Panel explores breaking down the barriers for women entrepreneurs
Overcoming obstacles to success and developing support tools for business innovation were the key topics of discussion, as five inspiring women spoke about their experiences and pathways to leadership success.
Hosted by the Global Women’s Leadership Programme (GWLP) at Bayes Business School, panellists recounted challenges they had encountered in their leadership and entrepreneurial journeys – particularly towards the start – and how they overcame problems through resilience, upskilling, boldness and support from networks.
The panel consisted of:
- (Moderator) Zoe Lu, Director of Capital Projects at a global hotel group and Global Women’s Leadership Programme Scholar on Executive MBA at Bayes.
- Domenica Di Lieto: CEO and Co-Founder, Emerging Communications UK.
- Eva Thorne: Founder of The Garden of Eva.
- JoEllyn Prouty McLaren: CEO and Chief Learning Scientist of TalentSage.
- Stefania Zerbinati: Professor in Entrepreneurship at Bayes Business School and Founder of the Museum of Entrepreneurship.
“Your network is your net worth’”
The event began with panellists describing the start of their business careers, what inspired them and how they took the leap of faith.
Each speaker outlined the importance of funding, and most of all a supportive network in driving them through difficult and often lonely times. They agreed on regrets at not having sought each earlier in their journeys, and insisted advice from experienced peers was invaluable. Women in particular, they said, often struggled to build networks because of other responsibilities.
Further topics of discussion explored business leadership more generally, in terms of the importance of maintaining worklife balance versus workplace integration, dealing with imposter syndrome and recruiting the right people with specialist knowledge – such as a finance director – to take away everyday stresses that come with running a business.
“If we’re all working together we can help raise the bar for everybody”
The panel then took questions from the audience, ranging from lesson they had learned and how to overcome failure, to how to thrive in male-dominated environments and ways in which men in the audience could lend support.
Professor Zerbinati said the event shone an important light on the value of finding the right support.
“Starting a business is a courageous act, and business leaders – male and female – should never be afraid of reaching out for advice and experience,” she said.
“The Global Women’s Leadership Programme at Bayes supports women leaders and aspiring leaders who want to grow and discover their unique version of success – beyond corporate or entrepreneurial ventures to involve community, mentoring and other initiatives.
“The audience at this valuable discussion will have taken home some very useful insights, information and hopefully new contacts to add to their networks."
