How does a poetry-loving girl from rural Wales become a trailblazing force in London’s commercial property scene? In this episode, Zoe Smeeth talks with Julie Rees about career detours, founding her own firm, navigating male-dominated boardrooms, and the power of facing failure head-on. It's a story of resilience, reinvention, and retaining your sense of humour... preferably in a marble-clad lobby.

PlacesSheShapes.co.uk

Interior architect Gurvinder Khurana joins Zoe Smeeth at Abbey Road Studios to reflect on a life shaped by grit, grace, and gorgeous design. From smuggling friends out of arranged marriages as a teen to launching a boutique design firm with zero clients (and two bottles of wine), Gurvinder’s journey defies convention. They discuss integrating heritage, parenting feminist sons, redefining workplaces, and why emotional intelligence might just be the most radical tool in the construction industry.

Diana Pego shares her bold journey from a music-loving teen in Brazil to becoming a project director in the UK’s male-dominated design and build industry. In this inspiring and candid conversation with host Zoe Smeeth, Diana opens up about resilience, career pivots, and redefining success—on her own terms. A must-listen for anyone navigating ambition, identity, and imposter syndrome in the workplace.