#SheLeads 2024: Celebrating Trailblazing Women in Business
Written by Team 365 finance
Welcome to #SheLeads 2024
Empowering Women in High-Growth Entrepreneurship
Welcome to the 2024 #SheLeads campaign, presented by 365 finance. This year, our initiative draws inspiration from the groundbreaking Women-Led High-Growth Enterprise Taskforce report and the comprehensive Gender Index Report 2024. #SheLeads continues to be a beacon for women in entrepreneurship, showcasing the journeys of exceptional female business owners who are breaking barriers and setting new standards in their industries.
Unleashing Economic Potential
The Women-Led High-Growth Enterprise Taskforce, led by Anne Boden, has identified a crucial opportunity: closing the gender gap in high-growth enterprises could add up to £250 billion to the UK economy. Currently, women-led high-growth businesses make up only 18% of all high-growth enterprises. Our campaign aligns with the government’s ambitious goal to increase female entrepreneurship by half by 2030, recognising the pivotal role of women entrepreneurs in the UK’s journey to becoming a tech superpower.
Challenges and Opportunities
The Gender Index Report 2024 reveals that while progress has been made, significant challenges persist:
- Only 20.1% of active companies in the UK were led by women in 2023.
- Female-led companies face substantial hurdles in accessing external capital, with notable gender investment gaps across various funding types.
- In the fast-growth sector, only 12.4% of enterprises were female-led, compared to 73.6% male-led.
However, these challenges present opportunities for growth and innovation. The #SheLeads campaign aims to address these disparities by promoting gender-neutral evaluation in funding, providing targeted support and resources, and implementing monitoring mechanisms to systematically address barriers.
Meet Our Inspiring Founders
This year, we’re proud to present five remarkable female founders who embody the spirit of entrepreneurship. Through engaging video interviews, we’ll explore their unique stories, challenges overcome, and the innovative strategies they’ve employed to build successful enterprises.
Lissele Pratt
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Lissele Pratt, co-founder of Capitalixe and Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree. In this candid interview, Lissele shares her remarkable journey from being the only woman on a male-dominated trading floor to launching a successful fintech consulting firm.
Tina Kad
Meet Tina Kad, a speech and language therapist turned entrepreneur. Tina shares her remarkable journey of balancing motherhood, cultural expectations, and professional ambitions while building her own speech therapy practice.
Michelle Leivars
Michelle Leivars, known as The Female Business Mentor, shares her remarkable journey from facing personal hardships to becoming a successful business mentor and financial planner.
Tina Chen
Meet Tina Chen, the Chief ‘Tea’ Officer and founder of Humanitea. Tina shares her entrepreneurial journey, from her Taiwanese-American heritage inspiring a sustainable tea business to overcoming challenges as a solo female founder.
Talilla Henchoz
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Talilla Henchoz, founder of Club Five and Leap Academy. Talilla shares her journey from marketing consultant to fitness entrepreneur, and how she’s revolutionising women’s health and fitness.
Join the Movment
The #SheLeads campaign is more than just a series of interviews; it’s a call to action. We invite you to:
- Be inspired by the journeys of our featured entrepreneurs
- Learn about the latest initiatives supporting women in high-growth sectors
- Explore opportunities for funding and support tailored to female-led businesses
- Join a community of like-minded entrepreneurs and supporters
Together, we can create a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem that unlocks the full potential of women-led high-growth enterprises. Let’s drive innovation, economic growth, and positive change across the UK and beyond.
Explore the stories of our trailblazing entrepreneurs and be part of the #SheLeads movement. Your journey to high-growth entrepreneurship starts here!