The Creative Women Platform Business Symposium brought together more than 70 female leaders and entrepreneurs from the UK and around the world. They shared their strategies and their views on how to sustain and develop careers and business projects in these current challenging times. This inspiring event took place over three days at the House of Commons, the Institute of Directors and the Oxford & Cambridge Club. There were additional social events and a tour of the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Set up in 2016 this International Platform is a high-profile business networking forum which inspires and connects female entrepreneurs around the world. It enjoys the patronage of many highly respected female leaders and opinion-makers. Its previous speakers were featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur and other global publications. With a fast-growing membership scheme and representatives in 40 countries, the platform offers an open space for shared experience, innovation and mentorship by women who influence business. Contributors are experts from the public and private sectors, emerging millennial talents, and highly successful entrepreneurs.
Guests of the Symposium were welcomed by Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale OBE MP, Rt Hon Baroness Uddin, Marina Ahmad AM, Lead Economy Spokesperson in the London Assembly, Creative Women Founder and CEO Olga Balakleets and Executive Director Dr Viola Edward. Among the speakers were: Mako Abashidze, Founder and Director of the British Georgian Chamber of Commerce, Chair of Creative Women in Georgia, Marina Ahmad AM, London Assembly Member for Lambeth and Southwark, Lead Economy Spokesperson in the London Assembly Labour Group, Farzana Baduel, CEO of Curzon PR, Niall Burns, a founder member of Subrosa Group, Lady Colin Campbell, a best-selling author, TV presenter, celebrity, Elizabeth Deheza, the Chief Executive of Deheza Limited, Jill Douka MBA, Leadership Coach, bestselling author, Chair of Creative Women in Greece, Dr Viola Edwards, Founder GRIT Academy, Executive Director of Creative Women, Jules Francis, Food Breakthrough Coach, Priyanka Gill, Co-Founder, Good Glamour Group, Founder and CEO, Popxo Daily, Maria Kempinska MBE, a psychotherapist, Founder of Jongleurs Comedy Club, Atiya Khan, supermodel, filmmaker, actress, TV show hostess, Sufi activist, a fashion designer, Creative Women Chair in Pakistan, Ilenia Lombardi, Founding Member at BLC International Network, International lawyer, Chair of Creative Women in Italy, Nevena Nikolova, a celebrity Fashion Designer, Dr Eline Pedersen, President of Birth Forward, Sarah Pinch FCIPR, MIoD, Managing Director of Pinch Point Communications, Denada Bare Rauch, an entrepreneur and a co-founder of Adl Investment Fund, Rebeca Riofrio, Chairperson, Parliamentary Society for Arts, Fashion and Sports, Creative Women Ambassador, Karin Rodriguez, Board Member of Argentina Chamber of Commerce, Creative Women Chair of Argentina, Islée Oliva Salinas, a Partner in Vine Ventures, Julene Siddique, a Fellow of the World Academy of Art & Science, a Co-Chair for the Arts, Humanities and Culture working groups for Global Leadership 21 in UN Office in Geneva, Verónica Sosa, Founder of SHE Platform, Business Fit Magazine, Belgium, Creative Women Ambassador, Elena Tanou, Founder of Kinisis Travel, Board Member of Cyprus Chamber of Commerce, Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE, President and Founder of WinTrade Global Women in Business Network, Laura Timm, Speaker, Mentor, Business Consultant, Creative Women Special Adviser, Olga Vysokova, Founder of Women Who Inspire Platform, Co-Founder Global Next Gen Community, Fi Yates, an internationally award-winning female entrepreneur, Mirjam Zwingli, Director of International Communication & Marketing, Poligate, Chair of Creative Women in Germany, Austria, and German-Speaking Switzerland.
The Symposium consisted of panels, presentations and social events which provided an excellent business networking opportunity. A variety of topics were discussed including resilience and leadership in times of crisis: current challenges in the tourism industry: the gender equality gap: women in strategic corporate intelligence: cyberstalking: new developments in the digital, fintech and investment industries: healthy relationship with food in times of crisis: changing talent environment: social sustainability: mental health: sustainability in fashion. At the closing event at the Oxford and Cambridge Club guests were entertained by acclaimed soprano Katerina Mina, award-winning violinist Kamila Bydlowska, rising pop star Sophia Patsalides and renowned pianist Julian Gallant.
The event was supported by Mainbridge Group, EarthStudios, Parliamentary Society for Arts, Fashion and Sports, Grit Academy and Kypwell.
The Leventis Gallery is an art gallery in Nicosia, Cyprus. Opened in 2014, it houses a collection of over 800 paintings from Cypriot, Greek and European artists.
Consistently serving the vision of the founder, Anastasios G. Leventis, the AG Leventis Foundation decided that his Collections should be exhibited in a building worthy of the works it would host.
The Gallery permanently houses three collections: the Paris Collection and the Greek Collection, compiled by the collector himself, Anastasios G. Leventis, as well as the most recent Cypriot Collection.
The Paris Collection includes great works from a wide range of European art, from many art schools and styles dating from the 17th to the 20th century, as well as period furniture and art objects.
The Greek Collection consists of works by important Greek artists of the 19th and 20th century.
The Cypriot Collection focuses mainly on works by the first generation of Cypriot artists from the beginning of the 20th century until the 1930s
Meet new like-minded women and enjoy networking during an exclusive cocktail.
There will be presentations by leading female entrepreneurs from Cyprus and female members of the government.
A perfect evening at the exquisite venue in Nicosia – the A.G. Leventis Gallery.
The event will include private tours of the Gallery’s collections.
3 November 2022
House of Commons/UK Parliament
1.00pm – Tour
1.30pm – 3.30pm – Symposium, Churchill Room
3.30pm – 5.00pm – Reception, Churchill Room
OPTIONAL – 6.00pm – Dinner/Networking, Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel – to be booked and purchased separately via email: admin@creativewomen.co
4 November 2022
Institute of Directors, 116 Pall Mall, St James’s London SW1Y 5ED
10.00am – 1.00pm – Symposium
1.00pm – Lunch
2.00pm – 4.00pm – Symposium
OPTIONAL – 6.30pm – Dinner & Entertainment at Naval and Military Club at £130,
4 St James’s Square London SW1Y 4JU – to be booked and purchased separately via email: admin@creativewomen.co
OPTIONAL – 10.00pm – Late Night Gathering – to be booked and purchased separately via email: admin@creativewomen.co
5 November 2022
Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
11.00am – Female Voice Tour – OPTIONAL (complimentary)
12.30pm – Fashion Tour – OPTIONAL (complimentary)
1.30pm – Lunch at V&A Museum
3.00pm – 5.00pm – Tour of the West End – OPTIONAL (complimentary)
Oxford & Cambridge Club, 71-77 Pall Mall, St James’s, London SW1Y 5HD
6.30pm – 11.00pm – Symposium Close: Presentations/Reception/Entertainment
For optional complimentary events – please make reservations via email: admin@creativewomen.co
Olga Balakleets – CEO of international events company Ensemble Productions, and a Founder of several annual cultural and philanthropic initiatives worldwide.
Olga acts as an advisor to a number of governmental organisations. She has received various awards for her professional services, including a Special Medal from President Medvedev (September 2010), an Order “for services to the Fatherhood of St. Prince Dmitry Donskoi and St. Sergey Radonezhsky” (December 2010), an Award from Giornalle della Danza in Italy (October 2011), and Russian Business Woman of the Year Award in Cyprus (November 2014).
Throughout her many years of organising ambitious events, she has been passionate about creating inspiring and meaningful experiences and promoting successful female entrepreneurs.
Dr Viola Edward – a Relationship Specialist for Professional Women, Transcultural Psychotherapist and Breathwork pioneer with over 25 years of experience. A leader with individual and corporate clients, Viola also specialises in Professional Training in Breathwork Mentoring, Couple Relationship, Kayana Breathwork for Recovery & Stress Management.
She is the co-founder-owner of KAYANA International and author of two books: “Breathing the Rhythm of Success” and “Who Makes the Bed?” and co-author of “Transformation Lessons -ATL Europe”. She also contributed to “The book of Soulful Musings” and “Beyond the boundaries”.