Katri Josling doesn’t have a job title, awards, or even an active social media account - she’s a housewife. But she’s also a constant learner - whether it’s completing a new boating license, a culinary chemistry course to create the most amazing meals, learning her fourth language, going skitouring in Svalbad or training her two giant Rhodesian Ridgebacks. She also was a very high-powered consultant with a UCL degree in Political Science and an MA in European Politics. She was working and traveling the hours you can imagine - so when her husband’s career took off - she had to make a choice between her own career and spending what time was possible, together. I want to know about her decision to leave work, how she found purpose, what architecting a world for a partnership looks like and her view on it all now.

One of the things I’ve always held judgement around is the idea of being a “housewife.” But after years of chasing goals, building things, and burning out, I’ve started to see that choice differently — with empathy, understanding, and even admiration. I’ve started to ask myself: if I could build enough of a passive income, would I stop working?

In a culture where you are pushed to overachieve, where the only goal touted by the media seems to be to have a multi-billion dollar business - I want to share a story that makes those who have chosen NOT to do that also feel worthy, valuable and acknowledged.

In this episode we cover:

• Growing up in the USSR and moving between Sweden, Finland and Russia

• The freedom of going to UCL for university

• Meeting her partner and how getting married was the most rebellious thing they could do

• Living in London, Ghana, Geneva and (almost) Johannesburg

• What dinner party moment when they ask: what do you do?

• The battle with self and ego that she has overcome

Chloë is best known for her leadership in the creator economy as the founder and CEO of SHFT, a talent agency she grew into a multi-award-winning, 6-figure business while advocating for fairness, inclusivity, and integrity across the industry. In 2024 she was recognised on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for her impact in influencer marketing and entrepreneurship.

Last year, Chloë chose to exit her company, take a break and channel her expertise into coaching. She now works as a Mindset and Business Coach, supporting entrepreneurs, leaders, and creatives to build clarity, confidence, and sustainable success.

I don’t think we hear enough empowering stories of successful founders stepping away from their businesses. The narrative seems to simply be that we should build and gain recognition and money - but what happens next? What happens when you outgrow that idea you had in your early 20s, or when you don’t feel challenged or fulfilled anymore? Leaving a successful business means going against the grain of our culture in so many ways - and then what do you do with that newfound space?

In this episode we cover:

• Growing up in Peckham & young entrepreneurship

• Dance & the creative importance of hobbies

• Carving a path in influencer agencies

• Black Lives Matter: her turning point

• Creating SHIFT , success stories & Forbes 30u30

• Waking up unhappy at 30

• Autism & ADHD diagnosis

• Why and how she left her business

• What she did while off social media

• Why coaching is her next move

Mentions:

Laban Dance School - https://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/

Spirited Away, Studio Ghibli (2001)

Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloedownes/

Stefanie Sword-Williams is an award-winning founder, speaker and author of the book F*ck Being Humble: Why self-promotion isn’t a dirty word. A global mission, movement and training consultancy inspiring individuals to be unapologetically proud of their achievements and overcome the fear of self-promotion.

She has spoken at the offices of Apple, Netflix, Unilever, Nike, Google, L’oreal and Microsoft, at Universities for the Wharton Business School in New York to London College of Fashion, trained over 700 people in her Side Hustle School programme, has been Forbes 30 under 30, recently won the ‘Future is Female’ LinkedIn award for her positive contributions and impact on the industry and did a TEDx on why the world needs to be less humble.

Stef’s support towards those who were unemployed during the pandemic led to her being invited to become a Fellow at the Royal Society of Arts and she continues to reinvest profits and time into community projects to help improve the lives of many.

Her new book is called The Career Comedown.

In this episode we cover:

• Switching from agency work to self-employed
• The reality behind the ‘big’ moments
• Managing your own expectations on growth
• Why someone needs to pay for your recovery time
• The career comedown - are you feeling it?
• Finding Ease in a world that values “Hard” work
• The power of having a business coach

Mentions:

Surreal - cereal brand

Tiny Experiences by Anne-Laure Le Cunff

Links:

Linkedin

Instagram (Personal)

Instagram (F*ck Being Humble)