It’s been a really exciting morning at the We Mean Business conference and we’ve already met most of the delegates before hearing some really great key note speeches, two of which we have detailed below
Steph Cutler, Founder of Making Lemonade: Viewing obstacles as opportunities, not setbacks.
One of the most inspirational speakers I’ve heard in a long time. Having come from a very successful career in fashion where she lived a ‘work hard, play hard’ lifestyle, Steph experienced unexpected sight loss in 2003. This led her to set up a disability equality consultancy business and really live by a new mantra: If life deals you lemons, make lemonade!
One of the most memorable parts of Steph’s speech was when she told the room about her reply to Gordon Brown when asked ‘Why did you set up your business?’ Her direct answer was “because no bastard would give me a job!”
This one line epitomised what I felt when listening to Steph speak, she told how from very early on she made a very conscious decision to not let her new disability get in her way. This drive and passion is what has motivated her to help many businesses like hers and become a successful entrepreneur.
Steph inspired, encouraged and embraced the room and showed how important, as a business, it is to allow yourself the time to learn about yourself as a person, about your business and, most importantly, to learn about the people around you.
Penny Power, Founder Ecademy: How to grow a business through being a friend.
Penny started with asking an interesting question: Are you an aspiring entrepreneur or are you looking to just trade your time for money? Most of the room put their hand up as an aspiring entrepreneur.
Penny went on to speak about how she gave up a high powered job as a Sales and Marketing Director when she had her first child. This is when her world became all about being Mum and she realised and accepted this was who she is and who she always will be.
Knowing who she is, and being true to this, is what underpins Penny and her success. It’s a mantra she embraces in business and with everyone she meets.
As a Mum she told the room how it’s her kid’s and their social activities that really inspires her in business and has been a key part of growing her Global online community. Ecademy is a very successful network which empowers its members to be who they are. Penny coined this as The Facebook Generation and she encouraged the audience to embrace this generation and listen to them.
My takeaway from Penny - know who you are, be true to this and create your networks based on yourself and not a 60 second elevator pitch!
Melanie Vala
Senior Marketing Manager UK
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