Risking it All

In this episode of Risking It All, we’re joined by Corrinne Gardiner, founder and director of Sixty Steps Productions, the creative force behind some of the UK’s most memorable live events and now the Scottish Podcast Awards. With a career spanning over 25 years in events, Corrinne shares what it really takes to build impact, resilience and community in business.

Corrinne opens up about:

•⁠ ⁠🌍 Her entrepreneurial journey from live event production and coordinating the queens grand opening of the Glasgow Science Centre to launching the very first Scottish podcast awards platform

•⁠ ⁠🎤 The lessons and risks behind growing Sixty Steps Productions and championing Scottish podcasters

•⁠ ⁠💥 Leaving high end events managment in London behind and moving back home to start her own business

•⁠ ⁠🚀 How she is now focusing on getting recognition for scottish podcasters through the scottish pdocast awards which is launching this year

Whether you’re a creator, founder, marketer or leader, this episode offers real insight into risk, resilience and opportunity in modern business.

👉 Tune in for a story of passion, strategy and celebration and learn how Corrinne is helping shape the future of Scottish podcasting and events.

Risking It All: Colin Frame on Building Stellar Omada and Leading with Purpose

In this episode of Risking It All, we speak with Colin Frame, founder and Managing Director of Stellar Omada, one of the UK’s fastest growing technology consultancies 💼

Under Colin’s leadership, the business has grown from a small startup into a recognised force in programme delivery and digital transformation, earning him Entrepreneur of the Year at the British Business Awards 2025 🏆

Colin shares his honest entrepreneurial journey, from humble beginnings and early setbacks to scaling a thriving tech company with major clients and a clear long term vision.

In this episode, you will hear:

🚀 How Colin shifted from playing it safe to embracing calculated risk

📈 The key decisions that accelerated Stellar’s growth

💡 Lessons learned from failure, pressure and resilience

🌍 Why purpose driven leadership creates sustainable success

Whether you are building a startup, leading a team or scaling a consultancy, this conversation delivers real insight into the mindset and strategy behind meaningful business growth.

Tune in to hear how Colin Frame turned risk into opportunity and built a company with impact.

In this episode of Risking It All, we feature Kevin Brown and Michael Larkin, the founders and directors of Solar Specialists Scotland, a Scotland‑based solar installation and renewable energy business providing solar panels, battery storage, and energy‑efficient solutions across the UK.

Kevin and Michael share their entrepreneurial journey, the risks they’ve taken to grow their business, and the key decisions that helped them navigate challenges in the renewable energy market. You’ll hear:

🌞 Why they chose to focus on solar energy and sustainable solutions

📉 The early struggles and strategic choices that shaped their company

🔧 How they balance quality, efficiency, and customer trust in a competitive industry

🚀 What’s next for them and their vision for the future of renewable energy

Whether you’re starting your first business, scaling a service company, or interested in clean energy entrepreneurship, this episode delivers real insight from two founders making an impact in Scotland’s renewable landscape.

👉 Tune in now for honest leadership lessons, smart strategy, and the mindset behind risking it all to build a sustainable business.

In this special episode of Risking It All, Jolly Media Marketing directors Barry Jolly, Brian McGill, and John Conway take the lead, as they unpack the pivotal experiences of the past year and the bold strategies driving them into 2026.

From navigating personal and professional highs and lows, to pivoting their agency’s focus in the renewables and lead generation space, this conversation is rich with insight and inspiration for business owners, marketers, and ambitious founders alike.

🎙 In this episode, we talk about:

🔹 The challenges and realisations that reshaped their leadership and business strategy

📈 Lessons learned from evolving JMM’s services and market positioning

💡 How resilience and innovation are fueling their 2026 vision

🚀 Actionable insights for entrepreneurs navigating change and scaling with confidence

Whether you’re building a company, leading a team, or simply passionate about growth and leadership, this episode offers raw reflections and strategic perspectives straight from agency directors who are risking it all to make an impact.

👉 Tune in now for an honest, forward-thinking conversation with Barry, Brian, and John.

Risking It All with Stuart Davie: Scotland’s Renewable Energy Trailblazer -

In this episode of Risking It All, we sit down with Stuart Davie, the driving force behind Solar Dynamix UK, a Scottish-based renewable energy and efficiency solutions business, helping homeowners and communities save energy and reduce costs.

Stuart takes us through:

🔋 His vision for sustainable energy and what inspired him to build a people-focused business

☀️ The challenges and risks of growing a renewable energy company in today’s market

📉 Key business lessons on team leadership, customer trust, and scaling responsibly

📈 Practical insights for entrepreneurs and leaders looking to turn mission into momentum

Whether you’re passionate about purpose-driven business or navigating your own growth journey, Stuart offers honest lessons on risk, strategy, and making an impact.

👉 Tune in to discover how one Scottish entrepreneur is powering change: one roof at a time.

From Sales Struggles to Strategic Growth: Peter Barclay, Sales Geek Scotland, Helping change the perception of sales..

In this week’s episode of Risking It All, we sit down with seasoned business leader Peter Barclay, a sales strategist and fractional sales director with over 30+ years of experience helping businesses grow from the inside out

Peter shares the real-world lessons that shape his journey from his early days in sales, to helping both family-run firms and global PLCs scale their operations and now, helping SME's all across Scotland to improve sales output using effective sales leadership & training, You’ll hear:

🔍 What it really takes to build a high-performing sales engine

📈 How to turn sales challenges into strategic business wins

💡 The mindset shifts that separate passive leaders from growth drivers

🎯 Actionable insights you can apply today to boost your revenue and team performance

Whether you’re a founder, sales leader, or entrepreneur looking to scale smarter, this conversation unlocks the practical playbook for sales-led growth.

👉 Don’t miss Peter’s stories of risk, resilience, and results and how embracing strategic sales leadership can transform your business.

On this episode of Risking It All, we’re joined by Mike Lally, Founder and Managing Director of Freedom Boat Club - Loch Lomond, a company transforming how people experience boating.

Mike has spent his career building and scaling service-based businesses, blending operational expertise with a passion for innovation. At Freedom Boat Club, he has pioneered a membership-based model that makes boating accessible, convenient, and community-driven, challenging the traditional boat ownership model.

In this episode, we explore:

✅ Mike’s journey into entrepreneurship and leadership

✅ How Freedom Boat Club disrupts the boating ownership industry with a shared-fleet, membership model

✅ The challenges and opportunities of scaling a leisure and corporate lifestyle business in competitive markets

✅ Building community, sustainability, and customer experience into a thriving service brand

✅ Key lessons for entrepreneurs and leaders looking to innovate in traditional industries

Whether you’re interested in entrepreneurship, scaling a membership business, or simply curious about the future of boating, this episode is full of insights and inspiration from someone who’s risking it all to redefine an industry.

🔔 Subscribe to Risking It All for more stories from entrepreneurs and business leaders who dare to take bold risks

💬 Comment below and share your thoughts or questions for Mike, we may feature them in a future episode!

Mubbasher Khanzada is the Founder & CEO of Welltime Ltd. and a proud Saltire Fellow. Growing up in a small village in Pakistan , Mubbasher was deeply shaped by family values and a drive to succeed that led him to travel halfway across the world to Scotland for education. That decision would lay the foundation for a career dedicated to transforming digital healthcare experiences Today, Welltime helps clinics streamline bookings, automate patient journeys, and improve engagement — with innovation at its core 🌍🔍 What you’ll learn in this episode:• 💪 How Mubbasher’s upbringing instilled resilience, discipline, and long-term vision• 🚪 His bold decision to transition from traditional work into tech entrepreneurship• 🧠 The founding story of Welltime and its impact on UK healthcare providers• 🌐 What the Saltire Fellowship taught him about leadership and scale• 🎯 Practical insights on growth, mindset, and navigating uncertainty• 🤖 Progressing exciting projects in AI, helping businesses adopt new exciting technology to push them forward and be more efficient👉 Don’t forget to subscribe to Risking It All for more real founder journeys full of risk, resilience, and reinvention 🎧

Our guest in this episode is Jamie Steel, founder and managing director of Squinty Pixels, a dynamic creative agency based in Glasgow. Jamie grew up in Paisley in the 80s and 90s and began his career in the structured world of corporate marketing. Over the years, he held leadership roles across construction, manufacturing, and engineering sectors — managing multimillion-pound marketing strategies and large cross-functional teams.

But in 2022, Jamie made a bold move.

With nothing more than a bedroom setup, a drone, and a vision, he walked away from the corporate ladder to launch Squinty Pixels — a full-service creative agency delivering web design, branding, video production, and aerial content across the UK.

In this episode, we unpack:

📈 Jamie’s early career journey from corporate marketing to creative entrepreneurship

🎯 Why he gave up a stable executive role to start Squinty Pixels from scratch

🚁 How becoming “the drone guy” opened unexpected doors in content production

🤝 The principles that drive his business today: transparency, collaboration, and adaptability

🎬 His creative process, real client stories, and how he’s grown a thriving team from the ground up

Whether you're a creative professional, a corporate employee dreaming of something more, or just curious about what it really takes to start your own agency — Jamie’s story is packed with insights, honesty, and inspiration.

This week on Risking It All, we sit down with John Conway—a man who grew up in a mining family on the outskirts of Edinburgh and charted an unlikely path from telecom production lines to becoming a clean energy entrepreneur.John shares how he made the leap from managing teams in telecommunications to breaking into solar with eco2solar, rising to Sales Director, and later working with Sunamp and Powergreen Renewables. Today, he’s the co-founder and Managing Director of the Commercial Solar Exchange, where he’s helping businesses navigate the energy transition.In this conversation, John opens up about:✅ The realities of leaving a stable corporate career✅ Lessons learned in business development and sales leadership✅ Challenges and opportunities in the renewable energy sector✅ What it really takes to build a company in clean energyWhether you’re considering your own career pivot, want to understand the renewable energy industry better, or just love hearing the raw truth about entrepreneurship, this episode is for you.🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more conversations with people who risk it all to build something new