The Managing Director of Sharp Minds Communications, Siobhan Stirling, chaired her last Make It Your Business event for female business owners in June, handing over the role of Tunbridge Wells champion of the national organisation to Debbie Waite, founder of Stronger Inside and Out.  

Siobhan has chaired 16 events and interviewed more than 60 leading Tunbridge Wells businesswomen since being asked to launch Make It Your Business in the town in 2019 by the founder, Alison Cork, who received an MBE for her services to women in business.  

“It’s been a privilege to get to know such dynamic business leaders,” commented Siobhan, “and incredibly rewarding seeing how inspired the audience is from hearing their business stories.”

“With the enthusiastic organisation of our Operations Manager, Alison Dry, we’ve grown Make It Your Business Tunbridge Wells to three events a year, often with a waiting list. ”

“But with the opportunities presented by our new, bigger venue at The Town Hall powered by TownSq, it seemed the perfect time to hand over to someone who can bring fresh energy to take the events to a new level – and I know that Debbie, with her infectious energy, humour, drive and strategic vision is the right person.” 

“There’s something truly powerful that happens when women come together to support, inspire, and empower one another,” said Debbie. “We can move forward in business AND life, achieving bigger and better things – together.”

“That’s why I’m beyond excited to be involved with Make it Your Business (MIYB), a community where successful women share their journeys in a safe, supportive space. Whether you’re just starting out, scaling up, or contemplating stepping out on your own, MIYB offers a judgment-free zone: with no egos, no competition, and no expectations. “

“This is where the true power lies. This is where women become stronger on the inside and out.” 

More than 40 female entrepreneurs and women wanting to set up their own businesses came to hear the speakers share their business stories at the meeting on 25th of June. 

The dominant themes to emerge from the panellists’ business stories were the importance of positive cultures and aligned values, as well as a willingness to think and do things differently. 

Keynote speaker Victoria Symons, Head of corporate law at Cripps, shared how at every stage of her life she has listened to the advice of others – but trodden her own path when the counsel she received was not the right advice for her. She encouraged the audience to listen to their own inner voices. 

Jessica Bunce, co-founder and chief operations officer of Sapio Research, a multi award-winning, full-service market research agency that numbers Visa, Mailchimp and Cisco among its clients, recalled how she left a steady job while pregnant to found her own business because the culture of her previous company no longer aligned with her values following a takeover. 

Leanne Terry, co-founder of Clic Accounting, revealed that she turned down partnership to become her own boss because she was convinced they were alternative ways to run a successful accountancy practise that would create more opportunities for staff and a better experience for clients. She explained that Clic’s flexible employment terms, including no annual leave limit, had enabled her and her cofounders to build a loyal, reliable team. 

Katie Whittingham explained how her role as Chief Executive Officer of The Glasshouse, a charity which provides training and employment for women in prison, brought together all her previous experiences in alignment with her personal motivations and values. 

She shared a moving story of an abused, illiterate woman from the travellers’ community, who had previously never had a job or lived anywhere other than a caravan, who had had several spells in prison. Supported by The Glasshouse, she has learnt to read and write, and grown in personal confidence and interpersonal skills as she has trained to become a plant technician. After leaving prison recently, she was able to move into her first ever apartment with the security of her new job maintaining plants in offices across London for The Glasshouse’s corporate clients. 

A prize draw was held for local mental health and wellbeing charity, West Kent Mind, which raised £185 – which will be doubled to £370 through the Big Give philanthropic scheme.  

1. We’re lucky to be women – but it can be super overwhelming! As women, we are fortunate to live in a time when we have choices. We can run businesses, be financially independent, and pursue our passions. But having so many options can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when we feel pressured to excel in every area (business, family, health, and appearance). That’s a ‘Hard’ we don’t talk about enough. MIYB provides a safe space where we can be vulnerable, share our challenges, and know we’re not alone in our stressy struggles. It’s a place where we can breathe and know that others get it. 
2. The Gender Gap: There’s a big gap in the way men and women approach opportunities. Men often think, “I’ll go for it, and see what happens.” Meanwhile, women tend to hold themselves back, thinking they need more training, experience, or time before they step into something new. But this hesitation leads to missed opportunities. MIYB creates an environment where women can smash that self-doubt, step into their power, and feel confident to take action. It’s a space that breeds a “can-do” attitude, where women support each other in pushing boundaries and taking bold steps forward. 
3. Corporates have messed up! More women than ever are leaving corporate roles,and while that’s a loss for big businesses, it’s good news for the business world because women are starting their own businesses in record numbers- yay! But let’s be real: entrepreneurship is tough and can feel lonely.  

If you are a brand looking for support with your marketing and PR campaigns, please get in touch.

Based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Sharp Minds Communications offers brand development, digital marketing, offline marketing, and public relations to businesses across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, and Greater London.

We’re delighted to announce that Make It Your Business Tunbridge Wells, the popular networking event for female entrepreneurs and female business owners in Kent, is entering an exciting new phase – and a new venue. From Friday 27^th June, our popular female entrepreneurship event will be hosted at The Chambers at Town Hall, powered by TownSq, in the heart of Royal Tunbridge Wells. 

Designed to support women starting or growing their businesses, Make It Your Business provides valuable networking opportunities, practical insights, and inspirational advice from experienced business leaders. The move to Town Hall is a reflection of the event’s growing popularity—and its commitment to supporting more women across Kent’s business community. 

“We’re thrilled to take Make It Your Business to a venue that champions innovation and entrepreneurship,” says Siobhan Stirling, Managing Director of Sharp Minds Communications and Chair of the Tunbridge Wells event. “Town Hall and TownSq share our values of collaboration, business growth and community support. With this move, we can welcome even more women into a space that empowers them to succeed.” 

A partnership built on shared values

Lucie Merkl, Hub Manager at TownSq, explains the significance of this new partnership: 

A powerful speaker line-up for female business owners

The 27 June event features an outstanding line-up of female leaders and entrepreneurs who will be sharing their expertise, personal stories, and practical business insights. Highlights include: 

Victoria Symons is Head of the Corporate Group at Cripps, where she advises high-net-worth individuals and family offices on complex business issues. As a passionate advocate for gender parity, Victoria has also led Cripps’ research into female leadership in mid-market firms. Her keynote will explore how women can drive strategic growth and overcome systemic barriers in business. 

Jessica Bunce co-founded Sapio Research, an award-winning market research agency delivering insights for PR, marketing and tech-led B2B companies. Jessica will share how insight-driven strategy, ethical leadership, and values-based growth can help businesses of all sizes scale and succeed. 

Leanne Terry and Katie Clarke are two of the co-founders behind Clic Accounting, the UK’s first Climate Neutral certified accountancy practice. With over 20 years of experience in financial strategy, Leanne will discuss the challenges and rewards of running a purpose-led, tech-powered business. The duo will also share how Clic Accounting is supporting SMEs with smarter systems and more sustainable practices. 

A Thank You to The Finance Hub

As the event expands, Sharp Minds would like to thank Gillian Palmer for her generous support in hosting Make It Your Business at The Finance Hub since lockdown. Her enthusiasm and modern space on The Pantiles have played a key role in the event’s growth.

Based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Sharp Minds Communications offers brand development, digital marketing, offline marketing, and public relations to businesses across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, and Greater London.

The power of failure, being open to opportunities when they come along and the importance of aligning yourself with people who share your values and vision were key themes to emerge at January’s Make It Your Business, Tunbridge Wells. Hosted by Sharp Minds’ Managing Director, Siobhan Stirling, the audience of the sell-out event took inspiration and encouragement from the personal business stories shared by the panellists.

The latest Make It Your Business Tunbridge Wells event brought together local businesswomen from around Kent at The Finance Hub for an inspiring morning of networking and learning. While many women already run their own businesses, countless others are held back by a lack of networking opportunities and mentoring. Make It Your Business aims to change that with regular events that foster connections and empower women.

January’s Tunbridge Wells event featured an impressive line-up of speakers: keynote speaker Julia Elliot Brown—a serial entrepreneur, advisor, and founder of Enter the Arena; Jodie Claridge, founder of Dentalbox; Danielle Friend and Jane Hodge of Create Balance; and Nell Mellerick of Arty Farty Retreat.

Failure is something to embrace

Julia Elliot Brown discussed the power of reframing failure. She shared her experience with Upper Street Shoes, a venture where women could design their own shoes. Despite raising capital and attracting celebrity clients, the business ultimately collapsed. For a while afterwards, Julia said she felt like a failure. She was devastated and needed time to lick her wounds and consider her options. Which she did. Looking back now, instead of viewing this experience as a failure, Julia sees it as a pivotal moment. 

Her three tips for bouncing back after failure. 

1. Take time off: Julia needed time to reflect; she took time off to give her brain time to unravel itself and work out where things went wrong.
2. Look out for problems that need solving: During her time out, Julia thought about her own struggles to raise investment. She had many women coming to her to ask for advice during her time running the business and this helped her formulate the idea for Enter the Arena. “When you’re stuck, look at the problems you see around you,” says Julia. “Very often those are the sparks for a great business idea.”
3. Don’t listen to the naysayers: Because there will be many. For Julia, it was mostly men saying her idea was too niche. However, she went for it anyway. “Don’t let others define your limits.”

Ultimately, Julia’s advice to other business women was not to be disheartened if it’s hard. Failure doesn’t define you, see it as a stepping stone and don’t be afraid of it.

Be curious and observant

Jodie Claridge is the founder and owner of Dentalbox, but her journey to being a successful business owner wasn’t an easy one. Forced to leave home at 17, Jodie’s career path was shaped by curiosity and keen observation. She stressed the importance of learning from one’s surroundings and using every experience as a springboard for growth.

In just two years, Jodie has taken The Dental Box from a standing start to a turnover of £350,000. Her work ethic centers on sticking to one’s values, continual learning, and maintaining a clear vision.

Have the right people around you 

Create Balance burst onto the Tunbridge Wells business scene a year ago – but it’s a business that was 12 years in the making. Business partners Danielle Friend and Jane Hodge highlighted the significance of surrounding yourself with the right team. Their business, 12 years in the making, flourished once they found the right partnership dynamic. 

They advised entrepreneurs to be careful about who they choose for their inner circle, emphasising the need for people who can challenge and spur you onward, rather than simply agreeing with everything.

The importance of community 

Nell Mellerick of Arty Farty Retreat discussed how community involvement contributed to her business growth. After running art classes at charities Peppenbury and Hospice in the Weald, Nell was inspired to make art accessible to everyone through her retreat.

Nell not only runs the Arty Farty Retreat but also manages Southborough Street Community social pages and organises large annual events. She emphasised that being a trusted figure in the local community significantly helps in growing a business.

Key points from the morning:

Be a part of your community and build connections

Be curious and observant in your early career

The importance of keeping yourself open to new opportunities

Find the right team that shares your values 

If you are a brand looking for support with your marketing and PR campaigns, please get in touch.

Based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Sharp Minds Communications offers brand development, digital marketing, offline marketing, and public relations to businesses across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, and Greater London.