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This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating one of our incredible С����Ƶ alumni, Natty Bernasconi. 

Natty graduated in 2010 with a degree in BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design. Now, after being named one of the UK’s top 100 female entrepreneurs in the #iAlso100 2025 campaign, she shares her story and the qualities that make a great entrepreneur.  

Can you tell us about your university experience?

My time at the С����Ƶ was a journey of creativity, challenge, and unexpected discoveries. I threw myself into every opportunity – winning two major competitions. Having my work recognised at that level, showed me what was possible when creativity meets real-world impact. 

One of the things I loved most about my degree was the diversity of projects we tackled.  This experience sparked my passion for branding and graphic design, something I hadn’t explored before but I now integrate into my work at . 

The skills I developed at С����Ƶ – critical thinking, design strategy, and creative problem-solving – have been invaluable in my career and business journey. 

Looking back, university wasn’t just about the degree - it was about learning how to adapt, innovate, and create opportunities for myself. And that’s exactly what I’ve done ever since. 

What inspired you to start your own business?

At the time I started my first business, I was working as an Interior Designer and Project Manager at a property development firm in Sydney. One day, I had a huge realisation that I didn’t want to spend years working toward someone else’s success.

That decision changed everything. I spent the next seven years building a business while living and working in France, Mallorca, Bali and Uruguay. That freedom - to travel, to work remotely, to create wealth on my own terms - was exactly what I had been searching for. 

Beyond my personal ambition, I wanted to empower other women to do the same. If I can build a business from the ground up with no financial backing while navigating neurodivergence, motherhood and self-doubt - then any woman can. That’s why I’m so passionate about helping female founders and neurodivergent entrepreneurs step into their power, own their brilliance, and create businesses that give them the freedom and success they deserve.

What is the best part of running your own business?

I’ve always thrived when I can work on my own terms and follow my passions without limits. As well as choice and connection, I get to choose the people I work with. Every single one of my clients is an incredible, driven woman leading her own business, and the diversity in their clients, industries, visions, and expertise keeps my work exciting and inspiring. I also get to build my own team – a group of powerhouse women who are not just talented but also passionate about the same things I am. 

And of course, there’s the flexibility that comes with motherhood. If my Little CEO needs me, I can be there for him. There’s no one telling me when I can or can’t take time off, no guilt about stepping away when family comes first. Switching off is hard because I love what I do. But ultimately, the ability to shape my own path, work with people who inspire me, and live life on my terms? That’s what makes entrepreneurship worth it.

Have you faced any challenges as a result of your ADHD, if so, how have you overcome them?

Oh, absolutely! And the wildest part? I didn’t even know I had ADHD until the last couple of years. 

For most of my life, I just thought I was “too much”. Too fast-paced, too easily distracted and had too many ideas at once. Finally getting a diagnosis helped me understand that the way my brain works isn’t a flaw, it’s just different. I needed to learn how to work with it instead of against it. Hiring an assistant was the best decision I made. She’s my right-hand woman, helping me structure my thoughts, action my ideas, and stop procrastinating on the things that matter. 

I’ve come to see ADHD as a superpower. My brain is wired for both creativity and strategy, which means I can think fast, see solutions others miss, and bring unique innovation into my work. I don’t just run a business despite my ADHD, I run it successfully because of it. 

How have you found balancing motherhood and running Social by Natty?

It’s been a huge learning curve – one that came with a lot of unrealistic expectations, self-doubt and eventual clarity. 

At first, I thought I should be able to do it all. Be a present, stay-at-home mother, run a thriving business, bring in a healthy income, keep the house spotless, cook every meal, and somehow still have time for myself. That’s the modern-day pressure, right? But it’s completely unrealistic and sets us up for failure. 

There were so many moments I felt like I was failing as a mother, a business owner, a partner. But looking back, I wasn’t failing, I was just trying to do everything at once, and that’s impossible. Childcare has been a game changer so I could fully focus on my business during work hours and then be fully present as a mum outside of them. 

The moment I let go of the pressure to be everything to everyone, everything changed. Now, I’ve built a structure that works for me: set work hours, dedicated family time, and the ability to thrive in both roles. 

I’m a successful agency owner AND a successful mother. I refuse to believe we have to choose between the two.

What does it mean for you to be recognised as part of the #iAlso100 campaign?

When I found out I’d been named one of the UK’s top 100 female entrepreneurs, my first thought was wow! Me? The women on this list are powerhouses, doing incredible things in business and beyond. Being recognised alongside them is an absolute honour. I’ll admit, imposter syndrome crept in at first. I questioned whether I truly deserved it. 

Then messages started pouring in, telling me how much my work has inspired them. I’ve also been featured in publications and been given a platform to share my mission with more people than ever before. It’s been a moment of realisation – I am worthy of this, and I do deserve to take up space here. 

Beyond the recognition, this award has lit a fire in me. It’s given me the confidence to think bigger. Since being named in the campaign, I have started working on a charity initiative and expanded my mentoring efforts to support even more women and girls. 

I’m incredibly grateful that Small Business Britain saw something in me that I didn’t fully see in myself at the time. Now, I do and I’m ready to make an even bigger impact. 

The International Women’s Day theme for this year is ‘Accelerate Action’. What does that mean to you?

For me, accelerating action isn’t just about doing – it’s about doing with purpose. Action without a strategy and plan often leads to burnout or frustration, which is something I see all the time in business. I believe that before you accelerate, you need to set the direction. That means getting clear on what you want to achieve, pushing past self-doubt and naysayers, and surrounding yourself with the right people.

Then you need to build momentum. Start with a plan, align with the right people, and then go all in. No waiting for permission and no second-guessing. Just moving forward with confidence and intention.

On Friday 7 March, I’ll be attending a special event, bringing together female entrepreneurs, leaders, and changemakers at the House of Lords. For me, this is about so much more than just attending an event. It’s an opportunity to connect with other incredible women in business, expand my network, and be in a room full of female founders who are driving real change. 

It’s an honour to be invited and I can’t wait to celebrate International Women’s Day in such a powerful and inspiring way. 

What are the three most important qualities in someone aspiring to be an entrepreneur?

1. Resilience - entrepreneurship is not a straight road, it’s a rollercoaster! The ones who succeed aren’t the ones who never struggle, they’re the ones who refuse to quit. You have to be able to take rejection, push through self-doubt, and keep moving forward when things don’t go to plan. Every challenge is an opportunity to adapt, learn, and come back stronger. 

2. Resourcefulness - be resourceful! Figure things out, seek solutions and learn as you go. Make things happen, even with limited resources and if something isn’t working, pivot. If you don’t know how to do something, find someone who does. Stay adaptable, stay curious, and always be willing to learn. 

3. Self-Belief - if you don’t back yourself, no one else will. Confidence isn’t about knowing everything, it’s about trusting that you’ll figure it out. People will doubt you. You might even doubt yourself. But if you hold onto your vision and refuse to play small, that’s where success is built.