All right, get ready because we're going to take a deep dive into the life of Patricia Bright.
Oh, yeah.
We've got her interview from the Diary of a CEO podcast.
Okay.
And let me tell you, this woman, her story is incredible.
Yeah.
It's anything but ordinary.
Yeah.
We're talking about everything from her Nigerian roots to becoming a YouTube star, to entrepreneurship, and all the challenges that come with being a successful woman.
Yeah.
So we're covering it all.
It's pretty remarkable, you know, how much our early experiences really shape who we become.
Right.
And, you know, Patricia talks about her Nigerian upbringing and she calls it this Nigerian cauldron that really just ignited her drive and her passion.
It's more than just hard work, though, isn't it?
Yeah.
It's like this ingrained resourcefulness.
Yeah.
You know, I keep thinking about that anecdote where she talked about her mom taking her and her sister to clean offices at 5 a.m. before school.
Oh, wow.
I mean, 5 a.m.
Yeah.
That just stuck with me.
It's a testament to her mom's work ethic.
Absolutely.
But it also kind of shows something a little bit deeper about their culture, you know, this figure it out attitude, this sense of hustle that's just kind of woven into their DNA.
Yeah.
It's fascinating.
It makes you wonder how those early experiences, you know, the values that are instilled at such a young age,
Yeah.
really shape how we all view work and opportunities.
For sure.
I mean, and Patricia's story takes this intense turn when she starts talking about her father's deportation, which is only six years old.
I mean, deportation is traumatic for anyone, especially a child that young.
Absolutely.
And it's clear that this event, you know, had a really profound impact on Patricia, shaping her views on safety, on security, and even just fueling her drive to succeed.
Yeah.
It's she took that early instability and used it to create the secure future for herself.
Right.
Exactly.
And then there's this fascinating pivot that she makes in university.
She starts with fashion marketing at Manchester Metropolitan University, but then she switches over to accounting and finance.
So on the surface, it just seems like a practical decision.
Right.
The fashion industry, it's not known for being financially stable.
Right.
But what's interesting is how this, this practical choice actually ended up laying the groundwork for her future success.
It's like,
you know, you set off on one path and then you find this hidden doorway that leads you somewhere completely unexpected.
Yeah.
And that kind of seems to be a recurring theme with Patricia, especially when you look at how she got into the world of YouTube.
Yeah.
She started it as a hobby.
Right.
A way to just connect with people online after having a friendship fall out of university.
It's incredible, though.
What's impressive is her commitment to it.
Right.
She uploaded videos every single weekend for four years before she made any money from it.
Oh, wow.
That takes serious dedication, especially in a world that is obsessed with instant gratification.
You know.
It's amazing.
She's like the tortoise in the race.
Slow and steady wins the race.
That's it.
But then with that success comes a whole new set of challenges.
Oh, yeah.
Especially for a female influencer.
For sure.
Patricia talks about, you know, facing these double standards and feeling this pressure to downplay her achievements to stay humble.
Yeah, it's a valid point, you know.
Mm-hmm.
She uses the examples of Ben Francis who founded Gymshark.
And Grace Beverly who founded Tala to kind of highlight the discrepancy.
Right.
If a man talks about his accomplishments, it's seen as inspiring.
Yeah.
But if a woman does the same thing, it's perceived as bragging or boastful.
Oh, it's so frustrating.
Yeah.
This unspoken pressure that women face to minimize their success.
Right.
Just to kind of avoid judgment.
Exactly.
It makes you wonder, like, are we seeing similar double standards in our own fields?
Oh, absolutely.
And how does that impact what we choose to share?
Yeah.
Both online and offline.
It's an important question.
Yeah.
It is for all of us to consider.
And then we see Patricia channeling all of this experience into something really remarkable.
Yeah.
This platform called The Break that's dedicated to empowering women financially.
It's a brilliant move, especially when you think about her own, you know, struggles with managing money earlier in her career.
Yeah.
She was really open about her financial recklessness.
Mm-hmm.
Even got into trouble with taxes at one point.
Yeah.
It speaks volumes about her growth, though, and her willingness to learn from her mistakes.
It really does.
What's fascinating is that the platform's success, you know, 20,000 downloads of a simple budgeting spreadsheet in two weeks proves that there's this huge demand for accessible financial education.
Totally.
Particularly among women.
Absolutely.
It's amazing how she's turned her financial journey, both the highs and the lows, into the
source of knowledge and empowerment for other women.
Oh, sure.
It really highlights the power of being vulnerable and sharing your experiences.
Absolutely.
Even the messy ones.
It makes such a difference.
It does.
And speaking of authenticity, you know, Patricia is very candid about the challenges of building this successful career while also navigating a long-term relationship with your husband, Mike.
Yeah.
Working together, raising kids.
Yeah.
It's a delicate balancing act.
It is, for sure.
But they seem to have found a rhythm, though.
Yeah.
It took some trial and error.
Right.
You know, she mentioned the need for clear boundaries and separate workspaces to avoid conflict.
Right.
When you're both so passionate about the same things.
Especially when you're working on the same thing.
Right.
Exactly.
Yeah, those boundaries are crucial.
Yeah.
It's so easy for work to bleed into your personal life when you're in that kind of environment.
Mm-hmm.
You know, having those designated spaces physically and mentally helps protect the relationship.
Right.
It's not all about work.
And I thought it was so interesting how they both talked about the positive impact their children have had on their work-life balance.
Oh, interesting.
You'd think having kids would make things more chaotic.
Yeah, you would think.
But it seems like for them, it brought this sense of structure.
Hmm.
It's almost counterintuitive, isn't it?
It is.
But it makes sense.
Yeah.
When you think about it, having children really forces you to prioritize.
Mm-hmm.
To be more intentional with your time.
Right.
And in their case, it seems like it created this natural rhythm that actually benefits both their work-life and their family life.
It's a good reminder that sometimes the things that we perceive as challenges can actually bring unexpected gifts.
Absolutely.
And speaking of unexpected turns, Patricia also shared this deeply unsettling experience she had with a cyber stalker for three years.
Oh, gosh.
It's a chilling reminder of just the darker side of online visibility.
Yeah.
She bravely detailed the stalker's behavior, messaging her across different platforms, contacting her family members, even showing up at a meet-and-greet.
Oh, that's terrifying.
It really makes you think about the trade-offs of putting yourself out there in such a public way.
For sure.
And how do we balance this desire for connection and community online with the potential risks of overexposure?
It's a tough question.
It is a tough question.
There are no easy answers.
No easy answers.
No.
This deep dive into Patricia's life is already proving to be an eye-opener.
Yeah.
I mean, we've seen the power of cultural influence, the ability to turn setbacks into fuel for success, the importance of consistency.
Absolutely.
And the courage to be authentic, even when you face those societal pressures.
It's really inspiring.
But we're just scratching the surface here.
Yeah, we've got a lot more to uncover.
Yeah.
We'll be back to explore more of Patricia's journey.
All right.
So stick with us.
This is good.
All right.
You know, it's amazing how Patricia can just like navigate the complexities of online life.
We were talking about the cyber stalking.
Right.
That was scary.
Like that's a real reminder of the potential downsides of being so visible online.
It really makes you think twice about how much you want to share.
Oh, for sure.
You know, Patricia even mentioned that she pulled back a bit.
Yeah.
And was a lot more cautious about what she was sharing about her personal life after that experience.
I get it.
It is a tough balance.
It is.
Wanting to connect with your audience.
Yeah.
But also protect yourself.
It's like walking a tightrope.
You know, you're constantly looking for that sweet spot between being engaged and being safe.
Exactly.
But then again, you know, Patricia has always been about balance.
I mean, think about how she built this incredible career.
Yeah.
While maintaining a strong relationship with her husband, Mike.
Right.
Working together, raising kids.
That's not easy.
Not easy at all.
That's a lot.
It is a juggling act.
It is.
But they seem to have figured out what works for them.
They do.
She really emphasized those clear boundaries.
Right.
And having those separate work spaces.
Yeah.
Especially when you're both passionate about the same things.
Yeah, I think those boundaries are crucial, you know.
Yeah.
It's just too easy for work to take over everything.
Yeah.
When you're in that kind of environment.
Right.
Having those designated spaces physically and mentally.
Right.
Just helps protect the relationship from being all about work.
Exactly.
All the time.
And you know, it's not just about avoiding conflict.
Right.
It's about preserving those moments of connection.
Yeah.
And relaxation.
Yeah.
It was interesting to hear them talk about the positive impact.
Yeah.
That their children have had on their work-life balance.
Interesting.
You'd think that having kids would just make things more chaotic.
Oh yeah, definitely.
But for them.
Yeah.
It seems like it brought some structure.
Hmm.
It does seem kind of counterintuitive, doesn't it?
It does.
But when you think about it, having kids forces you to prioritize things.
Right.
You know, you got to be intentional with your time.
Right.
And for Patricia and Mike, it seems like that created a rhythm for them.
That benefits both their work-life.
Right.
And their family life.
Exactly.
It's good.
It's a good reminder that sometimes the things we think or challenges actually end up being unexpected gifts.
It's true.
In our lives.
Speaking of gifts.
Yeah.
Patricia's platform, The Break, seems to be just that.
It is, yeah.
It's like this gift that she's giving to other women.
Absolutely.
You know, demystifying finance.
Yes.
Empowering them to take control of their money.
I mean, it's such a needed thing.
Mm-hmm.
Do you remember that budgeting spreadsheet she mentioned?
I do, yeah.
Downloaded like over 20,000 times in just two weeks.
That's amazing.
That's incredible.
It just shows you how much people are like craving this information.
Yeah.
Especially when it's, you know, presented in a way that's easy to understand.
I mean.
Interesting and engaging.
It's not just about, you know, managing your money.
No, it's not.
It's about that feeling of confidence and freedom.
That comes with really understanding your finances.
Exactly.
Making informed decisions.
That's the key.
It's about feeling empowered to create the life you want.
Yes.
On your own terms.
Yeah.
And it's interesting how her own experiences with money have informed this project.
Right.
She's talked about her financial recklessness before.
Mm-hmm.
She's even gotten into trouble with taxes, you know.
She has.
It just goes to show that we all make mistakes.
We do.
Even those who seem to have it all figured out.
Right.
What's important is that we learn from those mistakes and use them to help others.
And that's what makes her message so relatable and impactful.
It really does.
It does.
That authenticity really resonates with people.
And speaking of authenticity.
Right.
She's also been really candid about the challenges of being a successful woman.
Yeah.
You know, in this influencer space.
Especially in that space.
It's tough.
I remember how she talked about those double standards.
The pressure to just stay humble.
It's a constant battle.
It is.
She used those examples of Ben Francis from Jim Shirk.
Right.
And Grace Beverly from Tala.
Yeah.
To really illustrate that point.
Right.
A man celebrates his success.
Mm-hmm.
He's ambitious.
He's driven.
Right.
A woman does the same thing.
Yeah.
And all of a sudden she's considered arrogant or boastful.
It's so frustrating.
It is.
It's a frustrating reality.
It is.
It puts women in this impossible situation where they have to downplay their achievements.
Right.
Just to avoid judgment.
It makes you wonder like.
It does.
How much we internalize these societal expectations.
Yeah.
Without realizing it.
For sure.
Do we hold ourselves back.
Exactly.
From celebrating our own wins.
Yeah.
Do we shy away from opportunities.
Yeah.
Because we're afraid of what people are going to think.
That's a big one.
Yeah.
These are important questions to ask.
Yeah, I hear.
Because challenging these double standards.
Yeah.
Really starts with recognizing them.
Absolutely.
And then refusing to let them dictate our actions.
Right.
You have to take control of your own narrative.
And Patricia's story is a powerful reminder of that.
It is.
You know, she's not afraid to own her success.
Yeah.
And to speak her truth.
It's inspiring.
It is.
It really is.
Even if it means going against the grain.
Yeah.
You know, it's about breaking down those barriers.
It is.
Not just for ourselves, but for all women.
That's right.
And Patricia's leading by example.
She is.
You know, showing us that we can be successful.
Mm-hmm.
And ambitious.
Yeah.
And authentic.
Yeah.
All at the same time.
You don't have to pick just one.
We don't.
You can have it all.
You know, one of the things that struck me about Patricia's story.
Yeah.
Is her incredible journey from those early mornings cleaning
offices to building this, like, multi-faceted empire.
It's amazing.
It's incredible.
It is.
It's a testament.
It is.
To the power of hard work and resilience.
And just never giving up on your dreams.
It's not just about the destination either.
Right?
It's about the journey, you know.
Mm-hmm.
It's about the ups and downs, the lessons learned.
Those are the things that shape you.
They do.
Those are the things that make you who you are.
And Patricia's journey is far from over.
Oh, yeah.
I can't wait to see what she does next.
Me too.
She's a force.
She is a force to be reckoned with.
You know, Patricia's story's got so many different sides to it.
It does.
It's not just about her success as an entrepreneur.
Right.
But she's so dedicated to empowering others, especially women.
Absolutely.
Like, she's taken all her passions, you know, for beauty,
for finance, for building community.
Yeah.
And just kind of woven them together into this incredible thing.
It's a powerful reminder that we don't have to just choose one path.
Right.
You know, we can have all these different interests and weave them together
to create something really, really special.
Absolutely.
And I think she's done a brilliant job of building a platform
that goes way beyond a brand.
Yeah.
It's a movement.
It is.
It's a community of women who are there to support each other
and uplift one another.
And she does it all while saying true to herself.
Yeah.
Which is so refreshing to see.
It is.
You know, in a world that's so obsessed with perfection.
Right.
And this like flawless image.
Totally.
Patricia's willingness to be vulnerable.
Yeah.
To share her struggles and her triumphs.
That's what makes her so relatable.
It is.
And so engaging.
That authenticity, you know.
That's what resonates with people.
Absolutely.
It reminds you that you don't have to have it all figured out
to make a difference.
You really don't.
You can be successful and ambitious and still keep it real.
Yeah.
And show your flaws.
Yeah, exactly.
Remember when she talked about her work ethic early on?
Oh, yeah.
Cleaning offices with her mom at 5 a.m. before school.
Oh, my God.
It's like that experience really instilled in her.
This sense of dedication.
Yeah.
And perseverance.
Yeah.
That she's carried with her through every challenge.
It really is a testament to the power of hard work.
Yeah.
And consistency.
Especially in a time where instant gratification is like the norm.
It is.
Her story is a reminder that the most rewarding things
often take time and effort.
Yeah.
A lot of grit.
And it's not just about her own success either.
Right.
You know, her platform, The Break, is all about giving women
the tools and the knowledge to take control of their money.
Yes.
And build a secure future.
It's so important.
It is.
Financial literacy is so overlooked.
Yeah.
And she's making it accessible and engaging for a whole new generation of women.
It's not just about the numbers either.
No, it's not.
It's about that feeling of confidence.
Yeah.
And that freedom.
Yes.
That comes with understanding your finances.
Exactly.
And making informed decisions.
It's about being empowered to create the life that you want on your own terms.
Absolutely.
And it's on your terms.
I think Patricia's story reminds us that we all have the potential.
We do.
To create positive change in our own lives and the lives of others.
We do.
You know, we can share our knowledge, support the causes that we care about.
Or even just inspire the people around us.
Absolutely.
It starts with recognizing our own power.
Yeah.
And using it to make a difference.
It really does.
As we wrap up our deep dive into Patricia Bright's incredible journey.
It's been a good one.
I think the biggest takeaway is.
What is it?
Authenticity.
Yes.
Perseverance.
For sure.
And a passion for empowering others.
Those are the ingredients for a truly impactful life.
She's shown us that you can be successful on your own terms.
You can embrace your imperfections.
And use your experiences to uplift and inspire others.
So as you go about your day to day, think about this.
What's one thing you can take from Patricia's story?
Yeah.
And apply to your own life.
What is it?
Maybe it's her dedication.
Right.
Maybe it's her commitment to financial empowerment.
Yeah.
Maybe it's her authenticity.
It could be anything.
Whatever it is.
Yeah.
Hold on to that inspiration and let it guide you as you go on your own journey.
And remember, the journey is just as important as the destination.
Yes.
Embrace the challenges, celebrate your wins.
Absolutely.
And never stop learning.
That's it for our deep dive today.
Great deep dive.
Until next time.
Yes.
Keep exploring, keep learning.
Keep going.
And keep striving to be the best version of yourself.