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Episode 7: Managing Everything When You Are the Business
Host: Sheela Sharma
Guest: Joe Galliano-Doig MBE
Building a business is a journey filled with challenges, opportunities and lessons that no one prepares you for. Fearless Founders is the go-to podcast for ambitious entrepreneurs ready to take action, think differently and grow their business with confidence. Hosted by Sheela Sharma, CEO of Portobello Business Centre, each episode features candid conversations with successful founders, industry experts and business mentors. Together they share the real stories behind their ventures – from launching a startup and building a strong foundation to mastering sales and marketing on a budget.
Every episode is packed with practical insights and actionable strategies. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling up, Fearless Founders will give you the tools, inspiration and expert advice you need to navigate entrepreneurship. Hit play and take your next bold step toward business success!
When you are the business — the brand, the brains, the budget and the voice — how do you manage to keep going, stay grounded and grow without burning out?
In this episode of Fearless Founders, we speak to Dr Joe Galliano-Doig MBE, a seasoned entrepreneur, author, and co-founder of Queer Britain — the UK’s first LGBTQ+ museum. With over two decades of experience in purpose-driven leadership, Joe knows what it takes to build something from the ground up while staying true to your values.
We dive into the reality of managing everything as a solo founder: from wearing multiple hats and blurring personal/professional boundaries to handling self-doubt, financial instability and the pressure to always be “on.” Joe shares the honest highs and lows of launching a national institution, how he learned to delegate and build a brilliant board, and why the right kind of support — personal and professional — is everything.
This episode is a must-listen for founders feeling stretched thin, especially those working in purpose-led or creative spaces. With wisdom, warmth and real talk, Joe reminds us that being the business doesn’t have to mean doing it all alone.