Business Class

Welcome back to Business Class with your host Vicky Owens.
In this episode, Vicky sits down with sisters Sam and Steph, co-founders of Pretty Lavish, the womenswear label that grew from a £3,000 side hustle into a multi-million pound fashion brand stocked in Selfridges and ASOS.

What started in their living room while working full-time jobs has evolved into a globally recognised brand known for occasionwear, bridesmaid dresses and elevated everyday fashion. But this conversation goes far deeper than the highlight reel.

Sam and Steph share the raw truth behind scaling a fashion business -including working unpaid for years, designing without formal training, navigating manufacturer betrayal, handling copycat products, managing high return rates, and learning how to lead a growing team while becoming mothers.

In this episode, we cover:
• How to start a fashion brand with low investment
• The reality of “overnight success” (it took 4 years before they paid themselves)
• Transitioning from startup founders to CEOs
• Building a strong team culture and being nominated as a best place to work
• Hybrid working, leadership lessons and managing a team as women in business
• Handling negative reviews and protecting brand reputation
• Dealing with product failures, supplier issues and freight delays
• Removing Klarna to increase profitability (even if it reduced sales)
• Why chasing viral moments isn’t sustainable growth
• Working with influencers authentically and building long-term brand ambassadors
• Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship
• Why resilience is a business superpower

They also open up about losing their dad as teenagers, how that shaped their resilience, and how their personal “why” continues to drive the brand forward.

This is an honest, unfiltered conversation about ecommerce growth, fashion entrepreneurship, female founders, leadership, community building and long-term brand strategy.

If you’re building a fashion brand, scaling an online business, leading a team, or navigating motherhood while growing a company - this episode is packed with insight, practical lessons and reassurance that sustainable success takes time.

Follow Pretty Lavish on Instagram at @prettylavishuk and tune in for new product launches, bridal collections and behind-the-scenes brand storytelling.
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Produced by TAEPodcast www.taepodcast.co.uk

Welcome back to Business Class with your host Vicky Owens.
In this listener dilemmas episode, Vicky answers some of the most stressful, emotional, and real business situations founders face behind the scenes. From influencer mistakes that cost sales, to friendship breakdowns in business, supplier disasters, fake reviews, viral growth burnout, and uncomfortable customer boundaries, this episode pulls back the curtain on what running a business actually looks like.
Vicky shares honest advice on how to handle imposter syndrome, fear of being wrong, and the pressure of feeling like everything rests on your shoulders. She explains when to follow up, when to stand your ground, how to protect your reputation without becoming a pushover, and why bad reviews, backlash, and hate often come with growth.
This episode also dives into the loneliness of entrepreneurship, managing overwhelming demand after going viral, setting professional boundaries with customers, and learning how to respond calmly when things go wrong. With practical advice, mindset shifts, and real-life examples from Vicky’s own business journey, this conversation is both reassuring and empowering.
If you’re a business owner, founder, or entrepreneur navigating growth, criticism, burnout, or uncertainty, this episode will remind you that you’re not alone and that making mistakes is part of building something successful.
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Produced by TAEPodcast www.taepodcast.co.uk

Welcome back to Business Class with your host Vicky Owens.
In this episode, Vicky is joined by Sian Whitefoot, an entrepreneur who has built an almost seven-figure business in a remarkably short space of time while being refreshingly honest about the realities of running a company.
Sian shares her journey from a successful career in fashion design into entrepreneurship, opening up about the emotional, mental, and practical challenges that come with scaling a business. This episode explores what it really looks like behind the scenes of rapid growth, including pressure, responsibility, decision-making fatigue, and the often-unspoken struggles founders face once success arrives.
Together, Vicky and Sian discuss imposter syndrome, confidence, and the internal battles that arise when you are building something visible and ambitious. Sian speaks candidly about learning on the job, navigating leadership, and letting go of perfectionism while still holding high standards. She also opens up about redefining success, setting boundaries, and protecting your mental health as your business grows.
This conversation is especially valuable for entrepreneurs who feel overwhelmed, behind, or unsure whether they are “doing it right.” It offers reassurance that uncertainty is part of the process and that growth often comes alongside discomfort. The episode highlights the importance of resilience, self-trust, and allowing your business to evolve as you do.
If you are a business owner, founder, or aspiring entrepreneur who wants honest insight into scaling a business, managing pressure, and staying grounded while growing fast, this episode will leave you feeling understood, motivated, and far less alone.
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Produced by TAEPodcast www.taepodcast.co.uk

Welcome back to another episode of Business Class with your host, Vicky Owens.

In this week’s episode, Vicky dives into your business dilemmas, unpacking some of the most common fears and challenges that stop people from starting, growing, and enjoying their businesses. This episode is packed with practical ideas, mindset shifts, and honest reassurance for entrepreneurs at every stage.

Vicky tackles the fear of being wrong and the imposter syndrome that holds so many people back from taking the leap. She explains why your mindset must change and challenges you to reframe the question. How would you feel if someone you knew went for it and succeeded? Why shouldn’t that be you?

She also discusses how to showcase your work and build credibility without naming clients when confidentiality is involved, offering smart ways to demonstrate value while staying professional. The conversation then turns to the loneliness of running a business, exploring how to stop feeling like everything rests on your shoulders and how to cope when leadership feels isolating.

From handling cliques in business environments to dealing with negative reviews, Vicky breaks down why criticism is often a sign of growth and success, and how to navigate it without letting it derail your confidence.
These are essential conversations for business owners, founders, and entrepreneurs, making this episode both empowering and deeply relatable for anyone building something of their own.
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Produced by TAEPodcast www.taepodcast.co.uk

Welcome back to Business Class with your host, Vicky Owens.
In this week’s episode, Vicky is joined by Joel Conder, one half of the viral family YouTube channel Dad vs Girls, and founder of Desvu Clothing and We Are Sol tanning brand.

Joel opens up about feeling lost in his career and making the brave decision to leave his job to pursue content creation full time. What started as simply having fun with his family quickly turned into a YouTube channel that changed everything. After battling perfectionism and delaying his first upload, Joel finally posted his first video, and within just eight weeks the channel had taken off. After their fourth video went viral, Dad vs Girls became a full-time career.

He also shares the less-talked-about side of success, including the challenges of running multiple businesses with a laid-back management style and ADHD. Joel speaks honestly about how this approach initially led to issues with employees and moments where he considered walking away altogether. Through perseverance, he explains how implementing a few core structures transformed the logistics of his businesses and helped everything run more smoothly.

In addition, Joel discusses the powerful role of manifestation and journalling, and how these practices have had a profound impact on both his personal life and career.

This episode is packed with honest insights on content creation, entrepreneurship, mindset, and building sustainable businesses, making it a must-listen for creators, founders, and anyone considering turning passion into a career.
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Produced by TAEPodcast www.taepodcast.co.uk