EP17: Clare Shaw, musician and Founder of Mini Mozart, a music education company offering live classical music classes for babies and toddlers.

In this penultimate episode of season 2 of The Midlife Entrepreneur podcast, Jo is joined by Clare Shaw, founder of Mini Mozart, a London-based music education company specialising in live classical music classes for babies and toddlers.

 Established in 2005, Mini Mozart offers interactive sessions led by professional musicians, combining live performances, storytelling, and sensory activities to foster early cognitive development and a lifelong appreciation for music. 

Clare shares her journey from a career at the BBC to launching Mini Mozart during her maternity leave, and discusses the growth and scaling of her business over the years. She particularly shares how being part of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Programme at the Said Business School, University of Oxford, changed the way she approached her business entirely. 

The episode also covers Clare's experience during the pandemic, her approach to flexible staffing, and future plans for the company. Clare’s passion for music education and her innovative business model shine through as she explores the impact of her work with children, parents, and musicians alike. End the episode with Clare's 3, 2, 1 list, reflecting on investments, lessons learned, and a special person she would like to thank.

00:00 Welcome to the Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast

00:14 Meet Clare Shaw: Founder of Mini Mozart

01:06 The Birth of Mini Mozart

02:21 Crafting the Perfect Music Class

05:55 From Casual Beginnings to Professional Growth

08:06 Inspiring the Next Generation of Musicians

09:44 The Joy and Challenges of Music Education

17:49 Flexible Subscriptions and Business Models

20:47 Building a Strong Team and Expanding

25:27 Women Entrepreneurs and Investment Challenges

27:01 Challenging Stereotypes of Entrepreneurs

27:32 The Superpower of Midlife

28:31 Motherhood and New Beginnings

29:42 Future Business Plans

30:11 International Ventures and Cultural Insights

32:02 Post-Pandemic Challenges and Opportunities

33:25 Making Music Education Accessible

36:18 Investing in Business Growth

45:55 The Importance of Mentorship

51:45 Pandemic Pivot and Online Classes

54:56 Final Thoughts and Gratitude

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Edited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025.
Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BX
For bookings: [email protected]

Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change.

Instagram @jojoglynnsmith
Contact: [email protected]
www.joglynnsmith.com

MUSIC CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.io
PHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com