Building a brand and building a business is right at the centre of daily life for Dr Reena founding RW Perio on Harley Street. She wanted to explore this further during this new season three to see how entrepreneurs and experts in their industry make it work and what their daily life really looks like.   

As Head of Marketing for the exceptionally iconic and family-owned luxury British jeweller, Boodles, Honour Wainwright is also representing the sixth generation of the family in the business. As one of the newest members of the family to join, she is in fact the first female member in Boodles history.  

With an impressive CV with a background gaining key experience with leading global brands including Harrods and Conde Nast Britain Dr Reena takes the conversation back to beginning with first asking, how it all began? 

Conversation Show Notes – The Recap

For season three, we enter the world of tier-1 luxury and fine jewellery with one of the most iconic British jewellery brands across the industry. Representing the sixth generation of the family in the business, Reena officially welcomes Honour Wainwright to 75 Harley Street. 

So, the famous opening question – how did it all begin? “It all started from day 0,” Honour jokes, her father having been with the Boodles brand for forty years and, of course, the duration of her whole life. She rewinds back to her childhood, reminiscing about how a colleague at their Sloane Street boutique would often remind her how she and her twin brother (who is also now joining the company) used to visit them at age four, carrying a briefcase full of colouring pencils. 

As the years went by, every work experience and Christmas, Honour shares how they were brought onto the shop floor “to help cut ribbons and serve cups of tea and coffee,” so they were definitely raised in the company from the very start. 

Post-Uni, Honour worked at Condé Nast, gaining prestigious experience in the digital arena, which was incredibly important for her to “bring something to the table, and also gain the respect of her now colleagues, rather than having a direct open door into the family business.” 

Reena was intrigued to explore if the world of fine jewellery was one Honour had always been connected to – with Honour instantly confirming how she “had always been obsessed with sparkly things,” going on to add that there was always the huge privilege of masses of jewellery at home, something she was used to, but was incredibly special, especially to be part of something that has been in the family for six generations. 

As the first female member in Boodles history to join the company, Dr Reena asked how this has shaped her vision for the brand and her personal experience joining. Honour feels incredibly fortunate to be part of the Boodles story, working closely with her father, whom she collaborates with frequently, along with her cousins and twin brother who also works for the company. 

Talk of business is often a lifestyle approach, with Honour adding that sometimes she becomes so absorbed by her projects that she often finds herself asking work-related questions to her father when “he just wants to be asked how his golf was.” Reena admits that it can be so difficult to truly draw a line and switch off, but when working for a family business, everything is so intertwined. 

At Boodles, life is certainly varied. Honour describes how the creative side of her role is a favourite part, with the brand participating in numerous advertising and media placements. There is often a shoot happening, and she’s responsible for overseeing how the Boodles brand is portrayed. 

Meeting journalists and editors is also a daily occurrence – “There’s a lot of wining and dining in the world of fine jewellery.” The sponsorship aspect is also vital, with an event every other week, Honour estimates, covering everything from the Chelsea Flower Show to The Boodles Tennis, confirming that they cover over 200 events across the calendar year. 

A personal touch is essential in the world of luxury, and for Boodles, especially. For example, if a client is seeking a particular stone, they may produce a book or film to accompany it, creating exclusive and special offerings for their clients. But, by contrast, Honour laughs that she’s “just as happy when she has two hours alone at her desk to just get on with emails, get her head down, and crack on with some work!” 

When it comes to putting together her mini survival kit, Earl Grey tea bags are at the top of Honour’s list (she’s completely addicted, with her own little stash). Vitamin D spray is also a daily essential during the winter months, and AirPods are always in her handbag, with Honour admitting she’s definitely a heavy podcast listener and audiobook lover. 

For the upcoming Boodles calendar, well, there are many exciting global projects on the horizon. 

Episode Key Takeaways – The Best ideas

As a renowned journalist and former Vogue editor, Fiona Golfar is highly celebrated for her work across the media industry, often writing from a personal and lifestyle approach. Her impressive background has seen Fiona involved with leading tier 1 publications, responsible for the output of a vast edit of subjects to cover, agenda setting pieces often attached to the biggest names in the entertainment and luxury industry.  

Now as a contributing editor for FT How to Spend It and House & Garden she joins Dr Reena for a remote conversation, taking us back to the beginning and how her career began through the most unexpected of ways. 

Conversation Show Notes – The Recap

Fiona takes us back right to the beginning, confiding that she is by far the opposite of any other journalistic story she has ever heard and reveals unexpectedly that despite where she has gotten to today, she was, in fact, an ‘appalling student’ growing up. She liked history and reading books, but by the time she was sixteen, she had attended around eleven schools. Her father, by that time, encouraged that she find a ‘trade’. Fiona had always been interested in and exposed to the modelling world, having been asked previously to take part in some shoots, describing it as a very funny, glossy, and warm scene to be a part of. 

Fiona went on to become a make-up artist, a profession she worked in for ten years, moving between the fashion capitals, including Paris, LA, and Australia. She originally learned her skills from a Notting Hill-based make-up artist, first becoming her assistant. Fiona loved being surrounded by the different characters, the creativity, and seeing everything come together. 

Her exposure to the world of journalism initially came through a boyfriend, whose parents were in the industry. His sister was the first female editor for GQ magazine, which was unusual at the time. Fiona remembers how she used to pitch feature ideas to his sister, who later went on to interview for the EIC role at British Vogue. This was, of course, Alexandra Shulman, who eventually landed the most prestigious job in the fashion industry. Fiona was visiting her office one day as a friend, and it was on seeing the fashion images and photos on the wall (Bono and Christy Turlington, no less, both in leather trousers) that Fiona realised that makeup was no longer where she wanted to be. She asked Alex if she could come and make coffee for everyone at Vogue instead. Alex confirmed that, no, she couldn’t come and make coffee, but she could spend three days a week there and see if she had any ideas. 

Fiona was terrified on her first day at Vogue House, revealing to Dr Reena that she had initially felt completely out of place, not even knowing how to work the computers and feeling completely unqualified—Fiona laughing as she explained how she had spent years going through nightclubs rather than university. But of course, that was just the beginning, and it ‘lasted twenty-six years.’ 

The turning point came when one of her childhood best friends got married to a ‘young aspiring film producer’ who spoke to Fiona about the film he was working on and how ‘there was a model in it, and perhaps she would be interesting for Vogue?’ Fiona remembers running down the Vogue House corridors, excited that her friend was making a film. Vogue confirmed interest and would feature the film. At the time, Fiona wasn’t allowed anywhere near the shoot, but the film in question was Four Weddings and a Funeral—which, of course, went on to become one of the biggest films of the decade. 

It was at this stage that Fiona realised it wasn’t about the life she could learn in the magazine but the life she could live outside of it. Fiona made her mark at Vogue, bringing with her the powerful network and connections she had built up over many years into the world of British Vogue. 

Decades later, Fiona describes how stepping away was actually one of her proudest moments, she realised it was the ideal time for her to utilise her brain and creativity for many other projects, no longer being defined to just one brand.  

Working from home most of the time now ensures that Fiona has a new daily routine, working on many exciting projects in TV, film, and theatre (her husband is a theatre producer, and they also work on projects together). As for those famous ‘on-desk essentials,’ Fiona can’t be without scented candles and flowers, a favourite how-to list as a reminder to ‘just get on with it,’ a trusty water bottle, and often a cat on her desk. 

Every day is different and exciting, Fiona adding, ‘It’s funny what life can sometimes throw at you.’ But Fiona confirms—she wouldn’t want it any other way. 

Episode Key Takeaways – The Best ideas

With Vogue describing her as ‘Fashion’s Chicest Florist’, FLOWERBX Founder and CEO Whitney Bromberg-Hawkings is a renowned figure of authority and inspiration across the luxury industry. Having famously started her career working closely with Tom Ford, initially during his tenure at Gucci before becoming Senior Vice President of Communications for his own iconic company until she took the leap and launched FLOWERBX in 2015.  

Everyone in fashion is known to communicate through flowers, and FLOWERBX has solved the search of luxury, single-variety blooms of the most premium quality, delivering a shopping experience that is simple, reliable, and high end, with clients including tier-1 brands. Dr Reena brings Whitney to Harley Street to discuss everything fully from the beginning and learn just how it all began.  

Conversation Show Notes – The Recap

Whitney opens up the episode by taking us back to the Tom Ford era – an iconic figure across the fashion and luxury industry of whom, of course, she famously worked for, for two decades, describing how she started as his PA straight out of school and eventually ended up as his Senior Vice President of Communications, describing it ‘as the greatest job in the world’. 

Tom had always stated that it was essential to have a ten-year plan, which during her twenties for Whitney, this translated to ‘work work work’, and then in her thirties, she successfully combined this with having her family. She was getting to the point where she was turning forty, pregnant with her third child, and started questioning if she could see herself in her role over the next ten years – joking about ‘getting Tom a diet coke when she was fifty’ and the possibility that she would be spending the rest of her life working with Tom (stating that of course, this would have been a perfectly great outcome). 

Pregnancy, Whitney discussed, was a time where most women would want to stay put and be extremely settled in where they are, and for others, it can often be a catalyst for changing absolutely everything. As ‘a working mom’, Whitney had found she was buying absolutely everything online, and if she was having friends over for dinner, she didn’t want to buy a mixed bouquet—she would opt for ten hydrangeas on the living room table or twenty peonies in the bathroom, so she found herself constantly going to the flower market for single-stemmed blooms, that also provided good value too, usually going at 8 am dressed in cocktail attire to go into the office with Tom, her car filled with flowers. 

And so the FLOWERBX idea started circulating, born out of this permanent need for single-stem variety blooms. Whitney started it as a side hustle while working with Tom Ford, but she soon realised that it had legs, and she realised that she had to give it everything, crediting this change with having her third baby. Stepping away from a role that she had identified with for twenty years also gave Whitney back her own identity, as she had always been linked to Gucci and then Tom Ford’s eponymous brand. Her husband, she had also met through Tom during their years at Gucci, was also working for the brand and so much of their relationship had been linked to being together and working together all of the time. Whitney also realised just how strong her friendship groups really had become when her best contacts and acquaintances rallied around to offer and show their support (Fiona Golfer at British Vogue at the time writing a huge feature on her practically from ‘Day one’). 

Since the 2015 launch, FLOWERBX has taken the global industry by storm, with major tier-one names attached to the brand as dedicated clients. Caring about quality and consistency is key, each brand able to represent their own very clear identity through flowers (Dior is always pale pink roses, for example, with Whitney stating that you can’t go wrong with that). Quality has always been at the forefront of the brand language, and never compromising on this has ensured longevity and growth, despite the advice from early investors and shareholders. Whitney adds that she is so happy that she ‘stuck to her guns’, which has also defined FLOWERBX away from lower-tier competitors where the market is easily saturated, as she wanted to be the only premium online flower delivery company. 

Back in a time of recession, it was the premium positioning and the fact that many consumers still care, first and foremost, about quality that has enabled FLOWERBX to continue to grow and succeed. 

When it comes to day-to-day routine, a typical day in the life of Whitney begins with having the most amazing husband, advising how a support network is vital and can come in many forms, but support is needed because it’s vital. Exercise is also an essential ‘every single day’, crediting that she feels at least 85% better if she has exercised, more for her mindset than physical health, which she likes to do first thing every morning, even if it’s something as simple as a forty-five-minute walk in the park. 

Post-COVID, her routine is very different. She used to be at the warehouse every morning with 4am starts; however, now every day can be very different, crediting the brilliance of her team, who are ‘very good at putting out fires’, many of which in floristry take place before 7 am. 

In terms of sustainability, that was of key importance from the get-go rather than throwing the term around like a buzzword (and their first delivery van was an electric van, despite being very expensive to run). They have also never had plastic inner packaging (which in floristry is extremely difficult when flowers require a water source). Most impressive of all, however, is that the FLOWERBX business model is based on a zero-waste business model. 

In terms of switching off, it’s not something that Whitney naturally feels a need to do, what with being so motivated and excited about what she is growing, but having kids in a way forces you to have those non-negotiable boundaries, as does a weekend house in the countryside to balance out the fast-paced life of the city, naturally carving out time with her family. 

Episode Key Takeaways – The Best ideas

In this episode of Life & Smile Dr Reena particularly wanted to focus on the idea of a ‘lifestyle approach’ and it has been so inspiring to hear the often-contrasting day to day routines of how leaders across multiple industries make it work on a day-to-day basis.  

In this episode we turn to the luxury industry where there is one name that needs no introduction. As a renowned luxury expert with a Chinese and English background Peony Lim is an instantly recognisable figure and source of inspiration within the global fashion and lifestyle industry and now she joins Dr Reena at 75 Harley Street. 

Listen in full where they discuss everything from how it all began, career advice and the changing landscape of the global luxury industry and beyond…

Conversation Show Notes – The Recap

Peony opens up the episode by rewinding back to the nostalgia she has rediscovered for her twenties and, of course, where it all began. She first studied Fashion Promotion at the University of the Arts London, later graduating with a First Class Degree in Art History from the Courtauld Institute. It was after being photographed by street style photographers outside her university in 2009 that everything truly began. Before long, Peony was being featured in top publications like The Sunday Times Style, Grazia, ASOS Magazine, Tatler, Lucky, Glamour USA, and The LFW Daily, to name a few. She takes us through those early years of starting out and how her career progressed. 

It was the dawn of a new era where creating a personal brand through blogs and the digital landscape was becoming more popular, and Peony genuinely fell into it—without being a reader of other blogs, which was the norm for many early influencers. Her immaculately polished style, set against the backdrop of the grunge aesthetic trending at the time, worked to her advantage with street style photographers. It was the cyclical nature of fashion: when their street style images made it to the pages of tier-1 titles like Vogue, Peony was the one captured in the photographs, which rapidly propelled her industry identity forward. 

Peony candidly admits that, at first, there was a feeling of “fake it until you make it,” but she also remained true to herself. Standing out in a crowd was what initially kick-started her career, allowing her to gain confidence in herself and her abilities at this key early stage. This confidence led to major contracts with global clients as her first blogger bookings. 

The digital space is one that you have to navigate strategically and work to your advantage. Dr Reena and Peony discuss how Peony was fortunate not to experience much negative online feedback, which is often a part of the industry. Peony shares t hat she has always maintained a highly professional demeanour. If there’s something she doesn’t like, she simply chooses not to engage with it, rather than stating anything negative. 

As the blogging industry was still emerging, people often asked Peony questions that she believes wouldn’t have been asked had she been in a more traditional career, such as accounting. She describes how people felt they had a right to ask personal questions, like how much money she made as a blogger or what she earned in her first year. 

Peony emphasises how in her space, content creation is paramount—this is what she spends ninety percent of her time doing, so it’s essential to schedule her time properly. She splits her week into three days of work and two days for family, describing herself as a “Mumma of girls,” now primarily based between London and Cornwall. 

Don’t worry about being part of a wider trend or viral movement, Peony advises. What’s happening now is not the future. She focuses on bringing something new into focus. The digital space is no longer a small pond but a vast ocean, so discovering and connecting with your dedicated audience is key. 

Peony describes herself as very goal-driven and organised, so managing the day-to-day operations of her business comes naturally to her. The luxury and digital industries can take a lot out of you, and it’s easy to be defeated by it, so staying inspired and energised is a priority. She also makes sure to create a clear distinction between her work and personal/family life, where she communicates in a non-commercial way. 

When it comes to social media, Peony has a highly controlled approach. She completely eliminates passive scrolling, choosing instead to selectively view content from her network of creators, much like how you would open a magazine—you choose to engage with content, rather than having it constantly pushed at you, which can be mentally draining. 

In terms of her lifestyle, escaping to their home in Cornwall offers a welcome sanctuary, allowing Peony to be inspired by and spend time near the sea. However, in the city, she is often found in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and occasionally heading to W1 for work. She adds that the great thing about this city is that everyone can find their own “village” within it, where they feel connected. 

Three things that Peony always keeps in her handbag or on her desk when working? First is a metal toothpick—she wears an attached retainer and can’t stand having seeds or other bits stuck in it, so it’s a must. Next is lip balm, which she can’t live without and keeps stashed in every coat pocket. The third is her AirPods, which allow her to tune out the world when she’s out and about and take some time for herself. 

Episode Key Takeaways – The Best ideas

On this very special episode of Life & Smile, Dr Reena is joined by a true household name whose voice on this podcast will no doubt be instantly recognisable having built her career across film, television, stage and radio. 

As a highly renowned British actress and comedian our guest today first came to prominence in the BBC sketch show Goodness Gracious Me. She is known for portraying Zainab Masood in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, Aunty Noor in Citizen Khan, Mrs Hussein in the BBC comedy Still Open All Hours amongst many many more including of course joining Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 where she was paired with professional dance partner Neil Jones during her hugely celebrated career to date. 

Listen now as Dr Reena welcomes Nina Wadia OBE to the Life & Smile Harley Street recording studio. 

Conversation Show Notes – The Recap

We start the episode by welcoming Nina Wadia to Harley Street, where we recap her incredible and celebrated career. We kick things off by asking the all-important first question: how it all began and what exactly prompted her to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. 

Nina shares that her passion for writing started as a teenager, when she would write comedy sketches, often centred around her teachers, who found them equally amusing. Alongside writing, she had a love for dance. Initially growing up in India, Nina later moved to Hong Kong at the age of nine, where she couldn’t continue with her Indian-style dance. Despite disliking ballet, she channelled her energy into tap dancing. So, her school years were filled with both writing comedy and dancing, which became the foundation for her future career choices. 

This, however, went against her mother’s wishes, who had hoped Nina would study law. But her mum’s perspective changed after seeing Nina perform on stage while she was at drama school in the UK. Her mother instantly recognised that this was where Nina truly belonged. Nina’s father, a natural comedian, helped her mother embrace her career choice. Once she gained her parents’ support, Nina could focus wholeheartedly on her passion. 

Although Nina loved Shakespeare and aspired to become a classical actor, she found success in television. After seven years of theatre work, she landed her big break in the BBC sketch show Goodness Gracious Me. Despite her theatre experience, Nina recalls being described as the “new girl on the scene,” and crossing over to television was terrifying. She admits that she was learning on the job but always made sure to prepare by arriving early and working closely with cameramen and lighting crews. 

Nina draws inspiration for her characters from her keen observational skills and often looks to her own family for material, especially for Goodness Gracious Me. 

Dr Reena shares that she used to watch the show and felt a sense of pride when she saw the surname “Wadia” on the screen, even though they weren’t related! 

When reflecting on her proudest moments, Nina considers the past thirty-four years of her career a journey full of many highlights. But, she acknowledges that her greatest achievement is her children, as she believes that being a mother is one of a woman’s biggest victories. Career highlights include her work on Goodness Gracious Me and her character in EastEnders, a role she loved playing. 

When asked about advice she would give her younger self, Nina would say: “Just chill out!” She advises not to stress over the small things, something she’s learned to embrace over time. 

Nina leads a very busy life and travels extensively each week. Dr Reena asks what keeps her going. Nina admits that staying busy helps distract her from her worries. She openly acknowledges that she is a worrier, but she balances this by surrounding herself with family and close friends. 

Nina has had the same best friends since she was eleven years old. Together, they’ve navigated divorces, ill health, and life’s ups and downs. She’s learned that the true significance of her career lies not in the accolades but in the journey, especially the support of her family and friends. 

Nina reflects further, sharing that the people you want to celebrate your achievements with are those who have been with you along the way, not those who simply show up at the end. This is why she always makes time to interact with fans who stop her in the street, despite it sometimes interrupting time with her children. She knows she wouldn’t be where she is today without their support. 

For those starting their careers, Nina offers this advice: “Please, please train and always keep learning!” She stresses the importance of not becoming jaded or thinking you know it all. Resilience is crucial, as the acting industry is relentless, all-encompassing, and time-consuming. You need to be mentally strong and have a supportive network. Feedback in the industry can be blunt, but you must keep pushing forward. Nina also advises aspiring actors to focus on creating interesting characters, not just focusing on looks. This is one reason she’s grateful to be a character actress—she knew that would be the best fit for her. 

Her final piece of advice is to know when to call it quits. Nina went to drama school with eighteen classmates, and now only two of them are still working in the industry. If, after fifteen years, you haven’t made significant progress, it might be time to reassess. “Be real, be honest, know your role in the industry, and enjoy that.” 

There is no typical day in the life of Nina Wadia. Her schedule is so unpredictable that she can’t even call it. Some days, she might be filming across the country for multiple television projects, catching trains back to London to perform on stage in the evening, and still be home by midnight. To maintain some semblance of balance, she’s become stricter with her diary, carving out rare, non-negotiable holiday times to recharge. 

When it comes to performance rituals, Nina has adopted the habit of ‘blessing the mic’ before a performance to ensure a successful show. On film sets, she touches the floor just before stepping on, blessing the set as she goes. She also confesses to a “crazy ritual” of sleeping with a script under her pillow, hoping the words will sink in overnight. She still does this occasionally, as it helps her absorb the material subconsciously!

Episode Key Takeaways – The Best ideas

Amongst our guests on Life & Smile Dr Reena is always personally so inspired by the contrasting industries that she can explore and delve deeper into through these exclusive conversations in each episode. Often image, personal branding and self-confidence play major roles across each industry. 

For Dr Reena as a dental expert, gum aesthetics are at the forefront of the specialist dental industry and therefore in this episode of Life & Smile the topic of aesthetics is brought into the spotlight. 

In this exclusive episode Dr Reena is joined in discussion with one of the most recognisable names within the industry. As a renowned Cosmetic Doctor, Dr Wassim J Taktouk is the industry go-to, highly celebrated and passionate about maintaining incredibly natural results. We give you exclusive access behind the scenes of how he makes it work so effortlessly on a day-to-day basis. 

Conversation Show Notes – The Recap

Dr Wassim J Taktouk joins Dr Reena fresh from a day in his clinic down in SW, just a short cab ride away from Harley Street. The conversation begins by rewinding to the beginning in the classic Life & Smile format. After moving back to the UK in 2005 from Sydney, Dr Wassim qualified as a GP and spent the following ten years serving in the Emergency Department at London’s Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. 

He enjoyed the pace of urgent care, as it was fast-paced with slightly less extensive paperwork compared to other roles. However, after ten years, and not being the type of person who could easily switch off after work, he was ready for the next stage in his career. 

At some point during this period, Dr Wassim describes being invited to attend a Botox course (joking about how he was initially mortally offended). Despite his initial reservations, he went ahead, trained further in Botox and fillers, and began treating family and contacts. Through word of mouth, he became busier and busier—this was before the power of social media, so growth was slower and more organic. Gradually, he was able to drop a day in A&E, then another, and before he knew it, the balance had shifted. His mindset had changed as well: he was now working with patients who were thrilled to see him in a specialty that was still relatively new. He began collaborating with key figures in the industry, building his database, and eventually launching his own clinic as a natural progression—a dream he had always held. 

His impressive background has now established him as the ‘go-to’ expert for some of the most discerning faces in the industry. He’s gained recognition from international publications like Tatler, Vogue, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, ES, and The Guardian. He now works on his own terms, which is refreshing. For instance, he prefers not to have more than one person in the waiting room and carefully curates his appointment times. Dr Wassim schedules a full week, typically with five days of clinic and a day of teaching. However, he enjoys the flexibility of setting his own diary and maintaining full control. 

As a regular face in the media, Dr Wassim has appeared on BBC’s The Truth About Cosmetic Treatments and ITV’s This Morning. When it comes to tips for being in front of the camera, he says people are either naturally comfortable or not. Dr Wassim admits that not over-preparing often helps, but also suggests meeting the person you’ll be speaking or featuring alongside beforehand, so when you’re in front of the camera, it feels more natural and less awkward. He emphasizes that ignoring the camera crew is vital—just be yourself and familiarize yourself with the people around you. 

For his favourite treatments, his ‘bread and butter’ is Botox, which he has always loved. He also has a strong interest in fillers, particularly because of the instant gratification they provide. He’s always focused on skin quality as a whole—because if the skin isn’t glowing and healthy, the results won’t be as desired. That’s why he views laser resurfacing as key. 

Dr Wassim is popular and renowned for his dedicated social media following. We’re in an era where digitalization and consumer demand for instant access have radically changed how we communicate and work. He shares how he was initially anti-social media at the start of his career and couldn’t imagine engaging with it. However, over time, he built up a loyal following. His aim isn’t to attract bookings (though he finds that it does), as he already operates a full patient list from organic word of mouth.  

Dr Wassim uses social media because he enjoys it—rather than posting before-and-after cases (which he feels don’t align with his brand), he gives followers a behind-the-scenes look at his personality and lifestyle as an expert in the industry. It’s something his audience truly adores. 

His speciality can be isolating, with no formal training, so he advises fellow professionals to get out there, attend conferences, and support one another. This sense of community brings countless benefits. Dr Wassim loves teaching and has launched his own academy, one of his proudest achievements. The mentorship program within the academy has been a game-changer, as having a mentor can often save an individual ten years’ worth of mistakes. 

For his day-to-day routine, he allocates time to spend with his team, balancing his week between the clinic and teaching. He’s also become more disciplined in booking August off to spend time unwinding. This ensures he remains in top form, as he doesn’t ever want to reach a point where he no longer loves what he does, and what he’s become so celebrated for. 

Episode Key Takeaways – The Best ideas

In this episode Dr Reena is joined by a true household name that surely needs no introduction. As one of the UK’s best known pop vocal coaches, Dr Carrie Grant MBE is a BAFTA award-winning broadcaster, vocal coach, leadership coach and campaigner. With a TV and music career that has spanned over 35 years together with her husband (David Grant MBE) she is renowned for working with some of the most leading artists in the world including Gwyneth Paltrow, The Spice Girls, Take That, Will Young, and Charlotte Church.  

Her TV and Radio work has included being a Reporter for The One Show and hosts with David the Saturday breakfast show on BBC Radio London. Many of you will also recognise her from being a judge and coach on the likes of Fame Academy, ITV’s Pop Idol, Gospel Choir of the Year, Teenstar and Open Mic just to name a few!  

Listen in full to discover how Carrie makes it work so effortlessly on a daily basis.  

Conversation Show Notes – The Recap

With an incredible career spanning decades—and having worked with some of the most globally prestigious names in the music industry and beyond—Dr Reena began the conversation by taking us back to the very beginning. Carrie immediately reveals that she started her career as a dancer on Top of the Pops, “which was huge at the time,” one of the BBC’s most prominent music shows. Carrie candidly shares that she “just wanted to be famous.” She felt her voice hadn’t been truly heard or valued before, fuelling her drive for recognition. 

Having grown up singing and dancing—and humorously admitting she still can’t help but move whenever she hears music—Carrie soon realised that her initial role as a dancer wouldn’t fully satisfy her ambitions. She naturally gravitated toward networking and creating opportunities for others in the industry, introducing first-time session singers and pairing them with seasoned professionals. “I was like an usher,” she explains. 

This organically evolved into requests for vocal coaching. Although hesitant at first to switch from singing to coaching, Carrie quickly recognised how special this path was. It became a turning point that propelled her toward greatness. She found the perfect balance in combining her passions—mentoring and coaching people. While singing had been rewarding, vocal coaching opened far greater doors, both for her and for her husband David, with whom she collaborates closely. 

Carrie’s partnership with David is built on mutual strengths that perfectly complement each other. Being attuned to each other daily is crucial, as is knowing when one of them needs to step up or lean on the other’s expertise. 

Carrie loves her multifaceted work—from mentoring and presenting to writing—and there’s no need for her to switch off. Yet, these projects represent just a small part of her life. Her home serves as a vibrant social hub throughout the week, hosting various support groups and activities she’s involved with. 

On the topic of mentors, Carrie stresses their importance. She often looks up to people she doesn’t know personally but admires for qualities she aspires to embody, along with her close friends. Knowing when to listen is vital, and she recommends writing a letter to yourself on beautifully headed paper, deciding to take feedback only from a select few. This helps you navigate criticism without taking things personally. 

When it comes to career advice for those starting out, Carrie emphasises the importance of learning about the industry and being patient. “Don’t underestimate the value of taking your time,” she advises. “You will be learning and growing your whole life—you never stop.” Committing to this lifelong journey is essential, as is building a supportive team to help cover any weaknesses. 

Above all, never be afraid to ask for help—doing so keeps you front of mind for future opportunities. Carrie leaves us with a lasting takeaway from her latest book, A Very Modern Family, which should serve as a permanent life reference. 

Episode Key Takeaways – The Best ideas

As a renowned editor for British Vogue, Lauren Murdoch-Smith has the final word when it comes to everything lifestyle, beauty, and wellness. Having worked at the magazine and Vogue brand since 2014, she is currently holding the title of Acting European Beauty & Wellness Director.  

Highly celebrated for her work across the industry, Lauren is often writing from a personal and lifestyle approach, her impressive career background seeing her involved and responsible for a vast edit of subjects to cover, often attached to the biggest names and brands in the industry.

Here Lauren joins Dr Reena on Harley Street, and they start the conversation by rewinding back to the beginning and how everything began. Join now. 

Conversation Show Notes – The Recap

Lauren joins us looking chic as ever in jeans, a white t-shirt, and a black blazer, straight from the British Vogue HQ. We begin by exploring her journey into Condé Nast, during a time when internships were the primary route into the industry. Lauren gained invaluable experience covering reception placements and supporting the beauty teams, where her true passion lay. From placements at Marie Claire and InStyle, helping with the beauty awards, she moved on to her first ‘proper’ role as Beauty Assistant at Grazia, eventually working her way up to Beauty Editor before Vogue came calling. 

Giving 100% to every role at each step of her career was crucial, as was the power of building key relationships within the industry. Everyone is incredibly time-poor, so making the effort to support others, especially those you aspire to work with, can truly make an impact. 

Lauren describes the beauty industry as an incredible space to be part of — always bustling with activity yet notably kind and supportive. She shares a heartwarming story of a leader she interned for years ago who still makes the effort to schedule coffee catch-ups, highlighting the importance of nurturing a network and building lasting relationships. 

Dr Reena and Lauren discuss the power of social media, noting how platforms like Instagram often showcase the polished highlights of a person’s life. However, Lauren emphasises that sometimes showing the reality can be just as important, especially when balancing a career with family life. 

When reflecting on her proudest moments, Lauren names landing her role at British Vogue as a career highlight — an incredible opportunity and inspiring place to work. The heritage of Vogue House itself holds immense significance, embodying timeless gloss and authority, which comes with great responsibility. 

Balancing career and family life requires a strong support system to keep everything running smoothly. Lauren admits that while it may seem effortless from the outside, it actually demands key organisation and careful planning. 

On the topic of sustainability, a buzzword now across the entire lifestyle industry (and beyond), Dr Reena asks Lauren how she has embraced this personally. They discuss shifts within the industry and changing reader priorities. Lauren highlights how tier-1 brands are focusing on sustainability timelines, emphasising whether products are vegan, recyclable, or refillable. Packaging remains a significant challenge, often adding costs that get passed on to consumers. Blockchain technology is emerging as a key tool, allowing brands to transparently show the origin of ingredients, making sustainability a more subconscious consumer choice. 

Finally, when it comes to her must-have products, Lauren keeps the classics close at hand — lip balm, hand cream, and fragrance are never far from her desk. 

Episode Key Takeaways – The Best ideas

Building and growing a business and brand as an entrepreneur ensures your role is constantly evolving on a daily basis. Through this podcast, Life & Smile, the conversation has advanced rapidly by bringing together some of the most successful leaders across many and often contrasting industries.  

Today we bring it back to dental where we meet Freya Evison. As the Marketing Manager for Northern Europe at Colgate-Palmolive she is at the centre of a caring, innovative growth company that is a reimagining a healthier future for all people, their pets, and our planet.

We have been so delighted that Colgate have sponsored Series 3 of our Life & Smile podcast and on this episode, Dr Reena is particularly excited as a dental expert herself to share and further explore the world of Colgate.

Conversation Show Notes – The Recap

Freya joins Dr Reena on Harley Street, where they start the conversation by highlighting how Colgate is the number one toothpaste brand in the world, with four tubes sold in the UK every minute. 

Dr Reena asks Freya how Colgate ensures it stays one step ahead in breakthroughs with the latest technology and best-in-class ingredients. 
Freya explains that with such a well-established brand like Colgate, which is deeply rooted in heritage, the company is constantly evolving and transforming. It’s vital for Colgate to stay at the forefront for both professionals and consumers, maintaining relevance in a fast-changing market. 

All innovation within Colgate is driven by ‘people’, ensuring they are always at the heart of the brand. Freya notes how Colgate prefers to refer to their audience as ‘people’ rather than consumers. 
They strive to understand behaviours and challenges, developing products and services that respond to real ‘people needs’ — innovation is only successful when it addresses genuine demand. 

Another key element of Colgate’s innovation is their outstanding research and development teams. The brand has unparalleled resources with over 700 technologists worldwide working on new technologies, ingredients, formulas, and clinical studies. Freya shares that Colgate also has six strategic innovation centres globally. 

What truly makes Colgate special is how they connect their scientists with the wider organisation — a proven method that ensures they remain cutting edge. 

Dr Reena builds on this, emphasising the importance of referring to people as ‘individuals’ rather than just ‘consumers’. Speaking as a global dental expert, she highlights the significance of treating patients holistically, not just focusing on their oral health. 

As a household name, Colgate employs over 34,000 people worldwide, all dedicated to improving health and wellness. Freya discusses Colgate’s passionate commitment to oral care within communities — a key brand achievement. 

She highlights the recent charity initiative Colgate x Change Please: Driving for Change, which repurposed London buses to provide vital oral health services to homeless and vulnerable people on the front line. 

Continuing this commitment, Colgate is also known for its dedication to improving the oral health of children through Bright Smiles, Bright Futures, which has reached more than one billion children since 1991. Freya offers an exclusive insight into the huge impact this long-standing project has made on young smiles, showing how deeply passionate the brand is about working with governments, schools, and communities to provide oral health education. 

This is now more important than ever, especially post-pandemic and in light of the cost-of-living crisis. Colgate is dedicated to supporting both children and parents by providing resources to instil good habits and navigate challenging brushing times. 

As the number one recommended brand by dentists, Dr Reena shifts the conversation to how Colgate ensures it remains the most trusted oral care brand in a competitive marketplace. 
Freya confirms the keyword is ‘partnerships’ — Colgate builds partnerships to develop trust, focusing not on pushing recommendations but on understanding challenges and how the brand can help. 

Freya adds that Colgate is heavily committed to education in dental schools and places great importance on building and maintaining trust in communities. 

Turning to Freya’s personal career, as a marketing leader working internationally, she has been with Colgate for over eight years, initially joining through their graduate programme after studying History at the University of Cambridge. Dr Reena asks about Freya’s transition into the dental industry and advice for others passionate about brands and people. 

Freya passionately advocates for career development by focusing on transferable skills and applying them across different contexts. Her advice: Think big, be bold about your ambitions, imagine the possibilities, and seek them out. She also stresses the importance of finding mentors you admire and trust to guide and support you. 

Regarding retail and commercial industries, Freya notes how they’ve evolved dramatically over the past decade due to digitalisation and consumer demand for instant access. 
She confirms how the digital landscape has been the engine for vast brand transformation at Colgate, revolutionising how people engage with oral health and consume information. This shift has also transformed advertising, now spanning multiple omnichannel touchpoints beyond traditional TV. 

Freya emphasises the importance for Colgate to reflect the society they serve, stating digital transformation has been an exciting focus for the whole team. 

When discussing new products and trends, Dr Reena asks about shifts in the dental and health industries that Colgate plans to embrace. 

Freya highlights whitening as a major focus moving forward, with increased demand post-pandemic as people become more self-aware of their smiles. 
She also stresses the importance of value, especially amid inflation and cost-of-living challenges, where consumers must make more careful choices. It’s crucial for Colgate’s people to continue accessing the best quality and new technology.

Episode Key Takeaways – The Best ideas

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