From the House of Lords to Finding Her Fire in Manchester: The Power of Showing Up and Starting Again

In this episode, I’m joined by the blinking brilliant Helen McHugh — former Labour Party strategist, Northern Power Women nominee, and now founder of her own business. And one of the nicest humans you'll meet.

Helen shares her journey from growing up in a political family to stepping into the corridors of Westminster — and the challenges she faced as a woman in a very male-dominated environment. We dig deep into what it really takes to find your voice when the rooms you walk into feel built for someone else.

We talk about her early days and how she forged her career — from getting on a bus to London with nothing but determination to walk the corridors of Westminster, to surviving (and thriving) behind the scenes of political campaigns. Helen reflects on purpose, ambition, and the emotional resilience needed to keep showing up — even when the wins were few and far between.

You’ll hear about:

• Building self-worth after a career defined by "keeping the show on the road" for others
• Her favourite Prime Minister
• The messy, brave transition from politics to entrepreneurship (spoiler: no grand plan, just grit)
• Why advocacy and genuine support among women matters more than ever
• How becoming a parent shifts your lens on ambition, legacy, and leadership
• The often underrated superpower: being nice — and why niceness and leadership belong together
• The power of looking beyond immediate challenges to the wider possibilities waiting for you

This is a story about starting again, backing yourself, and finding your fire after years of playing it small for other people.

And yes, in Helen's words, "Niceness is so underrated, isn't it?" (I couldn’t agree more.)

If you’ve ever felt like you’re rebuilding yourself while building your next chapter, this conversation is going to help you decide where to place your f&cks to give.

Links + Mentions:

• Follow Helen on LinkedIn
• Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony (Helen’s go-to when she needs to reset)
• Northern Power Women Awards

Pockets of Gold:
✨ "It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice." — Scooter (via Helen)
✨ "You are someone your children — and your future self — are watching. Make it count."

Sarah is the founder of FoundHer Fire—a membership space for experienced women in business who know real success isn’t just about strategy, it’s about self; a place, a space, a community where women find their fire, for women who aren't done yet and who are ready to write their own rules of success. Sarah also co-founded The Plot Twist (un)Awards, celebrating female founders and women smashing through glass ceilings with purpose, passion and joy.

Find out more about me and how I can work with you:

• On LinkedIn
• On Instagram
• On the Web
• Or drop me an email sarah@mindthegap.academy