In Fiona McKee’s recent HR Unlocked Live conversation, she was joined by Sean McGrath, CEO of Entrepreneurial Scotland Foundation and Advisory Board Member at Scottish EDGE, for a thought-provoking chat about what it really means to think entrepreneurially.
Sean opened with a bold statement: “An entrepreneurial Scotland is a prosperous Scotland.”
And it’s a mission he’s spent years proving - not just through funding or programmes, but by nurturing the mindset that drives growth.
Entrepreneurship Is a Team Sport
Sean’s message was clear - leadership and entrepreneurship are not solo pursuits. “You’re playing rugby, not tennis,” he explained.
The best leaders don’t try to be the smartest person in the room. They listen. They surround themselves with people who challenge them, and they recognise that confidence comes not from pretending to know it all, but from being deeply grounded in what you do know.
He spoke passionately about building both internal and external teams - mentors, peers, and networks who help you navigate the rough terrain of business growth. “Nobody does it alone. You need an internal team and an external team. Your network is your external board.”
Developing the Right Kind of Leaders
Entrepreneurial Scotland focuses on developing leaders with curiosity, resilience, empathy, and ambition - qualities Sean believes are often undervalued in traditional business thinking.
He spoke about how many of the barriers to growth are internal, not external. “We’re brilliant at undermining ourselves. Imposter syndrome doesn’t stop at graduates - CEOs feel it too.”
Entrepreneurial leaders, he explained, are the ones who see opportunities where others see problems, and who are willing to take calculated risks to move their businesses forward.
Rethinking Risk
Perhaps Sean’s most powerful insight came near the end of the conversation: “Risk and opportunity are two sides of the same coin. If you limit your risk, you automatically limit your opportunity.”
It’s a lesson that hits home for any leader trying to grow in uncertain times. In Scotland - a nation rich in innovation but often cautious by culture — Sean encouraged a mindset shift. “Your job as a business leader isn’t to eliminate risk. It’s to take the right risks - the educated, calculated ones - that allow your business to grow.”
The Takeaway
Entrepreneurial leadership isn’t about starting a business; it’s about building the courage and curiosity to keep moving forward.
It’s about reframing failure, finding strength in community, and knowing when to take that next brave step - even if it feels uncertain.
As Sean put it: “Reframe your relationship with risk. Embrace it. Understand it. Don’t bet the ranch - but know that growth never comes without it.”
