Places She Shapes

Places She Shapes

di Zoe Smeeth

Carriere Miglioramento personale

Stagione 1

Gurvinder Khurana: Building Boldly, Living Bravely

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: From Brazilian Beach Kid to UK Build Boss

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.

Sarah Atherton: From Rebel to Parliament

Sarah Atherton has been many things—soldier, nurse, social worker, single mother, and MP. In this candid conversation, she opens up about growing up surrounded by boys, fighting to be heard, entering politics by accident, and sticking to her principles even when it cost her everything. From Berlin bars to the House of Commons, this is a story of resilience, rebellion, and quiet revolution.

Marian Ferguson: No Entry? Watch Me Build the Door

From dreaming of dance floors to dominating boardrooms, Marian Ferguson’s path to becoming a powerhouse in building services engineering is anything but conventional. In this episode, Marian shares how she went from being told "no" at the door of the R&A Golf Club to opening doors for others through her own engineering design business. We talk early rejections, mid-career reinvention, and what it's like to start your own company in your late 40s—while tackling gender bias with grit and grace. Marian's journey is a blueprint for resilience, and a rallying cry for anyone who's ever been underestimated.

Welcome to Places She Shapes

Places She Shapes, hosted by Zoe Smeeth and recorded at the iconic Abbey Road Studios, is a show that puts the spotlight on those driving and thriving in the property, construction, real estate, and more. It’s a chance to hear the sliding door moments - the good, the bad, and the unapologetically ambitious - that have shaped each guest's journey. Find the show on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and TikTok @PlacesSheShapes for more.

Places She Shapes LIVE at Moore Kingston Smith

Our second live podcast episode is here. Recorded at Moore Kingston Smith in collaboration with Oyster’s Leading from the Front, and with the support of JAC Project Management, this special episode brings together an inspiring group of women shaping places, projects, businesses, and communities. Featuring guest speakers Michelle Lloyd Jones from Ascent Flight Training, Zoe Moss from Cast Group, Ali Wibroe and Annelies Kruidenier from Oyster and Leading from the Front, and Franky Rousell from Jolie, the conversation captures the energy of the room, the questions from the audience, and the connections that carried on long after the microphones were off. A huge thank you to Anna Matveeva and the team at Moore Kingston Smith for hosting the evening so warmly, and to everyone who joined us live. Listen now, watch the full episode on YouTube, and stay connected with Places She Shapes on TikTok and Instagram at @PlacesSheShapes.

The Places She Shapes Podcast LIVE at WSP

On 25 February 2026, for the first time, Places She Shapes stepped out from behind the microphone at Abbey Road Studios. Recorded in front of a live audience of 150, the evening brought together a group of brilliant, lively, curious people who all believe in the power of amplifying inspiring women’s voices. Today, we are delighted to be able to share that live episode with you. What made this episode different? 🤝 An introduction to the evening and podcast - by host Zoe Smeeth 🌟An incredibly honest opening speech from Laura Collins outlining her 20-year career 🎤 Powerful conversations with Claire Gott, Michelle (Mitch) Lloyd Jones, Amanda Salt, and Diana Pego on how they are shaping their industries and leadership 💬 Audience questions

Amanda Salt: From Tomboy to Trailblazer—Rewriting the Rules of Leadership

Amanda Salt never set out to be a leader—she just kept refusing to follow outdated rules. In this episode of Places She Shapes, Amanda sits down with host Zoe Smeeth at Abbey Road Studios to share her journey from outspoken tomboy to furniture industry disruptor to accidental mentor. Along the way, she opens up about burnout, bouncing back, ADHD, financial fear, the pain of letting go, and the thrill of letting go on purpose. It’s a deeply candid, inspiring conversation about career pivots, unexpected diagnoses, and finding fulfilment in the most surprising places—even at someone else's company.

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