Together We Rise: Celebrating International Women’s Day 2025

Wow—what a day! On 7th March 2025, four of the Elite in a Week team had the absolute privilege of attending the International Women’s Day event hosted by Women in Enterprise at The Ridgeway Centre, Milton Keynes. And we all agreed – the energy in that room was nothing short of electric! 

Here’s what we took away from the day, and why events like this resonate so deeply with us…

A Celebration of Women, Action, and Empowerment

As five women in business ourselves, we know that success isn’t just about getting to the top—it’s about lifting others as we rise, and leaving the ladder out for those that follow. And that was the spirit of the entire day! From thought-provoking talks to powerhouse panel sessions, the event was a true celebration of connection, motivation and inspiring women.

Moments That Stole the Show

• • The flashmob dance that kicked the whole event off really set the scene – and energy levels – for the day!
    
  • Jaz Ampaw-Farr’s keynote, ‘10% Braver,’ made us laugh, had us in tears and left us ready to take on the world! Her reminder about the long-lasting impact that key women in our lives can have, from the earliest age, was very moving.
  • The Financial Empowerment panel, led by the brilliant Ife Thomas, showed us how vital a strong money-mindset is – and how we as women need to take real, practical steps now to own and shape our financial futures.
  • Melonie Barnaby’s spoken word performance was amazing. She’s an activist, author and poet from Birmingham, and she created a fantastic poem on the spot, just from key words provided by five different women in the room.Headline sponsors PJ Care shared the amazing story of one woman’s determination to overcome the physical limitations of her neurological condition – and their incredible team of women specialists from around the world who have made it possible.
  • The MK Rock Chorus gave us an atmospheric soundtrack to the networking lunch.

Our Biggest Takeaways 

So after all that incredible inspiration about what we can achieve together as women – what resonated most with the Elite in a Week team, especially as five women who’ve joined their strengths and talents together to lift others up? Here’s what stayed with us…

Own Your Excellence – you are more capable than you think. Stand in your power, take up space, and celebrate your wins!

When You Feel Something, Write It Down – whether it’s an idea, a moment of clarity, or a powerful lesson, capture it. You will always thank yourself later. 

And our Elite in a Week favourite: success isn’t a solo journey. Surround yourself with supportive, like-minded women who want to see you thrive. We can confirm that this is a brilliant thing to do! 

Together We Rise

One of the most powerful messages of the day was this: true success isn’t about being the only one at the top—it’s about bringing others with you. We rise by lifting others, by offering support, by sharing knowledge, and by creating a culture of encouragement instead of competition.

And we loved this so much, because at Elite in a Week, that’s exactly what we stand for. Whether it’s branding, messaging, or  brand photography, we believe in empowering women to own their stories and show up with confidence. And as five women in collaboration, we know exactly how powerful it is to work with other brilliant women in business – it only makes you rise higher. 

Thank You for an Unforgettable Day!

A huge shoutout to Women in Enterprise, MK Community Foundation, and NatWest Accelerator Hub for bringing together such an incredible community of inspiring women. We’ll all remember the messages, the stories – and most of all, the feeling – for a long time to come.