Partnering with ProspHER

I partnered with ProspHER to empower women in Essex to achieve their career or business goals and aspirations.

I launched Moxie nearly two years ago, and without tooting my own horn too much, I was smashing it! I achieved my first five-figure month within the first 4 months of trading, and before the end of Moxie’s first financial year, I had to go VAT registered (a blessing & a curse!).

Sadly at the start of the year I hit a bit of a brick wall with the business. After a very difficult and long IVF journey, my husband and I had a miscarriage at Easter. My mental and physical health took a bit of a battering, and understandably had a knock on effect with my business.  It’s safe to say I lost my Moxie mojo for a while!

Thankfully before all of the nastiness happened, I booked an exhibition space at the Anglia Business Exhibition. It pushed me back out in the business world and it was an opportunity to start promoting my business again.  At the event I met some lovely ladies who asked if I was attending the ProspHER event in Ipswich.

I hadn’t heard of ProspHER but after jumping on their website I saw it’s a social enterprise all about empowering women to achieve their goals and ambitions in their careers and businesses. Very aligned with my own values!

Despite still being in a bit of a funk, I thought I’d best push my boundaries and go along. When I arrived it didn’t feel like a networking event, everyone was so warm and welcoming. There were some really interesting, open and honest conversations about the challenges and barriers women face every day. And, I don’t know about you, but whether you’re running your own business or working from home, it’s so easy to get stuck in your own head thinking you’re the only one going through certain struggles or feeling a certain way. The event came at just the right time for me.

The power of networking

When they announced speed networking was about to start, I’m not going to lie I was looking for the nearest exit. I was exhausted and ready to call it a day, but I’m glad I stuck around because I got talking to Serena, the founder of ProspHER. I congratulated her on the success of the event  and said that Colchester desperately needed something like this. She said do it…so I did! In the space of three minutes I agreed to take on a BIG project (EAK!). It just goes to show how powerful networking can be.

A cuppa & a chat

As a soft launch, on Tuesday the 12th September at Wivenhoe House I rallied together 30 ambitious career and business women from Essex. We had lawyers, accountants, business & lifestyle coaches, project managers, directors, cake makers…a real lovely mix of women with one thing in common, they all want to thrive in what they do!

I lack confidence in public speaking so I pushed myself out of my comfort zone to deliver a welcome speech, which included sharing my personal story and the recent challenges I had to overcome. I’m usually a very private person but it felt like the right forum to share my journey and I was really grateful for the support I received after…and the fact I feel comfortable sharing my story online is a real testament to the support I received at the event.

Karan Wilson from Amica Finance sponsored the event and Melissa Neisler Dickinson shared her journey to entrepreneurship with the launch of The Menopause Vitamin Company earlier this year. Karan and Melissa’s journeys just go to show that our career and business paths can be as squiggly as we like as long as they lead to us being happy in what we end up doing.

Go big or go home

We have a bigger and better event planned on the 7th November at Wivenhoe House. I’m hoping it will emulate the Ipswich event.  We already have some fantastic speakers lined up. Tickets are from £35 + VAT and that will include a lovely lunch too. Book your tickets here

If you’re interested in partnering with ProspHER to have a speakers slot on the stage or deliver a workshop contact us today.