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Scale Her Up: Female business stories and expert tips for business growth and success: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Brenda Hector
If you are a female business owner, self-employed freelancer, or girl boss who wants to build a successful business—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 to change • discover how we can bring about that business revolution Only 1 in 3 UK entrepreneurs are female. UK men are 5 times more likely than women to build a business of over £1 million turnover. If UK women matched UK men in starting and scaling businesses, it would add £250 billion to the UK economy (Alison Rose, The Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurs).
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- 2 weeks ago36 min
"Paddy Made Me Better": Alison Harper and Sara Huibregtse Van Loon on Therapy Dogs, Teams, Mental Health Stigma and Passing the Baton
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.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.One of those dogs, Paddy the one-eyed collie, features in one of the most moving stories I've ever heard on this show.We cover:- What Harper Psychology does and who it's for- The difference between a clinical psychologist and a CBT therapist — and what clients should actually look for- Why Alison went into private practice (school holidays, four children, and one very stubborn child who did not want to go to holiday club)- How the practice grew from two to six — and the challenge of building a team in a field where client continuity is everything- The mindset shift that stopped people leaving: valuing the CBT pathway as its own destination, not just a stepping stone- The therapy dogs, and the story of a client who said it wasn't Alison who helped them most — it was Paddy- The succession model: passing the baton rather than selling up, and why Alison wants the team to take it over and go further- The mental health stigma that still exists in 2026 — and why Alison thinks mental health is no different from dental health or physical fitness- What employers can do to genuinely support their teams' wellbeing- Advice to their 18-year-old selves: believe in yourself, and don't worry if you don't have a plan yet**Quote of the episode:** *"Mental health is like dental health is like physical fitness."* — Alison HarperWhether you're thinking about growing your team, passing on your business, or just wondering why we still treat mental health differently from any other kind of health — this one's worth your time.
- 2 weeks ago31 min
She Was Answering Emails on C-Section Day: Laura Weir on Control, Boundaries and Building a Letting Agency That Actually Fits Your Life
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.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.This is a conversation about what it actually looks like to build something while also being a human — and the moment you realise you need to change.We cover:- What Direct Lettings does and how the business has grown on referrals alone- The build-to-rent sector: what it is, why it's exciting, and why it's a hard slog- Laura's career journey: from getting a job to keep her parents happy to becoming MD and co-owner- What it's like to be a self-described control freak — the benefits and the cost- The C-section email moment — and why she wouldn't do it now- How she went from reactive and everything-myself to starting early, leaving at 3pm and taking Fridays off- The "company Bible" — and why every process being documented changed everything- Building a team of 11 across two offices and why culture has been non-negotiable- Career development over pay rises — supporting staff through qualifications and internal moves- What's next: the Borders market, more build-to-rent, and finally opening that office she's been talking about for four years- Her advice for women in business: be kinder to yourself than she was**Quote of the episode:** *"Be kinder to yourself than I've been."* — Laura WeirIf you've ever answered work emails when you absolutely shouldn't have — or if you're just wondering how to grow a business without losing yourself in the process — this one's for you.
- 3 weeks ago30 min
Strategy Before Marketing, AI Without Losing Yourself, and the Advice That Changed Everything: Gaynor Duthie of Genoa Black
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 1,000 Scottish SMEs served, and an international expansion underway.Strategy, AI and the Advice That Unlocks Your Next Level | Gaynor Duthie | Scale HER UpThis is a conversation packed with honest reflections on leadership, growth, AI, boundaries and the advice that unlocked everything for Gaynor — early in her career, someone told her: "Don't do the job you've got. Do the job you want."We cover:- What Genoa Black does across its three divisions — strategy, brand and marketing — and why the order matters- Why they never jump straight into marketing without brand clarity first- How their strategy division was born out of COVID — and why it's now a core part of what they do- The partnership model: how bringing in the right business partners transformed the business- Gaynor's extraordinary journey from working for nothing on day three to managing partner- The best piece of advice she ever received — "Don't do the job you've got, do the job you want"- Why people management has always been the hardest part — and how she's learned to lead through conflict- AI: embracing it without relying on it — and why emotional intelligence matters just as much as artificial intelligence- Growth isn't just headcount — efficiency, profitability and culture all count- The LA expansion: how a relationship with chef Curtis Stone opened the door- Why she went almost 12 years without an out of office — and what changed- "I didn't come this far to only come this far"Quote of the episode: "Emotional intelligence is just as important as artificial intelligence." — Gaynor DuthieIf you're leading a business, thinking about your next step, or wondering how to keep growing without burning out — this one's for you.
- 3 weeks ago39 min
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
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 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 the culture they've built.This is a conversation full of practical wisdom — on niche, on growth, on what it really means to become the boss you'd want to work for.We cover:- What Soundbite PR does and why they only ever work in hospitality- Why specialisation is the most profitable business decision you can make (their accountant's verdict)- The state of the hospitality industry right now — and how the best operators are adapting- Why PR makes the difference at a restaurant opening — and how you can still win without it- What Jess has had to build to get here: a thick skin, a great co-founder and really excellent finance support- The value of having a business partner — and what Martha does that Jess absolutely doesn't (hello, crisis comms)- How Soundbite grew its team from four pre-COVID to nine now — and why their culture keeps people staying- The nine-day fortnight and what genuine work-life balance looks like in practice- Being the boss you'd want to work for — and the story that taught her exactly what not to do- What's next: digital expansion, north of England, Northern Ireland, and a hospitality networking series- Two must-do pieces of advice: outsource your finance — and do your tax return early**Quote of the episode: "I wanted to be the boss I would want to work for." — Jessica SneddonWhether you're thinking about niching down, building a team, or wondering what kind of culture you actually want to create — this episode has something for you.
- Jul 3, 202640 min
The Gutsy Creative Agency: Jen Landels on Brand, Imperfect Action and the Horse Tethered to a Plastic Chair
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 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.We cover:- What Studio LR does and who they work with — from Volvo to Suntory Global Spirits to Historic Environment Scotland- The biggest brand mistake businesses make (it's not what you think)- How to build a brand on a small budget — practical advice from a workshop with Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce- Why you need to meet your audience where they are, not where you want them to be- Jen's extraordinary career journey: Red Bull, the Leith Agency, Scottish Government, Scottish Rugby and now Studio LR- The moment she got into advertising — through babysitting- "Shy bairns get nowt" — and what it taught her- Taking over as MD with no prior experience of running a business — and what she did first- The fika approach to joining a new team (taking every single person for coffee)- Why leadership is lonelier than she expected — and the peer group that changed that- The female agency leaders WhatsApp group growing from 24 to 53 — and why competing businesses support each other- Her six annual mantras, including imperfect action, conviction and vulnerability as a strength- Rebranding herself from Jenny to Jen when she became MD — and what that really meant- Her late dad Jim's legacy — and the project that brought everything full circle- The horse tethered to a plastic chair: why it's your own self-belief holding you back**Quote of the episode:** *"We think we're stuck, but it's our own lack of self-belief that's holding us back."* — Jen LandelsIf you're building a brand, stepping into leadership, or wondering whether you're more capable than you're giving yourself credit for — this episode is for you.
- Jun 30, 202634 min
Castles, Moats and Motorhomes: Catherine Bunn on 19 Years of Growing a Business on Her Own Terms
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 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 one of those conversations packed with genuinely useful business thinking — from a real business owner who's figured things out the hard way.We cover:- How Highland Campervans started — and the creative way Catherine funded the first two vans when the bank said no- Growing organically and reinvesting profits rather than over-financing- Building a team from part-time working mums to 22+ staff- Working with her husband — what works, what didn't, and how they made it sustainable- Being a 4am worker and why she flexes her hours around her energy- The burnout turning point — and the simple tool that helped her treat herself like an employee- Work hard, play hard: ultra running, sea kayaking and Munros- The castles, moats and cores business model — and why the customer is the crown jewel- The beachhead strategy for business growth — and why doing everything was holding them back- What's next: a brand new workshop and the next phase of growth- Camper Lux Limited and the Motorhome Depot franchise explained**Quote of the episode:** *"Treat yourself the same way you treat your staff."* — Catherine BunnIf you're a business owner who's been putting everyone else first, growing steadily and wondering when it's your turn to focus — this episode is for you.
- Jun 26, 202640 min
From Office Junior at 17 to MD and Co-Owner: Michelle Quinn on Engineering, Grit and the Management Buyout She Completed Two Weeks After Giving Birth
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 one of the most extraordinary journeys I've heard on this podcast — and Michelle tells it with complete honesty, including the parts that were hard.We cover:- What Almond Engineering does and the range of industries it serves- How Michelle went from office junior to MD without a degree or formal training- The moment at 17 she told the founder she'd be the first female MD — and why they both laughed- What it's like being a young woman in a heavily male-dominated industry — and how she built respect from the ground up- The management buyout she completed less than two weeks after having her first child- How she funded the MBO — and what the process actually looked like- Being a self-described workaholic and what having a family changed- Introducing flexible working into an engineering company — and why it's the best thing they've ever done- Why she'll hoover the office, do deliveries and do whatever it takes — and why that matters- What needs to change to get more women into engineering**Quote of the episode:** *"I'll be the first female MD in this company."* — Michelle Quinn, age 17 (she was right)If you're someone who has been told there's only one path to success — or you're building something in an industry that wasn't built with you in mind — this episode is for you.
- Jun 23, 202632 min
From Home Brew to 6,000 Hectoliters: Fiona MacEachern on Beer, Grit and Building a Business That's Truly Yours
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 with you. Fiona is honest, direct and refreshingly no-nonsense — about what it really takes to build a business from nothing, what happened when she faced cancer treatment while running the company, and why not doing something is always worse than trying and failing.We cover:- How Loch Lomond Brewery started from home brewing and became a brewery, distillery and taproom- Growing from one employee to 15 — and why building trust takes time- Why Fiona gave up a career as a police officer to start the business (and what finally pushed her over the edge)- Working with her husband and the boundaries that have kept the marriage intact for 25 years- Cash flow as the constant challenge — and how crowdfunding raised £250,000 to fund their expansion- Managing the business through cancer treatment — and why coming to work was her support network- What it's like to be a woman in the brewing industry- The natural progression from beer to spirits — and how selling whiskey barrels helped fund the distillery- Her honest, respectful take on BrewDog and what they did for the Scottish brewing industry- What's next for Loch Lomond Brewery and Levenbank Distillery**Quote of the episode:** *"If you do it and fail, that's a good thing. Not doing it is not a good thing — because you've never achieved your full potential."* — Fiona MacEachernIf you're thinking about starting something, scaling something, or just wondering whether all the hard work is worth it — this episode will remind you that it is.
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About 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—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 to change • discover how we can bring about that business revolution Only 1 in 3 UK entrepreneurs are female. UK men are 5 times more likely than women to build a business of over £1 million turnover. If UK women matched UK men in starting and scaling businesses, it would add £250 billion to the UK economy (Alison Rose, The Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurs).
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