IWD MK 2024

Thank You for making our International Women's Day Celebration the great success it was last week…..

We wanted to take a moment to extend our heartfelt thanks for your participation and support during our International Women's Day celebration last Friday. It really was a day filled with inspiration, empowerment, and recognition of women's achievements in our great city of Milton Keynes and beyond hosted at the Ridgeway Conference Centre.

Together, thanks to all who attended, Women in Enterprise & NatWest Enterprise were able to create an atmosphere where differences were not only valued but celebrated. The energy and commitment from each attendee, including yourself, were instrumental in making this event a success. The vision of a gender-equal world, free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination, was vividly alive throughout.

We would again like to extend an extra special thank you to our generous sponsors; Freeths, SEMLEP, MK Community Foundation, Dawson Group, Austin & Carnley, The Red Thread Partnership and NatWest Business who allowed us to live the #inspiringinclusion theme by removing any financial barriers to attending by covering all costs. It, along with the donations, and raffle tickets helped us raise ￡4,221.85 for the Mk Women’s Fund.

Our extraordinary guest speakers, poet Myrle Roach,?keynote Ife Thomas and the ‘Fireside chat’ with Hollie Pearne Webb -?they each filled the room with a shared inspiration that anything and everything is possible. The uplifting Collaboration choir who launched the event with a powerful welcome, updates from Sam Snelus and Lady Mayoress Mandy Legg all added to the energy and excitement.

We give sincere thanks to our panel of regional entrepreneurs and change makers, Bernadett Peter, Jay Virgo, Debbie James, Benn Klewpatinond, Cheryl Douglas and Sharon Conway. Their stories and experiences inspired us all and provided valuable insights into entrepreneurship and leadership, along with showing us how in working together we are much stronger. Also to our experts who spoke so passionately about the power of connectivity and networks; Charlotte Moyle, Susie Lodge and Aruna Rao, we were sorry to miss Kurshida, but shared details of Trubys Garden.

The success of this event is a testament to the collective dedication and commitment to women's empowerment. From an idea a few months ago, to celebrate the theme to its fullest and to ensure every woman in MK felt seen, heard and represented, we are grateful to the initial planning committee (if not already mentioned) included; Soroptimists, Women Leaders (awards are open!), Ask Go To, Incubation Nation, Girls in Science, MK:U, Cranfield University, Collaborate MK, Be Moore Foundation, FemTechpreneurs, Iconic Wealth for Women, Femmessence, MK Dons Set , MyMK and MKFM.

We are so truly grateful for the support of videographer Blanca Larralde from Aiimi, Jo Payne of Little Red Photography, Jane Russell Photography, macarons from Cakes & Sweets by Aga, frosted flower cakes by Maz Does Cakes, and IWD branded cupcakes from Lodge Farm Cafe and generous raffle donations from many already mentioned plus Louise Barth, Sam Hunter, HK Hair, The Book Balloon, MK Theatre, Hidden Festival, MKIF, Thrive Mental Health,? Meet of MK, Volcano Falls and White Pineapple Photography Studio. Not to mention our respective teams and committees at Women in Enterprise and NatWest.

Finally of course our marketplace stallholders (if not already mentioned) The Gravity Technique, Mother Cuppa, Harrys Rainbow, Olive Collective, Hazard Alley, House of Colour, Mk Act, Q.Alliance, Sexual Assault & Abuse Support Service ?and Harmonic Healing.

Phew, I hope we didn’t miss anyone!

Thank you once again for being a part of this empowering celebration. And finally, we leave you with a Serena Williams Quote;

‘The success of every woman should be the inspiration to another. We should raise each other up. Make sure you’re very courageous: be strong, be extremely kind, and above all be humble.”

Keep #passingthebaton and don’t forget to #selfcelebrate

With our warmest best wishes and huge gratitude,

Debbie Lewis , Michelle Theuma & Heidi Thomas

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We received the following brilliant press from the MK Citizen: https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/people/gallery-one-of-uk... and an interview on BBC Three Counties radio with Babs Michel.

Raffle Winners pls email Ciara Labrum : [email protected] with your name, phone number and photo of your tickets to claim…

????RAFFLE PRIZES YET TO BE CLAIMED???? If you bought raffle tickets at the?#IWDMK24?event on Friday please see below, the prizes yet to be claimed and double check your tickets!!!

Lifestyle

??Blue 364: House Plant

??Pink 524: Bootcamp Session

??Pink 424: ￡50 HK Voucher

??Blue 275: ￡50 worth of childrens books (lower age group)

??Pink 562: ￡50 worth of children’s books (upper age group)

??Green 768: X2 Hidden Festival Tickets

??Blue 146: X4 Tickets to MKF Festival

Business

??Blue 335: Cheryl Douglas Clarity Calls (45 mins each, worth ￡99 per session) ??Yellow 39: Cheryl Douglas Clarity Calls (45 mins each, worth ￡99 per session) ??Pink 253: Cheryl Douglas Clarity Calls (45 mins each, worth ￡99 per session)

??Green 729: Ticket to ‘Meet of MK Event’

??Yellow 200: Ticket to ‘Meet of MK Event’

??Blue 202: Ticket to ‘Meet of MK Event’

??Green 721: : 1 free month campaign on MKFM (worth ￡1195)

??Blue 248: 1 hour VIP Strategy calls for Growth and Scaling with Kylie Anderson ??Blue 313: 1 hour VIP Strategy calls for Growth and Scaling with Kylie Anderson ??Pink 77: Full page in ‘Ask Goto Directory’

??Pink 432: 1 free ticket to the Cranfield Venture Day

??Blue 231: 1 free place on the Climate Action Planning Program

??Pink 463: Volcano Falls Voucher for Corporate Package

??Green 586: Collaborate MK Bronze Membership (worth ￡140)

??Yellow 33: ‘Brand through the lens’ session in May

??Green 27: ￡50 white pineapple studio photography GV

??Pink 306: ￡50 white pineapple studio photography GV