Call it grit, tenacity or relentlessness, the one key trait you must develop in order to create and run a business to last is an unwavering ability to endure – in a word, resilience. In a world where markets change in time with a tweet and technology is moving faster than ever, in order to face and overcome the challenges that await you as a founder, building a resilient armour is essential.

Resilience in business is not an inherent characteristic we’re either born with or without, but rather a skill that is developed and built over time – it’s earned. To find out the secret recipe to resilience, we spoke to Robyn Rohloff, Co-founder and Chief Brand Officer at Laybuy and accredited career coach Nicola Rae-Wickham. Read on to learn how you can turn your obstacles into advantages and keep going to face your next challenge smarter and stronger than ever.

Robyn Rohloff, Co-founder and Chief Brand Officer, LayBuy

What does resilience mean to you?

“Resilience is all about having the ability to keep going even when things get tough,” said Robyn.

“Unfortunately, things don’t always go as planned or as you want them to. Resilience is the ability to adapt to these unexpected challenges and bounce back.

“Building a strong resilience takes time but it is really important that we all focus on developing our resilience. Our success, both personal and professional, is often defined by how we respond when things get hard.

“It’s not always easy, but developing your resilience means taking time for self-reflection. Draw on your experience and learn from your mistakes. Most importantly, develop a positive mindset. By doing this, you are more inclined to view a challenge as an opportunity and this will allow you to respond in a way that will help you come out stronger on the other side.”

Tell us about a time when you had to build resilience during your career – how did you do it and what did you learn?

“Anyone who has started a business knows that it requires you to quickly develop your resilience and this was no different for me. I started Laybuy in 2017 with my family and, despite all our business planning, we had to quickly learn to adapt to the unexpected.

“No one could have predicted a global pandemic and the chaos that created. We couldn’t have foreseen Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, and now we are faced with a global economy that is struggling. How you respond to these challenges ultimately determines your success. It hasn’t been easy, and we have had to adapt our business plan and make some difficult decisions, but every time we were thrown a curve ball we didn’t panic. Instead, we supported each other, pulled on our experience and responded in a way that has put us in a stronger position for tomorrow.

“For me, having a strong support network in place has been critical. Whether it is your family, friends or colleagues, when things get hard, never be afraid to ask for help.”

What would you tell your younger self, when faced with a tough challenge or crisis at work?

“The best advice I would give myself is that no matter how difficult a situation might seem, there is always a way through. It might not be easy, and the choices might be hard, but there will be a path. Focus on finding that path rather than looking backwards or trying to find someone to blame.

There will be plenty of time for reflection in the future (and it is important you take the time for self-reflection), but when you are faced with a challenge, focus on trying to find the solution. And if everything seems hopeless, remember that this is a moment in time and things often don’t seem as bad the following day,” said Robyn.

Nicola Rae-Wickham, Career Coach

In business and even in our personal lives, resilience is often a temporary stress response to a crisis. So, how can women build up lasting resilience over time?

“Lasting resilience happens in foundational steps which result in something sustainable and steady,” said Nicola.

“To build resilience that is able to take us through the marathon and not the sprint of a challenge then, you need to focus on increasing your capacity to hold. This is the capacity you have to both to hold stress and the ability to bounce-back from hardship and adversity.

“In order to increase this capacity, go back to basics and make sure you're getting enough sleep, eating nutritious food and moving your body. In addition, leaning on support systems, incorporating practices to support positive thinking and experiencing a sense of connectedness and meaning all help to create a foundation for lasting resilience. Understanding that resilience is something you can grow and develop is key.”

What is the biggest misconception about women and resilience?

“The biggest misconception is that resilience looks a particular way; usually a hard, stoic exterior void of any emotion. The truth is you can be resilient and feel your emotions, have down days and find things hard. True resilience is something you intentionally develop and involves acknowledging and processing emotions in healthy ways, rather than denying or ignoring them. It means not acting fearless and instead being able to admit when you are scared, sad or stuck. Many traditional feminine qualities of empathy, understanding and connection are the bedrock of building resilience.”

What key pieces of advice would you give to women entrepreneurs when it comes to building thick skin as founders?

“You don’t have to do it alone! Build your support team with a mix of friends, peers, family, professional support in therapy and/or coaching who can provide encouragement, advice, and support during challenging times.

Don’t focus on having thick skin and powering through, instead invite compassion as you focus on increasing your ability to embrace failure.

Stay close to your vision. This will take you into bigger picture thinking and give you much needed perspective at times when your resolve is being tested. 

Prioritise looking after yourself is essential. Make time for activities that bring you joy and relaxation, they will build your resiliency and ability to deal with whatever comes your way.”

Discover more about how Laybuy can be the ingredient to support you and your business here.