Show Notes
At 30, Eleanor Sands walked away from an unfulfilling corporate career and chose to break the cycle of unhappiness to build a life aligned with her values. She shares her belief that our past does not define our future, and that anything becomes possible when we learn to draw on our inner strength. In this conversation, Eleanor reflects on the emotional tipping point that led to her resignation, the creation and rapid growth of Wigmore Wednesdays, and how courage and community helped her navigate uncertainty. This episode is a powerful reminder that you can rewrite your story at any age by breaking the cycle, overcoming adversity and making meaningful connections
KEY TAKEAWAY "I have always wanted to change my story. I've never wanted that to be where it ended."
ABOUT THE GUEST – ELEANOR SANDS Eleanor Sands is the founder and CEO of Wigmore Wednesdays. While her life and success may appear effortless from the outside, behind them lies a story of extraordinary pain and resilience. Having survived years of childhood abuse that later led to the conviction of her abuser, Eleanor refused to let her experiences define who she would become. Instead, she discovered an inner strength that fuelled her ambition and shaped her outlook on life.
CONNECT WITH ELEANOR SANDS https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-sands-96b93739/ [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/company/wigmore-wednesdays/
ABOUT THE HOST - AMY ROWLINSON Amy is a purpose and fulfilment coach, author, podcast strategist and mastermind host who empowers purpose-driven leaders to boost productivity, engagement and meaning in life and work. Through transformational conversations, Amy helps individuals overcome overwhelm and live with clarity, building living legacies along the way.
WORK WITH AMY If you're interested in how purpose can help you and/or your business, please book a free 30 min call via https://calendly.com/amyrowlinson/call
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH AMY Sign up for the weekly Friday Focus - https://www.amyrowlinson.com/subscribe-to-weekly-newsletter
CONNECT WITH AMY https://linktr.ee/AmyRowlinson
BUY AMY'S BOOK (2025 Business Book Awards Finalist) * Focus on Why by Amy Rowlinson with George F. Kerr – https://amzn.eu/d/6W02HWu
HOSTED BY AMY ROWLINSON
DISCLAIMER The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the host and guest speakers. Please conduct your own due diligence. *As an Amazon Associate, Amy earns from qualifying purchases.
More from Focus on WHY
Can women truly see themselves as leaders? Caroline Lamont challenges traditional ideas of leadership, exploring why so many women struggle to see themselves as leaders and how imbalanced expectations can contribute to burnout. Drawing on her experience in women's health, leadership coaching and her own experience of chronic illness and stress, Caroline explores agency, self-leadership, fairness and the value of balancing traditionally masculine and feminine traits. Discover how redefining leadership can help women lead with greater compassion, collaboration and confidence, without sacrificing their wellbeing or themselves. Explore a new approach to authentic leadership for women.
What does it really take to build a purposeful and prosperous business? Dr Barnsley Brown, the Badass Business Coach, combines a no-nonsense strategy with spiritual and intuitive practices. Dr Barnsley shares how leaving a 75%-happy academic career led her to create a purpose-driven business helping heart-centred entrepreneurs move from financial struggle to consistent income. She explores her TACTIC framework, the power of small, compounding actions and why putting money into the hands of good people matters. Discover how purpose, mindset and daily revenue-generating activity can create momentum, meaning and financial freedom by becoming unstoppable on purpose.
Are you truly meeting your needs or just telling yourself you're "fine"? Dr. Laura Shallcross challenges the everyday lies we tell ourselves about wellbeing, drawing from her own journey with burnout, perfectionism and the hidden costs of high achievement. Discover why so many of us don't know what we need, how societal and cultural conditioning hold us back, and simple but crucial steps to reconnect with ourselves. Now, Laura helps individuals and organisations unpick harmful rules, reclaim their humanity and prevent burnout. Tune in to discover the non-negotiable foundations for your health by understanding your needs.
Do you lead with love in your daily life and work? Clare Norman is on a mission to reclaim love—specifically agape—in the world of coaching. From overcoming professional masks to understanding her own constellation of inner voices, Clare shares transformative insights on vulnerability, authenticity and the healing power of unconditional esteem. Whether you're curious about bringing more heart into your relationships or eager to explore the intersection of inner work, coaching and spirituality, you'll find inspiration and practical wisdom in becoming a revolutionary for love.
What if transformation begins when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the fear of change? Irene Tananyan shares how a personal crisis shifted her from a world rooted in maths and economics to one embracing energy, spirituality and the unseen dimensions of life. She explores readiness, collaboration, synchronicity, soul purpose and the energetic imprint we carry from birth. Irene sees life as an expanding field of infinite possibilities, shaped by conscious choice, gratitude, love and contribution. In this thought-provoking conversation, discover how resistance can become readiness and open the door to receiving transformation, fulfilment, purpose and the beauty of life.