Accelerating change through the Power of Sisterhood

This blog post includes a summary of the speech I delivered at the North East Chamber of Commerce Inspiring Females Conference on the 4th September 2025.

Gender inequality is not a relic of the past—it’s a reality that continues to shape the lives of women across the UK and beyond. From the persistent gender pay gap and the motherhood penalty to underrepresentation in leadership and politics, the barriers are systemic and deeply entrenched. But change is possible—and it starts with us.

As a social justice advocate and charity leader, I’ve spent my career working to dismantle these barriers. I’m proud to lead the Society Matters Group, a business built with equity at its core. We’ve been recognised as a Great Place for Women to Work for four consecutive years, and our policies—from a four-day working week to domestic violence champions—are designed to support women in all aspects of their lives.

But policy alone isn’t enough. Culture matters. Language matters. Representation matters. How we hold together as women, as a sisterhood, this stuff matters.

Growing up in the North East, I absorbed limiting beliefs about what women could be. I was told I’d become a secretary until I got married, the implication being that my future husband would provide for me. That comment, though well-intentioned, shaped my expectations of myself. It wasn’t until I challenged those beliefs that I began to see a different future.

Today, I challenge others to do the same.

We must stop making ourselves small. Stop apologising for asking questions. Stop reinforcing the myth that women aren’t good at IT, finance, or science. These are learned behaviours, not inherent truths. And when we perpetuate them, we limit the next generation of women leaders.

Mentorship is powerful—but it’s not about creating mini versions of ourselves. It’s about helping others see beyond our own horizons. That means supporting women even when their ambition surpasses our own. It means holding space for their voices, challenging language that diminishes them, and being intentional about how we show up.

At Society Matters Group, 66% of our workforce are women. We’ve built policies that reflect the realities of their lives—free meals, flexible working, health campaigns, and support systems that recognise the complexity of family life. These aren’t perks; they’re necessities.

And yet, we must remain vigilant. Across the globe, we’re seeing a rollback of women’s rights—from reproductive health to equal pay. Even here in the UK, there are whispers of repealing the Equality Act and withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights. These shifts matter. They affect our safety, our autonomy, and our future.

Recently, I was asked to deliver a webinar on female empowerment to a global corporation. I was told not to use the word “inequality.” I was censored by the USA —not just as a speaker, but as a woman, and as a UK national delivering a speech from UK soil. This is the reality we face, and it’s why we must continue to speak up.

Change doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when we choose to lead—not just from our titles, but from our values. It happens when we nominate women for awards, amplify their voices, and challenge the status quo. The Inspiring Female Awards are one way to do that, the event increases the visibility of women, it provides a platform to showcase our great work and talents, and it brings us all together in a show of solidarity and sisterhood.

Although nominations have now closed for the 2025 Awards, make sure you save the date for the announcement of the winners on the 28th November in Newcastle.