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Entrepreneur, speaker now author – about Jan

If you would like to know a little more about me, read on.
Courtesy Jan Cavelle

My background & And why
I champion entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship, when done right, offers one of the greatest freedoms in life.

From a young age, I knew working for someone else wasn’t for me. I dabbled in micro-businesses—research, wine sales, catering—where the “what” didn’t matter nearly as much as the “why”: freedom, flexibility, and ownership of my time.

When I became a single parent, that freedom took on new meaning. I needed to build something not just for myself, but for my children’s security and future. That practical need turned me into a different kind of entrepreneur—the kind who scales.

Over two decades, I built and ran a much larger business. I won awards, joined networks of high-growth entrepreneurs, and learned from some of the best in the UK. But no amount of knowledge could shield me from the tough parts. I stayed too long. The business faltered. I burned out.

Burnout is a silent epidemic among founders—still under-discussed, often misunderstood. Mental health in entrepreneurship needs far more attention, and that belief has shaped both my advocacy and my writing.

I was self-taught for most of my journey, and perhaps because of that, I remain endlessly fascinated by what it really takes to build a business. These days, I write to support, demystify, and celebrate entrepreneurs—especially those flying under the radar, doing the hard things with little applause.

 

From Championing Entrepreneurs to Writing about Them

Quite early on, I was honoured to be chosen as one of the UK’s first 50 Female Entrepreneurial Ambassadors to Europe. Our mission was to nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs—speaking in schools, mentoring new founders, and championing enterprise at every level.

That passion never left. Over the years, I’ve supported numerous campaigns to promote entrepreneurship, both in the UK and globally. I believe deeply that thriving small businesses are the backbone of any healthy economy, and I continue to advocate for them wherever I can.

Along the way, I’ve spoken on Newsnight about the real needs of SMEs, and debated the role of government in business at the Cambridge Union. I’ve been part of the Women Influence Community, global network focused on how women can use their influence for the greater good.

But even before all of that, I wrote.

I wrote while building my business. I wrote for Real Business and other publications. And now I write full time—for and about entrepreneurs.

It’s a chance to speak with extraordinary people doing remarkable things. The generosity and insight they offer never fails to inspire me.

My first book, Scale for Success, fulfilled a lifelong dream, and the second, Start for Success, soon followed.

My work has since appeared in Elite Business, Management Today, Irish Tech News, Undercover Recruiter, and many more. I still write for several publications, including regular articles for leading publications at Medium. 

I still wake up amazed that I get to do this. None of it would have happened without entrepreneurship.

If you’d like to stay in touch, hear the latest stories, or share your own, I’d love to have you on the mailing list.