Showcasing Lancashire's female business role models

Wendy Bowers, director of training and mentoring company Role, discusses the importance of female role models in the business world and previews the Oysters and Pearls event which aims to inspire women who’ve lacked female role models.

Most of the successful women I have worked with over the years can identify someone who was their female role model. Someone who inspired them and made them believe they could achieve too. In many cases, that someone was their mother, or another female family member who was combining motherhood with one or several jobs. Many of today’s successful women saw first-hand examples of hard work and determination and were encouraged to go for their dreams and told “you can be anything if you work hard”. Would these same women have achieved their success without that example?

Nina Tassler, chairman of CBS Entertainment, credits much of her positive attitude and determination to her mother. Her book ‘What I told my Daughter’, which describes the important role mothers play in empowering their daughters, is a collection of 54 essays by some of the world’s leading female role models and it is an inspiring read. But what if you don’t have a mother or your parents aren’t bothered whether you attend college or do your homework? What if there’s no-one in your peer group who’s been to university or built a business or even held down a job? Who becomes your role model then? I created Oysters and Pearls to give young women, who may not have access to a career role model, the opportunity to spend a day with successful Lancashire role models.

The event brings together 35 women, who have taken many different routes to their current role, into college for a full day of inspiration, confidence building and fun. The day is facilitated by Amy Strange, a Lancashire actress who trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and went on to star in BBC Dramas such as Casualty, Homefront and the “C” Word. Her inspiring story of determination and never giving up, despite being turned down three times in three years by the Guildhall, sets the tone for the day which is filled with motivational activities and presentations. There are also plenty of opportunities for the participants to share their own career journeys and show our next generation that belief is what gets you to where you want to be. 

Role will be delivering it’s 6th Oysters and Pearls event on November 20^th at Blackpool and the Fylde college. Supported by North and West Lancs Chamber of Commerce, the event runs from 9am to 2pm with optional networking 2pm to 3pm. More information is available through our Event Brite page.