At the end of the 4th Woman Who Achieves Awards, Emma Heathcote-James, Founder and MD of the Little Soap Company, and Woman Who Judge from the very beginning, addressed the audience…
“Before the final award I just wanted to say a huge thank you to the Woman Who… made today happen.
As judges we feel so privileged each year to meet you and hear your journeys. And that’s where Sandra realised Woman Who shouldn’t just end with the winners getting a trophy and we all go home…. she realised that every single application is inspirational – not because of where you are now, but because of how you got there and why.
In this room there are huge successes, fatal set backs and challenges overcome… businesses created, bought, grown, lost or sold…
What Sandra saw and harnessed were these stories. These individual roller coaster trips. She knew they needed to be shared…. so from the original “one off” awards, the network was born, and from there the two books stemmed in which many of you here today have contributed. She makes it look effortless and easy but we know it’s all an consuming all year round job – and it’s not even her day job. She’s a wonder women and I’m sure everyone will
agree fantastic at what she does….
The thing is – Woman Who isn’t just about today – it’s not just an annual awards lunch. It isn’t just a regular networking group either. It’s become a “community”. A tribe that has grown year on year – a tribe who support, lean on and share with one another.
Many of you will have applied for an award not knowing anyone else…. it’s terrifying! As are the ceremonies, going along not really knowing anyone else…. yet the energy here is always so so different to any other awards I’ve been to… and this is why…
From the point of sending that application form applicants are enveloped by Sandra into this special tribe…. you are immediately introduced to one another through the Facebook group, through the networks and the Masterclasses so when you arrive on judging day many of you have already met (virtually or in person).
…This afternoon is about celebrating all the finalists and winners but it’s also about seeing new and old friends, and rooting for people who – 6 months ago – you didn’t even know….
So Sandra – on behalf of everyone here, we wanted to say thank you – thank you for the tireless hard work, the long nights, your energy, vision and drive but most of all for bringing us all together in this very special tribe! So here we are at the end of the 4th annual awards – what a superstar you are – this is just a little thank you from us all….”
