CEO in your 20s and how to manage your mental health

What’s it really like to build a successful agency while handling the pressure of leadership and mental health?Tom Jauncey, co-owner of Nautilus Marketing, didn’t follow the traditional path. He started freelancing at 16, turned a side hustle into a thriving agency, and learned firsthand that success isn’t just about strategy, it’s about people, culture, and well-being.In this episode, Tom gets real about the highs and lows of running a business. He opens up about the mental toll of leadership, why therapy became a game-changer, and how he’s built a company that actually supports its employees.From hiring the right team to navigating the fast-changing world of marketing, he breaks down what worked, what hasn’t, and what he wishes he knew earlier.If you’re an entrepreneur, marketer, or just trying to grow without burning out, this one’s for you.Episode Topics:00:00 - 01:41 Introduction01:42 - 03:15: How Tom got started in business at 1603:15 - 07:50: Challenges of starting a business from scratch07:50 - 12:40: Turning passion into a profitable business12:40 - 17:25: Creating a company culture that feels like family17:25 - 21:55: Why mental health matters in entrepreneurship21:55 - 26:30: Bouncing back from setbacks and failures26:30 - 30:45: The hardest and most rewarding parts of running an agency30:45 - 34:10: The different ways to build a career without a degree34:10 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs🔗 CONNECT WITH Tom👥 [email protected]💻 https://nautilusmarketing.co.uk/ 🎧 https://nautinerds.com/ASK Anything on The Aspiring CMO show and get your questions answered right on the show!https://forms.gle/jswoQq8dy8u2oisT6Subscribe to The Aspiring CMOFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theaspiringcmoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaspiringcmo/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theaspiringcmo/featured