Small Business, Big Network

Hosted by Liz Drury

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287

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

Small Business, Big Network is the podcast for small business owners who want better results from their networking. I'm Liz Drury, a freelance voiceover artist who knows that if you're not working as much as you'd like, then networking could help! The show is a mix of bite sized episodes on networking basics, and interviews with business owners who are successfully using networking to grow. There are lots of inspirational stories that will encourage you to get started or to keep going on your own networking journey.

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60 recent

July 6, 202623 min

Relax before you walk in!

With more than 30 years’ experience in communications, Lynda Russell-Whitaker specialises in supporting professional women to raise the quality of their public speaking. This can include defining the purpose and objective of a talk; refining the key message; developing a persuasive argument and delivering it with authority to their chosen audience(s).Her current primary focus is championing women who want to speak with courage and conviction in front of an audience. And to be authentic and vulnerable, if they wish. Women’s voices matter!https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynda-russell-whitaker/www.brainbankpresents.co.ukThis week's episode is kindly sponsored by Barry Cryan, CEO of Do More Better.How much would an extra 10 hours a week be worth to you?As a busy business owner, its likely you spend way to much time in the weeds, answering emails, firefighting, and juggling endless tasks instead of focusing on growth, strategy, and the work you actually enjoy.The problem isn't your time. The problem is your systems.At Do More Better, we help founders buy back at least 10–15 hours every week using smarter systems, AI, automation, without hiring the person you think you need.Imagine leaving work earlier, having more time for family, and growing your business with less stress and overwhelm.If you'd like to reclaim 10–15 hours every week, visit domorebetter.ie and access our free training today.Do More Better. Reclaim your time. Scale your impact.www.domorebetter.iewww.barrycryan.comhttps://www.instagram.com/cryanbarry/

June 29, 202624 min

Don't overthink attending networking meetings

Rachael Dines is the Founder of award-winning marketing agency Shake It Up Creative based in West Sussex and a Chartered Marketer with 25 years’ experience. She studied B2B International Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management in Chicago and advises small businesses through top UK business communities including Enterprise Nation and the Business & IP Centre.A dynamic speaker, mentor, and charity chair, Rachael also serves on the West Sussex Economic Growth Board and has appeared across national media. Her superpower? Helping businesses cut through the noise with marketing, SEO and content that moves the needle.Links:www.shakeitupcreative.comwww.linkedin.com/in/rachaeldineswww.instagram.com/shakeitupcreativewww.facebook.com/shakeitupcreativeThis week's episode is kindly sponsored by Barry Cryan, CEO of Do More Better. How much would an extra 10 hours a week be worth to you?As a busy business owner, its likely you spend way to much time in the weeds, answering emails, firefighting, and juggling endless tasks instead of focusing on growth, strategy, and the work you actually enjoy.The problem isn't your time. The problem is your systems.At Do More Better, we help founders buy back at least 10–15 hours every week using smarter systems, AI, automation, without hiring the person you think you need.Imagine leaving work earlier, having more time for family, and growing your business with less stress and overwhelm.If you'd like to reclaim 10–15 hours every week, visit domorebetter.ie and access our free training today.Do More Better. Reclaim your time. Scale your impact.www.domorebetter.iewww.barrycryan.comhttps://www.instagram.com/cryanbarry/

June 22, 202622 min

Networking is better than paid advertising!

Barry Cryan is the CEO, and founder of DoMoreBetter, where he helps ambitious business owners reclaim their time, scale with systems, and operate as their highest-performing selves. Through a blend of AI, automation, execution systems, and mindset optimisation, Barry has developed frameworks that help founders buy back 10–14 hours per week while increasing focus, clarity, and business growth. He’s passionate about helping entrepreneurs move from overwhelm and reactive work into strategic leadership, high-leverage execution, and success.https://www.barrycryan.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-cryan-30158985/https://www.instagram.com/cryanbarry/

June 15, 202630 min

No conversations - no clients!

Dan Glyde is a former journalist and broadcaster who became a coach after suffering burnout.He runs two businesses, 'Positive Masculinity' which is for men only, and 'Tribe Fortune' which is for both men and women.Dan is really passionate about his work as you will hear in this episode!Websites are danglydecoach.co.uk and tribefortune.com.Linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danglydecoach/These are the pages to apply to join Dan's community:WhatsApp http://bit.ly/4vEt4jCMastermind: https://mailchi.mp/e15b2ad66a32/positive-masculinity-mastermind

June 8, 202621 min

Secure branding helps with networking

Sarah White is a Personal Branding and Visibility Mentor, Speaker and Networking Host, supporting business owners to build a brand that reflects who they are and what they stand for.Sarah struggled in business for a long time, expecting her work to speak for itself and not wanting to be around other business owners for fear of being judged and feeling inferior. When she did try networking though, the power of letting people get to know the person behind the business became clear, and Sarah has since built her business around helping others to do just that!Her clients are already good at what they do, but struggle to communicate it clearly or show up consistently without feeling uncomfortable or ‘salesy.’Sarah helps people to define what makes them different, own their strengths, and find a way of being visible that feels natural and sustainable. Her focus is on helping them to connect with the right people, not just more people, so their business can grow in a way that feels aligned, purposeful and genuinely impactful.Sarah has a free resource which explains the 5 Key Things Missing From Your VisibilityStrategy. Grab it here: https://www.visiblyyou.co.uk/visibilityguideYou can join Sarah’s Facebook group here:https://www.facebook.com/groups/bethefaceofyourbrandConnect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahwhitebrandingOr Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sarahwhitebranding

June 1, 202627 min

Create a niche to make yourself memorable

Paul Westlake (Westy) is on a mission to make learning actually work – not just tick boxes.As Digital Director at PeopleUnboxed and Customer Success Director at BentoBot (BentoBot.com) – a spaced repetition solution that makes learning stick – Westy transforms how organisations develop their people.He also hosts the popular PeopleUnplugged podcast, where he unpacks what really works in L&D.But here's the thing: Westy didn't start in a boardroom. He spent five years in the trenches delivering face-to-face leadership training before leading McDonald's UK through a complete digital L&D transformation – designing learning experiences for 120,000 employees who didn't have time to waste on forgettable training.That experience taught him something crucial: great learning solutions need to work for both the L&D team and the people actually using them. It's like designing a car that's brilliant to drive but also easy to maintain – both sides matter.After his McDonald's decade, Westy moved supplier-side with Kineo, where he designed award-winning learning solutions for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Compass Group, and Mitchells & Butlers. He also hosted Kineo's "Stream of Thought" podcast, proving that learning geeks can be entertaining.His superpower? Combining analytical and creative thinking to challenge the status quo. He doesn't just ask "what training do you need?" – he asks "what actually needs to change?" Then he builds blended solutions that genuinely shift behaviours and deliver results.When he's not empowering L&D teams to be heroes, Paul's an award-winning wedding photographer whose company sponsors a race car. So his weekends are an unlikely mix of grease, spanners, running shoes, camera lenses, and bass guitar riffs. He lives with his wife and two daughters, who've learnt that Dad's enthusiasm for digital learning is matched only by his enthusiasm for... pretty much everything else.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/westyphotography/PeopleUnboxed: https://peopleunboxed.co.uk/BentoBot: https://bentobot.com/

May 25, 202622 min

Be the content of a networking meeting!

Katrena Friel is an internationally recognised Business Mentor and networking catalyst for women in business. With over 25 years of experience, Katrena has dedicated her career to helping women build powerful professional networks that unlock opportunities, accelerate growth, and create lasting impact.Known as the “Business Mentor to the Awakened,” Katrena’s approach is all about connection. Connecting women to their strengths, to each other, and to the strategies that drive real results. As an award-winning author, sought-after speaker, and TEDx presenter, she has inspired thousands to step confidently into leadership, leveraging relationships as the foundation for personal and professional success.Katrena’s signature “Done for You Program” is more than a business accelerator, it’s a networking incubator, bringing together ambitious women who support, challenge, and champion one another. Her clients don’t just build businesses, they build communities, creating 7 distinct streams of income and a network that supports them for life.With a reputation for fostering authentic lifelong relationships, Katrena empowers women to move beyond self-doubt and into collaborative action. Whether on stage, in a mastermind, or during her 1:1 mentoring, she shows women how to turn every conversation into an opportunity and every connection into a catalyst for growth.For women ready to expand their influence, elevate their network, and thrive in the new world of business, Katrena is the “how” you've been waiting for, offering clarity, strategy, and a genuine soul's mission to support your journey.Website:http://www.becomingtheexpert.com.auOffer: Organise your Free Discovery Sessionhttps://www.becomingtheexpert.com.au/service-page/free-discovery-session-1

May 18, 202622 min

See things from the other person's POV first

Laurie Kozan is a brand and marketing strategist who helps founders, experts and independent consultants attract more of the people they really want to work with, by learning what to say about what they do.Laurie’s work is built around the conviction that the way we communicate has real power — to create clarity, community and change. Using her background in PR, marketing, graphic design, and intuitive coaching, she develops brands that align expert perspective with audience desires, so selling feels easier + business works better. A mother of three, Laurie is especially good at spotting synergies, coaxing order from chaos, and taming competing priorities. Like any good parent, what absolutely lights her up is helping others figure out what they uniquely contribute to the world — and setting them up with the tools to do it really, really well.You can connect with her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriekozan and on her website https://www.sourcemarketingstudio.com

May 11, 202620 min

Regulating the nervous system helps with networking!

Anna Scaife is a founder of Anna Lou of London jewellery brand and nervous system regulation specialist who brings a fresh perspective to business networking. After more than two decades building and scaling a product-based brand, she’s learned that growth isn’t just about strategy , it’s about regulation.Having navigated high-stress personal and legal challenges and domestic abuse while running a business, Anna became deeply interested in how the nervous system affects confidence, decision-making and relationship-building. She now speaks on regulation-based leadership and why in-person networking works not just strategically, but physiologically.In this episode, she shares why sustainable business growth starts with a regulated founder , and how understanding your nervous system can transform the way you show up in rooms, build partnerships and create long-term success.Connect with Anna:LinkedIn: @annascaifeInstagram: @annalouwellnessInstagram: @annalouoflondon

May 4, 202621 min

Branding and networking with Anna Brand

Anna Brand is obsessed with one question: Why should anyone care about your brand? She helps founders get clarity and confidence in how their brand shows up, without overcomplicating it. No bloated processes. No buzzwords. No BS. Blending psychology and straight-talk brand thinking, Anna helps create brands people actually feel something for. She also hosts B. with Anna Brand, a podcast featuring honest conversations about work, identity, failure, and the messy human stuff behind success.https://annabrandcreative.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-brand/