Scale Her Up: Female business stories and expert tips for business growth and success
If you are a female business owner, self-employed freelancer, or girl boss who wants to build a successful business i.e. work less hours, make more money, and get better results from your staff, then this is the podcast for you. Hosted by Dr Brenda Hector MBA from ActionCOACH UK, this podcast provides relatable and accessible business advice and inspiration from successful businesswomen who have been there and done it before you. This podcast is where you can • hear female business stories • share business success • learn how to overcome business challenges • get advice for businesswomen aspiring to success • find out what needs...
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Her Baby Bouncer Was in Her Grandfather's Office: Dominique Dawson on 70 Years of Finnies, Lessons from Harrods, and Why Nobody on Her Team Has Ever Worked on Commission
<p>In this episode of Scale HER Up, I'm joined by Dominique Dawson — director of Finnies the Jeweller in Aberdeen, and, as I realised partway through this conversation, the first third-generation female business owner I've ever interviewed in 170-plus episodes.</p><p>Dominique's grandparents founded Finnies. Her mum and uncle ran it. Now Dominique and her brother are the third generation. And next year, the business turns 70.</p><p>Her baby bouncer was installed in her grandfather's office.</p><p>She went on to get her graduate gemology qualification in London, spent four years as assistant manager at Chanel Fine Je...
The Burnout Nobody Saw Coming — Including Her: Emma Hutton on What Breaks High-Performing Leaders, How to Spot It, and What's Waiting on the Other Side
<p>In this episode of Scale HER Up, I'm joined by Emma Hutton — a social justice leader with over 20 years of experience, and until March of this year, the Chief Executive of JustRight Scotland.</p><p>Emma left that role after burning out. She's sharing her story on this podcast for the same reason she wrote a long, honest article about it on LinkedIn: because she thinks she might have recognized the signs earlier if she'd seen someone else describe it first.</p><p>This is not a business episode in the usual sense. But if you lead anything — a busi...
"Two Thirds of the Staff Left on a Tuesday Morning": Debbie Mitchell on Building a Business, Selling It Right, and Why 18% Isn't Good Enough
<p>In this episode of Scale HER Up, I'm joined by Debbie Mitchell, director of Atholl Scott Financial Services — an independent financial planning firm in Aberdeen with a 60-year history behind it.</p><p></p><p>In September 1999, Debbie went into work as normal. By the time she went home, she was the director. Her boss and his wife had left without warning that Tuesday morning, and the CA firm partners called her to say she was now running things.</p><p></p><p>There were lots of tears. A significant amount of wine. Her sister drove to the office af...
"I'd Just Like to Play at Being a Scientist for a Few More Years": Leanne Ramage on Spinning Out a Renewable Energy Software Company, Rejection, and the Song Playing on the Way to the Interview That Started Everything
<p>In this episode of Scale HER Up, I'm joined by Leanne Ramage, Managing Director of Kudo Software — a renewable energy software company that helps manage projects and people across wind farms, solar farms, battery storage and pumped hydro.</p><p></p><p>Leanne didn't plan to lead a company. She didn't plan to stay in renewables after her PhD. She didn't plan for most of what's happened. What she did was take each opportunity that appeared in front of her — and that approach, combined with what she describes as an almost inconvenient stubbornness, has brought her here.</p><p></p><p...
"Paddy Made Me Better": Alison Harper and Sara Huibregtse Van Loon on Therapy Dogs, Teams, Mental Health Stigma and Passing the Baton
<p>In this episode of Scale HER Up, I'm joined by two guests: Alison Harper, founder of Harper Psychology, and Sara Huibregtse Van Loon, psychological therapist and the person Alison hopes to one day hand the practice to.</p><p>Harper Psychology — formerly Harper Clinical Psychology — is an Edinburgh-based private psychology practice that's been running for around 20 years. What started as a solo clinical psychologist practice grew to two during the first 10 years, and then, when COVID hit and the NHS couldn't keep up with demand, expanded to a team of six — including two therapy dogs.</p><p>One of those...
She Was Answering Emails on C-Section Day: Laura Weir on Control, Boundaries and Building a Letting Agency That Actually Fits Your Life
<p>In this episode of Scale HER Up, I'm joined by Laura Weir, Managing Director of Direct Lettings — a letting agency based in Edinburgh and Dundee, now servicing much of the East Coast of Scotland and growing into the build-to-rent sector.</p><p>Laura joined Direct Lettings 14 years ago, was essentially told to "run with it," had four children while running the business, never really took maternity leave, and found emails coming from her account on the day she had a C-section. Two years ago she bought into the business and became MD.</p><p>This is a conversation about wh...
Strategy Before Marketing, AI Without Losing Yourself, and the Advice That Changed Everything: Gaynor Duthie of Genoa Black
<p>In this episode of Scale HER Up, I'm joined by Gaynor Duthie, Managing Partner of Genoa Black — a strategy, brand and marketing consultancy with teams in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and now Los Angeles.</p><p></p><p>Gaynor joined Genoa Black on day three of its existence, worked for nothing in exchange for a promise of equity, became a partner in 2014, and has led the business to where it is today: 14 people, over 1,000 Scottish SMEs served, and an international expansion underway.Strategy, AI and the Advice That Unlocks Your Next Level | Gaynor Duthie | Scale HER Up</p><p>This is a...
The Art of Hospitality PR: Jessica Sneddon on Niching Down, the Boss You'd Want to Work For, and Why Specialising Is the Smartest Business Decision You'll Make
<p>In this episode of Scale HER Up, I'm joined by Jessica Sneddon, co-owner and co-founder of Soundbite PR — an Edinburgh-based PR agency that works exclusively in hospitality, food tourism and food and drink production.</p><p>Jessica and her business partner Martha Bryce have built Soundbite from just the two of them into a team of nine, with around 30 clients across some of Scotland's most celebrated hotels, restaurants and producers. Their specialist approach has attracted clients including the Old Course Hotel and a host of independent restaurants, distilleries and food producers — and their staff retention is a quiet testament to t...
The Gutsy Creative Agency: Jen Landels on Brand, Imperfect Action and the Horse Tethered to a Plastic Chair
<p>In this episode of Scale HER Up, I'm joined by Jen Landels, Managing Director of Studio LR — a 22-year-old independent creative agency based in Leith, Edinburgh, that helps ambitious organisations build brands and campaigns with both substance and standout.</p><p>Jen calls Studio LR "the gutsy creative agency" — and this conversation is every bit as gutsy as the work they do. She talks about brand strategy for businesses of all sizes, what it really means to step into leadership for the first time, and why the most powerful thing holding most of us back is our own self-belief.</p><p...
Castles, Moats and Motorhomes: Catherine Bunn on 19 Years of Growing a Business on Her Own Terms
<p>In this episode of Scale HER Up, I'm joined by Catherine Bunn, Managing Director of Highland Campervans and Director of Camper Lux Limited — a motorhome dealership on the outskirts of Inverness that Catherine built from scratch, starting with two campervans, a baby in a car seat, and a conservatory extension she never actually built.</p><p>Catherine has been running Highland Campervans for nearly 20 years. She started the business after leaving the Royal Air Force, grew it organically while raising two sons, built a team of over 20, and is now preparing for the next major phase of growth. This is...
