As a Mary Erskine FP, what experiences at school helped shape your career path?
My experience at school played a significant role in shaping my career path. The emphasis on curiosity, resilience and independent thinking encouraged me to approach challenges with confidence and creativity. Opportunities to collaborate with others, whether through academic projects or sporting activities helped me develop strong communication and listening skills.
Just as importantly, the school’s supportive environment gave me the confidence to take initiative, build lasting relationships, stay motivated, traits that have been central to my career.
You founded your own PR, sponsorship, and events business in 1999. What inspired you to take the leap into entrepreneurship so early in your career?
I was working for a magazine which was sold to a newspaper group and my life was in considerable turmoil, as I had just lost my mother to cancer aged 26. It was a profound moment in my life and the two things collided. I was speaking to one of the magazine advertisers and they were looking for someone in Scotland to manage their Sponsorship work, and I found myself saying ‘I can do that.’ The next thing I knew I was at Companies House opening my first business. A huge leap of faith but somehow, I knew it was the right thing for me. I have always enjoyed leading and captaining teams, so why not build your own.
Your work spans sport, business, charities, and the arts. How important is it for students today to build a broad range of experiences rather than following a single path?
I think it is very important to be open and actively seek out new experiences, being a one trick pony can be detrimental (unless you are a doctor, lawyer etc). Employers now favour people who have had lived experiences such as volunteering, had summer jobs and have applied themselves out with their comfort zones.
You’ve spoken about not needing to follow a traditional university route to succeed. What alternative pathways would you encourage young people to consider?
When I was at school there was little in the way of traineeships. Now, employers are keen to offer employment and further education options. To me this is a superb combination of getting on the career ladder, earning a wage and having further study and qualification opportunities.
Having built and led Big Blue PR for over 25 years, what have been the most valuable skills in growing and sustaining a business?
Active listening, a strong work ethic and creative problem-solving plus resilience has helped me navigate economic cycles, industry disruption and client churn while continuing to grow. I have built trust that’s sustained long-term client relationships and always approach each day with energy, purpose and a genuine excitement for what’s possible.
You’ve worked on major sporting events and with global brands. What advice would you give to students interested in careers in sport, media, or marketing?
Volunteer at every opportunity. Work for free and get as much experience as you can get. Network, use your parents’ friends and their network to reach out to industry and ask them for time to chat – be interested, be informed and ask questions! Use LinkedIn; it is a goldmine.
Jobs in media and sport are notoriously hard to get into, be resilient and if you really want it, you will find a way, volunteering and unpaid internships are a great way to get your foot in the door.
How have challenges in your career made you more resilient and what can young people learn from setbacks?
Making a mistake is not fatal, not learning from it is. You must taste setbacks and ‘fail well’ not just in work but life in general. Show me a gritty person who has tried things, failed, tried again and keeps getting up, fighting and learning. That is a person I would like to work with.
 Alongside running your business, you mentor entrepreneurs and serve on boards. Why is it important to ‘give back’ and how can students start doing this early?
Giving back matters because none of us succeed in isolation. Mentoring and serving on Boards is a way to share experience, support others and help unlock potential or steer leaders of a Company to make the smartest decisions. It’s incredibly rewarding and it keeps me learning, listening and connected to fresh perspectives and is great for networking with like-minded business people.
For students, giving back can start small: supporting peers, volunteering, or offering your time and skills where they’re needed. It’s less about experience and more about mindset—being curious, generous, and willing to help. Building that habit early creates a lasting impact on both others and your own growth. You can join things such as the Youth Parliament or learn how to referee in a sport you enjoy or simply join a club that is part of a community helping others. Whatever it is, it has to be something you’re vaguely interested in, so choose carefully.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self when you were still at school, what would it be?
Don’t rush this chapter; these years and this environment are more valuable than you will ever know, and these moments and people are quietly shaping your future.
Also, don’t change hairstyles just before going to Carbisdale!!
