BrightIAM

In this first episode of The Champagne Series 🥂 sponsored by Everflyht Vineyard - Cabin Fever author and female founder Mandy Smith gets honest about the realities of building a business while caring for others, the seasonal life chapters and career pivots in a woman's journey and the uneven playing field for women in business. From the patriarchy to the mile high club... this opening episod...

In this second episode of The Champagne Series sponsored by Everflyht Vineyard 🥂 Brand Strategist, Powerhouse Speaker and Woman of Inspiration @geraldinespurway joined me on the podcast couch. We got honest about the realities of building businesses while caring for others, the invisible load women still carry, and why the playing field feels frustratingly uneven at times. From hard hitting strai...

In this third episode of The Champagne Series sponsored by Everflyht Vineyard 🥂 Rachel Mailer – Female Founder and Dating Expert joined me on the #BrightIAM podcast couch.  @rachelmailercoaching shared how she started her career and business from a series of failed dates and lessons learnt along the way. A really bright and bubbly conversation with a woman who has so many stories to share. You&ap...

In this fourth episode of The Champagne Series sponsored by Everflyht Vineyard 🥂 Sam Ellis – serial entrepreneur and her beautiful daughter; female founder and wellness enthusiast @georgia.ellis_joined me on #BrightIAM podcast couch. Sam and her husband run and own @everflyht vineyard in Sussex, our series sponsor – we’ve been sipping the beautiful gold award winning English sparkling wine and so...

In this fifth episode of The Champagne Series sponsored by Everflyht Vineyard 🥂 the fabulous @sarahbennettnash - Author of 'More Money, More Life' I and Founder of Ikonology - 'Ikon Lounge' discussed the good girl tax and how being in business isn't all star dust and sunshine. Sarah shares insights on how women have to work harder to be seen, valued and appreciated in the...

In this episode of The Champagne Series sponsored by Everflyht Vineyard 🥂 Alex Bailey joined me on the #BrightIAM podcast couch and shared insights on her career in organisational psychology. We discussed how her grit and determination was formed in her early career within the male dominated space of finance. Alex built a business whilst bringing two beautiful daughters into the world. This incre...

They did it! A few months on from their Kilimanjaro climb, Lucy sits down with the team to reflect on what it really meant - beyond the summit. In this episode of BrightIAM,  hear from the climbers as they share more about: - Their time on the mountain - The moments that challenged them most - What kept them going - And how it feels to have raised over £100,000 for Coram Kidscape This wasn’t just...

They did it! Picking up the conversation, Lucy continues her chat with the Kilimanjaro team - reflecting on the experience now they’ve had time to process it all. In this episode, hear from the climbers as they continue to reflect on: Their time on the mountain The moments that challenged them most What kept them going And how it feels to have raised over £100,000 for Kidscape Because this was nev...

In this soul-stirring episode, Lucy welcomes BrightIAM’s newest recruit, Jocelyn Crouch, whose story begins with a poster in a train station coffee shop and leads to a sign-up within just three days. But this isn’t just about a spontaneous decision. It’s about the power of attraction, the courage to say yes, and the ripple effect of purpose-driven adventure. Together, they explore: The Spark : How...

In this deeply moving episode of BrightIAM, we sit down with two extraordinary women - Cerri McDonald and Rosee Elliot - whose personal journeys through life and inspirational spirit would lift that mountain off of the ground. We talk bullying, exclusion, and self-discovery, looking at how empowerment, change and challenge has shaped their lives. Cerri, a creative force and advocate for change, in...

In this high-energy episode, Lucy sits down with Josh Braid, Ollie Kuehne, and Sam Wood - the unstoppable trio behind the Sea-Summit challenge to unpack their Ironman-worthy journey from sea level to the summit of Kilimanjaro for Kidscape. From coastal grit to mountain glory, this conversation dives deep into: The Challenge: A multi-discipline endurance feat combining swimming, cycling, and trekki...

In this energising episode of BrightIAM, Lucy Black welcomes two powerhouse voices from the fundraising sector - Erin Freeman and Leigh Wetherall from The Charted Institute of Fundraising special interest group: ‘Insight in Fundraising’ for a dynamic conversation on innovation and opportunities within the sector. Together, they unpack key insights from the Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s Sept...

In this energizing and insightful episode of BrightIAM, we sit down with Courtney Harrness - nonprofit leader, grant-writing expert, and community builder—to explore the transformative power of relationships and storytelling in the nonprofit world. Courtney believes that while funding challenges and resource gaps are inevitable, the realsolution lies in connection. From grassroots organizations to...

In this episode, “Why Fundraising Feels So Gross (And It Doesn’t Have To),” Mark Dobosz and Lucy Black unpack the messy, all-too-familiar dynamics that make fundraising feel like a transaction instead of a connection. Over 40 minutes, they dig into real donor horror stories, the reasons fundraisers feel stuck, and what it takes to break out of the vending-machine mindset. Expect plenty of “you kno...

“New Beginnings.  In Legacy of Trevor Sorbie MBE” In this profoundly heartfelt episode of BrightIAM, we sit down with Carole Sorbie - wife of the late Trevor Sorbie MBE as she reflects on love, loss, and the climb of a lifetime. One year after Trevor’s passing, Carole is preparing to summit Kilimanjaro in his memory. Trevor, a world-renowned hairdresser and creative visionary, carried the hidden w...

In this heartwarming and candid episode, Lucy sits down with the ever-charismatic Dan Lustig - Gogglebox favourite, style icon, and passionate advocate for a deep dive into the personal, the powerful, and the philanthropic. Backstory & Bond  Lucy shares how her path first crossed with Dan’s over 15 years ago, revealing the story, shared values, and mutual admiration that sparked this conversat...

Climbing for Courage - Kilimanjaro with Kidscape In this inspiring episode, we’re joined by Luke and Craig from the Uncharted Summits expedition team to kick off an extraordinary journey: a 40-person trek to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in support of Kidscape, the anti-bullying charity championing young people’s confidence and safety. Together, we explore the heart behind the climb - the storie...

In this powerful episode of BrightIAM, we’re joined by two extraordinary Kidscape ambassadors - celebrity hairdresser Andrew Barton and Antarctic explorer Josh Braid for a heartfelt and inspiring conversation about courage, connection, and the climb of a lifetime. Together, we explore their personal journeys into advocacy, their deep-rooted commitment to anti-bullying, and the shared values that l...