Day of Impact: Voices, Visions, and Vital Conversations in Glasgow

Reflecting on a Day of Impact in two parts

PART 1

Yesterday in Glasgow, I had the honour of contributing to two profoundly impactful events. My journey began at the Scottish Growth Summit. I was privileged to share the stage with a panel of phenomenal women in business and entrepreneurship: Mhairi Duncan, Professor Eleanor Shaw OBE, Sheila Hogan, and Alice Thompson. I want to thank Claire Nelson, whose expert facilitation and insightful questions enabled us to deliver bold, open, and inspirational responses.

The narrative of my journey – from overcoming homelessness and intersectional barriers post-maternity through returning to university to the pivotal decision of leaving academia armed with a qualification, a job, or business opportunities amidst the pandemic – was shared. This period also saw my engagement with the Scottish Government, ensuring that no individual was left behind as we collectively navigated through the uncertainties of the pandemic. Our initiative included creating a digital food bank using Morrison Food boxes, which allowed people the dignity of choice and delivery to their home and to continue to focus on the other support we provided without the fear of food insecurity. In 2021 I won the Director of the year for Innovation at the IoD Scotland.

Our journey to impact and success is not linear….

In sharing my story, I aimed to underscore that our struggles, though daunting, are fertile grounds for growth, learning, and, ultimately, sharing. This cycle allows us to thrive and illuminates the distinct pathways we navigate as women. The road to success, marked by disparities, demands dismantling the status quo through amplifying all voices – ensuring they are heard, included, and supported.

Inspiring Women

“I want to build a community where women of all races can communicate and share some of those secrets, so we can continue to support and take care of each other. I want to give women a space to feel their own strength and tell their stories. That is power.”
Beyoncé.

In the current climate of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), the silencing, marginalisation, and neglect of Black women are glaring. True inclusion remains elusive without the foundational pillars of antiracism, intersectionality, and allyship. Reverting to a narrow focus on gender equality, predominantly represented by Caucasian women, would undoubtedly regress the strides made in this arena. The recent deplorable treatment of Diane Abbott has starkly reminded us of the complex, multi-layered identities we navigate as women and the critical necessity of adopting an intersectional lens and fostering allyship.

Image Diane Abbott by Misan Harriman for Vogue

https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/diane-abbott-interview

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Claire Nelson for her inclusive approach. She created the environment for addressing our positive strides and challenges, and this opportunity to contribute to the discourse at the summit was invaluable.

Claire Nelson

Opening the Scottish Growth Summit, inspiring the audience of 130 women to inspire, grow and support each other with comparison but with open minds. Be their authentic selves will learn from the panel and the day’s event. 

As we look forward to the 2025 Scottish Growth Summit, I anticipate an even more diverse representation of women in business. 

Scottish Growth Summit 2024

130 Women attended the first Scottish Growth Summit. 

Congratulations to Claire Bailie, Laura Maginess, and Heather Offord for orchestrating one of Scotland’s premier summits for women in business. Your efforts have laid the groundwork for what I believe will be a beacon of inclusivity and empowerment for many years.

Thank you to all involved and to those who attended. I hope you enjoyed the immersive day. 

Together, we forge ahead, committed to creating spaces where every voice is valued, every struggle is acknowledged, and every success is celebrated. 

Part 2 of my day in Glasgow was spent with the Dechomai team, Firstport, SIS and guests

The next event I attended straight after the Scottish Growth Summit was with the fantastic Bayile Adeoti for the brilliant partnership work Dechomai is doing in creating a fair and equal entrepreneur ecosystem Access report. The discussion was bold, a lot of speaking truth to power, and the diverse voices and minds were in the room. I will share more once the report is out, but I want to thank Dechomai for gifting the sponsors, funders and guests with a copy of our 365 Days of Allyship commitment Journal. Throughout the day in Glasgow, I was led by my intention to ensure 2024 is the year of impactful allyship in action, and for that to happen, I will only go to spaces and places that welcome these open dialogues with a proactive mind for action. Yesterday was a good day, and I will use that energy to continue the fight for fairness with grace and grit.