I'm Vicky, I have a dream to open a Play cafe in Reading. I don't have a background in running a coffee shop so I’ve done as much research as I can online and sitting in coffee shops, but I got to the point where I really needed some expert advice on where to go next, and someone to say ‘this is awful go back to the drawing board, or this is great, this isn't,’ and just really some guidance on what to do.

Today has been so busy and full on I’ve literally got a head full of ideas and it's been so exciting to see it in action. I’ve tried the food, I’ve tried making the coffee (not very successfully) and we've just had a great day talking about all the different aspects of what needs to go into starting the business. It's been brilliant. And walking around the building and seeing simple things like why that's in that drawer and why they work a certain way it's really, really valuable. I don't think I would have learnt half of this stuff just doing what I was doing so which was desk-based research and sitting in coffee shops and watching – it’s just not the same thing. I’ve already said that I might need to pay for another half day! :)

I'm currently a project manager working in the financial services sector in London. I decided to do the job shadowing with Kiki because I’ve been pasionate about wine for quite a long time now, and I'm not that passionate about financial services!

It’s been really interesting, Kiki’s taken me through how she started out in her journey into the wine trade and the business she’s created. We went through some of my ideas and the things I’ve been thinking about in terms of what I want to do as a future venture. My utopian idea of what it might be like to run your own business have possibly been shattered, but then it's been really encouraging to see how much she's achieved here.

it's really opened my eyes to things I hadn’t thought about before, confirmed my thinking in a few areas, but also made me think about challenges I hadn’t expected so certainly it's been really useful. I’d really recommend ViewVo and job shadowing to anyone looking to change career in a slightly, or completely, different direction.

‘The call was brilliant! Sheryl is so awesome and her energy is just infectious. Using Skype worked really well as I’m a mum of two, so we were able to have a break for baby feeding/lunch in the middle. I learnt so much – I have 6 A4 sides of notes and loads of action points to take away. Sheryl shared so much knowledge and I’m definitely reassured that I can go and do this! I can't wait to start my business.’

*Update* 1 month on from Anna's shadowing opportunity with Sheryl, she's setting up her website and has already met her first potential client!

I spent a day with Ali which I thought went very well. I was really concerned about spending £450 but I’ve spent more than this in the past… Ali has helped me focus on my brand, the vision for my business and my target customer. All of this makes me realise the mistakes I made with the investments I’ve made previously – in a way, I wish I had met Ali earlier as I now feel I’m on the right path.

She’s been really helpful and given me some contacts in the industry who might be best suited to my vision. I wasn’t sure previously how to price my products, so she’s talked me through how she does hers and has also given me a template business plan which we worked through, so now I have a much better and clearer idea of what I should be charging. All in all, to learn from someone who you know is successful is really reassuring. The fact she believes in what I’m trying to do and gave up a whole day to help me get there is great – consequently, I would happily recommend others do the same.

I have long wanted to pursue photography as a career, but I have always stumbled when it came to the Marketing and Business aspects of it. Through ViewVo I was fortunate enough to be introduced to Annie Armitage and had a phone call with her. She was very personable and forthcoming when demystifying Networking and various methods of contacting potential clients in the various fields of photography. She was also good enough to inform me of how to organize editing and other aspects of the day to day running. With her background I can see how she has become a successful photographer. Rest assured, if you talk to Annie, you are receiving advice from one of the very best in the business.

Spending a day with Ali helped me realise I would be better off using my time at University studying fashion and not going with my 'safe option' of Business Studies. Ali is a brilliant designer but her being successful is a combination of creativity with strong business skills. All her business skills she's learned are specific to her industry: a business studies degree for example wouldn't tell me how to build a following on Instagram. I realised I'll learn and develop a huge range of business skills if I go into the fashion world, so I've decided as a result to study fashion.