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

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. 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 1,0...

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. 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 hot...

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. 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 strat...

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. Catherine has been running Highland Campervans for nearly 20 yea...

In this episode of Scale HER Up, I'm joined by Michelle Quinn — Managing Director and co-owner of Almond Engineering, a precision engineering company based in Livingston, West Lothian. Michelle started at Almond as a 17-year-old on a three-week temporary contract. She had no qualifications, no idea what engineering was, and no particular plan. Twenty-one years later, she owns the company. This is...

In this episode of Scale HER Up, I'm joined by Fiona MacEachern, Managing Director of Loch Lomond Brewery and Levenbank Distillery — a business she started from scratch with her husband in 2011, home brewing for fun, and has grown into a 15-strong team producing 6,000 hectoliters of beer a year, alongside gin, vodka, rum and their own whiskey barrels. This is one of those conversations that stays...

In this episode of Scale HER Up, I'm joined by Mary Pat McFarlane, Director of VMH Solicitors — a firm celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, with staff members who have been there since day one. Mary Pat has been with VMH for 22 years, progressing from assistant solicitor to associate to partner to director. She's also a former Scotland international rugby player who credits the sport with s...

In this episode of Scale HER Up, I'm joined by Anne Wright, Finance Director of FBD Consultancy — a husband-and-wife accounting practice that started with no clients, no money and a house with no gable end, and has grown into a team of nine over nearly 20 years. Anne is a CIPFA-qualified accountant and a passionate advocate for small businesses. She's also spent 15 years as a QuickBooks software t...

In this episode of Scale HER Up, I'm joined by Julie McCann, founder and CEO of Masters in Minds Limited — a leadership, management and organisational development business with 17 years of impact behind it. Julie's story is one of real transformation. She left school at 16 with few qualifications, built her career from the ground up through corporate life, and eventually founded her own business a...

What does it take to follow a dream — literally — and turn it into a thriving business? Jules Fleming is the co-owner of Continental Cream, an iconic ice cream and sweet shop in Banchory, Aberdeenshire, that's been delighting customers for over 40 years. Jules bought the shop five years ago after dreaming she owned it, walked in the next day, and asked the previous owners if they wanted to sell. T...

What happens when you launch a workplace consultancy focused on human connection at the exact moment the entire world goes into strict isolation? In this episode, Dr Brenda Hector sits down with Lisa Gallagher and Nikki Slowey , co-founders of Flexibility Works , to explore their six-year journey running an impactful social enterprise. Both Lisa and Nikki share their matching professional historie...

What do you do when you successfully build a business that runs like a well-oiled machine without you, but your heart completely leaves the building? In this episode, Dr Brenda Hector sits down with long-time friend Oyin Adekola , founder of Keeping It Real With Oyin . Oyin opens up about her raw psychological journey of exiting her legendary Aberdeen commercial bakery enterprise, Oh Cakes! , whic...

How do you transition from advising the Prime Minister in Number 10 Downing Street to running a virtual boutique consultancy that shapes the operating models of global aerospace and tech giants? In this episode, Dr Brenda Hector sits down with Sarah Stone , founder of Samtaler , to demystify the multi-billion-pound world of "social value". Sarah breaks down how a chance encounter with the Procurem...

What do you do when the business everyone else considers "highly successful" is the exact thing causing you to burn out? In this episode, Dr Brenda Hector sits down with Iska Walter , owner of Iska Birnie Photography , to celebrate her ninth year in business and discuss the power of the strategic pivot. Iska shares her journey from working as a car mechanic apprentice in Germany to packing up her...

What is the difference between starting a career and buying a business? In this episode, Dr Brenda Hector sits down with Katie Backler , Managing Director of Charles White Limited , to explore her 25-year journey leading one of Scotland and Northern Ireland's premier residential property management firms. Katie shares the fascinating story of buying a fifth-generation family business in 2001 and i...

Are you spending three hours a week on bookkeeping when you should be making sales? Dr. Brenda Hector is joined by Fiona Purves , owner of Defacto FD , to discuss why your business numbers are more than just a tax bill—they are the story of your success. Fiona shares her transition from corporate industry to setting up a "pick and mix" finance department for small businesses. We dive into the impo...

Lisa Schoneville’s journey is a powerful case study in the difference between owning a job and owning a business. From counting out pennies to afford nappies to building two multi-staff companies that operate entirely without her, Lisa’s story is a masterclass in resilience and strategic systemisation. What happens when your "flexible" business starts consuming 60 hours of your week? For serial en...

This is a special re-release of the most-listened-to episode of Scale Her Up . Katie Watson’s story of transformation—from crippling childhood shyness to leading the BWC Futures group and excelling at the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce —is a masterclass in resilience and authentic career building. How do you go from being too shy to leave your house to hosting major networking events fo...

From war zones in Iraq to the boardrooms of the North Sea energy sector, Diana Muriel’s career is a masterclass in high-stakes communication. In this episode, she shares why she traded her blood-group-stamped vest for a role as a "Family Manager" and corporate consultant, proving that the most powerful tool in any business is the ability to tell a simple, truthful story . 🎙️ Episode Summary Dr. Br...

From a registered general nurse to the owner of three thriving skin clinics in North Kent, Emma Coleman is a testament to the power of the "side hustle" and the importance of clinical expertise in the beauty industry. In this episode, she gets honest about the "busy fool" stage of her early business, the reality of bootstrapping, and why she records her first podcast from a store cupboard. 🎙️ Epis...

In this episode of Scale Her Up , Dr. Brenda Hector talks with Sonia Schulenberg , CEO and founder of Level E Research . Sonia shares her journey from Mexico City to the University of Edinburgh, where she pioneered the use of autonomous AI agents in asset management. She breaks down why traditional AI fails in the "non-stationary" world of finance and how she built a digital twin of the global mar...

In this milestone episode, Dr. Brenda Hector talks with Julie Moulsdale , who celebrates 20 years at the helm of her award-winning consultancy, Perceptive Communicators . Julie shares the "madness" of starting a niche business while one month pregnant at the start of a global credit crunch—and how she turned that risk into a 20-year success story with a world-class Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 93 ....

🎙️ In this episode of Scale Her Up , Dr Brenda Hector talks with Leah Athanassopoulos , the owner and managing director of Alpha Hospital Group . Leah shares her incredible journey of scaling a part-time plastic surgery clinic into a fully regulated private hospital, filling a critical gap in women’s health and fertility services in the North of Scotland. Leah discusses how her background in couns...

How do you transition from a decade in a research lab to leading a high-stakes biotech company? In this episode, Dr Brenda Hector talks with Soumya Palliyil , the CEO and co-founder of Brigid Bio , a brand-new spinout from the University of Aberdeen. Soumya shares the journey of developing novel treatments for life-threatening invasive fungal infections—a field where mortality rates can reach a st...

In this episode of Scale Her Up , I’m joined by Deborah O’Neill , CEO and founder of Novabiotics . Deborah shares the story behind building a biotech company in Aberdeen, developing innovative healthcare products for both pharmaceutical and consumer health markets. From respiratory disease treatments to nail care products, everything Novabiotics creates is rooted in the same scientific foundation:...