AccelerateHER Podcast

Kayla-Megan Burns

In this season finale, the mic gets flipped on Kayla-Megan Burns, the brilliant mind behind Podplistic and the production of this very podcast. A former biomedical student, climate activist, and New York Times debate guest, Kayla takes us through their incredible journey: from selling podcast services as a side hustle to pitching AI-driven software to global news giants. We talk tech, identity, burnout, purpose and how it feels to be a non-binary founder navigating the startup world (and the women's founder ecosystem) in 2025. It’s warm, honest, smart, and a perfect wrap-up to the series. You’ll laugh, cry, and probably Google “Dunning-Kruger effect” halfway through.

Alison Gray

In this episode of the AccelerateHER podcast, Elizabeth sits down with Alison Gray, founder of Skillfluence — a woman with a passion for people, potential, and (unexpectedly) antique doorknobs. Alison shares her journey from managing mental health care homes to empowering researchers and academics with entrepreneurial skills. With warmth and wit, she reflects on side hustles, building a mission-driven business without external investment, and what Aussie Gold Hunters has to do with downtime. We also tackle a brilliant “Ask AccelerateHER” question: how do you shift from doing it all yourself to leading a team and letting go? Whether you're a founder, educator, or just someone figuring out the next step — this one’s packed with gems.

Fiona Gillies & Christine Hartland

In this episode, we meet the brilliant duo behind My SMASH Media — Fiona Gillis and Christine Hartland. These two powerhouse producers are shaking up the film and TV industry with a platform designed to make matchmaking between creators and decision-makers as easy as swiping right. They share how their own frustrations in the industry led to the creation of SMASH, the joys and challenges of building a startup as co-founders, and the lessons learned from raising investment — including one pitch so disruptive it caused visible outrage on an industry panel! We also tackle a real-life founder dilemma: how to network confidently when you're an introvert. Expect honest advice, plenty of laughs, and a healthy dose of “we’ll just do it ourselves, then” energy. Whether you’re in the creative industries or building something from scratch, this one is packed with insight and inspiration. Topics we cover: From actor to entrepreneur: Fiona’s unconventional journey Finding the right co-founder (on a train!) Disrupting a traditional industry with tech Pitching under pressure Honest truths about investment as female founders Building confidence in networking Why founders make great producers — and vice versa

Nicole Christie

In this episode, Elizabeth chats with Nicole Christie, founder of Alvah Accountancy, tech enthusiast, karaoke queen, and a relentless problem-solver. From dreaming of being a farmer’s wife to teaching herself to code a tax planning tool, Nicole’s journey is anything but ordinary. We dive into: The bold decision to start a business in the early days of the pandemic How being neurodivergent fuels her entrepreneurial mindset What she learned from building (and exiting) a fintech startup she only owned 10% of Her vision for AI-powered finance teams that support founders How she’s using her new firm as a sandbox for tech innovation Plus, advice on dealing gracefully with late-paying clients, and why she ignored the advice to “choose between being a businesswoman or an accountant”   A funny, fast-paced and refreshingly honest conversation that shows what happens when you combine creativity with commercial know-how.

Caroline Barelle and Vicki Hazley

In this episode, Elizabeth Pirrie chats with two powerhouse women working at the intersection of science and investment: Caroline Barelle, CEO of Elasmogen, and Vicki Hasley from the Scottish National Investment Bank. We hear how both women started with biochemistry degrees but took very different routes—Caroline from academia to biotech entrepreneurship, and Vicky from innovation support into impact investment. Caroline shares the powerful personal story behind her passion for drug development, how she spun Elasmogen out from the University of Aberdeen, and what it takes to bring new treatments to market. Vicki explains why the Scottish National Investment Bank invested in Elasmogen and what it means to be a "mission-driven" funder. Expect honest reflections on balancing motherhood with ambition, how to navigate the spin-out process, and why Scotland’s collaborative ecosystem matters. Plus: 80s bangers, fantasy football, and vacuuming in leg warmers.