Women Driving Innovation - Roundtable Breakfast

Spectrum IT Recruitment recently partnered with Moore Barlow and NatWest to host a Women in Business breakfast roundtable, bringing together around 30 professionals from across the region to explore the opportunities, challenges and realities facing women in business today.

Designed as an interactive breakfast roundtable event, attendees were seated in small discussion groups, creating an environment that encouraged open conversation, shared experiences and diverse perspectives. The morning began with an inspiring remote keynote from entrepreneur and business leader Jodie Goodchild, before participants moved into table discussions focused on entrepreneurship, leadership, workplace culture, visibility and the future of women in business.

The combination of personal experiences, industry insights and collaborative discussion created a thought-provoking event. While there was recognition that progress is being made, there was also a shared understanding that meaningful change requires continued action from individuals, organisations and society as a whole.

Authentic Leadership in Practice

Jodie Goodchild's keynote provided a powerful starting point for the discussions that followed. Sharing her own career journey, she spoke openly about the experiences, opportunities and challenges that have shaped her path as an entrepreneur.

A key message from Jodie's talk was the importance of being authentically yourself. Rather than feeling pressure to fit a particular mould, she encouraged attendees to embrace their individual strengths, values and perspectives. Her reflections on confidence, resilience and personal growth resonated strongly with the audience and sparked further conversations around career progression, leadership and self-belief.

The themes of authenticity, confidence and personal growth remained central throughout the morning, with many participants reflecting on the importance of building careers that align with both their values and ambitions.

Female Entrepreneurship is Growing

One area of discussion focused on the increasing number of women launching and growing businesses across the UK. Female entrepreneurship continues to rise, with women establishing businesses at record levels and playing an increasingly important role in driving innovation and economic growth.

Attendees reflected on the positive impact women are having across a wide range of sectors, particularly within technology, where female founders are building high-growth businesses and bringing new perspectives to innovation and leadership.

Funding, Investment and Access to Networks

Funding and investment emerged as one of the most talked-about themes across the discussions.

Women continue to receive a disproportionately small share of venture capital funding despite evidence showing that female-led businesses often deliver exceptional results. Conversations explored the ongoing challenges women face when seeking investment, including limited access to investor networks and differing experiences during funding conversations.

Participants discussed the importance of creating environments where women entrepreneurs can showcase their vision, potential and growth ambitions. The conversation explored how access to funding, support and professional networks can play a significant role in helping businesses scale and succeed. While progress is being made, attendees recognised that many women continue to face challenges accessing investment and the networks that can support business growth. Many agreed that broadening access to these opportunities could unlock greater innovation, business growth and economic potential.

The value of strong professional communities was also highlighted throughout the discussions. Building connections, sharing experiences and learning from others can provide invaluable support at every stage of a career or business journey. Attendees reflected on the role that local networks and communities, such as Women in Tech Hampshire, play in creating opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing and professional development. Open to everyone, these communities help bring people together, expand networks and provide access to support that can be difficult to find in isolation.

Confidence, Progression and Leadership

The discussion also explored the factors that influence career progression and leadership representation.

While confidence was recognised as an important part of professional development, attendees agreed that structural and cultural barriers continue to play a significant role. Many reflected on the tendency to feel they need to know everything before applying for a new role, seeking promotion or pursuing an opportunity.

Participants discussed how women are often less likely to put themselves forward unless they meet every requirement, while others may be more comfortable learning and developing as they progress.

The challenge of leadership representation was another recurring theme. Conversations highlighted the importance of sponsorship, advocacy and clear progression pathways, particularly during the transition into management roles, which is often cited as a key drop-off point for women.

There was broad agreement that organisations can play a significant role in supporting progression through leadership development, mentorship and creating opportunities for women to gain commercial, financial and technical experience.

Visibility, Role Models and Early Exposure

Across many of the tables, attendees returned to the importance of visibility and representation.

Seeing women succeed in leadership, entrepreneurship and non-traditional career paths helps broaden aspirations and demonstrate what is possible. Participants spoke about the impact that relatable role models can have, particularly when they share real experiences and challenges rather than idealised success stories.

The discussion also highlighted the importance of exposure from an early age. Education, awareness of career pathways and visibility of opportunities were all seen as critical factors in shaping future career choices, particularly within STEM and technology-related fields.

By increasing visibility and sharing more examples of successful women across industries, organisations can help challenge stereotypes and encourage more diverse talent into leadership and entrepreneurial roles.

Culture, Community and New Ways of Working

Workplace culture was another strong theme throughout the event.

Participants reflected on how culture both inside and outside the workplace can influence confidence, ambition and career progression. There was recognition that women can face different expectations and experiences depending on the environment they work in, making inclusive cultures increasingly important.

The conversation also touched on the evolving nature of careers and leadership. The rise of fractional roles, increased flexibility and changing attitudes towards work are creating new opportunities for professionals to build successful careers in ways that align with their priorities and circumstances.

Upskilling was highlighted as another important consideration. As technology continues to evolve, particularly through developments in artificial intelligence, the ability to continuously learn and adapt will become increasingly valuable. AI was discussed as a potential leveller, helping to improve access to information, resources and opportunities.

Alongside this, attendees reflected on the value of mentorship, sponsorship and peer support. Having access to people who can offer guidance, share experiences and provide encouragement can make a significant difference when navigating career decisions, leadership opportunities and business challenges. Many agreed that creating opportunities for people to learn from one another helps build confidence, broaden perspectives and support long-term professional growth.

Driving Progress Together

The roundtable concluded with a shared sense of optimism alongside a recognition that there is still significant work to be done.

Women continue to demonstrate exceptional business performance, leadership capability and entrepreneurial success. Yet challenges around funding, representation, networks and progression remain.

The discussions reinforced that progress will require action from individuals, organisations, educational institutions and wider society. By improving visibility, investing in development, creating inclusive cultures and expanding access to opportunities, businesses can help build an environment where more women can thrive, lead and succeed.

Spectrum IT Recruitment would like to thank Moore Barlow, NatWest, Jodie Goodchild and all attendees for contributing to such an insightful and thought-provoking event. The quality of the conversations demonstrated both how far we have come and the opportunities that remain ahead.