Episode 160 40:40

Saying YES to Opportunities and Finding Creativity in Times of Adversity with Gemma Sheppard

Artwork for Dawn of a New Era episode 160: Saying YES to Opportunities and Finding Creativity in Times of Adversity with Gemma Sheppard

Show Notes

In this episode, I’m joined by the brilliant Gemma Sheppard - stylist, founder, and all-round powerhouse - for a chat that covers everything from saying yes to wild opportunities, to creating something meaningful in the middle of grief and chaos.

We talk fashion (obviously), identity, business, burnout, silk pyjamas, and building a brand that actually means something.

It’s honest, inspiring, and full of heart - and I know you’re going to love it.

Episode Highlights

Jump to a moment.

  1. 02:16Fizz, fashion and finding purpose
  2. 09:28Dressing for confidence, not just the job
  3. 15:08Saying yes to the chaos of creativity
  4. 23:47Building a brand through grief and grit
  5. 31:57Silk, sambas and suitcase-friendly style
  6. 38:17Staying curious keeps you energised

About Dawn of a New Era

Dawn of a New Era is a weekly business podcast for founders, experts and professionals who want to grow a company without losing themselves in it. Every episode looks at the practical mechanics of scaling — revenue models, marketing, leadership, pricing and positioning — alongside the psychology that decides whether founders follow through.

Episodes are a mix of solo teaching and long-form interviews with founders, investors, authors and specialists. New episodes are published on Thursdays and are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and every major podcast app.

  • Episode · 160
  • Published · 12 June 2025
  • Run time · 40:40
  • Host · Dawn McGruer

About your host

Dawn McGruer is a bestselling author, award-winning keynote speaker and scaling advisor. She has spent over 25 years building, scaling and selling businesses, and has supported more than 30,000 founders, marketers and professionals worldwide.

Her work sits at the intersection of commercial strategy and the psychology of performance — helping founders build companies that grow beyond their own capacity through better models, licensing and intellectual property leverage. She is the author of The Billionaire Brain®, published by Forbes Books.

Read more on the about page, explore her research and insights or see how to work with Dawn.

How to listen and subscribe

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