Strathclyde Inspire

Stop Waiting, Start Creating Opportunities Does it seem like everyone else is getting opportunities that never seem to come your way? An internship. A leadership role. A placement. A funding opportunity. A graduate job. It can be easy to assume those opportunities simply appeared. But what if the difference isn't luck? What if it's the willingness to take initiative? In this final episod...

How to Stand Out Without Burning Out Making the most of university isn't about doing everything. It's about doing what matters. University can sometimes feel like a competition. Everyone seems to be joining societies, taking on leadership roles, securing internships and building impressive CVs. But is being busy the same as making progress? In Episode 4 of our New Semester, New Foundatio...

Building the Right University Environment Who you surround yourself with can have a bigger impact on your university experience than you realise. When students think about success at university, they often focus on effort: studying harder, getting better grades, or becoming more organised. But what about environment? The people you spend time with influence your confidence, ambitions, opportunitie...

Making friends at university can feel awkward. Networking can feel even worse. Walking into a room full of strangers. Joining a society on your own. Starting conversations. Introducing yourself. Sending the first message. For many students, these moments can feel far more intimidating than any assignment or exam. In Episode 2 of our New Semester, New Foundation series, we're tackling one of t...

Do you ever feel like everyone else has a plan except you? Maybe you've arrived at university convinced that everyone around you already knows where they're heading, what career they want, and exactly how they're going to get there. Meanwhile, you're still figuring things out. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. In the first episode of our new five-part series, Ne...

This episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs is sponsored by CIMA, the world's leading and largest professional body of Management Accountants. To access job opportunities, career advice, and employability events, or for more information about their globally recognised qualification, sign up to the CIMA newsletter now: https://myfuture.cimaglobal.com/me   If you’re a student or early-career professiona...

This episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs is sponsored by CIMA, the world's leading and largest professional body of Management Accountants.   To access job opportunities, career advice, and employability events, or for more information about their globally recognised qualification, sign up to the CIMA newsletter now: https://myfuture.cimaglobal.com/me   If you’re ambitious, motivated, ready to work...

What does it really mean to build a career with purpose, and can you do it without sacrificing financial stability? In this episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, we're unpacking how to find work that aligns with your values while still paying the bills. Because pursuing a meaningful career is not about choosing passion over practicality, but about aligning what matters to you with where you can crea...

Your first job after graduating can feel like it sets the course for your entire future, but what if it doesn’t have to?   In this episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, we unpack the pressure surrounding that first career step and why your first role is not a verdict on your future. From navigating unexpected career paths to figuring out whether a job is truly right for you, we explore how early car...

How to use LinkedIn to go from passive, forgettable, or invisible to credible, visible, and in-demand. If you have a LinkedIn profile…but haven’t posted anything in months or just can’t figure out how spending time on there is going to help you now or in the longer term, this episode is for you. If LinkedIn feels awkward, fake, intimidating, or like a place you don’t belong yet, you are not alone....

Your degree isn’t a map - it’s a launchpad! In this episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, we’re challenging one of the biggest myths students still believe, that your degree dictates your destiny. We’re joined by Kayla Megan Burns, a Biomedical Science graduate turned tech founder, writer, and disability advocate, and Dr Marc Reid, chemist, author, and UKRI Future Leaders Fellow. Their stories show...

This week on Inspiring Entrepreneurs, we explore why you don’t need to wait for the “perfect moment” to start a side hustle - or anything else! We spoke with Paul Wilson, founder of Consultico, and Darren Stewart from the Strathclyde Inspire Start-Up Team about why confidence isn’t something you gain before you begin, it’s something you build through action.    Together, we break down the myth tha...

This week on Inspiring Entrepreneurs, we explore why you don’t need all the answers to get started. We spoke with Johnny Lindsey and Dana Schwendtner, chapter leads of Fun Nights Glasgow - a movement where entrepreneurs publicly share their biggest mistakes. Together, we explore what failure really looks like, why confidence is often misunderstood, and how comparing yourself to others can keep you...

The graduate job market has never been tougher. Fewer openings, longer hiring processes, and rising competition. So what really makes a candidate stand out? In this episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, we spoke with Adam Gordon, Founder of Poetry, and Vickie McArthur, Early Careers Partner at Insights, to uncover what employers truly value in today’s graduates. Together, they unpack the realities o...

What do employers really look for in graduates, and how can you develop the skills to stand out in a challenging job market?   In this live episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, recorded at the University of Strathclyde, our expert panel explores the power of entrepreneurial thinking, employability, and the mindsets that drive success.   🎓 Discover how to: - Build confidence and resilience in your...

In this special episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, we’re joined by Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, as he reflects on 16 transformative years of leadership and his legacy as a champion of innovation and entrepreneurship. A three-time Strathclyde graduate with involvement in the creation of five spinout companies, Sir Jim shares insights f...

In this episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, we were delighted to be joined by Dr. Will Drury, CEO of the Power Networks Demonstration Centre (PNDC) and former director at Innovate UK. With a career at the crossroads of engineering, policy, and entrepreneurship, Will shares insights from leading national-scale programmes, driving net-zero innovation, and building partnerships across government, aca...

Watch our latest episode featuring global sustainability expert, host of the Do One Better! podcast, and Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde Business School, Alberto Lidji. He shares what drives meaningful change, the role of universities in shaping impact-driven leaders, and how Scotland can support the next generation of entrepreneurial thinkers.

In this episode, we’re joined by Holly Butler, Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer at Dxcover, a University of Strathclyde spin-out pioneering clinical-stage liquid biopsy technology for the early detection of multiple cancers. Holly shares how effective communication has been a key factor in securing funding, building partnerships, and leading a high-growth spin-out. She also discusses the rol...

In this episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, host Katy McNair speaks with Gillian Docherty, Chief Commercial Officer at the University of Strathclyde, who was recently awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours list. They discuss Gillian’s inspiring career journey, her leadership insights, and her perspective on the future of entrepreneurship—particularly in relation to AI, collaboration, and building...

For this special live episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, held on Women's Entrepreneurship Day, we were joined by a panel representing a wide range of perspectives and experiences: Bayile Adeoti FRSA, Founder of Dechomai Ltd; Kayla-Megan Burns, Founder of Podplistic; and Ruby Allan, University of Strathclyde student and Inspire Ambassador. Strathclyde Inspire Marketing Manager Katy McNair spoke wi...

In part 2 of this episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, host Katie Woods continued the conversation with Dr. Kate McKenzie, Co-founder, Director, and CEO of Strathclyde’s first social enterprise spin-out, C2LI, and Manish Joshi, Professor of Practice for Social Innovation at the University of Strathclyde and non-executive Director at the Scottish Government.   They discuss ESGs, the importance of co...

In this episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, host Katie Woods spoke with two remarkable change-makers in Scotland's social innovation landscape: Dr. Kate McKenzie, co-founder, Director, and CEO of Strathclyde’s first social enterprise spin-out, C2LI, and Manish Joshi, a Professor of Practice for Social Innovation at the University of Strathclyde and non-executive Director at the Scottish Government...

On this episode of Inspiring Conversations, our host Katie Woods spoke with an extraordinary panel of female leaders: Ana Stewart, tech entrepreneur, investment partner at EOS, and co-author of the Pathways Pledge; Elizabeth Pirrie, CEO of AccelerateHER; Genna Jodie Masterton, founder of Kinoro; and Nasreen Hasan Ashkanani, Inspire supporter and doctoral researcher at the Hunter Centre for Entrepr...

In this special episode, we review the 'best bits' of season one of Inspiring Entrepreneurs. Thank you to our guests - Daniel Rae, Founder of Hydrogen; Strathclyde lecturers Lucrezia Casulli and Suzanne Mawson; Chloe Carmichael, Founder of Chloe's Deal Club; and Sarah Jardine, CEO of epipole for your inspiring insights!