Episode 63 : Sue Emery - Marketing, Motherhood and Momentum

Sue Emery brings honesty, energy and a deep understanding of rural life to this conversation, sharing a journey that spans equine therap,y business ownership and now supporting rural women through marketing and community.

Growing up on the Isle of Skye before the bridge, Sue reflects on a childhood shaped by freedom, family businesses and a strong connection to rural life. From an early love of horses to building a successful equine therapy business, her career has evolved through curiosity and a willingness to try new opportunities even when the path was not always clear.

Now based in the Cairngorms, Sue shares how becoming a mum became a turning point in her business, leading her to pivot Rural Business Matters into an online space that works around family life. Through her membership, The Marketing Larder, she has created a supportive community for rural women navigating business alongside the juggle of everyday life.

We explore the realities of rural isolation and the power of connection, from co-working calls to wider community networks and the role they play both personally and professionally. Sue also shares her involvement with the Country Food Trust and the importance of supporting rural communities through meaningful initiatives.

This episode is filled with honesty around confidence, grief and growth. Sue speaks openly about loss, learning to back herself and the impact of saying yes to opportunities even when they feel uncomfortable.

A thoughtful and uplifting conversation about building a business that fits your life, the importance of community and the power of taking action before you feel ready.

The Award Winning Women in Wellies Podcast is sponsored by Scottish Law firm, Gillespie Macandrew, advising on all areas of land & rural business, private client, energy and real estate.

Connect with Sue and find out more about Rural Business Matters on social media : Instagram - @rural_business_matters \\ LinkedIn - Sue Emery / Rural Business Matters

Find out more about the Country Food Trust here: https://www.thecountryfoodtrust.org/

Episode Recorded on 1st April 2026.

All views expressed are our own.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nic MacLeod is building a life that blends farming, family and a fast paced career in policy and this conversation is an honest and energising look at what it means to take the long way round and make it your own.

By no means a traditional career path but with a deep love for rural life, we follow Nic’s path from managing a veterinary practice in Vancouver to returning home during COVID and stepping into a role with Scottish Land and Estates where she has grown into a policy and public affairs position. She shares how she found her niche in a space she never expected and why shaping the future of rural Scotland through policy now feels like exactly where she is meant to be.

Alongside her career Nic has taken the leap into farming as she builds her own fold of Highland cattle from scratch. She speaks openly about the steep learning curve from breeding decisions to animal handling and the reality of learning on the job while juggling work and family life.

Community runs at the heart of this episode. From family support and friendships to networks like the Scottish Rural Leadership Programme, Nic reflects on the people who make it all possible and the importance of not doing it alone. She also shares the honest truth that there is rarely a perfect time to start something new and sometimes you simply have to take the leap and figure it out as you go.

This is a conversation about backing yourself, embracing the unexpected and creating a life that does not follow a straight line but feels right all the same.

The Award Winning Women in Wellies Podcast is sponsored by Scottish Law firm, Gillespie Macandrew, advising on all areas of land & rural business, private client, energy and real estate.

Connect with Nic and follow the journey of Mac Farms on social media : Instagram - @nicmacleodsle / @mac_farms \\ LinkedIn - Nic MacLeod / Scottish Land & Estates

Episode Recorded on 31st March 2026.

All views expressed are our own.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katrina Candy is a woman who wears many hats — children's book author, mother, wife, business owner, and director of the Heather Trust. In this episode, Katrina shares her journey from a career in PR and journalism to her current role at the helm of a charity that focuses on upland management and conservation.

We dive into Katrina’s love for the rural landscape, which began in her childhood and has shaped much of her career. Katrina opens up about the challenges and rewards of leading a charity that deals with the unique issues of upland management, including peatland restoration and heather beetle research. She also shares the exciting work she’s been doing with the Women in the Uplands network, creating a space for women living in rural upland areas to connect, share experiences, and support one another.

This episode is full of passion for the land, dedication to conservation, and a deep belief in the power of community. It’s a reminder that no matter your background, hard work and curiosity can lead you to a career that makes a real impact on the world around you.

The Award Winning Women in Wellies Podcast is sponsored by Scottish Law firm, Gillespie Macandrew, advising on all areas of land & rural business, private client, energy and real estate.

Connect with Katrina and The Heather Trust on social media : Instagram - @theheathertrust \\ LinkedIn - The Heather Trust / Katrina Candy

Find Katrina's latest book 'Heather Munro's Race Against the Flames' here: https://www.heathertrust.co.uk/shop

Episode Recorded on 16th March 2026.

All views expressed are our own.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Educational Episode 3 : Business Structures for Rural Businesses with Lorna Balfour and Laura Kirkman

With so much change, legislative and otherwise, we’re continuing our series of educational episodes to bring insights, advice and awareness to support your families and businesses. In this series we’ve already looked at IHT and Succession Planning and this episode is about your business structure - what it is, why it matters, what options you’ve got and how it supports good succession planning. M

Key Takeaways you can expect from tuning in: -

• Your business structure shapes everything. From ownership and decision-making to profit distribution, risk exposure, and how easily the business can be sold or passed on.
• There’s no one-size-fits-all approach – sole traders, partnerships, LLPs, and limited companies each offer different balances of simplicity, tax treatment, liability protection, and succession flexibility.
• Risk and diversification should drive structure decisions – higher-risk or non-core activities are often best separated into their own legal entities to protect the wider business.
• Good agreements and forward planning are essential – having clear, up-to-date written agreements in place can prevent disputes, support continuity, and save significant stress when circumstances change.

With case studies to bring this to life, this is a must listen for every rural business whatever stage you are at!

The Award Winning Women in Wellies Podcast is sponsored by Scottish Law firm, Gillespie Macandrew, advising on all areas of land & rural business, private client, energy and real estate.

Connect with Lorna, Laura and Gillespie Macandrew on social media : LinkedIn - Lorna Balfour / Laura Kirkman / Gillespie Macandrew LLP \\ Instagram - @Gillespiemacandrewllp

Episode Recorded on Friday 20th February 2026.

All views expressed are our own.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joyce Campbell farms in one of the most remarkable landscapes in Scotland. From her hill farm in North Sutherland she stewards land that sits within the Flow Country, a vast peatland landscape recently recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In this conversation Joyce shares what it really means to farm in a place of global environmental importance while continuing the traditions and realities of hill farming.

Working alongside her husband Ian, a team of loyal working dogs and her Highland pony Lulu, Joyce reflects on life on a remote hill farm where many decisions are made while riding across the hills and looking closely at the land. She shares how their farming system has evolved in recent years, the challenges of balancing food production with environmental responsibility and the opportunities that come from thinking differently about how land is managed.

We explore the unique role peatlands play in Scotland’s landscape and climate, the pride and pressure that comes with farming within the Flow Country and the importance of ensuring farmers are part of the conversation when it comes to protecting and restoring these fragile ecosystems. Joyce speaks openly about the changes their farm has gone through and the mindset needed to adapt while still honouring generations of knowledge and experience.

This episode offers a thoughtful and grounded insight into hill farming, land stewardship and the relationship between people and place. It is a conversation about resilience, responsibility and the deep connection that comes from living and working on the land every day.

The Award Winning Women in Wellies Podcast is sponsored by Scottish Law firm, Gillespie Macandrew, advising on all areas of land & rural business, private client, energy and real estate.

Connect with Joyce on social media : Instagram - @armadalefarm / @theflowcountry \\ Facebook - Joyce Campbell

Episode Recorded on Monday 23rd February 2026.

All views expressed are our own.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Women and Wellies podcast Hannah is joined by Dr Anna Fleck, a remote and rural GP whose work is taking her to some of the most beautiful and hard to reach communities across Scotland.

From growing up between Edinburgh, Sydney and Glasgow to carving out a portfolio GP career that fits around family life, Anna shares how she found a different way of practising medicine. One rooted in flexibility, curiosity and connection. Through the Rediscover the Joy of General Practice scheme Anna now works across island and mainland communities including Shetland, Caithness, the Inner Hebrides and the North Coast.

Anna opens up about what it really means to be a remote and rural GP from lone working and emergency training to the privilege and responsibility of serving tight knit communities where everyone knows everyone. She reflects on confidence, imposter syndrome and the importance of trusting your training when help can be hours away.

This conversation is also about family, adventure and place. Anna shares how travelling Scotland in a campervan with her husband and young daughter has shaped their lives fostering flexibility, resilience and a deep love for rural landscapes. Together they explore how rural communities support one another through challenges, celebrate together and why community connection matters more than anything.

An inspiring episode about redefining success in your career, listening to what truly matters and finding joy by doing things differently.

The Award Winning Women in Wellies Podcast is sponsored by Scottish Law firm, Gillespie Macandrew, advising on all areas of land & rural business, private client, energy and real estate.

Connect with Anna on social media : Instagram - @ScotlandbyCampervan

Episode Recorded on Monday 18th January 2026.

All views expressed are our own.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Educational Episode 2 : IHT and Succession Planning with Eilidh Adams

With so much change, legislative and otherwise, we’re continuing our series of educational episodes to bring insights, advice and awareness to support your families and businesses. In this series we’re looking at …

Key Takeaways you can expect from tuning in: -

• It can feel daunting to tackle succession planning and face the sometimes difficult conversations, and of course costs, involved, but early action secures your rural business for future generations.
• Inheritance Tax planning is a key component of any good succession plan.
• Rural businesses have traditionally benefited from a fairly benign Inheritance Tax system, but significant changes were announced to the main rural business reliefs in October 2024 which take effect from April this year. These changes mean early planning is now even more critical.

With a case study to bring this to life, this is a must listen for every rural business!

The Award Winning Women in Wellies Podcast is sponsored by Scottish Law firm, Gillespie Macandrew, advising on all areas of land & rural business, private client, energy and real estate.

Connect with Eilidh and Gillespie Macandrew on social media : LinkedIn : Eilidh Adams // Gillespie Macandrew LLP

Episode Recorded on Friday 9th January 2026.

All views expressed are our own.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carenza Pinn is forging her own path with confidence, creativity and quiet determination and this conversation captures exactly what it looks like to back yourself even when the way forward is not clear. From growing up in the Highlands and Kinross to navigating loss, education, work and big decisions at a young age this episode is an honest reflection on learning through doing.

Carenza shares her journey from leaving school early and questioning university to building a thriving equine portrait photography business that is rooted in connection, storytelling and care. We talk about finding her niche working with horses and their people and why lifestyle and trust sit at the heart of everything she creates. From trade stands and client relationships to mentors, manifestation and learning business skills on the job this is a story of persistence and belief.

We explore the realities of starting a business young, from juggling multiple jobs and finances to confident, client facing, growth and discovering that your difference is your strength. Carenza reflects on the power of saying yes, taking your time and allowing your goals to unfold, without rushing the process.

This episode is a reminder that there is no single right path and that success can come from listening to yourself trusting your instincts and giving yourself permission to do things differently.

The Award Winning Women in Wellies Podcast is sponsored by Scottish Law firm, Gillespie Macandrew, advising on all areas of land & rural business, private client, energy and real estate.

Connect with Carena on social media : Instagram - @carenzapinn.photography \\ Facebook - Carenza Pinn Photograph

Episode Recorded on Monday 22nd December 2025.

All views expressed are our own.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.