The Luminate Collective

EP 8: Embracing Change and Community – Geoff Leask

Welcome to The Luminate Collective Podcast, brought to you by AAB Consulting, hosted by Sian Parker. In this series, we capture candid conversations on life, change, leadership, and the world of business.  
   
Beyond their titles, our guests share their life stories, discussing the personal and vulnerable experiences that have contributed to their success.   
 
Today's guest, Geoff Leask is the Founding Director of Clayhills Consultancy, and he specialises in delivering business success through planning, innovation, and ambition.  
 
Geoff's done it all over the years – from sailing with the Merchant Navy to running pubs with his brother and spearheading the success of Young Enterprise Scotland as their CEO.
 
He shares his experiences, including the challenging moments that shaped him, like navigating the complex merger of the Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust with the Prince’s Trust and how that period in his life affected his mental health.
 
Geoff’s story is full of valuable insights, lessons on the importance of adapting and he shares his favourite saying, “You can do it yourself”. A mantra which has been apparent in one way or another with everything he has done. To hear more, stay tuned.
 
 
Want to chat to us about The Luminate Collective Podcast? E-mail sian.parker@aab.uk   
   
Join our community: LinkedIn @AABConsulting, Instagram @aab.consulting    
   
A brief introduction to AAB Consulting...    
   
• We are the consulting arm of The AAB Group    
• Compared to AAB, we are just a young thing, we started in 2018   
• We are a business consultancy focused on helping our clients think about, prepare for, and deliver change    
• We focus on adding real value in the areas of service design, digital strategy & transformation, business agility and growth management    
• We firmly believe that our clients want a great experience when they hire consultants; not simply a project or intervention   
• We have a healthy focus on looking after our team members so that they look after our clients.    
   
Please contact us if you want to chat, are interested to know more or just want to know why we love llamas, you can reach us by e-mailing advisors@aabconsulting.uk   

EP 7: A Designer's Journey - Ed Vickers on Creating a New Path in Digital Media

Welcome to The Luminate Collective Podcast, brought to you by AAB Consulting, hosted by Sian Parker. In this series, we capture candid conversations on life, change, leadership, and the world of business. 
  
Beyond their titles, our guests share their life stories, discussing the personal and vulnerable experiences that have contributed to their success.  
 
Today's guest, Ed Vickers, has a dynamic design career that spans both the client and agency sides of the industry. After significant experience leading creative and media teams for large organisations, Ed co-founded Loop Agencies, where they believe delivering great work is a two-way thing, building in house agencies with out-sourced creative campaigns.
During lockdown, Ed started a YouTube channel, The FarmSimGuy, and is now Scotland's leading YouTube content creator in the Farming Simulator niche. He transformed his lockdown hobby into a thriving digital presence. With over 76,000 subscribers and up to 500,000 monthly viewers, Ed's channel not only showcases his passion for gaming but also reflects his innovative approach to digital content creation.
In this episode, we hear about Ed’s “bookmark moment” which was fairly recently, his career as a creative and what he has learned. One of the most important lessons is how “not” to do things, he has had many experiences of toxic workplace culture and candidly shares them with us, I’m sure plenty of other organisations can learn a thing or two.
Ed's story is a great illustration of the power of blending passions with professional expertise and the importance of adapting to the ever-evolving digital landscape. To hear more about Ed's journey and the insights he has gained from his diverse career - stay tuned.
Skip to the following sections:
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:23 Ed's Bookmark Moment
00:13:32 Ed's Early Career Learnings
00:27:38 Ed's View on Workplace Culture
00:40:50 Outro
 
Want to chat to us about The Luminate Collective Podcast? E-mail sian.parker@aab.uk  
  
Join our community: LinkedIn @AABConsulting, Instagram @aab.consulting   
  
A brief introduction to AAB Consulting...   
  
• We are the consulting arm of The AAB Group   
• Compared to AAB, we are just a young thing, we started in 2018  
• We are a business consultancy focused on helping our clients think about, prepare for, and deliver change   
• We focus on adding real value in the areas of service design, digital strategy & transformation, business agility and growth management   
• We firmly believe that our clients want a great experience when they hire consultants; not simply a project or intervention  
• We have a healthy focus on looking after our team members so that they look after our clients.   
  
Please contact us if you want to chat, are interested to know more or just want to know why we love llamas, you can reach us by e-mailing advisors@aabconsulting.uk  
 

EP 6: Tackling the Climate Crisis with Purpose – Josiah Lockhart

Welcome to The Luminate Collective Podcast, brought to you by AAB Consulting, hosted by Sian Parker. In this series, we capture candid conversations on life, change, leadership, and the world of business.
 
Beyond their titles, our guests share their life stories, discussing the personal and vulnerable experiences that have contributed to their success. 
 
In this episode, Sian chats to Josiah Lockhart, Chief Executive of Changeworks, Scotland’s leading environmental charity delivering energy efficiency and low carbon solutions. 
 
Josiah is leading on the delivery of Changeworks’ strategy for 2022-2025, as the organisation refocuses its work towards one goal: decarbonising Scotland’s homes. 
 
In this conversation, we chat about Josiah’s ‘bookmark moment’ where his early career aspirations in the entertainment industry took an unexpected turn leading him down a path of self-discovery and social entrepreneurship.
 
He shares candid insights into a hugely pivotal moment where he experienced a life-altering bicycle accident and how that recovery shaped a new perspective on life, career and the urgency of societal issues.
 
Josiah’s experience advising and leading social enterprises and working with social entrepreneurs is second to none, to hear the lessons Josiah has learned the hard way and the advice he would give to a new social enterprise wanting to make an impact, keep listening.
Skip to the following sections:  
00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:06 - Josiah's Bookmark Moment
00:13:29 - Josiah's Success
00:29:09 - Josiah's Approach to the Climate Crisis
00:52:08 - Outro
 
Want to chat to us about The Luminate Collective Podcast? E-mail sian.parker@aab.uk 
 
Join our community: LinkedIn @AABConsulting, Instagram @aab.consulting  
 
A brief introduction to AAB Consulting...  
 
We are the consulting arm of The AAB Group 
Compared to AAB, we are just a young thing, we started in 2018
We are a business consultancy focused on helping our clients think about, prepare for, and deliver change 
We focus on adding real value in the areas of service design, digital strategy & transformation, business agility and growth management 
We firmly believe that our clients want a great experience when they hire consultants; not simply a project or intervention
We have a healthy focus on looking after our team members so that they look after our clients. 
 
Please contact us if you want to chat, are interested to know more or just want to know why we love llamas, you can reach us by e-mailing advisors@aabconsulting.uk 

EP 5: From Young Upstart to Mature Startup - Don Smith

Welcome to The Luminate Collective Podcast, brought to you by AAB Consulting, hosted by Sian Parker. In this series, we capture candid conversations on life, change, leadership, and the world of business.
 
Beyond their titles, our guests share their life stories, discussing the personal and vulnerable experiences that have contributed to their success. 
 
In this episode, Sian sits down with Don Smith, Applied Innovation Consultant, and Inventor. Don is the driving force behind 'One Hundred Flowers,' a consultancy revolutionising how organisations harness invention and innovation. Don's mission? To transform these businesses into disruptors, rather than the disrupted. 
 
In this conversation, we chat about Don's 'bookmark moment.' He shares his first work placement experience, which, against all odds and with a little help from his resourceful Geordie mother, turned into a defining chapter in his life. We'll also explore the audacious pitch that won the Irn Bru MD over and explore the invaluable lessons Don has gathered throughout his illustrious career in creativity. 
 
This episode isn't just a marketing masterclass; it's interspersed with philosophical gems and life insights. For someone who claims not to be driven by money, Don's journey is a vivid illustration of his extraordinary dedication and hard work. So, let's dive in and uncover the secrets behind his remarkable success!
Skip to the Following Sections:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:54 Don's Bookmark Moment
00:17:36 Don's Career Highlights
00:30:12 Don's Current Projects
00:41:29 Conclusion
 
Want to chat to us about The Luminate Collective Podcast? E-mail sian.parker@aab.uk  Join our community: LinkedIn @AABConsulting, Instagram @aab.consulting   A brief introduction to AAB Consulting...   • We are the consulting arm of The AAB Group  • Compared to AAB, we are just a young thing, we started in 2018 • We are a business consultancy focused on helping our clients think about, prepare for, and deliverchange  • We focus on adding real value in the areas of service design, digital strategy & transformation,business agility and growth management  • We firmly believe that our clients want a great experience when they hire consultants; not simply aproject or intervention • We have a healthy focus on looking after our team members so that they look after our clients.   Please contact us if you want to chat, are interested to know more or just want to know why we lovellamas, you can reach us by e-mailing advisors@aabconsulting.uk

EP4: Navigating Change as a Woman in Financial Services – Lauren McIlroy

Welcome to The Luminate Collective Podcast, brought to you by AAB Consulting, hosted by SianParker.
In this series, we capture candid conversations on life, change, leadership, and the world ofbusiness. Beyond their titles, our guests share their life stories, discussing the personal and vulnerableexperiences that have contributed to their success.
In this episode, Sian sits down with Lauren McIlroy, Partner and Head of Virtual Finance Function atThe AAB Group. Lauren reflects on pivotal moments in her career, sharing valuable insights andlessons. She discusses her early career choices, the role of education, and transitioning throughvarious roles in industry.
Lauren's candid conversation touches on challenges faced during maternity leave, post-miscarriagetrauma, and her experiences as a woman in the workplace. She emphasises the importance ofpersonal decisions, gender equality, and fostering a supportive work environment.Lauren also shares her approach to leadership and communication, highlighting the significance oftrust and flexibility in her team.
This episode offers a glimpse into the complexities of balancing careerand personal life, as well as the evolution of professional paths over the years.
Skip to the following sections: 
00:00:00 - Introduction.
00:00:00 - Conversation Begins.
00:06:32 - Lauren's Bookmark Moment.
00:09:44 - Starting a Family, Becoming a Mother.
00:16:26 - Evolving from Working in Practice.
00:20:08 - Starting a New Job With a New Born.
00:22:08 - Being a Woman in the Corporate World.
00:30:01 - Managing a Team and Being a Leader.
00:32:16 - Experiencing Maternity Leave a Second Time.
00:39:32 - Outro.
 
Want to chat with us about The Luminate Collective? E-mail sian.parker@aab.ukJoin our community: LinkedIn @AABConsulting, Instagram @aab.consulting A brief introduction to AAB Consulting...• We are the consulting arm of The AAB Group• Compared to AAB, we are just a young thing, we started in 2018• We are a business consultancy focused on helping our clients think about, prepare for, and deliverchange• We focus on adding real value in the areas of service design, digital strategy & transformation,business agility and growth management• We firmly believe that our clients want a great experience when they hire consultants; not simply aproject or intervention• We have a healthy focus on looking after our team members so that they look after our clients.Please contact us if you want to chat, are interested to know more or just want to know why we lovellamas, you can reach us by e-mailing advisors@aabconsulting.uk

EP3: Leading with Determination, Authenticity and Empathy - Sylvie Douglas

Welcome to The Luminate Collective Podcast, brought to you by AAB Consulting, hosted by Sian Parker. In this series, we capture candid conversations on life, change, leadership, and the world of business.
Beyond their titles, our guests share their life stories, discussing the personal and vulnerableexperiences that have contributed to their success.
In this episode, Sian sits down with Sylvie Douglas, Founding Director of MsMissMrs, an organisationdedicated to empowering women and fostering self-sufficiency. Sylvie's remarkable journey is a testament to the power of resilience, adaptability, and growth.
Sylvie's story unfolds as a captivating narrative of personal transformation. From her challenging teenage years marked by adversity and poverty, she evolved into a determined woman, fiercely committed to creating a better life for herself and her daughter. Her early struggles instilled in her a sense of purpose and an unwavering determination to break free from the constraints of her upbringing.
Join us as we embark on Sylvie's journey of self-discovery and empowerment, a journey that led her to establish MsMissMrs and make a profound impact on the lives of women facing economic hardships and trauma. Sylvie's story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the boundless possibilities that arise when one embraces change with resilience and an open heart.
 
Chapter Markers:
00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:18 - Sylvie's Bookmark Moment
00:06:58 - The Teenage Years and Change
00:10:17 - Handling Becoming a Young Mother
00:13:34 - How did the Bookmark Moment Inspire Change
00:24:05 - Where do Great Ideas Come From?
00:26:41 - What Does Self-Care Mean to You?
00:32:41 - What the Future Holds for MsMissMrs
00:38:57 - The Secret to Balancing a Busy Schedule
00:42:31 - Advice to Those Experiencing Hardships
 
Want to chat with us about The Luminate Collective? E-mail sian.parker@aab.ukJoin our community: LinkedIn @AABConsulting, Instagram @aab.consulting
A brief introduction to AAB Consulting:
We are the consulting arm of The AAB Group• Compared to AAB, we are just a young thing, we started in 2018• We are a business consultancy focused on helping our clients think about, prepare for, and deliver change• We focus on adding real value in the areas of service design, digital strategy & transformation, business agility and growth management• We firmly believe that our clients want a great experience when they hire consultants; not simply a project or intervention• We have a healthy focus on looking after our team members so that they look after our clients.
Please contact us if you want to chat, are interested to know more or just want to know why we love llamas, you can reach us by e-mailing advisors@aabconsulting.uk

EP2: Learning and Living through Change - Amanda Sykes

Welcome to The Luminate Collective Podcast, brought to you by AAB Consulting, hosted by Sian Parker. In this series, we capture candid conversations on life, change, leadership, and the world of business.
Beyond their titles, our guests share their life stories, discussing the personal and vulnerable experiences that have contributed to their success.
In this episode, Sian sits down with Dr Amanda Sykes, the Academic Design Lead for The University of Glasgow's Transformation Team. Amanda’s story is a testament to the power of adapting, learning and growing through change.
Amanda's remarkable journey reveals the profound impact of life experiences. Her early years working with individuals with learning difficulties taught her invaluable lessons about the true essence of happiness, emphasising the significance of simple, genuine gestures.
Discover Amanda's personal exploration of authenticity and self-discovery, where she candidly shares her journey to understand her true self. Her insights into realising one's identity can resonate with anyone on a path of self-discovery.
 
Chapter Markers:
00:00:00 - Intro
00:00:42 - The Early Days of Amanda's Career
00:05:27 - Coming Out and Leaving Home
00:10:32 - Learning Hard Lessons at a Young Age
00:14:03 - Amanda's Bookmark Moment
00:18:42 - Working Through Uni, Beginning a Career
00:25:37 - Life After University and Finding a Job
00:28:42 - Menopause and Work Culture
00:34:29 - The Transformative Experience of HRT
00:42:06 - The Big Life Lessons
 
Want to chat with us about The Luminate Collective? E-mail sian.parker@aab.ukJoin our community: LinkedIn @AABConsulting, Instagram @aab.consulting
A brief introduction to AAB Consulting:• We are the consulting arm of The AAB Group• Compared to AAB, we are just a young thing, we started in 2018• We are a business consultancy focused on helping our clients think about, prepare for, and deliver change• We focus on adding real value in the areas of service design, digital strategy & transformation, business agility and growth management• We firmly believe that our clients want a great experience when they hire consultants; not simply a project or intervention• We have a healthy focus on looking after our team members so that they look after our clientsPlease contact us if you want to chat, are interested to know more or just want to know why we love llamas, you can reach us by e-mailing advisors@aabconsulting.uk

EP1: Leading in a Time of Uncertainty - Caroline Lamb

Welcome to The Luminate Collective Podcast, brought to you by AAB Consulting, hosted by Sian Parker. In this series, we capture candid conversations on life, change, leadership, and the world of business. Beyond their titles, our guests share their life stories, discussing the personal and vulnerable experiences that have contributed to their success. 
In this episode, Sian sits down with Caroline Lamb, CEO of NHS Scotland and Director General of Health and Social Care Directorates. Caroline’s journey is a testament to leadership in the face of change, particularly when the odds are against you and the future is unknown.  
Caroline's narrative is a masterclass in embracing challenges and transforming them into opportunities. She shares her insights on building trust, nurturing relationships, and understanding the perspectives of diverse stakeholders. Caroline's wisdom offers actionable guidance for leaders aiming to drive innovation while respecting the values of their teams.
 
Chapter Markers:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:00:33 - Caroline's Bookmark Moment
00:03:57 - The Journey to Where Caroline is Now
00:12:37 - Handling the Covid-19 Pandemic
00:16:37 - Why Taking Chances is Important
00:22:22 - Opportunities for the Younger Generations
00:24:25 - Motivating a Team to Work Towards the Greater Good
00:29:31 - Key Moments of Learning From Various Entities
00:32:48 - Has There Been a Shift in the Work Place With a More Hybrid Approach
00:35:56 - Creating Guidance for Graduate Employees
00:37:36 - Gaining Trust and Respect From Fellow Leaders
00:40:45 - Advice on Being a Leader
00:42:51 - Caroline's University Years
00:45:27 - Reflective Thoughts on Time Spent in London
00:46:48 - Living in Edinburgh During the Fringe
00:48:08 - The Stress of Work and Switching Off
00:51:35 - Outro
 
Want to chat to us about The Luminate Collective Podcast? E-mail sian.parker@aab.uk
Join our community: LinkedIn @AABConsulting, Instagram @aab.consulting
 
A brief introduction to AAB Consulting...
• We are the consulting arm of The AAB Group• Compared to AAB, we are just a young thing, we started in 2018• We are a business consultancy focused on helping our clients think about, prepare for, and deliver change• We focus on adding real value in the areas of service design, digital strategy and transformation, business agility and growth management• We firmly believe that our clients want a great experience when they hire consultants; not simply a project or intervention• We have a healthy focus on looking after our team members so that they look after our clients.
Please contact us if you want to chat, are interested to know more or just want to know why we love llamas, you can reach us by e-mailing advisors@aabconsulting.uk