A SURREAL MOMENT - THE DAY WE RECIEVED OUR AWARD FROM THEO PAPHITIS! I WAS INSPIRED.

Emma | Friday 26th February 2025 | 3 min

Walking into the SBS event 2025 I felt very out of my depth. I was surrounded by much more established and recognised businesses. My anxiety was in full force but I was determined to ride with it as this award is for my daughters. My business, Valerie Grace, is for my daughters.

I breathed in the air, focusing on my heartbeat. I channelled the positivity in the room and felt as if I was floating on the clouds. What an honour and a privilege to be here. What a sense of achievement and how fortunate am I to hear all of these inspiring stories.

We listened to stories of growth and hurdles more established businesses overcame to reach where they are today.

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I WAS INSPIRED.

Valerie Grace is my passion. My baby. I need to create a world in which my daughter is represented. It matters. I need to create something in which my daughters can be proud of one day. I have this drive and vision of exactly what I want to achieve.

I don’t see myself as a businesswomen which plants seeds of doubt in my mind but I see myself as a mum. A mum that wants to create a better future for her daughters. I’m not looking to create the next billion pounds company but I am looking to reach for the stars and live life to the fullest. Delight in all opportunities. Live a harmonious life with my family. Travel the world. Give my daughters all of me. Be the best I can be for them. 

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When I look at this photo of me standing next to Theo Paphitis, one of the UK’s leading businessmen, I feel the hope of what I am reaching for. The desire to practice to achieve my goals for Valerie Grace but also in life. 

It’s okay to be anxious. It’s okay to have hurdles and self doubt but I think it’s then how you overcome these to be the best version of yourself.

In talks between the more established business owners I heard about having to wear so many hats running your own business. I felt that. I’m a mum to a newly 5 and 4 year old, I home educate them, I spend my life with them whilst also packing orders, running a website, overseeing all our social media accounts, keeping company relations, designing products, learning how to be the owner I want to be for Valerie Grace. I’m always learning with my daughters and for Valerie Grace but I love that.

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You grow up being told what to learn, how to learn it, how to act, how to comply but I’m at a stage of my life where I learn on my terms. It can be a lot but it then gives me the freedom to be the mum I so long to be.

Your children watch you, embody you, mimic you. If I’m living on my own terms, being the best version of myself, following my passions then I hope that’s how they live their own lives. On their own terms.

When I look at this picture of me and Theo Paphitis, one of the UK’s leading businessmen, I see me. Overcoming whatever that might be, pushing myself, being all I can be.

It was such a privilege to receive this award and I thank Theo Paphitis and the sbscrew for the most generous and informative event.

Thank you so much for reading- I’ll be going back to my 100 jobs I do simultaneously but I do so with the utmost gratitude because this is the life I chose, that I created and I couldn’t be anymore grateful.

Emma xxx