Here's a preview of our next episode with Sandra Garlick MBE!

Welcome to Balance Sheet Banter, where we cut through the financial jargon to have honest conversations about what it really takes to build and grow a business, especially as a woman.

This week, Tara Askham is joined by Lisa Johnson, founder of That Strategy Company, Sunday Times bestselling author, host of the Making Money Online podcast and Daily Mail columnist.

Lisa shares her journey from growing up in generational poverty, leaving school at 16 without qualifications and being £30,000 in debt, to building a multimillion-pound online business. She talks openly about what motivated her to break the cycle for her children and how financial literacy became a turning point in her entrepreneurial journey.

Together, they explore the realities of scaling an online business, from earning £1.15 an hour in her first venture to generating seven-figure launches. Lisa explains how understanding money mindset, cash flow, recurring revenue and strategic reinvestment transformed the way she runs her companies.

They also discuss bad financial decisions, being conned in business, handling online trolling, and why revenue alone does not equal fulfilment. Lisa shares why she intentionally reduced her turnover to create a simpler, more aligned business and challenges the pressure to chase seven figures at all costs.

Download my 5 money-saving questions to ask your accountant, small questions that can make a big difference. https://welcome.tkafinancetraining.co.uk/5-questions-to-ask

Connect with Lisa:

Website: https://lisajohnson.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-johnson-642479231/

Connect with Tara: 

Website: https://tkafinancetraining.co.uk/  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-askham/  

Welcome to Balance Sheet Banter, where we cut through the financial jargon to have honest conversations about what it really takes to build and grow a business, especially as a woman.

This week, Tara Askham is joined by Lea Turner, founder of The HoLT and the woman who burst onto LinkedIn in 2019 and quickly built a global training brand through witty, relatable, refreshingly real content.

Lea shares why leaning into personality (instead of trying to sound “corporate”) became her biggest business asset, and how she handled the pushback that came with showing up as her full self online.

They also talk about the reality of financial confidence including Lea’s take on outsourcing, what she doesn’t enjoy and how her relationship with money has been shaped by growing up frugal and navigating solo parenthood.

Lea opens up about making a bold business pivot: walking away from corporate training to focus on building a community-first model with The HoLT, plus the difference between The HoLT and The Vault, and how she’s designed the business to be flexible, scalable, and family-friendly.

Download my 5 money-saving questions to ask your accountant, small questions that can make a big difference. https://welcome.tkafinancetraining.co.uk/5-questions-to-ask

Connect with Lea:

Website: https://www.the-holt.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/

Connect with Tara:

Website: https://tkafinancetraining.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-askham/

Welcome to Balance Sheet Banter, where we cut through the financial jargon to have honest conversations about what it really takes to build and grow a business, especially as a woman.

This week, Tara Askham is joined by Sophie Milliken MBE, founder of Moja, chair of Smart Works Newcastle, co-founder of City Ladies Networking, and author of three best-selling books.

Sophie shares what’s been keeping her so visible lately, from speaking at big events to growing Moja, and why visibility isn’t about one perfect platform. It’s about building credibility that lasts longer than a viral post.

Together, they explore why podcasting is still underrated for raising your profile, how consistency is what most people miss, and Sophie’s clever tip for building a Spotify playlist of your podcast appearances to strengthen trust and SEO.

They also talk about awards as an unexpected ROI driver, why being shortlisted can put you in the right rooms with the right people, and how to spot the scammy awards versus the credible ones worth going for.

Sophie shares the surreal story of finding out about her MBE, what the Windsor Castle experience was really like, and how it’s helped open doors through the work she does in business, community and charity.

They bring it back to money too, investing in yourself, taking calculated risks, and why time out of the business only pays off when you give yourself space to actually implement what you’ve learned.

💡 And download my 5 money-saving questions to ask your accountant, small questions that can make a big difference. https://welcome.tkafinancetraining.co.uk/5-questions-to-ask

Connect with Sophie:

Website: https://www.sophiemilliken.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-milliken/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moja_sophie/?hl=en

Connect with Tara:

Website: https://tkafinancetraining.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-askham/

Welcome to Balance Sheet Banter, where we cut through the financial jargon to have honest conversations about what it really takes to build and grow a business, especially as a woman.

This week, Tara Askham is joined by Cien Solon, an AI transformation expert and co-founder of LaunchLemonade.

Cien shares why AI is no longer optional for businesses that want to stay competitive, and how it can be used to save time, streamline operation and unlock growth – not just for big companies, but for individuals and small business owners too.

Together, they explore the importance of inclusivity in tech, why more people need to feel empowered to use AI tools, and how embracing AI can create real opportunities in the wider economy.

They also talk honestly about navigating financial challenges as a founder, the importance of understanding your numbers, and why building confidence around finances is key to making better business decisions.

Cien shares practical insights on using social media to grow your business, and simple strategies for making AI work for you, without losing your business's human touch.

Together, they remind us that while the future of business is powered by AI, it’s still built on people, purpose and smart financial choices.

Connect with Cien:

LaunchLemonade: https://launchlemonade.app/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciensolon/

Connect with Tara:

Website: https://tkafinancetraining.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-askham/

Welcome to Balance Sheet Banter, where we cut through the financial jargon to have honest conversations about what it really takes to build and grow a business, especially as a woman.

This week, Tara is joined by Emmie Faust, serial entrepreneur, angel investor and founder of Female Founders Rise.

Emmie shares her journey into entrepreneurship, from launching her first business almost by accident, to scaling and selling multiple companies, pitching on Dragon’s Den, and learning some tough lessons along the way.

Together, they talk openly about understanding your numbers, managing cash flow, customer acquisition and lifetime value, and why so many businesses struggle when founders don’t feel confident with the finances.

They also explore the importance of investing in your team, the realities of business failure, what investors really look for, and how building a supportive community can make entrepreneurship feel less isolating.

Emmie also shares what inspired her to create Female Founders Rise, how it’s grown into a global community, and what’s next for her and the platform.

Connect with Emmie:

Website: https://emmiefaust.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmiefaust/

Connect with Tara:

Website: https://tkafinancetraining.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-askham/

Welcome to Balance Sheet Banter, where we cut through the jargon around finances to talk honestly about what it really takes to run and grow in business, especially as a woman.

This week, Tara is joined by Grace Hardy, an award-winning accountant who started her own firm at 21.

Grace shares her journey from an apprenticeship to entrepreneurship, discussing the challenges and triumphs along the way.

Together, they delve into all things financial literacy, the importance of community, and Grace's mission to make financial education mandatory in schools.

They also cover practical money tips, the significance of networking, the role of mentorship in business growth and insights into managing a growing business with the help of freelancers and software tools.

Connect with Grace:

Website: https://hardyaccounting.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-hardy-maat-b3a6a91b4/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace_hardy_/?hl=en-gb

Connect with Tara:

Website: https://tkafinancetraining.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-askham/

Welcome to Balance Sheet Banter. I’m your host, Tara Askham, award-winning business finance strategist and lover of spreadsheets.

This podcast is about cutting through the jargon and talking honestly about what it really takes to run and grow a business, especially as a woman.

Each episode, you’ll hear real conversations, practical insights, and straightforward money tips to help you understand your numbers, grow your profits, and take home more of what you earn.

If you're looking for clear, no-nonsense guidance that actually fits the realities of running a business, you're in the right place.

Subscribe now, and let’s start talking business.