Why I’m launching ‘📚 a read, 🧏‍♀️ a listen and a 💡 learn’

In a world flooded with content, what actually stays with us? I read something recently that said we consume more in a day now than our grandparents do / did in a month in terms of thoughts, news and communications.

Not everything we scroll past earns a second thought with between 45,000-60,000 thoughts a day but every so often, we come across something that stops us in our tracks — an article that shifts our perspective, a podcast that challenges how we think, or a single line of insight that stays with us long after we’ve heard it. Those are the moments that matter. And to me, they’re also the moments worth passing on.

I’ve always believed that knowledge becomes more powerful when it’s shared.
A big part of that comes from my own experience. As a young woman building my career, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to be lifted by other people — by those who have taken the time to share what they know, point me towards something useful, or simply have an honest conversation with me when I needed it most. I’m spoilt to be able to say, there have been too many to name.

When I think about some of the moments that have shaped me most, they are not always the big, formal ones. Very often, they’ve been the quieter moments: someone forwarding me an article and saying, this made me think of you; a recommendation for a podcast that gave me a completely new perspective; an informal chat that left me feeling more confident, more grounded, or more sure of my next step.

Some of my best learnings have come from exactly that — resource-sharing, generosity, and conversations that probably felt small at the time, but stayed with me long afterwards.

And I think that matters.

Because when you’re earlier in your career, or still figuring things out, those moments can make such a difference. Sometimes what you need is not a perfect roadmap, but simply someone willing to share what has helped them. A lesson. A recommendation. A thought. A bit of encouragement. Proof that you don’t need to have everything figured out to keep moving forward.

I’ve often looked at people further ahead in their careers or journeys and thought, that’s who I want to be. But over time, I’ve realised that the people who leave the biggest mark are not just the ones who go far. They’re the ones who bring others with them. The ones who turn around, reach back, and share what helped them along the way.

Controversially, some people are reluctant to help as they don’t think there is space for everyone or they see other people as competition. Those who are real success to me are those who share – especially the things that didn’t go so well. The learnings, the lessons and the laughs, reflecting back.
That is the thinking behind my new weekly LinkedIn series: ‘📚 a read, 🧏‍♀️ a listen and a 💡 learn’.

Each week, I’ll share three things: something worth reading, something worth listening to, and one insight that has genuinely shaped my thinking. The idea is simple. If something has helped me think bigger, act sooner, or see things differently, it may just do the same for someone else.

Volume 1 was released last week. The read was ‘The Times’ feature on Scotland’s fastest 50 scaling businesses — a timely reminder that bold ambition is thriving north of the border. It was especially exciting to see businesses included that I’ve either worked closely with or supported as a customer. And one name stood out in particular: VIEVE. As one of my favourite brands globally, its presence on the list feels significant. It proves that world-class consumer brands can be built in Scotland and still command national and international attention.

The listen that caught my attention came from Rebecca Leiper and Sarah Sandle, whose podcast on pensions delivers something we need far more of: honest, practical conversations about money. Their message around starting early, backing your financial decisions and speaking more openly with family and friends was both refreshing and necessary. In fact, it prompted me to do something many of us avoid — open my payslip and properly understand what all the acronyms and contributions actually meant.

And then there was this the learn — a quote from Grace Beverley that landed instantly: “Don’t be so embarrassed about being cringe that you limit your potential.” It is sharp, honest and uncomfortably true. So often, we hold ourselves back because we’re worried about how we’ll be perceived. But growth rarely begins when everything feels polished and perfect. More often, it begins when we are willing to show up before we feel fully ready.

That is the thread connecting all three: curiosity sparks growth, but shared knowledge accelerates it.

And that is exactly why this series exists.

Because I know how much it can mean when someone shares something with you at the right moment. I know how powerful a recommendation can be. I know how far an informal conversation can travel in your mind long after it ends. And I know that many of the things that have helped me most came from other people choosing to share, rather than keep that knowledge to themselves.

So this is my way of doing the same.

If one recommendation, one conversation or one lesson helps someone move faster, think differently or back themselves more boldly, then it is already worth it.

I’d really appreciate you following along with the series on LinkedIn