Ditching the 9–5: How One Mum Built a Flexible Finance Career

In this episode of Work It Like a Mum, I sit down with Daniella Wainwright, founder of Wainwright Consulting. Daniella shares her journey from working in large corporate finance roles to starting her own business, offering fractional Finance Director (FD) services to growing companies. We discuss why she made the transition, how she built her client base, and why she’s passionate about helping businesses thrive without the overhead of a full-time finance director.

Daniella also discusses the personal motivations behind her career change, including the desire for greater flexibility to spend time with her children. She explains how she overcame the challenges of starting her own business, the unexpected demand for her services, and why she now mentors others looking to follow a similar path.

If you’re a finance professional thinking about making a shift, or a business owner curious about fractional FD support, this episode is packed with valuable insights

What We Cover:

What fractional Finance Directors (FDs) do and how they support businessesWhy she left corporate finance to start Wainwright ConsultingHow she quickly built a thriving client base using LinkedInThe benefits of flexible work and entrepreneurshipHow mindset work, including hypnotherapy, has supported her journeyWhy she now helps others transition into fractional FD role

Key Takeaways:

✅ Fractional finance is in demand – Businesses want high-level financial expertise without the cost of a full-time hire.
✅ Authenticity attracts clients – Being approachable and relatable has helped Daniela stand out.
✅ LinkedIn is a game-changer – Strategic networking helped her land clients fast.
✅ Flexibility is possible – Entrepreneurship allowed Daniela to balance career and family life.
✅ Mindset matters – Confidence and personal growth are key to success.

Why You Should Listen:

Thinking about leaving corporate life for something more flexible? Curious about fractional finance and how it can benefit businesses? In this episode, Daniella Wainwright shares how she built a thriving consultancy, why authenticity attracts clients, and how mindset work has helped her grow—both personally and professionally. If you’re a finance professional considering a change or a business owner in need of financial strategy, this one’s for you!

Show Links :

Connect with Daniella Wainwright Here

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How do I know if I'm ready to return to work after maternity leave? Can I *really* make all the pick-ups, drop-offs AND get to work on time? Am I ready for that promotion? How do I balance managing a large team and demanding kids? Is now the right time to start my own business? Can I flourish in a part-time job? And the biggest question of all, can I *really* have it all? Whether you're returning to work after your first maternity leave or juggling a high-flying career with teenagers that won't do their homework, this is the show for you.Work It Like A Mum is a new podcast giving you a weekly dose of inspiration, confidence, and step-by-step tips (plus lots of comradery) to help you flourish in your career after kids. Hosted by the Founder of Investing in Women, Elizabeth Willetts, we chat with remarkable women redefining our working world. They'll share their secrets on how they've achieved extraordinary things after children, set boundaries and balance, challenges they've faced (and how they've overcome them) to define their own versions of success. Every episode is brimming with ideas, tools, hints and tips you can put straight into practice so you, too, can have a career you adore. We cover it all - with raw honesty and a few laughs to ensure you are seen, heard, promoted and hired - whilst keeping your sanity at home! Listen now to get all the inspiration you need to Work It Like A Mum.

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• Latest episode: 2025-06-12
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