Yesterday marked a beautiful celebration at the House of Lords, where the nineteen years of dedicated support for women in business by the formidable team at Savvitas were honoured with a Pimm's reception and Champagne Afternoon Tea. The National Association of Women in Construction ( NAWIC London & South East) Chair, Marianna Bia, and I were delighted to attend.
The afternoon was filled with inspiration, yet it was a timely reminder from Baroness Sandy Verma that truly resonated with me personally. Baroness Verma reminded the room, I am paraphrasing here, that the connections and energy shared within those walls mean very little if they do not materialise into something impactful outside the building. This is something, I must say, that the many programmes and initiatives that Savvitas runs ensure year after year.
As co-founder of the Gender Index, Jill Pay, beautifully noted, the growing impact of Savvitas has one person at its heart, and that is Founder Helene Martin Gee MBE , who was recently awarded an MBE for services to women in enterprise.
Personally, I am not surprised by the recognition because ever since I started volunteering thirteen years ago, I have rarely come across many networks where, by design, I can have tea around a table with women from different industries at different stages of their careers, with whom to discuss the societal costs of the rapid advancement of technology, the challenges that new age limits on social media usage will bring to children with rare diseases looking to share their lived experiences, the impact of heels on the perceived competence of women, and the importance of a wider representation when it comes to shaping the built environment simultaneously. The kinds of connections and collaborations emerging from such environments are very valuable indeed.
As it always happens at their events, I found myself admiring the remarkable women whose impactful work and thinking extend far beyond business. These are women with real world awareness, energy, knowledge, and experience to offer toward solving real problems.
It was a powerful reminder of how purpose, intellect, and community can come together to create genuine, positive change in the world.
Thank you Vanda Green for your time speaking with us about Boardable, Noreen Burroughes Cesareo MBE FRSA for making us feel welcome from arrival, our table (Theodora Empress of Bizantium) companions for such great conversations and the many individuals who made the event possible.
It was lovely to meet you Nicky Hoyland Rachel Pendered Annelies James ⚡🎥 ✨and very exciting to learn about the latest on the second edition of your book Denise O'Leary MBE (I cannot wait)
Happy anniversary team Savvitas ! Count us in for the 20th 😊
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