Scale Her Up: Female business stories and expert tips for business growth and success

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Susie Cresswell, founder of White Wall Marketing, a Glasgow-based marketing and comms agency specialising in the built environment – think shopping centres, retail parks, office blocks and high-end residential.Susie shares how she went from a demanding, male-dominated corporate role in property to launching her own agency after realising there was “more to life” than never having time to post a birthday card to her niece. With no savings, a loan from her parents to cover the mortgage and a determination to do great work rather than chase titles, she started freelancing from her spare room and grew from there.We talk about the power of a niche – how her specialist experience in property and the built environment led to a client base that has stayed loyal for 20 years – and why she spent years trying to “get away” from that niche before fully embracing it. She explains how White Wall started with associate collaborations, then shifted to building an in-house team, at one point reaching 22 people before right-sizing to a core team supported by long-term freelancers.Susie also shares how her view of marketing channels has evolved: digital and “traditional” are all just tools in the same toolbox. What matters is the research, the planning and understanding where your audience actually is – whether that’s TikTok and Instagram for younger customers, or websites, search and even handwritten notes and direct mail for others.A big part of the conversation focuses on team, culture and flexibility. White Wall now runs with a blend of employees and freelance specialists, some of whom have worked with Susie since day one and even sit in the office as part of the team. She talks about adapting to changed expectations around work, creating a culture where people are encouraged not to work late by default, and recognising that different working patterns suit different people and life stages.We then dive into a huge milestone: moving White Wall Marketing into an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) and appointing a new Managing Director. Susie explains why she chose employee ownership instead of a trade sale or management buy-out, why she transferred 100% of her shares, and how she now sees herself in a founder role supporting the new leadership team through an earn-out period.Throughout, Susie is very honest about imposter syndrome, burnout and learning to be calmer. She talks about making pricing mistakes, managing redundancies after losing a major contract and during COVID, and how HR has gone from “I’ll just handle it” to bringing in external support to protect both the company and the team. She has learned what she is good at – and not good at – and is unapologetic about building a business that reflects that.This is a relatable, down-to-earth conversation about building an agency over 20 years, embracing niche expertise, looking after your team and planning succession so the business can thrive without you.In this episode, we cover:What White Wall Marketing does, and why it focuses on the built environmentHow Susie’s career in property and managing agents led naturally into that nicheStarting the business with no savings, a loan from her parents and a year of working from homeHer early “associate model” and why she eventually moved to building an in-house teamGrowing to 22 people at the company’s height and then right-sizing to a smaller team with trusted freelancersWhy digital vs “traditional” is a false divide – it all starts with research, planning and understanding where your audience isExamples of standout tactics, including handwritten notes and direct mail in a digital-heavy worldThe realities of HR in a small agency: pricing, tough conversations, hiring, retention and the emotional weight of redundanciesBlending employees and freelancers, including long-term freelance team members who sit in the officeHow expectations around work have changed since “we never had lunch and worked every hour”Moving to an Employee Ownership Trust and appointing a new MD to lead the next phaseWhy she believes she’s not necessarily the right person to lead the next digital chapter – and why that’s okayWhat she’s learned about herself: being calmer, solution-focused and recognising that different perspectives make the work betterHer message to other founders: there is always a solution, you only get one life, and you don’t want to look back and regret not going for it

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Kerry Black, Director at Firstcall Trade Services, an all-trades contractor based in Edinburgh. Firstcall employs joiners, plumbers, electricians, decorators and more – around 46 operatives plus an office team – providing a one-stop shop for repairs and maintenance for housing associations, councils, insurers and letting agents.Kerry shares how she joined Firstcall in 2015 as a part-time administrator while studying criminology at university, discovered she loved construction and working with trades, and steadily grew into operations manager and then director. She talks about what hooked her early on: transforming people’s homes, building relationships with clients and being part of a well-run, people-focused business.We dive into Firstcall’s decision to have the majority of their workforce directly employed rather than relying heavily on subcontractors. Kerry explains why control, accountability and service quality matter so much to them, how strong client relationships have been built over years, and how a small pool of trusted subcontractors is used carefully without compromising standards.Kerry is very open about being a woman in the trades. She describes walking onto building sites early on and feeling the unspoken “what’s that wee girl doing here?” reaction, and the satisfaction of then winning tenders and delivering contracts. She shares how the business has shifted from having no tradeswomen to now employing women on site as well as in the office, and why she’s proud Firstcall is becoming more female-represented – not just because she is there, but because they deliberately hire and develop talented women.We also talk about career, motherhood and support. Kerry fell pregnant with her first child in her third year at university, at 21, while working part-time at Firstcall. She describes the fear and uncertainty of becoming a mum at that stage, juggling assignments and a newborn (including submitting coursework with her waters broken and taking her baby to lectures), and how she now looks back with pride at what she achieved.She pays tribute to the support around her: a very hands-on, encouraging boss in Firstcall’s MD Paul; a husband with his own demanding career as a professional boxer; and a close, hardworking family, including a mum who raised three children alone and grandparents who were always in her corner. Kerry talks about how that foundation of belief and encouragement has shaped the way she now leads and supports her own team.We finish by exploring how she thinks about growth, culture and recruitment. Firstcall wants to keep growing but not at the expense of quality or atmosphere. Kerry shares how they focus on staff retention, regular appraisals, honest conversations and a family feel in the office. She is realistic about recruitment – not everyone is a fit, you only really know once someone is in the business – and explains how past hiring mistakes have helped her develop red flags and non-negotiables.Kerry’s message to other women is clear: don’t be scared – just do it. If you are being offered a senior role, it’s because people already see your capability. Take the opportunity, back yourself, and remember that you can always adjust later – but you will never know what you’re capable of if you don’t try.In this episode, we cover:What Firstcall Trade Services does as an all-trades contractor in EdinburghWhy they employ most trades directly instead of relying heavily on subcontractorsThe importance of control, accountability and long-term client relationshipsKerry’s journey from part-time admin while studying criminology to operations manager and directorBecoming pregnant in her third year at university, juggling studies, work and a newbornTaking her baby to lectures, finishing her degree and seeing her son at her graduationGrowing confidence by learning on the job – including pricing, quantities and tenderingWalking onto male-dominated sites and proving her capability through resultsHow Firstcall has increased the number of women in both office and operational rolesThe “family feel” at work: strong bonds, banter and people she sees as friends for lifeThe role of mentorship from her MD and the impact of a supportive male leaderRecruitment realities: people who come and go, red flags and what a good team fit looks likeBalancing business growth with service quality and reputationKerry’s advice to women considering senior roles or leadership: don’t be scared, say yes, and trust that you can grow into it

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Rosie Berridge, founder of Accountability Edinburgh – an accounting practice that doesn’t do personal tax returns or year-end accounts. Instead, Rosie and her team act as a virtual finance department for growing businesses: bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, management accounts and in-year support so owners actually understand their numbers and can sleep at night.Rosie talks about the huge mismatch in expectations between many business owners and traditional accountants. Business owners often think they’re getting an ongoing partner who knows the numbers and can answer quick questions; accountants may assume they’re just being paid to keep you compliant once a year. Rosie uses a brilliant medical analogy: you wouldn’t ask a dermatologist to do your hip replacement – so why expect every accountant to do everything, from complex tax to day-to-day finance support?We dig into the reality of messy accounts – years of unreconciled bank transactions, broken till integrations, double-posted invoices and paper-heavy systems – and how Accountability Edinburgh specialises in untangling the chaos, rebuilding clean data and putting practical processes in place. Often those “fix-it” projects turn into long-term partnerships, because once clients see what’s possible, they don’t want to go back.Rosie also shares her own story: moving from a marketing career into working in her husband’s business, retraining with AAT, and then starting out as a part-time bookkeeper when she had three children under three and was paying more in childcare than she was earning. What began as a flexible way to bring in some income has grown, over 14 years, into a 17-strong team and a specialist practice known for fixing problems, preventing nasty surprises and acting as a genuine partner to clients.We talk about growth, values and impact. During COVID, with five staff and a business that was “bobbing along”, Rosie worked with a business coach, wrote a five-year plan and was encouraged to be far more ambitious. The result: significant growth in revenue and profit, a clear niche, and a values framework – good humans, beyond ordinary, courageous common sense – that underpins everything they do. Accountability Edinburgh is now a B Corp applicant, with staff panels focused on environment, community and team, and plans to add carbon reporting as a service so they can help clients move towards net zero as well as tidy their books.Throughout, Rosie is honest about the reality behind the scenes: starting a business while caring for three very young children and a mum going in and out of hospital, moments when she nearly gave it all up, and the difference it made once she had advisors and a coach in her corner. She talks about stubbornness, resilience, being calm in a crisis – and how accountants can and should be sleep aids, not stress triggers, helping owners feel safe, supported and proud of what they’re building.This is a reassuring, practical conversation for anyone who feels embarrassed about “messy” accounts, wants more from their accountant than a once-a-year meeting, or needs a reminder that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.In this episode, we coverWhat Accountability Edinburgh actually does – and why they do not handle year-end accounts or personal taxThe gap between what business owners think they’re buying from an accountant and what many firms actually provideThe medical analogy for accountancy specialisms – and why expecting one firm to do everything rarely works wellReal examples of messy accounts and how they get cleaned upYears of unreconciled bank transactions due to broken integrationsDouble-posted bank entries that overstated both income and costsHighly manual, paper-heavy processes that hide issues and waste timeHow Rosie’s team rebuilds clean data and designs simple, sustainable finance processes for the futureThe business model: one-off “clean-up” projects leading into ongoing support such as bookkeeping checks, management accounts and virtual finance team servicesRosie’s founder journey: marketing background, working in her husband’s business, retraining with AAT and starting part-time with three children under threeGrowing from a one-woman flexible job to a 17-strong specialist team over 14 yearsWhat changed during COVID: working with a coach, writing a five-year growth plan and stepping into a more ambitious visionAwards and recognition for the team and why that matters internally as well as externallyValues in action: good humans, beyond ordinary, courageous common sensePanels for environment, community and staff, and the decision to apply for B Corp statusPlans for carbon reporting and why accountants are uniquely placed to help businesses measure and reduce emissionsRosie’s personal traits as a founder: stubbornness, resilience, love of big projects, calm in crisis and solutions focusHer message to women in business: believe in your own power,

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Deborah Creamer, Managing Director of Optimat, a strategy and innovation consultancy based in Glasgow.Optimat helps public sector bodies, universities and technology-based SMEs make better decisions about markets, technology and investment. The team all come from technical backgrounds – materials engineering, biotechnology, mechanical engineering, sustainability and environmental science – and they combine that expertise with rigorous research, stakeholder engagement and analysis to answer clients’ most important “what next?” questions.Deborah explains how Optimat’s work ranges from sector-wide strategies and market opportunity studies to supporting spinouts and start-ups with business plans and market entry strategies. She shares examples from across digital health, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and net zero – including a favourite project evaluating an innovative medical device for thrombectomy after stroke, where she could really geek out on materials.We then trace Deborah’s own journey: from materials engineer in an electronics company, to consultant at Optimat, to senior consultant and director, and now managing director after 27 years with the business. She talks about being made redundant from a US-headquartered company that decided to service Europe from America, and how a professional connection through her chartered engineer application opened the door to Optimat.A big part of the conversation centres on employee ownership. Deborah explains why the founders chose to move Optimat into employee ownership rather than a traditional management buy-out or trade sale, and how the Optimat Trust bought the company from the directors as part of a long-term succession plan. She shares what it looks like in practice: transparent finances, shared decision-making on big strategic issues, a deliberately flat structure and a culture where everyone is encouraged to bring ideas, spot opportunities and shape the future.We also talk about retaining great people. Optimat has remarkably low turnover – several team members have been there 15–20+ years – and Deborah puts that down to three things: genuinely interesting, varied work; hiring carefully for culture fit; and creating a supportive environment where graduates work alongside senior people and learn fast. She is honest about the one time it didn’t work out, and how both sides agreed the type of work just wasn’t the right fit.Deborah then looks ahead at the business challenges and opportunities she sees as MD: pressure on public sector budgets, the need to diversify the client base across the UK and Europe, the shift from nanotechnology to digital, data and net zero, and the importance of continually updating skills and services.We finish with a thoughtful discussion on AI and women in leadership. Deborah shares how Optimat uses AI tools internally to summarise long reports and speed up analysis, while being very cautious about hallucinations and always keeping human judgment at the centre. She also talks about a new service they’re developing to help clients understand what AI means for their business, where the risks are and where the opportunities lie.For women considering leadership or entrepreneurship, Deborah’s message is clear: don’t assume you can’t do it, ask for help when you need it, and remember that imposter feelings are common – but they don’t mean you’re not capable.In this episode, we coverWhat Optimat does as a strategy and innovation consultancy for public sector, research organisations and technology SMEsThe team’s strong technical background and how they use research, market analysis and stakeholder engagement to build evidence for decisionsDeborah’s journey from materials engineer to consultant, director and ultimately managing directorHow and why Optimat became employee owned, and what that means for succession and cultureThe benefits of a flat structure, transparency and involving everyone in big decisionsAttracting and retaining talent: interesting work, careful recruitment and a genuinely supportive cultureThe company’s evolution over time: from materials consultancy to wider economic development, sector strategies and technology roadmappingShifts in technology focus – from nanotechnology to digital, data and net zero – and how Optimat has adaptedCurrent business challenges: public sector budget constraints and the need to diversify into more UK-wide, European and private sector workHow Optimat uses AI internally for efficiency, and why client-facing outputs are still very much human-craftedA new service helping clients understand the risks and opportunities of AI in their own organisationsDeborah’s advice for women considering leadership or starting a business:Don’t assume it’s beyond you – you probably can do itYou can’t know or do everything, so don’t be afraid to ask for helpWhat she’s learned about herself: moving through imposter syndrome to the rea

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Laura Chapman, Managing Director of Chapmans Property Lettings and Management in Edinburgh. Laura runs a high-service, values-led letting and management agency looking after properties almost entirely within the Edinburgh bypass, navigating complex legislation, political change and the emotional realities of being a landlord and a tenant.Laura shares how she became a landlord in her early twenties while recovering from ME/post-viral fatigue, buying her first flat as a student and renting it out because she couldn’t afford to live there. As a chartered banker, she saw the banking crisis from the inside and realised she wanted to build a different kind of business – one where customers came first, culture mattered and values like honesty and integrity weren’t optional extras. That combination of financial acumen, hands-on property experience and a stint fitting kitchens and bathrooms with her then husband led to the birth of Chapmans.She talks about the reality of building a recurring-revenue, relationship-based business from six clients in year one to a trusted Edinburgh brand 15 years on, growing steadily while refusing to join a race to the bottom on fees. Laura explains why she chose lettings over estate agency, how legislation has transformed professionalism in the sector, and why she believes good safety-led regulation is essential – but politically driven changes can ultimately hurt tenants as well as landlords.We also dive into the personal side: raising two children with no nearby family support, working through illness, intensive care, COVID and constant “on call” responsibility. Laura is honest about the juggle, the lack of real maternity leave, the postnatal doula and patchwork childcare, and the toll it takes when the system isn’t designed for working parents – especially mothers running businesses.Finally, we explore team and leadership. Laura describes recruitment and retention as the hardest part of the journey: attracting values-aligned people, developing “homegrown talent”, dealing with poaching attempts, and creating a culture where there’s nowhere to hide but a lot of support. She shares how coaching and an accelerator programme helped her step into the Managing Director role, the loneliness that can come with leadership, and her reflections on being a woman in business – from higher expectations and empathy load to the importance of women actively supporting other women.In this episode, we coverWhat Chapmans does: full-service letting and management for private landlords across EdinburghHow Laura became a landlord while still at university and started self-managing her first rentalLeaving a chartered banking career after the financial crisis to build a business where customers, values and culture came firstChoosing a recurring-income lettings model over more transactional estate agency work15 years of constant change in Scottish housing legislation – the good (safety and professionalism) and the challenging (politically driven changes and rent freezes)Building a recurring-revenue business from six clients in year one to steady 20% annual growthWhat she’d do differently: introductory offers, systemising processes sooner and leveraging networking earlierWhy she has never worked for another letting agent and how that’s helped her build Chapmans’ own way of doing thingsThe pros and cons of hiring from within the industry versus developing “homegrown” team membersBalancing entrepreneurship and motherhood with no local family – intensive care, no real maternity leave, postnatal doula and childcare challengesWhy our systems still don’t properly support working parents and business ownersThe hardest part of scaling: recruiting, developing and retaining a high-performing, values-led team in a competitive marketStaff being courted by competitors, expectations on younger employees to move frequently and how she keeps Chapmans an attractive place to stayHow coaching and an accelerator programme helped her find peers, language and support as a founder and MDLaura’s reflections on being a woman in business: higher standards, empathy load, and the call for women to actively support other women in leadership

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Liz McAreavey, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, whose business journey started not in a boardroom, but in a student flat baking flapjacks. What began as a way to fund her accountancy studies became a deli, then a catering company that grew over 16 years to a £7 million turnover and Scotland’s largest independent caterer – serving everything from racecourses and football stadia to Edinburgh Castle, the National Museum of Scotland and the Royal Yacht Britannia. Liz MacAreavyLiz shares how recession forced her to stop waiting for customers and start taking a basket of sandwiches into local offices, accidentally discovering networking, relationship-building and word-of-mouth growth. She talks candidly about scaling from five staff to 150, learning to build systems and structure, putting on 2,000-cover events to immovable deadlines, and why people, trust and culture were always at the heart of the business.We then explore her exit journey – selling the company, navigating earn-out and culture clash with the acquirer, and what she’d do differently to maximise value and protect her team. Liz explains why you should always think about your exit well ahead of time, strengthen your balance sheet and get proper corporate advice rather than “making it up as you go”.Today, as CEO of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, Liz uses everything she learned as an entrepreneur, business developer at Deloitte and market leadership strategist at EY to champion businesses and the city. She breaks down what chambers actually do – from helping micro and SME members find clients, connections and confidence, to lobbying on infrastructure, skills, housing, transport and tax so the business environment supports sustainable growth.We also dive into women in business and exports. Liz talks about the success of the Chamber’s Women in Business lunches, the Pathways programme that helped women scale (before funding was cut), and her mission to increase the number of women-led businesses exporting. She shares ideas for women-only trade missions, the real barriers female founders face (from risk and complexity to caring responsibilities) and the support she wants to see from government.Throughout the conversation, Liz comes back to relationships, resilience and self-compassion – from building “a world-class team, not world-class individuals” to being more forgiving of yourself as a leader and remembering that you don’t have to get everything right first time.In this episode, we coverHow a student side-hustle baking flapjacks turned into a deli and then a multi-site catering businessGrowing to £7 million turnover and 150 staff, serving major venues like Edinburgh Castle, the National Museum of Scotland and the Royal Yacht BritanniaLearning to stop “making it up” and start building systems, controls, financial discipline and a proper management structureUsing catering to learn planning, logistics and hard deadlines – when lunch is at 1pm, it’s at 1pmFinding and developing people: spotting attitude and culture fit, nurturing talent and helping staff grow into new roles and careersThe power of challenging “that’s how it’s done” – moving from silver service to restaurant-quality plated food at scaleDeciding to sell: identifying contracts and value, choosing a buyer, protect­ing staff and what Liz would do differently about timing and preparationWhy cultural due diligence matters just as much as financial and legal due diligence in any acquisitionMoving into professional services: using her network to drive business development at Deloitte and later leading market leadership strategy at EYChoosing impact over status – leaving big firms to become CEO of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and “be a big fish in a small pond”What a chamber of commerce really does for micro, SME and corporate members – connection, profile, insight and policy voiceThe importance of local supply chains and keeping wealth in the regionWomen in business: the success of women-only events, the Pathways to scale programme and plans to support women exportersWhy more women don’t currently export and what needs to change to support themCollaboration between chambers across Scotland and the UK, and why Edinburgh needs to “tell its story” and attract more strategic investmentLiz’s advice for women founders: keep going, get a mentor, be kind to yourself, and remember you don’t need to be perfect to build something amazing

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Angela Mathis, co-founder and Managing Director of Think Tank Maths, a specialist mathematical-modelling company working at the sharp end of energy transition and sustainable space.Angela explains, in wonderfully human terms, what her team actually does: building advanced models that help maximise every gust of wind in places like Shetland for hydrogen production, and creating space situational awareness tools that track thousands of satellites zooming around Earth at eight kilometres per second so they don’t smash into each other.We talk about why she cares so deeply about sovereign capability – developing critical technology here rather than simply importing it – and how that led her from a global corporate career commercialising the internet to founding Think Tank Maths in Edinburgh, with a subsidiary in Norway and strong Franco-German partnerships.Angela shares stories from across her career: working on CFC-free insulation materials long before “sustainability” was a buzzword, commercialising early data-storage tech, helping roll out the commercial internet in Europe, and now sitting on the Norwegian Space Cluster board while serving as President of the Scottish Energy Forum. Through it all runs a consistent thread: curiosity, courage and a refusal to accept “that’s just how it’s done”.We also dive into Angela’s personal journey as a woman in high-tech industries. She talks about being nicknamed “Little Miss Trouble”, why that’s become a compliment in hindsight, how she deals with people who don’t trust or value women in leadership, and why she believes this is the moment for all of us to “act with agency” and create the world we want rather than waiting for others to fix it.This is a fascinating, big-picture conversation about science, space, energy, diplomacy and entrepreneurship – grounded in very practical lessons about resilience, relationships and purpose-led leadership.In this episode, we coverWhat Think Tank Maths does in practice:Advanced modelling for energy transition projects, including using intermittent wind optimally for hydrogen productionSpace situational awareness algorithms for tracking satellites in low Earth orbit and supporting sustainable, safe use of spaceWhy accurate modelling matters for both climate goals and national securityAngela’s international career journey:Studying French and German and deliberately building a cross-border careerEarly work at ICI on polyurethane foams and the transition away from CFCsCommercialising the zip drive and data-storage tech across EuropeHelping roll out commercial internet services with PSI NetThe origin story of Think Tank Maths: a “Dragons’ Den”-style university spin-out panel that led her to co-found the companySovereign capability and why she chose to stop building value solely for US corporations and instead develop technology in the UK and EuropeWorking across borders today: Norwegian subsidiary, Norwegian Space Cluster, Franco-German collaborations and space/energy diplomacyBeing a woman in high-tech sectors over several decades – what has changed and what still hasn’tThe nickname “Little Miss Trouble”, thinking beyond convention and why that mindset is a superpower in innovation and entrepreneurshipChoosing your battles, knowing when to walk away from cultures that don’t trust you, and preserving your energy for places where you can have impactThe importance of languages, curiosity and staying close to science even if you’re not the mathematician yourselfAngela’s call to other women: surround yourself with energising peers, move on from roles that drain you and act with purpose and agency in 2026 and beyond

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Lynne Reeves, Managing Director of Motion Software, an Aberdeen-based company that provides inspection and compliance software to clients in oil and gas, renewables, construction, insurance and even live events and entertainment. If a piece of kit needs a safety certificate – from lifting gear on an offshore platform to rigging and lighting at a major event – there’s a good chance an inspector is using Motion’s software to do it. Lynne ReevesLynne shares her career journey from trainer at leisure software company Gladstone, to project manager, head of operations and ultimately MD of Motion Software after both businesses were acquired by Canadian group Jonas Software. She talks honestly about what Jonas got right in their acquisition approach – especially investing in peoplethrough leadership programmes, coaching and a strong “people are our greatest asset” culture – and how that opened doors she never imagined.We dig into what it’s like to lead a hybrid, geographically spread team of 17 people across Aberdeen, Wales, Birmingham and offshore in Pakistan, and how she keeps connection and culture alive when not everyone is in the office. Lynne explains how she approaches hiring for culture fit, why she tests candidates in mixed in-person/online scenarios, and how important it is to trust your gut and wait for “the right bum on the right seat” instead of rushing to fill a vacancy.Lynne also reflects on her own growth as a leader – from being very focused on her own department to taking the 10,000-foot view across sales, R&D, operations and finance. She shares how external coaching helped her unpick imposter syndrome, build confidence and become an advocate for neurodiversity in the workplace, including bringing in training for the whole Motion team.Throughout the conversation, there are powerful messages about self-belief, taking opportunities even when they feel uncomfortable, and building support networks so leadership doesn’t feel so lonely at the top. Lynne’s mantra is simple: get comfortable with being uncomfortable, and don’t try to do it all alone.In this episode, we coverWhat Motion Software does and how its inspection and compliance tools are used across heavy industry, insurance and entertainmentLynne’s journey from software trainer to project manager, head of operations and finally Managing DirectorHow acquisition by Jonas Software created new opportunities through leadership programmes, mentoring and investment in peopleWhat “people are our greatest asset” looks like in practice, not just as a sloganLeading a hybrid team spread across Aberdeen, the rest of the UK and offshore, and why face-to-face time still mattersHiring for culture fit: staged interviews, mixing in-person and online panels and trusting your gutThe importance of saying no to the wrong hire and waiting for the right personHow Lynne shifted from focusing on her own function to seeing the whole business system and trade-offs between departmentsSpinning plates, deciding which “plates” can be allowed to drop and which really can’tWorking with an external coach to tackle imposter syndrome and shift perspective on her own capabilitiesWhy neurodiversity in the workplace matters to Lynne and how she’s raising awareness in Motion SoftwareEmpowering people to make decisions, delegating without abdicating and backing her team even when head office pushes backThe value of peer support: learning from other MDs across the group, sharing experiences and avoiding “lonely at the top” leadershipLynne’s advice to her younger self and to other women in business: take the opportunities, even when they scare you, and believe you can grow into them

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Gael Simpson, personal trainer, menopause movement coach and former senior education leader. After more than 20 years as a teacher, head teacher and local authority leader for health and wellbeing, Gael has completely redesigned her career around movement, resilience and workplace wellbeing.Gael shares her journey from primary teaching to headship, then into a strategic quality improvement role where she led health and wellbeing, physical activity and mental health initiatives across Aberdeen schools – including introducing the Daily Mile and helping create the city’s Mental Health Collaborative. She talks honestly about a later move into the NHS as lead specialist for wellbeing and development, why the culture wasn’t right for her, and the big decision to resign without another job lined up.Alongside her education career, Gael and her partner were quietly running Tunnel Training Fitness, offering free outdoor fitness sessions to build community and remove cost barriers. After formalising her qualifications as a personal trainer and gym instructor, she decided to “take the bull by the horns” and launch her own business focused on personal training, outdoor classes and corporate wellbeing – with the mantra “healthy body, healthy mind, healthy business.”Gael now works with individuals and organisations on fitness, lifestyle, resilience and menopause. She runs one-to-one and small group training, outdoor classes and two corporate programmes: one focused on individual wellbeing, and “Vibe with Your Tribe”, which helps teams build collective resilience, shared values and healthier everyday habits at work.We also dive into menopause at work and for business owners. Gael explains the difference between perimenopause and menopause, the impact of symptoms like brain fog, poor sleep and low motivation, and why strength training, nutrition, rest and digital detoxes can make such a difference. She shares how leaders can support menopausal staff and talks about her six-session menopause movement programme and her free Resilience Alphabet resource for adults and young people.This is an uplifting, practical conversation about listening to your values, backing yourself through big career change and finding your strength – whether that’s getting out of bed on a tough day, leading a team or running a marathon.In this episode, we coverGael’s 20+ year career in education: teacher, head teacher and local authority quality improvement managerLeading health and wellbeing in schools: Daily Mile, physical activity initiatives and the Aberdeen City Mental Health CollaborativeA move into the NHS as lead specialist for wellbeing and development – and why the culture didn’t fitThe decision to resign without another job and the mindset and support network that made it possibleRunning Tunnel Training Fitness: free outdoor fitness sessions that build community and remove cost barriersGaining personal training and gym instructor qualifications and launching her own businessThe reality of early self-employment: financial uncertainty, being your own boss and the importance of networkingCorporate wellbeing offers:Individual wellbeing sessions – reflection, priorities, lifestyle and showing up well at workVibe with Your Tribe – resilience, guiding principles, values, behaviours and collective non-negotiablesWhy leadership role-modelling matters more than wellbeing posters or policiesRemote and hybrid working: the pros and cons, and how to make in-person days genuinely valuableGael’s work as a menopause movement coach: perimenopause symptoms, brain fog, sleep, motivation and weight gainPractical menopause support for women: strength training, planned nutrition, rest, digital detox and self-compassionHow leaders can better support menopausal staff through conversations, one-to-ones and structured programmesThe Resilience Alphabet as a tool to help adults and young people build and understand resilienceGael’s core values: person-centred, authentic, high integrity – and her mantra, “Find your strength within.”

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Catriona Smith, founder of Arden Property Management, an Edinburgh-based residential letting and property management agency celebrating its 20th year in business.Catriona shares how she “accidentally” became a letting agent after careers in primary teaching and a family business, starting out with her own small portfolio and learning the industry on the job. What began as a practical next step has grown into a long-standing, values-led agency that focuses on service, relationships and doing the right thing for both landlords and tenants.We dive into growth by acquisition – the steep learning curve of her first purchase, how later acquisitions became smoother, and why relationships with sellers, lenders, staff, landlords and contractors are at the heart of making them work. She talks candidly about funding deals without bricks-and-mortar assets, using cash flow, loans, personal guarantees and property security, and why honesty and no-retention deals have helped her retain more business.Catriona also shares her perspective on property as an investment. She explains why investors need to treat buy-to-let as a business rather than an emotional purchase, the importance of speaking to a letting agent before buying, and how to think clearly about yield versus capital growth, risk, compliance and tenant realities.Throughout the conversation, a strong theme emerges: people and relationships matter more than profit alone. From supporting long-term contractors and landlords to managing staff departures and acquisitions with care, Catriona has built a business where trust, service and mutual respect come first.We finish with reflections on confidence, learning to forgive yourself and others for mistakes, and advice for women in business to believe in themselves, recognise the value of their life skills and not assume their gender is a barrier to starting or scaling a company.In this episode, we coverHow Catriona moved from teaching and a family business into starting Arden Property ManagementBuilding a residential lettings agency in Edinburgh and why it is really a people and service business, not just about propertyThe emotional side of lettings for both landlords and tenants, and the role of a good agent as the “middle person”Catriona’s journey into growth by acquisition and what she learned from buying several other agenciesWhy relationships with sellers and lenders are crucial and how openness and trust improve retention after a dealFunding acquisitions in a service business with few tangible assets: cash flow, bank loans, personal guarantees and using property as securityChoosing continuity: bringing staff across, respecting existing relationships and avoiding the “big bang” merger approach that can lose landlords and teamsWhy Arden focuses on service and long-term relationships rather than treating landlords purely as an income streamPractical advice for business owners thinking about investing in property: talk to a letting agent, treat it as a business and avoid buying with your heartUnderstanding yield versus capital growth, and why high-spec refurbishments do not always give a good return in rentalsThe challenges and rewards of building and leading a team, and why Catriona relies on conversation and gut instinct in recruitmentFlexing roles around people’s strengths instead of forcing everyone into rigid job descriptionsWhat Catriona has learned about herself over 20 years in business: being more forgiving of mistakes, staying realistic and valuing relationshipsHer advice to her 18-year-old self and to other women thinking about starting or growing a business: believe in yourself more, do not go looking for disadvantages, and recognise the leadership skills gained from life and family

In this powerful episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Becca Pearce, executive coach, former healthcare CEO and author of You Don’t Have To Achieve To Be Loved: Escape the Lies You’ve Been Sold to Design the Life You Want. Becca shares her remarkable journey from leading the implementation of Obamacare in Maryland, to a very public job loss, to a life-threatening brain tumour and major surgery that left her having to learn to walk again – and how all of that ultimately led her to completely redefine success and redesign her life. Becca PearceShe talks about landing back in a senior hospital role to “prove” she could still do it, only to realise that titles, money and corporate achievement no longer mattered in the same way. What she really wanted was time – like one more morning to put her daughter on the school bus. That realisation led her to quit, retrain as an executive coach and focus her work on high-achieving women who have done everything they were “supposed to do” and are quietly wondering, “Is this it?”Becca introduces the core belief that shaped her life – “I must achieve in order to be loved” – and explains how many women carry similar unconscious rules such as “I must have a title to be respected” or “I must earn a certain amount to be valued.” She shares her change framework, starting with “unfortunate awareness” (that nagging sense something isn’t right), moving through mourning old identities, and into the “one foot in, one foot out” phase where social and emotional ties make change feel scary and sticky.We also talk about boundaries, identity and perfectionism as a business owner: giving yourself grace, not “should-ing” all over yourself, and setting up a business that honours your values and needs – like Becca’s own non-negotiables of daily dog walks, daylight, no weekends and clear finish times. She offers practical advice on hiring support early, investing in yourself, and remembering that if you don’t have an assistant, you are the assistant.This is an honest, compassionate conversation for any woman who looks successful from the outside but feels restless, exhausted or disconnected on the inside – and is ready to start designing a life and business that truly fit who she is now.In this episode, we coverBecca’s story: leading a major healthcare reform project, losing her job publicly and later discovering a golf-ball-sized brain tumourBrain surgery, rehabilitation and coming back with partial deafness, vision and balance challenges – and what that taught her about what really mattersReturning to a big corporate role to prove she could still do it, then realising titles and money weren’t enough anymoreHow she retrained as an executive coach and why she now focuses on successful women who feel like they’ve done everything “right” but are still unhappyThe core belief “I must achieve to be loved” and other common hidden rules women carry about worth, money and successHer change model: unfortunate awareness, mourning old identities, one foot in/one foot out, and the reality that deep change takes years, not weeksThe power of identifying your true core values and needs today (not 10 or 20 years ago)“Shoulding” on yourself and noticing phrases like “I should be happy” or “I should be further on than this”Boundaries that protect your energy: non-negotiable daily habits, working hours and designing work around lifePerfectionism and analysis paralysis when you run your own business, and how to set time limits so decisions actually get madeWhy hiring an assistant early is a strategic move, not a luxury – and how women often underinvest in themselves and their own supportThe importance of self-compassion, giving yourself grace and accepting that your relationship with yourself changes when you become a business owner

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Saj Sharif, CEO and founder of Zen Consultants Limited, a multi-award-winning accountancy practice supporting around 700 clients with everything from self-assessment and VAT to payroll, CIS and management accounts.Saj shares a powerful, very human business story. Once a stockbroker, she was signed off with ME/chronic fatigue and told she would never work in finance again. While recovering, she helped with her partner’s stonemasonry business, doing the accounts from home. After he passed away she closed the business – but the subcontractors kept coming back for their tax returns, and word of mouth quietly grew into a real firm.While raising three children, fostering, and managing a growing client base, Saj went back to college and then university to qualify as an accountant, graduating in 2013. She took on her first part-time employee in 2014 and has been scaling ever since, now leading a team of 11 (soon to be 12). She talks honestly about the loneliness and responsibility of being a solo founder, and the reality of having to keep going when “life happens”.We also explore what makes Zen Consultants truly “zen”: incense, plants, colour, hoodies instead of suits, plain-English communication and morning meditations in busy season. Saj shares how she has deliberately created a calm, compassionate culture where people can be themselves, talk about what is really going on in their lives and grow in confidence.As a woman of colour in a male-dominated profession, Saj has heard “I thought you’d be a man” more times than she can count – but she no longer feels the need to prove anything to anyone. Instead she focuses on service, values and building a business that creates jobs, supports apprentices, works with schools on financial education and gives her children a powerful example of what’s possible.This is a rich, honest conversation about resilience, culture, scaling a service business and staying grounded through it all.In this episode, we coverWhat Zen Consultants actually does and how it grew from a handful of subcontractors to around 700 clientsSaj’s journey from stockbroker to ME diagnosis, interior design student and eventually qualified accountant and founderGrowing a business while raising three children, fostering and studying at college and universityTaking on the first employee, then building and leading a team of 11 and countingThe reality of being a solo CEO: responsibility, burnout scares, grief and carrying the weight of salaries, leases and client obligationsThe perks of business ownership: flexibility, financial rewards, travel and the pride of creating jobsThe five foundations she relies on: structure, transparency, team bonding, reward and budgetingHow she builds a “zen” culture in an accountancy practice: meditation, music, colour, plants, hoodies and no jargonRecruitment lessons: skills and personality tests, culture fit, banter, inclusivity and trusting your intuitionBeing a woman and an ethnic minority in a male-dominated industry, and how her response to bias has changed over timeHandling mistakes and client loss as learning opportunities while always backing her teamSaj’s parallel passion project, Zen Community: coaching, hypnotherapy, sound healing and shamanic work to help people release traumaThe role of networking and support networks: chambers of commerce, HR and legal helplines, boards and advisory groupsHer advice to women considering starting or scaling a business: do not hesitate, find your people and remember it will work out

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Cecilia Righini, founder of Studio Lutalica, a queer, feminist, neurodivergent-led design agency and community interest company. Lutalica creates branding, websites and editorial design for feminist and LGBTQ+ organisations and founders, with a strong focus on lived experience, values and community impact.Cecilia shares how years of discrimination and microaggressions in traditional workplaces pushed them to create a studio where queer and trans people, and other marginalised identities, can feel safe, respected and fully themselves. They talk about the power of niching deeply – working specifically with feminist and LGBTQ+ communities – and why that has been one of the best decisions for both impact and business growth.We explore what “professionalism” really means when you strip away suits and dress codes and instead prioritise respect, reliability and good work. Cecilia explains how Lutalica matches projects to designers with relevant lived experience, why being comfortable can unlock creativity, and how honesty about neurodivergence in the team (including ADHD and autism) helps everyone work better.Cecilia also breaks down the decision to move from a limited company to a community interest company (CIC) so Lutalica could operate as a nonprofit, reinvesting surplus into pro bono and low-cost design support for grassroots organisations. They explain the difference between a CIC and a charity, why political voice matters, and how the studio is building a more structured community impact programme.We talk about feminism, systems that were never designed with people like us in mind, and the reality of founding while neurodivergent – from masking and burnout to finally getting an ADHD diagnosis. Cecilia shares the importance of trusting your gut, choosing support that aligns with your values and building an internal support system through your team, board and community.This is a thoughtful, energising conversation about designing businesses around who you really are, centring marginalised communities and letting your values drive both your work and your growth.In this episode, we coverWhat Studio Lutalica does and why it focuses on feminist and LGBTQ+ communitiesHow niching deeply actually helped the studio grow faster and become more visibleCreating a workplace where queer, trans and neurodivergent people can show up without masks or constant explanationRedefining “professionalism” around respect, reliability and good work rather than suits and stereotypesMatching clients and projects with designers who share relevant lived experienceCecilia’s experience of discrimination in previous jobs and why they needed to create their own spaceDiscovering ADHD and autism as a founder and how that changed their understanding of work, burnout and boundariesWhy so many neurodivergent people start businesses and what structures can make that sustainableMoving from a limited company to a CIC and what being a nonprofit actually means in practiceThe difference between a CIC and a charity, and why retaining a political voice matteredUsing surplus to fund pro bono and low-cost design and building a structured community impact programmeFeminism, intersectionality and questioning systems that were never designed for women, queer people or neurodivergent peopleBuilding a support network: team, freelancers, mentors, accelerators, business advisers and a values-aligned managing directorThe advice Cecilia would give their 18-year-old self: you will find your place, keep trying and trust that it will come together

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined again by Margaret Brown, executive leadership coach, organisational development specialist and now author of Culture Pays – a book that has been 20 years in the making.With over 35 years’ experience working across engineering, energy, IT, construction, professional services and global corporates, Margaret has seen first-hand how much leadership and culture impact performance, profit and people’s lives at work. She shares why she believes we’re facing a global leadership crisis, and how the way leaders show up – in businesses as well as in politics and institutions – shapes everything from wellbeing to the bottom line.Margaret introduces her 5 Ls leadership model from Culture Pays – Listen, Learn, Lead, Leverage and Live (your values) – plus a powerful final L: Legacy. She explains how listening deeply to employees, learning from what they actually say, leading with a compelling vision, leveraging people’s strengths and truly living your stated values can transform culture from “nice words on a wall” into a genuine competitive advantage.We dig into the hard numbers behind culture, including Gallup research on quiet quitting and why disengagement is costing the global economy trillions. Margaret shares what she hears in confidential focus groups – staff who feel unheard, undervalued and disconnected from their organisation’s values – and how leaders can start turning that around with better feedback, recognition and everyday conversations.This is a practical, optimistic conversation for founders and leaders who suspect their culture could be stronger, want to keep great people, and are ready to become the kind of leaders others would happily take a pay cut to follow. Margaret BrownIn this episode, we coverWhy Margaret finally wrote Culture Pays after 20 years of thinking about itThe business case for culture: engagement, retention, productivity and profit, not “fluffy stuff”The global leadership crisis and why she focuses on leader, not party in any contextGallup research on quiet quitting, the cost of disengagement and why over half of employees consider leavingWhat Margaret hears when she goes “undercover boss” – running focus groups and one-to-ones with employeesThe 5 Ls leadership model:Listen – to the business, to your people, to what is and isn’t being saidLearn – from feedback, data and mistakes instead of defending or explaining them awayLead – with a clear, exciting vision and everyday conversations that connect people to itLeverage – people’s strengths, potential and diversity of thought so more than 9% of their talent is usedLive – your values in real decisions, not just in posters and elevator graphicsThe final L: Legacy – how you want to be remembered as a leader and the impact you leave on people’s livesWhy most leaders are well-intentioned but unaware – and how awareness shifts everythingPromotion mistakes: elevating brilliant technical experts into people management with no support or trainingThe true cost of attrition and why people usually leave leaders, not jobsPractical ways to make culture work “on Monday morning”: reflection questions, action tips and small everyday habits from the book

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Katrina Walker, co-founder of A Flat In Town, a central Edinburgh letting agency that has been “letting with heart” for 20 years. Starting as a temp in a small letting business, Katrina fell in love with the variety, the people and the privilege of being trusted with someone’s home – and eventually decided to build her own agency.Katrina shares how A Flat In Town grew from a simple idea in her mid-twenties into a long-standing business that truly cares for both landlords and tenants. She talks about the joy of seeing tenants turn an empty flat into a home, and why she has always approached letting from the perspective of being both a landlord and a former tenant herself. “Letting with heart” is not just a tagline – it’s how she and her team work every day.We dive into what it really looks like to build a business around the life you want. Katrina and her business partner factored potential children into their very first five-year plan, and she is honest about the juggle of nursery runs, school hours, sick days and being the last parent at pick-up while trying to run a professional service. She shares how business ownership has given her flexibility, and how that has shaped the way she now supports her own team as an employer and mum of two teenagers.Katrina also talks about navigating regulation, doing things to best practice not bare minimum, and the reality of managing people – from brilliant team members to the occasional hire who reveals outdated views about women working. She explains why outsourcing HR and legal support was a turning point, and how a strong business partner, supportive husband and trusted friends have been crucial parts of her support network.After years of relying on word-of-mouth, Katrina has recently stepped into more networking and visibility. She shares how getting out of the office has brought fresh ideas, confidence and a reminder that 20 years in business is an achievement to be proud of. Her message to other women is clear: let your business serve your life, listen to your gut, use your support network and give yourself permission to plan a future you’ll actually enjoy.In this episode, we coverHow Katrina fell into letting after university and why small-business experience was the best possible trainingThe story of A Flat In Town and what “letting with heart” means in practice for landlords and tenantsWhy home and community matter so much to her, and the satisfaction of seeing tenants turn empty flats into real homesBuilding a business in your mid-twenties and consciously planning around future family lifeThe honest reality of the juggle: nursery pick-ups, school hours, sick kids and late-night workHow being a business owner created flexibility – and how that now shapes the policies she offers her staffThe impact of an all-female team, hiring for attitude and fit, and learning to trust your instinct in recruitmentDealing with sexism and unhelpful attitudes, and why bringing in external HR and legal support was so importantWorking in a regulated sector and choosing best practice over bare minimum from day oneThe value of five-year plans, setting clear targets and writing them on the wall for the whole teamDiscovering networking later in the journey and finding it energising rather than intimidatingThe importance of rest, listening to your body’s warning signs and letting your business support a life you actually want

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Gayle Thomson, Employer Engagement Advisor in the Careers and Employability Service at the University of Aberdeen. Gayle works at the heart of the university’s strategy to expand work-based learning, connecting employers with students through internships, part-time roles, volunteering, mentoring and short-term shadowing opportunities.Gayle explains why real-world experience is so important for students’ employability and confidence – and why it’s a genuine win–win for businesses too. She breaks down the university’s part-time, term-time internship programme: 70 hours over seven weeks, fully funded for SMEs and charities, with all the recruitment admin handled by the university. We talk about the impact on small businesses, using Brenda’s own podcast intern as a live example.We also dive into Gayle’s 25-year career journey in careers and employability – from community careers work and 22 years as a careers adviser at RGU, to a full pivot into employer engagement at the University of Aberdeen. She shares how she went from walking round Granite Expo without speaking to anyone, to becoming a confident networker who now happily works a room and sees value in every conversation.Another big theme in this episode is volunteering. Gayle talks about her long-standing commitment to charities including Befriend a Child, Team Jak, Marie Curie, Maggie’s, Clan, Charlie House and the transformational experience of helping deliver the Tall Ships event in Aberdeen. She shares how volunteering supported her through personal change, why it’s so rewarding, and how business owners and busy professionals can still find realistic ways to get involved. Gayle ThomsonIf you’re a business owner curious about hosting an intern, looking to deepen your talent pipeline, or wondering how to build volunteering into your life and business, this conversation is full of uplifting, practical insight.In this episode, we cover:What an Employer Engagement Advisor actually does and how Gayle works with employers to create opportunities for studentsThe university’s push for more work-based learning: internships, volunteering, part-time jobs, mentoring and shadowingHow the part-time, term-time internship scheme works: 70 hours, 10 hours a week, fully funded and admin-light for employersWhy these internships are especially valuable for SMEs, charities and creative or cultural organisationsThe “win–win” stories: students gaining experience and confidence while employers get real projects delivered and often retain interns afterwardsGayle’s 25-year careers journey across Step Ahead/Skills Development Scotland, the University of Aberdeen, RGU and back to Aberdeen in a new roleHow she transformed her relationship with networking – from wanting to leave an event to confidently talking to every stand in the roomThe power of LinkedIn and long-term relationships between universities, students and employersGayle’s volunteering story: from Sunday school and Brownies to Befriend a Child, cancer charities, Team Jak, Tall Ships and moreWhy charities are so vital to communities and how events rely on volunteers to runPractical encouragement for people who think they “don’t have time” to volunteer – and how to involve friends, family, partners and even dogsHer message about pushing out of your comfort zone, trying new things and letting that shape your confidence and career

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Liz Carnie, director of PWS(formerly Power Washer Services), a second-generation family business started by her dad over 40 years ago. From one man and a van to a team of 28 covering all of Scotland, PWS now supplies and services power washers, compressors, generators, heaters and more – with a reputation built on backup service, not just sales. Liz shares how she went from RAF police and policing in England to “helping dad out for a bit” in 1990, only to discover a whole new world of business, sales and spreadsheets she never imagined herself in. She talks about learning on the job before computers and mobiles, growing the engineer team, and why they chose to service competitors’ machines as a growth strategy.We dive into the realities of running and scaling a family business. Liz works alongside her brother Jim, his three children and now her own son – and she is candid about disagreements, boundaries and succession planning. She explains how they recruit engineers for attitude and problem-solving skills, often from agricultural backgrounds, and why cross-training staff has become essential. Liz also opens up about the most difficult chapter of her life: her partner Colin’s cancer diagnosis, his role in the business, working from home during COVID and eventually losing him. She shares how being forced to step back showed her that the business could run without her – and why building a company that doesn’t rely on one person is so important.Along the way we talk confidence, difficult conversations, “eating the frog”, lists, and how networking through BNI helped her find her voice, ask for help and realise she wasn’t alone in business. Her message to women thinking about starting or scaling is simple and powerful: go for it, and don’t be afraid to ask for support.In this episode, we cover:The story of PWS: from her dad’s redundancy from farming to spotting a niche in power washersHow the business grew from two people to 28 staff, serving customers across ScotlandAdding compressors, generators, heaters and more by listening to existing customers’ needsChoosing to repair competitors’ machines and why service has been their long-term differentiatorLiz’s journey from RAF police and policing to sales, office management and business leadershipLearning accounts, systems and HR on the job – and later investing in courses and self-developmentRecruiting engineers for practical skills, attitude and hobbies, not just formal qualificationsThe reality of managing people: treating everyone differently, playing to strengths and getting the best out of the teamRunning a multi-generational family business with her brother, nieces, nephews and sonHanding over responsibility, succession planning and involving the next generation in management and numbersNavigating her partner Colin’s cancer diagnosis and death, and how the team stepped up in her absenceWhy cross-training roles and building a business that works without you is essentialThe role of BNI and networking in building confidence, learning to ask for help and finding community in businessLiz’s advice to women thinking about starting or scaling a business

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, Dr Brtenda Hector is joined by Kim Woolner, an independent HR consultant, founder of Holding Space, certified menopause coach and part-time team member at the Russell Anderson Foundation in Aberdeen. With more than 25 years in HR across energy, construction and other male-dominated industries, Kim brings a powerful mix of professional expertise and lived experience to the conversation.Kim talks about juggling multiple roles – HR consultancy, wellbeing work, a charitable foundation, board positions and professional bodies – while navigating menopause and protecting her own energy. She shares why her motto is “healthy body, healthy mind, healthy business,” and how women so often drop self-care first when life and work get busy.We dig into confidence, intuition and authenticity at work: from masking in tough cultures to learning to trust your own voice, even when it shakes. Kim explains how women can stand in their own way, talk themselves out of opportunities and wait for permission, while men will apply for roles when they only meet a couple of the criteria. She offers practical ideas for owning your worth, building a trusted circle and using your network well.With her HR hat on, Kim shares honest insight into menopause in the workplace – what it really costs businesses when experienced women leave, and how leaders and line managers can respond better. From flexible working and simple physical adjustments to normalising conversations about feelings and energy, she shows how small, thoughtful changes can transform retention, performance and culture.We also explore Kim’s entrepreneurial journey with Holding Space: combining Bach flower remedies, essential oils, emotional wellbeing, meditation and mindfulness. She talks about learning not to over-give, setting boundaries, charging properly and recognising that “failure” is usually just information that shapes your next step.In this episode, we cover:Kim’s 25+ year career in HR and why she moved into independent consultancyHow she juggles HR work, Holding Space, the Russell Anderson Foundation, board roles and professional commitmentsWhy “healthy body, healthy mind, healthy business” underpins everything she doesThe internal stories women tell themselves, and how they can block confidence and progressWorking in male-dominated industries and the pressure to wear a “mask” at workIntuition as a business asset – learning to listen to your gut before hindsight kicks inThe gender difference in applying for jobs and opportunities, and what women can learn from itMenopause in the workplace: symptoms, stigma, loss of confidence and the real cost to organisationsPractical ways businesses can support menopausal employees: awareness, flexible working, line manager training, small environmental changes and real policy in actionEmotional culture at work – why feelings drive behaviour, actions and ultimately business resultsThe role of coaching, leadership development and supporting “managers in the middle”Kim’s Holding Space business: Bach flower remedies, essential oils, menopause groups, meditation and mindfulnessBoundaries, pricing and protecting your energy when you are the engine room of your business

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Paula Paterson, Founder and Solutions Director at FidesOak, a consultancy specialising in organisational cultural transformation in high-hazard industries. Paula explains how FidesOak helps leaders build high-performing teams that act like a “high-performing virus” inside an organisation – spreading better habits, psychological safety and performance from the inside out. Paula Paterson EditedWe talk about measuring culture rather than guessing, why diagnostics matter more than scattergun initiatives, and how FidesOak’s habits framework turns good intentions into repeatable, sustainable behaviour. Paula shares the idea of cultural architects vs cultural assassins, the science behind the “3.5% tipping point” for big shifts, and why cultural change usually takes three to five years – even when leaders are impatient for quick fixes. Paula Paterson EditedPaula also opens up about her own “chequered” career journey: from office junior and beauty therapist, to mature social sciences student, to learning and development specialist, to co-founding a company three months before the first lockdown. She talks about driving the length of the country during COVID, going underground in mines and offshore to really understand clients’ worlds, and what she’s learned about courage, self-belief and “feeling the fear and doing it anyway” as a woman leading in male-dominated, high-hazard environments. Paula Paterson EditedIn this episode, we cover:What FidesOak actually does and why cultural change starts with high-performing teams, not slogansThe “high-performing virus” metaphor – and how to spread positive habits through an organisationCultural architects vs cultural assassins, and how to empower the right 3.5% of your peopleWhy cultural change takes years, not months, and how to show progress with real measurementFidesOak’s habits framework and the difference between a behaviour you try once and a habit that sticksPaula’s journey from beauty therapy to social sciences, L&D and high-hazard industriesFounding a company on the eve of a global pandemic – and what resilience really looked like in practiceHer advice to women in leadership: lean into your eminence, mine your past successes, and be a “diva” in the best possible way

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Fiona Duguid, co-founder of Indigo Seven Ventures, Chief Information Officer at Aurora Energy Services, and the portfolio lead for Expo Design – a business creating sustainable exhibition and display solutions using engineered fibreboard made from recycled cardboard. Fiona describes how Indigo Seven Ventures invests with a focus on sustainability and “doing good in the world,” while she splits her time between fast-growth energy services and a greener alternative to traditional MDF exhibition builds. Fiona’s career path is anything but linear. She started in medicine, switched to mechanical engineering at the University of Cape Town, worked in the nuclear industry, then pivoted into software development and technical sales in London – eventually becoming a senior account manager at Halliburton, working across Latin America, Europe and Houston before making Aberdeen home. Through each change she’s been one of very few women in the room, learning how to negotiate pay, hold her own in male-dominated spaces and back herself. We dive deep into the gender pay gap, why women often wait to be “noticed” while men actively negotiate, and how language, body language and “knee-capping” ourselves with constant apologies holds us back. Fiona shares why coaching, mentors and honest feedback are so powerful for women – and why we have to stop assuming good work will automatically be rewarded. From an investor’s perspective, she explains what Indigo Seven Ventures looks for in opportunities: values-aligned people, authenticity, realistic plans and a clear understanding that things will take longer and cost more than you think. We also talk about the funding gap for women-led businesses, how to aim higher when you’re raising money, and why asking for help on LinkedIn or in your network is often the most underused strategy. Above all, this is a conversation about self-belief. Fiona is candid about underestimating herself early on, and the mindset shift that came when she realised she was “so much more able” than she’d ever given herself credit for. Her message to younger women – and to all of us – is clear: trust yourself, reach higher, and be the master of your own destiny. In this episode, we cover:What Indigo Seven Ventures does and how Fiona and her husband involve their (adult) children in learning about investmentFiona’s portfolio roles: CIO at Aurora Energy Services and leading Expo Design, using recycled cardboard honeycomb board for sustainable exhibitions and activationsA non-linear career journey: medicine to mechanical engineering, nuclear industry, software development, technical sales and global account managementBeing “the only woman in the room” in engineering, tech and energy – and the reality of the gender pay gapWhy women often stay too long in roles, expecting good work to be recognised, while men tend to move and negotiate for higher salariesThe concept of “knee-capping” ourselves in emails and meetings with apologetic language – and how Fiona now edits her words to show she belongs at the tableHow coaching, mentors and good courses can transform women’s confidence around money, negotiating and career progressionWhat early-stage businesses often underestimate: the sheer number of hats you wear and the importance of knowing your strengths and weaknessesAdvice for women seeking funding: look at how men approach it, aim higher and don’t be afraid to ask for help from people who know the investment worldWhat Indigo Seven Ventures looks for in an opportunity: authentic people, shared ethos, realistic plans and contingency for “it’ll take longer and cost more”Why it matters who you take advice from – and Fiona’s rule to only listen deeply to people she genuinely respectsThe power of networking, building genuine relationships, and paying it forward by supporting other women coming throughAbout Fiona DuguidFiona Duguid is co-founder of Indigo Seven Ventures, a small investment company she runs with her husband, with a focus on sustainability and doing good in the world. She is also Chief Information Officer at Aurora Energy Services and portfolio lead for Expo Design, which creates exhibition stands and experiential activations using strong, printable engineered fibreboard made from recycled cardboard. Originally from South Africa, Fiona studied mechanical engineering after a brief start in medicine, worked in the nuclear industry, and later pivoted into software development and technical sales. She spent years at Halliburton in a technical software division, including five years based in Venezuela covering Latin America and later managing major operator accounts across Europe and Houston. Having spent her whole career in male-dominate

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneurs Show, I’m joined by Iona Foubister, Director and Building Surveyor at FG Burnett, a long-established firm of chartered surveyors and commercial property consultants based in Aberdeen. Iona lifts the lid on what FG Burnett actually does – from those “For Sale” and “To Let” boards you see around town, to building surveys, schedules of condition, property management, valuations and rating advice. If you’ve never leased or bought commercial space before, this conversation is a must-listen. Iona explains why taking professional advice before you sign a lease or purchase agreement can save you tens of thousands of pounds later, and why a schedule of condition is so important for protecting your business at the end of a lease. She also talks honestly about being a woman in a traditionally male-dominated profession, her route from graduate to board director, and the realities of running a small professional services firm in a changing Aberdeen market. We also dig into wider industry challenges – from the impact of the oil crash and COVID on office space, to a looming shortage of building surveyors as university courses close and firms pivot to graduate apprenticeships. Through it all, Iona comes back to two big themes: enjoying your work and believing in yourself as your experience grows. In this episode, we cover:What FG Burnett actually does: building consultancy, sales and lettings, property management, valuation and rating – and how these departments work together for clients The big differences between buying/leasing a home and taking on commercial property – and why there’s no “home report” safety net in the commercial worldWhy business owners should always take surveyor advice before leasing or buying, and how a schedule of condition can drastically limit your dilapidations bill at lease end The hidden risk of letting the landlord’s team have professional advice while you try to negotiate on your ownIona’s career journey: RGU building surveying degree, APC, becoming chartered, then progressing through senior surveyor and associate to Director and board member in around 10 years What changes (and what doesn’t) when you join the board – from 5-hour board meetings to being a voice for employees while still being “one of the team” at lunchtimeThe reality of working in a small firm competing with global consultancies – doing your own BD, networking, articles and social media alongside client work How Aberdeen’s oil downturn and COVID have reshaped the office market: remote working, empty buildings, refurbishments and even demolitionsThe challenge of educating landlords that the old days of “do nothing and they’ll still take it” are over – investment and upgrades are now essential to attract tenants A looming skills shortage: RGU closing its building surveying course, the shift to graduate apprenticeships, and what that means for salaries, recruitment and training time in small firms Being a woman in building surveying: expectations vs reality, why she hasn’t personally experienced major barriers, and the importance of visibility for future female surveyorsThe mindset shift from needing constant reassurance to trusting your own professional judgement as your experience growsAbout Iona FoubisterIona Foubister is a Director and Building Surveyor at FG Burnett, an Aberdeen-based firm of chartered surveyors and commercial property consultants that’s been serving the city for over 65 years. After studying Building Surveying at Robert Gordon University, Iona joined FG Burnett as a graduate, completed her APC to become chartered, and has steadily progressed to board level while remaining hands-on with clients. Working in the Building Consultancy team, she delivers building surveys, schedules of condition, dilapidations advice and refurbishment projects for landlords and tenants, while also playing a key role in business development and strategy. Passionate about enjoying your work and backing yourself as your experience grows, Iona is a brilliant example of a woman building a successful career – and now shaping an entire firm – in a traditionally male-dominated profession.

On this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Alana Innes, founder of Rethink Accountancy – a fully digital, remote-first accountancy practice that was paperless and cloud-based long before it became the norm. After 20 years in traditional firms and being told she had to be in the office, Alana walked away from corporate life to design a business that fits the way she wants to live and work. What started as “just enough for travel beer tokens” has grown into a team of around 18, supporting SMEs and e-commerce brands all over the UK with bookkeeping, accounts, payroll, tax and plain-English advice. Alana shares honestly about rapid growth during the pandemic, losing clients when side-hustles closed, closing over 200 companies in two years, and how she’s reset the business so it can scale sustainably again. We talk about what it really takes to build a values-driven, remote team, why she refuses shoeboxes of receipts, and how her mum’s quiet support behind the scenes made it possible for her to go all-in on her business. If you’re a woman who wants more flexibility, freedom and balance – without sacrificing ambition – this conversation will give you a big dose of reassurance and practical insight. In this episode, we cover:How 20 years in traditional accountancy led Alana to create Rethink AccountancyStarting a remote, paperless, cloud-based firm before the pandemic made it trendySupporting SMEs and online/e-commerce businesses with full back-office finance supportWhy Rethink won’t accept boxes of receipts – and what “digital first” really looks like in practiceMaking tax understandable: unlimited email questions and ditching the jargonThe impact of COVID: rapid client growth, then the reality of side-hustles closingClosing 200+ businesses in 24 months – and what that taught her about failure and resilienceMajor legislation changes like Making Tax Digital and what they mean for sole tradersBuilding an 18-strong hybrid team and creating a culture of openness and flexibilityBeing more selective about clients and pricing as the business maturesWhy mindset and work–life balance matter more to her than corporate statusHer advice to women who want to start or scale a business but are scared to take the leap About Alana InnesAlana Innes is the founder of Rethink Accountancy, a remote, cloud-based firm specialising in SMEs and online/e-commerce businesses across the UK. After two decades in traditional accountancy, she launched Rethink nearly eight years ago to create a more flexible, digital-first way of working – for herself, her team and her clients. Today, Rethink provides full finance support from bookkeeping and accounts to personal tax, payroll and advisory, all delivered in plain English and with a strong focus on culture, balance and client relationships

In this episode of Scale Her Up, Brenda Hector sits down with Mary Smith, founder of Relocation Scotland, who has spent 30 years helping individuals and families relocate to Scotland and call it home. From housing and schools to bank accounts and culture shock, Mary and her team support people through every step of a global move. Mary shares how her own experiences living abroad in Zambia, South Africa, Australia and Singapore led her to spot a gap in support for expats and ultimately build a relocation business in Aberdeen. She explains the difference between working for landlords versus tenants, why trust and honesty are crucial in relocation, and how going the extra mile creates lifelong relationships (and holiday invitations all over the world).Mary also opens up about the realities of running a small business in a volatile energy-driven economy, growing a team from just herself to 12 and back to four, and the challenges of recruiting, managing and sometimes letting people go. She talks about the importance of having the right contracts, HR support and external advice when you are building a team for the first time.We also explore the emotional side of entrepreneurship. Mary reflects on losing her mum at 11, growing up quickly, working in her dad’s grocery, delicatessen and wine business, and how his “three options” advice helped her take the leap into business. She shares the message she’d give to her 18-year-old self about confidence, speaking up and not letting self-doubt quietly eat away at you.If you’ve ever considered working internationally, starting a service-based business, or you just want a real and honest look behind the scenes of global mobility, this conversation will give you both practical insights and a powerful reminder to back yourself.In this episode, we cover:How Relocation Scotland supports tenants from first conversation to fully settledWhat really happens behind the scenes of a corporate relocationThe power of empathy, trust and honest communication with clientsRiding the peaks and troughs of Aberdeen’s energy-driven economyGrowing and managing a team in a small, niche industryThe influence of Mary’s entrepreneurial father and early work experienceConfidence, imposter feelings and the importance of having the right networkMary’s dad’s three options for any big decision – and how they still guide her todayAnd as always, Brenda closes by reminding us of the huge untapped potential of female-led businesses: when women start and scale companies to the same extent as men, we can add billions to the UK economy and create millions of jobs.

In this powerful episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneurs Show, I’m joined by Marion McLaughlin, founder of Aurora – an autistic-led business that supports organisations to better understand and work with autistic and neurodivergent people. After years in the third sector delivering “womb to tomb” services for autistic people, Marion hit burnout trying to juggle passion with an unsustainable workload. Starting a business was never on their to-do list – yet Aurora has become the most aligned, impactful way for them to use their lived and professional experience. Marion is autistic, non-binary and disabled, and brings a deeply intersectional lens to the conversation. We talk honestly about what it really feels like to be autistic in noisy workplaces, in healthcare systems that often don’t listen, and in a political climate that is challenging for trans and non-binary people. They share how concepts like monotropism(interest-based attention and “flow tunnels”) can be a superpower at work – if leaders understand how to support it. This episode is full of practical advice for managers and business owners: how to respond when someone discloses they’re autistic, why “can you just pop into my office later?” can trigger panic, and how to manage change in ways that respect people’s sensory needs, energy levels and humanity. Marion also talks about creating Autistic Pride Aberdeen, developing courses like “My Child Is Autistic – What Now?”, and why good allies and “accomplices” are essential if we want a genuinely inclusive world. If you want your business to be safer and more supportive for autistic, neurodivergent and gender-diverse people – this conversation is a must-listen.In this episode, we cover:Marion’s journey from teacher and third-sector CEO to founder of autistic-led consultancy AuroraMarion McLaughlinWhy disclosing autism at work is an act of bravery – and how managers should respondPractical examples of reasonable adjustments: lighting, noise, sensory needs, flexible dress codes and moreHow not to respond when someone says the environment is difficult for them (“nobody else has a problem with it…” vs “thank you for telling me”) The impact of big life transitions (moving house, pregnancy, menopause, marriage) on autistic support needs and performance at workThe brilliant Star Trek analogy: why you can’t expect staff to operate at “Warp 9.9” all the timeThe quote we all need: “If the most I have to give today is 40%, and I give 40%, I’ve still given 100% of what I’ve got.” Monotropism explained – attention tunnels, deep focus and why constant task-switching is so costlyHow everyone (not just autistic people) can use monotropism principles to get into flow and do better workWhat businesses get wrong – and right – about supporting non-binary and trans team membersWhy inclusive toilets, policies and explicit support for trans and autistic staff really matter right now The story of Autistic Pride Aberdeen, info-dump events, giant bubbles in the park and building joyful autistic community Marion McLaughlin is the founder of Aurora, an autistic-led organisation providing training, consultancy and one-to-one support around autism and neurodiversity. A former primary school teacher and charity CEO, Marion has supported autistic people of all ages in “womb to tomb” services and now works with businesses, schools, universities, charities and healthcare providers to create more neuro-affirming environments. Autistic, non-binary and disabled, Marion brings lived experience and deep professional expertise to topics like monotropism, sensory needs, autistic mental health and intersectionality. They also lead Autistic Pride Aberdeen, hosting community events and webinars that centre autistic joy, connection and advocacy.

Patricia Noel Drain, founder of Patricia Drain & Associates, author of 14 books, former teacher and executive recruiter turned mentor for women 50+. Patricia helps female entrepreneurs over 50 work less and make more—doing what they love. We talk reinvention, building saleable businesses with systems (she created 27 to step out of day-to-day), and designing life around freedom, not busyness. She shares the health scare that forced a reset, the power of digital productsand high-ticket offers, and why women must give themselves permission to earn well. Expect practical prompts to find your zone of genius, say no to misfit work, and—above all—put yourself on your own calendar.In this episode:Why she mentors women 50+ to work less, earn more—and how reinvention often starts at 50.From brick-and-mortar recruiter to exit: building 27 systems so the business could run (and sell) without her.Health wake-up call → boundaries: freedom is the point; schedule you first.Digital products and packaging expertise; thinking bigger with values-aligned, high-ticket containers.Writing 14 books (including a children’s book about self-worth) after being told she “couldn’t write.”Coaching mindsets: “You can’t sell you,” “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should,” and follow your flow.Advice to her 18-year-old self: think bigger, then bigger again—there are no limits except the ones you set.

Liz Clayton-Jones, founder of Beehive Performance, advanced strengths coach and former corporate leader. Liz helps science, research and manufacturing teams become truly high-performing by putting people at the heart of every success. She shares her leap from 31 years in corporate to building a business from the heart (not just the head), why she once walked away from a signed contract that wasn’t a values fit, and how an experimentation mindset (“you can’t fail an experiment—you only get unexpected outcomes”) unlocks progress in life and work. We dig into inclusive teams (including neurodiversity), strengths-based leadership, and practical ways to support women through menopause at work—from honest manager conversations to flexible, “reasonable” adjustments that keep great people in the room.In this episode:Building people so people build the business (strengths, engagement, team performance)Leaving corporate: breathing space, ditching the “shoulds,” and designing work your waySaying no to misfit clients and magnetising the right ones through authenticity and referralsMenopause and work: you’re not broken; strengths + small adjustments beat stigmaThe one-month experiment: try, note results, keep what works—applies to health, leadership, and culture

Suz Bird, founder of Bird & Emmy, is a social media strategist working with SMEs across Scotland and the UK. She breaks down how to ditch “post for the algorithm” thinking, build a simple strategy that serves your business goals, and stay sane as a solo founder and single parent. We talk retainer vs project vs training models, why food-and-drink brands spark creative scrappiness, and how to use testimonials, co-mentors and tiny environmental shifts to quiet the inner critic. Suz shares her start-up story (redundancy, separation, first clients from community work), her love–hate with social media, practical networking habits, and plans to expand in-person workshops and DIY-friendly products so time-poor founders can still get results. In this episode:Mindset first: social media as part of marketing, not a separate chore—and why clarity on audience beats chasing virality. Three ways she works: retained strategist, finite projects to build a plan and hand over, and one-to-one or workshop training. Solo doesn’t mean alone: using feedback forms, DMs and local networks to combat isolation and spark referrals. Get out of your own way: change the room, take a walk, then act—perfectionism is the enemy of momentum. What’s next: more live workshops and practical resources for founders without retainer budgets. 

Guest: Sophy Green, Chief Executive of Instant Neighbour, a 40-year Aberdeen charity and social enterprise. Sophy lifts the lid on balancing compassion with commercial discipline: running a food bank and the Giving Tree appeal, generating 85–90% of income through shops, an online store, joinery and carpet services, and delivering council contracts. We talk board governance (“nose in, hands off”), rising demand through the cost-of-living crisis, funding realities, and the tough calls—closing sites, restructuring, and still protecting frontline services. Sophy shares how she future-proofed with e-commerce, avoids “shiny object” projects by staying close to mission, and why leaders must chHead & Heart Leadership: Sophy Green on Running a Modern Charity That Workseck whether decisions are driven by the head or the heart. She credits coaching and regular “helicopter view” pauses for better choices, and ends with practical ways people can help this Christmas—volunteering, donating quality furniture, selection boxes, or money. 

Victoria Vyalikova, founder of Brand House, a digital marketing agency serving B2B and professional services from Aberdeen to international markets. We talk about building a specialist-first team, the associate model, and why honesty and transparency are the ultimate growth levers. Victoria shares her journey from Big Four marketing to launching during downturns, navigating COVID, and treating AI as a productivity booster—not a replacement for human judgment. We dig into people-pleasing, perfectionism, pricing fairly when AI speeds work up, and the real “juggle vs. balance” of a founder’s life. In this episode:From EY/KPMG to founder: spotting the local digital gap and starting as a white-label freelancer before hiring in-house.The associate model: why deep specialists beat generalists, and how to find, test, and keep great partners.Values in action: “hard truth over comfortable lie,” expectation-setting, and saying no to conflicting goals.Resilience through shocks: oil crash, COVID, and today’s uncertainty—what held, what changed, what grew.AI at work: where it helps (analysis, content, reporting), where nuance matters, and why she reduced prices as efficiency rose.Personal growth: recovering people-pleaser, perfectionism, therapy/coaching, and redefining “balance” as intentional trade-offs.Early roots: tutoring at 13, problem-solving as an identity, and choosing a career built on earned autonomy.Timestamps:00:00 Intro & Brand House focus (B2B/professional services) • 05:00 Specialist team & associates • 09:30 Reframing creativity • 11:00 Honesty, expectations, and saying no • 15:00 People-pleasing & perfectionism • 19:00 Riding downturns • 20:30 COVID: mental health, demand spike, onboarding associates • 24:00 AI as opportunity, not threat • 27:00 Pricing with integrity in the AI era • 30:00 Entrepreneur or accident? Problem-solver origins • 33:00 Women as do-ers: “What are we going to do now?”If you’re a female founder aiming for £1m+ turnover by 2030, book a 30-minute coaching chat with Brenda for a practical action plan https://bit.ly/brencares

Welcome back to a very special episode of Scale Her Up! After 3 years of podcasts, we’ve officially hit the 100th episode. To celebrate that milestone today, we have Dr. Brenda Hector herself on the podcast. Not only is she the regular host of ScaleHerUp, she's a business development coach with ActionCoach, dedicated to helping business owners grow their business and achieve their dream. Today though, she’ll be in the hot seat, and we'll get a glimpse into her motivations and experiences. We will reflect on the last 100 episodes, the impact it has had for her, and talk about what her career journey has been like up to this point. On this episode we talk about the best advice she's ever been given, how the Rose Review ignited her passion for supporting female entrepreneurs, her Business Excellence Awards win, and how the last 100 episodes have shaped her. Be sure to follow our instagram @scaleherup and also her Linkedin at Brenda Hector for daily motivational updates and exciting future plans.

In this Scale HER Up episode, coach and trainer Claire Standen (Embodiment UK) explains how to move beyond Mental Health First Aid into embodied, trauma-informed leadership. We discuss reading behaviour as communication, nervous-system tools for teams, and the realities of leaping from employment to entrepreneurship as a single mum. Includes practical steps for culture change and performance. Chapters:00:00 Intro & who is Embodiment UK 01:00 Why MHFA is just the start 06:00 Behaviour = communication 09:00 Perspective-taking & Poke the Box  13:00 Training vs transformation 15:00 “I am home” insight 28:00 The leap & veterans coaching 31:00 Founder mindset 33:00 Twin support 35:00 Advice to younger self.Book a complimentary coaching call with Dr Brenda Hector https://bit.ly/brencares

Suann shares why she left employment to create a slower, higher-care model; how small, human touches (yes, a free massage chair!) become talking points; and why most people who take the leap are more likely to succeed than failThe 5 Vs are Vibe, Velcro, Voyage, Visibility and Visceral. Listen to find out what each one represents.Book a free introductory session with Dr Brenda Hector https://bit.ly/brencares

Welcome back to Scale Her Up! Today we have Kelly Ling from Ling and Co joining us. They are a business growth consultancy, all about helping entrepreneurs and business owners simplify their day to day operations and create a strategy that would best help their businesses grow and become more streamlined. She works on everything from brand marketing, to team development and even general operations. In essence she is a master of business problem solving. After training in animations at a university in Singapore, Kelly came to the UK to start her marketing and PR journey. From beginning her career journey in festival producing, to working at the biggest arts festival in the world (the Edinburgh Fringe) to landing a role as an executive at an agency; Kelly is very versed in the world of PR and marketing. In this episode, Kelly speaks about her decision to leave the corporate world and her desire to impact local businesses on a personal level. She goes on to speak about her experience and recovery from burnout, her struggle with perfectionism, the importance of failure, and gender roles in the house and careers.  This episode is truly one you won't want to miss, a massive thank you to Kelly for joining us as well. Be sure to follow our instagram @scaleherup and also my Linkedin at Brenda Hector for daily motivational updates and exciting future plans.

Welcome back to Scale Her Up! Today we have Lindsay Conchar from Scots Law Talks with us. They are an educational event and workshop service that sets out to make Scots Law more accessible and understandable. From interactive talks about legal issues, to forensic workshops analyzing blood spatter, their passion is sharing the knowledge to all ages, communities and groups across Scotland. After starting her law traineeship, Lindsay quickly realized soliciting and formal law was not the space she was meant to be in. She still had her passion for justice but didn't know where she'd fit. She took the leap and left, not knowing what her next step was, and fell into education, becoming a lecturer at Dundee and Angus College. There she found her love for teaching and sharing Scots law, which prompted her to start Scots Law Talk during her maternity leave. On today's episode, Lindsay opens up about her advice to those who aren't happy in their current careers and shares how she made the leap. What she's learned since becoming an entrepreneur, the glamorous and not so glamorous sides of business, what it's like working with her husband, and how to deal with the isolation that could come with starting a business. This episode was an absolute delight to film, and a big shoutout to Lindsay for joining us. If you're interested in any of the workshops or events you can find out more at https://www.scotslawtalks.com/.  Be sure to follow our instagram @scaleherup and also my Linkedin at Brenda Hector for daily motivational updates and exciting future plans.

Welcome back to Scale Her Up! Today we have Gail Henderson on the podcast, she's the owner of DEV4 and Equi-Track, a bespoke software development company and cloud-based equipment management software meant to help businesses digitize their services and enhance their productivity and processes. After starting her professional life as a software engineer, Gail fulfilled her dream of owning her own business in 2017 when she joined DEV4. Although a trained engineer she took on a more business development focused role, learning to balance her own work alongside it. DEV4 works in a number of different industries- from Oil and Gas, to Energy, and more, and has grown to help and advise businesses all over Scotland. In today's episode, Gail discusses the challenges and growing pains she experienced running her own business, the importance of going outside your comfort zone, how she's learned to network, and finally her experience being a Woman in Stem and tech, and ways she thinks we could give other women and young girls the same opportunity. This episode was an absolute joy to film and a reminder to challenge yourself, even if it intimidates you. A big thank you to Gail for joining us! Be sure to follow our instagram @scaleherup and also my Linkedin at Brenda Hector for daily motivational updates and exciting future plans.

After a short break we’re back and better then ever with a very special episode. Back in May we had our very first Scale Her UP LIVE at the University of Aberdeen’s Sir Duncan Rice Library, our version of a live episode interviewing our panel of amazing businesswoman and celebrating what it’s means to be a woman in their field. We were joined by Ann Johnson of Blaze Manufacturing Solutions, Tracy Franz of TopPA and Maya Vertigans of Planner Bee VA. All long time members of the Scale Her Up families and female entrepreneurs who set out to change their field. It was a roaring success and helped introduce both students and other female business owners to each other and the wonderful community we have here. We were lucky enough to have an amazing filmographer, Karim Hurtig, who recorded the whole session, so that those who couldn’t join, can experience the joy of this experience. Be sure to keep an eye on our social medias, our instagram @Scaleherup and also my LinkedIn at Brenda Hector for future ScaleHerUp events, and daily updates. 

Welcome back to Scale Her Up!Today, we have Kirstin Ejsmont the owner of Kirstin Ejsmont Business Law. After an extensive career in big law she decided to start her own business during COVID-19. She’s a general cooperate business law expert, with a passion for advising others on the legal aspects of starting a business. She specializes in incorporated businesses, mediating the relationships between directors and shareholders, funding and finance. Her goal when starting her business was to help people feel comfortable achieving their dreams and revolutionising the small and medium business sectors. In today’s episode Kirstin speaks about the important legal things you need in place to start a business, how to minimise risk, what she’s learned when starting her own business and finally how she’s becoming an entrepreneur has helped her re find her love for law. Today’s episode was such an amazing one to film and certainly one not to miss! Be sure to follow our instagram @Scaleherup and also my LinkedIn at Brenda Hector for daily motivational updates and exciting future plans.

Welcome back to Scale Her Up!Today we have Sarah Leigh the owner and CEO of Weirwood Consulting. Although she’d always had thoughts about starting her own business, she officially became a female entrepreneur in January of 2024. She started her business after seeing how big consultancy firms don’t prioritise the customer and introduced short term solutions that didn’t last. At Weirwood, Sarah prioritises the client and sets out to maintain their integrity through the whole process. She works across sectors coming into businesses and increasing their productivity and revenue. In today’s episode she speaks about her business strategy- how she learned to turn leads into sales, how she learned to market herself and how she’s changed her mindset regarding money.  She speaks about how valuable networking is when you venture out on your own, how she manages her business while also being a mum of 3 and what she would tell her 18 year old self. Today’s episode was such an inspiring one to film and certainly one not to miss! Be sure to follow our instagram @Scaleherup and also my LinkedIn at Brenda Hector for daily motivational updates and exciting future plans.

Welcome back to Scale Her Up! Today we have Jenny Junnier, a good friend of the show and a fantastic champion of women in business herself. She is both the audit partner in Johnson and Carmichael Charted Accountants and one of the founders of the Axis Network. Johnson and Carmichael specialise in all areas of accounting- from family planning, to entrepreneurial taxes, to large and small businesses and even personal accounts. During their almost 90 years in business they’ve grown from a small firm that helped local farmers to a Scotland renowned firm that covers all. She specialises in audits and helps ensures that businesses have their finance in order so they can help secure investors and backing. Jenny’s also a founder of Axis Network, a networking community in Aberdeen meant to help level the playing field for men and women across sectors. Although they started in the oil and gas industry, they expanded, and within their first few years had nearly 800 members, all aquired without spending a penny. Today she gives an accountants take on starting a business. The importance of having the right people around you that you can take numbers and finance with. She talks about her own career journey and how motherhood opened up her eyes to see how women could be treated in the workplace. And finally she discusses her passion for gender equality and increasing female presence in C-Suite Roles. Today’s episode was an absolute pleasure to film and I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did! Be sure to follow our instagram @Scaleherup and also my LinkedIn at Brenda Hector for daily motivational updates and exciting future plans.

Welcome back to Scale Her Up! Today we have Freya Bigg the owner of Faeble Arts, a freelance graphic design agency. Her services are more than just traditional graphic design, instead she sets out to be a ‘mini agency in your pocket’. She does illustrations, videos, weddings, motion graphics, web design and more. She’s got a passion for what she’s deemed ‘visual communication’ and has made it her mission to help businesses streamline the creative side of things. Her love for photoshop and advertisements is what drew her into the field but her real passion stemmed from incorporating it into her hobbies like K-Pop and Grimm. On today’s episode she speaks about her journey to owning her own business. From her experiences with unpaid internships, to her opinion on AI in the creative sector, to a blog that got her flown out to South Korea by their government, to her experience balancing being a single parent and a boss and finally how vital it is to have a network and the amazing opportunities that come from it. This episode was truly a joy to film! Be sure to follow our Instagram @scaleherup and also my LinkedIn at Brenda Hector for daily motivational updates and exciting future plans.

Welcome back to Scale Her Up! Today we have Lynne Kennedy on the podcast, who is the founder of Business Women Connect (BWC). BWC is a franchise across Scotland that sets out to give women the opportunity and support to run their own business. After starting in 2022, Lynne has expanded to Glasgow, Edinburgh and now Aberdeen. After originally starting as a magazine, BWC now has expanded to host networking events and even put on roadshows with thousands of attendees. Lynne talks about her journey to becoming an entrepreneur and how she's grown to now even win an MBE for services to women in business. She also talks about her experience starting franchises, the joy she gets from helping others start businesses and shares how you can become a member of this vibrant community.

Welcome back to Scale Her Up! Today we have Chantal Cornelius of Apple Tree Marketing joining us. After 25 years of owning her own business Chantal is a marketing maestro. Her business specializes in supporting coaching, consultants and trainers across the globe, with the goal of taking away the scariness of marketing. She helps clarify the messages of both microbusinesses and large companies while giving them tips on how to promote themselves and their brands. In this episode she shares how to achieve the perfect balance between owning your own business and prioritizing your personal life ,her most recent book Stand out Strategies and her role in the Professional Speakers Association that she's joined after a long period of public speaking fear. Chantal was an absolute joy to have on and it makes this episode one you won't want to miss!

On today's episode of Scale Her Up, we have Debra Baxter, the founder of Music 4 U. Music 4 U is a charity meant to allow young people to experience the performing arts without barriers. After noticing a number of schools in Aberdeenshire were starting to reduce or cut their performing arts programs in school, she set out to fill in the gaps academia leaves in a child's creative education. She then started Music 4 you, creating an integrated stage school that has helped thousands of young people over the 20 years it’s been opened. She has grown the program to allow them to visit people in places like hospices and expose them to live theatre, and truly provide a space for young people to communicate through music. On today’s episode, Debra speaks about the challenges she's faced starting a not for profit organization, how she grown her organization to be featured on shows like BBC’s The One Show, and talks about Music 4 You’s new fundraiser effort- 500 4 500, and how local business across Aberdeen can help.

Welcome back to Scale Her Up! Today we have HR extraordinaire, Lucy Nicholl from Nicholl HR. Nicholl HR gives HR support to small businesses throughout Scotland. Lucy gives an affordable, face to face service that helps owners manage employees and advise them on any legal issues that may arise. In this episode Lucy shares her advice on building a team and creating an atmosphere that encourages employee retention. After almost 2 years in the business Lucy’s passion for HR stems from her own experience of Discrimination in the workplace and as a result her goals is to help employers and employees be comfortable in their rights as employers and protect the both. Today, Lucy speaks about the dangers of burnout, how to combat sexual harassment ion the workplace, and the financial challenges that come with starting a business This episode is an absolutely amazing one that viewers won’t want to miss.

On today's episode we have Diana Gormley, the Entrepreneur in residence at Robert Gordon’s University and the owner of Danu Solutions Ltd. Danu Solutions is a business that sets out to optimize the use of lean in the companies that employ them. From starting as an engineer, to becoming a secondary school teacher, to now owning her own business, today Diana shares her unique experience and journey to becoming an entrepreneur. She speaks about her position at Robert Gordon University- how she bridges the gap between academia and society, combats students misconceptions around being an entrepreneur, and institutes the transferable skills you gain by owning your own business. In this episode Diana talks also about the importance of staying innovative, learning from her past mistakes, and keeping creativity alive. Truly an episode you don't want to miss!

On today's podcast we have Christina Sutherland, the managing director of GSR. It’s a nursing and at home care provider that offers training, and support services by registered nurses. In this episode, Christina tells her journey of how she became an entrepreneur. From starting her business 11 years ago to now employing just over 250 workers, Christina shares what she's learned throughout it. She's expanded GSR from just one department to three; now spread across 3 separate floors in her office. Christina talks about the importance of loving what you do, the major challenges the nursing sector faced during COVID, the burnout that followed, and the importance of finding and recruiting the right staff. This episode was an absolute joy to film and one you don't want to miss.n this episode, we talk about:How Christina moved from nurse to Managing Director and why she chose to start GSRGrowing a care business from one department to three and scaling to 250+ team members player.captivate.fmThe realities of running a nursing and home care service during COVID – and what’s changed sinceBurnout in the caring professions and what leaders can do to support their teamsWhy recruiting for values and attitude matters more than ever in careHow “listening to your gut” can guide tough decisions in business and leadershipThe importance of loving what you do – and how that shows up for Christina and her teamYou’ll enjoy this episode if you are:A female founder or leader in health, social care, or trainingRunning a service-based or team-heavy business and wrestling with recruitment and retentionInterested in values-driven leadership and protecting your own energy while you growLooking for a real, honest story of scaling a business in a demanding sectorAbout Christina SutherlandChristina Sutherland is the Managing Director of GSR, a nursing and at-home care provider offering training and support services delivered by registered nurses. Over more than a decade, she has built GSR into a multi-department organisation employing over 250 people across three floors of office space, while staying rooted in her original motivation: providing high-quality, compassionate care for people who need it most.

Today we have such an inspiring one for all of our Women in Stem as we have Joyce Onuonga who is the owner of John White and Sons. It's an engineering firm that specialises in weighing machines, and calibration. They offer a wide variety of services that range over sectors like whiskey producers, farming and renewables. The company is over 300 years old, and Joyce herself has been working there for 30 years. She rose through the ranks starting with just a 6th month contract, to now owning the company. She prioritized continuous learning and innovation introducing programs that utilize top down and bottom up processing- like college partnerships for trainee programs and KTP employees. In today's episode she talks about the importance of differentiating from your competitors, valuing and incentivizing your staff, and her experience and advice on how to run a family business. Today's episode is truly inspiring for all women looking into starting their own business, and one you don't want to miss.

Although Scale Her Up is all about empowering the amazing female business owners around the world, we'd be remiss if we didn't feature the equally amazing men in the space who help women be confident and expand who they are. Today's guest does just that. Bob Gentle from Amplify Me, is not only a social media and marketing expert, his business’s goal is to help business owners shine, through expanding and monetizing their personal brand. He is also one of the reasons Brenda started Scale Her Up. His unwavering belief in her ability and his own experience with his podcast, Building your LeaderBrand, gave her the confidence to take the leap. In today's episode Bob specifically speaks about how female business owners can become comfortable in their own brand, and his own personal journey of defining his brand and forcing himself to find comfort in the uncomfortable. He also speaks about the importance of positive feedback loops, content strategy and the importance of being both vulnerable and visible. Although it is different then our normal program it’s one you definitely don't want to miss.

Today's episode is an extra special one. We have Tem Ezimokhai from Helping Teachers Thrive. Not only is she a full time secondary school teacher but she hosts and produces her own podcast called Helping Teachers Thrive. It's a biweekly podcast set out to help fill in the gaps university doesn’t cover. After noticing how much new teachers were struggling with both the overwhelming amount of new responsibility and their own mental health, she wanted to create a space where they can come and get advice on things like classroom management, neurodivergence, and even their own well being. In today's episode of Scale Her Up, Tem speaks about her own personal journey as a teacher, from the imposter syndrome she faced, to now commanding the classroom with confidence. She also speaks about the importance of a schedule, how to professionally say no, and her best tips for teacher well being. Whether you're in the education sector or not, this is truly an episode full of some much helpful advice and inspiring words- truly not an episode you want to miss.

On today's episode, we have Dr. Rachel Milne of Dr. Rachel Coaching. She's a life and business coach that specializes in reconnecting women with who they are and helping them rediscover what's important to them. Her journey began at medicine school in Dundee, where she became a qualified psychiatrist. Afterwards she traveled around the UK working in the clinical field. After taking time off to focus on herself, she found a passion for helping women through the same issues she's experienced- anxiety, self esteem issues etc. In her work she helps women become aware of patterns that affect their lives. She helps them combat their self esteem issues, anxiety surrounding networking and how this affects not only the women themselves but everyone in their lives. Today's episode is one that embodies Scale Her Up and is certainly not one you want to miss.