The Business Growth Coach® | Forbes Mentor & Neuroscience-Based Scaling Strategist | Speaker | Wiley Author Dynamic Digital Marketing | Dawn of a New Era Podcast | 30K+ Clients & £45m Generated | Scale to £100k+ Months

Dawn McGruer FRSA FCIM APM APC

The Business Growth Coach® | Forbes Mentor | Multi–7-Figure Founder | Best-Selling Author & Speaker

I’m Dawn McGruer — a multi–award-winning entrepreneur, author, and strategist on a mission to help female founders and visionary leaders scale to £100K+ months and beyond through the fusion of neuroscience, psychology, and high-performance business strategy.

At just 21, I launched my first business — and by 33, I was mortgage-free. Since then, I’ve built four multi–7-figure ventures, including my marketing agency and Business Consort – The Digital & Social Media Academy, a CIM-accredited global study centre with over 30,000 graduates, a 99% pass rate, and a reputation for excellence in digital marketing education.

Over the past 25 years, my clients have collectively generated £45M+ in revenue — and I’ve been recognised among the top 1% of business coaches globally for helping women build profitable, purpose-driven empires without burnout or hustle.

As the creator of THE DREAMLIFE™ Method and The Millionaire Scaling Strategy™, I help entrepreneurs:
✨ Rewire their subconscious for success through neuroscience & quantum psychology
✨ Overcome performance plateaus & scale sustainably
✨ Build global brands, license their intellectual property, and step into iconic leadership

I’m proud to be a Forbes Business Mentor, Best Female Speaker (PSA), and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) — and the host of Dawn of a New Era, a Top 3% Global Podcast exploring health, wealth, happiness, and high performance, with over 25K+ downloads per episode.

💼 Who I Work With

I partner with ambitious female founders already generating £20K–£50K+ months who want to scale to consistent £100K+ months — building freedom-driven, sustainable, and legacy-led businesses.

🚀 Client Results

🔥 On average, clients increase sales by 20% in 30 days
🔥 92% double their income within 60 days
🔥 Most triple recurring income within 90 days
🔥 Clients achieve ROI up to 2,900% in 6 months
🔥 87% reach £100K months within 7 months

💎 6-Month Guarantee: Double Your Money Back if You Don’t Profit.
Scale with zero risk — if you don’t make back your investment (and more) in 6 months, we’ll pay you double the difference.

🌍 Let’s Connect

If you’re ready to scale your business to 7-figures and beyond, build a global brand, or license your IP, I’d love to connect.

📩 DM me or visit www.dawnmcgruer.com
 to explore:

🔹1:1 Millionaire Mindset & Scaling Mentorship
🔹THE DREAMLIFE™ Mastermind (12 Members Only)
🔹Iconic Retreats in Barbados, Marrakesh & Mauritius

Dawn McGruer

20 Real-Life Cheat Codes I Wish I Knew Earlier

Not hacks. 

Just real stuff that makes life smoother.

1/ Be easy to work with. It’s the most underrated career skill.

2/ Want to be more charismatic? → Become a better listener.

3/ Stop caring so much about others' opinions. 
➩ You’ll gain so much energy.

4/ Practice “Positive Gossip” 
↳ Praise others even when they’re not around.

5/ Invest in daily-use items 
➠ Shoes, mattress, chair, etc.

6/ Surround yourself with people who live the way you want to live.

7/ Work expands to fill time. 
Set fake deadlines to finish faster.

8/ Say “Thanks for your patience.” 
→ It sounds better than “Sorry I’m late.”

9/ Learn kind self-talk 
➨ That voice in your head? It’s always there.

10/ Want to build a habit? 
Set the bar low. So low that you can’t fail.

11/ Always plan to be 15 minutes early.
Saves you from stress.

12/ Can’t start? 
Just do it for 5 minutes. That’s enough to begin.

13/ Skincare early = Looking 30 when you’re 50.

14/ Write down 1 story-worthy moment every day. 
➩ Build your story bank.

15/ Friend owns a business? Support them. 
Don’t ask for discounts.

16/ Don’t buy to impress. 
Especially people you don’t even know.

17/ Sit too much? 
Stretch your hips and chest often.

18/ Want someone to get mad? 
Tell them to "calm down." → Don’t do it.

19/ Anything you want to learn 
→ There’s a YouTube tutorial for it.

20/ Think of each day as 4 quarters:
Morning / Midday / Afternoon / Evening.
Blow one? 

➠ Win the next.

Which one hits you the most today?


✅PS: Let’s share some cheat codes below.
You never know who needs them.

Dawn McGruer FRSA FCIM

Dawn McGruer FRSA FCIM APM APC – The Business Growth Coach® Forbes Mentor | 4 x Founder | Best-Selling Author & Speaker | 30,000 clients + Generated 45m | Scaling Clients to 100k months+

New Year remorse is real.

The alarm goes off.
You feel tired.
You want to stay in bed.
It’s cold outside.
And the day ahead fills you with dread.

That’s exactly how I used to feel.

Commuting into London.
On the train by 6am.
At the office by 8:30am.
Staying three nights a week in a hotel, getting back late on Thursday—exhausted.
Then telling myself, “Just one more day to go.”

That’s not living.
That’s existing.

I enjoyed it for a while… until it took its toll.
Constant packing. Never really being at home.
And it’s fine—until it isn’t.

So I started changing things.

I spoke on more stages. I loved it.
Then travel crept back in again.
And I learned this truth: too much of anything becomes monotonous—even the things you once dreamed of.

I wrote a book.
I hosted my own speaking events—100 guests in London and Manchester, every other month.
It was fun. Truly.

But after 10 years, something had to give.

I wanted to choose a different way of thinking, feeling, and living.
I knew it wouldn’t happen overnight—but every single day I changed one thing that moved me closer.

Closer to balance.
Closer to depth.
Closer to working inside founders’ businesses—helping them scale, overcome success barriers, rewire the subconscious, and build health, wealth, and happiness as true CEOs.

If 2026 doesn’t light you up yet—there’s time.
A lot can change in a day.
A week.
A month.
A year.

When I finally made the decision to change, I started my third business—and hit 7 figures in 7 months.
The best decision I ever made.

I kept my other two businesses too—just stepped away from the day-to-day.
And since then? I’ve started two more.
Five in total.

So hear this:

Don’t wait.
You only live once.
It’s your time.
Make your dream a reality.

I might not have all the answers—but I’ve scaled my own businesses and 20,000+ others over the past 25 years.

If this feels like your year, message me.
Let’s chat.

No alternative text description for this image

🔥 2026: The Year of the Fire Horse

Momentum. Independence. Bold Expansion.

If 2025 was about shedding skins and refining your edge, 2026 is about movement.

The Fire Horse doesn’t wait.

It doesn’t overthink.

And it definitely doesn’t play small.

This is the year where speed beats perfection and courage beats comfort.

The Fire Horse energy is unapologetically bold:

🔥 Fast decisions
🔥 Fierce independence
🔥 Vision-led action
🔥 Leadership that cannot be contained

But here’s the truth most people miss…

This year will reward aligned momentum and punish chaos.

If your nervous system is dysregulated, 

if your business model isn’t clean

if your identity hasn’t caught up to your ambition

The Fire Horse will feel overwhelming.

But if you’ve done the inner work?

If your strategy matches your capacity?

If you trust yourself to lead?

2026 becomes a breakout year.

What the Fire Horse asks of you:

🐎 Move before you feel ready

Waiting for certainty is the fastest way to miss the window.

Lead from instinct, not noise

Too many opinions dilute momentum. This year rewards clarity.

Build for freedom, not approval

People-pleasing kills speed. 

The Fire Horse values autonomy.

Regulate before you accelerate

Power without regulation becomes burnout. Nervous system first.

Choose expansion over safety

Comfort zones will feel suffocating in 2026.

Fire Horse CEOs will win by:

✔ Scaling with speed and precision
✔ Making bold investments in visibility, leadership, and leverage
✔ Letting go of roles, identities, and structures that slow them down
✔ Trusting their intuition as much as their data

This is not a year for:

❌ Playing small
❌ Over-planning
❌ Waiting for permission
❌ Building businesses that trap you

🔥 2026 doesn’t ask: “Are you ready?”

It asks: “Are you willing to lead?”

Because the Fire Horse doesn’t follow paths.

It creates them.

If this resonated, it wasn’t by accident.

I’m opening very limited private mentorship spaces for female founders ready to make £100K+ months the standard.

No funnels. No fluff. Just results.

Private message me the word ‘MENTOR’ for details…

What nobody tells you about scaling…

It’s messy.
It’s chaotic.

And no one — no one — started with perfect systems and processes.

They come after the cash, not before it.

Don’t get swept up in everyone else’s advice.

Stay true to your goal.
Say no to everything that isn’t a direct line to it.

You don’t need to scale conventionally. 
But you do need to do the bloody work! 

And it doesn’t take years to hit 7 figures — if you’re learning from someone who’s actually done it.

Let’s be honest:
In January, everyone became a mentor or coach.

But have they achieved what you want?

Are they even qualified to guide you there?

Not every bell and whistle is required.

You can sell without a sales page.

You can grow without perfection.

Perfection is just procrastination in a prettier outfit.

Tip the balance. Do it anyway.
You’ll pull it together as you move.

If it doesn’t feel right — trust your gut.

Your strategy must feel aligned, or you’ll sabotage it subconsciously.

£100K months are a reality for many.
Those who mock it or tear it down aren’t “protecting” you —
they’re projecting scarcity.

That’s sabotage, not salvation.

This might trigger traditional beliefs.
But truth often does.

And remember this:
Growth is rarely comfortable.

But if you’re willing to stretch…
limitless success is available to you.

Save this post and remember everyone started at zero…but your goal is closer than you think!

Barbados Visionary Reset
16–21 March

In the Caribbean, where Barbados sits between calm turquoise waters and endless sky, something powerful happens.

Your nervous system softens.
Your mind slows.

And the invisible guest you’ve been carrying everywhere… finally loosens its grip.

As founders, our minds are always on.

Planning. 
Fixing. 
Forecasting.

That invisible mental load is exhausting and it keeps your vision small, tight, reactive.

This retreat is the opposite.

You don’t come to Barbados to escape your business.

You come to expand it.

To walk into expansive thinking.

To plan a year of growth like never before.

To map £100K months and beyond from a place of clarity, calm, and certainty.

Days of strategy, alignment, and future vision.

Evenings of Caribbean sunsets, deep conversations, laughter, and perspective.

All spent with female founders who are already playing at the next level the kind of rooms that change everything.

This isn’t just a retreat.
It’s a visionary reset.

And for many women, it becomes a life-changing turning point.

Comment or DM me the word BARBADOS and I’ll send you the details

If you know it’s time to think bigger, plan smarter, and step into your next level —
the Caribbean is calling. 🌴

I don’t build 5-year plans.

Not because I lack vision —
but because vision without momentum is just imagination.

I visualise the year I’m becoming —
the identity, the energy, the revenue, the lifestyle.

Then I bring it back to 90-day growth cycles:
• One clear revenue focus
• One aligned strategy
• One identity upgrade
• One set of actions that actually move the needle

Five-year plans feel safe.
90-day plans create results.

This is how you scale without burnout.

This is how you stay agile, focused, and in momentum.

This is how £100K months are built — one powerful quarter at a time.

If you’re still planning 5 years ahead but not executing this quarter…that’s your sign.

Message me “PLAN” and I’ll show you how to build your next 90-day growth plan like a CEO — not a dreamer.

THE JANUARY GROWTH TRAP (and how real CEOs move through it)

January starts loud.
Big goals. Fresh notebooks. 
New offers.
Momentum feels unstoppable.

And then… week 3 hits.

Sales slow.
Enquiries stall.
Energy dips.
Doubt creeps in.

Here’s the truth most founders miss 
Your offer didn’t fail. 
The timing shifted.

January cash flow is tight for many businesses.
Invoices are still being chased from Christmas.
Decision-making is slower.
People are warming up not buying at speed yet.

This is a stage of growth, not a signal to panic.

What matters now is how you respond 

Shift from hype to clarity
Look at how to increase customer base
Improve average order value
Increase purchase frequency

Get ruthless with your numbers
What do you need to sell per day to hit your goal?
Reverse-engineer your monthly target
Sense-check your fees against your true hourly rate

See profit daily
Not just in accounting software.
In a simple spreadsheet where you can feel the maths.

Refine, don’t reinvent
Sharpen your offer
Upgrade messaging from interesting to desirable
Focus on actions that directly lead to sales or savings

Delegate & declutter
If it doesn’t move you closer to your goal, it’s noise.

And the biggest mistake I see?

🚫 Expecting to sell without connection.
Content alone isn’t enough.
Growth requires two-way conversations — real human interaction with your ideal client.

Because if cash is the goal, then be honest: Everything else is fluff and vanity.

Real growth is focus.
Alignment.
Daily selling + saving.
Looking after the clients you already have.

Ditch the endless ideas.
Create cash content.
Nurture relationships.
And lead your business like a CEO not a content creator chasing dopamine.

This stage is normal.
How you handle it determines everything. 

If £100K months are the goal — not vanity metrics or busywork, but real profit and momentum — this is your next move.

Message me MONEY to learn how to:

• Create consistent £100K months
• Align strategy, mindset & messaging
• Focus on daily cash-creating actions
• Scale like a CEO without burnout or fluff

This is about clean growth, confident selling, and wealth that supports your life.

I lead and recover enterprise digital transformation and delivery initiatives, with 20+ years of experience across global, matrixed organizations.

I have owned and governed €50M+ transformation portfolios, including ERP modernization, enterprise platform rollouts (SAP, Microsoft), operating model redesign, and AI-enabled programs. My background spans CIO-level transformation leadership, global program governance, and value realization across organizations such as AGCO, Amcor, and Salesforce.

I am typically engaged where transformation efforts are at risk, over-optimistic plans, weak governance, unclear accountability, or programs that have gone live without delivering business results. I specialize in restoring execution discipline, establishing clear decision rights, aligning senior stakeholders, and translating strategy into sequenced, executable delivery roadmaps.

A core focus of my work is ensuring sustained ROI from transformation investments. This includes validating benefit assumptions, embedding value ownership into governance, driving adoption, and maintaining post-implementation performance tracking to prevent value erosion after go-live.

Today, I work in senior leadership, interim, and enterprise advisory capacities with CEOs, CIOs, and executive teams delivering mission-critical transformation initiatives, including enterprise AI adoption at scale. My approach is pragmatic, execution-focused, and grounded in real operating experience.

I focus on what works inside complex organizations, delivering outcomes that stand up to executive and board scrutiny.

Zoltan Szabo

Positions are temporary.
Ranks and titles are limited.
But how you treat people will always be remembered.

I've seen this play out over two decades of leadership.
The VP who dismissed the intern's idea in a meeting?
Still remembered, years later.

The Director who took time to mentor someone two levels below?
Still referenced when they're not in the room.

The Manager who threw their team under the bus to save face?
People don't forget that either.

Your title gives you authority for a moment.
But your character builds your legacy forever.

Titles come and go.
Companies restructure.
Roles change.
But the way you made people feel? That stays.

So if you're climbing the ladder, ask yourself:
Who am I becoming on the way up?

Because the people you pass will remember.
And when you need allies, advocates, or just someone willing to work with you,
They won't remember your title.
They'll remember how you treated them.

Lead like you'll need those relationships later.
Because you will.

I Help Mid-Level Professionals Find Roles And Advance Their Careers At Top Companies | Career & Leadership Coach

Be open to learn, unlearn, and relearn.
This is the mindset that separates leaders who grow from those who plateau.

I've worked with executives across four continents, and the ones who keep rising all share this trait:
They don't cling to what used to work.

Learn — Stay curious. Ask questions. Absorb new perspectives, even when they challenge your assumptions.
Unlearn — Let go of outdated beliefs, processes, and habits that no longer serve you. What got you here won't always get you there.
Relearn — Adapt. Evolve. Be willing to approach the same problem with fresh eyes and updated thinking.

The career landscape is changing faster than ever.
Remote work. AI. Flatter orgs. New leadership expectations.

If you're still leading the same way you did five years ago, you're already behind.
The best leaders aren't the ones who know the most.
They're the ones who stay flexible enough to keep evolving.

It's a full-time job to believe in yourself.
No days off.

Especially when you're job searching and the rejections keep coming.
When you're waiting for the promotion that feels overdue.
When you're leading a team that's doubting the direction.

Self-belief isn't a one-time decision.
It's a daily practice.

Some days, it's easier.
You get a callback.
A compliment.
A small win that reminds you why you're capable.

Other days? It's harder.
The silence is loud. The doubt creeps in. And you start questioning if you're good enough.

But here's what I've learned after two decades of leadership:
The people who win aren't the ones who never doubt themselves.
They're the ones who keep showing up anyway.

Who wake up and choose belief, even when evidence is scarce.
Who build momentum through consistency, not just confidence.

So if you're in a season where belief feels like work,
That's normal.

Keep going.
Keep applying. Keep leading. Keep learning.

Because the version of you that didn't give up?
That's the one who breaks through.

The problem isn’t that people don’t care about their jobs. 
It’s that companies don’t always care back.

You can work late. 
Answer emails at midnight. 
Pick up weekend calls. 
Go above and beyond, every single time.

And still be let go in a 10-minute call with zero warning.

That’s not a performance issue. 
That’s a system issue.

We’ve normalized sacrificing health, time, and family for roles that can disappear overnight.

A job should be part of your life. 
Not the whole thing.

Protect your peace. 
Set boundaries early. 
And never forget: you’re not disposable.

You’re a person, not a position.
Activate to view larger image,

Most leaders don't burn out from working hard.
They burn out from working on everything.

If you want to scale your leadership without losing yourself in the process, here's how:

1. Audit your calendar like it's a budget
Your time is your most finite resource.
→ Action: Block 2 hours this week to review your last month of calendar. Highlight everything that only you can do. Everything else? That's your delegation list.

2. Stop delegating tasks. Start delegating ownership.
Handing off to-dos doesn't free you up. It just creates more check-ins.
→ Action: For one recurring responsibility, assign full ownership, not just execution. Let someone else own the outcome, the decisions, and the follow-through.

3. Build systems, not dependencies
If your team can't move without you, you're not leading, you're bottlenecking.
→ Action: Document one process you repeat weekly. Turn it into a playbook or template others can follow without needing your approval.

4. Protect your strategic time like it's non-negotiable
Reactive work will fill every gap you leave open.
→ Action: Block 3-5 hours per week as "strategic focus time." No meetings. No Slack. Just high-level thinking, planning, and decision-making.

5. Learn to lead through questions, not answers
The more you solve, the more dependent your team becomes.
→ Action: Next time someone brings you a problem, ask: "What do you think we should do?" Let them think through it. Coach, don't rescue.

Scaling your leadership isn't about doing more.
It's about doing less of the right things.

When you delegate ownership, build repeatable systems, and protect your energy for what actually matters,
You don't just survive leadership.
You sustain it.

Follow me for more leadership strategies that help you grow without burning out.

Most professionals think networking is about collecting contacts.
Executive-level networking? It's about building strategic layers of influence.

If you want doors to Director and VP roles to open, you need three distinct networks working together:

Peer Network: Your Rising Allies
These are the people at your level who will rise with you.
When they get promoted, they remember who supported them on the way up.
→ Build 5 strong peer relationships in adjacent functions
→ Schedule monthly check-ins to share wins and challenges
→ Trade insights, offer help, build real trust

Upward Network: Your Executive Sponsors
These are the decision-makers who control access to bigger roles.
They're not just watching your performance—they're advocating for your potential.
→ Identify 2-3 senior leaders outside your direct chain
→ Add value before asking for anything
→ Volunteer for cross-functional work they care about
→ Stay visible without being transactional

External Network: Your Opportunity Pipeline
These are industry contacts, recruiters, and former colleagues beyond your company walls.
When internal doors close, external ones open.
→ Engage with 3-5 external contacts each month
→ Comment on their content, share their insights
→ Stay top of mind so your name comes up when roles open

Here's why this compounds:
Your peer network becomes your referral engine.
Your upward network becomes your advocacy team.
Your external network becomes your safety net and growth path.

Most people only focus on upward networking (impressing the boss).
But the real magic happens when all three layers are working in parallel.

Because promotions don't just come from your manager's approval.
They come from being known, trusted, and recommended across multiple circles.

Start building now.
Not when you need a job. Not when you want a promotion.

And remember to follow me for more career strategies that position you for leadership opportunities.

The 3 Layer Networking Strategy

The best opportunities never make it to the public board.
I wrote about what's broken on the LinkedIn job search and the exact playbook that's working in 2026.
Read it here: https://lnkd.in/eyq6f8Tu

Most managers aren't bad at leadership.

They're just drowning in other people's urgency.

Slack pings. "Quick questions." Last-minute meetings.
By Friday, your week is gone — and somehow nothing important moved.

That's not a workload problem.

It's a leakage problem.

Here's the uncomfortable truth most managers miss:

You don't lose authority by being available.
You lose authority by being reactive.

The strongest leaders I work with don't do more.

They filter, protect, and decide.

One VP I coached reclaimed 12 hours a week — without a single complaint from her team.

That's what I call a Leadership Firewall.

Not walls.
Not distance.
Not disappearing.

Clear rules that protect:
– Your time
– Your energy
– Your decision-making authority

So you can lead without firefighting.

I built a framework for this:

The Leadership Firewall
3 Rules to Lead Without Firefighting

Built for managers who want to:
– Stop reacting all day
– Create real focus time
– Set boundaries without sounding apologetic or unavailable

If you feel busy but not effective…
If your calendar runs you instead of the other way around…
If leadership feels heavier than it should…

This will land.

DM me "FIREWALL" and I'll send it over.

How to Build Relationships With Recruiters That Lead to Actual Opportunities

Most people treat recruiters like vending machines.
They reach out when they need something, then disappear.
And then they wonder why recruiters never think of them when great roles open up.

Here's the truth: Recruiters work with hundreds of candidates.
If you want to be top of mind, you need to build an actual relationship.

Here's how to do it:
1. Respond to recruiter outreach (even when you're not looking)
When a recruiter reaches out on LinkedIn, don't ignore it just because the timing isn't right.
-> Reply with: Thanks for thinking of me. I'm not actively looking right now, but I'd love to stay connected for future opportunities. Here's what I'm interested in long-term...
-> This keeps you on their radar and shows you're professional and open to conversation.

2. Be crystal clear about what you want
Recruiters can't help you if they don't know what you're looking for.
Vague responses like I'm open to anything make you forgettable.
-> Be specific: I'm targeting Director-level operations roles in tech or SaaS companies with 200-500 employees, ideally in hybrid or remote setups.
-> The clearer you are, the easier it is for them to match you with real opportunities.

3. Make it easy for them to sell you
Recruiters are your advocates to hiring managers. Give them the tools they need to position you well.
-> Keep your LinkedIn updated with clear accomplishments, metrics, and impact.
-> When you talk to a recruiter, share 2-3 strong talking points: I've scaled teams from 5 to 30, reduced churn by 40%, and led three successful product launches.
-> The easier you make their job, the more likely they'll push you forward.

4. Stay in touch without being annoying
Don't disappear after one conversation. But don't spam them weekly either.
-> Check in every 3-6 months with a quick update: Hey, just wanted to let you know I recently led X project. Still keeping an eye out for Director roles if anything comes across your desk.
-> This keeps you top of mind without being pushy.

5. Treat them like partners, not gatekeepers
Recruiters want to place great candidates. When you succeed, they succeed.
-> Be responsive. Show up to calls on time. Follow through on what you commit to.
-> If they present you for a role, give them feedback afterward—whether you move forward or not.
-> Build trust by being professional, communicative, and easy to work with.

The best opportunities don't always get posted.
They go to people recruiters already know, trust, and think of first.
Build those relationships now, and you'll have a network working for you when the right role opens up.

Save this post if you're ready to build recruiter relationships that actually pay off.

Your company badge is a piece of plastic.

Your reputation belongs to you.

I just published something for everyone who's been blindsided by a "performance concerns" letter after years of crushing it.

New on Substack

taplio

The Battle

Dawn McGruer

Zoltan Szabo

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreDawn McGruer's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreZoltan Szabo's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Dawn McGruer

Zoltan Szabo

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Dawn McGruer's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreDawn McGruer's LinkedIn Performance