Entrepreneurship: A passionate and personal pursuit

Last Weds we launched the latest in a series of FREE webinars for #femalefounders, this series "Meet the Founder" focuses on some personal conversations with female founders who have 'been there, done that'.

Later today, I will be talking to Katie Matthews-Furphy about her journey as an entrepreneur who has battled the challenges of both physical and mental health issues and succeeds.

Entrepreneurship often starts with a personal spark – the drive to solve a problem close to home. Many UK entrepreneurs have built successful businesses by addressing issues they’ve personally encountered. Take, for example, Dame Stephanie Shirley, a pioneering tech entrepreneur, who founded a software company in the 1960s to address gender discrimination in the industry. She also wanted to create flexible work opportunities for women. Similarly, James Watt and Martin Dickie started BrewDog out of frustration with the beer market, determined to craft better brews. This personal connection to a problem often gives entrepreneurs the passion and resilience needed to succeed.

For individuals with disabilities or mental health challenges, entrepreneurship offers a unique flexibility that can be life-changing. In the UK, there are inspiring examples of entrepreneurs turning challenges into opportunities. Caroline Casey, founder of The Valuable 500, a global movement encouraging businesses to place disability on their leadership agendas, is one such individual. Born visually impaired, Casey has used her personal experience to drive positive change in the corporate world.

Moreover, entrepreneurship allows people to work on their own terms, offering the flexibility to manage work-life balance, which can be crucial for individuals living with disabilities or mental health conditions. Both Katie and myself were members of the APPG for Inclusive Entrepreneurship, chaired by Jacqueline Winstanley FRSA and during the annual #GEW events we ran for GEN UK , we featured many inspiring and successful entrepreneurs .

This combination of problem-solving passion and flexible working can be a powerful tool for personal and societal impact.

In conclusion, entrepreneurship is not just about building empires; it's about solving problems, creating inclusive opportunities, and allowing individuals to craft a work life that suits their unique needs and circumstances.

If you are a female founder who would like access to today's recording, please sign up to register for the webinar and online community - it is all free!

#inclusiveentrepreneurship #diversityandinclusion #femalefounders #Founder2Leader