Alex won the Women of the Future Sports Award in 2017 and we are so proud to have Alex as one of our Alumni. Inspirational and positive, Alex always aims to make a positive impact and embodies our values of kindness and collaboration. Let’s hear how being part of the WOF network has impacted Alex.
Wow, I cannot believe that it has nearly been a year since I was jointly awarded the Aviva Women of the Future award in the sports category alongside the incredible Dr Sarah Leiter. At this time, I also became a Women of the Future Ambassador in association with Lloyds Banking Group.
I do not know where I would be with the wonderful world of Pinky Lilani and the fun and passionate Women of the Future Programme. Here is what makes it so special:
- I no longer suffer from “Imposter Syndrome” and I urge others to think beyond this myth as well.
I look back to my first Women of the Future event in September 2017, at the inspiring CNBC studios, I stood shyly awaiting the first person to talk to me (which just happened to be fellow shortlister, Sophia Giblin, the founder of Clear Sky Charity and now a good friend). If you fast forward to the same event in 2018 and my approach to the evening was with a new found confidence; approaching everyone around me eager to learn more about their work and share more about my Mintridge and Women of the Future journey as well as highlighting the fact that no one is an imposter but fully deserving to be in this room full of extraordinary people so that they can also be “Pinkyfied” (yes, that is a thing!).
- I am a firm believer that you must surround yourself with people who believe in your vision and actions.
The Women of the Future network provides just that, with people that I wouldn’t necessarily meet in my everyday working and social life. Broadening my network has allowed me to collaborate with a variety of organisations with similar values to myself as well as “comparing notes” on positive and negative experiences across a multitude of industries. This to me is the very essence of what Women of the Future stands for and its very DNA – kindness and collaboration.
- You must always grasp every opportunity that is presented to you.
Being involved with Women of the Future not only opens your eyes to extraordinary people, it opens the doors to extraordinary places and in the past year I have had the extreme fortune of enjoying a reception at Buckingham Palace with the Countess of Wessex, a delicious lunch at the Chelsea Flower Show, celebrating Her Majesty’s 92nd Birthday at the Royal Albert Hall, attending The One People Oration at the iconic Westminster Abbey and to top it off, celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Royal Commonwealth Society with the Duchess of Cornwall at Lancaster House. Phew – about that for a twelve month period? Without the Women of the Future Network and in turn my Associate Fellowship with the Royal Commonwealth Society (which came through Women of the Future), I could have only dreamt of marking these prestigious landmarks as the location in my diary!
Women of the Future quite simply allows you to be you, to be the best version of yourself and to flourish.