The accidental entrepreneur
Hi, I’m Maggie,
…and if you’d told me 20 years ago I’d end up as an “entrepreneur,” I would’ve laughed (and maybe Googled what that even meant). Raised by hardworking, working-class parents, I wasn’t exactly set up for business brilliance. I didn’t finish university (Eastern religions… what was I thinking?), had zero qualifications, and figured most things out as I went along. But one thing I’ve always had? Grit.
A family woman
My story really kicks off when I became a mum. By 26, I had three kids underfoot, a fearless attitude, and an interest-free credit card from M&S – my lifeline at the time. Dragging my kids to brightly coloured, headache-inducing play spaces made me wonder: why are places for families so uninspiring? So, in true “how hard can it be?” fashion, I decided to create something better.
I didn’t have a plan – just a burning frustration and a knack for seeing things differently. What started as a wild idea turned into a whole genre of family-focused private members’ clubs, where kids weren’t an afterthought – they were at the heart of the design. No plastic chaos. No boring, lifeless spaces. Just a place where families could genuinely enjoy time together.
From that one idea, I built an internationally recognised brand with seven clubs in four countries. I raised £30 million to fund a management buyout. And then… it all went sideways. Business can be brutal, and after 12 years, I had to walk away from the company I’d poured my heart into.
Starting over was hard. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you don’t stay down for long. I launched b_together – a stylish evolution of my original concept. It came with its own challenges (hello, COVID!) but also taught me resilience and gave me a fresh perspective on what really matters.
These days, I’m obsessed with fixing the early years sector. As a mum of four, I’ve seen firsthand how stuck in the past childcare can be – it’s like an industry with an identity crisis. I’ve been exploring everything from innovative software to creative curriculums and better design. My dream? Creating aspirational, inclusive spaces that families can actually afford. No small feat in today’s economic climate, but I’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge.
And then there’s The CFD. Over the years, people kept coming to me for advice – about design, business, and everything in between. So instead of juggling it all solo, I teamed up with the amazing Arbilina Nissan to create a consultancy that’s a little different. We’re not your typical management consultants. We’re doers. We roll up our sleeves and get sh*t done.
Through it all, my kids have been my constant inspiration. They’ve grown up alongside my businesses, worked with me, and inherited the same no-nonsense work ethic my mum drilled into me. Our big, blended family – step-parents, co-parents and all – is my world. They’ve kept me grounded while I’ve been off building big dreams.
So, that’s me – a slightly accidental entrepreneur, a proud mum, and someone who believes in doing things differently. I’ve learned a lot, messed up plenty, and kept going. If there’s one thing I’d say to anyone reading this: if I can figure this out, so can you. Let’s get sh*t done.
