In this episode, we sit down with Scott Marshall, founder and managing director of Roma Finance, to explore his journey from engineering to becoming a trailblazer in the world of property finance. Scott unpacks Roma’s unique borrower-first approach, their innovative lending products like Roma Flow, Grow, and Pro, and how they’re using AI to streamline operations.

We also cover the impact of rising interest rates, building long-term customer relationships, and Scott’s philosophy on leadership—why making yourself “redundant” is key to scaling a business.

Whether you're a property investor, lender, or just curious about the future of finance and lending, this episode is full of practical insights.

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Key Takeaways:
- Roma Finance was built during a downturn to serve borrowers first.
- Scott Marshall emphasizes the importance of resilience and relationships.
- Lending decisions are made based on borrower stories, not just numbers.
- Bridging finance is evolving—Roma is leading the innovation.
- AI is helping the team deliver better, faster service.
- Strong leadership means knowing when to step back and empower others.

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Sound Bites:
🗣️ "Put the borrower first."
🧠 "Calculated risk, strategic growth."
📈 "Volatility creates opportunity."

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🔗 Connect with Scott Marshall

👉 LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmarshallromafinance/

👉 RomaFinance
https://romafinance.co.uk/


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🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with founders, leaders, and investors shaping the future.

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRa7ERHIeNZbwJR2WBWEwjw

Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finance-for-founders-with-samuel-ajala/id1754190164

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/1MrhBPUT0IkjT58lX2iHNi?si=ba95cf94528b4546

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📩 Join the Finance for Founders newsletter:
https://scaleup-cfo.kit.com/f87991a5e8

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📱 Follow Samuel

Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/Samuel_Ajala

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-ajala-4b823444/

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#FinanceForFounders #ScalingSuccess #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #MarketingStrategies #StartupAdvice #PropertyFinance #RomaFinance #ScottMarshall #BridgingLoans #BusinessGrowth #FinancePodcast #AIinFinance #BorrowerFirst #Leadership #InterestRates

In this episode of Finance for Founders, host Samuel Ajala sits down with Kathryn Strachan, founder of Copyhouse, to dive deep into the realities of entrepreneurship, business growth, and scaling success.

Kathryn shares her incredible journey — from walking dogs to building an award-winning agency — and offers powerful insights on the difference between growing fast and growing well.
She highlights the critical role of strong leadership, company culture, and effective marketing strategies in navigating barriers to growth and building sustainable businesses.

We also explore the impact of AI in business, how it’s transforming content creation, and why investing in team dynamics and leadership development is essential for long-term success.
Kathryn discusses her acquisition journey, the signs of over-scaling, and her future focus on making a positive impact in the world.

• The difference between growing fast and growing well
• Why strong leadership teams are essential to scaling
• How operational complexity often reflects leadership mindset
• The role of AI in modern marketing and content creation
• How company culture signals healthy (or unhealthy) scaling
• Importance of clear market positioning to attract the right clients
• Why early investments in your team drive sustainable growth

• "I was an accidental copywriter."
• "You need people who say no."
• "You can just do stuff."

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🔗 Connect with Kathryn Strachan

👉 LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-strachan/


👉 Scaling for Success: How to Build a Brand that Breaks Barriers

https://amzn.eu/d/hPQT52M

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🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with founders, leaders, and investors shaping the future.

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRa7ERHIeNZbwJR2WBWEwjw

Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finance-for-founders-with-samuel-ajala/id1754190164

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/1MrhBPUT0IkjT58lX2iHNi?si=ba95cf94528b4546

---------------------

📩 Join the Finance for Founders newsletter:
https://scaleup-cfo.kit.com/f87991a5e8

--------------------

📱 Follow Samuel on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-ajala-4b823444/

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#FinanceForFounders #ScalingSuccess #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #MarketingStrategies #StartupAdvice

In this episode of Finance for Founders, we sit down with Mark Dwyer, the accidental entrepreneur behind Big Red Cloud, a cloud accounting platform that has served over 75,000 customers.

Mark shares hard-won lessons from building and scaling a business—from surviving tough markets to navigating acquisitions and maintaining financial discipline. We dive into his leadership style, his take on customer support as a market differentiator, and how he balanced family life while running a fast-growing company.

🎯 Key Takeaways:

• Why resilience is a non-negotiable trait for entrepreneurs
• How acquisitions can fuel strategic growth
• The long-term value of cloud accounting and tech innovation
• What it takes to lead with integrity and build employee loyalty
• Mark’s thoughts on legacy, impact, and what comes next

🔑 Keywords: entrepreneurship, cloud accounting, business acquisition, leadership, financial discipline, scaling business, customer support, market competition, work-life balance, legacy

👂 Sound Bites: "Cash is king in business."
"Be careful what you wish for."
"I got the number that I wanted."

🔁 Like, comment, and subscribe if you found this valuable. New episodes every week.