It Runs In The Family

Hosted by Liz & Leila Willingham

Business ManagementInterviews guests

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Episodes

139

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-GB

About the show

Hello! We're Liz & Leila Willingham and welcome to "It Runs In The Family". We're the mother and daughter duo working within the public relations and communications agency, Liz Lean PR. Running a business is hard - really hard. Every business has its challenges and it's own ups and downs - but in a family business, this is often exaggerated by the willingness to speak your mind. But it also has some huge advantages that the corporate cultures just can't compete with. In this podcast, featuring a different family business guest in each episode, we're going to be digging into the stories, values and traditions of other family and multi-generational businesses. We'll explore their history, learnings and how they've developed through the generations and the unique advantages they've had over their competitors. We discover where human relationship migrates into business; the ups, downs, twists, turns and landmark moments that seal the fate of these fascinating organisations. You’ll get to hear some brilliant life stories too; some to make you laugh and others that’ll warm your heart. Many of our clients are family businesses who we've worked very closely with over a number of years - we've heard brilliant stories that reveal true values and fun operating as a family business. We want you to feel inspired by stories of others, find their honesty relatable and reach out to us with your own experiences. If you have any questions for future guests, have a story of your own or have any feedback please do feel free to get in touch on our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itrunsinthefamilypodcast/

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 3, 2026Episode 13738 min

From 300 Dogs to 3 Generations: Saving Strays in Romania with Anca and Sara Tomescu #137

When a late‑night phone call in Bucharest led Anca Tomescu’s mother to rescue 300 dogs in a single day, she had no idea she was founding one of Eastern Europe’s oldest and most remarkable shelters. In this episode of ‘It Runs In The Family’, we meet Anca and her daughter Sara, the second and third generations behind Adăpostul Speranța Shelter, now home to over 500 elderly, disabled, and rehabilitated dogs. They share what it’s like to grow up in a shelter, how Sara is now blending business skills with a lifelong love of animals, and how the duo are so much more powerful together than apart.🔑 Key ThemesTurning Crisis into a CallingMulti‑Generational Family Business DynamicsLeading With CompassionBlending Passion with ProfessionBalancing Work, Family, and Boundaries🔗 Connect with usAdăpostul Speranța LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/speran%C8%9Ba-shelter/Adăpostul Speranța Website: https://adapostulsperanta.ro/Anca Tomescu LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anca-tomescu/Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

May 20, 2026Episode 13645 min

The Unquestionable Ethics of an Organic Brand with Steenbergs’ Co-Founders, Axel and Sophie Steenberg #136

When Sophie and Axel Steenberg walked away from corporate life to start an organic spice business, they bet on their values, their patience, and their family. Steenbergs is a business grown from a tiny North Yorkshire unit with just two kilos of each spice; now it’s a tried, tested and trusted brand, known for doing the right thing at all costs…Sophie and Axel join us to explore the reality of doing business ‘the nicer way’, and how your business’ ethos is a stark reflection of the family who runs it.🔑 Key ThemesBuilding a Values-Led, Organic BusinessPatience and Risk in a Niche MarketPreserving Your Ethics Amid Wider PressuresEnvironmental Responsibility🔗 Connect with usSteenbergs Website: https://www.steenbergs.co.uk/Steenbergs LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steenbergs/Steenbergs IG: https://www.instagram.com/steenbergsltd/Axel Steenberg LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/axel-steenberg-3209b37/Sophie Steenberg LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-steenberg-a475828/Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

May 6, 2026Episode 13542 min

A Living Piece of History: The Headland Cornwall’s Iconic Legacy with Director, Veryan Palmer #135

The Headland Cornwall is an unmistakably iconic hotel overlooking Fistral Beach, and the family in charge have their eyes set on the long term…Veryan Palmer is the hotel’s director, and has wanted to be a hotelier since the age of 10 - her passion for the building, the team, and the area is second to none.Discover a building steeped in history, and learn what it takes to keep it running as more than a hotel, but as a living piece of Cornish history.🔑 Key ThemesCustodianship and HeritagePeople, Culture and TeamCommunity Responsibility and the Cornish Visitor EconomyBalancing Legacy with Future Growth and Sustainability🔗 Connect with usThe Headland Cornwall Website: https://www.headlandhotel.co.uk/The Headland Cornwall IG: https://www.instagram.com/theheadlandcornwall/The Headland Cornwall LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-headland/Veryan Palmer LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veryan-palmer-fih-mi-is-a528a115/Veryan Palmer IG: https://www.instagram.com/veryanp/Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

April 22, 2026Episode 1341 hr 0 min

Inside 50 Years of London Glassblowing with Peter and Sophie Layton #134

The idea that glass can be worked in a small studio, rather than a closed-off factory, was once novel. Thanks to Peter Layton, it’s become an icon of London.He discovered studio glass in the US, and has since built one of the UK’s most influential glass studios, thriving for over 50 years and now boasting a site on Bermondsey Street.We’re joined by Peter and his daughter, Sophie, who share how family, community and a deep love of craft have kept the fires burning through recessions, big commissions and the handover to the next generation.🔑 Key ThemesThe Craft and “Magic” of GlassCommunity, Mentorship and Open StudiosResilience and CreativitySuccession Planning🔗 Connect with usGuest Website: https://londonglassblowing.co.uk/London Glassblowing IG: https://londonglassblowing.co.uk/London Glassblowing LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/london-glassblowing/Peter Layton LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-layton-7a04996/Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

April 8, 2026Episode 13340 min

How to Hire Your Parents with Forbes 30U30 & Founder of Xi Home Dumplings, Wenjun Xiang #133

Food is more than food for the Founder of Xi Home Dumplings Bay - whether it’s love or an apology, it’s the strongest language shared by this family.Wenjun Xiang launched her career while she was still in school, starting the business with her mum at age 17, and while Forbes 30 Under 30 is a mighty accolade to achieve in that time, it’s not the only definition of success for her.Join us for a truly unvarnished take on the family business journey with Wenjun, as she describes what makes the relationship with her maternal co-worker a unique challenge…🔑 Key ThemesThe messy reality of family businessResilience and riskCultural identity, love and communicationAmbition and redefining success🔗 Connect with usXi Home Dumplings Bay Website: https://www.wjxfoodculture.co.uk/Xi Home Dumplings Bay LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wjx-food-culture/Wenjun Xiang LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wenjun-x-9716811b8/Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

March 25, 2026Episode 13256 min

Don’t Get It Right, Get It Going: Lessons from the Vineyard with Velfrey Vineyard’s Fiona and Ryan Mounsey #132

Velfrey Vineyard began life as a field beside a family magazine business. Reinvention took the Mounsey family to pastures new.Fiona is a Director in the business alongside her son, Ryan, and both of their spouses, making their award-winning wine business a wide-spanning family affair.Ryan and Fiona join us on the podcast this week to share how a chance tasting of local wine, a well‑thumbed vineyard handbook, and a willingness to “just get it going” led them from animal feed trade titles to an internationally acclaimed vineyard in Pembrokeshire. 🔑 Key ThemesReinventing a Family BusinessLong-Term Risk and Reward in Starting a VineyardWeather, Wildlife and the Realities of FarmingFamily Dynamics and Shared Decision-MakingBalancing Tourism, Provenance and Growth🔗 Connect with usVelfrey Vineyard: https://www.velfreyvineyard.com/Velfrey Vineyard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/velfrey-vineyard/Velfrey Vineyard IG: https://www.instagram.com/velfreyvineyard/Ryan Mounsey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-mounsey-6b34aab1/Fiona Mounsey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiona-mounsey-09551272/Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

March 11, 2026Episode 13148 min

Inside 50 Years of a Signature Salon with Lucan and Tassie Salem, HARI’s Salon #131

Step inside a London salon story 50 years in the making. It begins with Hari Salem’s vision for a salon which cares for its staff like family - a core value that remains today.They’ve expanded their team and their locations, but for 2nd gen leaders Lucan and Tassie, it must never lose its charm…In this episode of It Runs In The Family, the new guard shares how their dad built a quirky, much‑loved Chelsea hair institution – and how they’re now steering it into its next chapter. 🔑 Key ThemesTraining and education as a core valueCulture, loyalty and long-term staff retentionModernising processes while staying true to your rootsNavigating next-gen transitions and sibling dynamics🔗 Connect with usGuest Website: https://harissalon.com/HARI’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/harissalon/HARI’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/harishair/Lucan Salem Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucan-salem-8174b620/Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

February 25, 2026Episode 13044 min

Seeing Family in a New Light: How Working Together Reforms Relationships with The Staging Experts’ Nikki and Emilia Jeffery #130

Imagine turning one of the hardest moments in your life into the catalyst for a whole new family business.That’s how the mother–daughter duo of Nikki and Emilia Jeffery, along with sister Olivia, brought The Staging Experts to life.They’re a fledgling business, but they share all the values and relationships that have made so many family firms so successful - and so special. Join us as we explore what lessons Nikki and Emilia have learned about each other, which could only have been learned from the family business…🔑 Key ThemesTurning grief into the inspiration for growthThe reality of home stagingFamily dynamics between work and homeValues at the heart of customer careKeeping a flexible long-term vision🔗 Connect with ushttps://thestagingexperts.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/thestagingexperts/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-jeffery-b925222b4/Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

February 11, 2026Episode 12943 min

Farming, Food Waste and Forward-Thinking with New Forest Fruit Snacks’ Sandy & Ola Booth #129

The Booth family’s farm is a place where the humble fruits have remarkable potential, and the food waste is actually a land of opportunity.Sandy Booth heads up New Forest Fruit Snacks, a business with family values at its core, and a whole lot of help from the kin within!Join us this week for a look into an innovative, sustainable family farm growing not just the strawberries in their snacks, but the people within the business too…🔑 Key ThemesGenerational LegacySustainability & Food WasteInnovating the Farming SectorFamily Dynamics & Work Ethic🔗 Connect with usNew Forest Fruit Snacks Website: https://newforestfruitsnacks.com/Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/newforestfruitsnacksSandy Booth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandy-booth-40764a339/Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

January 28, 2026Episode 12844 min

From Pandemic Tech to Period Care: Writing New Chapters of Your Family’s Legacy #128

What began as a temporary move to "help dad out" during a global crisis quickly evolved into a high-stakes mission to reinvent women’s health.Lucy Hope’s family journey is rooted in a century-old story, sparked by the loss of her great-grandfather in the 1919 flu pandemic.She’s been a huge part in the story of Virustatic for years, and is now branching into her own field, founding The Daughters of Mars.Join us to explore how Lucy is pioneering her family’s scientific research for a new age, the emotional reality of your parents’ legacy, and what it’s like to go solo from your family’s firm!🔑 Key ThemesFamily legacy and intergenerational impactPivoting careers and finding purposeInnovation in women’s health careThe realities of building and spinning out a family businessResilience, sacrifice and radical candour🔗 Connect with usThe Daughters of Mars Website: https://www.thedaughtersofmars.com/The Daughters of Mars LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-daughters-of-mars/The Daughters of Mars IG: https://www.instagram.com/thedaughtersofmars/Virustatic Website: https://virustatic.com/Virustatic LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/virustatic/Lucy Hope LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-hope/Lucy Hope IG: https://www.instagram.com/lucyhopelove/Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/