For me, the most important quality of a scale-up leader is knowing when to take calculated risks. It’s about having a clear vision of where you want to go, staying flexible about how to get there, and leaning on a strong network when you don’t have all the answers.
How have you grown and developed as a scaleup leader?
I’ve grown as a scale-up leader by embracing a growth mindset, learning from my mistakes, and continuing to move forward even when things feel uncomfortable. I’ve learned the value of truly listening to others and recognising when it’s my moment to step up and lead decisively.
I inspire and empower my team by leading with energy and passion, bringing people with me on the journey. But I’ve learnt that to achieve sustainable success you need to have clear processes and structure in place, so everyone understands their role and can grow and perform collectively. When you get this right it takes away a lot of the pressure.
The best business advice I’ve received is to do more of what’s already working and stop getting distracted.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that leadership is very different from being an employee, and you don’t have to be brilliant at everything. I launched my business at 45, and scaling quickly brought real pressure and self-doubt. Accepting my weaknesses and building the right team has made all the difference.
That’s a difficult question because I’m fortunate to know so many inspiring scale-up leaders. I really admire The Fun Experts, led by Sunny Sandwell and James Sandwell; Brysdales, led by Elizabeth Porter; Energy Ace with Eileen Vizzard; and The Wellbeing Farm, founded by Celia Gaze.
They’re all forward-thinking, innovative, and deeply knowledgeable about their industries. I admire how they stay close to what’s happening in their markets while continually evolving and finding new ways to grow.
Pipeline, cashflow and delivery.
I want to create a legacy of healthier, more sustainable businesses by helping people take self-care seriously. When leaders and teams look after themselves properly, performance improves and businesses become stronger, steadier, and better places to work.
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