Introducing Jess Warren, Co-Founder of Mind:Unlocked
Jess Warren
Meet Jessica co-founder of Mind: Unlocked, a mental well-being start-up that helps people with everyday problems like dealing with stress or finding digital balance. Mind: Unlocked shares research-led, practical tools that can be incorporated into the flow of your busy 21st century life.
Jessica began her career working in corporate deals, qualifying as a chartered accountant at a big four professional services firm. She then ran an angel investment network, raising money for UK technology start-ups.
Here she goes in-depth to share her greatest sources of knowledge, inspiration and experience. Not afraid to think big she marries the worlds of practicality and spirituality beautifully to help others achieve calmness in their lives.
Websites:Jessica Warren Mind Unlocked
Follow @mind.unlocked | @ajessenergy
“I’m Co-Founder at Mind: Unlocked - we make practical, evidence-based content, courses and workshops - to help individuals and teams improve their mental well-being. I also write and speak publicly about wellness, and advise wellness start-ups.
My background is originally in finance - I grew up in London, and ran a photography business while studying at Bristol University. I then got onto the PwC graduate scheme and became a Chartered Accountant. After 4.5 years, I left their Corporate Finance team to work in venture capital alongside inspiring entrepreneurs, before a life change made me rethink my career.
I knew I wanted to be my own boss from an early age. My mum has run her doctor’s surgery for 35 years, and I always looked up to her for that and the freedom and challenge it can bring.”
Mind:Unlocked
What did you learn from accountancy that has helped you as a business owner?
Accounting didn’t come naturally to me, I worked super hard to pass 15 exams over three years. I wanted a stronger foundation in some of the areas I knew I would otherwise find challenging as an entrepreneur.
Having the opportunity to help start-up companies raise money gave me the courage to leave PwC to work for myself.
What inspired you to take the leap to setting up Mind Unlocked?
My long-term relationship then broke down, and the life shake-up helped me realise that I didn’t feel like I was living my purpose. I decided to go on my own healing journey and explore how we can live more fulfilling lives. After realising how much meditation and personal development had helped me grow, friends noticed a difference and started asking me for advice.
I met my Co-Founder Niraj Shah in 2018, and admired the work he was doing with Mind: Unlocked. I joined him as a Co-Founder a few months later, to make content and online courses to help people cope better with the everyday stress of modern life.
Jess Warren
How did you go about developing your own mindfulness practice?
A friend taught me how to meditate several years ago. I already had a regular yoga practice, which can be a gateway into meditation and mindfulness for many of us. I saw how simple meditation could be, and the calming effect it had on me during sessions, as well as calming my mind down for the rest of my day.
I started meditating on my own, or with the help of Insight Timer (my favourite meditation app). After also doing a couple of 21-day courses with Deepak Chopra I was hooked. It’s one of the reasons why we made our own onlinemeditation course at Mind: Unlocked, having a program to get you into a regular habit is so helpful.
Who did you go to for advice and guidance on setting up your business?
I ran a small photography business at University, and then an angel investment network, so I already had some hands-on experience on top of my professional training as a Chartered Accountant. My business partner, Niraj Shah, also ran his own successful property business before following his passion for mental well-being and starting Mind: Unlocked.
I’ve always sought out mentors further ahead of me in their careers, and I’m lucky to have close friends who have grown successful businesses.
I try to see things through the eyes of a curious beginner, and ask people lots of questions about the areas which I really look up to them in. I've also learned to ultimately trust my own intuition as a guide, you can check out my Medium article on doing that here.
How has your spirituality influenced the way that you live your life?
I’ve had a couple of experiences over the years that I’ve meditated, that have had lasting effect on how I see things. Since I started doing personal development work, I generally feel more grounded and connected to other people (no matter how long I've known them for).
It definitely hasn’t all been spiritual, a lot has been practical logic too. I'm definitely able to see things more objectively than a few years ago - it's easier to observe the subjective biases we all have, and can often take as absolute truth, which helps us take life less personally and to be more compassionate to other people.
What would you say is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt since setting up your business?
Having a fantastic business partner you can rely on, with skills that complement your own and similar values, is key! I love having someone I can bounce ideas off, be inspired by and who cares as much as I do about our work around as we grow our company.
Knowing when to delegate is so important
- it’s great to know how to (at least roughly) do most aspects of your business yourself, but there comes a time when it’s efficient to find experts to take over certain tasks that are outside of your own “zones of genius”.
What does a typical ‘day in the life’ look like for you?
I try to go out for a walk, or to a yoga or barre class first thing. I then come home and make myself healthy pancakes or porridge, and settle down to work. At the moment my work is mostly
writing - whether that’s for Mind: Unlocked courses and free content, Medium or other blogs, or scripts for our guided meditations and podcasts.
I love being able to research and share knowledge, and have time to be introverted and use my creativity to write about it.
I also look after a part-time dog from Borrow My Doggy a couple of times a week - not only are they cute, they have so many health benefits! In the evenings I’ll spend quality time with my boyfriend, catch up with friends for dinner, or go to see a talk, exhibition or show - I love how much there is to do in London.
Do you have a routine or rituals that help keep you grounded?
I try doing something physically active, and something that’s mindful (whether that’s meditation, a mindful walk, journaling etc) every day.
Regular meditation keeps me grounded, as does prioritising my sleep.
If I can go to bed early and get eight hours - I feel great! Setting boundaries around technology - like being aware of when I mindlessly scroll on social media, or keeping my phone out of arms’ reach when I’m working or in bed, also helps. I also love a regular yoga practice, it relaxes me and adds some stretching and movement to my day when I’ve been sitting at my laptop.
Describe your relationship with money and personal finance:
I’ve been lucky to have had a healthy relationship with money and personal finance - I’ve built on good examples from growing up with my parents. The classic “Think And Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill and “The Four Hour Work Week” by Tim Ferriss really made me think differently about how we can earn a living when I read them in my early 20s.
I’m careful not to spend more than I earn or can pay back quickly.
Often companies, like credit card ones, try to tempt us with payment plans or the ability to borrow thousands - this is only because it makes them a lot of money. We really shouldn’t borrow or spend more than we can afford to. I also make it a rule to not lend other people more than I can afford to lose - if I don’t feel comfortable losing an amount, I won’t lend to a friend for example, it can cause big problems between you otherwise.
Studies have also shown that, beyond meeting our basic needs, money only really makes us happy when it allows us to give to others. I aim to build my wealth so that I can support (with time and money) causes that help solve the world’s problems.
What is your definition of wealth?
For me, financial wealth is having the freedom to do what you want - like being able to choose how you earn money, spend your free time, support a cause you are passionate about.
Multi-billionaire, top investor Warren Buffett was quoted as saying: “I can buy anything I want,
basically, but I can’t buy time”.
There are other definitions of wealth, whether that’s love,
friendship, family, wisdom, purpose, physical and mental health - getting a balance between them is important.
Jess Warren
What are the tools that you use to help organise your finances?
We have an accountant that helps us with our business accounts, we use Google Sheets to keep track of our costs and revenue.
For my own investing I use an ISA stocks and shares wrapper (you can find good advice on Money Saving Expert) which is a tax-efficient way for UK residents to invest up to £20k a year in funds and listed equities (you can also open a cash ISA).
I use The Motley Fool and Telegraph Investor websites, plus going to business conferences and speaking to friends who have invested for longer than I have for investment tips.
What is the best financial decision you have ever made?
Educating myself about finance so that I understand concepts and terms that would otherwise seem totally foreign to me.
I’ve learned from lots of online research, asking financially successful people lots of questions, and from my time working in finance and studying accountancy.
Since my mid-20s I’ve saved to invest in shares in an ISA - the capital gains and dividends you make are non-taxable within the ISA account, and over time you can build a good nest egg.
What type of example was set about finance and money when you were growing up?
My parents were careful with money and generally have a healthy relationship with it. My dad taught me about savings accounts and investing in shares about 10 years ago, so I was fortunate to have that influence. My mum always prioritised having a steady income stream and is really generous, but has never spent more than she had.
They both taught me to pay off debt first before spending whenever you can, and to invest in myself with my education.
I think a lot of money problems happen when we grow up believing that money is “evil”, only “bad” people have it, or we don’t deserve to have money. The fact is that it might as well go to good people so that we can decide how we use it to help the world.
Jess Warren
What steps are you putting into place to achieve your ‘post-work’ goals?
Because I enjoy investing, I’m putting together a Self Invested Pension Plan (SIPP) which is a tax-efficient way to invest for retirement. I also hope to have enough income-generating assets by then to live off. I’m a big fan of the concepts in the book “Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert T. Kyosaki - such as thinking outside the box to have multiple passive income streams; and leveraging the cash you have to make income (such as getting a mortgage on a rental property), instead of putting it all into illiquid investments (such as your primary home).
What are your top tips for running your business finances?
I think, as with every aspect of your business, it’s great to get specialist advice (like from an accountant) but also to have a basic understanding of things ourselves, so at least we know which questions to ask.
Getting a grip on the fundamentals - revenue, costs, margins, interest, equity, filing requirements etc is key, as are basic spreadsheet skills so that you can keep track of what’s going on.
There is a lot of free advice from the government and other help sites online, or you could try beginners courses in areas you think you need to brush up on the most.
Having a mentor who is further ahead in their business, or a professional friend you trust who knows more than you, can help if you’re not sure where to start.
If you could invite 3 artists to dinner, dead or alive, who would you choose and why?
My answer to this question changes all the time, but right now I would invite philosophers Jiddu Krishnamurti and Ram Dass, and Oprah Winfrey. The conversation between Krishnamurti (my favourite collection of his works is “Freedom From The Known”) and Ram Dass (this recent film is a great compilation of his teachings) would be so fascinating, and I’m so inspired by what Oprah has done, built and brought awareness to, after overcoming so much adversity at the start of her life. She is said to have donated $425 million throughout her career - much of this to girl’s education in developing countries. I would love to pick all of their brains!
Which book/ podcast are you currently reading/listening to?
I love reading books at home, and listening to Audible when I’m travelling around the city. Personal Development books are (unsurprisingly) my favourite kind. I’m currently listening to “Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential” by Deepak Chopra - which is meant to help us to get past any self-imposed limitations and access higher levels of consciousness.
If you’re interested in joining the Mind: Unlocked community, you can check them out here. You can also find information about their course to help you build your own personal mediation habit at www.mindunlocked.co.