What does success really look like when life forces you to slow down?

In this episode of the Different Hats Podcast, I sit down with founder and HERstory creator Stephanie Prior at a pivotal moment in her life, 33 weeks pregnant, scaling her business, and learning to let go of control.

But this isn’t just a conversation about pregnancy or entrepreneurship.

It’s about identity.

It’s about leadership.

It’s about redefining success beyond performance, perfection and proving yourself.

Stephanie opens up about:

• Growing up navigating identity, belonging and racism
• The turning point at 16 that reshaped her path
• From pageantry to public life, and what representation really means
• Building HERstory into one of Sussex’s leading women-in-business platforms
• The fear of losing control as a founder
• Delegation, leadership and commercialising her business
• Why success isn’t just money, it’s self-belief, gratitude and legacy

As Stephanie prepares for motherhood, she reflects on ambition, vulnerability and what it means to build something that doesn’t depend entirely on you.

This is a powerful case study in redefining success in real time.

00:00 – Introduction

02:24 – Delegation, leadership and commercialising the business

07:41 – Early career, mentorship and full-circle moments

14:09 – What does success really mean?

18:34 – Identity, school, and finding perspective

21:10 – The Gambia trip that changed everything

29:00 – Belonging, racism and confidence

36:45 – Pageantry and representation

44:22 – The origin of HERstory

49:48 – Creating space in business

1:03:29 – Entrepreneurship wasn’t the plan

1:13:19 – Pregnancy, control and fear

1:25:22 – Ambition, motherhood and the next chapter

1:30:36 – What she’d tell her younger self

🎧 LISTEN TO MORE DIFFERENT HATS EPISODES:

👉 https://www.different-hats.co.uk/podcast

🔗 Connect with Stephanie Prior

Website: https://prior-media.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missstephanieprior/

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-prior-67903b84

💡 If this episode resonated with you, please like, share, and comment below. Your support helps us spread this important message and change the narrative around success and mental health.

Rivervale – https://www.rivervale.co.uk

Brown Bear Studios – https://www.brownbearstudio.co.uk

Carpenter Box – https://www.carpenterbox.com

🎬 PRODUCED BY:

H2 Productions – https://h2productions.co.uk/

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