She Did That

Lucie Macleod never set out to build a business. While at university, she began concocting a homemade hair treatment in her parents’ kitchen to solve her own hair struggles - what started as a personal fix quickly gained traction, turning her into an accidental founder with a £6M-a-year brand before she ever stepped into the spotlight.After going viral on TikTok and building a loyal following, Lucie entered Dragons’ Den, where she faced tough criticism from the investors - but what looked like a setback only amplified her momentum. Today, she’s scaled to £12M in revenue and is setting her sights on global expansion.This is a story of instinct, resilience, and building something extraordinary without ever planning to.

In this episode of She Did That, we sit down with Lillie Bernie, the visionary behind The Glitter Store, to talk about what it really takes to turn creativity into a thriving business. From her early days of experimenting with glitter to building a brand that celebrates bold self-expression, Lillie shares the highs, the hurdles, and the lessons she learned along the way. We also dive into her work producing unforgettable glitter experiences and events for iconic names like Kathy Hilton, Kris Jenner, Fenty and many more bringing her signature sparkle to some of the most sought after brands and parties. Beyond events, Lillie reveals how she’s expanded the brand into retail glitter kits, with ambitious plans to make them available globally and turn glitter into a true household staple. This conversation explores entrepreneurship, confidence, and staying true to your vision even when it feels risky and others don't believe in your capability to achieve great success. Whether you’re a creative, a business owner, or someone with a dream you’ve been sitting on, this episode is a reminder that sparkle and strategy can absolutely coexist.

In this episode, we sit down with Darcy Laceby, the powerhouse co-founder behind Absolute Collagen - now a £30 million-a-year brand and home to the highest-concentrated collagen supplement available in the UK.Darcy opens up about the surprising truth behind the supplements industry, including how loose regulation means a product only needs 15% of the active ingredient to legally make a claim - a loophole that inspired her to do things differently and set a new standard for honesty and potency.We dive into the unique story of how a mother–daughter partnership sparked a wellness revolution: Darcy, armed with her studies in food science, and her mum Maxine, navigating post-menopause and searching for a way to feel stronger and healthier from the inside out. Together, they created a product born from real need, real science, and real women.This episode is a candid look at innovation, integrity, and the magic that happens when women build businesses for women. Expect empowering insights, practical lessons, and the inspiring journey behind an empire that’s redefining beauty and wellbeing.

When the world shut down in 2020, Laura Riches swapped her corporate career for an adventure in sustainable winemaking - launching Laylo, the boxed (and can) wine brand that’s redefining what “premium” looks (and tastes) like.In this episode, Laura shares how a lockdown idea turned into a fast-growing business, the challenges of shaking up an old-school industry, and why the future of wine might just come in a box. From bold branding decisions to lessons in resilience and risk-taking, Laura’s story is proof that great ideas can come from unexpected places - and that sometimes, thinking outside the bottle really pays off.

In this episode, I sit down with Kim Innes, the inspiring founder of Humble Crumble - the viral dessert brand that transformed the humble crumble into an £8 million sensation. Starting from a single market stall in London, Kim turned a simple idea into a cult favourite, redefining street food and creating queues down the block.Kim shares the real story behind the rise of Humble Crumble - from early challenges and self-doubt to viral moments on social media and scaling the brand across multiple locations. She opens up about building a business with heart, the power of staying authentic, and what it really takes to create a food brand that sticks.Whether you're an aspiring founder, foodie, or just love a good underdog story - this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and a few sweet surprises.

✨ From Bold Idea to Cult Brand: Connie Nam’s Astrid & Miyu Journey ✨What does it take to turn a quiet vision into a standout jewellery brand loved by thousands? In this episode, I sit down with Connie Nam, the powerhouse founder of Astrid & Miyu, to talk about her fearless leap from finance to fashion, the highs and lows of building a brand from scratch, and how she’s redefining what it means to be a modern entrepreneur.Connie opens up about the mindset shifts, the hustle, and the moments that made her—and nearly broke her. If you're building something of your own or just need a shot of inspiration from a woman who’s done it with style and soul, this one’s for you.🎧 Tune in for real talk, smart strategy, and a dose of sparkle.

Ellie joined The Trouble Club as an Intern straight out of University. Imagine joining the workforce for the first time in your life and all the unknowns it brings. We all know an Intern has to do all the bits no one else has time for/wants to - it's a tough slog. When the business started struggling during the Covid pandemic and decided to close its doors, Ellie felt they could weather it, be bigger and were destined for so much more.... So she took over the business becoming CEO in less than four years. I mean who knows a business better than the intern? Ellie talks about the fascinating guests she has interviewed at their live and online events, she talks world domination and how she is creating an inclusive space where women from all walks of life can respectfully voice opinions, build lasting friendships and elevate one another with the power of knowledge. Watch this space, The Trouble Club is going to be the next big thing and Ellie is a prime example of a woman who smashes through the glass ceiling, challenges every stereotype and inspires any woman who is told 'they can't'.

This week I speak to the incredible Jordan Brompton. She is living proof that hard work, raw talent and ambition can take you all the way. Regardless of your socio-economical background, others' opinions and poor academia, you can still make it to the top. Jordan grew up in a loving home in Grimsby with two supportive parents who had to work incredibly hard to provide for the family, but she never felt like she lacked anything. Having left school with few qualifications and without a plan in place, Jordan tried her hands at a number of different jobs. From hairdressing to glass collecting in the local pub and using her talent for dance to podium dance. She eventually started working in an admin position for a man called Lee who introduced her to the world of renewables and fuelled a passion she didn't even know she had. A few years later and one fateful phone call they would end up as business partners. I won't spoil the story as it really is a good one but fast forward over a decade and they have built a business that generates over £50 million a year in the energy space and Jordan is a role model to thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs. She discusses her natural confidence, relationship building skills and street smart which she harnessed to create an empire. Fired up by her desire to push herself beyond what she or anyone else expected she could achieve, she has reached dizzying heights. Despite all her success and the respect others have for her in the business world, she is still just 'Jordie from the block'. Humble, vivacious and real.

This week I'm joined by the larger than life; Elissa Corrigan. She has a fascinating story, from missing a job interview to appear on Streetmate, to becoming a hard hitting Journalist, exposing the secrets of the celebrity world and often putting herself in dangerous situations to get the story, to appearing on a reality tv show and subsequently creating 'The Golden Pill'. Elissa noticed a huge gap in the market when it came to Women's health, there's a huge focus on male libido and little care for Women's satisfaction. Her all natural supplement has been hailed 'the female Viagra' by the likes of Abbey Clancey and a host of A listers. It also contains ingredients to aid women going through the menopause, which is an isolating time for any woman. She has created a multi-million pound business and not by accident. She is a go getter, you can close a million doors in her face and she'll find a way to open it. She is ambitious, thick skinned and doesn't take 'no' for an answer. Above all she is genuinely passionate about the product she has created and relentless in her pursuit of global success.

Serena Hood is a force to be reckoned with. From designing knickers at College and selling them to local stores, to interning with top Fashion Designers, she found herself climbing the career ladder at Vogue. Working below Anna Wintour, Serena progressed through the ranks before eventually becoming Executive Fashion Director. From starting from the bottom, flying couture gowns on a private jet to make it to a photo shoot, to gracing Fashion Weeks' all over the world as a trusted expert, Serena gives a view of what it takes to 'make it' at one of the world's most desired jobs. Spoiler alert - it really is as glamorous as it sounds. Just when you thought Serena couldn't impress with her career expertise anymore, she Co-Founded E-commerce platform; Collagerie with a colleague from Vogue. Collagerie has grown in popularity rapidly, catering to all price points and items from fashion to homewear, it is fast becoming a go-to of the best curated items on the market. Serena proves that hard work, self belief and a lot of gumption really can propel you to the top.. and she has only just got started! To shop on Collagerie visit https://www.collagerie.com

Losing a loved one as a child is a complicated process, your brain isn't fully developed and you may not even have an understanding of the concept of someone leaving and never coming back. How we process grief as a child, affects the entire trajectory of your life. It has been proven that unprocessed and unresolved grief as a child, can lead to alcohol and substance abuse in adulthood as well as forming dangerous relationships. Suzy Turner- Jones, is CEO of Grief Encounter, a charity that works with younger people and their families when they have experienced a loss, helping them navigate the sadness and complexities in one's grief journey. Suzy comes from a background of working in clinical roles within child support and social services and has worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and care of thousands of young people. In this episode we discuss how grief impacts children and subsequently their adult lives, how to navigate helping your child process this event and the dangers of avoiding and not addressing loss. If you are in need of support or helping a bereaved child following the death of a loved one, visit https://www.griefencounter.org.uk/

TRIGGER WARNING - this episode discusses terrorism, sexual violence, murder and kidnapping. Following the horrific attacks on Israel on October 7th, many know about the murder, kidnapping, rape and hostage taking, but a little known fact is the large scale agricultural attacks that took place. Hundreds and thousands of animals were killed, farms destroyed, tractors stolen, vital machinery that aids the production of food and crops were all destroyed.Danielle is the Founder of Regrow, an organisation that uses Israel's advances in the agricultural industry and shares them with other countries in order to bring them to the forefront of modern day farming and help them grow and flourish. Since October 7th 2023, Regrow's focus has solely been on the regrowth of Israel following the devastation caused the the land. Danielle always says 'the farmer of the real heroes' quiet, gentle and often unsung, they put their lives on the line to protect animals, land and the vital supplies the country requires from farming. You will never look at agriculture the same way after listening to this episode.

Anne-Sophie Fluri is a qualified Neuroscientist and Chief Science Officer for for multiple startups and the Founder of REWIRE, a company specialising in working with companies to help their workforce train their brains to aid strength, happiness and health. She shares her personal journey in realising her passion for finding out how the brain works and subsequently studying Neuroscience and being selected for an elite PHD programme. We discuss the factors involved in looking after your mental health, how today's world has made things even more challenging, particularly social media influences and the ways in which you can take control of your brain health. We exercise for our physical health, why are we not treating our mental health the same way?

Annabel Karmel MBE's business was born out of a place of darkness. After tragically losing her first baby; Natasha, she gave birth to her son Nicholas. Nicholas was a very picky eater and as many mother would be; she was concerned and wanted to create delicious meals with nutritional value. She started experimenting and making amazing meals, the local mothers' group she had created started vying for her recipes and realising how successfully they were received by their babies. She was encouraged to create a recipe book of them and travelled up and down the country attempting to speak to experts to curate knowledge based recipes. Each expert have a different opinion on what was 'good' to feed your weaning baby. She was rejected by every publishing house in the country but persevered as the book was in honour of Natasha to keep her memory alive. The book was eventually picked up by a huge American publishing house and subsequently Penguin decided to publish in the UK. What happened next was incredible... She sold over 5 million copies and became the worlds biggest selling childrens' cookery author. But she didn't stop there, she has now published 51 recipe books, has a cult following, has collaborated with the likes of Marks and Spencer and Boots and has developed her very own frozen food range. She has an app, a youtube channel with live cooking demos and designs ranges for cruise lines and luxury hotels around the world - her range has even launched in Australia. Annabel is an example of turning your pain into passion and she has not only created the most beautiful legacy for Natasha but an empire for her children to eventually take over. She has remained completely hands on in the business, spending time in factories, dressing up as characters to entertain children and continuously innovate. As she says 'you've got to love what you do'. She is constantly learning and evolving and perhaps that is one of the reasons she is so successful, she strives for perfection and has remained humble throughout. She has built an unbelievably impressive, multi-faceted business and she isn't stopping here. She is savvy, switched on, curious and overall ethical. A true female entrepreneur to aspire to.

Nina Briance knows no limits when it comes to striving to achieve more. She graduated from Stanford University, worked for Goldman Sachs, UBS and the UN helping women in poverty start their businesses. If that wasn't enough, she attended London Business School to polish her entrepreneurial skills and launch Cult Mia.Cult Mia is a fashion platform with a twist. You will find pieces on the site, you have definitely never seen before. Nina has curated an offering with designers from all over the world often who exclusively sell on Cult Mia.After the filming of this podcast, Cult Mia experienced 191% growth year on year and raised a further £4.5 million investment.We talk passion, motherhood, priorities and the future for CM, for what it's worth I think this is just the beginning for this powerhouse of a lady.

***TRIGGER WARNING***Themes involving sexual assault, rape, violence and murder are discussed, please bear this in mind before listening.Reverend Hayley Ace is one of those exceptional human beings you meet and immediately feel the goodness and warmth radiate from. She is an ordained Reverend and runs a small church community with her husband in England.Hayley is Polynesian, born in a remote part of New Zealand and travelled the world with her religious family carrying out missionary work. One stint included living in poverty in Kenya, helping local villagers struggling to survive.Hayley shares an incredibly traumatic incident that would change her life forever. She discusses the impact on her life and how she used her pain to fuel her passions and help others.As a true humanitarian, she advocates for millions around the world who can't , she truly represents the 'underdog' and despite the backlash she receives she remains focused on sharing the truth, never following the masses and using her voice to shout louder.If nothing else, Hayley will help give you true perspective and shows you how using your pain to ease the pain of others is the way forward.She really did do that.

Alice is no stranger to joining companies in industries famed for their lack of diversity. Often the only black woman in the room, she knows first hand how hard under represented individuals are still having to fight for equality in the workplace. Often given less important and less interesting work in corporate settings is all too familiar to her. Alice is trying to break down barriers, her fearless attitude and passion to change poorly represented industries is inspiring. She Co-Founded a group to help black professionals who work in Finance, offering guidance, support and and tangible advice to others who are navigating trying to find their feet and progress in their respective workplaces. She then joined a Venture Capital Fund which is historically famous for consisting purely of white males. Whilst the number of women in VC are increasing, women of colour are still hugely under represented. We discuss the shockingly low number of black female Founders, how she stays motivated and the mistakes you should NOT be making if you genuinely care to improve the diversity of your workforce. Alice is such an important figure, educating others, proving diversity brings success in approaches and putting herself in sometimes uncomfortable situations to change the experience for those who come after her.

Eshita Kabra Davies hasn't just built one of the first peer-peer fashion lending companies, she is on a powerful mission to drastically change social norms. By Rotation gives you the opportunity to rent outfits and accessories you may never have ad the budget to buy from new. Not only do customers have the perks of renting luxury garments, but clients can benefit from a pretty healthy secondary income. Its a win-win. Your fashion choices really can be categorised as investments. Eshita didn't just do this for the reasons above though, she wants to take on social responsibility when it comes to waste and sustainability. 92 million tons of textile waste are generated every year worldwide, and this number is expected to increase to 134 million tons by 2030. In 2018, around 1,000,000 tons of clothing were thrown away in the U.S. alone, with a large portion being from fast fashion brands. Peer to peer lending makes perfect sense and gives us the ability to all take responsibility for the planet. We discuss the challenges of being an Asian Female tech Founder, the shocking statistics of investment rates for such people and the things that have propelled Eshita to incredible success.

Diamonds are a girls best friend, right? Behind the glitz and glamour of owning a diamond, do you truly know how that stone was sourced? If you've seen the movie 'Blood Diamond' you'll have some insight into how poor working conditions are for the miners, exceptionally low pay and highly unethical. Jessica Warch Co-founded Kimai with her best friend to bring lab grown diamonds to the market. She wanted to shake up an industry shrouded in dark secrets and immorality and make it transparent and ethical. She discusses the differences between lab grown and traditional diamonds, raising the 250k on Dragons Den with Steven Bartlett (his largest investment to date) and having her jewels worn by the likes of Meghan Markle, Emma Watson, Jessica Alba and more famous faces. What does it really take to disrupt a centuries old industry and create a successful e-commerce as well as in store business? Find out here.

***TRIGGER WARNING*** Mental Health conditions, addiction, suicide and other sensitive topics are covered in this episode. We often see the glitz and glamour of being an Entrepreneur, but behind the fundraises, money and clout, what is the true human cost? I sat down with Dr Neetu Johnson, a consultant Psychiatrist who works for many years in our broken health system before founding Prescribe Life, a personalised programme to factor in your mental health when striving for success. We discuss burn out, addiction, the cost running a business could have on your personal life and the ways we can attempt to avoid mental health crises. Are our doctors encouraging us to reach for the pill packet too quickly and can preventative work and self care help us create some semblance of balance? If the topics discussed resonate with you and you run a business, you can work with Dr Johnson and her team at https://prescribelife.health

Cecily Motley Co-founded successful jewellery brand Motley, they took the internet by storm with their decadent art inspired pieces. After raising over £1 million and working with designers all over the world, things took a drastic turn overnight. Facebook and Instagram changed how their Algorithm worked and their cost per sale was leaving them with a negative balance. Now the Founder of Harriett AI, Cecily discusses resilience and how she used her learnings from her first business to create what is set to be groundbreaking when it comes to how businesses look after their staff. Her calm demeanour and steely determination has seen her raise nearly £2 million for her new business all whilst juggling motherhood and an industry heavily male dominated. Cecily is proof that picking yourself up after disappointment can lead to the success and that the ending of a business doesn't determine how successful you were and continue to be.

This week I speak Katy Cottam, CEO and Founder of Luna Daily, a brand taking over the feminine health and beauty industry. She shares the astounding facts behind the mysterious enigma that is the vagina as well as her journey to launching in the US, raising millions of pounds and breaking the taboo around Fem care and hygiene.

TRIGGER WARNING - graphic images and discussions depicting rape, sexual violence, murder and terrorism. On October 7th terrorist organisation; Hamas invaded Israel carrying out the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. Countless girls and women were sexually violated, raped and kidnapped at a music festival and peaceful Kibbutz communities - some of these women are still in captivity 8 months later. Organisations around the world as well as 'feminists' who claim to advocate for the rights of Women were silent - and are yet to condemn what happened. This episode is a factual conversation with Lawyer, Feminist and advisor for the Rape crisis centre in Israel; Ayelet Razin. She discusses what happened on October 7th and testimonies from survivors as well as feeling abandoned by her fellow feminists and the sisterhood she thought she was a part of. If you have been a victim of sexual assault or rape, help is available. If you are in England you can call or visit the following website 0808 500 2222 and via www.247sexualabusesupport.org.uk

TRIGGER WARNING - this episode discusses sensitive topics such as; Suicide, Mental Health issues and Bullying. This weeks' episode features brave Actress, Model and Blogger; Bryony Moss. She discusses being diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy aged 7, the bullying she consequently endured into young adulthood and her healing journey and using her strength and determination to achieve success. If you are having thoughts about suicide and/or struggling to cope with your mental health, help is available, contact https://www.samaritans.org/ To view Bryony's documentary click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuBtpDlBo7U

Charlotte Guzzo Co-Founder of Sano Genetics shares real data on how rare, rare diseases really are, how her team are populating clinical trials in order to finally find cures for the diseases that devastate families. We talk DNA sequencing, big Pharma and the real reasons these potentially life saving trials are failing.

At just 29 years old, Frankie Smith has cultivated a group of Female's in business, offering tangible advice and tips on how to manage your money and maximise your wealth with a few simple strategies. Frankie's club attracts hundred of women in business and Frankie herself is one of very few women across the world who has opened her own investor-backed, Wealth Management company. She's managing millions of pounds in assets for individuals and bucking all the statistics on women in finance. She shares with us the simple things we can be doing to quite literally make money, doing nothing!

Nicole Mazza, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Relay Technologies shares her story of raising over £10 million to build cutting edge technology to disrupt the delivery industry. No more expensive parcels, letting off double the amount of gas emissions from unnecessary journeys', inspired by the Chinese model, Nicole plans to compete with the giants such as; DHL and FedEx. Her ambition knows no bounds and her dedication is unstoppable - a true leader in the tech startup space.

Nat Falconer, mum of three kids under 5, C- Executive and all round superwoman shares her story of climbing the career ladder whilst predominantly pregnant, she shares how she achieved her goals and the things she would go back and change. As a Chief People Officer, Nat has worked with some of todays unicorns, nurturing talent and helping them strategically move from startup to scale-up, with a birds eye view of entire organisations, she champions the importance of having a great culture and how it attributes directly to the success of a company.

Emily Koolen, coach to some of Britains' most successful CEO's and Founders shares the commonality in high performing leaders as well as the evolvement of Female Leaders and how we are still having to fight 'up'.

Petra grew up in the children of god cult, at 22 years old whilst pregnant with her son, she realised she had to get out. Hear Petra's incredible story of determination, after spiralling into alcoholism and depression, she gains her Masters and becomes a highly successful business owner.

Gini Newton Co-Founded her corporate catering business with her sister; Eccie, aged just 21, from their Mothers' kitchen. What happened in between is a whirlwind of a global pandemic, a contract with the NHS, the birth of a brand new asset class within Real Estate, and over £100 million. Be prepared to learn from the best and see the makeup of a true entrepreneur. 

Emergency doctor turned health tech investor, I speak to Chantal Cox of Octopus Ventures on her journey from making life or death decisions in the emergency room to fulfilling her desire to make a greater change to the health sector and backing and advising some of the breakout stars ready to change the face of Health Technology. We also discuss the pressures of being in the small minority of being a woman of colour in a largely white male-dominated industry and paving the way for other women, particularly in ethnic minorities. 

Venetia Archer, Founder and CEO of Ruuby, Britain's largest on demand beauty service, shares her story from living in Kenya to assess Somali Pirate risks to making her dream into a reality and starting from scratch to servicing hundreds of thousands of people with her smart beauty booking app.   You can check out and download Ruuby here Ruuby.com.

Live coverage from our launch event featuring an insightful and inspiring panel discussion from four brilliant and accomplished women - Tugce Bulut (Co-Founder, Streetbees & angel investor), Gini Newton (Co-founder of Karma Kitchens & Karma Cans), Zoe Reich (Deep Tech Investor & government advisor) and Agata Nowicka (Founder & Investor, Female Foundry)

Lina; one of the youngest female partners in VC, hear how she climbed the ladder at an alarmingly rapid rate and what she looks for when investing in companies. Clue; it’s not just your IQ! 

On this episode we hear from Co-Founders Morgan Fitzsimmons and Kelly McCabe about their journey to starting the worlds first virtual cancer survivorship clinic. They talk juggling becoming mothers one after the other within two years of starting the company and the side effects that aren’t discussed openly during and after diagnosis.

*Trigger warning* Mala, a Holocaust Survivor shares her account of her family being murdered, cheating death and surviving a concentration camp. To donate and make sure no one ever forgets https://www.het.org.uk/

Hear Tugce Bulut’s incredible story from arriving from Turkey with two suitcases, selling vodka pub to pub to make ends meet to raising 80 million dollars for her deeptech startup. She also shares how she plans to use deep tech to tackle the pandemic of loneliness rife in our society. Through pure grit and determination she has been hugely successful and proves what it takes to be a true entrepreneur.

A degree in Volcanology, building startups from inception at Oxford University, advising the government and now leading Deep Tech Investments at one of the largest VC's in Europe all whilst juggling motherhood. Hear Zoe share her story on what it took to get there, what female representation in Deep Tech looks like and how investment decisions now will impact the world for generations to come.

Hear about Tessa Clarke's journey to founding Olio. the app changing the world of waste and enabling us to save our planet whilst helping our neighbours. Hear how Tessa has raised over $50 million dollars. https://olioapp.com https://www.instagram.com/shedidthatthepod/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@shedidthatthepod