Case Study: Kieara — From Quiet Animal Lover to Confident Entrepreneur

Animal Care and Business Student | Start-Up 2025 Winner| Owner Heart & Lesh 

From a very young age, Kieara was completely obsessed with animals. She grew up surrounded by them — dogs, cats, rabbits, reptiles — you name it. She always knew she’d work with animals, but what that career would actually look like took a little longer to figure out. 

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As a child, Kieara was quiet and reserved. She says that Borders College has been life-changing for her — it gave her confidence, helped her find her voice, and made her believe in her own ideas. 

Kieara always had a dream to run her own business but didn’t know how to make it happen. That’s why she decided to combine Animal Care with Business Studies at college. She credits Susan Cooper for being a huge influence and for encouraging her to enter the Start-Up competition. 

“I always had the passion and the idea — I just didn’t know where to start. Susan really pushed me to go for it.” 

Kieara loved the Start-Up sessions she was able to attend. She says that the project gave her confidence and taught her practical skills — but the biggest change was in her communication. 

“I was the shy, quiet teenager who struggled to talk to people. Now, I can start a conversation with anyone.” 

One of the most powerful moments for Kieara was pitching her idea to Mhairi from Hilltop Doggy Day Care. 

“When you pitch your idea to another business, and they tell you it’s amazing and offer you mentorship — that’s something special. That’s when it hit me that this could actually happen.” 

Kieara says that before Start-Up, writing a business plan just felt like another classroom exercise. But Start-Up made it real. When she began sharing her idea with peers and other businesses, her plan turned from ‘just classwork’ into a real business with a real future.  
 

🔧 Kieara’s Reflections on the Program: 

  • She studies across Galashiels and Newtown Campuses and thinks it would help to have a Start-Up presence in Newtown, especially since those courses (like farming and horticulture) naturally lead to business ideas.
  • She suggests offering workshops later in the day (3:30-4:30 pm) or even on weekends to give more students a chance to take part. 
     

💬 Final Words from Kieara: 

If you have a great idea, go for it. Start-Up gives you an amazing experience. If your idea works, you’ll get the support you need to make it happen — and if it needs tweaking, you’ll get honest, helpful feedback. Not once when I started this project did I think I’d win — that was just a bonus.


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