AS she prepares to take the helm of Entrepreneurial Spark, Lucy-Rose Walker is reflecting on the moment she decided to join the organisation which has grown to become the world’s largest free business accelerator.

“It was one of those pivotal moments in your life, you know?” she says. “One of those times you get asked a question which you know will lead you down one important path or another, depending on how you answer.

“I’d been sent a press release about Entrepreneurial Spark – I was training as a business coach at the time – because it looked like it was right up my street.

“I got in touch with Jim Duffy and he asked if I wanted to get involved as one of the companies that would be supported – or did I want to work with him? I chose the latter.”

Six years on and the organisation has now supported more than 1700 businesses, and its entrepreneurs – nurtured and supported through a network of ‘hatcheries’ - have generated £176 million turnover and created more than 3000 jobs.

Now Duffy is stepping down and Walker will be taking the helm.

“It will be a big change, of course – having worked so closely with Jim for the past six years it will be hard,” she nods.

“We have worked well together – yin and yang. He’s the visionary, I’m operational.

“We knew we had something special with Entrepreneurial Spark but we didn’t know how quickly it would have an impact. It was loved by some, disliked by others at the start but at its heart has always been the same aim – to support as many entrepreneurs as possible.”

Walker grew up in the small Fife town of Wormit, on the banks of the Firth of Tay.

“It was a very small place and I remember looking out over the water to the ‘big city’ of Dundee,” she laughs. “I’m sure there is plenty of symbolism in that.

“I was lucky, growing up in the family I did. I was taught to believe I could do anything, I could change the world – but it would be up to me to make it happen.”

She adds: “As a result, I’ve always believed you create your own destiny and everything happens for a reason.”

Walker’s mother Linda is a trained social worker who moved into education, becoming assistant dean of education and social work at Dundee University; her father Rob runs an antique furniture restoration business.

“I spent a lot of time in my dad’s shop when I was growing up, watching him work – he was never as ambitious as my mother in terms of a career plan, but he always worked hard and has remained true to himself,” says Walker.

“They both influenced me in different ways.”

Walker’s ‘passion for helping people’ has its roots in her teenage years, she believes, when she became a childminder.

“I loved it – I was still at school, just 16. I have two younger brothers and the youngest was born when I was 16 so I always looked after him too and we used to joke he really had three parents,” Walker says.

“But I was lucky, because my family was so supportive. I soon realised there were children not so fortunate, who grew up being told they would amount to nothing. I just didn’t believe that was right.

“I am genuinely interested in people, and want to support them to become the best they can be.”

After leaving school, Walker studied psychology at Glasgow University and landed a summer job with an e-commerce company, giving her an insight into the world of business for the first time. She went on to work in the tourism sector, developing a ‘tartan affinity’ credit card for use by the Scottish diaspora in the US, and inventing and marketing a board game called Scottish Quest.

Her career low-point, she says, came during her role as operations manager for The Gathering, a weekend celebration of Scottish culture which was a flagship event of Homecoming 2009.

Despite being hailed as a success, with almost 50,000 people attending, the event took a mauling in the press when it reported huge losses.

“The event was a success, but - PR-wise, it was a disaster,” says Walker. “It was a tough learning curve.”

Walker became project manager for Connect Scotland, a technology business network offering resources and skills to support innovative start-up companies, and set up Panalba, a social networking set aimed at Scots worldwide.

“We are lucky in Scotland to come from such a special, enchanting place,” she says. “Sometimes we forget that, or take it for granted. I’ve always had a strong desire to promote this country – not in a shortbread-tin, twee kind of way, but by promoting the amazing people who come from here.

“We have a long tradition of invention and entrepreneurial spirit in Scotland, it’s in our blood.”

She breaks off with a laugh. “But yes, my friends do say – when is Lucy-Rose going to get a normal job? I suppose I desire to be part of something different, to do something quirky and brave, to take that leap of faith and just give it a go.”

Her psychology background is key to her role at Entrepreneurial Spark, where she is viewed as straight-talking, firm, but fair.

“I realised pretty early on that you can take away all of the physical barriers that stop entrepreneurs in their tracks – give them free offices and WiFi access, for example, but the psychological ones still remain,” she explains.

“It’s what’s in their heads that you have to work on. That’s the biggest challenge. I think I probably am known for not taking any nonsense but my team is my number one priority. We’re all cogs in the same wheel, after all.

“I’d rather say no sometimes so we are clear about our focus – instead of saying yes to everyone and everything and ending up doing everything badly.”

She adds: “I read The Introverted Leader recently, Jennifer Kahnweiler’s book about different kinds of leadership. That stereotype of a CEO as someone hugely charismatic and loud, someone who shouts in your face and is overbearing…I don’t buy that. I don’t think it has to be that way.”

Walker is excited about taking over from Duffy - he has said he believes under her tenure Entrepreneurial Spark will achieve “stratospheric” heights.

Her aim is to continue to develop the business, embarking on a new model which will provide specialised, bespoke enablement for everyone – whether it’s a small start-up leaving the kitchen table or a well-established businesses wishing to grow into international markets.

The organisation’s 13th hatchery is about to open in London, and plans for 2017 include the launch of the first free, dedicated fintech (financial technology) accelerator in Scotland.

“It’s going to be a mindblowing year,” says Walker, with enthusiasm, although she accepts the uncertainty surrounding the UK’s departure from the European Union, and a possible independence referendum on the horizon, will impact on the entrepreneurial community.

“What’s happening in the world just now is unsettling, it is strange, but we have to run with it,” she says. “There are challenges. I see them as opportunities.”

Walker doesn’t accept the stereotype that men make better entrepreneurs than women.

“We have a 50/50 male/female split, which we have arrived at without any focused attempt to do so,” she says.

“It is probably beyond our remit to go around getting more women to start businesses, but we hope that the success of those female entrepreneurs we do help will inspire others to believe in themselves and their ideas.

“The market is buoyant and we have also noticed that while the average age of our entrepreneurs is 38, there is a definite surge in the over 55s so that’s something to explore.”

Away from work, Walker, who lives in Edinburgh with her partner and dog, reads a lot, loves walking and is obsessed with American political TV dramas.

“I don’t really watch films, but I love boxed-sets,” she smiles. “West Wing, Scandal, that kind of thing. I joked recently I spend more time in the White House than the president does. That doesn’t seem quite so funny now….”

LIVE AND LOVES:

Career high – Co-founding Entrepreneurial Spark. I’ve had many pivotal moments in my career, but this was special. To be where I am now is phenomenal.

Career low – The Gathering in 2009. It was a tough learning curve.

Best film – I’m not a big film fan. I love the West Wing box set though.

Music – I’m a big country fan.

Last book read - What Alice Knew by TA Cotterrell.

Best piece of advice received – My modern studies teacher told me life is not a dress rehearsal and since then I’ve always tried to make the most of life.

Biggest influence – My parents, Linda and Rob Walker, are my biggest influences. And TED talks inspire me.

Best trait – My capacity to spin a lot of plates at the same time and make stuff happen.

Worst trait – I don’t always know when to slow down

Ideal dinner guests - Simon Sinek, motivational speaker; Michelle Obama and Albert Einstein.