The Poetry Business School: Poems to change your life – poetry for life, business, and inspiration

by Deborah Alma, Mark Constantine, Kate Downey-Evans

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–

I took the one less travelled by,

And that has made all the difference.

–Robert Frost

A unique and extraordinary business book, The Poetry Business School is both an inspirational take on how to do business better – with more collaboration, communication, and creativity – and a beautiful gift book of inspiring poetry. The narrative journey takes the reader through the dialogue, mentoring relationship, and shared poetry between Mark Constantine OBE, Co-Founder and CEO of LUSH, and Deborah Alma, Founder of the Poetry Pharmacy. Green Door Project Founder and Business Psychologist Kate Downey-Evans offers additional business advice.

Over the course of this book, what emerges is an inspirational and constructive creative pathway for other businesspeople at their own individual stages along the journey, for both business growth and personal development, remembering that business, at its heart, must be a creative act and a communication of ideas.

In essence, that combination of poetry, awareness of our well-being and that of those who work with us, and business practice introduces the potential road map for a harmonious blend of emotional intelligence, creativity, leadership, and meaningful connection. Embrace ‘Business as a poem’ and discover how to listen to your intuition, overcome fear, embrace risk, avoid burnout, and turn vulnerability into strength – all through the creative power of poetry.

As professionals recognise the power of poetry to enrich their personal lives and enhance their contributions to the workplace, a new paradigm emerges – one where the art of language becomes a catalyst for holistic success.

Genres: Poetry

144 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 13, 2025

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I will acknowledge that I am the epicenter of this book’s target market. As someone who has just finished my inaugural poetry collection about the corporate and entrepreneurial world, I have long appreciated the power of words to describe and impact professional life. When I saw a clip on Deb’s pop-up shop in London last fall I ordered dozens of vials for my holiday gift of the year. Everyone I gifted a vial of poems was taken aback…one of the most thoughtful gifts I’ve ever had the pleasure to give!

So, I’ve had this book on pre-order since I learned it was coming out last fall and it will hit the US market later this month. UK release was in March and my husband thoughtfully snagged a copy on a work trip last week. Now I get to be the first reviewer on Goodreads? The pressure!

For those who haven’t found the Poetry Pharmacy yet, run don’t walk to Regent Street or her website. Deb’s vision brings poetry to the people in small vials that address the human condition - hope, courage, heartache, insomnia, the list goes on. Brilliantly merchandised and before 2023 a small shop powered by passion in Shropshire, and occasionally a camper van at festivals.

With this book we now have the story, laid out in clever email correspondence, of the serendipitous meeting and mentorship with Mark Constantine, one of the LUSH co-founders a few years ago. The book itself is disruptive both visually and poetically as carefully placed poems are interspersed with emails and short-form prose. Mark’s executive coach also has a few cameos to reinforce the bigger themes and lessons for the entrepreneur and business leader. A short read, great gift idea and my dog eared copy will be referenced ongoing. Mark’s wisdom from experience is the trusted voice of a retail sensei and Deb a willing mentee. I found myself wishing I had the gift of his mentorship on my own professional journey or at least could spend an afternoon with him sipping tea or birding :). #poetryWORKS

[Stephanie Dargusch Borders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored everything about this book. The sage advice, mostly given in a back-and-forth email exchange, the thoughtful graphics, the sleekness and thickness of the book itself, the poems chosen for inclusion.

I had no idea Mark Constantine was a poetry aficionado, which only made him rise in my esteem. I looked up the Poetry Pharmacy up on FB and instantly fell in love—the shop and its offerings are exactly what I would have dreamed up.

I read this in one day and I would love more than anything to see Mark & Deborah continue to collaborate, ideally publishing loads of beautiful collaborations.

[Maja · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this at work, because I love poetry, I want to learn more about business, and would say that my values align with those of Lush. But this book?????? I really don’t think it needs to exist at all. It’s copy-pasted e-mails, glorified as some ”we believed in this idea first!” or whatever. It has some nice poems though.

[Nav · Rating 1 out of 5]

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