
Strathclyde Inspire Inspiring Conversations
Strathclyde Inspire's 'Inspiring Conversations' podcast series features interviews with inspiring leaders and entrepreneurs from a range of fields and backgrounds, to chat about their career journey and topics they are passionate about.
Our podcasts are available on the following platforms:

In this episode, Manish Joshi, CEO of Strathclyde Students Union, sits down with Pamela Smith, VP of Future Programmes at AAC Clyde Space. They chat about how Pamela began working in the space sector, the opportunities in Scotland, how we can build the workforce, diversity in the sector and Pamela's role as a STEM Ambassador, as well as some misconceptions about working in the field!

Manish Joshi, CEO of Strathclyde Students Union, sits down with Strathclyde Senior Enterprise Fellow, Dr Rabinder Buttar, to chat about her career journey - from undertaking a PhD at the University of Strathclyde to becoming founder and CEO of clinical research company, ClinTec International. Rabinder comments on what makes a good leadership team, her experience as a female entrepreneur in a male dominated sector, and the importance of perseverance.

Manish Joshi, CEO of Strathclyde Students Union, sits down with Managing Director and Founder of This is Milk, Angela Prentner-Smith. Angela talks openly about her experience as a neurodiverse female and what led her to become her own boss. She shares her personal experiences of gender bias and reflects on her career journey to date and what it means to be neurodivergent, where to get support, and what companies can do to attract more diverse thought leaders.

In this episode of Inspiring Conversations, Manish Joshi sits down with experienced early stage investor and visiting professor of the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, John Waddell. John talks about his experience as both an investor and visiting professor, and how mindset, being creative and getting comfortable with digital marketing is key to success in growing your business both locally and internationally.

In this episode of Inspiring Conversations, Manish Joshi chats to Peter Proud, Founder and CEO of digital technology company Forrit and Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde's Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship. Peter chats about his career journey to date, the importance of mentoring and good working relationships, his career highlights, and offers some advice to budding entrepreneurs.

In this special end of year episode, we included the highlights of Inspiring Conversations podcast episodes from the past year. We hear from inspirational entrepreneurs Dr Susie Mitchell, Susan Aktemel, Neil Logan, Ian Ritchie, Clare Nelson, and Gurjit Singh Lalli. Watch for some fantastic advice and insights from these innovative leaders.

Manish Joshi, CEO of Strathclyde Students Union, sat down with Ian Ritchie, one of Scotland's leading entrepreneurs. Over the last 30 years, Ian has helped to build Scotland as a centre for high growth technology companies. We were delighted to learn more about Ian's career journey to date and his role as a University of Strathclyde Senior Enterprise Fellow.

Susan Aktemel is the Founder & Executive Director of Homes for Good, Scotland's first social enterprise letting agency and is one of Scotland’s most successful entrepreneurs. She is also one of eight Senior Enterprise Fellows at the University of Strathclyde; a group of inspirational entrepreneurial leaders who are working to help inspire the next generation of entrepreneurially minded graduates, researchers, and academics.

Manish Joshi, CEO of Strathclyde Students Union, sat down with the inspirational Gurjit Singh Lalli, Curator and Founder of TEDxGlasgow, winner of the Businessman of the Year Award at the Scottish Asian Business Awards and Strathclyde Senior Enterprise Fellow, who is working to help inspire Strathclyde's next generation of entrepreneurs.

We speak to Claire Nelson, Chief Executive Officer of Netball Scotland and Strathclyde Sirens. Claire is a truly inspirational and entrepreneurial female leader, who was most recently named 'Game Changer in Sport'. As one of the most influential women working in UK sport today, Claire is recognised for pioneering industry-leading advancements in women’s sport and has clear ambitions of where netball should be in the future.

Director of the Glasgow City Innovation District, Alisdair Gunn, sat down with Neil Logan, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of digital technology specialist, Incremental Group. Neil is a Senior Enterprise Fellow at the University of Strathclyde, where he is working with Strathclyde Inspire to help inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Dr Susie Mitchell, Programme Director for Glasgow City of Science and Innovation, is a truly inspirational scientific entrepreneur who, throughout her career, has championed diversity and equality in STEM.

Start-Up Advisor and former COO of SkyScanner Mark responds to questions about SkyScanner and entrepreneurial ecosystems, raised by guests at the Strathclyde Inspire launch event.

We speak to Brie Read, CEO of Snag, the ethical and inclusive fashion brand, who tells us how Snag came about, how a customer idea saved the business, and how you shouldn’t listen to other people’s ideas!

We ask Professor Janice Kirkpatrick what she thinks it means to have an entrepreneurial mindset before finding out about her own entrepreneurial journey.

Chief Scientific Advisor to Norcliffe Capital, Professor David Onions, answers key questions on helping innovation-driven enterprises to scale.

Professor of Entrepreneurship Eleanor Shaw, reflects on the past year and looks at how being “entrepreneurial” can have a positive impact on our how we recover into our ‘next normal'.

As an acclaimed professional harpist and clàrsach player, Meredith McCrindle has enjoyed an international career. Now the Founder of Tamfest, an arts festival breathing new life into the legacy of Robert Burns, Meredith talks about her entrepreneurial journey.