Blush & Bloom

It's crazy, because as a child I was always planning to do something that would live on here after we're gone. I was dreaming about being an architect; I wanted to leave things in another field. But I would tell him to do exactly every single step he's going to make, because at the end of the journey he'll make an impact in another way, a truly meaningful one. I'd tell him to do exactly what he did.

It works out in the end. At fifteen I was two years out of school. I had no qualifications. I was rocked in confidence, and at the same time I was playing that out being the biggest rebel you could imagine, probably driving my parents absolutely crazy. But it doesn't set the trajectory. So yes, it will be okay in the end, and we've got this.

You're beautiful. When I was fifteen I was teased. I did not fit in. I was a nerd, I had Harry Potter glasses. I hung out with guys a lot more because I didn't like gossiping; I was always more interested in what was being invented, what new music was coming out. So I would tell her that she's beautiful and to embrace that authenticity, because it's that authenticity that has given me a very unique life. I've learned a fluent language in my 20s, I've been on international stages, I've raised international capital, I've built companies, I've invented products. And that was because I followed my own intuition and heart, and let go of what the common group was doing. At the time it was really difficult and lonely, and now people come to me for advice because I did it differently. Being different is cool, and being different is actually really beautiful.

Fifteen-year-old me and the me today are entirely different people. The confident, outspoken, resilient person I am today is very different from the fifteen-year-old Yasmin who was struggling so much to fit in, to blend in with everybody, to conform to the system and not stand out. And to her I would say: trust yourself, embrace your uniqueness and curiosity, and definitely don't be afraid to stand out. It's okay to make mistakes, to question the things around you, and to assert yourself and your voice, because every challenge I have faced has built me, has made me stronger and more resilient. Whilst fitting in tends to feel important when you're fifteen, it's not always the right thing to do. Sometimes it's better to stand out and love your own uniqueness.

You're doing great. Don't stop being curious, that's definitely one thing I would say. The second thing is just ask. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. One of my first bosses at work told me this, and it's something that has helped me a lot as a founder. Just ask.

Just chill and calm down, because I was so impatient. I thought I needed to figure out the one thing I wanted to do for the rest of my life, and that it was now or never. I was fifteen, picking my subjects for my A-levels, which would determine my university and what I'd study, so I thought I had to know everything right now. I was so stressed because I really thought I had to have everything figured out. So I'd tell myself to just calm down, live a little, see what I like. I did end up changing my field, and it showed me that anyone can do it, at any time in their life, if they're unhappy with what they do or see a different direction for themselves. You don't have to have anything figured out when you're fifteen, or twenty, or thirty. Life is long, and you can still change things around.

Keep on doing what you do. Keep on working, keep on enjoying life. Maybe don't be too bothered by the issues you have at that teenager time. It's a period of my life where sport shaped me in a big way, judo. I would tell my fifteen-year-old me: continue judo, it helps.

Fifteen-year-old Elena was really intent on being a perfectionist about a lot of things. I would call myself a recovering perfectionist now, and it still comes for sure. I don't think that ever really goes away when it's part of who you are. So I would tell fifteen-year-old me that it's okay to not have everything figured out, and not to sweat the small stuff, and that some of the most exciting pieces of life are going to come through the exploration of not having it all figured out.

I honestly would say: you're not too much. And that isn't me putting myself down, it's about reframing the fact that I've always been really driven, I've always spoken my mind, I've always been ambitious. Maybe it hasn't always landed well in some rooms, but in others it has. You just have to find your rhythm, be comfortable with who you are, and honestly, just go for it.

I had very low self-esteem when I was fifteen, and probably a lot of other girls and women can relate. I had no confidence. I didn't think my voice mattered. And now I would tell that fifteen-year-old: your voice does matter. You matter. You are good enough. You'll be surprised what you end up doing in your 40s. More power to you.

I was really confused, and scared, because I didn't know what I wanted to do. Until I was seventeen I wasn't even sure if I wanted to go into engineering or be a doctor. I was always curious about science, but I wasn't sure where to pursue it, and I was so terrified I'd make the wrong decision and it would affect me for the rest of my life. I would tell fifteen-year-old me that she needs to take a chill pill and not think so much about what the future holds. Life has a way of putting you on the right path. As long as you know what your purpose is, that's what you should focus on, rather than which degree to pursue. Just keep saying yes to opportunities, because that is what has helped me the most in life.

This is the one I'm glad you sent over to me, because I was thinking about it last night. When I was fifteen I was taking care of my mother full-time. She passed away when I was fifteen, and I hadn't thought about it in 40 years, so it put me back. Ultimately it all comes back to your experiences, and my caregiving journey was probably that. So I guess I'll tell my fifteen-year-old self that things work out. You'll be fine.

There are so many things I would say. You're doing better than you think, because at fifteen I always questioned my abilities. You're going through all those changes and always questioning yourself. It might feel impossible or really uncertain right now, but you're doing okay, and your voice matters. You might be sensitive, you might be an overthinker, but that's actually a gift and not a flaw. One day you'll look back and realize you've done very well. Find purpose in your life, and you matter, always. Trust your instinct, that is so important, don't go against it. And the quote that drives me nearly every day: whatever is meant for you will not miss you. If it didn't happen, it wasn't meant to be.

Keep going. Don't sweat the small stuff. Life can be difficult, but that's part of the journey, and never give up. Also, remember to have fun every now and again. That helps.

First of all I would say: you are as good as, or better than, you think. I think every fifteen-year-old needs to hear that. I would also support my dream of becoming a doctor, which I was thinking about when I was fifteen. But the most important thing to tell a fifteen-year-old is that you are good enough, you can trust yourself, and just be informed. I'm doing this job for my daughters and my grandchildren, because I don't want them to be in the same situation I was at fifteen, hiding away my menstruation pads and not talking about anything.

Fifteen-year-old me, I would tell to take some more development courses. I don't care what business or industry you're in. I'm pretty techy and tech-savvy and can learn a lot by myself, but I would have loved to actually go in and understand, because so many startups are founded in technology, and to have a better idea of what's working and how stable it is. You are far ahead already if you're really good in development. I even signed my daughter up for robotics, because I thought she would benefit from it.

At fifteen I didn't know what I was doing with my life, and I didn't know I would end up in technology, not even in my early 20s. But I did know I wanted to do something meaningful with my life. I was already volunteering at that age, and that has always resonated with me. So I would say: follow your heart and your intuition, it's getting you somewhere. I would tell myself not to be afraid of choosing that path if it feels right.

I think a lot of young girls are taught to shrink themselves, to look smaller, not to appear bold and loud and crazy and over the top and overly ambitious. A lot of my teenage years was trying to balance myself as an African woman, and I spent so much energy on that. So if I could meet my fifteen-year-old self, I would be like: go crazy. I'm a big advocate for mad women now. Don't even think about being correct or small or shy. Just go crazy. Go mad.

I will tell her to trust yourself, go out of your comfort zone and explore. It's funny, because fifteen-year-old me was a very shy girl living in the countryside in France, and when I was 21 I left home, went to Spain, and never came back. Everybody was so surprised, like, is that really the girl who was at home? If I had told fifteen-year-old me what was going to happen after that, she would not have believed it.

Another very regurgitated thing you see everywhere, but it's the truth: wear the damn shorts. Apart from that, which is also true, I would tell her that her authenticity is her biggest asset, and she should not be afraid of living and showing up authentically.

I would say that life expands in a way you don't expect it to. When we think about the trajectory of our lives, we think things will continue however they're going right now. But realistically, so much of what happens in your life is out of your control and due to luck, the negative things but a lot of the positive things as well. I'm a huge planner and I like to think everything is within my control, when realistically it's not. So when you look forward on opportunities, realize that a lot of things you can't yet see will come into fruition, and everything will work out.

I was very naive. The only thing I knew to do was study; I loved reading books, I was a quiet person. So what I would suggest is, number one, think bigger. And you start thinking bigger by being in the presence of people who are better than you and bigger thinkers. Not everyone has the same opportunities, but now it's easier, because you can reach out to people online, listen to podcasts and YouTube, it's a free tool. But check the credentials of the person talking: are they someone who sees patients in the clinic, or a researcher, versus an influencer trying to sell you a supplement? People can seem very persuasive, they speak well and look good. So spend time with people much better than yourself, and be circumspect about who you're following. As one of my mentors used to say, the same person cannot be the benchmark for everything: someone very successful in business may not have a good relationship with his kids, so take his business advice but not his relationship advice.

I'd like to say it gets better, but I don't know if I could honestly tell my fifteen-year-old self that right now. Don't be afraid of who you are. You might be a lot. You're passionate, and it might not feel like you professionally fit in that carbon-copy corporate box. You say what you mean and you are honest, brutally so. And that's not something to hide, that's a strength. It took me years in my professional career to realize that being blunt, being honest, speaking up when someone disrespects me and addressing it immediately, is a strength, and people respect you more and it makes your life a lot easier. Trying to make yourself smaller doesn't really help anyone, and I wish I hadn't spent so many years trying to do that.

This is always a hard one, and it depends on the mood I'm in. But really, your results at school don't matter. The biggest thing, and I feel like I've done this most of my life, is doing something you're passionate about, something you believe in, doing what you enjoy, and that will lead you to the right things. When you're young it's very easy to think everyone is on a certain path and that's the path you need to be on too. So follow your passions and do what you enjoy.

Trust yourself. Based on my experience, in life or in running businesses, the one thing I felt I did wrong and wish I could change is to actually trust myself. At fifteen I was struggling so much with period pain and hormonal issues, and I just told myself I had to suck it up, and I kept gaslighting myself that I was okay, that it was a normal thing. I should have been my own advocate more. Trusting myself was actually really important, because not doing it was the reason behind a few of the failures I later experienced, which became lessons.

I was very different when I was fifteen. I had no confidence, I was pretty shy, which a lot of people find hard to believe now. I hated public speaking, it would give me the worst anxiety, I wasn't very good at exams, I applied to medical school and got rejected. So it's been a journey. But I would say: don't put too much pressure on yourself. Whether it's the expectations of your parents, your peers, or jobs, don't put too much pressure on success, whatever that looks like, or on people-pleasing and doing things because you think it will make someone else happy. I spent so many years just doing what I thought I should be doing, not what I wanted to do. So block out the noise, try not to stress about things you can't control, and don't put too much pressure on what the future holds. You're told at school to have a five-year or ten-year plan, but that's ridiculous. Take all of that pressure off.

Stop worrying, because you're already living some of the dreams you had. Growing up at fifteen I was really quiet, timid and shy, but I believed in the potential I had inside me. Even at fifteen I knew I was made for more, created to make an impact, even though it didn't look like it. I would just tell my fifteen-year-old self: go to bed and sleep, because it turned out fine. You're no longer that quiet, shy person. Just relax, because you're too serious. I've always been too serious. Enjoy being fifteen, because it gets tougher. Just chill, read, relax, have fun, because everything ends up being fine.

A fifteen-year-old Jennifer: don't be in a rush to have it all figured out. Just chill. Every setback, every strange thing, every unexpected turn will teach you something you can't learn from a book or from school. Be very inquisitive, always ask questions. Don't be afraid to take up space in any room, even if your voice feels like the tiniest, because these are the rooms that will shape you. And don't ever feel like whatever you're thinking of innovating is too different. What seems strange today will one day become your biggest strength. No matter how confused you seem, you get there. Just lock in, it gets better.

When I was fifteen it was a totally different era, almost a historical one, there was no digital, so this question is quite shocking to me. But I would say to fifteen-year-old Claudia: maintain your vision and your positivity to change things in the world, and to cooperate with other people to change things. That is the only way to do it.

That's a hard question. I would tell her that it's okay to take it easy, and that everything she's doing will somehow connect, all the dots will connect. So just enjoy, and relax sometimes.

Whatever you're experiencing right now is shaping you into something very unique, and the lesson is a gift itself, leading to a treasure you're going to find in the future. Be positive, be strong, and just keep going.

It's crazy, because as a child I was always planning to do something that would live on here after we're gone. I was dreaming about being an architect; I wanted to leave things in another field. But I would tell him to do exactly every single step he's going to make, because at the end of the journey he'll make an impact in another way, a truly meaningful one. I'd tell him to do exactly what he did.

It works out in the end. At fifteen I was two years out of school. I had no qualifications. I was rocked in confidence, and at the same time I was playing that out being the biggest rebel you could imagine, probably driving my parents absolutely crazy. But it doesn't set the trajectory. So yes, it will be okay in the end, and we've got this.

You're beautiful. When I was fifteen I was teased. I did not fit in. I was a nerd, I had Harry Potter glasses. I hung out with guys a lot more because I didn't like gossiping; I was always more interested in what was being invented, what new music was coming out. So I would tell her that she's beautiful and to embrace that authenticity, because it's that authenticity that has given me a very unique life. I've learned a fluent language in my 20s, I've been on international stages, I've raised international capital, I've built companies, I've invented products. And that was because I followed my own intuition and heart, and let go of what the common group was doing. At the time it was really difficult and lonely, and now people come to me for advice because I did it differently. Being different is cool, and being different is actually really beautiful.

Fifteen-year-old me and the me today are entirely different people. The confident, outspoken, resilient person I am today is very different from the fifteen-year-old Yasmin who was struggling so much to fit in, to blend in with everybody, to conform to the system and not stand out. And to her I would say: trust yourself, embrace your uniqueness and curiosity, and definitely don't be afraid to stand out. It's okay to make mistakes, to question the things around you, and to assert yourself and your voice, because every challenge I have faced has built me, has made me stronger and more resilient. Whilst fitting in tends to feel important when you're fifteen, it's not always the right thing to do. Sometimes it's better to stand out and love your own uniqueness.

You're doing great. Don't stop being curious, that's definitely one thing I would say. The second thing is just ask. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. One of my first bosses at work told me this, and it's something that has helped me a lot as a founder. Just ask.

Just chill and calm down, because I was so impatient. I thought I needed to figure out the one thing I wanted to do for the rest of my life, and that it was now or never. I was fifteen, picking my subjects for my A-levels, which would determine my university and what I'd study, so I thought I had to know everything right now. I was so stressed because I really thought I had to have everything figured out. So I'd tell myself to just calm down, live a little, see what I like. I did end up changing my field, and it showed me that anyone can do it, at any time in their life, if they're unhappy with what they do or see a different direction for themselves. You don't have to have anything figured out when you're fifteen, or twenty, or thirty. Life is long, and you can still change things around.

Keep on doing what you do. Keep on working, keep on enjoying life. Maybe don't be too bothered by the issues you have at that teenager time. It's a period of my life where sport shaped me in a big way, judo. I would tell my fifteen-year-old me: continue judo, it helps.

Fifteen-year-old Elena was really intent on being a perfectionist about a lot of things. I would call myself a recovering perfectionist now, and it still comes for sure. I don't think that ever really goes away when it's part of who you are. So I would tell fifteen-year-old me that it's okay to not have everything figured out, and not to sweat the small stuff, and that some of the most exciting pieces of life are going to come through the exploration of not having it all figured out.

I honestly would say: you're not too much. And that isn't me putting myself down, it's about reframing the fact that I've always been really driven, I've always spoken my mind, I've always been ambitious. Maybe it hasn't always landed well in some rooms, but in others it has. You just have to find your rhythm, be comfortable with who you are, and honestly, just go for it.

I had very low self-esteem when I was fifteen, and probably a lot of other girls and women can relate. I had no confidence. I didn't think my voice mattered. And now I would tell that fifteen-year-old: your voice does matter. You matter. You are good enough. You'll be surprised what you end up doing in your 40s. More power to you.

I was really confused, and scared, because I didn't know what I wanted to do. Until I was seventeen I wasn't even sure if I wanted to go into engineering or be a doctor. I was always curious about science, but I wasn't sure where to pursue it, and I was so terrified I'd make the wrong decision and it would affect me for the rest of my life. I would tell fifteen-year-old me that she needs to take a chill pill and not think so much about what the future holds. Life has a way of putting you on the right path. As long as you know what your purpose is, that's what you should focus on, rather than which degree to pursue. Just keep saying yes to opportunities, because that is what has helped me the most in life.

This is the one I'm glad you sent over to me, because I was thinking about it last night. When I was fifteen I was taking care of my mother full-time. She passed away when I was fifteen, and I hadn't thought about it in 40 years, so it put me back. Ultimately it all comes back to your experiences, and my caregiving journey was probably that. So I guess I'll tell my fifteen-year-old self that things work out. You'll be fine.

There are so many things I would say. You're doing better than you think, because at fifteen I always questioned my abilities. You're going through all those changes and always questioning yourself. It might feel impossible or really uncertain right now, but you're doing okay, and your voice matters. You might be sensitive, you might be an overthinker, but that's actually a gift and not a flaw. One day you'll look back and realize you've done very well. Find purpose in your life, and you matter, always. Trust your instinct, that is so important, don't go against it. And the quote that drives me nearly every day: whatever is meant for you will not miss you. If it didn't happen, it wasn't meant to be.

Keep going. Don't sweat the small stuff. Life can be difficult, but that's part of the journey, and never give up. Also, remember to have fun every now and again. That helps.

First of all I would say: you are as good as, or better than, you think. I think every fifteen-year-old needs to hear that. I would also support my dream of becoming a doctor, which I was thinking about when I was fifteen. But the most important thing to tell a fifteen-year-old is that you are good enough, you can trust yourself, and just be informed. I'm doing this job for my daughters and my grandchildren, because I don't want them to be in the same situation I was at fifteen, hiding away my menstruation pads and not talking about anything.

Fifteen-year-old me, I would tell to take some more development courses. I don't care what business or industry you're in. I'm pretty techy and tech-savvy and can learn a lot by myself, but I would have loved to actually go in and understand, because so many startups are founded in technology, and to have a better idea of what's working and how stable it is. You are far ahead already if you're really good in development. I even signed my daughter up for robotics, because I thought she would benefit from it.

At fifteen I didn't know what I was doing with my life, and I didn't know I would end up in technology, not even in my early 20s. But I did know I wanted to do something meaningful with my life. I was already volunteering at that age, and that has always resonated with me. So I would say: follow your heart and your intuition, it's getting you somewhere. I would tell myself not to be afraid of choosing that path if it feels right.

I think a lot of young girls are taught to shrink themselves, to look smaller, not to appear bold and loud and crazy and over the top and overly ambitious. A lot of my teenage years was trying to balance myself as an African woman, and I spent so much energy on that. So if I could meet my fifteen-year-old self, I would be like: go crazy. I'm a big advocate for mad women now. Don't even think about being correct or small or shy. Just go crazy. Go mad.

I will tell her to trust yourself, go out of your comfort zone and explore. It's funny, because fifteen-year-old me was a very shy girl living in the countryside in France, and when I was 21 I left home, went to Spain, and never came back. Everybody was so surprised, like, is that really the girl who was at home? If I had told fifteen-year-old me what was going to happen after that, she would not have believed it.

Another very regurgitated thing you see everywhere, but it's the truth: wear the damn shorts. Apart from that, which is also true, I would tell her that her authenticity is her biggest asset, and she should not be afraid of living and showing up authentically.

I would say that life expands in a way you don't expect it to. When we think about the trajectory of our lives, we think things will continue however they're going right now. But realistically, so much of what happens in your life is out of your control and due to luck, the negative things but a lot of the positive things as well. I'm a huge planner and I like to think everything is within my control, when realistically it's not. So when you look forward on opportunities, realize that a lot of things you can't yet see will come into fruition, and everything will work out.

I was very naive. The only thing I knew to do was study; I loved reading books, I was a quiet person. So what I would suggest is, number one, think bigger. And you start thinking bigger by being in the presence of people who are better than you and bigger thinkers. Not everyone has the same opportunities, but now it's easier, because you can reach out to people online, listen to podcasts and YouTube, it's a free tool. But check the credentials of the person talking: are they someone who sees patients in the clinic, or a researcher, versus an influencer trying to sell you a supplement? People can seem very persuasive, they speak well and look good. So spend time with people much better than yourself, and be circumspect about who you're following. As one of my mentors used to say, the same person cannot be the benchmark for everything: someone very successful in business may not have a good relationship with his kids, so take his business advice but not his relationship advice.

I'd like to say it gets better, but I don't know if I could honestly tell my fifteen-year-old self that right now. Don't be afraid of who you are. You might be a lot. You're passionate, and it might not feel like you professionally fit in that carbon-copy corporate box. You say what you mean and you are honest, brutally so. And that's not something to hide, that's a strength. It took me years in my professional career to realize that being blunt, being honest, speaking up when someone disrespects me and addressing it immediately, is a strength, and people respect you more and it makes your life a lot easier. Trying to make yourself smaller doesn't really help anyone, and I wish I hadn't spent so many years trying to do that.

This is always a hard one, and it depends on the mood I'm in. But really, your results at school don't matter. The biggest thing, and I feel like I've done this most of my life, is doing something you're passionate about, something you believe in, doing what you enjoy, and that will lead you to the right things. When you're young it's very easy to think everyone is on a certain path and that's the path you need to be on too. So follow your passions and do what you enjoy.

Trust yourself. Based on my experience, in life or in running businesses, the one thing I felt I did wrong and wish I could change is to actually trust myself. At fifteen I was struggling so much with period pain and hormonal issues, and I just told myself I had to suck it up, and I kept gaslighting myself that I was okay, that it was a normal thing. I should have been my own advocate more. Trusting myself was actually really important, because not doing it was the reason behind a few of the failures I later experienced, which became lessons.

I was very different when I was fifteen. I had no confidence, I was pretty shy, which a lot of people find hard to believe now. I hated public speaking, it would give me the worst anxiety, I wasn't very good at exams, I applied to medical school and got rejected. So it's been a journey. But I would say: don't put too much pressure on yourself. Whether it's the expectations of your parents, your peers, or jobs, don't put too much pressure on success, whatever that looks like, or on people-pleasing and doing things because you think it will make someone else happy. I spent so many years just doing what I thought I should be doing, not what I wanted to do. So block out the noise, try not to stress about things you can't control, and don't put too much pressure on what the future holds. You're told at school to have a five-year or ten-year plan, but that's ridiculous. Take all of that pressure off.

Stop worrying, because you're already living some of the dreams you had. Growing up at fifteen I was really quiet, timid and shy, but I believed in the potential I had inside me. Even at fifteen I knew I was made for more, created to make an impact, even though it didn't look like it. I would just tell my fifteen-year-old self: go to bed and sleep, because it turned out fine. You're no longer that quiet, shy person. Just relax, because you're too serious. I've always been too serious. Enjoy being fifteen, because it gets tougher. Just chill, read, relax, have fun, because everything ends up being fine.

A fifteen-year-old Jennifer: don't be in a rush to have it all figured out. Just chill. Every setback, every strange thing, every unexpected turn will teach you something you can't learn from a book or from school. Be very inquisitive, always ask questions. Don't be afraid to take up space in any room, even if your voice feels like the tiniest, because these are the rooms that will shape you. And don't ever feel like whatever you're thinking of innovating is too different. What seems strange today will one day become your biggest strength. No matter how confused you seem, you get there. Just lock in, it gets better.

When I was fifteen it was a totally different era, almost a historical one, there was no digital, so this question is quite shocking to me. But I would say to fifteen-year-old Claudia: maintain your vision and your positivity to change things in the world, and to cooperate with other people to change things. That is the only way to do it.

That's a hard question. I would tell her that it's okay to take it easy, and that everything she's doing will somehow connect, all the dots will connect. So just enjoy, and relax sometimes.

Whatever you're experiencing right now is shaping you into something very unique, and the lesson is a gift itself, leading to a treasure you're going to find in the future. Be positive, be strong, and just keep going.