In the wake of International Womenâs Day on Saturday the 8th of May, the idea of how the role of women in business has changed over time is at the forefront of our celebration of women, female empowerment and broader notions of equality.
Not only is it important to understand how this has changed over time, but itâs arguably more important to receive direct feedback from business women on what their personal experiences have been like and what theyâve learnt.
That way, we can gain insight into the lived experiences of hardworking professional women and use the lessons theyâve learnt to help and motivate aspiring female entrepreneurs. After all, whoâs best suited to providing women with business advice than fellow females who have both experience and have achieved in the professional world?
Itâs all about women uplifting other women, by means of general professional advice and support in the workplace as well as more specific guidance on how to deal with issues that may only affect females. With so many industries still completely male-dominated, this gender-specific advice can be invaluable.
From industries including PR and real estate to sustainability and charity, we spoke to a group of 18 inspiring female entrepreneurs and business professionals from across the UK and Europe to gather their advice for aspiring female entrepreneurs.
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Our Experts
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- Laura Dowling: Founder and CEO of fabĂ
- Carol Driver: Journalist, PR Expert and Founder of Carol Driver PR
- Olivia Conlon: Founder of StagerBoss and Founder and CEO of Property Stagers
- Kelly Lundberg: Personal Brand Strategist, TedX Speaker and Author
- Sarah Abel: Director of TNB Skills Training
- Lucy McCarraher: Entrepreneur, Author and Host of âMission Magicâ
- Fiona Wylie:ĚýFounder and CEO of Brand Champions
- Caroline Miller: Founder and Managing Director at Indigo Pearl
- Janice MacLennan: CEO and Founder at Nmblr
- Rebecca Oatley: Founder of Cherish PR and The Wilful Group
- Samantha Lancashire: Founder of Creating Lightbulb Moments
- Hayley Knight: Founder ofĚýBE YELLOW
- Claire Crompton: Founder and Commercial Director of TAL Agency
- Rachel Delacour: CEO and Co-Founder of Sweep
- Irra Ariella Khi: FounderĚýofĚýSunflower Relief
- Sophie King: Founder of SOKI London
- Cheney Hamilton: CEO of The Find Your Flex Group
- Kirstie Penk: Co-Founder of The Legal Director
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Laura Dowling,ĚýFounder and CEO of fabĂ
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As a female founder in a male-dominated industry and a highly competitive market, I had to find innovative ways to market my brand, fabĂ, while establishing myself as a trusted expert in womenâs health. When I launched fabĂ in June 2022, I knew that standing out required more than just great productsâI had to create conversations that no one else was having. This led me to developĚýViva la Vulva, a groundbreaking wellness show dedicated to female genital and pelvic health, covering topics like pelvic organ prolapse, sexual dysfunction, urinary incontinence, and vaginal health. The show toured Ireland to sold-out audiences and recently completed two shows at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, with over 2,000 women attending.
I believe female founders thrive through collaboration, not competition. By sharing knowledge, stories, and, most importantly, failures, we create a stronger network where everyone benefits. Thereâs always room at the table, and when we lift each other up, we all rise together. This ethos extends to my podcast,ĚýThe Laura Dowling Experience, where I invite other female founders to discuss their journeys, challenges, and successes. By fostering open conversations, we empower more women to succeed in business.
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Carol Driver, Journalist, PR Expert and Founder of Carol Driver PR
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Olivia Conlon, Founder of StagerBoss and Founder and CEO of Property Stagers
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âYou donât have to be great to get started, but you do have to get started to become great.
âA decade in on my entrepreneurial career now, I wish I could encompass my newbie energy: youâre slightly naive, totally green and lack inhibitions â this may feel like your biggest weakness, but itâs truly your superpower.
As a new entrepreneur, youâre fearless, willing to take risk and unafraid to try things that seasoned entrepreneurs might hesitate to do. With more experience often comes baggage, doubt and caution. But when youâre just starting out, you have a unique advantage â the freedom to go for it without overthinking every step. Embrace that energy and document your journey as you go.
Donât wait for the perfect moment; just jump in, make mistakes, and learn fast. Itâs in those unpolished, fearless moments that youâll grow the quickest and lay the foundation for real success.â
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Kelly Lundberg, Personal Brand Strategist, TedX Speaker and Author
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Having launched a personal styling brand, and now running a thriving personal branding company, one of the key lessons Iâve learned is that starting a business is an evolving journey. Your initial idea will likely adapt as you discover what your audience and the market truly need â so stay flexible and open to change.
Another important lesson is that people buy from people. Your business might offer the perfect solution, but itâs YOU, your personal brand who builds trust and opens doors. Visibility is key â donât be afraid to put yourself out there. Not everyone will be your client, but they might refer you to someone who is. My TedX opportunity came through the wife of a friend I played sports with for years â you never know whoâs talking about you in a positive light!
Keep investing in yourself. Itâs impossible to have all the answers, so if you want to grow faster, learn from those whoâve done it before you. Mentorship, courses or networking can be game-changers.
âFinally, document your journey. Capture content early â even if your first speaking gig has only three attendees. Your future brand will thank you!â
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Sarah Abel,ĚýDirector of TNB Skills Training
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âStarting a business is exciting, but itâs not just about passion â itâs about resilience, adaptability and knowing when to pivot. If I could go back, Iâd tell myself three things:
1. Start before you feel ready. Perfectionism can be a dream killer. Youâll learn more by doing than by over-planning.
2. Get comfortable with discomfort. Growth happens outside your comfort zone, whether itâs pitching, hiring or making tough decisions.
3. Funding is out there â use it! Many female founders donât realise how much government funding and grants exist to support business growth. I built my business using these resources and now I help others do the same.
Most importantly, remember that challenges arenât roadblocks â theyâre redirections. Stay focused, surround yourself with the right people, and keep pushing forward. Youâve got this!â
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Lucy McCarraher, Entrepreneur,ĚýAuthor and Host of âMission Magicâ
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âWhen I launched several of my businesses, I wish I had been more aware that I had been subtly positioned as having a âbehind the scenesâ, âbackupâ role by my co-founders who were generally more extravert to my introvert. When on more than one occasion it became obvious that I was just as much an âexpertâ as the other person and was also good at being a âfront personâ, it caused some friction that was uncomfortable to deal with. This has happened with both women and men business partners/co-founders. If youâre the quieter of two partners, and also good at holding the back office together, make sure from the start that this is not a role you are relegated to â unless thatâs how you like it.
An important lesson Iâve learned when working in a team of mostly men, and with male co-founders, is that although women generally have to balance being seen as âagreeableâ with being assertive, sometimes you have to let go of your own need to be liked by everyone and to make everything right for everyone else. Pick your battles, and the way you choose to fight them, but when you do need to make a stand, remember that being unpopular in the moment will pass and lead to more respect for you in the long term. And if it doesnât, youâre in the wrong place with the wrong people.â
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Fiona Wylie: Founder and CEO of Brand Champions
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âThe best advice I can give to aspiring female entrepreneurs is to stay true to yourselfânever compromise on your values or vision. One of the most important lessons Iâve learned is the power of saying no. Itâs okay to set boundaries, trust your instincts, and stand firm in your decisions. In a male-dominated world, self-doubt can creep in, but staying authentic and believing in yourself is key to success. Strength comes from knowing your worth and not allowing others to dictate your path. Surround yourself with supportive women who uplift and empower you. Youâve got this!â
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Caroline Miller, Founder and Managing Director at Indigo Pearl
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âAs a female founder, one of the biggest lessons Iâve learned is to block out the guilt. Thereâs
no shortage of think pieces in magazines, radio debates, and unsolicited opinions telling
women what theyĚýshouldĚýorĚýshouldnâtĚýdo, whether itâs staying at home, working, having kids,
not having kids, wearing makeup, not wearing makeupâŚthe list is endless.
The truth is that women arenât a monolith. We all want different things, and what feels right
for one person wonât be right for another, sometimes even for ourselves at different points in
life. The key is making sure youâre doing whatâs right for you, not what others think you
should be doing.
You might run out of hours in the day, but youâll never run out of other peopleâs opinions.
Block them out, trust yourself, and crack on, youâll be criticised no matter what, so you might
as well do what makes you happy.â
Janice MacLennan, CEO and Founder, Nmblr
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When I began my startup, Nmblr, a strategy platform for healthcare businesses, the biggest challenge wasnât just turning an idea into a business; it was learning to scale my vision beyond myself.
Any founder knows their business is personal. Iâve always been clear on Nmblrâs vision and knew there was a real business need for it. Research showed poor functional alignment delays nearly one in five pharma product launches. I had a solution to change that.
But no matter how strong your vision is, success isnât a solo effort.
I wish I had realised earlier the power of building the right teamânot just skilled professionals, but those who align with your purpose and push your business forward. Real momentum happens when you surround yourself with people who challenge you, complement your strengths, and take ownership.
Letting go of the need to control everything and trusting others to execute my vision was when Nmblr truly took shape.
So, to anyone stepping into the startup space: Invest in people who believe in what youâre building. Your business will be stronger because of it.
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Rebecca Oatley, Founder of Cherish PR and The Wilful Group
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âOne of the most important lessons Iâve learned as a female founder is the power of networking and staying connected. So many of my agenciesâ successes have come from building and maintaining relationships over time. Relationships are built on trust and that means honesty and good solid work. Women will help women, but you must put yourself out there â attend events, reach out to female founders, and share your story and your great work. The time you invest in your network will always be paid back.
I also wish I had known that sometimes you just have to give yourself permission to trust your instincts and push forward even when things feel a bit uncertain. Donât wait because of doubt. There is no perfect time to start a business. If you have an idea, pursue it and adapt it along the way.
Above all, keep learning. Read, listen, and absorb as much wisdom as you can. Thereâs always something new to discover that could change the way you grow your business.â
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Samantha Lancashire, Founder of Creating Lightbulb Moments
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âTrust yourself, even when the world may make you feel doubt!
When I launched my business, I thought success meant having it all figured out. Spoiler: No one does. The biggest lesson Iâve learned?
Take imperfect action.Ěý
Waiting for the âperfectâ moment, plan, or pitch will hold you back. Start, adapt, and refine as you go. Do the first thing first.
As a female founder in a male-dominated tech-world, Iâve also learned that our ability to build relationships and foster collaboration is powerful. Where others compete â connect. Turn networks into opportunities and challenges into partnerships. Lean into your strengths, and never apologise for leading authentically.
Remember you donât have to do it alone!
Women supporting women is a game-changer in business. Find your tribe, lean on coaches and mentors, and pay it forward when you can.
You belong in the room. You deserve success. Go do your thing.â
Hayley Knight, Founder of BE YELLOW
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Itâs also important to set clear boundaries and donât be afraid to challenge the status quo. If something isnât working, create your own way forward. Thatâs what entrepreneurship is about. Jump off the cliff and build the parachute on the way down.
Finally, donât wait for perfection. Many women hesitate to launch until everything feels âready,â but progress beats perfection every time. Start now, learn as you go, and adapt along the way.â
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Claire Crompton: Founder and Commercial Director of TAL AgencyĚý
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âNever underestimate the power of a strong support network early on in your entrepreneurial journey. I started my agency with two under two, so surrounding myself with mentors, peers and advisers from both a professional and personal perspective â people who understood my vision and goals â made all the difference. Itâs so easy to become isolated, but having advice and collaboration from others from the get-go is invaluable.
âMarketing as a profession may be female-dominated, but in terms of running an agency, itâs extremely male-dominated. One of the most important lessons Iâve learned is to trust my instincts, and to never apologise for my ambition. Itâs easy to second guess yourself when youâre constantly coming up against barriers to break, but itâs key to have confidence in your decisions. Own your voice, be assertive, and advocate for yourself every chance you get.â
Rachel Delacour, CEO and Co-Founder of Sweep
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âEntrepreneurship doesnât come with a guidebook, and my journey from finding my first company to then launching Sweep is proof. Navigating new industries and challenging traditional ways of working often proved to be the most innovative solutions.
This is especially true for femaleĚýtech entrepreneurs. The fact is,ĚýthereâsĚýaĚýhigher proportion of men than women in our industry, and there can be a tendency for people to think women have less to offer . However, the business world is changing, and skills once dismissed as peripheral, such as sustainability and communication, are increasingly being seen as strategic advantages. As climate concerns take centre stage in boardrooms, theseĚýveryĚýskills are opening new pathways to leadership.
Entrepreneurship of course comes with challenges, but building something new has its own power.ĚýWithout legacy systems and processes holding you back, you can shape your business into something that is diverse, forward-thinking and built for the future.
And when it comes to investment, I say âbe boldâ. More investors now recognise that backing women-led companies is a smart business decision, bringing previously under-represented, and therefore fresh perspectives into play. The narrative around success is shifting, and womenâs perspective isnât just valuableâitâs essential.â
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Sophie King, Founder of SOKI London
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âWhen I launched my business, I wish I had truly understood the power of my own voice. As women, we sometimes hesitate to take up space, but the truth isâour ideas, our creativity, and our vision are just as valuable as anyone elseâs. One of the most important lessons Iâve learned is that confidence isnât something you wait for; itâs something you build by showing up, taking risks, and trusting yourself.
The business world can be tough, especially in male-dominated industries, but resilience and authenticity will always set you apart. Donât be afraid to ask for what you deserve, celebrate your wins, and uplift other women along the way. Success is never a solo journeyâsurround yourself with those who inspire and support you. The more women who step forward, the more we change the landscape for the future. Believe in your vision and never dim your light for anyone.â
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Irra Ariella Khi, Founder of Sunflower Relief
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âThe best advice I can give? Donât fall into the trap of thinking you have to be the smartest person in the room. If you are, youâre in the wrong room. Success comes from surrounding yourself with people who are better than youâwhether thatâs your team, your investors, or your advisors. The real skill isnât knowing everything; itâs knowing how to bring the right people together and let them shine.
And be willing to make the tough calls. We once scrapped a two-year project because it wasnât the right direction. It was painful, but the worst thing you can do as a founder is cling to something just because youâve invested time and money in it. Adaptability is everything. The businesses that thrive arenât the ones that never make mistakesâtheyâre the ones that learn and move forward faster than anyone else.â
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Cheney Hamilton, CEO of The Find Your Flex Group
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âI wish I had known that success isnât about working harder, itâs about working smarter. When I started, I thought I had to do everything myself, proving my worth by sheer effort and working 17hr days with a new baby and it was hell! After eight years in business, now I know true growth comes when you focus on outcomes, delegate wisely, and trust your instincts. Building a business should not mean burning out; it should be about designing a model that works for you and your life.
As a female founder in a male-dominated world Iâve learned that we donât have to play by outdated rules to win. The corporate world often values presenteeism over productivity, but as women, we bring a different perspective, one that values efficiency, flexibility, and impact over just âhours worked.â By challenging traditional work models and leading with confidence, we can redefine success on our own terms.
To any aspiring female entrepreneur please donât shrink yourself to fit someone elseâs version of success, own your vision, build with purpose, and lift others as you rise.â
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Kirstie Penk: Co-Founder of The Legal Director
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âBuild your business with people who lift you up and share your values. If you have business partners, make sure youâre on the same page about the big vision and the everyday realities like financial goals, how hard you are prepared to work and how fast you want to grow. Surrounding yourself with women at a similar stage in life can bring balance, understanding and strength to the journey.
As a female founder in a world that sadly still too often underestimates women, trust your instincts and take up space. Believe in yourself even when others donât. Be brave, take risks and go after what you want, because some of those risks will open doors that you might never imagined. Itâs scary, but amazing. Hard work is part of it, but so is making space to pause, reflect and enjoy what you are building, both personal and with your team. Your success is yours, but it also shows other women what is possible. Keep lifting others up as you climb, and always take time to celebrate how far you have come.â
