International Women’s Day 2022

A time for both celebration and unity, International Women’s Day is also about bringing awareness to to the inequalities that are still very present within society. Whether that’s in relation to the gender pay gap, the impact of the pandemic or female representation within certain industries, this IWD here at Escape we’re encouraging women to stand together and #Breakthebias. With flexible working more high profile than ever and women having worked so hard to prove they can balance life and work, our message is to carve your own career, and take the leap to do what’s best for you??— whatever that might be.?

We’re celebrating some of the amazing women who are at the helm of organisations we work with. Founders and CEOs who are making waves and inciting change, read on to discover inspirational female leaders???

HERMIONE TAYLOR

Hermione is CEO of Do Nation - a mission-driven platform designed to help companies achieve net zero by engaging their communities in climate action.Hermione road-tested the idea of Do Nation in 2009 on a cycling trip from London to Morocco. Instead of the usual route of raising traditional sponsorship, she asked people to donate simple actions such as eating less meat or cycling to work. As a result she managed to encourage people to save eighty-four flights worth of carbon emissions, instead of just the two flights she saved from cycling rather than flying to Morocco.

SARAH JORDAN

Sarah is founder of Y.O.U Underwear, a sustainable fashion brand creating ethical & organic underwear, with purchases providing underwear to those in need.

Sarah was inspired to start Y.O.U Underwear on a trip to Uganda in 2016, where she came face-to-face with the problems associated with not having underwear. Her work at Y.O.U has taken the business from strength - developing a buy-one-give-two promise in partnership with Smalls for All, and most recently, Y.O.U becoming the highest scoring B Corp in the UK.

LEAH REMFRY-PEPLOE & NIKKI MICHELSEN

Leah and Nikki are co-founders of holistic wellness brand Ohne, on a mission to offer customers informed choices for all their period cycle needs.

Leah and Nikki started off with the simple idea that everyone should be able to manage their cycle however they want. For them, community comes first; creating a space online where talking about periods is completely normalised, with the idea that this will trickle into wider society. Having raised 2 rounds of investment, they're looking to use tech to highly personalise One's products, community & content to each individual.

PIP MURRAY

Pip Murray is the founder of Pip & Nut, the wholesome nut butter brand that rejuvenated the face of humble peanut butters on the high street.

Pip has developed the fastest growing nut butter brand in the UK. A true entrepreneur, Pip built Pip & Nut from the ground up, starting in her kitchen, then winning Escape The City's 'Escape to the shed' competition in 2014, which allowed her the time to crowdfund and set up the brand. Today, Pip & Nut is a proud B Corp and have strong values focused on doing the right thing be their consumers, customers & team.

WAI FOONG

Foong is the founder and CEO of Matchable, a b2b startup matching companies

& their employees with innovative projects at non-profits & impact startups. In 2018, Foong quit her 13 year career as a tax director in a Big Four firm to find her purpose. After realising she was inspired by people who were determined to pursue an idea, she began offering help to friends & connections in making their dream a reality. Foong built this into what we now know as Matchable a certified B Corp and Escape 100 top organisation that matches over 10,000 businesses worldwide.