Inspiring Entrepreneurs

Episódios

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  AI Won’t Steal Your Job, How to stay relevant in a rapidly changing job market 15.05.2026 39min

  This episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs is sponsored by CIMA, the world's leading and largest professional body of Management Accountants. To access job opportunities, career advice, and employability events, or for more information about their globally recognised qualification, sign up to the CIMA newsletter now: https://myfuture.cimaglobal.com/me If you’re a student or early-career professional thinking: “AI is moving faster than I can keep up.” “How do I compete with automation...
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  The Work Experience Gap Isn't Real: how to build credibility and trust from the start of your career 08.05.2026 46min

  This episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs is sponsored by CIMA, the world's leading and largest professional body of Management Accountants. To access job opportunities, career advice, and employability events, or for more information about their globally recognised qualification, sign up to the CIMA newsletter now: https://myfuture.cimaglobal.com/me If you’re ambitious, motivated, ready to work, but feel like everyone else has better internships, better connections, better g...
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  Work That Matters: Building a Career With Purpose 24.03.2026 42min

  What does it really mean to build a career with purpose, and can you do it without sacrificing financial stability? In this episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, we're unpacking how to find work that aligns with your values while still paying the bills. Because pursuing a meaningful career is not about choosing passion over practicality, but about aligning what matters to you with where you can create value, and who you build with along the way. By the end of this conversation, you'll have hear...
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  Your First Job Isn’t Your Final Destination: Navigating Your Early Career 13.03.2026 52min

  Your first job after graduating can feel like it sets the course for your entire future, but what if it doesn’t have to? In this episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, we unpack the pressure surrounding that first career step and why your first role is not a verdict on your future. From navigating unexpected career paths to figuring out whether a job is truly right for you, we explore how early career decisions can be opportunities for growth rather than defining moments. We discuss how t...
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  From Invisible To In Demand 06.03.2026 47min

  How to use LinkedIn to go from passive, forgettable, or invisible to credible, visible, and in-demand. If you have a LinkedIn profile…but haven’t posted anything in months or just can’t figure out how spending time on there is going to help you now or in the longer term, this episode is for you. If LinkedIn feels awkward, fake, intimidating, or like a place you don’t belong yet, you are not alone. But here’s the shift we’re making with this episode: · LinkedIn is not about self-promotion. · I...
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  I Didn’t Know I Could Do That with My Degree – Breaking Assumptions and Building Confidence 14.11.2025 45min

  Your degree isn’t a map - it’s a launchpad! In this episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, we’re challenging one of the biggest myths students still believe, that your degree dictates your destiny. We’re joined by Kayla Megan Burns, a Biomedical Science graduate turned tech founder, writer, and disability advocate, and Dr Marc Reid, chemist, author, and UKRI Future Leaders Fellow. Their stories show how curiosity, creativity, and courage can turn any degree into a foundation for something unexpe...
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  From Side Hustle to Start-Up: Confidence, Momentum and Making It Happen 07.11.2025 35min

  This week on Inspiring Entrepreneurs, we explore why you don’t need to wait for the “perfect moment” to start a side hustle - or anything else! We spoke with Paul Wilson, founder of Consultico, and Darren Stewart from the Strathclyde Inspire Start-Up Team about why confidence isn’t something you gain before you begin, it’s something you build through action. Together, we break down the myth that students need to wait until graduation or have everything figured out before trying s...
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  Rethinking Failure - Confidence, Comparison and Figuring It Out 31.10.2025 30min

  This week on Inspiring Entrepreneurs, we explore why you don’t need all the answers to get started. We spoke with Johnny Lindsey and Dana Schwendtner, chapter leads of Fun Nights Glasgow - a movement where entrepreneurs publicly share their biggest mistakes. Together, we explore what failure really looks like, why confidence is often misunderstood, and how comparing yourself to others can keep you feeling stuck before you’ve even begun. You’ll hear honest insights on: Why you ...
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  What Employers Really Want - Skills and Strategies for Career Success 24.10.2025 51min

  The graduate job market has never been tougher. Fewer openings, longer hiring processes, and rising competition. So what really makes a candidate stand out? In this episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, we spoke with Adam Gordon, Founder of Poetry, and Vickie McArthur, Early Careers Partner at Insights, to uncover what employers truly value in today’s graduates. Together, they unpack the realities of recruitment and share practical advice you can put into action right now. Learn how to craft a ...
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  Inspiring Entrepreneurs Live: Skills for Employability - Mindsets that Make You Stand Out 10.10.2025 40min

  What do employers really look for in graduates, and how can you develop the skills to stand out in a challenging job market? In this live episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, recorded at the University of Strathclyde, our expert panel explores the power of entrepreneurial thinking, employability, and the mindsets that drive success. 🎓 Discover how to: - Build confidence and resilience in your career journey - Showcase collaboration, adaptability, and initiative to employers - Tur...
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  Sir Jim McDonald: Leading with Vision, Power & Purpose 26.06.2025 31min

  In this special episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, we’re joined by Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, as he reflects on 16 transformative years of leadership and his legacy as a champion of innovation and entrepreneurship. A three-time Strathclyde graduate with involvement in the creation of five spinout companies, Sir Jim shares insights from his journey, from engineer to university leader to his new role as Chair of Scottish Enterpri...
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  Turning Innovation into Impact: Dr. Will Drury, CEO of PNDC 22.05.2025 49min

  In this episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, we were delighted to be joined by Dr. Will Drury, CEO of the Power Networks Demonstration Centre (PNDC) and former director at Innovate UK. With a career at the crossroads of engineering, policy, and entrepreneurship, Will shares insights from leading national-scale programmes, driving net-zero innovation, and building partnerships across government, academia, and industry.
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  Entrepreneurship, Sustainability & Social Impact: A Conversation with Alberto Lidji  23.04.2025 35min

  Watch our latest episode featuring global sustainability expert, host of the Do One Better! podcast, and Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde Business School, Alberto Lidji. He shares what drives meaningful change, the role of universities in shaping impact-driven leaders, and how Scotland can support the next generation of entrepreneurial thinkers.
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  Inspiring Entrepreneurs: The Importance of Strong Communication in Building a Successful Spin-Out 08.03.2025 38min

  In this episode, we’re joined by Holly Butler, Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer at Dxcover, a University of Strathclyde spin-out pioneering clinical-stage liquid biopsy technology for the early detection of multiple cancers. Holly shares how effective communication has been a key factor in securing funding, building partnerships, and leading a high-growth spin-out. She also discusses the role of mentorship in navigating the transition from academia to entrepreneurship, along with the ch...
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  Inspiring Entrepreneurs: Gillian Docherty CBE on Leadership, AI, and the Future of Entrepreneurship 29.01.2025 34min

  In this episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, host Katy McNair speaks with Gillian Docherty, Chief Commercial Officer at the University of Strathclyde, who was recently awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours list. They discuss Gillian’s inspiring career journey, her leadership insights, and her perspective on the future of entrepreneurship—particularly in relation to AI, collaboration, and building thriving ecosystems.
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  Inspiring Entrepreneurs Live: Exploring Forward-Thinking Strategies to Empower Female Entrepreneurs 12.12.2024 37min

  For this special live episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, held on Women's Entrepreneurship Day, we were joined by a panel representing a wide range of perspectives and experiences: Bayile Adeoti FRSA, Founder of Dechomai Ltd; Kayla-Megan Burns, Founder of Podplistic; and Ruby Allan, University of Strathclyde student and Inspire Ambassador. Strathclyde Inspire Marketing Manager Katy McNair spoke with the panel about their journeys to discovering their career paths and future vis...
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  Driving Social Change Through Entrepreneurship Part 2 13.11.2024 28min

  In part 2 of this episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, host Katie Woods continued the conversation with Dr. Kate McKenzie, Co-founder, Director, and CEO of Strathclyde’s first social enterprise spin-out, C2LI, and Manish Joshi, Professor of Practice for Social Innovation at the University of Strathclyde and non-executive Director at the Scottish Government. They discuss ESGs, the importance of collaboration, how small changes can make a big impact, employing local talent, and ...
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  Inspiring Entrepreneurs: Driving Social Change Through Entrepreneurship – Part 1 29.10.2024 33min

  In this episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, host Katie Woods spoke with two remarkable change-makers in Scotland's social innovation landscape: Dr. Kate McKenzie, co-founder, Director, and CEO of Strathclyde’s first social enterprise spin-out, C2LI, and Manish Joshi, a Professor of Practice for Social Innovation at the University of Strathclyde and non-executive Director at the Scottish Government. Together, they discuss how purpose-driven entrepreneurs use their ventures to spark social...
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  Paving the way for female entrepreneurs with the Pathways Pledge 25.09.2024 36min

  On this episode of Inspiring Conversations, our host Katie Woods spoke with an extraordinary panel of female leaders: Ana Stewart, tech entrepreneur, investment partner at EOS, and co-author of the Pathways Pledge; Elizabeth Pirrie, CEO of AccelerateHER; Genna Jodie Masterton, founder of Kinoro; and Nasreen Hasan Ashkanani, Inspire supporter and doctoral researcher at the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship. Together, they explored the challenges and opportunities facing female entr...
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  Inspiring Entrepreneurs: Best Bits 27.06.2024 26min

  In this special episode, we review the 'best bits' of season one of Inspiring Entrepreneurs. Thank you to our guests - Daniel Rae, Founder of Hydrogen; Strathclyde lecturers Lucrezia Casulli and Suzanne Mawson; Chloe Carmichael, Founder of Chloe's Deal Club; and Sarah Jardine, CEO of epipole for your inspiring insights!