Hazel Theocharous is a dynamic talent management expert, entrepreneur and learning & development consultant with over 15 years of experience. As the founder of Empowering Your Career and Empowering Your Staff, she helps professionals and businesses unlock their full potential through tailored training and coaching solutions. With a strong background in corporate training, office management and leadership development, Hazel has worked across multiple industries, including legal, financial services, recruitment and professional consultancy. She is passionate about guiding individuals through career transitions and helping businesses build high-performing teams. Her expertise in career coaching, professional skills development and workplace transformation makes her a sought-after voice in talent and career growth.

Can you tell our readers about your background?

My background is a mix of talent management, training & development and office management. Over the years, I’ve worked with professionals at all career stages: from graduates and returners to senior executives, helping them build confidence and develop key skills for success. I’ve worked in fast-paced corporate environments, where I managed training programs, led recruitment initiatives, and played a key role in onboarding and upskilling employees.

My experience spans multiple industries, including legal, financial services, and corporate training. I’ve also had the opportunity to work internationally, supporting global teams and ensuring they receive the right training and development opportunities. This has given me a unique perspective on the challenges professionals face and how businesses can better support their employees.

What inspired you to start your business?

I’ve always been passionate about helping people navigate their careers and develop professionally. Over the years, I noticed a gap in tailored career support with many professionals struggling with confidence, career direction, or returning to work after a break, yet the guidance available is often too generic.

At the same time, businesses face challenges in training and retaining staff, particularly in a rapidly changing work environment. I wanted to bridge that gap by offering practical, customised solutions that empower individuals while also helping businesses invest in their people.

The idea for Empowering Your Career and Empowering Your Staff came from my desire to create meaningful change. I wanted to provide hands-on, results-driven coaching and training that truly makes a difference in people’s careers and workplace experiences.

Where is your business based?

My business is based in the UK, but I work with clients globally. Thanks to digital platforms, I can connect with professionals and businesses worldwide through virtual coaching sessions, online training programs and interactive workshops.

I’ve worked with clients across different time zones, which has allowed me to understand various workplace cultures and tailor my approach accordingly. The flexibility of remote work has been a game-changer in reaching a wider audience and delivering high-quality training without geographical limitations.

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

Starting my business was a mix of strategic planning and taking bold action. I began by leveraging my existing experience and network. The first step was identifying the most common career and workplace challenges professionals and businesses face. I then developed targeted programs to address these gaps.

I built an online presence through LinkedIn and my websites, Empowering Your Career and Empowering Your Staff, which allowed me to showcase my expertise. I also started running free workshops and networking with professionals who could benefit from my services.

One of the most important steps was ensuring my offerings were clear and valuable. I developed structured career coaching programs, a returner program, and bespoke training solutions for businesses. Over time, word-of-mouth referrals and strategic marketing helped my business grow.

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

Content marketing and networking have been the most effective ways of raising awareness. I regularly share insights on career growth, workplace challenges and professional skills on LinkedIn and other platforms. This has helped position me as a trusted expert in my field.

Running challenges, such as my 5-Day Career Confidence Challenge, has also been a great way to engage with my audience. Providing free value builds trust and helps potential clients see the impact of my work.

Networking (both online and in-person) has also been crucial. Connecting with professionals, attending industry events, and collaborating with other experts have helped me expand my reach.

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges has been balancing business growth with financial stability, especially in the early stages. When starting a business, there’s a lot of uncertainty, and it takes time to build a consistent client base.

I overcame this by diversifying my services - offering both individual coaching and corporate training. This has allowed me to create multiple revenue streams while maintaining financial stability.

Another challenge has been managing the workload as a solopreneur. To overcome this, I implemented better systems, streamlined my processes and outsourced certain tasks when necessary. Previously being a VA myself, makes it easier to work out the best VA to work with and what tasks I feel I happy to outsource.

How do you stay focused?

I stay focused by setting clear SMART goals and breaking them into actionable steps. I use productivity tools like Trello to track my progress and keep myself accountable.

In my work, I start my work day in my home office by checking my calendar (in case something has been added overnight which I am not aware), then I check my emails and respond as required. Once I have responded to an email, I file it in my email folders – otherwise emails pile up in my inbox and it can be a cumbersome job to have to do in bulk.  Once I have done this, I look at the To Do List which I left on my desk from the night before – this is my starting point for the day!  So obviously, when leaving my work day I create a To Do List for the next day: any outstanding items which need to be dealt with. Oh, and I also take 5 minutes to go over things to celebrate from my day – I don’t think business owners do this enough. It is important – it keeps me inspired and looking forward to the next day.  This is especially important if you perhaps haven’t had the best of days, look for a positive from the negative. TIP – there always is one, even if it is a learning moment.

I also schedule regular check-ins with myself to assess what’s working and what needs to be adjusted. Surrounding myself with a supportive network of peers and mentors has been instrumental in keeping me on track.

Finally, I make sure to prioritise self-care. Burnout is real, and taking time to recharge helps me stay productive and focused.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

What sets my business apart is the highly personalised approach I take. Many training programs and career coaching services offer generic solutions, but I focus on tailoring everything to individual needs.

For professionals, I take the time to understand their challenges, strengths, and aspirations before designing a customised plan. For businesses, I interview employees, identify skill gaps, and develop bespoke training solutions that align with company goals.

My experience across multiple industries also gives me a broader perspective on career and talent challenges, allowing me to offer unique insights and solutions.

Also, I believe that my personality and positivity has given me an edge as people are referring me to their friends for help within their careers, based on the positive experience they have had with me.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

Building relationships through content marketing and networking has been my most effective strategy. Sharing valuable insights and collaborating with other professionals have helped me attract and retain clients organically. 

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Start before you feel ready – it is important to think about what you want to do. Then you need to start trying to look into your target market and how you can reach this, perhaps even gaining one client before you leave a paid solid role. Remember you don’t need to be perfect as this can be a major roadblock. Everyone makes a mistake, it is part of being human and starting your business, waiting until everything is perfect can hold you back. Take small, consistent steps and refine as you go.

Also, build a strong support network: having mentors, peers, or coaches makes a huge difference in navigating entrepreneurship.

What's your favourite app, blog, and book? Why?

• App: Calendly – it is so user friendly and automatically links with my calendar when someone books a session. It helps me stay organised and be on top of all of my appointments/training sessions.

• Blog: Thrive Global by Arianna Huffington – this focuses on workplace wellness, productivity and mental resilience offering insights on avoiding burnout, improving work-life balance and fostering a healthier professional mindset: using experts and real-life stories with practical strategies.

• Book: ‘We can all make it’ by Sara Davies – A book I couldn’t put down, inspiring with a lot of take home messages while you start your business and beyond. Oh, and the ‘10x10 Handy Tips for Small Business’ by Me!, which I still refer to when I feel a bit stuck!

What's your favourite business tool or resource? Why?

Canva is a fantastic tool for creating visually appealing content quickly and easily. It’s essential for marketing materials, social media graphics, and presentations. I have now started offering 1 hour training sessions for micro business owners as they want to create their own marketing materials and struggle to do this on their own. I use to create presentations, video content, social media posts and have also purchased letterheads, envelopes and business cards – receiving certificates from Canva to show I have helped plant trees. So I love the fact that I am also helping the environment by using Canva.

Who is your business role model? Why?

Sara Davies is an inspiring entrepreneur, best known as the founder of Crafter’s Companion and a Dragon on Dragons' Den. She built her business from her university dorm room into a global crafting empire, demonstrating resilience, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to her vision. What sets her apart is her hands-on approach and dedication to helping small businesses grow, making her a relatable and empowering figure for aspiring entrepreneurs. Her journey proves that with passion, persistence, and a willingness to take risks, success is achievable.

How do you balance work and life?

I set clear boundaries and prioritise self-care. Scheduling downtime, unplugging from work when needed, and making time for hobbies and family help me maintain a healthy balance. I believe it is important for me to have a set routine as much as possible during a working week and that does enable me to see the difference at the weekends where I have downed tools and can be more spontaneous. That is important for business owners to know the differentiation.

What’s your favourite way to decompress?

I love swimming and I enjoy listening to music, going for walks and engaging in creative activities like writing or podcasting. These help me relax and reset.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

I’m focused on expanding Empowering Your Career and Empowering Your Staff by launching new programs, collaborating with businesses, and increasing my digital presence. My focus through Empowering Your Career is currently the Returner community – I am developing a 10 Week Self-Paced Empowered Returner Programme as well as a mastermind-style group for returners to work, which I’m excited to develop further. Alongside this I want to bring a 2-3 Week Returner Programme to businesses who want to bring in Returners but really do not know how.  In terms of Empowering Your Staff, my focus in February is to bring training to solo-micro business owners. 

How can our readers connect with you?

You can connect with me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/hazeltheocharous, visit my websites at empoweringyourcareer.com and empoweringyourstaff.com, or follow me on social media for insights and updates.