Business Class

What if everything you’ve been told about building a successful business is wrong?

In this solo episode of Business Class, Vicky Owens shares her most controversial business opinions and challenges the expectations that can leave entrepreneurs feeling behind, overwhelmed and constantly chasing the next milestone.

From the pressure to wake up at 5am and build a big team to the obsession with hitting six-figure months, Vicky unpacks why success doesn’t have to look the same for everyone and why building a profitable, sustainable business that fits your life can be far more valuable than chasing impressive numbers.

Drawing on her own experience as a business owner, Vicky gets honest about the realities of entrepreneurship, leadership, social media and the pressure to do more, earn more and grow faster.

In this episode, Vicky discusses:

• Why you don’t need to wake up early to be successful in business
• The truth about hiring a team and why bigger doesn’t always mean better
• Why you shouldn’t spend money on a fancy office just for appearances
• Revenue vs profit and why a big turnover doesn’t automatically mean success
• Why every business experiences quiet months and financial ups and downs
• Why being busy isn’t the same as being successful
• Why not every business needs to scale to seven figures
• Why your employees shouldn’t be expected to care about your business as much as you do
• The difference between being a nice boss and being a good leader
• How to approach going viral with a strategy that actually supports your business goals
• Why it’s okay to leave networking events early and protect your energy
• The difference between a personal brand and a personal social media account
• Why you don’t have to love your job every single day
• Why having a nine-to-five job doesn’t make you any less successful than an entrepreneur

Vicky also shares how her definition of success has changed, why she no longer wants to chase growth for growth’s sake, and why building a business alongside a job can sometimes be the smarter move.

Whether you’re a new entrepreneur, a small business owner, a freelancer or someone building a side hustle alongside your day job, this episode is a reminder that there is no single formula for success.

You don’t need to copy someone else’s routine, revenue targets or business model. You need to work out what success looks like for you.

Enjoyed this episode? Follow Business Class and leave a five-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. If you’re watching on YouTube, give the video a thumbs up and subscribe for more honest conversations about business, entrepreneurship and what it really takes to succeed.

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Produced by TAEPodcast www.taepodcast.co.uk

What does it really take to turn a fashion brand into one of the biggest names in UK fashion? And what happens when you acquire a business that needs fixing, rather than building one from scratch?

In this episode of Business Class, Vicky Owens sits down with sisters Holly Beadle and Georgia Streeton, the CEO and CBO behind HERA, to discuss the realities of acquiring, rebuilding and scaling a fashion brand.

After acquiring HERA in October 2021, the sisters stepped into a business with existing customers, stock, suppliers and problems to solve. With just six weeks until Black Friday, they had to learn quickly, rebuild customer trust and create stronger foundations before they could focus on growing the brand.

Holly and Georgia share what it’s really like to run a business with your sister and dad, how their different skills complement each other, and why acquiring a business can be very different from starting one yourself. From learning to manage a team and making difficult decisions to dealing with failure, trusting their instincts and developing the resilience needed to lead, they’re honest about the lessons that only come with experience.

But this episode isn’t just about business growth. The sisters also reveal one of the most shocking experiences they’ve faced as business owners: an arson attack on their offices. They talk about the chaos of that period, the challenges of running a business while raising children, and why success now means building a profitable, sustainable company rather than chasing external recognition.

If you’re an entrepreneur, fashion founder, small business owner or someone thinking about buying an existing business, this episode offers an honest look behind the scenes of building a successful brand.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Holly and Georgia grew up in an entrepreneurial family
• The difference between founding a business and acquiring one
• Why they acquired HERA in 2021 and what they inherited
• Rebuilding customer trust and fixing business foundations
• Learning from mistakes and becoming more resilient as founders
• How to divide responsibilities when working with your sister
• Managing teams, leadership and difficult conversations
• Growing a fashion brand while protecting its identity
• The reality of an arson attack on their offices
• Balancing motherhood, family life and running a business
• Why sustainable profits matter more than external validation
• Their advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: start slowly and trust your gut

Holly and Georgia prove that building a successful business isn’t always about having the perfect idea. Sometimes it’s about being willing to fix what isn’t working, learn as you go and keep showing up when things get difficult.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating, subscribe and share it with another business owner who needs a reminder that the journey behind a successful brand is rarely straightforward.

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Produced by TAEPodcast www.taepodcast.co.uk

In this episode of Business Class, I’m sharing some of the most personal news of my life… I’m pregnant! 

If you’ve ever wondered what really happens behind a pregnancy announcement, this episode is for you. I’m opening up about my journey to becoming a mum, from trying to conceive and experiencing pregnancy loss to finally getting that positive test and navigating a first trimester that was far from what I expected.

I’ve always wanted to be a mum, but getting pregnant wasn’t as straightforward as I imagined. I’m talking honestly about the heartbreak of negative tests, the grief of losing our first pregnancy, and the anxiety that came with finding out I was pregnant again.

I’m also getting into the realities of pregnancy that people don’t always talk about, including debilitating nausea and sickness, food aversions, medical anxiety, pregnancy scans after loss, and the guilt that can come with not enjoying a pregnancy you’ve wanted for so long.

And, of course, there’s the exciting news that we’re having a BOY! 💙

As a business owner, I’m also sharing how pregnancy has affected my work, the pressure of trying to keep everything running while feeling so unwell, and how I’m preparing my business for motherhood. I don’t have all the answers yet, but I’m figuring it out as I go.

This episode is for anyone trying to conceive, navigating pregnancy after loss, currently pregnant, thinking about having children one day, or simply curious about the realities of pregnancy beyond the announcement photos.

My hope is that by being open about the highs, lows and unexpected emotions, we can make conversations around pregnancy feel a little less isolating.

In this episode:

• My journey to becoming a mum and deciding when the time was right
• Trying to conceive and dealing with negative pregnancy tests
• Experiencing pregnancy loss and navigating the heartbreak
• Getting a positive pregnancy test after loss
• First-trimester sickness, nausea and food aversions
• Pregnancy anxiety, scans and fear of childbirth
• Why pregnancy medication made such a difference to me
• Finding out we’re having a baby boy
• How pregnancy has affected my business and work life
• Preparing for motherhood when you’re self-employed
• Why every pregnancy journey is different

This is a very personal episode, and it includes discussion of pregnancy loss, fertility struggles, sickness and medical anxiety. Please take care of yourself while listening if any of these topics feel difficult.

Thank you for all the love and kind messages since sharing my news. 🤍

Welcome aboard to Business Class.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a five-star rating, subscribe and share it with someone who might need to hear it.

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Produced by TAEPodcast www.taepodcast.co.uk

What does it really take to build a global business?

This week on Business Class, Vicky is joined by Colette Laxton, co-founder of The INKEY List, for one of the most honest conversations yet about what happens behind the scenes of building a huge business.

Colette shares how The INKEY List went from an idea between two people to a global skincare brand, launching in 2018 and rapidly expanding into retailers including Sephora, Boots and Cult Beauty.

But this isn't a polished founder success story.

Colette opens up about the realities of scaling incredibly quickly, cash-flow problems, having to raise investment, the pressure of running a business across multiple countries and the decisions that nearly overwhelmed the company.

She also talks candidly about COVID, when The INKEY List had hundreds of thousands of pounds tied up in Sephora stores just as they closed globally and how the company went from fearing it might not survive to tripling its growth during lockdown.

The conversation then gets into the realities of leading a 100+ person team, making difficult decisions about employees, company culture, people-pleasing, being underestimated as a woman in business and learning to trust your own judgement.

Colette also shares her experience of burnout, the pressure of constant growth and how her definition of success has completely changed. Instead of chasing bigger and bigger numbers, she now talks about sustainable growth, balance and actually enjoying the business she has built.

If you're a founder, entrepreneur or business owner who has ever wondered whether everyone else has it more together than you do, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode:
• How The INKEY List was created
• Turning a clear business “why” into a global brand
• Going from idea to launch in just 18 weeks
• The reality of scaling too quickly
• Cash flow and the hidden costs of rapid growth
• What COVID really looked like behind the scenes
• How The INKEY List survived and then grew during lockdown
• Building and managing a 100+ person team
• Leadership mistakes and lessons
• Company culture and understanding what employees actually value
• Being a woman in business and feeling underestimated
• Imposter syndrome and learning to trust yourself
• Burnout and the pressure of constant growth
• Redefining what success means
• Why sustainable growth matters more than endless growth

This episode is kindly sponsored by Omnisend.

Omnisend is an email marketing platform used by Vicky in her own business. If you've outgrown your current email marketing tools but the thought of migrating feels overwhelming, Omnisend handles the migration for you.

Use code VICKY for 30% off your first three months.

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Produced by TAEPodcast www.taepodcast.co.uk

How do you actually get your business back on track when you’ve lost a bit of momentum?

In this episode of Business Class, Vicky is getting brutally honest about how to lock the fuck in for the rest of 2026 and taking you through the exact business reset she’s using to get herself, her team and her business focused again.

From setting SMART goals and auditing your business to reviewing your finances, productivity, sales, ideal customer profile and personal life, this episode is essentially a full end-of-year business audit you can do alongside her.

Vicky shares the questions she asks herself (and her team) to work out what’s going well, what isn’t, what’s been put off and what needs to change, plus plenty of honest admissions about her own productivity, finances, competitors, sales process and business blind spots.

Inside the episode:
• How to set SMART goals for the final three months of the year
• Why you keep putting things off and how to create your own leverage
• How to do a bird’s-eye-view audit of your entire business
• The importance of reviewing your finances, team and offers
• How to create a bank of testimonials and positive customer feedback
• The seven areas of life every business owner should assess
• Productivity tips including time blocking, traffic-light lists and the Circle Method
• How to identify your ideal customer profile (ICP)
• Questions to ask about your offer, competitors, pain points and positioning
• How to review your current sales systems and customer acquisition
• Why your first DM or email can make or break an outreach opportunity
• Using the AIDA framework for better sales and outreach
• How to build a database of people you meet and potential leads
• Why stepping back and auditing your business can reignite motivation

Plus, Vicky talks about recovering from the intensity of preparing for her TED Talk, her recent Forbes 30 Under 30 achievement, the realities of running a growing business, and why sometimes being too comfortable can actually leave you feeling stuck.

This is your sign to stop winging it, grab a notebook and spend a few hours properly looking at where your business is right now and where you want it to go next.

This episode is sponsored by Omnisend. Vicky uses Omnisend for email marketing, and in this episode she talks about making the switch easier by letting Omnisend handle the migration process. 

Use code VICKY for 30% off your first three months.

If you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, freelancer or ambitious professional who needs a reset before the end of the year, this one is for you.

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Produced by TAEPodcast www.taepodcast.co.uk

What happens when ambition, business and everyday stress start taking a toll on your health?

In this episode of Business Class, we’re joined by Zoe Jane Hindle, functional wellness coach, practitioner, speaker and hormone educator, for a honest and practical conversation about burnout, women’s health, hormones, cortisol, fertility, gut health and nervous system regulation.

Zoe shares her own journey from a demanding corporate career and severe burnout to building a business helping women better understand and support their health. We explore why so many ambitious women and business owners feel constantly exhausted, overwhelmed and stuck in survival mode, and what we can realistically do about it.

We chat about:

• The early warning signs of burnout that business owners shouldn’t ignore
• How chronic stress and cortisol can affect the body
• Why you can feel calm mentally but still have a physical stress response
• Nervous system regulation and simple ways to feel more grounded
• Women’s hormones, PMDD, menstrual cycles and fertility
• Why stress can affect energy, periods, gut health and overall wellbeing
• Supplements, minerals, B vitamins and why they aren’t a replacement for the basics
• Ultra-processed food, blood sugar and making healthier choices when you’re busy
• Small, realistic habits that support your health without adding more pressure
• Why successful businesses can still come with overwhelming stress
• Protecting your energy, setting boundaries and avoiding “busy girl syndrome”
• How to stay ambitious without sacrificing your health

This episode is for anyone who feels like they’re constantly running on empty, especially female business owners, founders, entrepreneurs and ambitious women trying to balance work, health and everyday life.

Expect honest conversations, practical advice and plenty of reminders that you don’t have to do everything all at once.

Please note: This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.

Find Zoe @zoejanehindle 

Find Vicky @vickyowens 

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Produced by TAEPodcast www.taepodcast.co.uk

What if the biggest thing holding you back in business isn't your business at all… but your own mind?

In this solo episode of Business Class, Vicky shares some of the biggest lessons she's been learning through therapy and mindset training, from dealing with other people's opinions and the pressure of being perceived, to managing anxiety, people-pleasing and the stories we create in our own heads.

Vicky talks about why your brain isn't always telling you the truth, how to tell the difference between anxiety and your internal alarm system, and why sometimes you have to go through fear rather than around it.

She also explores the idea of becoming your own safe space, separating fact from fiction, understanding your values, and the difference between making decisions for your ego versus making decisions for your soul.

It's a very honest, very Vicky episode packed with the mindset lessons and practical techniques she's been using in her own life and the things she's finding genuinely helpful as a business owner.

If you're a recovering people pleaser, an over thinker, someone who struggles with anxiety, or simply someone who puts far too much pressure on themselves, this one's for you.

Because ultimately, the question isn't "What does everyone else think of me?"

It's "Who am I when nobody else is watching?"

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Produced by TAEPodcast www.taepodcast.co.uk

How do you take a business from an idea to a brand stocked internationally, with thousands of customers and a growing team?

This week on Business Class, Vicky sits down with Suzanne Cooper, founder of Glowwa, for an incredibly honest conversation about what really happens when your business starts to grow.

Suzanne shares the journey behind building her supplement brand, from creating the idea after struggling with her own hair and skin concerns to developing a product, launching the business and scaling it far beyond those early days.

But this episode isn't just about the success.

They talk about the pressure that comes with growth, building and managing a bigger team, stepping outside of your comfort zone, comparing yourself to other people and navigating the parts of business that don't always look as glamorous from the outside.

If you're in the middle of building something, dreaming of scaling or wondering whether success actually makes business easier, this is a refreshingly honest conversation you won't want to miss.

Follow Business Class for more honest conversations with the people behind brilliant businesses. Sharing the ups, the downs and everything in between.

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Produced by TAEPodcast www.taepodcast.co.uk

What does it actually look like to build a business from scratch?

In this solo episode of Business Class, Vicky takes you through the real story of building her business from the very beginning starting in 2021 charging just £100 a month for social media management, to building a team, landing huge clients, going viral, growing her personal brand to 250,000+ followers and becoming a professional speaker.

But this isn't a highlight reel.

Vicky talks honestly about the mistakes, difficult clients, lack of boundaries, hiring and firing, burnout, business growth, money, friendship breakdowns, legal issues and the realities of managing a growing team.

She shares what she learned at each stage of the journey, what she would do differently now, and why success isn't always as straightforward as it looks from the outside.

If you're starting a business, growing a team, freelancing, building a personal brand or simply feeling like you're nowhere near where you "should" be yet, this one's for you.

Because five years can change everything.

🎧 Listen now and follow Business Class for more honest conversations about business, money, ambition and everything in between.

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Produced by TAEPodcast www.taepodcast.co.uk

What does it really take to build a successful career and how do you know when it's time to make a change?

In this episode of Business Class, Vicky is joined by Isobelle Panton, career strategist, speaker, content creator and commercial lead at The Overlap, where she works alongside Gary Neville.

Isobelle has built an incredible career across sales, commercial leadership and business, while also growing an online community of more than 200,000 people through her honest, straight-talking career advice. 

Vicky and Isobelle get into the realities of career progression, leadership, networking, personal branding, goal setting and finding work that actually aligns with your purpose.

They also have a very honest conversation about motherhood, ambition and balancing a successful career with having a life outside of work.

Isabel shares how her early experiences — from working in a shoe shop and even working as a stable hand in exchange for riding lessons — shaped the person and professional she became. She also talks about working incredibly hard early in her career, moving between industries and learning the importance of backing yourself. 

In this episode, Vicky and Isabel discuss:

• Career progression and how to move forward in your career
• Leadership and managing people
• Finding your purpose at work
• The importance of networking and building relationships
• Personal branding and becoming known for what you do
• Goal setting and ambition
• Backing yourself and taking opportunities
• Navigating different industries and career changes
• Motherhood and career ambition
• Work-life balance
• The pressure to constantly achieve
• Lessons from early career mistakes
• Building a personal brand alongside your career
• How to create opportunities for yourself

If you're building your career, considering a career change, stepping into leadership, growing your personal brand or simply questioning what you actually want from work, this is an episode you'll want to listen to.

🎧 Listen to Business Class now.

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Produced by TAEPodcast www.taepodcast.co.uk