From Classroom to Community Impact: Karen Simpson | Growth for Good Podcast

Teaching gave me the skills to listen, but community work gave me the purpose to act. When you combine the two, you can change lives.
The Highlands has an incredible spirit of people helping people. My job is just to harness that and point it in the right direction.

Karen Simpson has spent decades shaping the lives of young people through education, but her drive to make a difference has always reached far beyond the classroom. In this episode of the Growth for Good Podcast, host Drew Hendry speaks with Karen Simpson about her remarkable journey from teacher to community leader, and how her passion for people has powered everything she has built.

From her years in education in the Scottish Highlands to championing community-led initiatives that create lasting change, Karen shares how purpose-driven work can transform not just individuals, but entire communities. Her story is one of courage, connection, and the belief that good business and good values are not mutually exclusive.

Karen and Drew explore the challenges and rewards of stepping outside traditional career paths, the importance of mentorship and collaboration, and how Highland communities are uniquely placed to lead the way in values-driven enterprise.

Listen now to hear Karen Simpson’s inspiring story of taking learning from the classroom to the heart of the community.