The latest episode of The Business Awards Show features an interview with Victoria Rennoldson.

Victoria is a Speaker, award-winning Coach and certified Facilitator, specialising in Global Leadership, Communication and Cultural Intelligence. She is the CEO and founder of Culture Cuppa and helps organisations to empower their current and future global leaders to amplify their impact, communicate confidently and collaborate in multicultural environments to lead effectively, deliver their results and thrive in their global careers.

In this episode we learn about the challenges global leaders face in managing teams, whether in one office, or across countries. She has built a highly successful business based on her knowledge and experience of helping companies overcome their culture and communication issues. Furthermore, she tells us her journey to starting that business (one she never meant or expected to take).

Victoria is a committed networker, and explains why it is so important for a business owner to have a supportive group of people they can call on when needed. That leads her to expand on why running a business is not easy, but also how rewarding it can be.

Getting a mentor has powered her business forward, and seen her win a Golden Peacock award in 2024. And Victoria has gone further on her awards journey. This year she is a finalist at the Best Businesswomen Awards. She discusses why these awards resonated with her and how the entry process proved so beneficial.

While being a busy entrepreneur, she also hosts the long-running Culture, Communication, Confidence, podcast. Victoria explains how it has evolved from being a solo effort to introducing guests with key expertise in these areas.

And as if that is not enough, she has also finished a book about becoming a global leader that will be published in November 2025. Listen to hear her experience of writing it over the last few years.,

This is a great episode for anyone struggling to communicate with their team. It sheds light on how to transition from a leading role in the corporate sector to running your own business. And it is a brilliant example of how utilising different media, and pushing yourself forward can enrich your life and power your business.

{1:37} How Victoria transitioned into entrepreneurship.

{3:30} Why she gravitated to coaching.

{5:09} The key challenges for global business leaders.

{6:55} Working in person and online.

{8:18} Improving online relationships and meetings.

{10:37} The challenges of running a business.

{12:38} Why Victoria is so committed to networking.

{13:57} There is a place for both face-to-face and online networking.

{15:07} When awards came on the radar.

{17:14} Why Victoria entered The Best Businesswomen Awards.

{19:09} The importance of winning The Golden Peacock Award.

{21:15} Writing her book - 'Become a Global Leader'.

{24:50} Victoria's podcast: it's purpose and why it matters.

Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk

Connect with Victoria: https://culturecuppa.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Culturecuppa

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/culture_cuppa/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/culturecuppa/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeTXIGIGHH47qCfO0X-V8_Q

Victoria's podcast: https://culturecuppa.com/podcast/

Victoria's forthcomoing book: https://culturecuppa.com/book/

Our latest episode features an interview with Natalie Snee, co-founder of Daedalus, a creative advertising agency. They work with ambitious business owners to advertise, strategise, and promote their business to the right customers.

Natalie has achieved the fine balance of starting a business with her partner Jack, while also caring for her sick young child. We hear about how she juggles the priorities between business and family, and the boundaries she has introduced, given she works from home.

As always, we talked awards, something Natalie has not always been an advocate of. However, she was taken with the approach of the Best Businesswomen Awards. Therefore, she applied, and, as a result, has been shortlisted for Best Businesswoman in Marketing & PR 2025. She went on to explain what has deterred her from entering awards previously, and why she dislikes voting to select a winner.

Given her business is founded on branding and marketing, we discuss the rise of AI and the impact it is having. Nevertheless, Natalie is not afraid of it, in fact her business uses AI every day. Furthermore, she is confident that AI cannot replace human creativity and that it should be used as a tool just like any other.

As a branding expert, Natalie explains why using a professional to hone your brand is so important. As an illustration, she told us about the work Daedalus did for Golden Bear coffee, a luxury coffee brand. Needless to say, it also led to a coffee addiction!

This is an important episode for those thinking about entering awards but not sure there's much point. Natalie has taken the plunge and reaped the rewards. It's also quite inspirational for working Mums who are struggling to deal with multiple responsibilities.

{1:26} Natalie's journey to starting her business.

{4:30} Where the name Daedalus comes from.

{5:45} Are awards attainable for a small creative agency?

{7:51} Taking time to reflect through the application process.

{8:13} Natalie's thoughts on voting in awards.

{9:38} Why she didn't enter awards before the BBWAs this year.

{10:02} The importance of customer service to Daedalus.

{11:40} Why professional branding is essential to any business.

{12:30} Typical branding clients.

{13:36} Where Daedalus gets leads from.

{15:54} The effect of AI and platforms like Canva on marketing.

{17:40} How Natalie uses AI.

{18:39} Award entries written with AI.

{19:20} How AI is damaging social media.

{20:36} Golden Bear Coffee - a project Natalie is proud of.

{22:00} Rebranding logos.

{25:26} Advice for juggling work & family while working from home.

Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk

Connect with Natalie: https://www.daedalus-it.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/daedalus-design-media/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daedalusdesignandmedia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creativedaedalus/

The latest episode of the Business Awards Show features an interview with Penny Joyner-Platt, the founder of The Plattform, a PR and marketing agency.

Penny is dedicated to helping ambitious businesses raise their profile, win recognition, and achieve measurable growth. Her career spans more than 15 years in communications. As a result, she has worked across industries to deliver strategic campaigns that get brands noticed, talked about, and remembered.

During our conversation we discussed awards in depth, given they are at the heart of her expertise. Penny has been involved in every stage of the awards process — from planning her own awards, to judging categories, to writing, designing and mentoring many winning entries for clients. Her deep understanding of the awards process, combined with her creative storytelling skills, makes her one of the UK’s go-to experts for awards success. And in 2025 she has entered the Best Businesswomen Awards, being shortlisted as a finalist in two categories.

Furthermore, Penny explained why finalists in Businesswomen Awards can often get more PR than their male counterparts. She expanded by highlighting the growing number of women in the UK SME sector. Ultimately, Penny set up her business The Plattform to help businesses achieve wider reach. She stressed this was not just from award wins but in all areas of a business. The result: her business has grown rapidly over the last three years.

She went on to explain that not every small business can afford to outsource its PR and marketing. Therefore, Penny has created a solution by offering a mentor programme. Her first mentee, Tracy Fishburn, a former guest on the Show, has grown her business exponentially, and won multiple awards, thanks Penny's support.

This episode offers some fascinating insights into the world of Awards and how to succeed in them. Penny also provides common-sense advice about starting and running a business, and how anyone can create a sensible PR and marketing strategy with a little help.

{1:32} Penny's back story.

{4:46} How award entries differ in effort.

{8:20} Penny makes the Best Businesswomen Awards Final 2025.

{10:10} Setting up The Plattform.

{15:08} The success of Penny's first PR mentee Tracy Fishburn.

{17:20} The value of awards for PR.

{21:57} Why the Best Businesswomen Awards recognise all finalists.

{22:48} Penny's own awards.

{23:57} Why her awards ended.

{25:57} Penny's business tips.

Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk

Connect with Penny: https://the-plattform.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-plattform/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/the.plattform.agency

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.plattform

Listen to Episode 71 with Tracy Fishburn of Tracy's Treasured Keepsakes: https://thebusinessawardsshow.libsyn.com/episode-070-interview-with-tracy-fishburn