Yorkshire Business Leaders Share Knowledge & Experience to mark International Women's Day: Key Insights for Fostering Leadership and Allyship

Ever wonder what top bosses actually talk about when they get together? It’s not always about spreadsheets and profits. Sometimes, it’s about making things better for everyone. That’s exactly what happened in Yorkshire recently when a group of inspiring women in business came together for a proper chat, all to mark International Women’s Day. The event, hosted by the office space provider WorkWell, brought some of the region's sharpest minds to Harrogate to talk about leadership, making work fair, and creating more opportunities for the next generation. It was all about real conversations and sharing experiences to help everyone move forward.

A proper Yorkshire get-together with a purpose

On Thursday, 5th March, a group of top-tier business leaders from across the region gathered at WorkWell's modern office space in Harrogate, known as Copthall Bridge. This wasn't just another stuffy corporate event. Instead, it was a lively and open discussion designed to tackle some of the big questions facing women in business today. The whole point was to get people talking, sharing their stories, and figuring out how to build a better future. Hosted by WorkWell, a company that provides flexible office spaces, the event aimed to foster a sense of community and support among professional women in the Yorkshire region.

The powerhouse panel: who was there?

Leading the chat was the multi-award-winning TV presenter, Christine Talbot, a familiar face to many in Yorkshire. She kept the conversation flowing and made sure everyone had a chance to speak. The panel itself was a lineup of seriously impressive women, each a leader in her own field. Imagine getting all these people in one room to share their wisdom.

• Sharon Jandu OBE, the founder of the Yorkshire Asian Business Association, who brings a huge amount of experience in connecting and supporting businesses.

• Jane Slimming, the founder and CEO of the creative agency Zeal, showing what it takes to build a successful brand from the ground up.

• Hana Gwyn, a partner at the prominent law firm LCF Law, offering her perspective from the legal world.

• Annabel Tonge, an associate partner at Q5 Partners, who helps big companies with their strategy and structure.

• Jennifer Potter, a leadership expert and executive coach who founded Frankly, and knows a thing or two about what makes a great leader.

This diverse group of experts ensured the conversation covered a lot of ground, from creative industries to corporate law, highlighting the shared challenges and successes of women in business.

Getting into the nitty-gritty: what did they talk about?

The conversation was all about the real-life experiences of being a woman in the workplace. They didn’t shy away from the tricky topics, diving straight into things like gender dynamics. What does that actually mean? Well, think about being in a meeting and someone talks over you, or assumes you’ll be the one to take notes. It's those small, often unspoken, things that the panel explored. They also discussed leadership and what’s expected of female leaders compared to their male counterparts. A big part of the discussion was about the importance of knowledge sharing. The idea is that when experienced women share what they’ve learned, it helps everyone. It’s about passing the torch and making the journey a bit easier for those who come next. This leads directly to creating better mentoring pathways, which is like having a guide to help you navigate your career. It’s about building solid allyship, where men and women work together to create more opportunities. This kind of collaboration is what turns good intentions into real change for women in business.

It's more than just talk: creating real change

The whole point of getting these incredible business leaders together wasn't just to have a nice chat over coffee. It was about inspiring action. The attendees discussed practical steps that businesses across the region can take to improve things. This includes everything from setting up formal mentoring pathways to simply encouraging a culture where everyone feels comfortable speaking up. It’s about creating an environment where allyship thrives, and where everyone is committed to fairness. The event was a perfect example of how sharing experiences can lead to powerful change, creating new opportunities for future generations. The focus on practical solutions and knowledge sharing ensures that the impact of this event will be felt long after it ended.

Katie Hughes, Head of Client at WorkWell, really summed it up nicely:

“With International Women’s Day taking place this [last] Sunday, it’s a great opportunity to celebrate achievements and create real opportunities for the next generation of female leaders. Bringing people together to share experiences, exchange insights and support one another helps strengthen women’s impact across Yorkshire’s business community”.

A space for growth and well-being

It makes sense that an event focused on support and growth was hosted by WorkWell. The company is known for providing modern, flexible office spaces designed to help businesses and their teams thrive. With locations at Copthall Bridge in Harrogate, as well as Carrwood Park and Brookfield Court in Leeds, they are a key part of the business landscape in Yorkshire. Their philosophy is all about creating environments that support not just productivity, but also employee well-being. By including wellness areas and breakout zones, they help people find a healthy balance between work and life. This focus on creating a positive and supportive atmosphere aligns perfectly with the event's goals of fostering leadership and creating better opportunities for everyone. It was the ideal setting for a conversation about building a more balanced and inclusive future for women in business.