She Lead Summit 2024

An empowering one-day event open to every woman
She Lead Summit 24

  • Jill Craigie Cinema, Roland Levinsky Building, University of Plymouth

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Welcome to the She Lead Summit 2024.
The She Lead Summit is an empowering one-day event open to every woman who is ready to take control of her future and become the best version of herself.
Taking place on Wednesday 20 November 2024, this summit is designed to inspire, connect and uplift women from all walks of life – whether you are a professional, an entrepreneur, or simply someone looking to gain confidence and direction in your personal and professional journey.
Through engaging keynote speeches, thought-provoking panel discussions and inspiring sessions, you will hear from women who have overcome challenges, shattered barriers and taken charge of their destinies. 
This year’s theme emphasises Resilience, Personal Growth and Networking with Purpose, offering tools, insights and inspiration to help you overcome self-doubt, embrace new opportunities and build a supportive network.
Whether you’re looking to make a career change, pursue your passion or simply grow in confidence, the She Lead Summit provides a space for learning, connection and self-empowerment.
Please register your place through the Eventbrite link below. Refreshments will be provided.

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Keynote speaker biography

Councillor Sue Dann, Cabinet Member, Plymouth City Council
Sue was born in Birmingham and attended Lordswood Girls' Grammar School. 
She completed an HND in Hospitality and Catering and began her career at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital before moving into Further and Higher Education, where she lectured at institutions including South Devon College and Hong Kong Polytechnic. 
Sue has had a significant political career, serving on Plymouth City Council from 2003 to 2011 and returning in 2015. She has held various cabinet positions, overseeing areas such as Human Resources, Economic Development, and Sport and Leisure. Additionally, she has been a Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate and served as Deputy Lady Mayoress and Lady Mayoress before becoming Lord Mayor of Plymouth in 2022–23.
A passionate advocate for fairness and equality, Sue champions local initiatives and collaborates with partners to deliver impactful projects, including the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.

Moderator biography

Dr Kathryn Napier Gray, Associate Professor (Reader) in Early American Literature, University of Plymouth
Kathryn's research specialises in early American literary studies, and the literatures of colonial New England especially; her work responds to questions of literary form, transatlantic print culture, and the politics of the cultural change and transformation in the colonial and indigenous landscapes of North America. More recently, Kathryn has developed research and teaching interests in early American environmental literatures and natural history.
Undergraduate teaching includes modules on American literature, including American crime fiction, and Kathryn has supervised, postgraduate projects on narratives of cultural encounter, dystopian fiction, narratives of gender in early modern and contemporary fiction, 18th-century letters, contemporary genre fiction and war poetry. 
Kathryn is Strategic Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business at the University, and Chair of the Research Ethics and Integrity, sub-panel for Arts and Humanities.

Panel speaker biographies

Alexis Bowater OBE, Award-winning Journalist
Alexis Bowater OBE is an award-winning journalist who worked for ITV in the west country for 15 years and anchored the evening news for 10. 
She became campaigning Chief Executive of Networking Surviving Stalking, helped to launch the first national stalking helpline and to change the law in the UK, and have stalking introduced into the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention to Combat Violence Against Women and Girls. 
Alexis has run the biggest women in business awards in the South West and has also run women in business networks around the region. She is now head of the West Country Women Awards, recognising and celebrating women all across the region. In 2022 Alexis was awarded the OBE for services to the Safety and Equality of Women.

Georgina Gray, Managing Director, True Wisdom Coaching
Georgina Gray has recently returned to the UK to start her own leadership and parent coaching company after working as a leader in international education for over 20 years in countries across Asia, including China, India, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. She originally began her teaching journey by training here in Devon at Rolle College and graduated from the University of Plymouth.
This diverse background has given Georgina first-hand experience in the importance of resilience and personal growth by embracing new opportunities, overcoming challenges and building a supportive network each time she has taken on a new role. These traits were essential because her roles involved multiple changes of workplace, city, country, and culture for her and her family.
As a leadership and parent coach and trainer, Georgina has a number of passions stemming from her time in education. She believes in the transformative power of education and lifelong learning. She is committed to supporting leaders not only to acquire essential skills and understandings but also to cultivate a sense of belonging and purpose within their teams. Georgina also works with parents on the positive discipline approach, and from her experiences, she believes that the skills and mindset of effective leadership and parenting are inherently linked.

Jessica Holliland, Consultant, Coach, Facilitator
Jess Holliland has been working with purpose driven businesses in the South West for the past decade. They run their own consultancy helping people with their plans to make the world a better place. Jess is an experienced coach, consultant and facilitator – turning their hand wherever it’s going to make the most impact for the changemakers and heroes they work with. 
Jess discovered social purpose business after moving to Devon 16 years ago and has never looked back. Working with charities, solo-primeurs, startups and large organisations to help them unravel their issues, unblock their creative problem-solving abilities and achieve their ambitions. The joy for Jess is really in seeing people realise that they have all the power they need to make things happen.

Rebecca Loto, Certified Business Strategist and Mentor
Rebecca Loto is a Certified Business Strategist, Coach and Mentor, networking fanatic, international multi-entrepreneur and public speaking lover. She loves all things property related and the ocean. Rebecca is on a mission to bring out the brilliance in small business owners and entrepreneurs, so they gain clarity on what they really want to have the confidence to change and create calm in their lives, instead of always feeling overwhelmed. She wants those she works with to have more money, free time and fun and has worked with over 1,000 happy clients. 
Rebecca is fondly known as 'Bossy Becky' as she uses a sprinkling of 'tough love' to challenge you to be the best version of yourself, while supporting you all the way. She has successfully founded and managed three businesses in Mexico and two in the UK, so really does understand the ups and downs of business life!

Professor Shaofeng Liu, Professor of Operations Management and Decision Making, Deputy Director of the Doctoral College, University of Plymouth

Shaofeng Liu is Professor of Operations Management and Decision Making at the University, and Deputy Director of the Doctoral College. She obtained her PhD degree from Loughborough University, specialising in Knowledge and Information Management for Global Manufacturing Co-ordination Decisions.
She is the Research Lead for the Product and Service Value Chain Group, and author of Knowledge Management: An Interdisciplinary Approach for Business Decisions.

Dr Joanitha Ntangeki, Associate Lecturer, Business Consultant and Founder of Sisters Talk Foundation
Dr Joanitha Ntangeki is a distinguished leader, public speaker and the founder of the Sisters Talk Foundation, with a robust background in business, leadership and academia. Combining her extensive experience in the corporate sector with a deep understanding of academic principles, Joanitha envisioned Sisters Talk as a dynamic space where women from diverse fields can come together to inspire and support one another.
Her unique blend of expertise equips her to provide invaluable insights into effective leadership, strategic growth and personal development. As a public speaker, Joanitha engages audiences with her compelling presentations on empowerment and collaboration. Under her guidance, Sisters Talk has evolved into a vibrant community that celebrates women’s achievements and encourages collaborative growth. Driven by a passion for fostering connections and empowering women, Joanitha continues to lead the organisation with a vision of creating impactful change and helping women realise their full potential.

Jacyntha Renetta, Founder of Spark Your Brilliance
Jacyntha Renetta is a multi-talented individual who has seamlessly blended her passion for music, communication and personal growth to create a unique and transformative coaching experience. With a first-class BA (Hons) in Broadcasting and Communication, and over a decade of experience spearheading innovative marketing campaigns for renowned brands like Adidas Originals, Jacyntha has honed her ability to captivate audiences and inspire change.
As the founder of Spark Your Brilliance, Jacyntha draws from her extensive background in business, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and her own personal journey to help individuals unlock their full potential. Her superpower lies in her ability to help clients cut through the noise, gain crystal clarity on their goals and take aligned action towards realising their dreams.
Jacyntha's coaching methodology is a unique blend of her business acumen and her NLP training, providing a holistic approach to personal and professional growth. She has supported seven- and eight-figure CEOs in honing their focus and reaching new heights of success, guiding them to harness the magic of focus and overcome obstacles that once held them back.
But Jacyntha's talents extend beyond coaching. She is also a celebrated singer who has graced stages across Europe, touching the lives of hundreds with her powerful performances. Her ability to connect with audiences through music has earned her recognition, including a feature in Woman and Home magazine as a Magnetic Mindset coach.
Whether she's coaching clients one-on-one, captivating crowds with her soulful melodies or sharing her insights on stages around the world, Jacyntha's mission is to empower others to express their magic with power, potency, and possibility. With her unique blend of expertise, she guides individuals to become divine vessels, expressing their authentic selves with confidence and freedom. 
If you're ready to stop spinning your wheels and start realising your full potential, Jacyntha is the coach and mentor you've been seeking. Through her transformative approach, she helps unlock the endless possibilities that arise when you harness the magic of focus and live your life with intention and purpose.

Karen Shaw, Founder and Director of Inspired Coaches
Karen Shaw is a coach, consultant and therapist who is passionate about promoting holistic and integrated business models that drive significant social impact and contribute to a more sustainable world.
She supports both men and women in leadership roles and believes in leadership balance because it leads to:
• Increased innovation and creativity 
• Stronger stakeholder relations
• Higher employee engagement, and
• broader talent and skills base within an organisation
Her objective is to empower existing and future business leaders who are navigating challenges in their leadership to help them realise their potential and to create incredible social business models with huge social impact. 

Liliane Uwimana, HR and Non-executive Director of Apricot Centre
Liliane Uwimana is a dedicated sister, wife and mother with a deep passion for Human Relations. With a degree in Business Management specialising in Human Resources, she has consistently applied her expertise in every professional endeavour. Currently, Liliane plays a key role in supporting Human Relations at DBI and serves as a Project Manager for Jabulani CIC. 
Driven by her commitment to building strong, impactful relationships in the workplace and beyond, Liliane has embarked on a new journey with ORSC (Organisation and Relationship Systems Coaching). This robust coaching model, grounded in Relationship and Systems Intelligence, has profoundly transformed her approach to relationships and continues to shape her development as a Relationship Coach. Liliane is passionate about empowering others through meaningful connections, both personally and professionally.
 

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