ABOUT VISIBLE START

As midlife women, we know just how much we have to offer the workforce. We created Visible Start to make sure everyone else sees it too.

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Midlife Women Powering tomorrow’s workforce

For far too long, the power of experience has been overlooked. Career breaks have been seen as cracks in the path, rather than the spaces where potential is built. Visible Start is about far more than supporting midlife women find their place in the workforce: it is about re-inventing the value the workforce gains when midlife women step in.

Jacquie Duckworth

FOUNDER

How Jacquie Powers Visible Start

Jacquie isn’t just the Founder of Visible Start Ltd. She is the driving force behind our work.

With a blend of heart, humour and wisdom, she connects, inspires and listens deeply. Jacquie has a talent for making others shine and turns self-doubt into confidence and conversations into opportunities.

And while her natural story-telling and razor-sharp wit are a huge part of what Jacquie builds, it is her ability to tap into what truly matters that leads to real change for the women she champions.

Where Jacquie’s Expertise Comes From

From The Times to Country Life, for over 30 years, Jacquie has shaped iconic brands through her work across print, digital and events with a focus on trading, creative partnerships and growing revenue.

She’s also worked to turnaround struggling B2Bs and launched profit generating concepts for mainstream media.

After over 30 years of helping businesses thrive, Jacquie wondered who was doing the same for midlife women. It turned out that nobody was actively leveraging the experience of these women. So, true to form, Jacquie created Visible Start Ltd to rewrite the script for midlife women and business.

Maria Daley

DIRECTOR

How Maria Powers Visible Start

Maria is the architect of how we get things done here at Visible Start Ltd. She’s living proof that structure and planning are the perfect partners to instinct and drive and she combines it all with warmth, an ability to size up a situation (or person for that matter) in seconds and provide feedback that is both kind and on the ball.

Maria brings methodology, drive, and the kind of magic that turns our hard work into real results for us, midlife women and the businesses we partner with.

Where Maria’s Expertise Comes From

With a background in publishing, advertising, artist management, training and school governance, Maria has spent over 25 years solving problems, identifying opportunities, and making things happen. Like many midlife women, her career break only added to her already-impressive skillset: resilience, adaptability, and diplomacy.

Now, as a Director of Visible Start Ltd, Maria blends corporate knowledge with grassroots understanding and a deeply held belief in the power of midlife women.

Maria and Jacquie go back a very long way, proving that the best stories have many chapters.

Sonia Cottam

COMMUNITY MANAGER

How Sonia Powers Visible Start Ltd

Sonia is both the beating heart of our Community as well as proof that our Programme really does work. Sonia joined the very first cohort in 2021 and blew us away with her empathy, organisation and ability to connect deeply with the community. So we asked her to join us.

Sonia is now part of the team and her calm, sunny disposition means she is able to juggle many different moving parts in perfect harmony. In addition to organising our sessions, keeping people on track and ensuring the Programme is delivered perfectly, Sonia also makes sure each and every midlife woman is seen and heard. Quite simply, Sonia gets it. She’s been there, and her warm, funny and very real approach means she doesn’t just manage the Community, she makes it thrive.

Where Sonia’s Expertise Comes From

Sonia’s career has prepared her perfectly for her role here at Visible Start Ltd. Authorising medical claims in a large insurance corporation gave Sonia the transferable skills that matter: patience, attention to detail and the ability to connect and work with a variety of people and teams at the same time.

Now, as the Community Manager at Visible Start Ltd, her sense of care, responsibility and steadfast warmth and reliability mean she keeps all of us – the team, our Community and our Partners – grounded and focused on what matters.

OUR VALUES

Our values are at the heart of everything we do. They form the foundation of our Sisterhood Community that ensures every member feels valued and listened to.

They also guide how we show up for the organisations and people that we partner with.

RESPECT

We respect the journeys that brought us all here. Your story is yours to tell, or not, and we respect you regardless.

FAIRNESS

We’ve all had our fair share of glass ceilings, gatekeeping and injustice. Here, we believe that fairness is the only way forward.

VALUED

Your value to us isn’t based on your experience, skills or ability. We value who you are now, and who you aspire to be.

PASSION

We are obsessed with the unique strengths midlife women bring and we won’t stop until the workforce understands that too.

The case for midlife women is clear

Jacquie Duckworth, Founder

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Here’s what our midlife women say….

The energy and spirit of belonging throughout every session—and on the platform—was simultaneously reassuring (sometimes we need a strong reminder of the way forward) and inspiring (it was great to learn so many new approaches).

– Sae

– Cat ,

VS Alumni

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No gimmicks, no catches, just exceptional people doing exceptional work, driven by a fundamental belief that midlife women should be visible and that their skills are important, necessary, valued and vital in today’s workplace.

– Sarah

– Dushica Zivanovic ,

Media Innovation Lead

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From learning about your saboteurs to complimentary therapy, speed interviewing and CV workshops, AI in the workplace and more – there is something for everyone.

– Sarah

This program gave me the tools to challenge the quiet saboteurs, imposter syndrome and the limiting beliefs that had quietly looted my confidence over time.

I didn’t just learn new skills; I reclaimed my voice, my worth, and the fire to rise strong, not despite my story, age, experience but because of it.

– Crissy

Probably the best course I ever took.

– Monica

The best decision I made this year! Thank you to the incredible Visible Start team and all partners for their invaluable support, and for delivering such a rich program packed with essential training, advice, coaching, and inspiring events.

– Jan

Finding and joining Visible Start 2025 was like discovering a goldmine!

– Melanie

I sense that the course we just completed is the beginning of a revolution that will transform the workplace for the better.

– Emma

I can confidently say the Visible Start programme, championed by WPP, has been an absolute game-changer for me.

– Nicolle

Today, I’m confidently pursuing my new career as a financial adviser—something I never imagined possible before finding this community.

– Svetlana

It’s been an absolute joy to be a part of this community. Visible Start really does make you feel more visible – as a strong, experienced, skilled woman with so much to offer. It allows us to shine a light on our own skills, values and unique experience and how essential our contribution is.

The programme as an interactive process with a fabulous community has been a huge part of the magic that inspires action. I can’t recommend this highly enough.

– Kaye

An invaluable mix of life coaching and expert knowledge sharing led by the most wonderful team of supportive women. I feel empowered and inspired, and have met a bunch of great women who have all made me feel heard, valued and confident.

– Julie

It made me feel less alone in navigating a career shift at midlife. Each session was thoughtfully curated, addressing out loud what are too often secret struggles that sabotage our potential. I came away excited about writing the next chapter of my career in my fifties.

– Shilling

Visible start should be in every organisation. After doing the programme, I feel more confident and prepared to bring my value as a midcareer woman to any organisation.

Shrinking ourselves is a disservice to businesses and ourselves. With the tools and frameworks offered by Visible Start, I feel ready to dive in, ready to deliver my best work yet.

– Gill

Visible Start has been brilliant for me … boosted my confidence and brought a much-needed positive shift.

– Kirsty

Plus, I’ve picked up new skills and made great friends along the way. I just wish I’d found this programme earlier! I’ll definitely be telling my friends about it.

– Heung

Visible Start has honestly been a game-changer for me. I’ve learned so much and felt so supported — it’s amazing to be part of a group of women who really get what it’s like to face career bumps mid-life.

– Heung

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