How can we help?
Please get in touch using the form below.
We can offer virtual or in-person 1-to-1 advice sessions to meet your needs for your business journey.
Celebrate International Women’s Month with us at the British Library as we bring together an inspiring panel discussion
This event takes place in the British Library and will be simultaneously live streamed on the British Library platform. Tickets may be booked either to attend in person, or to watch on our platform (online) either live or within 48 hours on catch up. Viewing links will be sent out shortly before the event.
Book Here
Celebrate International Women’s Month with us at the British Library as we bring together an inspiring panel discussion with five boundary-breaking women entrepreneurs who are transforming the health and fitness industry. As part of our Inspiring Entrepreneurs series, this event provides a unique chance to hear from influential women business founders and put your questions to them.
Our ’wellness warriors’ will share their extensive experience of setting up and scaling personal training businesses, fitness apps, pioneering athletic wear brands and more. With the fitness industry valued at just under $100 billion globally last year* and with the Olympics fast approaching, these women have harnessed the booming interest in health and wellbeing to establish innovative brands, programmes and communities focused on empowerment and inclusivity.
Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur curious about the landscape or an established founder looking to stay ahead of the curve, this session will leave you feeling inspired, informed and ready to take the next step.
*Statista, August 2023
On the day, you can expect to:
Moderated by:
Kayleigh Benoit is the founder of award-winning fashion brand BIND London. Inspired by her fitness and natural hair journey, she crowdfunded and launched the inclusive headwear collection during the pandemic with the help of the British Library’s Business & IP Centre.
Speakers include:
Rhian Stephenson, Founder of ARTAH HEALTH and former CEO of Psycle
Rhian Stephenson is a Nutritionist, Naturopath and industry leader in nutrition, holistic health, and fitness. Rhian built Psycle London to be a globally recognised boutique fitness brand and led the business as CEO for 6 years before moving on to create ARTAH, an award-winning nutrition and supplement company. Driven by her passion for health, Rhian went on to complete graduate degrees in Human Biology, Nutritional Therapy and Naturopathic Medicine. Passionate, energetic and practising what she preaches, her goal is to inspire and empower others to experience life in their best health.
Matilda Egere-Cooper, Founder of Fly Girl Collective
With over 20 years of media experience, Matilda Egere-Cooper’s work focuses on community-building. She moved from journalism to wellness and fitness in 2018, founding Fly Girl Collective – a platform empowering Black women and women of colour. Committed to challenging health inequity, Fly Girl Collective has earned recognition in publications including Vogue (UK), Stylist, Runner’s World and the BBC, as well as partnering with recognisable brands. Matilda also hosts the Finesse Your Wellness podcast, exploring how women can thrive and live well.
Ciara, Founder of Body by Ciara fitness app and personal trainer
Ciara Madden is a London-based fitness entrepreneur. She founded a fitness app featuring 12 trainers and boasting thousands of subscribers who train with her and her team daily. She also has a female-only gym based in north London, a line of fitness products and hosts fitness events and retreats in Ibiza.
Leanne Pero, Founder of Black Women Rising
Leanne Pero MBE is a social entrepreneur. She set up her first social enterprise The Movement Factory when she was 15 years old, since then she has successfully fundraised over half a million pounds to run community dance programs all over London. After being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 30, Leanne set up her charity Black Women Rising, and in 4 years has helped over 500 women of colour in the UK living with cancer.
Yashmin Harun BEM, founding Chair of Muslimah Sports Association
Yashmin Harun BEM is the founding Chair of Muslimah Sports Association (MSA), established in 2014, a charity that aims to empower Muslim women through sports. She is the first Muslim Bangladeshi woman to become an iNED at British Fencing. With over 20 years banking experience, Yashmin’s most recent awards include the Asian Woman of Achievement Award for Sports and The National Diversity Award in 2023.
For those joining us in person, the event will be followed by a networking reception with drinks, canapés, meeting with other attendees, as well as the speakers. For those joining us online, the panel and talk will run from 18.30 – 20.30
This event is for those who are thinking about starting a business, are already running their own venture, or perhaps simply wish to meet like-minded people and be inspired.
The event has been organised by the British Library Business & IP Centre team who will be there on the night. This event will be informative and interactive with some reading, listening, sitting for some time and many opportunities to ask questions. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your participation in this event, please contact our team in advance on bipcbookings@bl.uk so we can discuss this with you.
