Faith, Purpose and the Power of Showing Up

Why Herstory V became my most meaningful event yet

Over the past seven or eight months, I have faced some extremely challenging moments of my professional and professional life.

Preparing for motherhood should be a joyful time, yet it has also been a period filled with questions, both from others and, at times, from myself. I have heard comments about what I should or should not be doing at this stage in my life and career. Some of those conversations made me question what was possible, and what society often expects women to do at this point in their lives.

One thought weighed heavily on me: that I might have to pause or undo the career I have spent years building.

That was not an option I wanted to accept.

When I discussed continuing my annual International Women’s Day event, Herstory, with my coach April Baker, her reaction changed everything. She loved the idea and encouraged me to see it as something positive to focus on, a way to close this chapter of my life with purpose and momentum.

That conversation gave me hope.

The lesson that stayed with me

At Herstory III, international motivational speaker Harry Singh shared a lesson that has stayed with me ever since.

As business leaders, he said, we often talk about providing services or selling products. But that is not the same as serving. To serve is to follow your purpose.

When we align with that purpose, there is an energy that carries us forward. Some people call that faith. Others call it intuition, or even God.

Whatever we call it, I believe it is the same force that has helped many of history’s greatest leaders deliver on their vision. It doesn’t remove the challenges,  those are inevitable,  but faith and self-belief are powerful things.

Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had allowed the limited expectations of others to cloud my belief in what I could achieve.

Choosing to move forward

Running Herstory V while eight months pregnant was not something everyone thought I should do.

Additionally, I  lost a couple of clients after announcing my pregnancy. It wasn’t due to performance or results, but rather a lack of confidence in how I planned to commercialise my business moving forward. It was difficult to process, but something unexpected also happened, new opportunities emerged.

By leaning into a new strategy, being visible and sharing my journey openly, I began attracting new clients and connections who resonated with the message I was sharing. Herstory became part of that shift.

This year’s event was my most successful to date. For the first time, the Herstory panel consisted entirely of female founders. Collectively, there were millions of pounds worth of businesses represented on that stage, created and led by women.

To me, that represented the rise of what is often called the ‘purple pound’,  the economic power and influence of women-led enterprise.

These women believed in the vision of Herstory and invested their time and trust in the event. I feel incredibly fortunate to now be in a position to promote and celebrate them.

Why International Women’s Day still matters

I know some women choose not to actively promote International Women’s Day because they are tired of the burden appearing to fall on women to push for equality and change.

I understand that perspective. But for me, the day carries a deeper meaning.

As a descendant of the Windrush generation, raised in a humble working-class family, I am constantly reminded of the sacrifices made by my mother, my grandmother and the generations before them. Their courage and resilience created the opportunities and freedoms I have today.

Because of that, I feel a deep sense of gratitude,  and responsibility, to continue celebrating women and creating spaces where their achievements can be seen.

Looking ahead

Next year’s HerStory will be a difficult act to follow.

But I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work towards that challenge.

If this year has taught me anything, it is that purpose, faith and community can carry us further than we might imagine.

Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do as leaders is simply to keep showing up, even when others doubt what is possible.

And especially when they do.

Photography by Claire Bond

“Visibility isn’t vanity,  it’s connection.

If people can’t really see you, they can’t connect with you. And if they can’t connect with you, they choose someone else.

So many brilliant business owners show up visible, but not truly seen, hidden behind their services and products.

But people don’t buy what you do. They buy who you are.

My job as a photographer isn’t just to take photos. It’s to help people relax, stop performing and allow the real version of themselves to show up — because that’s the version people trust.

And especially as we celebrate International Women’s Day, this matters even more.

The world doesn’t need more women playing small. It needs more women being visible, owning their expertise and taking up space as the leaders they already are.

Visibility is leadership.

When women stop seeing themselves through a self-critical lens and start seeing themselves the way others see them, confidence rises and the imposter voice gets quieter.

That’s the moment everything changes.”