Pembroke Portfolio Leadership Breakfast

Leadership Lessons to Scale by: Key Takeaways from Our Founder Events with Rachel Turner

In January we had the pleasure of hosting our first two founder events of the year, centred around a fundamental pillar of any successful business: Leadership.

The sessions were expertly led by Rachel Turner, co-founder of VC Talent Lab and author of The Founder’s Survival Guide. Rachel’s deep understanding of leadership development challenges helped our founders and portfolio leaders navigate the unique demands they face in their growth journeys.

Founders are often thrown in the deep end, expected to know everything, and manage everyone all at once. Yet leadership is a journey, not an innate skill . Guidance, whether through shared experiences or actionable advice, can make all the difference. Networking also plays a pivotal role in exchanging ideas, learning what works (and what doesn’t), and growing together.

Here are some of our favourite takeaways from the session, which are relevant for anyone in a leadership role:

✅ A strong leadership team builds trust, encourages open communication, and sets clear expectations.

✅ High-performing teams thrive on structure, clarity and consistent feedback.

✅ Leading with authenticity, vulnerability and a fun attitude fosters strong team dynamics.

One of the highlights of the events was the networking and collaboration among attendees. Founders were able to share personal stories, successes, and even failures—sparking honest discussions on what works and what doesn’t in real-life leadership situations.

Rachel encouraged attendees to learn not just from their successes but from their challenges and setbacks. Being part of a community of like-minded leaders allows for shared growth and development.