We were delighted to have four new judges on board for the Woman Who Achieves Solopreneur Awards pilot in the Autumn.
“Entering Awards are a great way to power up your personal brand but many people hold back. Why is that? I’m told it’s a mixture of confidence, fear of failure and lack of belief that your business and where you are right now is good enough.
I’m particularly proud to say that my awards are not all about the financials, who you know and how long you’ve been trading. They are a platform for supporting women in business (and a few men too) to get a foot on the ladder, some great PR in a safe and supportive environment. I am there for each Finalist at every step of their journey and by the end of the process, they are instilled with confidence to enter other Awards. But that’s not all, the promotion carries on well beyond the Awards Lunch and continues for a full 12 months and beyond.
Each of my Judges has been hand picked because they have experienced the Woman Who Awards process. They are all business owners, have sat exactly where you are now and understand the challenges Solopreneurs face” Sandra Garlick (Founder of Woman Who)
Meet the Judges:
“Solopreneurs are some of the hardest working business owners in the country, turning their hand to sales, marketing, delivery, finances, admin and much more. Having grown my business Leaders by Nature over a number of years as a solopreneur, I’m delighted to judge these awards and look forward to reviewing and showcasing the talent that exists in this space. These are the businesses of the future, the ones to watch and it’s exciting to see where they will go from here.” Jude Jennison (Judge)
“I was thrilled to be asked to judge the Woman Who Solopreneur Awards because as individuals, solopreneurs work incredibly hard to run their businesses and collectively contribute a huge amount to the local economy. It will be an honour to recognise and acknowledge this group of women and celebrate their achievements!” Karen Heap (Judge)
“Solopreneurship has taken off in the last decade, and there are now thousands of people who fit this exact description. I know from personal experience, and the people I have met through my network, that they work tirelessly as experts in their field, all single handed.
Many solopreneurs shy away from the idea of entering into award competitions because they think it’s too self-promotional or they worry the entry might be time-consuming.
Whilst entering awards does take a bit of “selling”, time and effort, it is an investment that can reap rewards with on-going benefits helping to building credibility and gaining recognition.
It’s a privilege to be part of the judging team and I’m looking forward to hearing and meeting the solopreneurs of today.” Nishi Mehta (Judge)
“As a Master of Ceremonies, I host dozens of award ceremonies each year and get to see, first hand, how hard it can be for solopreneurs to compete against the ‘big guns’ of business. The judging criteria is often stacked against them, but at last there is some good news…
The Woman Who Achieves Solopreneur Awards provide a great opportunity for people who work alone to gain recognition for their hard work and the significant contribution they make to the UK economy.
I’m delighted and proud to be a judge for the awards and can’t wait to read through the entries. I know I’ll be inspired and impressed by the standard, and my only concern is for those solopreneurs who don’t enter and miss out on the chance to celebrate their success. So, my message is – enter NOW! What have you got to lose?” Dave Sharpe (Judge)
What is a Solopreneur:
“An entrepreneur who works alone… ‘solo’ running their business single-handed.”
“A person who sets up and runs a business on their own.”
Sandra Garlick, the founder of Woman Who said: “So often Solopreneurs are overlooked in Awards but there are some amazing businesses out there and that’s why I’ve announced that the Woman Who Achieves Solopreneur Awards 2019 are taking place.”
Meet the Judges:
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- Karen Heap
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- Dave Sharpe