Female Founders Summit 2024: Business owner praises event for bringing together ‘like-minded and ambitious’ women

A business founder, who is due to speak at this year’s Female Founders Summit in Northampton, has praised the event for bringing together “like-minded, ambitious and motivated” women.

The empowering two days, which will welcome women in business from all over the world, is coming to the town for the first time this summer.

Organised by accredited master coach Lucienne Shakir, in partnership with West Northamptonshire Council and a number of local businesswomen, it will be hosted across various town centre venues on July 12 and 13.

The Summit is being headlined by the well-known Mary Portas and the team hopes the masterclasses, wellbeing sessions and keynote talks will inspire more women to conquer and flourish in the business world.

One founder who hosted her own talk and attended last year – and will be doing the same again this summer – is director of Goldings Communications, Kim Hughes.

Having worked in the public relations sector for more than two decades, Kim felt April 2021 was the right time to start her own venture.

Kim and her four colleagues, who she began employing in October of the following year after the business was set up, all work remotely across the town.

“We work with businesses making a social or environmental impact and showcase what they do best,” Kim told the Chronicle & Echo. “It’s about how we can maximise and promote those stories.”

The founder believes the high levels of customer service, responsiveness and the fact they do what is best for their clients as an “extension of their team” is what sets them apart in a saturated market.

Kim has worked alongside the Female Founders Summit organiser Lucienne for approaching a year-and-a-half, including on the esteemed event.

She delivered an insightful talk about crafting winning award entries and applications, and Kim is back for another year to share her knowledge on how to elevate brands through PR.

“It was just so inspiring,” said Kim, reminiscing on last year’s Summit. “It wasn’t at all what I expected. There was a more intimate number of female business owners, and I came away feeling inspired and motivated. It was a powerful event and I learnt a lot.”

Her highlight was meeting “like-minded, ambitious and motivating businesswomen” and having the opportunity to discuss achievements and challenges of being a female in business.

Kim anticipates this year is going to be even better, with a number of “outside of the box” sessions planned that people may not have considered in traditional business discussions.

When asked the most challenging part of being a female founder, Kim said: “The tendency not to believe in ourselves. It’s about getting in the right mindset, and seeing and knowing what’s possible.”

On the flip side, Kim says the best part of being a woman in business is the realisation that “the possibilities are endless when we set our minds to it”.

“I find it so motivating and inspiring when I see women doing well. It gives me goosebumps,” she said. “There’s no ego at the Female Founders Summit. We’re all in it together and there’s a real sense of community.”

The Chronicle & Echo is proud to be the media partner of this year’s Female Founders Summit. Keep an eye out for our coverage over the next 10 weeks in the lead up, and during, the event.