What does it really mean to build a career with purpose, and can you do it without sacrificing financial stability?

In this episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, we're unpacking how to find work that aligns with your values while still paying the bills. Because pursuing a meaningful career is not about choosing passion over practicality, but about aligning what matters to you with where you can create value, and who you build with along the way.

By the end of this conversation, you'll have heard:

· how to connect your personal values to tangible opportunities

· why job titles matter less than the impact you create, and

· how thinking differently about work can open up more fulfilling and sustainable career paths.

And we'll have challenged the idea that purpose is something you “find”. Instead, it’s something you actively build through contribution and action.

Joining us are three guests who have each shaped careers around impact in very different ways.

Genna Masterton, founder of Kinoro, shares her journey from primary school teaching into entrepreneurship, creating technology that empowers learners to own their data.

Sarah Deas, former Chief Executive of Cooperative Development Scotland and co-founder of Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland, brings insight into building businesses that deliver both economic and social value.

And Scott Kennedy, co-founder of Revive Eco, discusses turning environmental challenges into high-impact business opportunities.

Whether you're just starting out or rethinking your direction, this episode offers a fresh perspective on how to build a career that works for both your values and your reality.

Resources to help you

If you’re a student at Strathclyde, the University Careers Service offers a great range of resources that can help you to find the career path that’s right for you.

You can

book an appointment to discuss you career path with a careers consultant: https://www.strath.ac.uk/professionalservices/careers/appointments/

reflect on who you are and what you want out of work using this assessment tool: https://strathclyde.careercentre.me/resources/careerassessments/

explore your career options using the Intelligent Careers Quiz: https://strathclyde.careercentre.me/intelligentcareerquiz

Meet employers in person or online at one of our events: https://careerhub.strath.ac.uk/students/events

And follow Strathclyde Inspire on YouTube, LinkedIn and Instagram to stay informed about ways to develop your entrepreneurial mindset and skills.

Your first job after graduating can feel like it sets the course for your entire future, but what if it doesn’t have to?

In this episode of Inspiring Entrepreneurs, we unpack the pressure surrounding that first career step and why your first role is not a verdict on your future. From navigating unexpected career paths to figuring out whether a job is truly right for you, we explore how early career decisions can be opportunities for growth rather than defining moments. We discuss how to choose your first job strategically, how to recognise when it’s time to pivot, and why side hustles, experimentation, and risk-taking can play an important role in shaping your career.

If your first role after graduating doesn’t look like what you imagined, you’re not alone, and it might actually be a valuable stepping stone. We’re joined by Wes Beard, Managing Director and Co-founder of Konversable, and Camrie Hole, Careers Consultant at the University of Strathclyde. Together they share practical advice, personal insights, and the lessons they wish they had known earlier in their own careers. Whether you're a student, recent graduate, or considering a career change, this episode will help you rethink how much weight you place on that first job, and how to approach your career with more confidence and flexibility.

If you’re a Strathclyde student or graduate, a great place to start is the university's Careers Service website, where you can find an interactive online course, Choosing My Career. This can help you make it a conscious and thoughtful decision, giving you the best chance of choosing a career path that suits your personality, skills and strengths.

https://www.strath.ac.uk/professionalservices/careers/students/choosingacareer/

You can also explore your career options and see where your degree could take you using the Prospects website.

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree

How to use LinkedIn to go from passive, forgettable, or invisible to credible, visible, and in-demand.

If you have a LinkedIn profile…but haven’t posted anything in months or just can’t figure out how spending time on there is going to help you now or in the longer term, this episode is for you.

If LinkedIn feels awkward, fake, intimidating, or like a place you don’t belong yet, you are not alone.

But here’s the shift we’re making with this episode:

· LinkedIn is not about self-promotion.

· It’s about communication and value creation.

It’s about learning how to express what you’re learning, what you care about, and what problems you can help solve.

We're joined by Mercy Abel, multi award-winning marketer, speaker, early careers and intergenerational team specialist, and Nick Murray, start-up ecosystem builder, Director of the Tectonic Night Summit, and consultant for techstars.

Together, they break down practical ways to strengthen your profile, increase visibility, showcase your skills, and build meaningful connections that open doors. This isn’t about pretending to be impressive or crafting a highlight reel. It’s about learning to communicate clearly, share what you’re learning, and use LinkedIn as an entrepreneurial tool to build confidence and create opportunities.

Whether you’re still studying, recently graduated, or figuring out your next step, this episode will help you utilise LinkedIn to progress your career.

And if you’re a Strathclyde student who wants to put what you learn in this episode into practice, there’s great support available for you via the Strathclyde Careers Service.

You can:

· make a 15-minute appointment to speak to a Careers Consultant in which they can give advice on your LinkedIn profile: https://www.strath.ac.uk/professionalservices/careers/appointments/

· explore the Getting started in LinkedIn course: https://strathclyde.careercentre.me/u/flvyzen3 · and read this article about improving your LinkedIn profile: Improve your LinkedIn Profile - jobs.ac.uk