Scaling Stories Unfiltered

Nici Jupp

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Scaling Stories Unfiltered, the podcast that gets real about what it takes to scale a business. We’re not here to talk about the unicorns in the headlines or drop names you’ve already heard. Instead, we’re diving deep into the trenches with leaders who’ve been through the scale-up journey to learn from their lived experiences – and avoid their mistakes!

12/22/2025

Periods, Plastic & Purpose: The DAME Story with Celia Pool

In this episode of Scaling Stories Unfiltered, we sit down with Celia Pool, co-founder of DAME, the sustainable period care brand that’s disrupting an industry rooted in stigma, silence, and single-use plastic. From pitching to investors, to facing rejection after rejection from people who “just didn’t get it,” Celia shares what it really takes to bring a purpose-driven product to life and keep going when the mission matters more than the money. This is a raw, honest, and deeply insightful conversation about grit, purpose, and building something that’s bigger than you. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why purpose was the only thing strong enough to carry the business through its toughest momentsHow Celia navigated bias, discomfort, and awkward conversations with investorsThe early days of prototyping and launching a product people didn’t want to talk aboutWhat it took to shift public perception and consumer behaviourWhy building a sustainable business model is as hard as building a sustainable productThe emotional weight of purpose-led work and how she protects her energyWhy trusting your gut and your co-founder matters just as much as market validationThis episode is for anyone building something bold, facing resistance, or wondering if their mission really matters. Celia’s story is proof that when your purpose is bigger than you it gives you the courage to keep showing up. Who is Celia Pool? Celia is the co-founder of DAME, the brand behind the world’s first reusable tampon applicator and a range of award-winning sustainable period products. Featured in TIME, VOGUE, and the BBC, DAME is a certified B Corp and recognised pioneer in tackling period stigma and waste. Celia is a passionate advocate for business as a force for good, sustainability, and the power of female-led leadership. 🔗 Connect with Celia on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/celia-pool 📩 Got a guest suggestion or want to be featured? Email us: hello@scalingstoriesunfiltered.com 🎧 Listen & Subscribe to Scaling Stories Unfiltered: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2p93xe94 Apple: https://tinyurl.com/yp9b4a49 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalingStoriesUnfiltered #ScalingStoriesUnfiltered #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Sustainability #PurposeDrivenBusiness #DAME #FounderStories #FemaleFounders #Bcorp

42 min
12/17/2025

The Quiet Strength Behind a Successful Scale-Up

In this episode of Scaling Stories Unfiltered, we sit down with James Chappell, co-founder of Digital Shadows, a cybersecurity company that grew from an idea between two friends into a business acquired for over £150M. With a calm, methodical approach to growth, James shares the real story behind building a tech company from scratch, navigating leadership through scale, and staying grounded in the face of growing investor pressure. This episode is packed with thoughtful, experience-led insights for anyone scaling in complex, high-stakes environments. What you’ll learn in this episode: • Why James walked away from a big tech job to start Digital Shadows • The early challenges of defining product/market fit in a new category • How trust and complementary skills built a lasting co-founder partnership • What changed when funding arrived and how they stayed focused • The pressure to hire fast and what he’d do differently now • How leadership evolved through growth, from scrappy beginnings to boardrooms • Why empathy, clarity, and communication are the quiet engines of scale This episode is for founders, CTOs, and future leaders navigating the line between technical depth and commercial growth. If you’ve ever wondered how to scale a company without losing your principles or your people, James offers a masterclass in thoughtful leadership. Who is James Chappell? James is the co-founder and former Chief Innovation Officer at Digital Shadows, a threat intelligence company that scaled globally and was acquired for over £150M. With a background in security architecture and cyber research, he now advises and supports early-stage and scaling businesses in cybersecurity and beyond. 🔗 Connect with James on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/james-chappell 📩 Got a guest suggestion or want to be featured? Email us: hello@scalingstoriesunfiltered.com 🎧 Listen & Subscribe to Scaling Stories Unfiltered: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2p93xe94 Apple: https://tinyurl.com/yp9b4a49 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalingStoriesUnfiltered

47 min
11/17/2025

What if joy, community, and belonging could scale a global movement?

In this episode of Scaling Stories Unfiltered, we sit down with Sam Moyo, founder of Morning Gloryville, the pioneering sober rave movement that reshaped how people experience joy, connection, and community. From her childhood in Zimbabwe surrounded by Ubuntu values, to building a worldwide experiential movement across 23 cities, Sam’s story is one of courage, creativity, and heart-led leadership. She shares the unfiltered truth about what it really takes to build something culturally powerful, the lessons learned from scaling, and how burnout, neurodiversity, and self-reflection shaped her next chapter. What you’ll learn in this episode: • How Ubuntu, community, and belonging shaped Sam’s entrepreneurial mindset • The origin story of Morning Gloryville and how it became a global movement • Why joyful, immersive experiences can create deeper change than traditional leadership models • The realities of scaling fast and why knowing when to pause is crucial • How to build teams and cultures that live your values, not just repeat them • What neurodiversity teaches us about creativity, empathy, and leadership • Why regenerative cultures are the future and what that looks like in practice This episode is a powerful reminder that success isn’t just financial, it’s emotional, communal, and deeply human. If you’re a founder, creator, or purpose-driven leader, Sam’s story will challenge you to rethink how you build, how you lead, and what truly matters when scaling something meaningful. Who is Sam Moyo? Sam Moyo is the founder of Morning Gloryville, the sober rave movement that ignited a global shift in conscious clubbing across 23 cities. Celebrated by the BBC, The Guardian, and Forbes, Sam is recognised for designing experiences that help people reconnect with joy, authenticity, and each other. Today, she leads Chapel of Love, helping organisations build regenerative, heart-led cultures through immersive experiences that unlock connection, creativity, and belonging. 🔗 Connect with Sam on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/samanthamoyo 📩 Got a guest suggestion or want to be featured? Email us: hello@scalingstoriesunfiltered.com 🎧 Listen & Subscribe to Scaling Stories Unfiltered: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2p93xe94 Apple: https://tinyurl.com/yp9b4a49 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalingStoriesUnfiltered

56 min
11/03/2025

The Coaching Revolution You Haven’t Heard About

What if the future of leadership development isn’t top-down, but built from the ground up? In this episode of Scaling Stories Unfiltered, we sit down with Elisa Krantz, co-founder & CEO of MindBeat, a coaching and leadership development platform that’s redefining how organisations grow their leaders. From her early entrepreneurial influences to leaving a successful consulting career to build a purpose-led tech business, Elisa’s story is one of courage, conviction, and creating impact through people. She shares the unfiltered truth about what it really takes to scale a values-driven company, the lessons learned from fundraising as a female founder, and how to balance data with instinct when making business decisions. What you’ll learn in this episode: • Why entrepreneurial roots create resilience and risk tolerance • How to turn consultancy experience into a scalable, tech-enabled business • Lessons from fundraising and staying authentic as a female founder • How to plan your team for where you want to be, not just where you are • Why intuition is an underrated asset in decision-making • The mindset needed to scale with purpose and balance This episode is a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t reserved for the top of the org chart, it starts with how you grow, develop, and empower others along the way. If you’re a founder, leader, or entrepreneur scaling with purpose, Elisa's story will inspire you to trust your instincts and build something that lasts. Who is Elisa Krantz Elisa is the co-founder & CEO of MindBeat, a coaching and leadership development platform helping organisations scale culture and leadership capability from the inside out. With a background in management consulting and leadership psychology, Elisa has worked with global organisations to help leaders grow with confidence, clarity, and authenticity. 🔗 Connect with Elisa on LinkedIN - linkedin.com/in/elisa-krantz-21b9943 📩 Got a guest suggestion or want to be featured? Email us: hello@scalingstoriesunfiltered.com 🎧 Listen & Subscribe to Scaling Stories Unfiltered: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2p93xe94 Apple: https://tinyurl.com/yp9b4a49 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalingStoriesUnfiltered

37 min
10/20/2025

Turning a Problem Into Purpose: Ed Heaver’s Scale-Up Journey

What if the best business ideas start with a mistake? In this episode of Scaling Stories Unfiltered, we sit down with Ed Heaver, co-founder of Serve Legal, the UK’s leading age-verification testing company to explore how a costly licensing failure in a pub became the catalyst for building a national compliance powerhouse. From running pubs in London’s East End to scaling a data-driven business working with Tesco, Waitrose and Asda, Ed’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and knowing when to trust others to take the lead. He shares the unfiltered truth about what it really takes to scale a service-based business, why clarity and consistency in hiring matter, and the moment he knew it was time to step back as CEO after nearly two decades at the helm. What you’ll learn in this episode: • How a lost licence sparked the idea behind Serve Legal • Why being customer-obsessed builds trust faster than any marketing campaign • The realities of scaling without external funding • How to motivate and manage a remote workforce of young auditors • Why clarity in hiring and succession planning determines success • What letting go really looks like for a founder • The power of feedback, humility, and keeping things simple This episode is an honest look at how real businesses are built through hard work, clear thinking, and the courage to adapt. If you’re a founder, leader, or entrepreneur navigating growth and transition, Ed’s story will remind you that the best lessons often come from the toughest moments. Who is Ed Heaver? Ed is the co-founder and former CEO of Serve Legal, the UK’s leading provider of age-verification and compliance audits, delivering over 180,000 audits a year for major retailers and hospitality brands. A former publican turned entrepreneur, Ed now serves on the company’s board and continues to mentor scaling founders. 🔗 Connect with Ed on LinkedIN linkedin.com/in/ed-heaver-40435418 📩 Got a guest suggestion or want to be featured? Email us: hello@scalingstoriesunfiltered.com 🎧 Listen & Subscribe to Scaling Stories Unfiltered: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2p93xe94 Apple: https://tinyurl.com/yp9b4a49 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalingStoriesUnfiltered

1h 12m
09/15/2025

The Truth About Leading Through Complexity

What if the best leaders aren’t the loudest but the ones who listen? In this episode of Scaling Stories Unfiltered, we sit down with Monica Collings, a leadership advisor and transformation expert whose career path is anything but linear. From building her own business to leading complex integrations in multi-billion-pound energy firms, Monica has navigated startups, scale-ups, and corporate giants, all while staying true to her belief in people-first leadership. She shares the unfiltered truth about what it really takes to lead through transformation, the power of inclusive teams, and why she believes squiggly careers are the future. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why squiggly careers create the most resilient leadersHow to lead through mergers, integrations, and change without losing your teamWhy inclusion isn’t just a buzzword but a business imperativeWhat it takes to build trust, alignment, and performance in fast-moving environmentsThe small leadership habits that shape culture (and why they matter most)How Monica balances empathy with commercial edge and why that balance worksThis episode is a masterclass in human leadership. If you’re a founder, exec, or future leader navigating complexity, Monica’s story will leave you thinking differently about growth, impact, and how we show up for each other at work. Who is Monica Collins? Monica is a leadership and strategy consultant who’s led large-scale change programmes in FTSE 100 businesses, high-growth energy startups, and everything in between. She's passionate about inclusive leadership, building high-trust teams, and creating cultures that don’t just scale but thrive. Find Monica here: 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicacollings/ 📩 Got a guest suggestion or want to be featured? Email us: hello@scalingstoriesunfiltered.com 🎧 Listen & Subscribe to Scaling Stories Unfiltered: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2p93xe94 Apple: https://tinyurl.com/yp9b4a49 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalingStoriesUnfilteredListener

55 min
09/01/2025

“Why Not Me?” How Redundancy Sparked a Quietly Powerful Business

In this episode of Scaling Stories Unfiltered, we speak to Pete Cowan, founder of Westfield Insurance (now Everywhen under Ardonagh Advisory), about what it really takes to build a business when you didn’t mean to but backed yourself anyway. Pete didn’t set out to be a founder. He was happily employed for 15+ years until redundancy forced his hand. What followed wasn’t a flashy startup story, but one of steady resilience, deep client relationships, and growth only when the business was truly ready. His story is a masterclass in quiet leadership, built on trust, timing, and knowing when not to rush. What you’ll learn in this episode: • Why some of the best founders never planned to be founders • What it means to grow slowly and hire only when you’re ready • How client relationships can be your greatest growth engine • The mindset shift after acquisition—and what stayed the same • Why “Why not me?” can be a powerful place to start • How to lead without ego, even when everything changes From redundancy to acquisition, Pete’s story is full of grounded lessons and practical takeaways for founders who care more about doing it right than doing it fast. Who is Pete Cowan? Pete is the founder of Westfield Insurance, a brokerage built on deep trust, discipline, and long-term client relationships. After scaling the business successfully, it was acquired by Ardonagh Advisory and rebranded as Everywhen. Pete’s thoughtful approach to growth, people, and leadership is a refreshing reminder that impact doesn’t always need noise, it just needs consistency. 📩 Contact us: hello@scalingstoriesunfiltered.com 🎧 Subscribe & listen: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2p93xe94 Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/yp9b4a49 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalingStoriesUnfilteredListener #ScalingStoriesUnfiltered #FounderJourney #LeadershipWithoutEgo #StartSlowGrowStrong #InsuranceFounders #QuietLeadership #ClientRelationships #AcquisitionJourney #ValuesBasedGrowth #ScaleUpWisdom

1 hr
08/12/2025

Not Just a Founder. A Force: Stella Smith on Doing Good at Scale

What if kindness isn’t soft—but your most strategic business advantage? In this episode of Scaling Stories Unfiltered, we speak to Stella Smith, award-winning FinTech founder and CEO of pirkx, a platform making wellbeing benefits affordable and accessible to the workers most often left out. Stella shares the unfiltered story of leaving school at 16, rising quickly through the banking world, and building a business with heart, hustle, and a mission that got under her skin and never left. From sleeping under her desk to holding her ground on pricing, she opens up about the emotional toll, the investor pressure, and what it really takes to scale a values-led business in a male-dominated world. What you’ll learn in this episode: • Why asking the right interview question changes who you hire • How to attract top-tier advisors, even if you’re not “big enough” yet • What happens when you design a business around kindness • Why resilience is built by doing (and asking for help, unapologetically) • What it’s really like to raise capital as a female founder • How to balance mission with commercial pressure and why it’s worth it From pricing decisions to people strategy, Stella’s story is full of bold choices, honest lessons, and practical takeaways for founders building something that actually matters. Who is Stella Smith? Stella is the founder and CEO of pirkx, a wellbeing platform serving freelancers, gig workers, and microbusinesses across the UK, Australia, and the US. A former investment banker, Stella’s leadership has earned recognition from Innovate Finance, the LDC Top 50, and the AccelerateHER Awards. She also serves as a trustee and advisor on human rights and financial inclusion initiatives. Find Stella here: 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/stellasmithpirkx/ 📩 Contact us: hello@scalingstoriesunfiltered.com 🎧 Subscribe & listen: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2p93xe94 Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/yp9b4a49 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalingStoriesUnfilteredListener #ScalingStoriesUnfiltered #FounderJourney #WellbeingAtWork #FemaleFounders #StartupLeadership #HiringForCulture #MissionDriven #ValuesBasedLeadership #ScaleUpInsights

53 min

Scaling Stories Unfiltered, the podcast that gets real about what it takes to scale a business. We’re not here to talk about the unicorns in the headlines or drop names you’ve already heard. Instead, we’re diving deep into the trenches with leaders who’ve been through the scale-up journey to learn from their lived experiences – and avoid their mistakes!

Creator

Nici Jupp
Years Active

2K
Episodes

20
Rating

Explicit
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© 2026 Scaling Stories Unfiltered
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Scaling Stories Unfiltered