In celebration of International Women’s Day and all the many interesting women of Sussex, Sussex Exclusive catches up with Lauren Dean, founder of Secrets of Slumber and discovers a truly fascinating, friendly, and accomplished woman.
Your career is quite extraordinary and includes working with some of the most famous people in the world
It has certainly been anything but ordinary! I left university with a Drama degree and began my career in TV production in London. My first role was a Production Runner at Jones the Film, Rob Brydon’s production company. It was before his rise to fame as “Uncle Bryn” in Gavin & Stacey. I went on to spend 7 years freelancing in a fast-paced, creative industry that completely captured me. I didn’t stay making teas for long and worked my way up to producing live television, working with the likes of Simon Cowell, Charlie Brooker and Naomi Campbell. It really was a dream career for someone in their twenties.
Why did you decide to leave this career behind and venture into HR?
TV production was exciting, but also all-consuming, with long hours, constant networking for the next role, and evening and weekend work. Turning 30 was a moment of reflection for me. I looked around and saw very few female producers with young families. I knew I wanted that next chapter. So, I left TV behind and moved into HR, where my transferable skills helped me build a successful career spanning 10 years.
A sliding door moment came when I was asked if I was available to interview for a 6-week producing role on the Strictly Come Dancing, Christmas Special. At the same time, I was offered a permanent HR role. I chose stability, trusting it would better support the life I wanted to build.
How useful were the skills you gained in the world of show business, navigating this new career? Did you feel any disconnect from your previous role or was it a seamless flow?
The transition was far from seamless! I went from TV studios and Converse trainers to a FTSE 100 corporate office. But the skills I’d gained in TV were more transferable than I realised. For example, in TV production, I was used to briefing talent face to face, in their dressing room, on set, sometimes in their home. I’ll never forget visiting Michael Owen’s house to film All Star Mr & Mrs. He offered me a cup of tea, then quickly called for Louise, his wife, because he’d never made one in his life!
So, when I found myself briefing senior leaders and CEOs in HR, it didn’t faze me. The setting had changed, but the core people and organisational skills were the same.
You made another career-defining decision when you had children
After having my second child, my priorities shifted again. Working full-time and only seeing my daughter for an hour a day, after years of waiting for her (she’s an IVF baby), it didn’t feel right. I felt a strong pull to be more present and soak up the early years. Having already changed career once, I trusted myself to do it again. I strongly believe that if something isn’t working for you, it’s within your gift to change it.
Tell me about your work as a sleep coach and what led you to it
While on maternity leave, we invested in a baby sleep coach to improve our sleep. It was life changing. With my background in HR and Employee Wellbeing, it sparked a lightbulb moment about how better sleep could transform the lives of working parents. So, whilst on maternity leave, I retrained as a qualified baby and infant sleep coach and from there, Secrets of Slumber (SoS) was born.
Today, through SoS, I provide baby and infant sleep support to corporate organisations, helping working parents sleep better. I run employee sleep clinics and workshops, and some companies now include 1:1 baby sleep coaching as part of their parental leave package. Better sleep improves mental and physical health, productivity, retention, and overall wellbeing. Everyone wins, the employee, their family, and the employer. By supporting parents at such a pivotal stage, companies aren’t just offering a perk, they’re helping retain talented women (and men) and actively supporting gender equality in the workplace.
Families can also fund their own consultation with me too. And as it’s remote, I’ve supported parents as far away as Australia!
How are you building this business?
I’ve grown the business through networking, word of mouth, social media, and my existing HR network. My first corporate clients came through trusted relationships I’d built during my HR career.
What are the everyday challenges you face and how do you overcome them?
The baby and infant sleep space is highly competitive, with many differing opinions. I’ve learned to stay in my own lane and trust my expertise. Working for yourself can also be lonely, so joining a group of other Mums in business based in Horsham has been incredibly valuable.
Share the character traits that have underscored your journey as a woman in business, helping you to build successful and different careers
There have been three defining chapters in my career: TV, HR and now entrepreneurship. Each has served a different purpose at different stages of my life. What’s underpinned them all is resilience, adaptability, strong communication skills, and the courage to make tough decisions. I’ve learned that success doesn’t have to look the same in every phase of life and to lean into that.
Are there inspirational women that you look up to?
It might sound like a cliché, but my Grandma has always been my biggest inspiration. I feel incredibly grateful to have had such a strong female role model from a young age. She enjoyed life and was kind and resilient. She was instrumental in giving me the confidence to make bold decisions. I know that every time I step into something new or uncertain, a little bit of her strength comes with me.
What piece of advice would you give to a woman starting out as her own boss?
If building your own business will give you the work-life blend you’re looking for, and it’s something you truly believe in, then go for it! You create your own journey so make it one that works for you.
If you were going to write a non-fiction book, what would it be about?
Stories of a TV Runner – because I’ve got a few of those! But no, it would be about support for the modern day parent and sleep. We’re building careers, running households, and raising children – often on very little sleep. Exhaustion and being overwhelmingly busy have become normalised. It would share practical tips for better sleep with a cautionary note that surviving on little sleep is no badge of honour. It’s time to prioritise sleep.
You can contact Lauren at www.secretsofslumber.co.uk
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