Ruth Ferreira: How 92 Countries Shaped My Business Leadership

Ruth Ferreira isn’t just a seasoned traveller; she’s a trailblazer in business leadership and coaching. With a passport stamped in 92 countries, Ruth has transformed her global adventures into a powerful framework for entrepreneurial success. From immersing herself in diverse cultures to honing a people-first coaching approach, her journey is a testament to how travel broadens both horizons and perspectives. In this exclusive, Ruth shares how her worldwide experiences have shaped her strategies, inspired her leadership style, and empowered countless entrepreneurs to thrive.

You’ve travelled to 92 countries—how has this global experience shaped your approach to business and entrepreneurship?

Preparing for long-term travel involves vision, strategy, and planning. Having the vision of where you would like to visit and the experiences you would like to have along the way, alongside working out how to fund the trip and free up enough time to make it a reality. 

The same fundamentals are also true for business. Without a clear vision of what you want to achieve in your business, it is much harder to achieve the results that you desire. That vision can then be broken down into goals, strategies, and actions, with a step-by-step plan to achieve it. 

One of the beautiful things about travel is the people you meet along the way – immersing yourself in the local culture and understanding local customs and ways of life. Travel has inspired my people-first approach to coaching. I work with the individuals leading the business, helping them to get the results they want. Some coaches lead with spreadsheets, but I prefer conversation. 

Interacting with people from all cultures and backgrounds has improved my leadership skills and communication ability. I’ve learned the importance of flexibility in leadership styles and the value of understanding individuals and actively listening to them, to inspire diverse teams. 

Your business growth programs cater to a wide range of clients, from solopreneurs to multi-million-pound law firms. How do you tailor your strategies to suit such a diverse group?

Whatever the size of the business, the fundamentals are the same. All businesses want to bring in leads and convert those leads into clients. To give those clients a fantastic experience of working with them, and hopefully up-sell and cross-sell into other products, whilst making a good profit. And continue to enhance the customer experience so that they become a raving fan and advocates of the business, and recommend it to friends, family and contacts. 

That said, different programs are suited to different business stages. Early stage businesses who are looking to scale and become profitable are usually drawn to low cost options and I am delighted to have my Success Method course that offers incredible value to these individuals, as well as a free Clarity and Strategy workshop for anyone who needs a boost.

My larger clients usually have these fundamentals sorted (or at least some of them!) and they are looking more for community and peer support. A safe space for these established business owners to thrive – to share goals, ambitions, and challenges, and support each other to accelerate toward their vision. We still discuss business growth strategies within my mastermind groups, but there is less teaching and more peer sharing of how everyone has implemented different types of strategies, with varying degrees of success within their own business.

For many small business owners, the pressure of success can sometimes feel overwhelming. How do you help them navigate feelings of loneliness or stress while still growing their businesses?

Loneliness and stress can be the hardest thing about running a small business. There is a lot of pressure on the business owner to make the right decisions and make the company a success, which can be very isolating. Being part of a community of like-minded business owners, sharing knowledge, and supporting each other is something I recommend for anyone in this situation. Having a safe space to bring your dreams and challenges, and realise that you’re not alone is a relief. Some of my clients find this in 121 coaching, whereas others prefer to see this support in a group setting like a workshop or mastermind group. 

Whatever the issue, there are always options to consider, and having a trusted group of peers to bounce ideas off is essential. A problem shared is a problem halved, and I have seen many hugely successful business owners shed tears when they realised that whilst their problems are unique, they are also extremely similar to what others are facing, or have already faced and overcome.

However tough it feels, remember that you are not alone, and if you are feeling alone, please do seek out community. Whether it’s a local business network, an online business community, or an accountability partner, there will be something that works for you. A place to give you hope and ideas, and lift you. 

Balancing work with travel and family must be a delicate act. How do you manage running a successful business while travelling and spending time with your family?

Balance is the biggest challenge in any business, especially those run by parents, and never more so than travelling. I currently only travel 2-3 months of the year, so I scale my business commitments right back to enable me to spend quality time with my family. My husband also runs his own business, so we both carve out pockets of time to work on the essentials, often before our kids get up, or after they are asleep, and we have to be sure to schedule any client calls when the other is available to take the kids out somewhere. There’s nothing worse than trying to coach a client with kids in the background, however cute they may be! 

What trends or changes do you foresee in the business growth and coaching industry over the next few years?

With AI solutions making their impact on the business growth industry, a trend I see emerging this year is the need for community within business. 

Much of the knowledge needed to grow a business is readily available for free or at a very low price point, but the support to implement this knowledge, and a community for support and to bounce ideas off remains invaluable. More and more small businesses are setting up their networking events, and many are doing it brilliantly. 

I’ve also seen a trend within my own business, and many of my client’s businesses of demand for bespoke 121 support. Businesses are looking for results quickly and easily, and they are willing to pay a higher price point to achieve this.

Your podcast, Dominate Your Niche, has become a great resource for many entrepreneurs. What’s one episode or interview that you’ve found particularly inspiring or eye-opening?

Interestingly, one of the least popular episodes of my podcast was the one that particularly inspired me. In Episode 12, Kieran Osbourne, Founder of Squiggle Limited, shares his strategy was never to find his next client but to find his next hundred, or his next 1,000 clients. This approach inspired me, as it set Kieran’s business up for massive growth, and kept his energy focussed on the bigger opportunities. 

I was also hugely inspired to interview my business idol, Kim Simmonds, Founder of Law 365 and Cloud Contracts 365. Both of Kim’s businesses operate in the legal industry, and I love that she is shaking up this very traditional sector, and offering AI-based solutions that bring incredible value to clients who previously may have missed out on legal advice altogether due to budget limitations.

Episode 12 – Finding Your Next 1,000 Clients with Kieran Osborne

Episode 5 – Disrupting the Legal Sector with Kim Simmonds of Law 365 and Cloud Contracts 365