From Accidental Entrepreneur to Community Builder with Jill Lawrence

Linda Mackie
Nov 3
3 min read

Jill shares her journey of mindfulness, boundaries and her new work with CWBN

Hi there, and welcome back to another episode of The Eloquent Entrepreneur—the blog edition.

In today’s episode, I had the privilege of sitting down with Jill Lawrence, a talented website designer, mindfulness and meditation teacher, and co-founder of the Cowichan Women’s Business Network (CWBN).

What I love about speaking with Jill—outside of talking about the photography shoot we did for her—is listening to her journey through entrepreneurship.

It’s incredible how some people land on entrepreneurship not by choice, but by accident. And the result? For Jill, it’s given her a completely new perspective on what she wants out of life and business. Today, she’s helping others find that same sense of purpose and alignment. Jill Lawrence: The Accidental Entrepreneur

Jill describes herself as an accidental entrepreneur—a label that fits, but with a story behind it. Entrepreneurship wasn’t the dream; it simply unfolded one small, intuitive decision at a time.

“I had the daycare, which was a business. I had an online children’s consignment store, which was a business, but I didn’t see it that way,” said Jill. “There was a little breadcrumb trail that led me to this.”

That realization became a turning point. She had created success on paper, but it didn’t feel right. Over time, she rebuilt with intention—placing boundaries, mindfulness, and well-being at the centre of everything she does.

Mindfulness and Making Space

Meditation has become Jill’s anchor, both personally and professionally. She starts her days with stillness and encourages her clients to do the same. Through her mindfulness and meditation practice, she helps people slow down, listen deeply, and reconnect with what’s actually driving their decisions.

In her work as a website designer, Jill describes the process as “an inner journey as much as an outer one.” Each project becomes a reflection of the client’s voice, grounded in calm rather than chaos.

CWBN: Collaboration Over Competition

The Cowichan Women’s Business Network (CWBN) grew out of Jill’s desire to build a space where women could connect, learn, and grow—together. What started as an idea quickly became a movement, with more than 60 members joining within weeks of launch.

“When women were joining the workforce, they came in with this energy of, we can do what men do, and we’ll match what they’re doing,” said Jill. “How different it would have been if women had embraced what makes us unique and come in with that energy.”

That mindset—complementary, not competitive—is at the heart of CWBN. Jill hopes to continue creating an inclusive community where every woman feels safe, supported, and seen.

Creativity Meets Strategy

Jill’s work blends artistry and structure. For her, website design isn’t just technical—it’s creative expression. Mindfulness helps her navigate the push and pull between creativity and productivity without burning out.

She loves the concept of “joy dates”—time spent doing something purely for fun, without a measurable outcome. As she puts it, “You don’t need to be productive all the time to be creating something meaningful.”

One Small Step at a Time

As a single mom, Jill’s days are full—but she’s learned to keep her centre steady through meditation, yoga, and gratitude. She also knows that progress doesn’t have to be dramatic.

Her advice for anyone stuck on where to start is simple: take one small step.

It’s a reminder that big change rarely comes from giant leaps—it’s the small, consistent steps that move us forward.

Listen to the Episode

Hear the full conversation with Jill Lawrence on The Eloquent Entrepreneur. We talk about mindfulness, boundaries, the launch of CWBN, and how Jill turned accidental entrepreneurship into a purposeful, values-driven path.