Authenticity in business storytelling and navigating ethical challenges take centre stage in this thought-provoking conversation with a group of inspiring female entrepreneurs.

One guest shares how revealing personal stories in her book helped raise awareness about toxic relationships and inspired meaningful change. Another recounts the shocking experience of a competitor cloning her LinkedIn profile, only to highlight that true success can’t be imitated. The value of trademarks and the frustration of seeing creative ideas copied are also explored, with practical advice on protecting your work.

The discussion dives into the ethical dilemmas of dealing with hostile competitors and public bullying, emphasising the importance of honesty, compassion, and resolving conflicts privately.

Tune in for a refreshing and honest dialogue about resilience, integrity, and protecting your business in today’s competitive landscape.

About Sandra:

Sandra ten Hoope is a Sales & Story Strategist and corporate attorney. Drawing from her own experiences with three challenging relationships, she empowers professional women to rewrite their personal narratives. In her 2020 book, Do Not Try HIM at Home, Sandra reveals the duality of her life—successfully closing multi-million-pound deals while living in fear at home. The book struck a chord with countless women who saw their own struggles reflected in her story, offering them comfort and a sense of community.

Many entrepreneurs among her readers reached out, eager to understand how their personal stories could enhance their business growth. Sandra's answer was clear: personal experiences, no matter how difficult, are invaluable assets. As a Certified Business Strategist and Master Persuader, she created the Stop Waffling, Start Selling podcast, helping business owners harness the power of their unique stories. This storytelling approach personalizes brands and draws in clients, with Sandra advocating for strategic sharing, even in small doses, to make a powerful impact.

In this fascinating episode, I sit down with Tom Stanhope, a video content producer with over two decades of experience. Since 2001, Tom has seen it all, but lately, his focus has shifted toward the world of podcasting, long-form storytelling, and the transformative role of AI in content creation. We dive deep into how these changes are reshaping the landscape of sales, marketing, and media.

Tom highlights the importance of storytelling even when using AI-driven content. He shares how tools like ChatGPT are revolutionising the way businesses approach sales calls and content creation. Whether it's summarising a long sales call into key actionable insights or automating social media posts, AI is proving to be a game changer in saving time and improving responsiveness. Tom gives practical, real-world examples of how he's leveraging these tools to make his work more efficient without losing the human touch.

However, we also address the risks that come with this new frontier. Tom shares his concerns about deep fakes and the growing need for maintaining authenticity in an increasingly AI-driven world. Together, we talk about how AI should augment, not replace, human capabilities, and how staying genuine in your communication is more important now than ever.

About Sandra:

Sandra ten Hoope is a Sales & Story Strategist and corporate attorney. Drawing from her own experiences with three challenging relationships, she empowers professional women to rewrite their personal narratives. In her 2020 book, Do Not Try HIM at Home, Sandra reveals the duality of her life—successfully closing multi-million-pound deals while living in fear at home. The book struck a chord with countless women who saw their own struggles reflected in her story, offering them comfort and a sense of community.

Many entrepreneurs among her readers reached out, eager to understand how their personal stories could enhance their business growth. Sandra's answer was clear: personal experiences, no matter how difficult, are invaluable assets. As a Certified Business Strategist and Master Persuader, she created the Stop Waffling, Start Selling podcast, helping business owners harness the power of their unique stories. This storytelling approach personalizes brands and draws in clients, with Sandra advocating for strategic sharing, even in small doses, to make a powerful impact.

In this episode, I tackle the issue that holds so many of us back in business – waffling. You know what I mean, the endless over-explaining, overthinking, and complicating things that don’t really need to be complicated. When we waffle, we lose our audience and waste time. The episode focuses on stripping all of that away and getting to the heart of what truly matters in business: simplicity, authenticity, and action.

I talk about how selling isn’t about fancy jargon or trying to impress. It’s about genuine storytelling that resonates with your audience, connecting with them on a real level. When you frame selling as storytelling, it shifts from being a hard pitch to something much more personal and impactful. It’s about giving value and making a sale that feels balanced and rewarding for both sides.

I hope to make you feel empowered to let go of the unnecessary fluff, step into authenticity, and start selling with confidence.

About Sandra:

Sandra ten Hoope is a Sales & Story Strategist and corporate attorney. Drawing from her own experiences with three challenging relationships, she empowers professional women to rewrite their personal narratives. In her 2020 book, Do Not Try HIM at Home, Sandra reveals the duality of her life—successfully closing multi-million-pound deals while living in fear at home. The book struck a chord with countless women who saw their own struggles reflected in her story, offering them comfort and a sense of community.

Many entrepreneurs among her readers reached out, eager to understand how their personal stories could enhance their business growth. Sandra's answer was clear: personal experiences, no matter how difficult, are invaluable assets. As a Certified Business Strategist and Master Persuader, she created the Stop Waffling, Start Selling podcast, helping business owners harness the power of their unique stories. This storytelling approach personalizes brands and draws in clients, with Sandra advocating for strategic sharing, even in small doses, to make a powerful impact.