Beyond Assumptions: Embracing Change as a Founder and Mother-to-Be
14th February 2026
Author EditorPosted on Categories Features
Why change, vulnerability, and support have shaped my most important chapter yet …
When I founded Prior Media & Marketing in 2022, I set out to build a business that was purposeful, sustainable, and rooted in meaningful relationships. As I approached my third year in business, I had clear plans for growth, momentum, and impact. What I hadn’t planned for was preparing to welcome a baby alongside scaling my company.
Finding out I was pregnant was emotional, joyful, and undeniably daunting. Pregnancy wasn’t something I was certain would ever happen for me, and when it did, it forced me to confront questions many founders quietly fear: How do I keep the business moving? How do I protect my clients? And how do I navigate vulnerability without losing credibility?
For me, pressing pause was not the answer.
One thing that mattered deeply was hosting Herstory
5 this year. Herstory is a platform I created to celebrate, connect, and champion women in business. More than a networking event, it’s a space for honest conversations about leadership, growth, and the realities women face when building careers and companies on their own terms. Now in its fifth edition, Herstory: Leading with Purpose brings together founders, leaders, and changemakers to share experiences, amplify female voices, and support one another through every stage of business. Hosting Herstory 5 this year felt especially important to me, a reminder that visibility, community, and progress don’t pause during times of change; they can become even more powerful.
I made a conscious decision to navigate this period strategically. To support the next phase of the business, I hired a new Marketing Director to help commercialise Prior Media & Marketing, strengthen its foundations, and ensure our clients continued to receive the level of service they trust us for. That decision wasn’t about stepping back; it was about stepping forward differently.
This experience has reinforced a belief I hold strongly: every challenge life presents carries potential gifts. Growth doesn’t always arrive neatly packaged. Sometimes it shows up disguised as uncertainty, forcing you to adapt, delegate, and trust both yourself and others.
I am incredibly grateful to the clients who have stayed with me throughout this journey, those who trusted my plan, my vision, and my integrity even during a period of visible change. Their loyalty and belief have been a reminder that strong businesses are built on relationships, not assumptions.
This isn’t a story about having all the answers. It’s about choosing not to shrink in moments of transition. Pregnancy hasn’t marked an ending for me as a founder; it has opened a new chapter, one shaped by resilience, support, and the confidence to embrace change rather than fear it.
I’m also so grateful to the sponsors and supporters of Herstory who have stood behind the event with encouragement and belief, especially knowing I will be eight months pregnant when I take to the stage to welcome our guests. Their trust, flexibility, and unwavering support embody exactly what Herstory represents: women and allies showing up for one another, without limitation or assumption.
Thank you!
Meet our Panellists…
Leading by Example: How Lucy Dawe Is Redefining Standards in Property
Leading with purpose, integrity, and a commitment to doing the right thing
In an industry often criticised for outdated practices and inconsistent standards, Lucy Dawe stands out as a leader determined to do things differently, and to do them properly.
Lucy is the founder of Lawton & Dawe Properties and Property Fusion, a female-owned estate agency that has been proudly trading since 2010. With over two decades of experience in property, she has built a reputation not just for results, but for integrity, transparency and professionalism in a sector where trust is everything.
Frustrated by poor conduct and a lack of meaningful regulation across the industry, Lucy made a conscious decision early on: rather than wait for government reform, she would lead by example. Today, she is the only local estate and letting agent to voluntarily seek and achieve Trading Standards approval, setting a higher benchmark for consumer protection and ethical practice. This achievement sits alongside her long-standing ARLA Propertymark accreditation, which she has held for over 20 years, a testament to her commitment to professional excellence.
At the heart of Lucy’s business philosophy is a belief that property is about people, not just transactions. She challenges a culture driven by targets and commission-led behaviours, which she believes undermines trust and damages long-term relationships. Instead, Lawton & Dawe Properties was built around honesty, accountability and kindness, values Lucy refuses to compromise on.
Lucy said:
“The position of trust we are given by our clients should be valued and respected. Doing the right thing shouldn’t be optional, it should be the standard.”
As a woman leading in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Lucy is also passionate about representation and influence. She understands the power of leadership rooted in empathy, fairness and purpose, and the impact this can have on both communities and future generations of professionals.
This International Women’s Day, Lucy Dawe is a powerful reminder that real change doesn’t always start with legislation. Sometimes, it starts with one person choosing to lead with integrity and inviting others to follow.
For more information regarding Lucy and Lawton & Dawe Estate Agents, please visit their website.
https://www.lawtonanddawe.co.uk
Fal Blake – In Her Own Words
Imagine a gender-neutral world.
One where what you give- skill, care, knowledge, and integrity, matters more than how you look or where you come from.
When I think about what it means to be a woman on International Women’s Day, the words that come to mind are power and resilience. When we learn to combine those forces, something interesting happens: the more we give, the more we gain.
Alongside Gresham, I’m co-founder of Gresham Blake. Bespoke tailoring has traditionally been male-dominated and, let’s be honest, a little posh. I have a few traits that don’t quite fit the mould.
Firstly, I’m female.
Secondly, I’m not white.
Thirdly, I’m very vertically challenged.
I’m not what you’d typically expect as “YOUR BESPOKE CONSULTANT” if you were buying a suit on Savile Row. Over the years, I’ve surprised more than a few clients when I’ve said I’ll be looking after them. But what I’ve learned is this: people don’t want a stereotype. They want someone who gives a damn, and has the skill to back it up.
The first bespoke suit Gresham made for me changed everything. From that moment, my vision became simple: give access to something that had historically been closed off, particularly to women. And in doing so, gain something far bigger than a garment: confidence, agency, and presence.
At Gresham Blake, we now specialise in women’s bespoke tailoring. We design patterns and silhouettes that empower the wearer, whatever direction they want to take. Designing a women’s bespoke suit is, to me, the ultimate gender-neutral experience, an exchange where craftsmanship meets identity, and everyone gains.
Bespoke tailoring hasn’t traditionally been on most women’s radars, partly because it’s been so closely tied to menswear, and partly because it’s been wrapped in the imagery of gentlemen’s clubs and country estates. I wanted to give women something different: well-made, contemporary clothing that fits their bodies and their lives.
More and more women are frustrated with the endless hunt for clothes that fit properly. I’m proud of the ladies’ tailoring service we provide, and proud that 80% of the Gresham Blake team are women, proof that when you invest in women, the returns compound.
I still hear, “You are a female tailor?”
My response is simple: Yes? I’ve earned my pinstripes.
Fun fact: your mitochondrial DNA, the part of you responsible for producing energy, is passed down only through your mother. It’s literally the power source that allows us to move, think, and create.
So on this International Women’s Day 2026, under the theme Give To Gain, I want to thank my mum, my mother-in-law, and the generations of women rooted in my history. Their strength is my inheritance and everything I give is built on what they gave first.
International Women’s Day: Reclaiming the Radical Roots of Change
Why rights, justice and action not performance, must define how we show up
International Women’s Day was never meant to be comfortable. It began in 1909 as a protest, a demand for rights, fairness and dignity, not a marketing opportunity wrapped in pink. Yet each year, as the day approaches, we see the same pattern repeat: bold statements without substance, symbolism without accountability, and corporate, pink-washed, gestures that look good but change very little.
This year, the UN Women’s theme, Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls, is a timely reminder of what’s at stake. As they make clear, no country has yet closed the legal gap between men and women. Without justice systems that work for women, rights remain a promise that never arrives.
And yet, alongside this call to action, we continue to see a dilution of meaning. Performative marketing campaigns that prioritise optics over outcomes risk distracting us from the uncomfortable truth: progress requires sustained effort, not a once-a-year gesture.
For Mo Kanjilal Williams, award-winning founder of Edge of Difference, this tension sits at the heart of how organisations need to think about inclusion.
“Inclusion isn’t about how pink logos and performative actions. It’s about the decisions you make when no one is watching. Rights and justice don’t come from symbolism; they come from systems that are designed to work for everyone. We need to see everyone addressing the issues and fighting for change.”
Mo’s work with leaders and teams centres on curiosity, the willingness to question whose voices are missing, whose experiences are being centred, and where power truly sits. It’s an approach that challenges tokenism and asks organisations to move beyond performative allyship towards meaningful cultural change. Companies that commit to working on this, see different types of leadership teams emerge, with innovation and fairness at the core.
Being named one of the top 100 female entrepreneurs for 2026 is recognition of that impact, but for Mo, the real work happens in the everyday: in boardrooms, policies, leadership behaviours and long-term commitments to equity.
This International Women’s Day, the invitation is simple, and demanding. Step away from what’s easy. Engage with what’s real. Learn, listen, and take action that lasts longer than a hashtag.
Because progress doesn’t come from celebration alone. It comes from courage, accountability and the willingness to do the work.
This year, Mo will also be joining the panel at Prior Media & Marketing’s Herstory 5, an event shaped around its own powerful theme, Leading with Purpose. She is looking forward to sharing her story alongside a panel of passionate and inspiring women who lead by example, not just through words, but through action.
Changing Lives, Changing Policy: How Carole Gilling-Smith Is Reshaping Fertility Care
Championing fairness, science and humanity in healthcare
For Dr Carole Gilling-Smith, leadership has never been about titles alone; it has been about responsibility. As Founder, Medical Director and CEO of the Agora Clinic Group, she has spent her career pushing boundaries in fertility care, not only through clinical excellence, but by challenging systems that fail the very people they are meant to support.
An award-winning consultant gynaecologist and fertility expert, Carole is widely recognised as a national leader in reproductive medicine. Over the years, she has helped thousands of individuals and couples on their journey to parenthood. Yet, alongside her clinical work, she has become increasingly vocal about the deep inequalities that exist within fertility treatment across the UK.
Carole has been at the forefront of conversations around what many describe as the “postcode lottery” of IVF provision, where access to NHS-funded treatment depends more on geography than medical need. She has spoken openly about the injustice of a system that excludes fertility care from equitable healthcare provision, despite infertility affecting one in six people.
Dr Carole Gilling-Smith, said:
“The right to found a family should be there for everyone. It should not depend on where you live or what you can afford.”
This belief has shaped not only her advocacy, but the ethos of the Agora Clinic itself. Built on principles of transparency, inclusivity and patient-centred care, the clinic is known for combining cutting-edge science with compassion, ensuring patients feel seen, supported and informed at every stage of their journey.
Carole’s leadership extends beyond medicine. As a female founder in a highly complex and regulated sector, she has demonstrated what it means to lead with both authority and empathy. She challenges outdated thinking, questions policy, and uses her platform to influence change at a national level, including engaging directly with MPs and national policymakers.
Carole’s leadership and the continued growth of the Agora Clinic were formally recognised at the 2024 Sussex Business Awards, where she was named CEO of the Year and the Agora Clinic won Large Business of the Year. This was closely followed by Carole receiving Managing Director of the Year at the 2025 Dynamic Awards.
This International Women’s Day, Carole represents a powerful form of leadership: one that is unafraid to speak truth to power, grounded in expertise, and driven by a deep commitment to fairness.
Her work reminds us that when women lead with purpose and with soul, they don’t just build successful organisations, they change lives.
For more information regarding the Agora Clinic, please visit their website:
Championing Women Through Action, Not Optics
Why visible leadership matters, especially when it opens doors for others
Visible leadership is not about statements or symbolism, it’s about showing up, creating opportunity and using influence to lift others. As International Women’s Day approaches, Herstory is proud to be supported by leaders who understand that meaningful change happens through action, not optics.
One of this year’s most significant supporters is Rekha Sohun (CHA), General Manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole, who is partnering with Prior Media & Marketing to host Herstory 5. Having joined Herstory 4 as an attendee last year, Rekha’s continued commitment reflects a belief in investing not just in events, but in people and community.
Rekha’s leadership journey spans more than 20 years in hospitality, from managing iconic destination properties in South Africa to leading the multimillion-pound transformation of one of Brighton’s most historic seafront hotels. Under her stewardship, the DoubleTree By Hilton Brighton Metropole has been reimagined with modern energy while honouring its 136-year heritage, a reflection of her people-first, future-focused approach to leadership.
As a minority leader in the hospitality industry, Rekha understands the power of representation. Her support of Herstory, her support of Herstory sends a powerful message about visibility, allyship, and the responsibility leaders have to open doors for others.
Stephanie Prior, Founder of Prior Media & Marketing and the Herstory event, shares her gratitude:
“We are incredibly grateful to Rekha for her ongoing support of Herstory. Her generosity, leadership and belief in championing women, both locally, have helped elevate this event in a truly meaningful way. Rekha leads by example, and her support embodies exactly what Herstory stands for.”
Herstory 5 brings together women who lead with integrity, purpose and courage. Rekha’s partnership is a reminder that when leaders use their platforms intentionally, they don’t just support change, they help shape it.
For more information regarding The DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole and hospitality packages, please visit their website.