The July edition of Venture Recruitment Partners' Women in Business event, delivered in partnership with NatWest, brought together an inspiring group of business leaders, professionals and entrepreneurs for an evening of insight, networking and meaningful discussion. Following the success of previous events, this latest gathering reinforced the importance of creating spaces where women can learn from one another, share experiences and build valuable professional connections.
The event featured a panel of accomplished speakers who shared practical advice, leadership lessons and perspectives on the future of work.
Building People-First Organisations
Vicky Newhouse challenged attendees to think differently about leadership and workplace culture. She highlighted that great cultures are not built through perks or policies alone, but through the everyday decisions leaders make. Trust, psychological safety and genuine investment in people remain the foundations of successful organisations. According to Vicky, while AI is transforming the workplace, it should enhance human leadership rather than replace it, freeing leaders to focus more on coaching, listening and relationship-building.
Future-Fit Businesses
Faye Long from NatWest shared research into what sets high-growth organisations apart. The discussion centred around four key characteristics of future-fit businesses: talent, supply chain, technology and sustainability. One particularly thought-provoking insight was that nearly half of future-fit businesses actively map the skills they will need in the future and develop plans to acquire them. As careers become less linear and technology continues to evolve, adaptability and continuous learning are becoming increasingly valuable.
Practical Leadership Advice
Katie Stephens offered actionable guidance for professionals looking to progress in their careers and create empowered teams. Her advice focused on the importance of flexibility, mentoring and ongoing development. She encouraged attendees not to let barriers or self-doubt limit their ambitions and stressed the value of supporting others as they progress in their own careers.
The Reality of High-Performing Teams
Mel Cavell-Wells delivered an honest and engaging discussion about what truly drives team performance. She emphasised that talent alone is rarely enough; successful teams are built through strong leadership, trust, accountability and clarity of purpose. Mel also explored how organisations can attract and retain exceptional talent by creating environments where people feel connected to both the culture and mission of the business.
Outstanding Feedback from Attendees
The event received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with attendees praising the quality of the speakers, the welcoming atmosphere and the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals.
Comments included:
"Great opportunity to network with like-minded individuals and spark curiosity and reflection."
"Very informative and inspiring. Lots of helpful and practical ideas from the panel."
"Great event, lovely venue and friendly atmosphere."
"Excellent speakers and a great opportunity to hear different perspectives."
Most notably, every respondent stated they enjoyed the event, found the speakers knowledgeable and relevant, felt the event met their expectations, and would recommend it to others.
Continuing the Conversation
Women in Business has become an important platform for fostering meaningful connections across the Hampshire business community. Events like these demonstrate the value of bringing together diverse perspectives to discuss leadership, career development, workplace culture and the challenges facing modern organisations.
A huge thank you goes to our event partner, NatWest, our fantastic speakers, and everyone who attended and contributed to the discussion. We look forward to welcoming both familiar and new faces at our next Women in Business event.
Our next Women in Business event will take place from 5.30pm to 7.30pm on Thursday 12th November.
If you aren’t already receiving invites from us for these events and you'd like to join our Women in Business mailing list to hear about our upcoming programme, please email the following address to register your interest. wib@vrpartners.co.uk
In addition, to keep updated on future events and continue the conversation, join the Venture Women in Business community: Venture's Women in Business LinkedIn Group
