Women in leadership event hailed a huge success
A powerful series of events staged by the Black Country Chamber of Commerce to highlight the way women are rewriting the rules of leadership is going from strength to strength.
The opening event of the chamber’s Women in Leadership series – called the Career Kaleidoscope – heard that women can change course at any stage of their careers and still be a huge success.
And a second event planned for September – called Own Your Power and Keep Your Sh!t together – promises to explore health and wellbeing and the role they play in the evolving lives and careers of women.
The Career Kaleidoscope event, at the Black Country Living Museum, featured highly-specialised cardiac physiologist Gabby Lawrence, Paramjit Nagra, co-founder of The Crazy Gin and Wendy Garcarz, a business strategist and founder of Refirement.
Black Country Chamber chief executive Sarah Moorhouse said it had been an inspiring event enjoyed by more than 70 women – including one person who had travelled from Gibraltar for the day.
“It was wonderful to see so many successful women in the room – and to hear such incredible stories of change and resilience from our three guest speakers. Change is never easy but unless we talk about it we don’t know what we can achieve.”
The three speakers each shared their story of redefining success while showcasing their courageous steps during their career journey.
Wendy Garcarz, whose Refirement platform describes itself as a global movement for second act entrepreneurs, said: “Events like this are so crucial because it’s by sharing and hearing stories that people start to think: ‘Can I do that?’ Once you’ve asked that question it will never go away.”
Gabrielle Lawrence, who works at Birmingham’s Good Hope Hospital, said: “I work with a lot of male cardiologists and I have to leave my imprint on the world and my career. I feel that was my opportunity today and I’m really grateful to be a part of such a wonderful panel of women to put my point across.”
The second event will take place on September 18 at the Black Country Living Museum from 11.30am to 2pm.
It will feature speakers on the subject of health and wellbeing, including Menopause Champion Petra Boddington and Chamber member Harry Morris from Dudley-based Fitness Studio 46, who will discuss resistance training and its wide-ranging benefits for women of all ages and Sonia Sophia of Sophia's Holistic Health on holistic & natural ways to maintain both physical & mental health.
Sarah said the event was for women who wanted to make the most of life at any age, to reduce stress, build resilience and boost productivity and who wanted to both be inspired and leave ready to inspire future generations of female leaders.
“The Women in Leadership programme is just one of the many benefits that the chamber can offer to businesses across the Black Country to help them thrive.
“We help businesses of all sizes to grow through networking, advice, training and promotion, whether you’re a start-up or a multinational. Membership includes access to events and networking opportunities, profile-building opportunities, business advice and savings, training and workshops and the chance to help shape policy and lobby for our wonderful region to name just a few.”
For more details of the second event in the Women in Leadership programme and to book a place visit blackcountrychamber.co.uk/events-training/18092025/own-your-power-keep-your-sht-together/
