IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH ELLA ATTRILL 

 

Property investor, coach, and freedom architect Ella Attrill didn’t plan on building a multi-million-pound portfolio - it started with one renovation while heavily pregnant and a desire for more freedom. Fast forward and she’s turned that spark into a thriving property business and a mission to help women take control of their finances and futures.

Now a dedicated mentor, Ella empowers women to think differently about wealth, showing them how to start from where they are; no savings, no perfect timing required. With a new self-led programme launching and a 12-month family RV adventure across the US ahead, Ella is the embodiment of building a business that works for your life, not the other way around.

Over to you, Ella…

 

SO, ELLA, WHAT’S YOUR STORY?

I grew up on a council estate. Money was always tight, and I watched my mum work 12-hour shifts sometimes just to put food on the table. She worked hard - but there was never any real security, and I think I internalised that early on.

As a teenager, I fell into the wrong crowd. Drinking, drugs, toxic relationships. It all left me with anxiety, a lot of pain, and no real direction. But the one constant for me was horses. I was obsessed. They became this quiet anchor - a symbol of the life I wanted, not the one I was living.

That hunger for something more drove me to start a career in finance - something I didn’t love, but it taught me skills that would later become invaluable in business.

Everything changed when a close friend of mine's husband tragically died in a motorcycle accident. It was a huge wake-up call. I remember thinking, What am I doing with my life? I wanted more meaning. So I quit my job, travelled the world with my now-husband, and came back determined to do something different.

I retrained as an equine physio and finally found work that felt like mine. I loved it - until I got pregnant and life shifted once again.

 

YOUR PROPERTY JOURNEY BEGAN ALMOST ACCIDENTALLY WHILE HEAVILY PREGNANT. HOW DID BECOMING A MOTHER RESHAPE YOUR VIEW ON WORK, WEALTH, AND FREEDOM?

At the time, I was a self-employed equine physio. I loved the work, but it meant being on the road a lot, and it quickly became clear that once my daughter arrived, that lifestyle wasn’t going to work for me anymore.

The realisation hit hard: if I wasn’t working, I wasn’t earning. And suddenly, that didn’t just feel limiting - it felt completely unsustainable.

Even though my partner was incredibly supportive and happy to provide for us, I knew I wanted to maintain my own financial independence. I didn’t want to have to ask for money. I wanted to contribute, to create, and to build something that worked around the life I wanted with my daughter - not away from it.

That’s when I started to rethink everything I thought I knew about earning money, and began to explore ways to earn without physically being present.

 

WHEN WE SPOKE, YOU DISCUSSED CANDIDLY ABOUT THE “LIGHT BULB” MOMENT WHEN YOU REALISED BEING SELF-EMPLOYED DIDN’T AUTOMATICALLY MEAN FINANCIAL SECURITY. WHAT DID THAT MOMENT TEACH YOU ABOUT SUSTAINABLE INDEPENDENCE FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS?

I remember trying to plan my return to work before my daughter was even born - pencilling in client appointments, telling myself I'd carry on as I had before. But once she arrived, everything changed. Not only was the schedule I had mapped out completely unworkable, but I realised I didn't actually want to go back to the way things were.

Yes, I had some flexibility in my diary being self-employed, but I had no financial security. If I didn't work, I didn't get paid. That light bulb moment showed me that self-employment isn't the same as freedom - and that just having a business isn't enough if you're the one holding it all up.

It made me deeply aware of how little space society gives women to both earn well and be present with their families. We're told we can have it all - but rarely given the tools or options that actually make that possible.
That's why I believe it's crucial for women to establish income streams that don't rely on trading time for money. True independence is about having choices.

 

HOW DO YOU HANDLE CRITICISM? 

I am quite sensitive and introverted by nature, so I have struggled with it throughout the years, especially when it comes from family. Like most women, I wasn't taught how to separate criticism from identity, especially when building something personal, such as a business or brand. It's been a challenging road to navigate at times. But over the years, I've learned to get more curious with it.

I ask: Is this coming from someone I trust? Someone who's walked the path I'm on? If yes, I listen. I take the insight and leave the ego. 
If not, I don't carry it. You cannot build wealth, legacy, or impact while constantly bending to people who've never stood where you stand.
At this stage, I know who I'm building for - and I trust that my work, my voice, and my values won't be for everyone. And that's ok.

 

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO WOMEN STUCK BETWEEN A CAREER THEY DON'T LOVE AND THE GUILT OF WANTING MORE TIME WITH THEIR CHILDREN?

First of all, I'd say you're not wrong for wanting more. Wanting to be there for your kids and wanting a life that lights you up doesn't make you ungrateful. It makes you human. 

Society has conditioned us to believe we have to choose - either be a "good mum" or have ambition. But that's not true! You can build something that gives you both time and financial freedom – and it starts with being really honest about what's no longer working.

You don't need to burn it all down overnight. Start exploring. Start building. There is another way, but it's going to require you to let go of the guilt and start choosing yourself too. Our kids don't need a version of us that's burnt out and barely coping. They need to see what it looks like to create a life you love.

 

YOU’VE BUILT A £3.5 MILLION PROPERTY PORTFOLIO STARTING FROM SCRATCH. WHAT’S THE ONE MYTH ABOUT PROPERTY INVESTMENT THAT YOU MOST WANT TO BUST FOR WOMEN JUST STARTING OUT?

That you need to be sitting on piles of cash to get started.

I started with very little - just enough in savings to cover the bills - but I still built a multi-million-pound portfolio using creative strategies, investor finance, and bank lending.

If you’ve got money in the bank or equity in your home, you’re already further ahead than I was when I began. But even without that, if you understand how to find the right deals and structure them well, you can get funded.

The real asset isn’t money - it’s knowledge, confidence and the ability to position a deal so well that others want to back you. Women are so resourceful, but we’re often told to be cautious and play it safe. Property investment isn’t just for men or people with a trust fund. It’s for anyone willing to learn, to lead, and to back themselves.

That’s how I did it  - and that’s how so many of my clients are doing it too.

 

IF YOU WERE STARTING YOUR PROPERTY JOURNEY AGAIN, WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY? 

Honestly? I’d stop trying to do it all on my own so early on. 

We completed our first project largely on our own, figuring it out as we went. And while it worked, it was stressful, slow, and full of second-guessing. It wasn’t until I invested in proper training that things really started to take off.

Having the knowledge at my fingertips and a clear path to follow, that’s what skyrocketed the results.

But more than that, committing to that training felt like a declaration. It was the moment I energetically went all in on myself. You don’t get that same power from piecing together free content online. You just don’t.

Making that decision told the universe (and myself) that I was serious. And once I did, everything started to shift.

 

YOU’VE SAID THAT FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT GIVES WOMEN REAL CHOICE, WHETHER THAT’S LEAVING A JOB, A RELATIONSHIP, OR SIMPLY BACKING THEMSELVES. WHY IS HELPING WOMEN ACCESS THOSE CHOICES SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?

Because I’ve seen it firsthand. 

Friends, family, even myself… staying in situations far longer than we should have. Not because we didn’t know they weren’t right, but because we didn’t feel financially safe enough to leave.

When women have financial independence, everything shifts.

They get to make decisions based on what’s right for them, not just what they can afford. Whether that’s walking away from a job or relationship, taking time off, moving abroad, investing in themselves, or simply building a life that actually feels good.

Money doesn’t fix everything. But it gives you options. And options give you power.

That’s what fuels everything I teach - It’s about creating a life where women have the freedom to choose.

 

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE BOOK OR PODCAST RECOMMENDATION FOR OUR READERS? 

Rarely a day goes by that I don’t have a podcast or audiobook in my ear! I’d say that Manifest by Roxie Nafousi is a firm favourite for anyone wanting tangible steps to start feeling more empowered in their lives (Tip: Listen on Audible, her voice is so grounding!)

And if you’re just getting started with investing, or the idea of growing your money feels overwhelming, then Rich Dad Poor Dad is a brilliant place to begin. That, along with The Slight Edge, are books I hear mentioned over and over again by women (and men) who’ve completely shifted how they think about money, assets, and long-term wealth. The way they break down concepts like compounding, cash flow, and financial freedom just clicks.

 

WE HEAR A LOT FROM OUR READERS WHO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE 'TOO LATE' TO START BUILDING WEALTH. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE WOMAN WHO'S SCARED TO BEGIN BECAUSE SHE BELIEVES SHE'S BEHIND?

 

I get it - so many women feel like they've left it too late to start building wealth. But that belief keeps more women stuck than anything else.

There's no perfect time to begin. Life will always be full. You'll never feel "ready." But what matters most is starting from where you are, not where you think you should be.

I didn't come into this with loads of money or spare time. I started with what I had - and I figured it out as I went. Most women who've built real financial independence didn't do it by waiting for ideal conditions. They just began.

That's exactly what I want my new programme, Her Wealth Era, to be. A place where women start building a life on their own terms. It's coming soon, and it's designed for women who want more and are ready to claim it. TODAY.

 

HOW WOULD YOUR BEST FRIEND DESCRIBE YOU? 

My best friend, Kelly, has known me since we were five; she’s been there through every season, even when I was at my absolute messiest, and still says I’ve always found a way to rise. She’d probably describe me as wildly determined (even when I have no idea what I’m doing), deeply loyal, and constantly dreaming up the next big thing.

The other day, she was saying how proud she is of everything I’ve achieved. Truth is, I’m inspired by her too. She’s one of those women who shows up with heart, grit, and grace no matter what life throws at her.

 

YOU’RE SHIFTING TO MORE SELF-LED PROGRAMMES FOR WOMEN WHO WANT TO LEARN THE FINANCIAL FOUNDATIONS BEFORE INVESTING IN PROPERTY. WHY WAS IT ESSENTIAL TO START WITH MINDSET AND MONEY EDUCATION FIRST?

 

I want the women who've already written themselves off, the ones who've told themselves they're not ready, not qualified, or not "there yet" to see that they can start building their wealth foundations right now. No shame over where they're starting from. This is where it begins.

Her Wealth Era is designed to meet women exactly where they are. It empowers them to understand their finances, shift their mindset around money, and uncover the best next move for them when it comes to property. 

 

A QUOTE YOU LIVE BY? 

 

“Say yes now, figure it out later.”

This has been the cornerstone of my property journey. 

95% of the time, I don’t have the liquid cash sitting in the bank when an opportunity lands in my lap, because it’s already out working for me across other deals.

But when the numbers stack and the opportunity is too good to miss, I back myself to figure it out. I find a way to fund it. I move first and make it make sense after.

That mindset has enabled me to build a multi-million-pound portfolio, and it’s one I now teach to the women in my world.

 

YOU ARE NOW PLANNING A 12-MONTH RV TRIP WITH YOUR FAMILY IN THE US. WHAT DOES THIS FREEDOM MEAN TO YOU, AND WHAT DID IT TAKE TO CREATE IT?

This business was never just about making money. From day one, it was built with a clear vision: time freedom, location freedom, and financial freedom. That’s what enabled us to spend a year living in Mallorca and now, to take off on a 12-month RV trip across the US as a family.

We’ve set things up so that our income doesn’t depend on us showing up every day. The systems, the team, the properties, they’re all working behind the scenes while we get to experience this once-in-a-lifetime journey together.

It’s not just about stepping away from work. It’s about stepping fully into the life we’ve intentionally built and knowing that the business is designed to support that.

And we’re not stopping here. Once the trip ends, the plan is to establish a property investment business in the US, expanding our portfolio and planting seeds globally.

 

WHAT DO YOU KNOW FOR SURE? 

Life is short, live it

 

YOU’VE DESIGNED YOUR BUSINESS AROUND YOUR LIFE, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST PIECE OF ADVICE FOR WOMEN WANTING TO BUILD A BUSINESS THAT HONOURS THEIR LIFESTYLE GOALS?

 

Design the vision first - then build the business to support it.

So many women build businesses that look successful on the outside but leave them burnt out, stretched thin, and constantly compromising on the life they actually wanted. I've been there. That's why I started making decisions through the lens of: Does this make me closer or further away from my vision?

When you lead with lifestyle, your business becomes the vehicle, not the destination.

It's not about doing more. It's about doing the right things in the right way, so your income supports your life.

Build it with the end in mind.

 

WHAT’S THE ONE THING YOU’RE CURRENTLY OBSESSED WITH THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BUSINESS?  

Aside from horses, which will always be my obsession, I am a true foodie. I’ve been eating a vegan diet for 11 years now, and this ignited my passion to try new foods (even though ironically I was taking out food groups!). As I am currently recovering from a horse riding injury, I have been experimenting more in the kitchen. Making high-protein, clean, fresh food! 

 

FINALLY, WHICH MOTIVATIONAL SONG WOULD YOU LIKE US TO ADD TO THE CEO RADIO PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY FOR YOU? 

'Feeling Good' – Nina Simone 

I heard this song when coming out of a breathwork session at a retreat and it symbolises rebirth to me now.  

 

If you want to know more about Ella and her work, check out her website, Instagram, or join the waitlist for Her Wealth Era here.