Path for Potential

Karen and Graeme, the duo behind Tethered, share how a deep connection to Scotland, paired with firsthand experiences of burnout, inspired them to create a mindfulness app unlike anything else on the market. What began as a personal need quickly evolved into a business built on honesty, experimentation, and a willingness to learn quickly from early setbacks.In this episode, they open up about the messy but rewarding process of building Tethered, from refining their vision through real user feedback to crafting meditations rooted in Scotland’s landscapes, language, and atmosphere. Their commitment to creating something authentic has led to standout retention rates and a growing community of users seeking calm, grounding, and creativity.We also explore what it’s like to grow a company together while navigating life as partners, the balance, the challenges, and the shared passion that keeps them moving forward. Their journey offers thoughtful insight into resilience, collaboration, and the importance of doing work that feels true to who you are.Let’s connect with Karen, Graeme, and Tethered:Instagram: @tetheredtoscotlandWebsite: https://www.tetheredapp.com/

How do you build a successful tech platform by getting things wrong? We welcome Michael Carr, CEO and co-founder of GoRoadie, to discuss the critical startup lesson of "Fail Fast, Learn Faster." Michael shares candid examples from GoRoadie's journey, from early product features that missed the mark to marketing strategies that flopped. He explains how embracing rapid iteration and user feedback, a methodology crucial in his entrepreneurship journey, allowed them to pivot quickly and build a product that genuinely serves UK driving instructors and learners. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to understand how to leverage small failures to achieve massive success.Want to connect with Michael? Feel free to reach out to him via email at michael@goroadie.com or connect at LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikey-carr/

In this episode, we explore Jack Chalkley's entrepreneurial journey as co-founder of Analog Motion, an e-bike startup that took off unexpectedly. Jack’s story begins at the University of Dundee, where his background in product design—and a shared passion for experimental projects with his co-founder—set the foundation for something bigger.Frustrated by the daily grind of commuting, they set out to design a simple, affordable electric bike. What started as a side project quickly turned into a full-fledged business when their Kickstarter campaign gained traction, helped by a surprising boost from German TV.Jack shares how they navigated the transition from a passion project to a growing company, the role of design in shaping their success, and the lessons learned along the way. Whether you’re into startups, product design, or just love a good entrepreneurial story, this episode is full of inspiration!

In this episode, Jude sits down with Jevin Zach, founder of Hubble Bubble and winner of the Scottish EDGE competition, to explore his journey from an underdog to a thriving entrepreneur.Growing up in a financially struggling family surrounded by peers from elite backgrounds, Jevin saw firsthand how entrepreneurship could be a game-changer. Instead of letting obstacles define him, he turned them into motivation—launching Hubble Bubble, a business designed to help students align their passions with real educational opportunities.Jevin shares how he transformed an “unrealistic dream” into reality, the power of self-belief, and what it takes to win big in business. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a student with big ideas, or someone looking for inspiration to push forward, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss!

How does a simple idea between school friends grow into a globally recognized sustainable brand? In this episode, Emilio Rimini, co-founder of The Green Company, shares his entrepreneurial journey, sharing how passion and purpose drove his business from humble beginnings to international success.Emilio reflects on the critical lessons he’s learned—from balancing budget control with driving progress to listening closely to customers to refine his vision. He also talks about the pivotal role of his first hire and how surrounding himself with the right people has been instrumental in the company’s growth.Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or simply curious about the journey behind a thriving sustainable brand, Emilio’s story is packed with actionable insights and inspiration to help you take the first step toward your goals.

Serial entrepreneur and fashion industry disruptor, Cally Russell is back on Path for Potential for a second time! Known for skipping the conventional route and famously declining the Dragons on Dragons’ Den, Cally has built a career on tackling challenges others overlook.Hailing from Dunoon and armed with a social science degree from the University of Dundee, Cally defied the odds to create Mallzee, the groundbreaking Tinder-style fashion app, and This is Unfolded, a sustainable clothing brand addressing the environmental impact of fast fashion.In this episode, Cally dives into the power of self-belief, finding opportunity in unlikely places, and how an enterprising mindset can solve the industry’s toughest problems.Packed with Scottish charm and practical insights, this is an inspiring listen for anyone looking to make a meaningful impact!

Brian McNicoll’s journey from game developer to the Head of the Centre for Entrepreneurship at the University of Dundee is nothing short of inspiring. Starting with co-founding Dynamo Games—one of Europe’s first mobile game companies and creator of the popular Championship Manager mobile game—Brian’s path took him from a tech-focused graduate to a BAFTA-winning entrepreneur. In this episode, Jude will chat with Brian about how he transitioned from being a founder to leading Dundee’s Centre for Entrepreneurship and the Centre’s rise to being named the number one entrepreneurial university in Europe.Tune in for insights on entrepreneurship, balancing creativity and business, and what it takes to nurture a culture of innovation at a university level. Brian’s story is a must-listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurial success!

Serial entrepreneur and the only person to turn down the Dragons on Dragons Den TWICE, Cally Russell is not your traditional entrepreneur. From a small town in Scotland (Dunoon) to a social science degree at the University of Dundee, Cally does not have the traditional business background but found a way to address societal issues with his companies. First founding the fashion app using a Tinder-style approach to help you find your style, Mark and Johanna spoke to Cally as he was first starting out with his new company This is Unfolded - a clothing company tackling the effects of fast fashion. A brilliant episode with Dundee and Scottish references galore! Cally's story inspires anyone to use their skillset to their advantage no matter what their background is.

A great episode to help you present yourself with confidence in any situation.We're back! this episode is brand new and marked the first time Mark and Johanna met in person. Having recorded a whole series of episodes online as co-hosts, Dundee's duo of entrepreneurial ambassadors met at the University to give you the scoop on how to pitch and how to pitch yourself in any scenario. Job interviews, funding proposals, even reaching out to someone you admire, you need to know how to present yourself and capture attention. For Mark, that meant changing courses in university and bagging his first documentary with the BBC. For Johanna, it was more about getting commissions for her artwork and a how-to on getting Starbucks to return your calls. Our co-hosts also answer your questions at the end of the episode.

Ella Mills, founder of deliciously ella, had a self-confessed lack of ambition when she was young. On top of that, a debilitating illness that was present through her time at university. However, this life experience inspired Ella’s interest in nutrition and diet which was channelled into her blog ‘deliciouslyella’ and has now led to bestselling books, an online platform, 2.3 million followers, and a restaurant!A true example of making the most of life and overcoming adversity, and how to turn an interest into your career. Mark and Johanna discuss with Ella how adversity can breed creativity, how Ella created an online community before the modern landscape of social media, and how your true potential can only be reflected on and is harder to notice at the time. Also, hear Ella’s advice for people starting their careers. This is Ella’s Path for Potential.

From an upcoming episode with cookbook author Lucy Lord, the pod discusses how to appear to be the most confident person in the room even when you’re secretly sweating and panicking. A self-described introvert, Lucy reflects on how she became successful in sales before pivoting to pursue a career in recipe-writing.In both careers, Lucy had to back herself, pitch to an audience, and communicate her ideas even though she felt like it wasn’t her strong suit.In many early careers, we feel like we might have some imposter syndrome. Hopefully, this clip gives a bit of advice to boost your, ‘fake’, confidence.

From an upcoming episode with This is Unfolded founder and Scottish entrepreneur Cally Russell, we hear about another unlikely path into business and how Cally views his social science degree without necessarily ‘using’ it in his career. Often, graduates find themselves taking a different direction from what they have studied, but Cally shows how the topics he learned about and the soft skills he developed have shaped his businesses and helped him find a way to fulfil his potential.