How Richard Harpin Scaled HomeServe to Billions: 9 Steps to Entrepreneurial Success
ScaleX™ Insider Podcast
In this episode of the ScaleX™ Insider Podcast, Brendan McGurgan speaks with Richard Harpin, founder of HomeServe and author of How to Make a Billion in Nine Steps. Richard shares his extraordinary journey from childhood entrepreneur to building a multi-billion-pound global business. Discover: ✅ The brutal lessons from near-bankruptcy ✅ How to copy, pivot, and find your magic business model ✅ Why hiring local talent is the key to global success ✅ How to build resilience, persistence, and entrepreneurial grit ✅ The real power of a “Not To Do” list for scaling ✅ Why mentoring...
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Clare & Paul Vallely: How to Turn Doubt Into Success
ScaleX™ Insider Podcast
In this heartfelt and high-value episode of the ScaleX™ Insider Podcast, host Brendan McGurgan sits down with sibling co-founders Clare and Paul Vallely of Kukoon, a global e-commerce business born out of humble beginnings in Northern Ireland. What started as a side hustle selling leftover rugs on eBay has transformed into a powerhouse business shipping 8,000+ rugs weekly to over 60 countries, generating £16.5M in revenue and £2M in profits in 2024 alone. The Vallelys are now scaling toward £20M turnover, while building a purpose-led team of 55, developing strategic partnerships, and...
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Scaling with Heart: Season 16 Reflections with Claire Colvin
ScaleX™ Insider Podcast
In this reflective and uplifting episode of the ScaleX™ Insider Podcast, host Brendan McGurgan is joined once again by Claire Colvin — strategic advisor, leadership coach, and longtime friend of the ScaleX community — to recap the standout moments, lessons, and voices from Season 16. From climbing 26 peaks across Ireland to raising £1.4 million for children affected by cancer, Claire brings her own personal stories into the fold, offering vivid metaphors for leadership, team alignment, and scaling with heart. Whether you're navigating uncertainty, building your team, or questioning what...
info_outline![[REPLAY - from the archive] How Navy SEAL Larry Yatch Trains Elite Leaders to Stay Calm Under Fire show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/189991225?height=50&width=50)
[REPLAY - from the archive] How Navy SEAL Larry Yatch Trains Elite Leaders to Stay Calm Under Fire
ScaleX™ Insider Podcast
How Navy SEAL Larry Yatch Trains Elite Leaders to Stay Calm Under Fire In this high-impact episode of the ScaleX™ Insider Podcast, host Brendan McGurgan speaks with Larry Yatch — retired Navy SEAL officer, elite leadership strategist, and founder of SEAL Team Leaders. After leading hundreds of critical missions, Larry now trains business leaders to think and operate under extreme pressure — with the calm and clarity of a SEAL. For SME leaders navigating high-stakes growth, complex teams, and fast-changing markets, Larry brings powerful tools and mindset shifts grounded in military...
info_outline![[REPLAY - from the archive] How Susie Ma Scaled Tropic Skincare With Purpose, Resilience and Profit show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/189738865?height=50&width=50)
[REPLAY - from the archive] How Susie Ma Scaled Tropic Skincare With Purpose, Resilience and Profit
ScaleX™ Insider Podcast
How Susie Ma Scaled Tropic Skincare With Purpose, Resilience and Profit In this episode of the ScaleX™ Insider Podcast, host Brendan McGurgan sits down with Susie Ma, founder and CEO of Tropic Skincare, one of the UK’s fastest-growing beauty brands and a shining example of purpose-led entrepreneurship. From launching Tropic at age 15 to turning it into a multi-million-pound business, Susie shares the highs, lows and deep personal insights behind building a truly values-driven company — one that’s scaled profitably, sustainably, and without compromising its ethical roots. This episode...
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Simon Squibb: The Hard Truth About Scaling: Why Purpose, Not Profit, Builds Real Businesses
ScaleX™ Insider Podcast
In this unmissable episode of ScaleX Insider, host Benny McGurgan sits down with serial entrepreneur and HelpBank founder Simon Squibb to unpack the myths of hard work, the lies we inherit about success, and the power of rediscovering your dream. You’ll Learn: · Why most business owners don’t scale (and what to do instead) · The real reason your team isn’t engaged · How purpose—not hustle—is your biggest growth lever · How to remove limiting beliefs that are sabotaging your success · Whether you're stuck in your business...
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Alisa Cohn - You’re Not Ready—Start Anyway
ScaleX™ Insider Podcast
In this energising episode of the ScaleX™ Insider Podcast, I’m thrilled to welcome Alisa Cohn — executive coach, former CFO, and author of the highly acclaimed book From Start-Up to Grown-Up. Named the #1 Startup Coach in the world by Thinkers50 and a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review and Forbes, Alisa has coached the leadership teams of companies like Venmo, Etsy, and Dell — and countless first-time founders navigating the scale-up journey. In this episode, we go deep on the inner game of scaling. Alisa shares personal stories, proven techniques, and hard-won wisdom...
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Marshall Goldsmith: You're the problem. Now What?
ScaleX™ Insider Podcast
In this powerful episode of the ScaleX™ Insider Podcast, I’m deeply honoured to welcome Marshall Goldsmith — world-renowned executive coach, #1 New York Times bestselling author, and one of the most influential business thinkers of our time. For nearly 40 years, Marshall has coached over 150 CEOs and their leadership teams, helping them navigate behavioural change, scale impact, and lead with intention. He pioneered the use of 360-degree feedback in leadership development and has been recognised as the top-rated executive coach at the Thinkers50 awards in London — every year since...
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Caspar Craven: Change or Stay Stuck
ScaleX™ Insider Podcast
In this episode of the ScaleX™ Insider Podcast, I’m honoured to welcome Caspar Craven—seasoned entrepreneur, leadership expert, and author of Be More Human and The Big Bold Mindset. Caspar learned first-hand that success isn't about avoiding challenges — it's about embracing them and harnessing their power. Having started as an entrepreneur at 14, he’s since built and led teams across global corporations, start-ups, struggling businesses, and high-growth ventures. With five years at KPMG Corporate Finance and multiple roles as CEO, CFO, and Board Advisor — including several...
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Dr. Sherry Walling: The #1 Reason Entrepreneurs Burn Out
ScaleX™ Insider Podcast
In this episode of the ScaleX™ Insider Podcast, I’m honoured to welcome Dr. Sherry Walling—clinical psychologist, founder of ZenFounder, and one of the most important voices on the mental health of entrepreneurs. Author of The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Keeping Your Sht Together* and Touching Two Worlds, Dr. Sherry combines clinical insight with lived experience to guide founders through burnout, trauma, grief, and the deep inner work of leadership. She helps high-achieving individuals scale their businesses without losing themselves in the process. In this deeply human and illuminating...
info_outlineIn this episode of the ScaleX™ Insider Podcast, I’m delighted to welcome Sam Smith, trailblazing entrepreneur, board advisor, and co-founder of The SuperScalers.
As the first female CEO of a City stockbroking firm, Sam led finnCap from a management buyout to a £50m+ revenue investment bank, supporting hundreds of high-growth companies along the way. Her groundbreaking leadership journey is defined not just by numbers—but by purpose, empathy, and a relentless drive to build better businesses from the inside out.
Now a board advisor across tech, private equity, and commodities, Sam helps organisations scale with strategy, good governance, and inclusive leadership. She’s also championing underrepresented founders through The SuperScalers, a global initiative helping entrepreneurs grow from £1m to £50m+ in revenue.
In this energising conversation, we explore:
✅ Why Belonging Is Your Business Advantage – and how to scale culture alongside revenue
✅ Why Purpose-Driven Businesses Win – and what that looks like in practice
✅ How We Built an Investment Bank From Scratch – lessons from the frontline
✅ Why You Should Never Let the World Decide Who You Are
✅ The Secret Sauce for Employee Loyalty – and what most leaders get wrong
✅ How to Scale With Empathy – without sacrificing commercial ambition
✅ Why You Shouldn't Scale Without Purpose – and the power of doing business your way
Whether you’re a founder, a leader, or a change-maker, this episode will inspire you to rethink how you scale—and who you bring with you.
🎧 Tune in now and discover why culture, courage, and clarity are the real accelerators of growth.
Connect with Sam Smith:
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-smith
About Simple Scaling & ScaleX™ Insider Podcast:
ScaleX™ is a platform designed to help SME leaders scale with purpose using the proven ScaleX™ Framework. Hosted by Brendan McGurgan, the ScaleX™ Insider Podcast brings insights from world-class entrepreneurs and business thinkers.
📌 Learn more about Simple Scaling:
🌐 Website: https://www.simplescaling.com
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