Helen Todd of Impact People Consulting tells us how migraines are more than just headaches, how she’s focusing on being happy in her career, and how advocating for her son taught her how to advocate for herself.
How do you identify as disabled, and what does it mean to you?
I have migraines – ocular migraines and migraines with aura – and although I take medication to prevent the frequency, severity and pain of my migraines, it doesn’t stop the attacks completely.
A full migraine with aura attack can last for seven days, as it has different stages. It’s not just a headache: I lose speech and the feeling in my hands and feet, my digestive system is affected, I’m exhausted, and I have the pain in my head.
I breathe a sigh of relief on the couple of days a month when I feel migraine free, and I am in constant planning mode to make sure I keep to a routine with eating, drinking, resting, exercise and so on. The weather, the time of year, being too hot, being too cold, certain noise levels, all contribute to my migraine attacks – the list goes on. The more variables I can control, the better.
I also have dyscalculia, which affects my ability with numbers, distance, schedules, time, sequences to name a few. It’s a lesser known neurodivergence, but I have grown up developing techniques to become friends with numbers. I love processes and plans, and I focus on the things I am great at, rather than the things I’m not so great at (like remembering my left from right).
I have been an advocate for other people for a long time, so being able to raise awareness of my own situation now is pretty empowering.
Tell us a little about your business.
Impact People Consulting was founded in August 2023 to support small and medium-sized organisations achieve their objectives through the power of their people.
I’m all about making sure people are happy and motivated, and I focus on creating, implementing and refining HR processes, policies and initiatives that put people right at the centre!
Why did you start the business? Share your story so far.
In July 2017, my husband was diagnosed with brain cancer, and in a split second I became his carer. My career now needed to work around the fact I was a solo parent and caring for my husband.
In May 2023, my husband moved into a care home and my caring journey ended. I decided to leave my job and take a career break for a couple of months. I also joined a Career Coaching programme because I hadn’t focused on myself in years.
I was applying for jobs and attending interviews, but it was during this time that I had a couple of “serendipitous conversations”, one of which was with my career coach. These conversations got me thinking about what would make me happy in my career, and starting my own HR consultancy was the result!
What do you see as the main challenges facing your business and its continued operation or growth?
I’m starting out and it’s proving difficult to get that first client on board! I have confidence in myself and the idea, so I’m going to continue talking to people, attending networking events and it will fall into place.
What can we do to encourage more disabled entrepreneurs to start businesses – what is holding them back and what can we all do to help change that?
Help people to believe in themselves. I had an idea, I told my support network, I joined networking events, and the idea grew from there. It’s amazing what some belief can do.
What do you consider your greatest achievement or the proudest moment in your life so far?
My greatest achievement goes back to 2012, when my son was not able to start his formal education at the school that had originally accepted him, because of his type 1 diabetes. I refused to accept this and raised the situation in the media. I found him a new school, but this discrimination got my advocacy under way, and I have continued this throughout his education and health journey.
This experience (and subsequent volunteering experiences) has influenced how I approached my work, and it has always been very much about putting people at the centre of decision making.
If there was one thing you could change about peoples’ perception of disability what would it be and why?
Not all disabilities are visible, and as a result it can be difficult to explain the impact they are having.
Working in HR, I was there to support the employee who had the disability and their line manager and so on to ensure that the workplace was a suitable environment and, if any adjustments needed made, then an open and honest discussion could be held.
Wanting to understand, listening to the person and not assuming anything is a good place to start. Everyone’s disability is different.
Who or what inspires you?
My son – he lives with dyslexia and type 1 diabetes, and he takes everything in his stride. We work really well together, although he does get frustrated when my dyscalculia brain suggests doing something a certain way and his dyslexia brain thinks his way is better. Compromise is certainly being learned in our house right now!
Do you have a recommendation for a book or a podcast which has helped you along your journey?
I alternate between psychological thrillers and romantic comedy novels – I love the escapism element of a good book!
However, I would highly recommend Kate Humble’s Thinking on my feet. I first read it in March 2020, and I’ve dipped back into it ever since.
The last six years have been very much about taking each day in turn and putting one foot in front of the other. I have attempted to look after myself and the medical needs of two other people, and now I’m planning ahead, setting goals for myself and the business. This book isn’t just about walking: it’s a reminder to look after yourself, to take time to just stop, and to connect with nature and people.
