Attending the Female Founders Growth Summit in Edinburgh on the 5th of September was not just inspiring—it was a pivotal moment in my journey as a female entrepreneur. The atmosphere was charged with the energy of women who are navigating the challenges of scaling businesses while embracing the unique qualities that set us apart as leaders. The day was filled with incredible insights from speakers who shared their growth stories, challenges, and advice for building resilient, passion-driven companies. I have attended many events like this over the last 10 years, but what stood out to me personally about this event was the language that was used, it was inspiring, it was feminine and it was empowering. I felt I had found my tribe!
Sahar Hashemi OBE: The Power of Feminine Qualities
The first speaker, Sahar Hashemi OBE, co-founder of the Coffee Republic and confectionery brand Skinny Candy. Sarah also recently co-chaired the UK government Scale Up Task Force. In 2022 she launched Buy Women Built a campaign to bring consumer recognition to women-built brands in the UK.
Sahar brought up something that resonated deeply: Can we truly be ourselves as women in business? She delved into the nuances of the male and female brain and asked us to think about the qualities we often hide. Qualities like softness, empathy, and even something as simple as our love for chatting, are strengths, not weaknesses. Hashemi reminded us that emotional vulnerability, often seen as a liability, is one of our greatest assets. We, as women, are natural multitaskers with an innate ability to connect deeply with others.
Sahar highlighted how the female brain tends to overthink, leaving us more vulnerable to self-doubt—a powerful force that can hold us back from realising our full potential as entrepreneurs. She urged us to push forward, not just for ourselves, but for the next generation of women. We owe it to them to find our strength, lead authentically, and embrace the qualities that make us uniquely suited for entrepreneurship.
I've personally experienced many of the points Sahar made throughout my journey with FINDRA. In board meetings, I was labelled 'too emotional,' dismissed because of my gender, and confronted with the self-doubt that followed. The overthinking, analysing, and effort it takes to silence that inner critic can be exhausting. I've worked hard to manage the voice that undermines me, and while I have more to say on the subject, I’ll save that for my next blog.
Scaling with Heart: Keeping the “Why” Alive
Another theme that stood out to me was the idea that women often start businesses from the heart, driven by passion and purpose.
As our businesses grow, it’s easy to lose touch with that original “why.” Often, the bigger we get, the more we need to hold onto that founder mentality, even as we build structures and processes to scale.
Sahar shared her experience with Coffee Republic, where she believed she needed outside experts to help scale the business. In reality, she instinctively knew what her business and its
customers needed, but she unknowingly undermined her abilities. Her overactive mind and self-doubt led her to hand over control to the wrong people, despite her unique understanding of the brand and how to move it forward.
Sahar stressed the importance of emotional intelligence (EQ) in leadership, something I believe women naturally excel at. Being curious, staying connected to our customers, and honing our emotional IQ are all essential superpowers for scaling with heart.
An audience member asked, “When things go wrong—and they inevitably will—how do you keep believing?” Sahar’s advice was simple but profound: just do something. Take action. Overthinking won’t solve problems, but taking even the smallest step forward can make all the difference.
Growth, Challenges, and Resilience
Later in the day, the conversation shifted to growth stories and the challenges of scaling. Sascha Evans highlighted how growth is deeply personal, tied not just to the product but to the people and systems you surround yourself with. The biggest challenge to scaling? Still funding. Access to markets and building the right connections remain critical to success. It’s important to stay focused on the “North Star”—the ultimate goal—and ensure that every step you take leads toward that vision.
Lucinda Bruce Gardyne shared her experience of navigating male-dominated boards and how difficult it can be to balance being polite with passionately advocating for your ideas. This hit home for me. As women, we are often judged harshly when we assert ourselves, but Lucinda emphasised the importance of managing these environments with confidence and strength. We’re not just fighting for our voices to be heard; we’re creating more inclusive spaces for others.
Resilience: A Key to Success
Resilience was a common thread throughout the summit, with Sascha reminding us that resilience is both learned and borrowed, referencing Sam Connif who speaks about uncertainty as an inherent part of entrepreneurship, and that embracing it is key to growth.
I found comfort in the advice to seek feedback only from those you respect and to focus on where you add the most value. As entrepreneurs, we know more about our subject than anyone else, and protecting our intellectual property and vision is crucial.
Panel Session: Building Without Investment
One of the most refreshing discussions of the day came from Emma McDonald of The Tartan Blanket Co. She spoke passionately about building a business without investment and the importance of working with what you have. Money, she argued, doesn’t always fix problems. Sometimes, it’s about digging deeper to find the root of the issue and addressing it with creativity and purpose.
Her message resonated with me: we need more passion-driven founders, not just those focused on commercial gains. It was a reminder that women often approach problems differently than men, and that’s a strength we should lean into.
Imposter Syndrome and the New Paradigm of Leadership
I attended a discussion on imposter syndrome, something many of us are all too familiar with. The idea of a “new paradigm of leadership” was introduced, one that embraces vulnerability, intuition, and emotional intelligence. It’s time to let go of the limiting beliefs that hold us back. The imposter lies within, but so does our potential.
Leaving the summit, I felt empowered, not just by the insights I’d gained but by the community of female founders who share the same struggles, ambitions, and drive. We’re scaling our businesses in a world that wasn’t built for us, but we’re doing it with passion, resilience, and an unwavering belief in our vision.
"My key takeaway was clear: think just a little bigger than you did this morning. Scale not just for growth, but for impact. Be proud of being a female founder, and embrace the qualities we're often told to downplay—these are our superpowers. Use them
And!! Never lose sight of the passion that got you here in the first place.
I'll be participating in the Egg Women on Top Summit 2024 on September 26th, where I'll be interviewed by Mandy Bailey from RBS for a talk titled 'The Power of Storytelling”
I hope to see you there.