Advertise on podcast: Activate Yourself by Geeta Sidhu-Robb

Could buying an established business give you more control over your future, even when the bank initially says no? If you're exploring how to buy a business, Jenny Johnston shares how she secured acquisition financing after reworking her projections and business case. In this episode of The Bootstrappers' Breakfasts™, Geeta Sidhu-Robb speaks with Jenny about her move from corporate marketing to becoming CEO and owner of Azure Communications, an Irish print, packaging and marketing business. Jenny joined as CEO in 2023 through an earn-in agreement, then realized that growing the company was also increasing the valuation of the business she wanted to buy. She completed the acquisition in 2024, using bank debt and deferred consideration payable to the original founders, without venture capital. The first bank rejection became a learning opportunity. Jenny explains how achievable financial projections, historical performance, repayment capacity and expert support helped her present a business case lenders could back. Under her leadership, turnover returned from approximately €3–3.5M to €5M. For female founders considering buying an existing business, her experience opens up another route to ownership: building on established customers, systems and a team. She also shares the realities behind greater autonomy, including hard work, family support and choosing how to spend her time. ABOUT JENNY JOHNSTON Jenny Johnston is a marketing leader and strategist who became CEO of Azure Communications in 2023 and completed its acquisition in 2024. In this conversation, she shares her experience of business acquisition financing, growth and female business ownership. Website: https://www.azurecomm.ie/ LinkedIn: https://ie.linkedin.com/in/johnstonjenny Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennyjohnston.oneill/

Victoria Johnson built a veterinary radiology business to nearly £20 million in turnover—without outside funding. A vet by training, Victoria started by reading scans for veterinary practices, funding her new venture through a second business and figuring things out as she went. In conversation with Geeta Sidhu-Robb, she shares how that scrappy beginning grew into a company operating across 26 countries, why risk registers and formal board meetings eventually became essential, and what bootstrapping gave her that money can't buy: the freedom to build a business around family life. But there was a trade-off—she was answering emails with a one-day-old baby on her lap. An honest conversation about bootstrapping, growth, leadership, and building a business on your own terms. SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: WEBSITE: https://vet-ct.com INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vet.ct/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-johnson-31375629/

Can you grow from £1,000 to a £2.5 million business without giving up ownership? If you're wondering how to grow a business without funding, Nathalie Agnew's journey shows how disciplined reinvestment, strategic hiring and creatively structured acquisitions can make self-funded business growth possible. In this episode of The Bootstrappers' Breakfasts™, host Geeta Sidhu-Robb speaks with Nathalie Agnew, Founder and Managing Director of Muckle Media, about building a profitable agency group while retaining 100% equity. After leaving a successful agency career in London, Nathalie returned to the Scottish Highlands and began freelancing to pay her mortgage. Within six months, she made her first hire and discovered that growing revenue could fund a growing team. Nathalie later used relationships, revenue-sharing agreements, monthly instalments and carefully considered debt to complete three acquisitions. One acquisition nearly doubled the business overnight, expanding the team from 20 to 35 people and adding experienced operational capability without years of organic recruitment. This is an honest conversation about bootstrapping a business, protecting profitability, buying another company with limited cash and building sustainable business growth without investors. 00:00 Why Women Should Stop Raising Money 00:51 £2.5M With 100% Equity 01:37 From PR Burnout to Business Owner 03:13 The First Hire That Changed Everything 04:41 How Bootstrapping Protects Profitability 05:42 How Women Build Businesses Differently 07:12 Business Growth Through Acquisitions 08:20 Buying a Competitor With Only £1,000 09:31 Scaling Through Two More Acquisitions 10:58 Growing From 20 to 35 Employees Overnight 15:58 The Risks of Acquisition Integration 17:25 Trade Sale vs Share Purchase 20:35 Profitability, Efficiency and AI 24:19 Growth Advice for Female Founders ABOUT NATHALIE AGNEW Nathalie Agnew formed Muckle Media in 2012. A former Fleishman-Hillard and Porter Novelli senior international PR adviser, she is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPR. Nathalie has led her team to win numerous awards, including the PRCA DARE Large Agency of the Year award in 2022 and the CIPR Scotland PRide Outstanding PR Consultancy award in 2018. She specialises in creating impactful marketing programmes that meet business and organisational objectives, using creative approaches to deliver excellent ROI. Muckle Media: https://mucklemedia.co.uk/

In this episode of The Bootstrappers' Breakfasts™, hosted by Geeta Sidhu-Robb, Geeta speaks with Cara Sayer, founder of SnoozeShade, the innovative blackout shade for prams. Cara shares how she built a nearly £2 million business over 17 years without external funding, while balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship. Cara discusses embracing the "lifestyle business" model, prioritising profitability over aggressive growth, and keeping operations lean and sustainable. She also reflects on pivoting to Amazon following her divorce, navigating retail margins, and using AI tools to streamline and grow her business. Throughout the conversation, Cara shares valuable insights for women entrepreneurs, encouraging them to understand their finances, trust the process, stay resilient, and take small but meaningful steps forward. ---- SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: WEBSITE: https://www.snoozeshade.com/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SnoozeShade/ PINTEREST: https://pinterest.com/snoozeshade INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/snoozeshade YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/snoozeshade

Are you wondering how to build a profitable business without investors while staying true to your values and your vision? What if you could grow a multi-million-pound company, remain profitable every single year, and never rely on venture capital? In this episode, we explore how to build a profitable business without investors through the remarkable journey of Debbie Zaman, founder of the award-winning technology PR agency With. Debbie bootstrapped her business to approximately £2 million, maintained profitability for 16 consecutive years, and ultimately transitioned ownership to her employees through an employee ownership model. This conversation offers a practical blueprint for female founders who want to build sustainable, profitable businesses without sacrificing control or long-term purpose. Rather than chasing funding, Debbie shares why specialization, disciplined financial management, profit-first thinking and building a strong company culture became the foundations of her success. Together with Geeta Sidhu-Robb, she also explores The Bootstrap Bargain™—the trade-offs and freedoms that come with building without outside capital. What You'll Learn • How to build a profitable business without investors from day one • Why bootstrapping a profitable business can create greater long-term freedom • How specializing in a niche helped grow a successful service business • Why profit matters more than turnover for sustainable growth • The lessons behind maintaining profitability for 16 consecutive years • Why Debbie chose an employee ownership business model instead of a traditional exit   00:00 Why Building Without Investors Still Wins 01:34 Meet Debbie Zaman and Her £2M Business 02:29 Why She Chose to Bootstrap Instead of Raise Capital 04:32 The Bootstrap Bargain for Female Founders 10:43 Why Specialising Grew a Stronger Service Business 12:08 Profit First: 16 Years Without a Loss 14:30 Why She Chose an Employee Ownership Model 17:45 Purpose-Led Culture and Hiring Great People 19:36 Business Lessons Every Founder Should Know 22:02 Financial Discipline and Profitable Growth 23:19 How to Scale Without Venture Capital 26:12 Why Profit Matters More Than Turnover 28:08 Final Advice for Female Founders   About Debbie Zaman Debbie Zaman is the Founder and CEO of With, an award-winning technology PR agency, and the Global President of the With Global Alliance, an international network of technology PR agencies. She is also a mentor for future women leaders, an angel investor in female-founded businesses and a founding member of Chief UK, the network for executive women. Her experience demonstrates that female founder business growth does not have to depend on venture capital. Instead, this episode explores sustainable entrepreneurship built on profitability, strategic focus, long-term thinking and founder ownership. Whether you're building your first business, scaling a service company or considering the future legacy of your organization, Debbie's insights offer practical lessons grounded in real entrepreneurial experience. Ready to Discover What's Holding Your Business Back? Apply for your free Bootstrap Diagnostic: 👉 https://apply.bootstrappersbreakfasts.com/   Based on Geeta Sidhu-Robb's years of experience helping women build substantial businesses, this diagnostic identifies the biggest constraints limiting your growth and where to focus next.   About The Bootstrappers' Breakfasts™ The Bootstrappers' Breakfasts™ is a podcast and live series for female founders building towards their first £1M—without venture capital. Most founder stories are funding stories. This one isn't. Every conversation explores The Bootstrap Bargain™—the trade a woman makes when she chooses to build without outside investment. The cost: • Slower scale • Harder cashflow • Less leverage The reward: • Greater sovereignty • Stronger margins • A business that fits your life • Long-term founder sustainability   Hosted by *Geeta Sidhu-Robb,* CEO Growth Advisor.   New episodes every two weeks.   Connect With Us Website: https://www.geetasidhu-robb.com/ The Bootstrappers' Breakfasts™ Website: https://www.geetasidhu-robb.com/bootstrappers-breakfasts #bootstrapping  #femalefounders  #profitablebusiness  Connect With Debbie Zaman WEBSITE: https://www.welcometowith.com LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-zaman/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/withstagramm/?hl=en

In this episode of Bootstrappers' Breakfast, Geeta Sidhu-Robb is joined by Johanna Beresford, founder of Fabric Shift, who has built a bootstrapped HR technology company generating more than £3 million in revenue while raising six children. Together, they explore why only 1–2% of venture capital funding goes to women-led businesses and why many female founders choose a different path—building profitable, purpose-driven companies designed for long-term success rather than rapid, investment-led growth. Johanna shares lessons on resilience, strategic leadership, and trusting your instincts, offering an inspiring perspective on creating a business that reflects your values and delivers lasting impact. ---- SOCIALS: Linkedln - www.linkedin.com/in/johanna-beresford-070a5110  Website - https://fabricshift.com/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@fabricshift

In the debut episode of Bootstrappers' Breakfast, host Geeta Sidhu-Robb interviews Darina Garland, co-founder of Ooni, the company that grew from a bootstrapped startup into a business valued at over £200 million. Darina shares the story behind Ooni's launch in 2012, when a Kickstarter campaign raised more than £30,000, far exceeding its £7,500 funding goal, to bring its portable pizza ovens to market. She reflects on navigating challenges such as supply chain disruptions, balancing entrepreneurship with raising a young family, and scaling the business through organic growth and strong sales rather than external investment. Throughout the conversation, Darina offers practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially women founders. She highlights the importance of validating ideas through pre-sales, building profitable businesses from the outset, and embracing bootstrapping as a powerful route to long-term independence, resilience, and sustainable growth. ---- SOCIALS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darinag/ @darinag  LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/darina-garland-432a2317/ Website: https://ooni.com

The Bootstrappers' Breakfasts™ | The Untold Stories of Women Who Built It Their Way What if the path to success didn't require a VC check? Less than 1.3% of female-founded businesses receive venture capital funding—but millions of women are building remarkable companies without it. The Bootstrappers' Breakfasts™ celebrates the founders who chose a different path: bootstrapping with purpose, creating sustainable businesses, and scaling on their own terms. In this trailer, discover the stories behind women entrepreneurs who turned ideas into thriving ventures—some reaching $200M+ valuations—while navigating the unique realities of leadership, family, and growth. This podcast is a celebration of resilience, independence, and the belief that there is no single formula for building a successful business. Bootstrapping isn't a fallback. It's a choice. It's a strategy. It's a way to create lasting impact without giving up control of the vision. Join us for honest conversations, powerful lessons, and inspiring stories from founders who are proving that you don't need permission to build something extraordinary. Subscribe to The Bootstrappers' Breakfasts™ and discover the stories behind the women building the future—one business at a time. #WomenEntrepreneurs #FemaleFounders #Bootstrapping #Entrepreneurship #StartupStories #BusinessGrowth

Teri Bach is a Travel Coach, former psychotherapist with 28 years of experience, and speaker who helps women over 50 rediscover themselves after major life transitions. After experiencing profound personal loss and the end of her role as a caregiver, Teri found herself asking the same questions many women do:  Who am I now? What comes next? A life-changing trip to Italy became the turning point that helped her reconnect with herself and see new possibilities for her future. Today, she specializes in intentional travel—using new environments and experiences as a powerful way to help women move from feeling lost and disconnected to gaining clarity, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose. ---- SOCIALS: Website: https://untappedpotentialcoaching.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teribach/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teri.bach.79

Monique McDonald is a Grammy-Nominated, award-winning Opera Singer, International Speaker, and Certified Life Coach. Known as The Magnetic Voice Mentor, she empowers speakers, entrepreneurs, and business leaders to master their voice, unleash their stage presence, and transform their visibility into impact and income. With over 20 years of experience on some of the world's greatest stages, Monique brings a unique blend of performance expertise, transformational coaching, and vocal mastery to help clients discover their natural magnetism and confidently share their message with the world. Monique is on a mission to empower 100,000 voices. She believes that strong, authentic voices are needed now more than ever and that when a voice is tuned to its message and power, it can vibrate the world. ---- SOCIALS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themagneticvoice_/ Website: https://www.themagneticvoice.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquefmcdonald/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monique.mcdonald.180

Josette Mandela is a financial powerhouse and resilience expert dedicated to empowering women to take charge of their financial futures. A best-selling author, Josette draws from her own journey overcoming post-divorce bankruptcy to provide practical, accessible strategies for wealth-building and personal growth. Her mission is to help women gain confidence, achieve financial independence, and embrace the abundant lives they deserve. ---- SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womansguide2money/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEmpoweredMoneyGirl Website: https://josettemandela.com/a LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josette-mandela Others: https://www.facebook.com/josettemandela

Jacob L. Cooper's life changed at age three when a profound Near-Death Experience occurred after he contracted pertussis and lost the ability to breathe. This experience left him with a clear recollection of the "eternal breath" beyond the physical body. Today, Jacob shares insights into the mystery of life beyond the veil to help others live more fully on earth. Jacob holds a Master of Social Work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Reiki Master, Certified Hypnotherapist, and Regression Specialist. His work as a psychotherapist helps individuals and families overcome emotional barriers and achieve resiliency by bridging grounded mental health practices with spiritual awareness.  He has presented at the Omega Institute, IANDS, and the Edgar Cayce Association for Research and Enlightenment (ARE). His media appearances include CBS Television, Coast to Coast AM, and the Huffi ngton Post. Jacob currently resides and practices in Long Island, New York, and hosts the "The Wisdom of Jacob's Ladder" on YouTube. ---- SOCIAL MEDIA: Website: www.jacoblcooper.com (https://www.jacoblcooper.com) Facebook: @Jacob Cooper, LCSW Instagram: @jacobcooperlcsw YouTube: @Thewisdomofjacobsladder BOOKS: - Life After Breath: https://amzn.to/3nLQ64R (https://amzn.to/3nLQ64R) - The Wisdom of Jacob's Ladder: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1958848808 (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1958848808)

Dex Hunter-Torricke is a leading thinker on AI and society, with two decades of experience at the intersection of technology and global power. His career includes key roles advising leaders, including Elon Musk at SpaceX, Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook, Eric Schmidt at Google, and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Most recently, he led global communications and marketing for Google DeepMind, where he worked closely with Nobel laureate Sir Demis Hassabis. In late 2025, Dex ended his 15-year career in Big Tech and began a new chapter in public service. In February 2026, he announced the launch of the Center for Tomorrow, an urgent international effort to identify how to build successful societies in the coming decades. He is also advising the UK government as a non-executive board member at HM Treasury. ---- SOCIALS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dexhuntertorricke/ Website: https://www.centerfortomorrow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dextb/

Sharon Peake (she/her) Founder & CEO at Shape Talent Qualifications · Chartered Occupational Psychologist · MSc Occupational and Organisational Psychology · Graduate Diploma in Business and Personal Coaching​ · Bachelor of Business Administration · Accredited BPS psychometric test user: Hogan Personality Inventory, MVPI, OPQ, CPI, MBTI and many more)​ Sharon is an experienced diversity and talent management leader with over 20 years' experience in global businesses, leading teams of 100+ employees. She is also a registered psychologist and certified coach. Prior to founding Shape Talent in 2017, she held senior leadership roles in two FTSE20 business.​ Born in Australia, Sharon has lived and worked in Australia and the UK, and her roles have given her experience working across 6 continents, delivering work in locations as diverse as Colombia, Romania, India, Uganda, New York, and Hong Kong. Her clients come from sectors as diverse as telecoms, consumer goods, manufacturing, publishing, medical devices, and financial services. Sharon's research has identified the most significant barriers to women's career progression and this, combined with her significant corporate experience, has informed the development of the methodology underpinning Shape Talent's evidence-based solutions: the Three Barriers model™. Sharon regularly speaks at events, conferences and on panels, has published her research on career transition, and her opinion has been cited in the Guardian, Forbes.com, Psychologies magazine, Metro, Business Leader, Business Reporter, WeAreTheCity and more. Her favourite moment on a client engagement is hearing the client's success stories – whether that be a shift in the system at an organisational level or seeing a women's development programme participant achieve her desired (and deserved) promotion.​ Sharon's out-of-work interests include having everyday laughs with her young family, scuba diving, big cats and wildlife conservation. She is a Board Member of Born Free, a leading wildlife charity. ---- SOCIALS: Website: https://shapetalent.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonpeake/

Dr Liz Leek is a GP specialising in women's health and hormones, with a passion for helping women understand the root causes of their symptoms, not just manage them. She works with women who are tired of being told that their symptoms are "normal", "just stress", or something they need to push through — and who want to understand what's actually going on in their bodies and steps they can take to feel well. With a background stemming from physiology, conventional medicine, and advanced training in functional and lifestyle medicine, Dr. Liz brings together science, systems thinking, and real-world practicality. Her work focuses on helping women make sense of complex health issues, including hormonal shifts and low energy to mood changes, gut symptoms, and chronic inflammation. She supports translating that knowledge into actions that are sustainable, personalised, and empowering. Whilst Dr Liz supports all women's health issues, she has a particular interest in: Perimenopause and menopause, endometriosis, PCOS, PMS and PMDD, identifying the often-overlooked links between hormones, stress, sleep, metabolism and mental wellbeing. Rather than treating symptoms in isolation, she takes a whole-person, root-cause approach, combining evidence-based medicine, lifestyle interventions, and combining this with relevant bioidentical hormone therapy. Her aim is not just to relieve symptoms, but to help women build long-term resilience, clarity, and confidence in their health. Dr. Liz enjoys opportunities for open, in-depth conversations about women's health. She is all too aware of the overwhelming amount of (mis)information and the need to try and help people cut through the noise to understand what is relevant to them. She believes in empowering health and wellbeing through education and choice. By supporting women to truly understand their physiology, they are better equipped to advocate for themselves, make informed decisions, and be autonomous in their health journey. Outside of clinical work, Dr. Liz is also a mother of three young girls and lives by the lifestyle principles she teaches — spending time outdoors, swimming, hiking, surfing, and sailing whenever she can. ---- SOCIALS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_liz_leek/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-liz-leek-45a83782/