Vinnett Taylor | Telefonica O2 UK
I’ve always enjoyed engineering and technology, from the design of hardware to integrated software.
When I was a child my favourite TV programme was Tomorrows World. If you are too young to remember it, I guess the nearest equivalent today would be BBC Click.
The story of my career is a journey of climbing a series of ladders, in telesales management, enterprise sales and solution sales management. My first technology role was with Syman-tec, right back when it was an unknown start up. I helped deliver several ‘first to market’ ser-vices, including the first ever global site licence in the late 1990’s.
Caroline Pegden | TempaGoGo
Following a decade of corporate life, I have co-founded TempaGoGo, an innovative online marketplace taking the pain away from temporary agency recruitment.
After a MsC in Science of Management from HEC Paris, I worked in multiple locations and sectors, starting in strategy with McKinsey & Company in France and the UK, then moving to the fashion industry.
Before joining TempaGoGo, I led a large-scale digital transformation in the UK public sector, exploring how to leverage machine learning at The National Archives.
Numerous facets, but just one mantra - we can do it!
The mum of 2 young children, I'm passionate about encouraging fellow female entrepreneurs and supporting younger women at the start of their careers.
Naomi Jane | A Life Less Ordinary Wanted
Naomi has spent the last 13 years empowering business leaders, founders and under-represented communities to reach their true potential.
She is known for her high impact, positively challenging, holistic approach. Naomi has built a career empowering others to achieve transformative change in their personal lives, organisations and communities.
From a single parent household; she experienced severe school bullying, clinical depression, and the care system before entering turning 18. At 20 she was attacked at knifepoint. To today: graduating from University of London with honours, launching two award-winning businesses, leading various social change initiatives and empowering others around the world to transform their own lives and be the change they wish to see.
A social entrepreneur at heart, she launched her first business whilst studying at university. The 4WD Foundation delivered behavioural change programmes to some of London's most vulnerable young people. Naomi built effective partnerships with brands such as Channel 4 and Google to fund 4WD's social impact projects.
She went on to advise top investment banks and law firms on how to attract diverse entry-level talent and build inclusive cultures. Collaborating with top universities and the City she provided students from under-represented backgrounds with access to life-changing mentorship and work experience. Facilitating leadership development and employee engagement initiatives for corporate clients soon followed. Cross sector, industry leader clients include BP, CBRE, IHG, McDonald’s and Michael Kors.
In 2014 she launched the positive change agency, A Life Less Ordinary Wanted. From FTSE 500 companies in crisis, to individuals at a crossroads, Naomi harnesses emotional intelligence as a coach and facilitator to support her clients to become authentic, empathetic, resilient leaders. Since launching she's built a diverse, experienced, inclusive team who support their clients around the world. Ambitious founders and senior business leaders are supported to build businesses and authentic lives they love.
In 2016 Naomi launched the Social Leaders Programme to offer subsidised Less Ordinary Coaching and Therapy to inspirational founderstackling pressing social challenges around the world such as mental health, domestic violence, women's health & wellbeing and agricultural sustainability.
An engaging speaker on emotional intelligence, authentic living and women in leadership, Naomi energetically and passionately spreads her ‘You don’t have to settle’ mantra. She has spoken at The IoD, for TedX, The RSA and Deutsche Bank.
On IWD, March 2019, Naomi launched AFEMMERA- s global support network for feminine-presenting LGBTQ+ women. After coming out as a member of what is often an invisible minority group, Naomi found that she and fellow femmes face a unique set of challenges within the LGBTQ+ community and the wider world. AFEMMERA intends to empower feminine-presenting queer womxn (cis and trans) to build positive connections, a sense of global community and increase accurate representation through storytelling.
Naomi graduated from the University of London with BSc Hons in Management where she co-founded the original Entrepeneurship Society, Inspire. Since graduation Naomi has continued to advance her learning with WYSE International, Common Purpose, the Coaching Academy and The Psychosynthesis Trust.
In her spare time she seeks balance through meditation, nature, reading, Reiki, travel, yoga and writing poetry.
Cat Trebilco | Reach the Peak
I run my own business as an executive coach who helps women in career transition to discover the best next steps for their future.
After working in the corporate world for 5 years, I decided that life in banking was not for me. I qualified as a coach and went on my own journey of discovery too, deciding to follow my dreams and combine my two passions in life – being in nature and the mountains in order to help people. In 2014, I set up Reach the Peak, running walking-coaching retreats and helping women, through one-to-one coaching and retreats in the outdoors, to discover their own passion in life and find the confidence and courage to go for their dream career.
I also run expeditions around the world, having recently led a team of 12 schoolgirls to Cambodia, sleeping in hammocks in the jungle and working on community project at a local school. In October/November 2018, I led an expedition to Everest Base Camp, and having dealt with 2 emergency helicopter rescues and a number of team conflicts, I now run talks on Leadership Lessons from Everest Base Camp, aimed at corporate leaders. In 2017, I led 5 weeks of expeditions in the Arctic, leading teams of trekkers in temperatures of minus 27 degrees, camping on frozen lakes and pulling our kit in sleds behind us.
I have a degree in Psychology, the CIPD Diploma in Human Resource Development, I'm an accredited NLP Master Practitioner and qualified Summer Mountain Leader. I am also one of only a few women to hold the Winter Mountain Leader qualification, taking people on adventures in the wilderness of Scotland in all weathers.
Isobel McFarland | Care
After graduating from University College London with a 2:1 in English Literature, I went to work at the advertising agency Karmarama.
Having built up a wide range of experience in PR during my time at university, I was very excited to be working as a Junior Account Executive across of number of high-profile clients. However, during the year I developed a strong interest in technology and understanding the processes behind it. This led me to securing a coveted job as a Junior Data Analyst at the rapidly growing start-up, Human Theory. I had no technical expertise, and initially found the thought of coding terrifying, yet I pushed past obstacles and taught myself code in my spare time. Through hard work and perseverance, I was able to prove that you don’t need to be from a scientific background to work in a technical role. Interestingly, I found that creativity, my original strength, is key to becoming a successful technical analyst.
Over the last few years, my journey across industries opened my eyes to problems all around me. One in particular captured my passion, both personally and technically - loneliness in the elderly population. I went on to found Care - a platform that aims to eradicate social isolation by making access to local events quick and easy. I am the first to create a single platform that compiles elderly-focused events in one place, and I believe this is the key to tackling societal loneliness. I am also a regular volunteer at the elderly charity North London Cares, in order to make sure my work with Care continues to stay relevant to my target market. Taking this on whilst managing a change of industry and learning a whole new skill set has not been easy, but it has been an incredibly rewarding and enriching experience.
Angelica Malin | About Time Magazine
Angelica Malin is an entrepreneur, podcast host and the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of About Time Magazine, one of the UK’s most popular lifestyle websites.
Since launching About Time in 2014, Angelica has grown the magazine’s monthly readership to 85,000 and social following to more than 100,000.
It was recently featured among the top 50 female-founded companies in London. A regular commentator on female entrepreneurship, female empowerment, and the future of work, Angelica also hosts the “Work It” and “Work in Progress” podcasts, interviewing some of the most successful CEOs in the UK today. In 2019 Angelica launched the About Time Academy, whose first guests include Deliciously Ella and Daisy Buchanan.
Laura Blower-Harris | Accenture
I started at Cancer Research UK as PA to Directors across the Fundraising, Corporate Sponsorship and Legacy teams then progressed to Executive Assistant supporting an Executive Board member.
Worked at Cancer Research UK for five years then made the leap from charity to private sector by joining Accenture in 2012 as an Executive Assistant.
Since joining, I have taken on more responsibilities alongside my role and built my profile within the EA community and across the department.
Belinda Aujla | The Prince's Accounting for Sustainability Project (A4S)
I am the Personal Assistant to the Executive Chairman and the Executive Director at The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability Project (A4S).
After graduating from Queen Mary University of London, I didn’t know what career path I wanted to follow and came across a receptionist role at an Embassy, where I ended up working for six years. I held numerous roles during my time there ranging from an Information and Research Officer, Diary Secretary to a senior diplomat, Consular Officer and lastly Human Resources Officer. With the great array of experience there, I found my calling and knew that I wanted to become a Personal Assistant.
In 2017, I came across the fantastic opportunity to work at Clarence House, for A4S and have been here for over a year. The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability Project was established by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2004 “to help ensure that we are not battling to meet 21st century challenges with, at best, 20th century decision making and reporting systems”. It is so inspiring working for a wonderful organization that is making a difference.
Emma Sikora | LV=
I currently work as Executive Assistant to the Chief Risk Officer, supporting the leadership team of the Group Risk Management function.
I spent my early career working in recruitment then HR, working as an HR Business Partner until three years ago. I wanted to develop myself in a role that would broaden my commercial knowledge whilst allowing me to continue focusing on my passion for people development and effective communication.
I enjoy the varied responsibilities of my EA role, no two days are the same! I have worked for LV= for the last nine years and I have been given some great opportunities to develop my career. I have progressed through different roles and moved to new areas of the organisation. I have also achieved CIPD and APM qualifications as part of my journey whilst working alongside some fantastic people and teams. I wholeheartedly believe in the value that the EA role brings to both leadership teams and all employees across an organisation.
Kristianne Benn | Mishcon De Reya
Having achieving only A levels, I decided I wanted to become a lawyer, I knew, at the time getting a training contract with a degree was difficult and so I got a job in a small practice in Fleet Street as an office junior.
After 2 years, I left and got a junior legal secretary role and enrolled on an ilex course. I fell pregnant with my eldest so dropped my studies, however my passion for law continued, and I seeked a role in the litigation department for Mishcon where after 2 years become PA to the head of department.
Nearly 13 years later, I am the department's co-odrinator who is responsible for assisting management to implement new procedures and ways to develop the PA role in the ever changing legal market. The love for law still exists and so I have enrolled on to cilex and in my second year to qualify as a legal executive. I have also successfully completed the Business Excutive Award Programme with Winmark.