Courage to push forward.
The Kind of Courage That Builds a Fairer Financial Future
Every week I ask my Brave New Girls podcast guest how they define courage.
Ayesha Ofori, founder and CEO of Propelle- the UK’s first financial education and investment platform built specifically to empower women, has a grounded and resilient response.
Ayesha, who was shortlisted for the Veuve Clicquot Bold Future Award, a prize celebrating women who are innovative, leading, and challenging the status quo, shares her definition:
"Courage is pushing forward despite whatever obstacle is in your way. Life is always going to throw challenges at you, but you have to have that belief in yourself and that continued drive to keep pushing forward."
This kind of courage is about facing fears, adapting, and doing what’s necessary anyway. For Ayesha, courage means figuring it out, even when the unexpected happens- as it did when her husband ruptured his Achilles tendon, leaving her to manage a startup, home life, and two small children solo.
She didn’t crumble. She paused, recalibrated, and carried on. “The world is going to keep turning, the kids will still need to go to school, and Propelle will still need me,” she said. “So I’ll figure it out.”
Growing Courage in Our Own Lives
Courage is a quiet, consistent practice. It’s believing in yourself, even when the odds are stacked against you, and building the tools to support that belief. Whether you’re launching a business, leaving a toxic job, investing for the first time, or simply showing up for yourself daily, courage grows with each small step forward.
Ayesha didn’t set out to become a tech founder. She started with a question: Why aren’t more women investing? Then she listened, learned, and built Propelle to be the solution- despite how complex, costly, or personally challenging it might be. That’s courage in action.
If you’d like support creating a healthier, happier, impactful life, go to our Life Lab services HERE
Dare to do things differently, for a happier, healthier, impactful life.
Here are practical ways to embrace courage & support a healthier, more sustainable world:
10 Actionable Steps to Build Courage:
Commit to your purpose
Identify what truly matters to you—and stay rooted in that, even when things get tough.Own your fear
Don’t wait to feel fearless. Acknowledge your fear and take action anyway.Understand your obstacles
Get clear on what's blocking your progress—internal beliefs or external systems.Reframe risk
Recognise that not acting can be riskier than trying and failing. Growth lives outside the comfort zone.Act with intention
Take small, focused steps. Courage grows from consistent, deliberate action.Gather support
Find your tribe—friends, mentors, or platforms like Propelle that help you stay accountable.Educate yourself
Learn continuously. Financial knowledge, emotional intelligence, and self-awareness build brave decisions.Embrace long-term thinking
Like investing, real courage isn’t about overnight success—it’s about long-term commitment.Meditate for mental clarity
As Ayesha says, meditation helps clear the mind, manage stress, and build emotional resilience.Celebrate progress over perfection
Every brave step counts. Honour the journey, not just the outcome.
Courage is action in the face of challenge. Ayesha Ofori’s story shows how persistence, purpose, and belief can reshape not just your life- but the world.
PS. As your Wellbeing Coach, I give you the tools to heal, grow & create the life you want.
If you’d like support in growing your inner Brave New Girl for a healthier, happier life: BOOK A CHAT
PPS Join our one-day Brave New Girls Wellbeing Retreat to reset from our crazy lives HERE
