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Episode 037: Making Your Mark on the Family Business with Cara Mackay, 2nd Generation

July 18, 2018

Cara Mackay, Natty Shed Girl


In this episode, we’re talking with Cara Mackay—a 31-year-old dynamo who has taken her family’s shed construction business in Scotland to new heights. Cara is part of the second generation of Gillies & Mackay, the company started by her father, John and uncle Grant in 1989. Cara currently serves as Managing Director of Gillies & Mackay.

We discuss the journey that led her to this leadership role and how she’s found success navigating tough conversations with her father, uncle, and siblings in the business. Cara describes the focus for her work now, which is to ensure the business thrives for generations to come. She also shares a little about an exciting new venture she’s launching on her own called Natty Shed Life.

Warning: This episode includes adult language.

You can find Cara at nattyshedlife.com.

If you like this topic, you might also find value in:

  • Episode 033: Trapped in the Family Business with Dr. Michael Klein
  • Episode 028: Stories from The Family Business Podcast with Russ Haworth
  • Episode 025: Power20—10 Ways to Set Your NextGen Up for Success in the Family Enterprise
  • Episode 021: Taking Over the Family Business with Mitchell Kaneff
  • Episode 018: The Welch Allyn Family Business Story with Eric Allyn

Guest Bio:

Cara Mackay began her career in construction on the tools from the age of 14 representing just the 1% of construction workers as a woman.

Cara’s fascinating journey through life as a ‘Farm Girl’ and young mother to her bereaved adopted daughter Sophie and own son Patrick met its fateful turn in to the boardroom when she completed her Honours Degree in Business Management in 2015, whilst still running the family firm and raising her children.

Cara is now on the cusp of launching her new 50% female led construction company, NattyShedLife whilst having just given birth to her daughter Luna-Rose this March 2018.

Cara is a founding member of the Content Marketing Academy and continues to grow her businesses through the principles of content marketing.

Cara is a force to be reckoned with. An exemplary business woman, mother and leader.

In this episode:

  • Meet Cara (2:12)
  • Cara’s path to Managing Director (8:56)
  • Getting deeper in the family business (16:51)
  • “The chat” (19:55)
  • Advice for making your mark on the family business (24:50)
  • Future-proofing (40:38)
  • Cara’s new venture (51:07)
  • Permission is possible (58:15)
  • Bonus questions (1:04:12)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

  • Gillies & Mackay
  • NattyShedLife
  • Cara’s LinkedIn Post

Notable & Quotable:

I was at the bottom of the list when I started making plans in my mind [to lead the family business]. I didn’t have any authority to be thinking any of this. There was a lot of me that I still had to prove. —Cara Mackay


If you want to prove yourself, pick something that no one else is doing and make something of it. Find a job no one else wants, do the best you can with it, and they will notice. —Cara Mackay


Leaders do things no one else wants to do. —Ellie Frey Zagel


No one wants to talk about succession and exit strategy because they are so closely linked to death. Talking about these things regularly helps to remove the taboo. —Cara Mackay


People need permission. I know they care about that. I’m not the one to give them permission, but I am the one that can show them that it is possible. —Cara Mackay


If it’s not going to break you or absolutely ruin you, then just do it. —Cara Mackay


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Want more of Successful Generations? Check out our other episodes: 

Episode 036: Financial Literacy, Leadership and Entrepreneurship for Teens with Whitney Webb
Bonus Episode: Power20—My Reflect and Connect Challenge
Episode 035: Great Governance for Your Investment Committee with Becky Wood
Episode 034: Trapped in the Family Business with Dr. Michael Klein, Part 2
Episode 033: Trapped in the Family Business with Dr. Michael Klein, Part 1
Episode 032: Spendthrift or Tightwad with Dr. Scott Rick
Episode 031: Impact Investing with Jennifer Oertel
Episode 030: Holistic Weight Management with Cynthia Damaskos
Episode 029: Giving Back Through Giving Circles with Dr. Jason Franklin
Episode 028: The Family Business Podcast with Russ Haworth
Episode 027: The Power of Mindset with Dr. Nancy Jonker
Episode 026: Reflections from Four Decades in Philanthropy with Rob Collier
Episode 025: Power20—10 Ways to Set Your NextGen Up for Success in the Family Enterprise
Episode 024: Pump it Up! Strength Training and Leadership Development
Episode 023: Leadership Development and Agility with Greg McCann
Episode 022: Getting Started in Philanthropy with Colleen Mitchell
Episode 021: Taking Over the Family Business with Mitchell Kaneff
Episode 020: Women and Wealth w/ Adrienne Penta
Episode 019: The Allyn Family 2.0, Part 2
Episode 018: The Welch Allyn Family Business Story with Eric Allyn (4th Gen), Part 1
Episode 017: Achieving Your Goals through MasterMind and Peer Groups
Episode 016: Reframing Limiting Beliefs with Ellie Frey Zagel
Episode 015: Beyond the Piggy Bank with Father, Author, and Entrepreneur Clint Greenleaf
Episode 014: More Awareness and Less Stress through Yoga
Episode 013: Raising Children to be Amazing Business Owners with Paige Cornetet
Episode 012: Generous Genes with Susan Crites Price
Episode 011: Digging into the Family Business Landscape with Daniel Van Der Vliet
Episode 010: 10 Things My Family Did to Engage us in Family Philanthropy
Episode 009: Stress Management and Holistic Health with Cynthia Damaskos
Episode 008: Family, Fights and Ferry Tales with Chris Shepler
Episode 007: Raising Financially Responsible Kids Through the Holidays (and Beyond)
Episode 006: Join the Philanthropic Revolution with Michael Moody
Episode 005: Estate Planning 101 aka Estate Planning is Not Optional with Susan Gell Meyers 
Episode 004: Ginny Esposito – Engaging your Family in Family Philanthropy
Episode 003: Leadership, Wellness, and Concierge Medicine with Dr. Bill Baer
Episode 002: Douglas D Box, Texas Patriarch – A Legacy Lost
Episode 001: About Your Host Ellie Frey Zagel

Learn more about Successful Generations:

FB: @SuccessfulGenerations
Twitter: @EllieFreyZagel
Email: ellie@successfulgenerations.com
Instagram: SuccessfulGenerations


Have a topic suggestion?

If you are the next generation of family business, philanthropy and wealth, and have a topic you think we should discuss, let us know at Ellie@successfulgenerations.com.

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Family Business

Ellie Frey Zagel

Ellie Frey Zagel is 3rd Generation, Vice Chair and Trustee of her family’s foundation the Frey Foundation based in Grand Rapids, MI. For nearly a decade she has been deeply involved in working with the next generation of family business, family philanthropy, and family wealth, first as Director of the Family Business Alliance and now as President of Successful Generations, a company she recently founded.

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