Helen and Sam first met around 10 years ago working at a global bank.

Helen has since moved into professional services and alongside her day job is a charity founder and trustee. Mum to Alf aged 7, and human to 2 cats and a sausage dog.

She is founder and trustee of Brightest Stars charity- supporting bereaved families.

She's also a long suffering Southampton FC fan but the less said about that the better!

Listen to find out how Helen has found success in different aspects of her life, and what she would put in the guide...

With 26 years in the fashion industry, Susan worked with some of the biggest high-street brands, shaping trends and leading creative design. After experiencing burnout in 2018, caused by imposter syndrome and self-doubt, she made the difficult decision to step away from the industry.

Determined to help others facing similar challenges, she co-founded The Creative Space Coaching in 2020, coaching highly creative professionals working at top design agencies, studios, and fashion houses—including LVMH and YSL—who struggle with the pressures of self-doubt, perfectionism, and creative confidence.

In April 2025 she co-founded Trust Your Creative, a training and development company that moves people and companies forward with creative excellence that thrives beyond imposter syndrome.

Listen to find out how Susan has found success in different aspects of her life, and what she would put in the guide...

Jill Pay, Chairman – The Gender Index

Jill is Co-founder and Chairman of The Gender Index, a not-for-profit organization that is quantifying the impact of women-led companies to achieve positive and disruptive change. She is also Non-executive Director of mnAi, an AI-driven technology company that gives real-time research and analysis on UK companies. Her career has zigzagged across public and private sectors and the enormous impact is that she is now a relentless champion of the need to establish metrics to standardize economic progression led by women.

Previously Jill was Serjeant at Arms in the House of Commons and the first woman to hold this position in 600 years. Her appointment was unusual in that her predecessors all came from a military background, whereas her roots are firmly established in business.

Jill holds a number of senior roles for organisations including the children’s literacy charity Coram Beanstalk, the global women’s business hub Savvitas Global and the Women and Enterprise All Party Parliamentary Group. She is a major driving force behind the acceleration and empowerment of female entrepreneurship internationally.

Listen to find out how Jill has found success in different aspects of her life, and what she would put in the guide...

Lydia Amoah, the dynamic CEO of BACKLIGHT and visionary Founder of the Black Pound Report, is a beacon of inspiration in her commitment to diversity and inclusion. Her personal journey, marked by resilience and determination, is a testament to the transformative power

of diversity. Renowned for her pioneering work, Lydia is a leading figure in consultancy, data, and communications insights. She is also a highly respected business coach and mentor, guiding professionals and organisations towards success.

BACKLIGHT: Empowering Authentic Connections

Under Lydia’s exceptional leadership, BACKLIGHT is revolutionising how brands, ad agencies, and businesses communicate authentically with diverse audiences. Our innovative media planning tool, a testament to Lydia's vision and expertise, has proven to be a game-changer, empowering companies to connect genuinely with diverse demographics. It ensures their messages and marketing/communication strategies resonate meaningfully, instilling confidence in their effectiveness.

The Black Pound Report: Illuminating Consumer Insights

The Black Pound Report, a groundbreaking initiative spearheaded by Lydia, is pivotal research that illuminates the spending habits of Black and Multi-Ethnic consumer audiences in the UK and provides actionable insights on how businesses can successfully cater to these vibrant communities. This invaluable resource, showcasing Lydia's commitment to diversity, has helped companies like News UK and Channel 4 to foster more inclusive and effective marketing strategies.

Recognised Excellence

Lydia’s exceptional contributions have earned her a place among the Top 25 Black Entrepreneurs to Watch by the UK Black Business Show, sponsored by HSBC. Her recognition on the Diversity Power List 2023 and the Market Research Society - Liz Nelson Award for Social Impact underscore her influence and impact in promoting business diversity, further acknowledging her credibility and expertise.

Expertise and Services

Beyond data analysis, BACKLIGHT offers consultancy and bespoke training, helping companies create products, services, and campaigns that resonate with a diverse consumer audience. Lydia’s invaluable insights into Black, Asian, and Multi-Ethnic audiences and her successful C-suite business coaching have yielded tangible results for organisations. With her expertise as a business coach and mentor, Lydia empowers professionals and leaders to unlock their full potential, guiding them towards success in their endeavours.

Listen to find out how Lydia has found success in different aspects of her life, and what she would put in the guide...

Fiona Lambert, is renowned as one of the UK’s leading businesswomen, having held board roles at Next, George at Asda, Dunelm, River Island and most recently Managing Director of Jaeger at M&S, where she led its celebrated reinvention.

She is now President of The Twenty Club, a long-standing exclusive members dining club with a 137 year history.

At 60, she made a pivot, setting herself the goal of getting into the best shape of her life, determined to break stereo-types of aging and wrote Invincible not Invisible, sharing her sustainable approach to mindset change, exercise and nutrition.

Link to Invincible not Invisible here.

With a rapidly growing social media profile creating content on @fionalambertofficlal, Fiona has become a role model and advocate for ‘It’s never too late, and you’re never too old.'

Her second book launches on July 8th.

Listen to find out how Fiona has found success in different aspects of her life, and what she would put in the guide...

Sara Whatley is a 43-year-old ovarian cancer survivor and the inspiring founder of Ailsa’s Aim, a charity that supports cancer patients and families with babies in neonatal care.

Motivated by her own journey, Sara created Ailsa’s Aim to provide comfort, essential care items, and heartfelt support to those navigating incredibly difficult times.

Her strength, compassion, and determination are at the heart of everything the charity does, turning her personal experience into a powerful force for good.

Through Ailsa’s Aim, Sara is dedicated to raising awareness, spreading hope, and making a meaningful difference—one bag, one family, one life at a time.

Listen to find out how Sara has found success in different aspects of her life, and what she would put in the guide...

A leader in the realm of women's boxing and the visionary tech founder of Pillow, a transformative Al integrated platform dedicated to powering survivors to thrive after domestic abuse. As founder of Fight Forward, a social impact business, she has a mission to support women to reclaim their strength and voice after experiencing abuse.

A trailblazer in the sport, Lesley became the first British woman to win gold at the EU Championships in 2008 on first entry, proudly representing England and Great Britain on numerous international stages.

Motivated by her own personal journey out of abuse, Lesley launched the pioneering initiative The Fight Back, which gained prominent coverage on Channel 4, SKY Sports and the BBC.

Her ambitious goal to help 100,000 women "fight forward" out of abuse is rapidly gaining momentum.

"My work with Fight Forward is particularly disruptive because it challenges preconceptions about boxing. We are using what is typically considered a violent sport to heal women who have experienced violence. The program helps women reclaim consent over their own bodies and voices, connect with their bodies in a healing way, find community and connection and process trauma through physical movement".

Lesley's influence extends beyond the ring. She co-produced an independent documentary with BBC Sport that highlights the challenges faced by female boxers in Ghana, broadening the narrative around women in sports globally. Additionally, her expertise has been showcased as a guest trainer on Channel 4's "How To Get Fit Fast" and as an athlete on BBC 3's "Last Woman Standing."

An engaging speaker, Lesley has delivered impactful presentations to diverse audiences, including leading FTSE 100 companies such as Barclays, Standard Chartered, and Facebook. Her talks center on empowerment, resilience, and transformative change, drawing inspiration from her own experiences overcoming adversity in both her personal life and sporting career.

Listen to find out how Lesley has found success in different aspects of her life, and what she would put in the guide...

Kim Palmer founded Clementine after navigating anxiety during pregnancy — what began as personal survival became a mission to support women’s mental health in a more honest, human way.

Clementine is now an award-winning femtech app with over 160,000 downloads (achieved with minimal marketing), more than £1M raised in investment, and 40,000+ glowing reviews. It’s been named App of the Day twice, featured in Google’s ‘Best Of’ list, and recognised globally with strategic partnerships in the UK, Sweden, Colombia, and Mexico.

In May 2024, Clementine won the Fem Tech World Award for Best Mental Health Business.

Listen to find out how Kim has found success in different aspects of her life, and what she would put in the guide...