The Glasgow Girl Bosses

“You combine hard work, creativity, and self-determination, and things start to happen.”— Sophia Amoruso, CEO of Nasty Gal and author of Girl Boss.

Today's post is a tribute to all the truly inspiring business women I've had the pleasure of meeting in the past 5 years or so. These ladies have taken their passion, talent, and instinctive entrepreneurial skills to the next level. Resulting in very successful businesses doing what they love, for a living. The icing on the cake for me is the fact that all of these gals are Scottish, and their businesses situated right on my doorstep in Glasgow. The locality of this success and getting to see these all star females do so well in their chosen field is ridiculously inspiring, and a constant push and reminder to me that your goals are never too far from reach. You've just gotta go out there and grab them. They encourage me on a daily basis to work hard, dream big, and don't let anything stop you from moving forward towards your goals. They are the epitome of Girl Boss.

Ashley Baxter

 // Girl With A Camera, Insurance By Jack //




I met Ashley for the first time at this Next event a few years ago, and we've ended up becoming really close friends! Ashley is an insanely talented photographer, and also runs a company offering business insurance to the freelance world. She's taken my photo on many an occasion now whenever we're out and about, and not to mention shooting my debut Suicide Girls set. Ashley also runs a Glasgow Photo Walk along with Photography workshops, and co-hosts a weekly podcast. How this girl manages to be consistently productive with so many good projects on the go, I will never know! That's Ashley in the first photo, and my Uncle Greig in the third one. Ashley is always my go to person for business, blog, and career advice, as well as being one of the nicest people I have ever met. I could ramble on for ages about this girl but Ashley - you are one awesome girl boss!

Claire MacAulay
// Route One Spin Studio, University Of Sweat //





Next up is my old flatmate/personal trainer Claire. I met her when I signed up for Fit Body Boot Camp in Glasgow a few years ago, and then we ended up living together for a year too which was lots of laughs. This girl cracks me up, she is always smiling and up for a giggle - and has a really fun but focused approach to fitness. As well as being a personal trainer, Claire comes from an extensive sports background as an athlete and was a very successful cyclist. She's taken her skills and knowledge to the next level by opening her own spin studio in Glasgow, where you ride along to some of the worlds famous cycle routes projected onto a massive screen at the front of the room. Claire is an absolute hoot and when you are training with her, it feels like a pleasure rather than a chore. I am so proud to see her business go from strength to strength.

Sara Hill 
 // The Academy Of Makeup, Hope Street Magazine, Sara Hill Makeup //




I first met Sara when my Mum went to teach at the Academy of Makeup as a hairdresser/session stylist, to compliment the makeup courses on offer there. Both Sara and my Mum are insanely driven and inspiring business women, so it's no surprise that they have became such good friends. Sara has over 17 years experience as a makeup artist and has worked all over the world. Her academy is one of the hottest places to train as a makeup artist in the UK, and she has just launched her own range of makeup too. Not to mention being the editor of Hope St, an independent fashion and culture magazine, born out of our very own Hope Street in the heart of Glasgow.

Tamsin Koslowski
// DIY Nails, NAF Salon //




The lovely Tammy is the brains behind DIY Nails, who produce water activated nail art transfers in the most amazing selection of designs. Tammy's nailcals have been featured in Cosmopolitan, Elle, and ASOS to name a few - and I was so excited to hear that she's just about to open her own Nail and Beauty Salon in Glasgow too! Tammy is a super savvy business woman and I always adore her brands visuals, plus her own personal style too. So I really can't wait to see what NAF Salon has to offer. As the brain-child of Tammy you just know it's gonna be good (and super cute too, obvs!)

Sheri Scott and Claire Stuart
// Betty & Bee //




A final shout out goes to the most awesome pairing in business, the power couple - Betty and Bee! Claire and Sheri have backgrounds in PR, fashion, events and digital media, and have joined forces plus their skills together to become a creative consultancy business. Their fingers are always on the pulse when it comes to anything fashion, beauty and lifestyle related in Glasgow and beyond. Plus, they are lots of fun and there is never a sad face or dull moment when you're in Claire and Sheri's company. I've followed both of their own personal blogs since what feels like the beginning of time now, and they are always my go to girls for fashion and general fun. If they could just take a day of of their busy schedules to be my personal shoppers and stylists then I'd be in absolute heaven!

I know I might be slightly biased towards these awesome ladies who I like to call my friends, but there's no denying that they are all extremely talented business women who have absolutely excelled in their chosen fields. They are all close reminders that with hard work and determination, you can make your dreams a reality. If anything, I hope this post inspires you the way these girls have inspired me. Whether it's a business idea you've been sitting on for years, a blog you've always wanted to write but never had the confidence to start, or the kick to go freelance and become your own boss rather than working for someone else... well, this is your calling, and this is the sign. Take that leap of faith and do it, you never know where it might lead you.

“Abandon anything about your life and habits that might be holding you back. Learn to create your own opportunities. Know that there is no finish line; fortune favors action. Race balls-out toward the extraordinary life that you’ve always dreamed of, or still haven’t had time to dream up. And prepare to have a hell of a lot of fun along the way.”
― Sophia Amoruso, #GIRLBOSS