Season 3 | Episode 2 – Places She Shapes with Zoe Smeeth

Some careers make sense on paper. Tamsin Bennett's makes sense when you hear her tell it.

Tamsin is Senior Technical Manager at Wates Development, one of the UK's largest construction and development companies. She's spent her career in one of the most male-dominated industries going, and the route she took to get where she is today was anything but straightforward. It went through a civil engineering degree, construction sites, a sewer under Oxford Street, and a sales job she didn't love, before she finally landed where she was always meant to be.

When she realised she was on the wrong path, she did something most people only talk about. She walked away from a good salary, started again from the bottom, and backed herself when very few people would have.

There's a moment in this episode where she talks about the man in a pub who changed the entire direction of her life. And another where she opens up about loss, and the one small question that can make all the difference to someone going through it.

Honest, funny, and completely herself, Tamsin is exactly the kind of guest this podcast exists for.

Search 'Places She Shapes' to find us on all your favourite podcast platforms or use the link in bio!

📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube: @PlacesSheShapes

✨ Stay connected, follow us on TikTok: @PlacesSheShapes

What does it take to step into one of the biggest jobs in British broadcasting, with the whole country watching?

Kelly Cates spent nine years honing her craft at Sky Sports News, made a leap into the unknown at 30 with no job to go to, and built a career defined by preparation, self-belief, and knowing when to just say yes. Then came Match of the Day.

In this episode, Kelly talks about the screen test, the senior director who quietly cleared obstacles she didn't even know were there, and the mantra that got her through her first night presenting one of the most iconic programmes on British television. She is honest about what women in broadcasting still face, why confidence matters more than competence, and what emotionally intelligent leadership looks like in practice.

Kelly's episode is the perfect way to open Season 3.

Our second live podcast episode is here.

Recorded at Moore Kingston Smith in collaboration with Oyster’s Leading from the Front, and with the support of JAC Project Management, this special episode brings together an inspiring group of women shaping places, projects, businesses, and communities.

Featuring guest speakers Michelle Lloyd Jones from Ascent Flight Training, Zoe Moss from Cast Group, Ali Wibroe and Annelies Kruidenier from Oyster and Leading from the Front, and Franky Rousell from Jolie, the conversation captures the energy of the room, the questions from the audience, and the connections that carried on long after the microphones were off.

A huge thank you to Anna Matveeva and the team at Moore Kingston Smith for hosting the evening so warmly, and to everyone who joined us live.

Listen now, watch the full episode on YouTube, and stay connected with Places She Shapes on TikTok and Instagram at @PlacesSheShapes.

On 25 February 2026, for the first time, Places She Shapes stepped out from behind the microphone at Abbey Road Studios.

Recorded in front of a live audience of 150, the evening brought together a group of brilliant, lively, curious people who all believe in the power of amplifying inspiring women’s voices.

Today, we are delighted to be able to share that live episode with you.

What made this episode different?

🤝 An introduction to the evening and podcast - by host Zoe Smeeth 🌟An incredibly honest opening speech from Laura Collins outlining her 20-year career 🎤 Powerful conversations with Claire Gott, Michelle (Mitch) Lloyd Jones, Amanda Salt, and Diana Pego on how they are shaping their industries and leadership 💬 Audience questions

Michelle “Mitch” Lloyd Jones knew from the moment her father took her to air shows that she wanted to be a pilot. But when she first applied to the RAF, women had only just been accepted as aircrew - and she was offered a commission as an air traffic controller instead.

She didn’t stop there. Mitch reapplied, was selected to be a fighter pilot, and went on to fly the Tornado F3, deployed to exercises across the globe. After two years on squadron, she found her real passion teaching as a qualified flying instructor. Today, she trains generations of fast jet pilots and works with Ascent Flight Training on the Texan aircraft as part of the UK’s military flying training system.

In this episode, Mitch shares the sliding door moments, the challenges she overcame as one of the first female fighter pilot instructors in the UK, and what it really takes to step into the cockpit when the odds are against you. Her story is unforgettable.

🎧 Now streaming on all podcast platforms - don’t miss it: https://pod.link/1812292057

You can now watch full Season 2 episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PlacessheShapes

✨ Stay connected - follow us on TikTok and Instagram: Places She Shapes

What does it take to leave everything behind, start over in a new country, and still chase your dream? Una Barac grew up in the former Yugoslavia before moving to the UK in the 1990s. She began her career at Foster and Partners, working on landmark projects across London, New York, and Sydney. But despite her training as an architect, Una realised her real passion was interior design - creating spaces that are not just iconic, but functional and human. One gut decision sparked by a single email became her sliding door moment, setting her on the path to founding Atellior, her international design studio. Today, with offices in London and Croatia, Una and her team specialise in luxury, hospitality, and residential projects, shaping everything from historic restorations to contemporary new builds.

In this episode, Una reflects on resilience, instinct, and the importance of understanding both the client and the end user when designing spaces that truly inspire. Her story is proof that sometimes the boldest designs begin with the boldest decisions. 🎧 Now streaming on all podcast platforms - don’t miss it: https://pod.link/1812292057 You can now watch full Season 2 episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PlacessheShapes

✨ Stay connected - follow us on TikTok and Instagram: Places She Shapes

Sometimes one decision changes everything.

For Claire, it was saying yes to a school trip to Tanzania. Growing up shy but competitive, she found her spark on the netball court, and that trip opened her eyes to a career where she could make a real difference.

That single “yes” set her on a path from co-founding a charity in Cameroon, which, 15 years later, continues to deliver schools, medical centres, and clean water - to being awarded an MBE by the then Prince Charles. Today, she’s the UK Head of Structures at WSP, leading hundreds of engineers on some of the country’s most complex projects.

In this episode, Claire reflects on the sliding door moments, the setbacks that became turning points, and what it really takes to lead with ambition, resilience, and purpose. Her story proves just how much one person can shape the world around them.

How do you keep rising when every step forward comes with another challenge?

Trish Watson built a business, lost it in the crash, and built again. Today, she’s Managing Director of Thirdway Interiors, leading teams that design some of London’s most dynamic workplaces - but the road here has been anything but straightforward.

In this episode, we talk about the sliding door moments, the battles she’s fought, and the resilience it takes to carve out your own place in an industry that doesn’t always welcome you. Trish’s story proves that sometimes the only way forward is the one you create yourself.

🎧 Now streaming on all podcast platforms - don’t miss it: https://pod.link/1812292057

You can now watch full Season 2 episodes on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@PlacessheShapes

✨ Stay connected - follow us on TikTok and Instagram: Places She Shapes

What happens when your comedy is so sharp that politicians start to wonder if you might actually be one of them?

Rosie Holt trained as an actor, waited tables between auditions, and hustled her way through fringe theatre before finding her voice on the stand-up stage. She’s been heckled, ignored, and underestimated - but she refused to give up.

In this episode, we talk about the journey that shaped her comedy, the moments that demanded resilience, and the fearless way she challenges the world with wit and insight. Rosie’s story is a reminder that persistence, talent, and a little audacity can turn every “no” into a stage for success.

What happens when you walk into business with no plan, no safety net, and everything to lose? Zoe Moss grew up with a work ethic forged through paper rounds and café shifts, and stumbled into construction almost by accident. She built a 20-year career defined by grit, big opinions, and a refusal to play small. The biggest leap came when she co-founded Cast Interiors, the first majority female-owned fitout contractor, growing it in just five years into one of the industry’s most disruptive firms. In this episode, we talk about risk, resilience, and what it really takes to shape a business, and a culture, that refuses to apologize for ambition. Zoe’s story proves that sometimes the boldest growth comes from walking away with nothing.