In this episode of Just a Chat with, I sit down with architect and entrepreneur Danny Campbell, founder of Hoko Design and judge on BBC’s Scotland’s Home of the Year.

We chat about building a business with purpose, the dangers of ego, and what happens when you scale too fast. Danny opens up about how near-burnout reshaped his views on success, why he swapped a Jaguar for Crocs, and how kindness—not competition—became his guiding principle.

It’s a conversation about design, growth, and rediscovering what really matters—at work, at home, and in life.

Key Takeaways:

• Ego is the enemy. Growth driven by ego leads to stress and instability. Purpose-driven growth lasts.

• Kindness scales. Doing good for others multiplies back—personally and professionally.

• Simplify to survive. Hoco shrank from 35 people to 10 and became more profitable and happier.

• Inside-out success. The best businesses start by getting the people and purpose right before the process.

• You don’t need more—just the right things. Letting go of material pressure creates mental freedom.

  Chapters

  00:00 Welcome Back and Introduction to Danny Campbell

  01:51 Incredible Journey: The McLean Brothers' Record-Breaking Row

  05:25 Reflections on Travel and Inspiration

  09:18 Finding Purpose and Passion in Work

  12:54 The Architecture of Home: A Unique Perspective

  17:41 Building a Team: The Importance of Complementary Skills

  21:57 Navigating Growth: Lessons from Scaling a Business

  26:41 Embracing Technology: The Role of AI in Architecture

  30:05 The Impact of Public Life: Balancing Work and Family

  34:20 Parenting in the Digital Age: Teaching Resilience

  39:38 The Future of Hoko: Vision and Growth Strategies