometimes the books that challenge us the most end up teaching us the most. I'm looking forward to discovering whether The Innovator's Dilemma lives up to its reputation and what lessons it might hold for founders, leaders and organisations trying to stay relevant in a rapidly changing world.

We'll be discussing it at the Inspiranti Business Book Club on Thursday 15th October, 5pm-7pm.

If you've read it, I'd love to know: did you find it fascinating from page one, or did it take a bit of perseverance?

This week I was at with The Institute of Leadership , followed by the awards ceremony in the evening. And let's be honest... who doesn't like an excuse to put on a bit of glitter and have a ball? ✨ It was a fantastic event from start to finish. Not just because of the speakers, but because of the people you meet and the conversations you have.

Time and again, those conversations came back to the importance of leadership in today's world and, perhaps surprisingly, the importance of being human. Connection.

Vulnerability. Empathy. These themes seemed to run through the entire day. As we move further into a world increasingly dominated by new technology, the focus wasn't actually on the technology itself. Instead, the discussion centred on human capacity and the reminder that the human in the loop is more important than ever.

A highlight was a session exploring executive thinking and the emotional intelligence required from modern leaders. The most fun session of the day was undoubtedly the leadership balloon debate. I'll do a separate post about these!

A special mention to Aaron Phipps MBE PLY, who hosted the evening and shared his own incredible journey to Paralympic gold. His reflections on family, connection and perseverance felt like the perfect conclusion to a day centred on leading with humanity. I left feeling inspired, challenged and reminded that while the world around us is changing rapidly, the fundamentals of great leadership remain the same. People matter. And perhaps our greatest leadership challenge over the coming years will be ensuring that technology enhances our humanity rather than replaces it.

As always, Leadership Live delivered powerful ideas, practical insights and brilliant conversations. It's one of the highlights of my professional calendar each year, and a wonderful reminder of just how important leaders are to our world.

Reunited with my ABE team at the Leadership Live event by The Institute of Leadership

🎙️ Confession on International Podcast Day... I've gone off podcasts.

I know. Shocking.

For someone who is obsessed with learning, curiosity and discovering new ideas, podcasts should be right up my street. And for years they were.

I'd listen in the gym, out walking, travelling, basically whenever I had a spare moment.

But somewhere along the way, I drifted away from them.

Partly because some of my favourites became a little too commercial. The interesting conversations started feeling more like sales pitches. Books, courses, companies, products. You know the ones I mean...

But the bigger reason?

I've fallen back in love with silence.

When I'm out walking now, I listen to the birds, the rustling trees, the river, the countryside around me. Instead of trying to absorb information, remember key points and process new ideas, I simply switch off and enjoy being present.

And honestly? It's been far more relaxing.

That said, I know podcasts can be an incredible source of inspiration, learning and fresh thinking.

So help me out...

👉 What podcasts are you listening to right now that are genuinely interesting, thought-provoking and not trying to sell you something every five minutes?

And before anyone says it... yes, I'm already a loyal listener of Simon Sinek's A Little Bit of Optimism 😊

Hit me with your recommendations.

Last week was a real mix of work and play. There were sunny afternoons at the beach, work in the morning, then back to it again in the evening. I’m fortunate that I can often be flexible with my work, not only in location, but in the hours I choose to work. It does not happen every week, and it is not always easy, but when the diary allows, it can make a huge difference.

The key is staying open about when work gets done. Some people might say that this means you never truly switch off, and they would sometimes be right, particularly when work is important, sensitive or a little difficult. But I have found that stepping away from the desk does not mean stepping away from the problem. Often, it is exactly what helps me see it differently.

Sitting by the water, listening to the waves and feeling the sun on my skin gave me room to breathe. It is often in those quiet, unstructured moments that my creative brain comes alive, which is why I always have a notebook close by. The best ideas rarely arrive at the exact moment I schedule them. I even managed to fit in a massage, a small but very welcome reminder that recovery deserves a place in the diary too.

🌟 You don’t need a big platform to be a role model. You just need to show up with intention. 🌟
At The Nicola Rylett Group, we believe leadership isn’t about titles, stages, or follower counts — it’s about how you show up every day.
Whether you're mentoring a colleague, leading a team meeting, or simply choosing to act with integrity — you’re modelling the kind of leadership the world needs more of.
💬 Intentional leadership starts with small, consistent actions.
So ask yourself:

Are you showing up with clarity and purpose?
Are you leading with values, not just goals?
Are you empowering others through your example?

Let’s redefine what it means to be a role model — one intentional moment at a time.

I’m really looking forward to attending Leadership Live 2026 with The Institute of Leadership this September.

Are you going? Drop me a comment; I'd love to meet up while I'm there in the afternoon.

A little introduction for those who are new to my network.

I'm a straight-talking Lancastrian who is passionate about helping people perform at their best, whether that's through leadership development, coaching, business advice, or a good conversation over coffee.

Here's a snapshot of the professional and personal sides of me.

I'd love to know: what's one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?