What It’s Really Like Joining the Family Business as a Young Woman

By Olivia Fleming, Marketing Assistant at The Power Within Training (and daughter of the boss)

Let’s get this out the way first: yes, I work for the family business.

Yes, my dad is the MD.

And yes… I am technically a nepo baby.

But before you picture me strutting into the office with a Starbucks in one hand and a sense of entitlement in the other, let me tell you,  there were no red carpets, corner offices, or “just pop in and run the brand” moments handed to me.

In fact, when I first told my dad I wanted to join The Power Within Training, he gave me a look that said, “Great. Prove it.”

From Hair Straighteners to Hashtags: My Path to Joining the Family Business as a Young Woman

My journey into marketing wasn’t exactly a straight line. At 17, I was working full-time as a hairdresser in Glasgow, with a growing client base and decent tips. But deep down, I knew I didn’t want to spend the next 30 years on my feet, washing foils out on a Friday night.

So I had “the chat” with my dad. Told him I wanted to move into digital and social media marketing; something I’d been curious about for years but never properly pursued. His response?

“If you’re serious, prove it. Show up, put the graft in, and then we’ll talk.”

So I did. For three months I worked unpaid, helping out wherever I could, sitting in on meetings, absorbing everything. Eventually, he gave me a shot, part-time while I studied marketing at college, then full-time a few months later.

Now, I run all things marketing for The Power Within HER and support across the main brand too. It’s full-on. It’s creative. It’s messy sometimes. But I absolutely love it.

Nepo Baby? Try “Nepo-Bootcamp Graduate”

Here’s the thing no one tells you about joining the family business as a young woman: the expectations are way higher.

There’s no room for slacking off or hiding behind a job title. James doesn’t believe in free passes. Not for clients, not for the team, and definitely not for his daughter. I still had to prove myself, make mistakes, take feedback (sometimes very direct feedback 😅), and figure things out on my own.

There were no handouts. Just a lot of “What’s the plan, Olivia?” and “What’s the lesson here?” moments.

But here’s the bit I’ll always be grateful for: I’ve had the mindset behind The Power Within Training, Motivational Intelligence, baked into me from a young age.

Growing Up With MQ: The Perks of Being the Boss’s Daughter

I used to think everyone’s dad walked around quoting personal development books and talking about “vision” over breakfast. Spoiler: they don’t.

For as long as I can remember, my dad has been banging the drum of You can have success or excuses, but not both. When I was 15 and didn’t want to study for exams, when I was 17 and unsure about hairdressing, when I was 19 and terrified to start over again… that phrase followed me everywhere.

But it’s not just a quote. It’s a mindset. Motivational Intelligence is about taking ownership of your own thoughts and actions. It’s about belief in your potential, adaptability, and resilience – even when everything feels uncertain.

And trust me, I’ve needed all of that.

Changing careers. Starting from scratch. Feeling like the youngest person in every meeting. It’s scary. There have been days I doubted myself, thought I didn’t deserve to be here, or felt completely out my depth.

But MQ taught me something my generation doesn’t always hear enough:

You can build confidence by showing up, even when you don’t feel ready.

Confidence isn’t a prerequisite. It’s a result.

What Joining the Family Business Taught Me

I’m 21 now, and I feel like I’m just getting started. I still make mistakes. I still overthink. But I also set up LinkedIn ad campaigns, edit video content, build out social media strategies, and actually love Mondays.

And if you’d told 17-year-old me that I’d be part of a leadership development company, helping women across the construction industry find their voice and step into leadership roles? I’d probably have laughed, and gone back to blow-drying someone’s fringe.

But I’m here. Not because I had a shortcut, but because I learned how to back myself – even when I didn’t fully believe it yet.

Final Thoughts From a Young Woman Joining the Family Business

Here’s what I’ve learned so far:

• Changing careers is scary… do it anyway.
• Imposter syndrome is loud. Prove it wrong through action.
• Your mindset shapes everything: from your Mondays to your future.
• And yes, working for your dad can be weird… but it can also be pretty special. (Especially on the days where you just need a cuddle from your dad, telling you everything will be okay) 

If you’re at a crossroads, doubting yourself, or feeling the pressure to have it all figured out, just remember: you don’t need to have all the answers.

You just need to start.

Olivia Fleming
The Power Within Training,
The Motivational Intelligence Company
olivia@tpwtd.com