Programme
Session 1 – Redefining Success: Women Entrepreneurs Share Their Journeys
đź“… Tuesday 11 March
🕛 12:00–13:00 CET
Session 2 – Future Proofing Women’s Leadership: Entrepreneurship, AI and Sustainability
đź“… Wednesday 12 March
🕛 12:00–13:00 CET
Session 3 – Women’s Health at Work: Creating Supportive and Inclusive Workplaces
đź“… Thursday 13 March
🕛 12:00–13:00 CET
Location
Online – via Zoom
Registration
Thank you for your interest. This event has now finished, you can find the video replay and other resources on this page.
11, 12 and 13 March 2025 | Online | Free
Across three days in March, you are invited to join the academy and take part in interactive activities, breakout sessions and self-reflection all led by a team of expert facilitators. This is also an opportunity to share with your peers, tell us your challenges and compare solutions.
Session 1: Tuesday 11 March 2025, 12:00 – 13:00 CET
Redefining Success: Women Entrepreneurs Share Their Journeys
Success is more than just financial gain. It’s about impact, resilience, and personal growth. This interactive session provides a space for women entrepreneurs to share their success stories, challenge traditional definitions of success and inspire each other. Through open discussions and reflection, participants will celebrate their own achievements and redefine success on their own terms.
Lorraine Acheson
Managing Director
Women in Business Northern Ireland
With a passion for fostering inclusive growth, Lorraine leads initiatives that support women at all career stages—helping them start and scale businesses, advance in leadership and navigate key life transitions. Under her leadership, Women in Business NI has grown to over 11,000 members, expanding its impact to deliver meaningful change for women and the wider economy. Lorraine’s 25 year career spans management roles in the UK and Australia, with experience across the public, private and not for profit sectors. She is co-chair of the UK Women’s Enterprise Policy Group, Advisory Panel member of the British Business Banks £70m Investment Fund for Northern Ireland and sits on Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation Community Forum.
Lola Onipko
Co-Founder, Consultant & Mentor
Invest in Bravery
Lola has over 15 years of experience scaling ecommerce businesses across Southeast Asia and Europe. From launching startups to driving international expansion for Allegro Mall Group, she has been at the forefront of ecommerce growth. Now, as a consultant, she helps purpose-driven companies and founders unlock new markets, focusing on go-to-market strategies, brand building, and operations. A passionate advocate for women’s empowerment, Lola mentors female founders through programs like Equilibrium by BCC, Femme Palette, Power Talks by Kérastase, and the Female Startup Pre-accelerator by Huge Thing and Visa Foundation. She is also an Ambassador for Womenture, working to boost female entrepreneurship in the EU innovation ecosystem, and a certified facilitator of the global #IAmRemarkable movement, promoting diversity and inclusion.
Joanne McCormick & Sara Burgess
Founders
Ava and Harrison Children Hair Salon
Ava & Harrison is a dedicated children’s hair salon in Old Swan founded by Sara Burgess and Jo McCormick. As the only salon in Liverpool catering exclusively for children in a child-friendly environment, they have created an inclusive family destination and a team of hairdressers specially trained in pampering young people with additional needs. Lacking the confidence at the time to go it alone, Sara and Jo trained as hairdressing tutors, and both embarked upon successful careers in their own right: Jo travelled the world on cruise ships as a hairdresser before operating salons for an international hairdressing company; Sara worked in salons in the USA, managed salons for a global brand, and worked as a trainer for hundreds of new stylists. Through their combined experience, they recognised how salons failed to properly cater for children, and so their business idea was born.
Session 2: Wednesday 12 March 2025, 12:00 – 13:00 CET
Future Proofing Women’s Leadership: Entrepreneurship, AI and Sustainability
This dynamic session examines the challenges women leaders face and how they turn them into opportunities. As the business landscape evolves, adaptability, technology, and sustainability are key to long-term success. Through AI, digital transformation and sustainable innovation, women entrepreneurs can future proof their businesses and drive meaningful change. Participants will gain practical insights on staying competitive, embracing new opportunities and leading with impact in an ever-changing world.
We will be joined by:
Anne-Charlotte Joubert, Founder – Wonderfund
Chiara Menini, Regional Education Manager – EIT FOOD
Anne-Charlotte Joubert
Founder
Wonderfund
Chiara Menini
Regional Education Manager
EIT FOOD
Session 3: Thursday 13 March 2025, 12:00 – 13:00 CET
Women’s Health at Work: Creating Supportive and Inclusive Workplaces
Women’s health is a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of workplace well-being. This session explores how businesses can create supportive environments that address key issues such as flexible working, menstrual health, maternal health, menopause, and overall well-being for women at work. Through open discussions and practical strategies, participants will participants will gain insights into creating more inclusive workplaces, advocating for supportive policies, and fostering a culture where women’s health is openly addressed.
We will be joined by:
Niamh Gaffney – Business Psychology Coach & Founder – Directionality
Caroline Welsh, Co-Founder & Operations Leader, Leafyard