#91 Redefining Support: From Construction to Lingerie with Nicola Fitzpatrick

In this episode I speak to Nicola Fitzpatrick, the founder of Elansu, a sports bra brand for fuller-busted women. Nicola's journey is truly fascinating, as she transitioned from a career in the male-dominated roofing industry to designing supportive sports bras to meet her own needs - bras that celebrated AND supported her feminine shape rather than just squashing it. We delve into her early work experiences, her foray into construction, and the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated field. Nicola shares her motivations behind starting Elansu and the meticulous process of creating a sports bra that truly supports fuller-busted women. We also discuss the systemic gender biases in various industries and the importance of representation and resilience. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in breaking barriers and creating products that matter. Find Elansu on Instagram here Shop Elansu here Join me on Instagram here  ------- This episode is brought to you by Victoria Whittington Financial Planning. Victoria knows how easy it is to put off sorting your finances. Life is busy. Work, family, and everything else always seem to take priority. That's why her advice is clear, jargon-free, and designed to fit around your life, not the other way round. Her role is to help you turn what you want for the future into a clear plan, break it into manageable steps, and give you the support to keep going until you get there. If you'd like to have a friendly, no-pressure chat about what financial planning could do for you book a no-obligation 30-minute session here.  Victoria Whittington Financial Planning is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for the purpose of advising solely on the group's wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group's website www.sjp.co.uk/products.   ----------- 01:20 Meet Nicola Fitzpatrick: From Roofing to Sports Bras 02:33 Nicola's Early Work Experiences 05:24 Navigating Career Paths and Family Expectations 07:36 Challenges and Triumphs in the Construction Industry 12:22 Gender Bias and Representation in Construction 30:10 The Decision to Start Elansu 34:59 Designing for Women's Needs in Sportswear 35:30 Challenges in Women's Health Research 37:07 The Journey of Creating a Sports Bra 39:55 Prototyping and Testing 45:02 Balancing Quality and Pricing 50:02 Empowering Women Through Design 57:08 Personal Reflections and Advice 01:03:48 Resilience and Final Thoughts