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

Brenda Hector
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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. From Campus to Community – Internships, Networking and Volunteering with Gayle Thomson

    1D AGO

    From Campus to Community – Internships, Networking and Volunteering with Gayle Thomson

    In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Gayle Thomson, Employer Engagement Advisor in the Careers and Employability Service at the University of Aberdeen. Gayle works at the heart of the university’s strategy to expand work-based learning, connecting employers with students through internships, part-time roles, volunteering, mentoring and short-term shadowing opportunities. Gayle explains why real-world experience is so important for students’ employability and confidence – and why it’s a genuine win–win for businesses too. She breaks down the university’s part-time, term-time internship programme: 70 hours over seven weeks, fully funded for SMEs and charities, with all the recruitment admin handled by the university. We talk about the impact on small businesses, using Brenda’s own podcast intern as a live example. We also dive into Gayle’s 25-year career journey in careers and employability – from community careers work and 22 years as a careers adviser at RGU, to a full pivot into employer engagement at the University of Aberdeen. She shares how she went from walking round Granite Expo without speaking to anyone, to becoming a confident networker who now happily works a room and sees value in every conversation. Another big theme in this episode is volunteering. Gayle talks about her long-standing commitment to charities including Befriend a Child, Team Jak, Marie Curie, Maggie’s, Clan, Charlie House and the transformational experience of helping deliver the Tall Ships event in Aberdeen. She shares how volunteering supported her through personal change, why it’s so rewarding, and how business owners and busy professionals can still find realistic ways to get involved. Gayle Thomson If you’re a business owner curious about hosting an intern, looking to deepen your talent pipeline, or wondering how to build volunteering into your life and business, this conversation is full of uplifting, practical insight. In this episode, we cover:What an Employer Engagement Advisor actually does and how Gayle works with employers to create opportunities for studentsThe university’s push for more work-based learning: internships, volunteering, part-time jobs, mentoring and shadowingHow the part-time, term-time internship scheme works: 70 hours, 10 hours a week, fully funded and admin-light for employersWhy these internships are especially valuable for SMEs, charities and creative or cultural organisationsThe “win–win” stories: students gaining experience and confidence while employers get real projects delivered and often retain interns afterwardsGayle’s 25-year careers journey across Step Ahead/Skills Development Scotland, the University of Aberdeen, RGU and back to Aberdeen in a new roleHow she transformed her relationship with networking – from wanting to leave an event to confidently talking to every stand in the roomThe power of LinkedIn and long-term relationships between universities, students and employersGayle’s volunteering story: from Sunday school and Brownies to Befriend a Child, cancer...

    35 min
  2. From Power Washers to People Power – Family Business, Resilience and Confidence with Liz Carnie of PWS

    5D AGO

    From Power Washers to People Power – Family Business, Resilience and Confidence with Liz Carnie of PWS

    In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Liz Carnie, director of PWS(formerly Power Washer Services), a second-generation family business started by her dad over 40 years ago. From one man and a van to a team of 28 covering all of Scotland, PWS now supplies and services power washers, compressors, generators, heaters and more – with a reputation built on backup service, not just sales. Liz shares how she went from RAF police and policing in England to “helping dad out for a bit” in 1990, only to discover a whole new world of business, sales and spreadsheets she never imagined herself in. She talks about learning on the job before computers and mobiles, growing the engineer team, and why they chose to service competitors’ machines as a growth strategy. We dive into the realities of running and scaling a family business. Liz works alongside her brother Jim, his three children and now her own son – and she is candid about disagreements, boundaries and succession planning. She explains how they recruit engineers for attitude and problem-solving skills, often from agricultural backgrounds, and why cross-training staff has become essential. Liz also opens up about the most difficult chapter of her life: her partner Colin’s cancer diagnosis, his role in the business, working from home during COVID and eventually losing him. She shares how being forced to step back showed her that the business could run without her – and why building a company that doesn’t rely on one person is so important. Along the way we talk confidence, difficult conversations, “eating the frog”, lists, and how networking through BNI helped her find her voice, ask for help and realise she wasn’t alone in business. Her message to women thinking about starting or scaling is simple and powerful: go for it, and don’t be afraid to ask for support. In this episode, we cover:The story of PWS: from her dad’s redundancy from farming to spotting a niche in power washersHow the business grew from two people to 28 staff, serving customers across ScotlandAdding compressors, generators, heaters and more by listening to existing customers’ needsChoosing to repair competitors’ machines and why service has been their long-term differentiatorLiz’s journey from RAF police and policing to sales, office management and business leadershipLearning accounts, systems and HR on the job – and later investing in courses and self-developmentRecruiting engineers for practical skills, attitude and hobbies, not just formal qualificationsThe reality of managing people: treating everyone differently, playing to strengths and getting the best out of the teamRunning a multi-generational family business with her brother, nieces, nephews and sonHanding over responsibility, succession planning and involving the next generation in management and numbersNavigating her partner Colin’s cancer diagnosis and death, and how the team stepped up in her absencespan class="ql-ui"...

    30 min
  3. Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Healthy Business – HR, Menopause and Holding Space with Kim Woolner

    JAN 9

    Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Healthy Business – HR, Menopause and Holding Space with Kim Woolner

    In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, Dr Brtenda Hector is joined by Kim Woolner, an independent HR consultant, founder of Holding Space, certified menopause coach and part-time team member at the Russell Anderson Foundation in Aberdeen. With more than 25 years in HR across energy, construction and other male-dominated industries, Kim brings a powerful mix of professional expertise and lived experience to the conversation. Kim talks about juggling multiple roles – HR consultancy, wellbeing work, a charitable foundation, board positions and professional bodies – while navigating menopause and protecting her own energy. She shares why her motto is “healthy body, healthy mind, healthy business,” and how women so often drop self-care first when life and work get busy. We dig into confidence, intuition and authenticity at work: from masking in tough cultures to learning to trust your own voice, even when it shakes. Kim explains how women can stand in their own way, talk themselves out of opportunities and wait for permission, while men will apply for roles when they only meet a couple of the criteria. She offers practical ideas for owning your worth, building a trusted circle and using your network well. With her HR hat on, Kim shares honest insight into menopause in the workplace – what it really costs businesses when experienced women leave, and how leaders and line managers can respond better. From flexible working and simple physical adjustments to normalising conversations about feelings and energy, she shows how small, thoughtful changes can transform retention, performance and culture. We also explore Kim’s entrepreneurial journey with Holding Space: combining Bach flower remedies, essential oils, emotional wellbeing, meditation and mindfulness. She talks about learning not to over-give, setting boundaries, charging properly and recognising that “failure” is usually just information that shapes your next step. In this episode, we cover:Kim’s 25+ year career in HR and why she moved into independent consultancyHow she juggles HR work, Holding Space, the Russell Anderson Foundation, board roles and professional commitmentsWhy “healthy body, healthy mind, healthy business” underpins everything she doesThe internal stories women tell themselves, and how they can block confidence and progressWorking in male-dominated industries and the pressure to wear a “mask” at workIntuition as a business asset – learning to listen to your gut before hindsight kicks inThe gender difference in applying for jobs and opportunities, and what women can learn from itMenopause in the workplace: symptoms, stigma, loss of confidence and the real cost to organisationsPractical ways businesses can support menopausal employees: awareness, flexible working, line manager training, small environmental changes and real policy in actionEmotional culture at work – why feelings drive behaviour, actions and ultimately business resultsThe role of...

    37 min
  4. The High-Performing Virus: Paula Paterson on Transforming Culture from Within

    JAN 5

    The High-Performing Virus: Paula Paterson on Transforming Culture from Within

    In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Paula Paterson, Founder and Solutions Director at FidesOak, a consultancy specialising in organisational cultural transformation in high-hazard industries. Paula explains how FidesOak helps leaders build high-performing teams that act like a “high-performing virus” inside an organisation – spreading better habits, psychological safety and performance from the inside out. Paula Paterson Edited We talk about measuring culture rather than guessing, why diagnostics matter more than scattergun initiatives, and how FidesOak’s habits framework turns good intentions into repeatable, sustainable behaviour. Paula shares the idea of cultural architects vs cultural assassins, the science behind the “3.5% tipping point” for big shifts, and why cultural change usually takes three to five years – even when leaders are impatient for quick fixes. Paula Paterson Edited Paula also opens up about her own “chequered” career journey: from office junior and beauty therapist, to mature social sciences student, to learning and development specialist, to co-founding a company three months before the first lockdown. She talks about driving the length of the country during COVID, going underground in mines and offshore to really understand clients’ worlds, and what she’s learned about courage, self-belief and “feeling the fear and doing it anyway” as a woman leading in male-dominated, high-hazard environments. Paula Paterson Edited In this episode, we cover: What FidesOak actually does and why cultural change starts with high-performing teams, not slogansThe “high-performing virus” metaphor – and how to spread positive habits through an organisationCultural architects vs cultural assassins, and how to empower the right 3.5% of your peopleWhy cultural change takes years, not months, and how to show progress with real measurementFidesOak’s habits framework and the difference between a behaviour you try once and a habit that sticksPaula’s journey from beauty therapy to social sciences, L&D and high-hazard industriesFounding a company on the eve of a global pandemic – and what resilience really looked like in practiceHer advice to women in leadership: lean into your eminence, mine your past successes, and be a “diva” in the best possible way

    40 min
  5. Be the Master of Your Own Destiny – Career Pivots, Investment & Confidence with Fiona Duguid

    12/15/2025

    Be the Master of Your Own Destiny – Career Pivots, Investment & Confidence with Fiona Duguid

    In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Fiona Duguid, co-founder of Indigo Seven Ventures, Chief Information Officer at Aurora Energy Services, and the portfolio lead for Expo Design – a business creating sustainable exhibition and display solutions using engineered fibreboard made from recycled cardboard. Fiona describes how Indigo Seven Ventures invests with a focus on sustainability and “doing good in the world,” while she splits her time between fast-growth energy services and a greener alternative to traditional MDF exhibition builds.  Fiona’s career path is anything but linear. She started in medicine, switched to mechanical engineering at the University of Cape Town, worked in the nuclear industry, then pivoted into software development and technical sales in London – eventually becoming a senior account manager at Halliburton, working across Latin America, Europe and Houston before making Aberdeen home. Through each change she’s been one of very few women in the room, learning how to negotiate pay, hold her own in male-dominated spaces and back herself.  We dive deep into the gender pay gap, why women often wait to be “noticed” while men actively negotiate, and how language, body language and “knee-capping” ourselves with constant apologies holds us back. Fiona shares why coaching, mentors and honest feedback are so powerful for women – and why we have to stop assuming good work will automatically be rewarded.  From an investor’s perspective, she explains what Indigo Seven Ventures looks for in opportunities: values-aligned people, authenticity, realistic plans and a clear understanding that things will take longer and cost more than you think. We also talk about the funding gap for women-led businesses, how to aim higher when you’re raising money, and why asking for help on LinkedIn or in your network is often the most underused strategy.  Above all, this is a conversation about self-belief. Fiona is candid about underestimating herself early on, and the mindset shift that came when she realised she was “so much more able” than she’d ever given herself credit for. Her message to younger women – and to all of us – is clear: trust yourself, reach higher, and be the master of your own destiny.  In this episode, we cover:What Indigo Seven Ventures does and how Fiona and her husband involve their (adult) children in learning about investmentFiona’s portfolio roles: CIO at Aurora Energy Services and leading Expo Design, using recycled cardboard honeycomb board for sustainable exhibitions and activationsA non-linear career journey: medicine to mechanical engineering, nuclear industry, software development, technical sales and global account managementBeing “the only woman in the room” in engineering, tech and energy – and the reality of the gender pay gapWhy women often stay too long in roles, expecting good work to be recognised, while men tend to move and negotiate for higher salariesThe concept of “knee-capping” ourselves in emails and meetings with apologetic language – and how Fiona now edits her words to show she belongs at the tableHow coaching, mentors and good courses can transform women’s confidence around money, negotiating and career progressionWhat early-stage businesses often underestimate: the sheer number of hats you wear and the importance of knowing your strengths and weaknessesAdvice for women seeking...

    34 min
  6. From Graduate Surveyor to Board Director – Commercial Property & Confidence with Iona Foubister

    12/12/2025

    From Graduate Surveyor to Board Director – Commercial Property & Confidence with Iona Foubister

    In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneurs Show, I’m joined by Iona Foubister, Director and Building Surveyor at FG Burnett, a long-established firm of chartered surveyors and commercial property consultants based in Aberdeen. Iona lifts the lid on what FG Burnett actually does – from those “For Sale” and “To Let” boards you see around town, to building surveys, schedules of condition, property management, valuations and rating advice.  If you’ve never leased or bought commercial space before, this conversation is a must-listen. Iona explains why taking professional advice before you sign a lease or purchase agreement can save you tens of thousands of pounds later, and why a schedule of condition is so important for protecting your business at the end of a lease. She also talks honestly about being a woman in a traditionally male-dominated profession, her route from graduate to board director, and the realities of running a small professional services firm in a changing Aberdeen market.  We also dig into wider industry challenges – from the impact of the oil crash and COVID on office space, to a looming shortage of building surveyors as university courses close and firms pivot to graduate apprenticeships. Through it all, Iona comes back to two big themes: enjoying your work and believing in yourself as your experience grows.  In this episode, we cover:What FG Burnett actually does: building consultancy, sales and lettings, property management, valuation and rating – and how these departments work together for clients The big differences between buying/leasing a home and taking on commercial property – and why there’s no “home report” safety net in the commercial worldWhy business owners should always take surveyor advice before leasing or buying, and how a schedule of condition can drastically limit your dilapidations bill at lease end The hidden risk of letting the landlord’s team have professional advice while you try to negotiate on your ownIona’s career journey: RGU building surveying degree, APC, becoming chartered, then progressing through senior surveyor and associate to Director and board member in around 10 years What changes (and what doesn’t) when you join the board – from 5-hour board meetings to being a voice for employees while still being “one of the team” at lunchtimeThe reality of working in a small firm competing with global consultancies – doing your own BD, networking, articles and social media alongside client work How Aberdeen’s oil downturn and COVID have reshaped the office market: remote working, empty buildings, refurbishments and even demolitionsThe challenge of educating landlords that the old days of “do nothing and they’ll still take it” are over – investment and upgrades are now essential to attract tenants A looming skills shortage: RGU closing its building surveying course, the shift to graduate apprenticeships, and what that means for salaries, recruitment and training time in small firms Being a woman in building surveying: expectations vs reality, why she hasn’t personally experienced major barriers, and the importance of visibility for future female surveyorsThe mindset shift from needing constant reassurance to trusting your own professional judgement as your experience grows About Iona FoubisterIona Foubister is a Director and Building Surveyor at FG Burnett, an Aberdeen-based firm of chartered surveyors

    41 min
  7. Rethink Accountancy: Building a Remote, Paperless Firm with Alana Innes

    12/08/2025

    Rethink Accountancy: Building a Remote, Paperless Firm with Alana Innes

    On this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Alana Innes, founder of Rethink Accountancy – a fully digital, remote-first accountancy practice that was paperless and cloud-based long before it became the norm. After 20 years in traditional firms and being told she had to be in the office, Alana walked away from corporate life to design a business that fits the way she wants to live and work.  What started as “just enough for travel beer tokens” has grown into a team of around 18, supporting SMEs and e-commerce brands all over the UK with bookkeeping, accounts, payroll, tax and plain-English advice. Alana shares honestly about rapid growth during the pandemic, losing clients when side-hustles closed, closing over 200 companies in two years, and how she’s reset the business so it can scale sustainably again.  We talk about what it really takes to build a values-driven, remote team, why she refuses shoeboxes of receipts, and how her mum’s quiet support behind the scenes made it possible for her to go all-in on her business. If you’re a woman who wants more flexibility, freedom and balance – without sacrificing ambition – this conversation will give you a big dose of reassurance and practical insight.  In this episode, we cover: How 20 years in traditional accountancy led Alana to create Rethink AccountancyStarting a remote, paperless, cloud-based firm before the pandemic made it trendySupporting SMEs and online/e-commerce businesses with full back-office finance supportWhy Rethink won’t accept boxes of receipts – and what “digital first” really looks like in practiceMaking tax understandable: unlimited email questions and ditching the jargonThe impact of COVID: rapid client growth, then the reality of side-hustles closingClosing 200+ businesses in 24 months – and what that taught her about failure and resilienceMajor legislation changes like Making Tax Digital and what they mean for sole tradersBuilding an 18-strong hybrid team and creating a culture of openness and flexibilityBeing more selective about clients and pricing as the business maturesWhy mindset and work–life balance matter more to her than corporate statusHer advice to women who want to start or scale a business but are scared to take the leap  About Alana Innes Alana Innes is the founder of Rethink Accountancy, a remote, cloud-based firm specialising in SMEs and online/e-commerce businesses across the UK. After two decades in traditional accountancy, she launched Rethink nearly eight years ago to create a more flexible, digital-first way of working – for herself, her team and her clients. Today, Rethink provides full finance support from bookkeeping and accounts to personal tax, payroll and advisory, all delivered in plain English and with a strong focus on culture, balance and client relationships

    31 min
  8. From Expat to Expert: Mary Smith on 30 Years of Relocation Scotland

    12/05/2025

    From Expat to Expert: Mary Smith on 30 Years of Relocation Scotland

    In this episode of Scale Her Up, Brenda Hector sits down with Mary Smith, founder of Relocation Scotland, who has spent 30 years helping individuals and families relocate to Scotland and call it home. From housing and schools to bank accounts and culture shock, Mary and her team support people through every step of a global move.  Mary shares how her own experiences living abroad in Zambia, South Africa, Australia and Singapore led her to spot a gap in support for expats and ultimately build a relocation business in Aberdeen. She explains the difference between working for landlords versus tenants, why trust and honesty are crucial in relocation, and how going the extra mile creates lifelong relationships (and holiday invitations all over the world). Mary also opens up about the realities of running a small business in a volatile energy-driven economy, growing a team from just herself to 12 and back to four, and the challenges of recruiting, managing and sometimes letting people go. She talks about the importance of having the right contracts, HR support and external advice when you are building a team for the first time. We also explore the emotional side of entrepreneurship. Mary reflects on losing her mum at 11, growing up quickly, working in her dad’s grocery, delicatessen and wine business, and how his “three options” advice helped her take the leap into business. She shares the message she’d give to her 18-year-old self about confidence, speaking up and not letting self-doubt quietly eat away at you. If you’ve ever considered working internationally, starting a service-based business, or you just want a real and honest look behind the scenes of global mobility, this conversation will give you both practical insights and a powerful reminder to back yourself. In this episode, we cover: How Relocation Scotland supports tenants from first conversation to fully settledWhat really happens behind the scenes of a corporate relocationThe power of empathy, trust and honest communication with clientsRiding the peaks and troughs of Aberdeen’s energy-driven economyGrowing and managing a team in a small, niche industryThe influence of Mary’s entrepreneurial father and early work experienceConfidence, imposter feelings and the importance of having the right networkMary’s dad’s three options for any big decision – and how they still guide her today And as always, Brenda closes by reminding us of the huge untapped potential of female-led businesses: when women start and scale companies to the same extent as men, we can add billions to the UK economy and create millions of jobs.

    28 min
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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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