What does it take to scale a bakery into Ireland’s largest vegan cookie supplier starting from your mum’s kitchen at 21? In this inspiring episode of Sales Leader Secrets, Amanda Downs chats to Aisling Tuck founder and CEO of Naked Bakes, who shares her journey from passionate home baker to entrepreneur and emerging sales leader.

From experimenting with vegan recipes to overcoming a steep learning curve in leadership and finance, Aisling opens up about the realities of running a fast-growing business. She discusses building a team from scratch, the impact of lockdown, and learning to set the right culture from the top. Plus, hear how Naked Bakes’ products make a real difference for customers, and why empathy and networking are essential for success.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Introduction: Aisling’s journey from Dublin kitchen to scaling a business

06:42 Rushed hiring due to stress led to mismatches

09:46 It's about the people: Working with an amazing team and making a difference in customers' lives.

11:20 Balancing your time and work stress is challenging; downtime is essential for productivity.

14:34 Future plans and launching new products

18:14 Never leave anyone on a sinking ship

23:32 Networking is essential for growth

24:36 Prioritise empathy with team and customers.

If you loved hearing Aisling’s honest reflections, make sure to follow the show so you never miss an episode of Sales Leader Secrets.

Join us each month for the Uspire webinar series “Become a Better Leader” and get valuable leadership frameworks and techniques to help you achieve sustainable growth that lasts. https://theuspiregroup.com/uspire-events/become-a-better-leader-webinar-series/

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About Amanda Downs:

Amanda Downs is Uspire's Director of Commercial Leadership and a commercial training and coaching expert. She has worked extensively in Europe, EMEA, the US, and Asia and is an accredited Insights Discovery practitioner. She also leads Uspire's commercial leadership proposition.

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She produces the popular Sales Growth Expert blog and is currently writing her first sales leadership book.

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Connect with Amanda:

Website: theuspiregroup.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandadowns2/

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About The Uspire Partnership:

Uspire challenge, energise and upskill leaders to set the stage for business transformation and commercial success. Members of the Uspire team are all industry professionals and have first-hand experience of the commercial challenges you face. We develop leadership skills and commercial capabilities; delivering profitable growth and a sustainable legacy of change.

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Connect with Uspire:

Website: theuspiregroup.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uspire-ltd/

About Aisling Tuck:

Aisling Tuck is an entrepreneur from Dublin and the founder of two food brands shaping the future of plant-based baking in Ireland. She began studying Commerce International at UCD but left to pursue her passion for entrepreneurship. After gaining hands-on experience in hospitality both in Ireland and abroad, she launched her first baking venture from her parents’ kitchen in 2018 at the age of 21.

Since then, she has scaled the business into one of Ireland’s leading producers of plant-based bakery products. Today, she supplies nationwide supermarkets and foodservice partners, has a strong presence in the independent coffee sector, and continues to grow online. Along the way, she has also led the opening of a retail location, built a dynamic team of 10, and created award winning products that have become favourites among plant-based and non-plant-based consumers alike.

Connect with Aisling:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aislingtuck222/

Website: https://nakedbakes.ie/

Produced by Winter Audio