Women in Enterprise brought hundreds of business leaders, entrepreneurs and community organisations together in Milton Keynes yesterday for the city’s largest celebration of International Women’s Day.
Held at the Ridgeway Conference Centre in Wolverton, the event united women leaders, female founders and young innovators for a day centred on storytelling, leadership and community impact. Organised by Women in Enterprise with support from the NatWest Business Accelerator, the event has quickly become a key fixture in the Milton Keynes business calendar.
Throughout the day, speakers shared deeply personal accounts of ambition, resilience and determination. Their stories reflected both the progress made by women in business and the challenges that remain.
The keynote came from global business strategist and Sunday Times bestselling author Lisa Johnson, who spoke candidly about rebuilding her life after growing up in poverty and experiencing bullying and domestic abuse.
Lisa described how those early struggles shaped her outlook and fuelled the creation of a business that now reaches audiences worldwide. However, her message to the room focused firmly on opportunity.
Adversity, she said, should never define the limits of someone’s future.
A different perspective came from 14-year-old entrepreneur Maryam Jazeem, who spoke about the importance of supporting young women long before they enter the workplace.
Recently named on the Next Generation list of 100 Inspiring Muslims, Maryam urged businesses to invest in confidence, skills and opportunity for girls and young women. Early encouragement, she said, can play a decisive role in shaping the next generation of women leaders.
Meanwhile, one of the most powerful moments of the event came through a survivor story shared in partnership with MK ACT, the Milton Keynes charity supporting individuals and families affected by domestic abuse.
The account offered a stark reminder of the realities faced by many victims. At the same time, it highlighted the life-changing support available through local services.
Simply by attending, guests also contributed to fundraising for MK ACT and the MK Community Foundation Women’s Fund, which support projects improving safety, wellbeing and opportunity for women and families across the city.
Debbie Lewis from the NatWest Business Accelerator, who helped drive the event alongside the Women in Enterprise team, said the scale of the event reflects the strength of the local community.
“International Women’s Day in Milton Keynes continues to grow each year. Bringing together hundreds of people to listen, share experiences and support local charities shows just how committed this city is to championing women and creating opportunity,” Debbie said.
Mike Hayward, partner at Woodfines Solicitors and the event’s Gold Sponsor, added that supporting initiatives like this is essential for the region.
“Woodfines has been part of the Milton Keynes community for decades. International Women’s Day gives us an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women while recognising the challenges many still face. We are proud to support Women in Enterprise and the work being done across the city to promote equality and opportunity.”
With a packed programme and strong backing from the business community, the event underlined Milton Keynes’ growing reputation as a city committed to supporting female founders, women leaders and future generations.
