The Rebel Movement is an online membership for female entrepreneurs, led by four accomplished business mentors from around the globe. Its mission is to reconnect female entrepreneurs to their inner self-belief through a powerful community, workshops, events, and networking.

The Rebel Movement was born out of the founders’ desire to fall back in love with their businesses by reconnecting to their intuition, and calling BS on the noise of one-size-fits-all “roadmaps” to success.

Each one of the four founding women has had a different personal & business journey. They’ve had to work through their own belief systems and their industry’s imposed BS to create a life that actually feels like freedom. 

After having conversations with each other about “perceived barriers”, personally being “stuck” after achieving success, and feeling like they had to sacrifice freedom vs. keeping business momentum, because they’d been told they had to do X, Y & Z… They realized they weren’t alone, and more people needed to hear this, too! 

But they didn’t *just* want this movement to energetically expand the online community. They wanted to support female entrepreneurs in the online space, to craft action steps that give them the permission to do business THEIR way and actually step into living the life of their wildest dreams.

Meet Cofounder Gráinne O’Malley

Gráinne O’Malley, is a neuroscience-led business mentor from Ireland, and the visionary behind The Living Business Project. Her extensive background spans over a decade in events and marketing, complemented by a business degree and a Masters in Strategic Management. Gráinne’s journey in life took an extraordinary turn in 2019 when her twin boys were born prematurely, with one facing complications due to a brain bleed. Her unwavering commitment to supporting her son sparked a deep passion for understanding the inner workings of the brain and nervous system. It was this profound experience that led her to realize the immense power of this knowledge, not just in personal life but also in crafting businesses that allow women to truly live life on their terms.
Gráinne’s mentoring combines science with strategy, taking in communication, marketing, and sales, empowering entrepreneurs to transform how they run their businesses.

Can you share a bit about your background and journey in neuroscience-led business mentoring, and what inspired you to focus on women entrepreneurs?

Absolutely! I’m a neuroscience-led business mentor, primarily working with women building businesses in the online space. Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system (the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system), influencing everything you do—how you think, feel, and behave. Understanding why you do things makes it easier to see how to achieve the desired results in your business. Bringing neuroscience into my business strategy has changed my life and the lives of many clients.

In terms of my background, my corporate career involved working in nonprofits in fundraising and corporate events and experiential marketing. I constantly worked in fast-paced, high-pressure roles, and for much of my working life, I was very unhappy. I wasn’t even aware of this because it had become my normal. I was just focused on doing what I thought was necessary for ‘success.’

In 2015, I was in the second year of a night-time Master’s degree in Strategic Management. I was working in a toxic environment from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm and then attending college from 6 pm to 10 pm three nights a week. Feeling lost and burnt-out, I hit a breaking point. I quit my job, sold my car, and booked a three-month trip to Central America. It was terrifying and exhilarating.

Upon my return, I heeded the long-felt call to start my own business. In 2016, I began an events business, growing it into a six-figure business with a team, a lease on a large Dublin City Centre venue, national media features, and awards. However, despite its outward success, I fell back into old habits, experiencing stress, overwork, and anxiety.

In January 2019, my twin boys were born prematurely, leading to a long stay in the NICU. My son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, introducing me to neuroscience. Many events in the last couple of years have opened my eyes to the power of the brain and the nervous system. It’s possible to change the way our brains work to support us in living the life we want.

When the pandemic hit and my events business halted, I reflected on what I truly wanted. I started working on creating a movement to support female entrepreneurs in building businesses that offer true freedom, not just external success. I now support women in creating businesses aligned with their values, empowering them to live life on their terms.

Your specialty is being a “Transformation Catalyst.” Could you explain how nervous system regulation and intentional action work together to facilitate personal growth and achieve seemingly impossible goals?

I regularly tell my clients that nervous system regulation isn’t about staying calm all the time but about creating more capacity and resilience. This allows you to set bigger, more challenging goals and take aligned action to achieve them. The transformative power lies in changing your brain’s structure, reinforcing neural pathways associated with taking action. It means that future challenging goals feel less daunting, fostering personal growth and the achievement of seemingly impossible goals. Nervous system regulation becomes a catalyst for transformation, guiding women through a journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

How does neuroscience play a role in shaping business strategy? Can you provide some examples of how brain behaviors impact decision-making and contribute to significant business growth?

Neuroscience is a game-changer in shaping business strategy. One example is understanding cognitive biases, mental shortcuts influencing decision-making. The confirmation bias, favoring information confirming preexisting beliefs, can be utilized in marketing to create stronger connections with customers.

Emotions also impact decision-making. Creating positive emotional experiences for customers fosters brand loyalty, contributing to long-term business growth. Understanding tools from neuroscience helps entrepreneurs create strategies resonating with customers on a deeper level, beyond surface-level decision-making, contributing to long-term success.

In your experience, what are the most common challenges women entrepreneurs face, and how can nervous system regulation be a solution to overcoming these challenges?

Women entrepreneurs face challenges shaped by systemic issues. Limited funding opportunities due to gender bias and the struggle to balance work and family pressure them. Nervous system regulation becomes a powerful tool against these barriers, boosting resilience and confidence. It acts as a transformative force, helping women navigate biases and handle the stress of entrepreneurship, breaking down systemic barriers for a more inclusive entrepreneurial landscape.

Can you talk to us about your involvement in The Rebel Movement?

As a co-founder of The Rebel Movement, I’m part of a community led by accomplished business mentors with a global reach. Our mission is to reconnect female entrepreneurs with their inner self-belief through events, networking, and transformative retreats. The movement aims to cut through the noise of traditional roadmaps to success, empowering women to take action steps towards creating the life they truly want.

Driven by conversations about barriers, feeling stuck after success, and sacrificing freedom for business momentum, The Rebel Movement empowers women to do business their way. It’s not just a community but a movement supporting individuals in crafting paths aligned with their unique vision and values.

What is your definition of a Pretty Woman Who Hustles?

Challenging traditional beauty standards and rejecting toxic hustle cultures are at the core of my definition. Success shouldn’t require conforming to external expectations but finding alignment, embracing authenticity, and incorporating nervous system regulation. The concept of feeling “pretty” should be deeply personal, unique, and not cultivated to meet external expectations. Hustling means leaning into actions that ignite passion, guiding a path aligned with life goals, and supporting business journeys sustainably. It’s time for a paradigm shift, challenging norms for female entrepreneurs rooted in patriarchal structures, unleashing the full force of female entrepreneurship to reshape the global landscape.

Social Media Handles: www.instagram.com/livingbusinessproject

Website: www.thelivingbusinessproject.com