She's Taking Over - with Jenna Davies

She Built the App. It Failed. She Rebuilt It. Now She’s Scaling Globally.Serisha Barrat is the founder and CEO of Lawyered Up — an AI-powered legal tech platform making affordable legal support accessible to small businesses.She’s been recognised globally:→ Top 50 Inspiring Women in Tech (2023) → Top 100 Most Influential Young Africans → Glamour Women of the Year: Technology Game Changer → Mail & Guardian 200 Young South AfricansShe’s leading a fast-growing, women-powered team, scaling Lawyered Up across four African countries, and speaking on some of the world’s biggest tech stages, including London Tech Week and the AI Summit.But what made me most excited to sit down with Serisha is the story behind the headlines. Because this platform? She built it twice.The first version failed. She lost everything, partnerships collapsed, capital dried up, and she had to start over. But she did. And now, she’s building one of Africa’s most promising tech startups with a clear mission: justice, made accessible.In this episode, we dive into:→ What really happened when the first version of Lawyered Up failed→ How she found the courage to rebuild→ Why hiring the right team changed everything→ What it takes to lead as a woman in tech and why representation matters→ The biggest lessons from fundraising, partnerships, and scaling across bordersThis is a story about resilience, purpose, and what it really takes to build a mission-led company when the odds are stacked against you.🎧 Listen now💼 Connect with Serisha on LinkedIn: Serisha Barrat

Risk, Logic & Instinct: How to Make Faster, Smarter Business Decisions.If you’re stuck in decision limbo, overthinking, second-guessing, or dragging your feet, this episode will hit hard. I’m breaking down how to use risk, logic, and instinct to move faster and lead smarter.You’ll learn how to tell the difference between fear and feedback, how to stop outsourcing your decisions, and how to make calls that align with your growth not your guilt.This isn’t mindset fluff. This is tactical, emotional leadership that gets results.🧠 KEY TAKEAWAYSThe decision-making filter I use to know when to pivot, pause, or press onHow to balance data with gut and stop gaslighting your intuitionThe real reason you’re stuck (and how to move even when you don’t feel “ready”)Why “killing your darlings” in business creates more energy and clarityThe difference between risk tolerance and emotional avoidanceWhat to do when logic and instinct are pulling you in two different directions💬 Timestamps03:07 – When to pivot, when to push, and why quitting isn't failure05:46 – Emotional well-being isn’t soft — it’s a business multiplier08:29 – How to stop outsourcing decisions and trust your instincts11:35 – Balancing risk, logic, and gut: the real CEO skillset14:21 – Getting bored vs. getting distracted — and staying in your lane17:29 – Full circle moment: why alignment beats ambition21:05 – You’re not behind, you’re building in real time23:30 – DM me on IG to join the private founder network 👉 @jennaannedavies💬 Send this to another founder who gets it!DM me on Instagram @jennaannedavies to join my private founder network.

 “I spent 15 years building the business... but it was the content that made it visible.” – Gareth ShearsIf you’re still relying on referrals, reputation, and word-of-mouth to grow, this is the episode that’ll make you rethink everything.For almost two decades, Gareth Shears built a successful financial planning firm the traditional way, loyal clients, steady referrals, zero public presence.Then in 2020, he tried what everyone was preaching: be everywhere. Podcasting, posting, YouTube, LinkedIn all at once. It didn’t work. He spread himself too thin, saw little return, and quietly pulled the plug.In 2023, he tried again, but differently. One platform. Two posts a day. No shortcuts. No skipping. Twelve months later, his content speaks for him. The consults are booked. The business runs around his life, not the other way around.This episode is for any service provider sitting on deep expertise, wondering if it’s too late to show up online. Gareth proves it’s not.You don’t need to start over. You just need a smarter way to be seen.💡 What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy most service providers burn out on content and how to reset your strategy so it actually worksThe mindset shift that will help you go from overlooked to in-demandHow to create content that connects and converts, even in a regulated or “boring” industryThe exact strategy that helped Gareth book 70 consults from a single postHow to turn your audience’s real questions into your most valuable marketing toolThe simple AI and automation systems Gareth uses to protect time without losing trustThe money questions you should be asking (and how knowing them could change your business)Why content is no longer optional if you want leverage, lifestyle, or long-term brand equity⏱️ Timestamps00:00 From police officer to financial planner: Gareth’s unexpected backstory03:10 What 240 podcast episodes taught him about burnout and reach07:30 The decision to post twice a day and how it changed everything10:20 Why focusing on one platform outperformed being everywhere13:00 How Gareth uses AI to automate admin while deepening client trust18:00 Why most founders mismanage their finances and what to do instead24:00 Making finance content scroll-worthy without dumbing it down29:00 One carousel, 70 consults and why it worked34:00 Personal branding as a service provider and how to do it with integrity42:00 The 12 money questions people always ask and how they drive his content48:00 Building a business that fits your life not the other way around📢 If you loved this episodeSend it to the friend who keeps saying, “I should post more.”Tag @garethshearscoach and @jenanannedavies on Instagram and share your biggest takeaway.And if you’re building a business that’s bigger than your bio, hit follow. The next episode’s already waiting.

“Everything you believe about yourself… that’s your cap.” - Laura Gerebenics 🧠💣If you have ever wondered why you cannot seem to finish what you start, why focus is fleeting, or why you feel constantly “on” yet rarely satisfied, this episode will feel like a mirror.Laura is a trained psychologist and coach who specialises in helping ADHD and ADD founders build the structure, support, and self-awareness they need to succeed without burning out.We dive into the habits that are quietly holding you back, the myth of 12-hour productivity, and the reality of running a business without losing your sanity (or yourself).Suppose you have been riding the rollercoaster of big ambition, bigger anxiety, and zero off-switch. In that case, this conversation will help you untangle your thoughts, identify your patterns, and provide practical tools to help you get unstuck.What You Will Learn in This EpisodeThe link between ADHD, dopamine, and why you start but don’t finishWhy “12-hour productivity” is a lie (and what to do instead)Three quick ways to set your brain up for success every dayHow to reverse-engineer your calendar to protect focusWhy most founders fail without support (and how to find yours)The hard truth about success, comparison, and your algorithmWhat cognitive dissonance is, and why it’s keeping you stuckHow to stop outsourcing your decisions to AIWhy human connection is still your greatest growth toolTimestamps00:00 Why 85% of entrepreneurs have ADHD or ADD02:35 The myth of 12-hour productivity05:56 Dopamine, distraction, and setting yourself up for a win09:15 The loneliness of running a business15:39 Why can’t you do it alone19:09 The AI problem no one’s talking about23:54 How to know yourself (for real)27:17 The comparison trap and the “gap” effect29:49 Redefining success when the money doesn’t make you happy32:13 Cognitive dissonance explained34:32 Getting comfortable in the fast lane and knowing when to exit39:59 Advice for building while still in your 9–542:12 Bet on yourself, buy yourself time43:53 Stop consuming, start applying what you knowIf you loved this episodeSend it to the friend who’s always “busy” but struggles moving forward.Tag @jennaannedavies and @lauragerebenics on Instagram with your biggest takeaway.If you’re ready to stop stalling and start succeeding, hit follow. The next episode will keep you moving.

In this episode of She’s Taking Over, I’m joined by Holly MacAlpine, someone you might know from Big Brother, FBoy Island or The Amazing Race. But the version of her you’ll meet today is nothing like the one you saw on TV.In the last 12 months, Holly has landed a new job, stepped into politics, built a loyal audience, and rebranded her entire life all by creating content that aligned with her actual interests.She stopped trying to fit the aesthetic, leaned into her voice, and started taking up space in rooms she never expected to walk into. This is what happens when you back yourself before the world catches up.💡 What you’ll take awayHow Holly’s content created unexpected career opportunitiesWhat changed when she stopped trying to be likeable and started being herselfThe mindset shift that helped her stop second-guessing and start sharingWhat consistency really looked like in the early stagesHow to deal with assumptions when your identity evolves publiclyWhy you don’t need a niche to be memorable — you need clarityHow Holly handled imposter feelings while stepping into new spacesWhat rebranding your life actually looks like behind the scenes⏰ Key moments 00:00 How this episode came about 03:40 From FBoy Island to Parliament — no, seriously 07:10 Starting over without over-explaining 10:45 What Holly was scared of — and why she did it anyway 14:20 Showing up for what you actually care about 18:00 When you’re ready for more — but don’t know what 22:10 How content helped Holly build momentum 28:20 Rebuilding your identity in public 35:50 What’s next — and why this is just the beginningThis is She’s Taking Over in motion — choosing to evolve, showing up before you feel ready, and letting your actual interests, not other people’s expectations, shape the life you build.If you’re in the middle of your own rebrand, personally or professionally, this one’s for you.🎯 Leave a review if it hit, tag @jennaannedavies and @hollyunmuted in your story, and let us know: what part of your life are you ready to take over next?

BONUS: Why Creative Freedom Isn’t Enough (And What You Actually Need to Succeed)In this bonus episode, Jenna flips to the other side of the mic, joining filmmaker and creative entrepreneur Caleb Coroneos for a candid conversation about what happens after you hit your goals.You’ve built the business, bought your freedom, and proven to yourself that you can do hard things. Now what? This episode explores the quieter shift most founders don’t talk about—when the things that used to drive you no longer fit, and you’re ready to build from clarity, not chaos.Whether you’re refining your business model, evolving your identity, or letting go of what no longer aligns, this one’s for you.What you’ll take awayWhy creative freedom isn’t the finish line and what actually matters nextThe cost of staying in survival mode when your life’s moved onWhat it looks like to lead without chaos as your motivatorHow to let go of things that are working but no longer alignedRebuilding your identity when your environment hasn’t caught upJenna’s lessons from London, Cape Town, and startup lifeFive skills that actually move the needle as a modern founder⏰ Key moments00:00 Jenna joins Caleb as a guest on his podcast03:30 Leaving corporate—and the fear under the leap08:50 “Search for pride, not happiness”—the mindset shift that stuck12:10 Letting go of what no longer aligns (even when it’s working)17:30 Why freedom stopped feeling like the goal21:00 Control, communication and leadership as identity shifts26:40 When chaos no longer drives you—what comes next30:10 Burnout, safety, and building from a different energy36:50 Ambition, delusion, and taking the next big swing41:00 What Jenna learned living overseas47:20 You only get 8 big opportunities in life—here’s how to choose50:30 5 essential skills for growth-stage founders55:00 What Jenna wants to be remembered forYou can reach a point where the business you built no longer fits who you’re becoming. That doesn’t mean something’s wrong, it means it’s time to realign.This episode is for the creator who’s built the thing, earned the freedom, and is now ready to create from clarity, not chaos. If you’re feeling that internal nudge to evolve, even when things look ‘fine’ from the outside, this conversation will make sense of what you’ve been feeling.Send it to someone navigating the same shift. And let us know what it unlocked for you 🧠🚀

If you’ve ever felt like you’re working harder than ever but getting nowhere, this episode is for you. Eric Bugera is breaking down what separates long-term success from short-lived hype. Let’s get into it.Most fitness coaches don’t fail because they aren’t good at what they do. They fail because they focus on the wrong things. Chasing followers instead of building trust. Selling quick wins instead of playing the long game. Drowning in content creation instead of mastering their craft.Eric Bugera knows this game inside out. He’s built a rock-solid fitness business that keeps growing—without jumping on every new marketing gimmick. With 14+ years in the industry, he’s here to share what actually works for coaches who want to build credibility, attract high-value clients, and create a business that lasts.Key Takeaways: ✔️ Why the best coaches post LESS content—and get MORE clients ✔️ The no-BS marketing strategy that builds trust (without selling out) ✔️ How to create demand for your coaching—without chasing trends ✔️ The secret to keeping clients for YEARS, not weeks ✔️ How to stand out in a crowded industry—even if you don’t have a big audience🎧 Hit play now and learn how to build a business that grows with you—not one that burns you out.👉 Listen now. Your future clients will thank you.

Most people get stuck in “building” mode—tweaking, refining, and second-guessing—while others launch, scale, and dominate. The difference? A clear, strategic approach that moves fast.In this episode, I’m breaking down the exact steps to take your tech idea from concept to cashflow without wasting months (or years) figuring it out.🛠 Step 1: Validate Your IdeaBefore you build, test it. Find the gaps, talk to real users, and make sure people actually want what you’re selling.🚀 Step 2: Develop a Clear StrategyTech is only as good as the business behind it. Nail your positioning, pricing, and go-to-market plan from day one.💡 Step 3: Build an MVP That SellsForget perfection. The goal is a version that gets customers in, money flowing, and proof that your idea works.📢 Step 4: Market with PurposeVirality isn’t a strategy. Learn how to create demand, build community, and make your product the obvious choice.💰 Step 5: Scale with StrategyMonetisation, community-building, and partnerships—this is how startups go from scrappy to industry leaders.If you’re sitting on an idea but don’t know how to make it real, this one’s for you. DM me “BUILD” on Instagram @jennaannedavies and let’s map it out