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

Brenda Hector
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated weekly

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 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 £1million 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 Entrepreneurship 2018) As a woman in business, a business coach, and a business growth expert, Brenda’s mission is to help business owners grow their companies, achieve their goals and live the lifestyle of their dreams. She's the help you need to grow your business.

  1. 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

    1 day ago

    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 Sneddon Whether 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.

    40 min
  2. The Gutsy Creative Agency: Jen Landels on Brand, Imperfect Action and the Horse Tethered to a Plastic Chair

    5 days ago

    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 Landels If 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.

    40 min
  3. Castles, Moats and Motorhomes: Catherine Bunn on 19 Years of Growing a Business on Her Own Terms

    30 Jun

    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 Bunn If 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.

    34 min
  4. 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

    26 Jun

    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.

    40 min
  5. From Home Brew to 6,000 Hectoliters: Fiona MacEachern on Beer, Grit and Building a Business That's Truly Yours

    23 Jun

    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 MacEachern If 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.

    32 min
  6. 40 Years, Three Generations and a Rugby Cap: Mary Pat McFarlane on Loyalty, Leadership and Saying Yes

    19 Jun

    40 Years, Three Generations and a Rugby Cap: Mary Pat McFarlane on Loyalty, Leadership and Saying Yes

    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 shaping how she leads, prepares and builds teams to this day. This is a conversation full of practical wisdom — about what genuinely great staff retention looks like, why acting decisively in a crisis matters, and why the best networks sometimes come from places you'd never expect. We cover: - What makes VMH Solicitors genuinely special — including a team member who's been there since day one 40 years ago - How over two-thirds of their business comes from repeat clients — including three generations of the same family - What they actually look for when hiring (and why cultural fit matters as much as competence) - Mary Pat's career journey from junior solicitor to director, including stepping back during the 2008 crash - What she's learned about herself as a leader — and why people management was the hardest part - The transferable skills from playing rugby for Scotland: preparation, team dynamics and working toward a common goal with people you wouldn't always choose - How competitiveness can be both a superpower and a challenge in leadership - Where she gets support — and why her biggest network came from rugby, not traditional business circles - Her perspective on being a woman in law: why she's never felt held back, and what that tells us - The advice she'd give her 18-year-old self — and why it all started at the first week of university **Quote of the episode:** *"Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. It's all about the preparation."* — Mary Pat McFarlane Whether you're building a team, leading through a crisis, or wondering whether your personal network is your greatest untapped business asset — this episode has something for you.

    27 min
  7. There's No Right Time: Anne Wright on Starting From Scratch, MTD and Building a Business You Love

    15 Jun

    There's No Right Time: Anne Wright on Starting From Scratch, MTD and Building a Business You Love

    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 trainer, delivering sessions from Northern Ireland to Orkney — a journey that transformed her confidence and proved that an accountant who says yes to opportunities can end up doing far more than pushing spreadsheets. In this conversation, Anne shares honest reflections on the realities of running a finance business alongside her husband, the financial pressures hitting small businesses right now, and the simple advice she'd give to any business owner: just don't give up. We cover: - What FBD Consultancy does and the clients they work with - The real financial challenges facing small businesses right now — including rising costs, employers' national insurance and Making Tax Digital (MTD) explained clearly - The story of how FBD Consultancy started (hint: it wasn't planned) - Why there's no such thing as the right time to start a business - What nearly 20 years of working alongside your husband actually looks like - The biggest obstacle in running any business: getting paid - Why you have to build a team if you ever want your time back - How Anne went from accountant-behind-a-spreadsheet to confident public trainer - The importance of grabbing opportunities even when you're not sure you can do it - What Anne would tell her 18-year-old self — and why it's advice that's still relevant today - What's next for Anne and for FBD Consultancy **Quote of the episode:** *"Just don't give up. Put one foot in front of the other and see it through."* — Anne Wright If you're a small business owner who wants to understand your numbers better, or you're thinking about building a team and taking a step back — this episode is full of grounded, practical wisdom from someone who has lived it.

    30 min
  8. The Ripple Effect: Mindset, Leadership and Scaling with Purpose — with Julie McCann

    12 Jun

    The Ripple Effect: Mindset, Leadership and Scaling with Purpose — with Julie McCann

    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 after years of helping other organisations scale and succeed. Today she leads a team of eight full-time staff and 40 associates, and runs a platform business combining HR technology with bespoke learning and development content. In this conversation, Julie and I talk about what it really takes to build a business that changes people's lives — and why the ripple effect of great leadership is bigger than most of us realise. We cover: - What Masters in Minds does and the types of organisations that need it most - The difference between a training programme and a genuine execution strategy - Why strategy so often fails — and what it actually takes to deliver it - Running a business alongside your husband (and how they got better at the boundaries) - Juggling business and family, including self-funding both pregnancies - Why even a sales and marketing expert struggles to articulate their elevator pitch - Keeping going when the media tells you everything is doom and gloom - Why failure, resilience and the ability to bounce back are non-negotiables for any entrepreneur - The ripple effect of great leadership — and why it matters more than you think - Julie's powerful message on age: don't let it define what you can and can't do **Quote of the episode:** *"You teach best what you most need to learn."* — Julie McCann Whether you're building a team, thinking about leadership, or trying to get your strategy off the page and into action — this conversation is full of practical wisdom and honest reflection.

    34 min
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5
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About

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 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 £1million 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 Entrepreneurship 2018) As a woman in business, a business coach, and a business growth expert, Brenda’s mission is to help business owners grow their companies, achieve their goals and live the lifestyle of their dreams. She's the help you need to grow your business.

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