More about Ute Wieczorek-King
What I bring to Attract Readers
As Co-Founder of Attract Readers my aim is to help midlife women find and own their brilliance, overcome the obstacles that hold them back online and get known for all the right reasons.
I started my first blog in 2006 and still believe in blog writing as the trusted partner to the more fleeting nature of social media.
Throughout my entrepreneurial career - teaching, training and coaching people - it was my authenticity and my writing that helped me to stand out online. This led to invitations to write for well-known online sites, contribute to The Guardian's business forum, facilitate business & marketing workshops at start-up initiatives and speak at large face-to-face networking events.
My professional experience and passion about writing authentically led to the book "Distinctive Voice". The world of blogging may have changed a lot, but in a world dominated by AI, true voices will always be in demand.
How I came to support women
I have always worked with men and women, but my first experience as a female business owner in a competitive, male-dominated business world showed me how little support there was for women. Especially if you had a heart-led mission to make a difference in the world. As a result, I often felt alone with my ambitions.
The Women's Network I ran from 2005 until the first year of the Pandemic offered the kind of support I had once needed myself. I grew it into a collaborative organisation where women could benefit from peer support, as well as coaching and mentoring in all aspects of running a business. One of my supportive Mastermind Circles ran for 13 years, and it was a real privilege to support its members from start-up through significant change and growth. In some cases, right up to selling the business and/or retiring.
Twice a year, we ran what became known as the largest independent motivational event in the Thames Valley 6 years running. As we focused not only on building knowledge and skills, but on empowering women to overcome mindset blocks, these events were endorsed and sponsored by government funded organisations and large financial institutions.
I have built on my experiences here at Attract Readers, most recently by instigating our regular Writer's Hours Events and the book "Disctinctive Voice".
The mindsets that help me along the way
- Doing everything on your own is not a good idea! Saying YES to new opportunities is important for growth.
- The space outside your comfort zone may not be as scary as you think. Taking small steps can make a big difference!
- Mistakes lead to learning which is very important in the bigger scheme of things
- And finally... there is always a way, even when things don't look very promising
People describe me as a "creative thinker", “able to generate ideas and solutions others don’t see”. "Inclusive, caring and respectful" with a "down-to-earth approach"
And on Instagram, "Your words and pictures always bring me back to calm!"
Some personal info
A few years ago, I was diagnosed with a serious chronic lung disease that brought increased vulnerability to infections along with some physical limitations. Adjusting to these challenges was not easy, especially when Long Covid added another layer of difficulty.
Mental health becomes even more important when you have a chronic illness. I feel very grateful that coaching and writing keep me grounded. As does spending time with my family, being in nature, and embracing the change of seasons. Pairing my favorite nature images with my musings on Instagram gives me a lot of joy. I also like to travel with my husband in our motorhome, whenever health allows.
My Professional Journey
Where it all started
Back in the 1990s and already living in the UK, I spotted a need for specialised business language training just as Europe was opening its borders. As a qualified teacher with a degree in German and English I took a leap of faith and founded a corporate language training service that grew steadily over 10 years.
My company offered European languages and ‘English as a Foreign Language’ courses, which all led to recognised certifications. Specialising in a niche market of large IT and Telecoms companies, my training was sought-after by Graduates, Middle and Senior Managers, many of whom were Expats too.
My mission from the beginning was to make learning engaging by providing a personalised rather than off-the -shelf service. Ensuring that all courses were taught by experienced teachers to a high standard also helped my company to stand out from my competitors.
I enjoyed designing distance and blended learning courses, one of which was, for the time, a highly innovative computer-based learning programme for a major British airline. I always enjoyed thinking of new and better ways to do things.
When my main contracts disappeared due to training cuts and job losses during the dot.com crash, I decided to train as a Performance Coach for Business. I was now able to add a blend of cross-cultural coaching and communication skills training to my services. My speciality was helping highly talented IT Expats from Europe, North America and Asia adjust to cultural differences in the work space, communicate more effectively and improve their performance.
As one of the first independent coaches in my area, I was able to take my time to find my niche and kept adding to my skill set. For this I am very grateful!
My current focus
I've always been a fan of Portfolio working and currently divide my time between Attract Readers, freelancing at a global coaching company and private coaching. I particularly enjoy helping men and women over 50 to make a fresh start whether it means a career change, starting a business or making retirement fulfilling and meaningful. .
The two most helpful aspects of Ute’s blogging day were a) feeling encouraged to actually write something and b) the constructive but non-critical feedback that I had in the group calls and in the forum. Ute’s writing experience and her tips for getting past some of the obstacles helped and, as ever, she was able to point out ways to make my message more effective. I shall be writing a lot more in future. (Susie C)
