Edwina Dunn OBE is one of the most successful leaders in the data industry, with a career of delivering transformational business change

Dunnhumby revolutionised the world of retail and consumer goods when they pioneered Tesco Clubcard and other global loyalty programmes.

Founder & Chair - The Female Lead, an educational foundation celebrating the achievements and diversity of women who shape our world ; using data to understand the challenges women face, working with business and government to help create new models and policies for the workplace, all driven by a social platform with over 8 million followers.

In 2019 Edwina received an OBE for her services to data and business in the UK.

Edwina is former Chair at Starcount where she helped forge a new era of consumer insight and technology and former Chair at the CDEI (Centre for Data Ethics & Innovation) and a former Board member of the Geospatial Commission.

Listen to find out how Edwina has found success in different aspects of her life, and what she would put in the guide...

Amber is a Dutch/British entrepreneur, who founded several healthtech companies. As the founder of Pregnancy+, the world's leading pregnancy app with over 150 million users globally, Amber has revolutionised health tech.

Bootstrapped and later acquired by Philips NV, Pregnancy+ stands as a testament to her relentless focus on customer-centricity and scalable impact. Powered by ML and deep analytics, it became the world’s leading pregnancy app globally.

Amber is now spearheading 28X, a transformative FemTech initiative addressing systemic inequities in women’s health. By leveraging on-device AI, 28X provides inclusive, privacy-first education and health insights, ensuring accessibility for underserved communities.

Her commitment to ethical technology and sustainability underscores her belief in a more equitable future. Beyond her entrepreneurial ventures, Amber is a NED for a diagnostics PLC and and is a sought-after public speaker on topics like AI ethics, women’s health, and innovation.

Outside work, she is a dedicated mother and enjoys playing tennis.

Listen to find out how Amber has found success in different aspects of her life, and what she would put in the guide...

Julia Elliott Brown is a highly respected board advisor to entrepreneurs with a wealth of experience in inspiring, guiding and supporting high-growth potential businesses, and a passion for empowering women, operating at board level for over 16 years in an executive and non-executive capacity.

As a serial entrepreneur working in the start-up industry for over 25 years, Julia has built, funded, and grown several successful businesses, including digital publisher and dot com pioneer UpMyStreet.com, ground-breaking fashion-tech footwear brand Upper Street and advisory consultancy Enter The Arena. Julia is on the board of multiple businesses spanning both B2C and B2B includingleading D,E&I consultancy Shape Talent, sustainable TravelTech platform Not In The Guidebooks and is chair of the board of innovative SportsTech business Feldspar Sports.

Julia is a member of the Women and Enterprise All Party Parliamentary Group, a long-standing judge at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, and mentor on the Barclays Eagle Labs and Natwest entrepreneurial programmes. She chairs and presents at leading start-up events including the Evening Standard’s SME Expo, IdeasFest, London Tech Week and Enterprise Nation, and speaks regularly in the media, representing the voice of the female founder. Julia is also the host of leading business podcast Fundraising Stories with Female Founders and author of bestselling book RAISE: The Female Founder’s Guide To Securing Investment, shortlisted for the Business Book Awards 2023.

She has a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from the Open University, Honours (1st Class) degree in European Business from Nottingham Trent University and a Diploma in Commerce from L'Institute Européen de Negoçiation in Toulouse.

Listen to find out how Vanessa has found success in different aspects of her life, and what she would put in the guide...

Vanessa Vallely OBE is one of the UK’s most well-connected women and a leading authority on gender equality. She has delivered keynotes for over 600 companies, inspiring more than 50,000 women globally. A sought-after consultant, Vanessa advises both government bodies and corporations on strategies to attract, develop, and retain female talent. In June 2018, she was awarded an OBE by King Charles for her contributions to women and the economy, and in 2024, she received an honorary Doctorate of Science from Warwick University.

In 2008, at the peak of her 25-year career in banking and finance, Vanessa launched the award-winning WeAreTheCity, a platform designed to support women’s career development. Its sister organization, WeAreTechWomen, together with WeAreTheCity, has grown to a membership of over 80,000, offering resources, conferences, awards, and job opportunities to women worldwide. To date, Vanessa has helped over 50,000 women gain new skills and expand their networks. In 2024, she launched the first-ever National Women in Tech Week, which offered more than 50 free events across the UK to women in the tech sector.

Vanessa is also the founder of several prestigious awards programs, including Rising Stars, TechWomen100, Trailblazer50, Pioneer20 and Themis20, collectively raising the profile of over 2,500 extraordinary women and men. She is the author of the acclaimed book Heels of Steel: Surviving and Thriving in the Corporate World, which chronicles her journey from a council estate in East London to the C-suite. Her next book is set for release in 2025.

Over the past 20 years, Vanessa has earned 26 industry accolades, including Women in Banking & Finance’s Champion for Women, Financial News' Top 100 Rising Stars, and The International Alliance for Women's Top 100 Women globally. She has also been recognized as one of Brummell’s Top 30 London Entrepreneurs and was recently inducted into Computer Weekly’s Hall of Fame as an icon for women in tech. Additionally, Vanessa has been featured in GQ UK’s Top 100 Connected Women and the Evening Standard’s 1000 Most Influential Londoners. A regular media contributor, she has appeared on Sky News, BBC, Talk London, and Radio 4.

Find the nominations information for the Rising Star Award here- Nominations are open for WeAreTheCity’s 2025 Rising Star Awards.

Listen to find out how Vanessa has found success in different aspects of her life, and what she would put in the guide...

Paul Sesay is the Founder and CEO of Inclusive Companies Limited, the National Diversity Awards, the Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers List and the Inclusive Awards. Paul’s entrepreneurial endeavours have been driven by a strong social focus.

With a wealth of over eighteen years of experience, Paul is a prominent figure in the Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion sector. He has collaborated with some of the world’s largest organisations to enhance their D&I initiatives.

Demonstrating a deep commitment to inclusivity, Paul works comprehensively with diverse communities throughout the UK. His mission is to inspire and support individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds, empowering underprivileged communities across the nation to achieve their full potential.

Social Media Accounts:

Paul Sesay (Twitter)@sesaypaul

National Diversity Awards@ndawards

Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers @inclusivetop50

Inclusive Companies Awards @InclusiveAwards

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-sesay-93260013/

Listen to find out how Paul has found success in different aspects of his life, and what he would put in the guide...

Dr. Tessy Ojo CBE is a globally recognised leader, innovator, and advocate for social justice, youth empowerment, and women's leadership. With a distinguished career spanning over 25 years, Dr. Ojo has made an indelible mark on civil society through her strategic vision and unwavering dedication to transforming lives. She serves as the Chief Executive of The Diana Award the only charity established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales. For over two decades, she has worked closely with Diana’s sons, including attending both of their weddings.

Dr. Ojo’s leadership has been instrumental in expanding The Diana Award’s global footprint and quadrupling its income. The charity now runs pioneering programs focused on youth development, leadership, and social impact, empowering thousands of young people around the world. Her ability to integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into organizational strategies underscores her commitment to creating sustainable, equitable change. She is an advocate for inclusivity and belonging, using her platform to promote diversity and cultural competence, especially in mental health and anti-racism initiatives.

Beyond her role at The Diana Award, Dr. Ojo is the founder of Tessy's Brunches, a community initiative that fosters empowerment through authentic connections and personal growth for women. Her leadership in these spaces, combined with her academic background in STEM and an MBA, positions her as a transformative figure merging business acumen with a deep commitment to social justice.

Dr. Ojo's global recognition includes being honoured as a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for her services to children and young people by the Late Queen. She is also the first British national to receive the Martin Luther King Award for humanitarian work. In addition, she has been featured in British Airways' Top 100 British Leaders and honoured by Eva Longoria’s Global Gift Foundation with an Excellence Award.

As a Non-Executive Director at Comic Relief, Co-Chair of the #Iwill Leadership Board, and an executive member of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety, Dr. Ojo continuously champions the welfare of young people and advocates for social equity at the highest levels. Her voice extends through frequent TV appearances, international speaking engagements, and as a media commentator on youth culture, diversity, and inclusion.

With a strong social media presence, reaching over 150,000 followers across multiple platforms, Dr. Ojo uses her influence to engage diverse audiences and inspire action. Whether discussing strategies for global growth, mentoring the next generation of leaders, or fostering strategic partnerships for social good, Dr. Ojo remains an inspiring and powerful force for positive global change.

Her work is currently centered on envisioning schools as hubs where young people’s mental health and academic success are equally prioritized by 2030, aligning with her vision of hope, purpose, and resilience.

Dr. Tessy Ojo CBE is a true champion for inclusivity, youth development, and women’s leadership, making her a beacon of inspiration in today’s global landscape.

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Catherine Crump is the Managing Director of WIRED’s Consulting Business.

Her life experience has spanned roles from large corporations to small scale-ups - across a wide spectrum of sectors .

She engages with the world’s leading thinkers, academics, business leaders and entrepreneurs, on topics ranging from AI to climate tech

She is passionate about championing innovation, supporting entrepreneurship, empowering women, and making a positive impact on the world.

Listen to find out how Catherine has found success in different aspects of her life, and what she would put in the guide...

Eleanor Mills is an award-winning editor, writer and broadcaster. She worked for The Sunday Times for 23 years as Editorial Director, Editor of The Sunday Times Magazine, and as a columnist and interviewer (interrogating everyone from Mikhail Gorbachev to Sheryl Sandberg and Theresa May).

As Chair of Women in Journalism (2014 – 2021) she argued that the media must be a true mirror, not a distorting lens, which is what happens if decision makers are not diverse. She is a trustee of the Society of Editors, a board member of Reporters Sans Frontiers and her publications include Cupcakes and Kalashnikovs: 100 Years of the Best Journalism by Women, published by Hachette.

She is working on her first novel and lives in London with her husband and two teenage daughters.

Listen to find out how Eleanor has found success in different aspects of her life, and what she would put in the guide...