RISINGSTAR
Open to women, aged 30 and under, who have made their mark as ‘women in business to watch‘ – potential leaders, those just starting in business, or quickly rising through the corporate ranks
Winner
Judging was led by Clarify and its CEO, Claire Edmunds, last year‘s Women in Business ‘Woman of the Year‘ for SMEs.
She revealed later how her 2014 win had helped her business grow.
“Within a month our company LinkedIn followers had increased by 400%. I found myself being profiled in the press, invited to attend and speak at various events. …. because the business community cares, it wants and needs female role models.“
The award also highlighted Clarify‘s achievements as a team. “That was evident in a confidence boost that can only come with external recognition. We all found that customers, prospects and prospective employees noticed and mentioned the award.“
Claire Edmunds (left) and Naomi Riches (right) with winner Maria Llorens
Role Models
Edwards urged all the WiB finalists to “.. enjoy the celebrations and wave of support from the business community you have around you. Don‘t ever play down your success, you have not been lucky, you have been amazing.“
In presenting the award to Maria Llorens of Bowman Power Group, Edmunds said Llorens “wowed the judges not only with her business achievements but the manner in which she has addressed the challenges she has encountered.
She is passionate about her engineering profession and is an inspiration to any young girls considering it as a career.“
A self-driven and passionate engineer with an MSc/BSc in mechanical/industrial engineering and an MSc in thermal power, Llorens excelled at a young age in a number of senior technical roles and is now the principal mechanical design engineer at Southampton-based Bowmans Power Group.
Among her many business highlights, her analysis recommendations for jet engine components saved Rolls Royce approximately £10million in its first year of implementation alone.
Claire Edmunds (left) and Naomi Riches (right) with ‘Role Models‘ from left Catherine Turness and Julianne Ponan
Chosen by the judges as Rising Star ‘Role Models‘ were:
Catherine Turness of Winchester BID who impressed with her strong vision for a digital business community, and her business acumen when invited to sit on a number of advisory boards within the business community.
Julianne Ponan of Creative Nature whose tenacious attitude and strong entrepreneurial drive has helped her embrace opportunities and build up a network of contacts that has assisted her business skills development.
The other category finalists were: Gabrielle Stewart, EY Jennifer Surtees, Thomas International
All awards finalists received commemorative Women in Business Award certificates from Naomi Riches MBE. Their career profiles can be viewed by downloading the Women in Business 2015 event programme pdf at:
www.businessmag.co.uk
www.businessmag.co.uk
Alongside her technical knowledge, she displays a strong business acumen and solid entrepreneurial attributes. Llorens is also a keen mentor, supporting many younger people in their professional development.
But, she is proudest of how she has employed her ‘softer skills‘ in a male dominated working environment to shift behaviours and make the business more productive.
Interviewed after receiving her award . . . Llorens spoke
emotionally about her win. “This means lots of things to me. But, the first thing is recognition, because I am from Spain and I have spent seven years of my life studying and working here, and this is like a big recognition of that time spent in this amazing country.“
And, will the award help her and other women to overcome challenges, asked Napier-Munn. “I think what makes me a winner, or someone else a winner, is an overwhelming determination, passion and enthusiasm in whatever you do. It doesn‘t matter who you are, whatever you do, or wherever you come from. You just need to carry on.“
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – OCTOBER 2015
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