Business Class

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