IWD Panel: Women, Entrepreneurship and the Realities of Building Work Around Life
What does it really take for women to build values-led businesses — while navigating parenting, financial pressure and the invisible mental load?
Saturday March 7th, Bristol City Hall. 11am-12.15pm
This panel will bring together women entrepreneurs, leaders and experts to explore the real experiences behind women in entrepreneurship and small business.
We’ll explore the appeal of entrepreneurship — autonomy, flexibility and building values-led work, the challenges and systemic barriers women face, including childcare, time poverty, and access to opportunity, and practical tools and strategies women use to run, grow and sustain their businesses.
With panel perspectives spanning lived experience and expert insight, the conversation will offer honest reflections for women who are running, growing or considering a business of their own.
Speaker Details
Bianca Jones, Founder & Managing Director, EDP Training
Bianca Jones is the Founder of EDP Training Ltd and founde rof he Race Ahead Programme.An award-winning trainer and MHFA England Associate, she supports organisations to build healthier workplace cultures. Bianca brings lived experience as a Black woman and single mother in business, with a focus on wellbeing, values-led leadership and the realities of building work around life.
Dr. Nkechi Adeeko, Lecturer in Strategy and Entrepreneurship, University of Bristol Business School
Ketch Adeeko is a Lecturer in Strategy and Entrepreneurship at the University of Bristol Business School. Her research interests lie within the broad area of entrepreneurship and has focused on women’s entrepreneurship. Her current research explores inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems and women’s business growth.
Dr Roman Barwinski, Lecturer in International Business and Strategy, University of Bristol Business School
Roman Barwinski is a Lecturer in International Business and Strategy at the University of Bristol Business School. His research examines strategic decision makers—entrepreneurs and top management teams—across countries and industries. His current research explores how gender and signals shape entrepreneurs’ resource acquisition across international contexts.
Faye Dicker, Broadcaster | Award-Winning Entrepreneur | Founder of Freelance Mum
Faye Dicker is a broadcaster, voiceover artist, and award-winning founder of Freelance Mum, a national network supporting mums in business. She launched the community in 2013 to tackle the isolation she felt as a freelance mother, growing it from a podcast into a thriving network of hubs across the UK, designed to support mums and allow them to bring their children.
Over the last decade, Faye has supported over 1,000 mums, hosted more than 290 netwalks, and facilitated tens of thousands of business connections. Her mission is to empower 100,000 freelance mums over the next decade, shaping the future of work for self-employed mothers.
Faye is recognized among the Top 100 Most Influential Women in the West, Freelance Ambassador of the Year, and in f:Entrepreneur’s #iAlso100.
Register for the event!
This session is proudly presented as part of the wider Bristol Women’s Voice International Women’s Day celebrations. In a world where women still navigate significant structural barriers—often balancing entrepreneurial ambitions with a disproportionate share of caregiving—creating space for these authentic conversations is vital.
Please note that spaces in the room are strictly limited to ensure an intimate and impactful environment for all attendees.
We encourage you to secure your place early by completing the sign-up form below.