From Self-Doubt to Strategy: Building KVDB with Heart

KVDB didn’t start with a business plan or a pitch deck. It started with a question:

Five years ago, I left the security of a corporate job to pursue something deeply personal and uncertain. On April 1, 2020, I stepped away from my role at Hanwha Vision, planning to support the security industry through sales and marketing consultancy.

I named my venture Opening Doors Consultancy, as I wanted to help installers open doors by taking on the tasks they disliked and utilising my skills in sales and marketing.

Then, the world shut down.

Like many parents, I found myself trading my corporate life for the chaos of daily parenting.

Instead of building a business, I found myself managing tantrums, snack requests, and the emotional ups and downs of family life. My business dreams were put on hold, and my confidence took a hit.

Overnight, I became a full-time mum, not because of a newborn, but due to a global standstill. My days were filled with fear-driven tantrums, episodes of Peppa Pig, and flour-covered baking projects.

🍪 We baked.
🧱 We built.
😂 We laughed.
😢 We cried.

In those quiet moments, my sense of self began to unravel. My confidence wavered, and I was riddled with self-doubt.

The Pandemic Took More Than We Realised

My daughter was 3.5 years old when the world changed. She learned to keep her distance, not to touch things, and to treat strangers as potential threats. It broke my heart. No child should carry that kind of emotional weight.

At the same time, my husband began a new job. Although he was always home, the office door stayed shut. For our daughter, Daddy was present but not always available. For me, it was isolating.

Then came the start of school. The reception year in 2020 was a far cry from what it should have been. No hugs. No shared toys. Just hand sanitiser, masks, and caution. It stripped children of connection when they needed it most.

People don’t talk about this enough. But they should.

Because that time left a mark.

Losing Myself… Again

When my daughter started school, I didn’t feel free; instead, I felt untethered, lost, and alone. Dennis was busy with work and travel, and I had lost my sense of identity.

I wasn’t earning any money, and I had no idea what I wanted to do. Launching a business felt scary, and finding a job seemed even more complicated.

I had been in this situation before. Years earlier, I had walked away from an acting career to escape domestic violence. My agent had told me that if I returned and stayed quiet, I would always have work.

🚦 I didn’t go back.
🤐 I stopped staying silent.
💖 I chose life.
🥰 I chose joy.

But here I was again, feeling that same hollow ache. My identity felt stripped away, my confidence shaken, and I was falling apart.

Two questions played on my mind:

• How would we manage school holidays?
• What would childcare look like without nearby family?

Dennis is my rock; he is calm, steady, and gently encouraging. One night, as I felt overwhelmed, he suggested that I take a course to help me reconnect with myself. It turned out to be the turning point I didn’t know I needed.

He reminded me that my career hadn’t ended; it had simply paused. I wasn’t starting from zero this time; I was beginning with experience, and I had proof that I had been successful before.

I wanted to be there for our daughter; I wanted her to understand the importance of work. At the same time, I was anxious about how we would manage the holidays.

I faced the same stresses that every parent experiences, and yet, we rarely share them.

Finding My Way Back Through Social Media

Amid uncertainty, I discovered TechPixies, a community that viewed social media not as a popularity contest but as a purposeful and strategic tool. Their message was clear: you don’t need to love being online to build a successful business there.

The emerging digital world of the pandemic felt overwhelming; it was fast-paced, noisy, and filled with curated perfection. I didn’t want to pretend or put on a show. However, I knew I wanted to learn, understand and embrace this way of marketing a business.

So I leaned in and gradually began to learn. I learned not just how to post, but how to connect without compromising my boundaries. Not just how to gain visibility, but how to be authentically seen.

For me, social media has allowed me to market my business for free and build a network of like-minded people who support one another.

From TV to Zoom: Leaning into My Strengths

As I shared my insights and explained how I help people, a significant shift occurred: the world had adapted to remote work and video conferencing.

Being on camera had become the norm, and having the skills to excel in that environment became increasingly important. Spare rooms were converted into home studios, and my business experienced a surge in demand.

Video calls, podcasts, online presentations, and hybrid seminars made my services ideal for business professionals. Many individuals struggled with confidence when speaking on or off camera; not everyone felt prepared to take the spotlight.

With a background in acting and television, being on camera felt like a familiar experience. I understood the nerves, self-doubt, and tendency to overthink that many faced. More importantly, I knew how to navigate these challenges and help others do the same.

What started as a few informal coaching sessions quickly evolved into something more. Clients kept returning, not just for camera techniques, but for support in building confidence, clarity, and connection.

As a result, KVDB grew organically and authentically.

Let’s Talk About Sales (Without the Sleaze)

As I coached more individuals and businesses, a common theme emerged: people were terrified of sales and self-promotion.

What my clients observed online regarding social selling techniques often scared them and made them feel compromised and inauthentic.

Social media, even today, is filled with uncomfortable self-promotion, aggressive sales pitches, and individuals shouting at the camera. These techniques are frequently accompanied by exaggerated claims of making £10,000 in a day.

Sales isn’t about performance; it’s about presence.

I offer sales training grounded in empathy, curiosity, and confidence. My background in sales has equipped me with the necessary skills, while my journey has provided me with a valuable perspective.

A 360° Shift in the Business

At some point, I realised I wasn’t just teaching people to speak or post online, I was helping them build their entire communication ecosystem.

So, KVDB evolved into a 360° communication consultancy.

Now, I help people:

• Build smart, sustainable visibility on social media
• Craft messaging that feels aligned and true
• Show up with confidence, on camera or on-stage
• Sell with empathy, not ego
• Use SEO-driven content that actually connects

And yes, I taught myself SEO, because what you say should be findable.

If You’re Ready…

If you’re tired of second-guessing your message or your voice…
If you’re unsure about what to post, how to pitch, or where to start…
Let’s change that.

📞 Book a discovery call.

I will help you find your voice, confidence, and strategy together.