The participants in the inaugural Fast Forward 15 mentoring scheme for women in the events industry were unveiled at a special launch event at The Savoy Hotel, London. The scheme – the brainchild of Zibrant’s Fay Sharpe – is designed to help women reach the top in business.
When she took to the stage at The Savoy Hotel, Sharpe told the 95 per cent female audience: “I feel like I’ve just had a baby!”
The event was a chance for both mentors and mentees to get to know each other and start to develop the relationships that will be crucial to the programme’s success. Sharpe said she had achieved multi-millionaire status by deciding on goals, writing them down but then “being prepared to move the goalposts” when necessary.” She told the audience that her father had died early and this left her focused on being the bread-winner for her family.
Sharpe said there had been 139 applicants to be mentored under the scheme but only 15 were successful.
Fleur Burrows-Jones, from The National Theatre, who is one of the scheme’s first mentees, said: “I am so pleased to be part of Fast Forward 15 and looking forward to gaining knowledge and expertise from a leading woman within the industry. Being part of Fast Forward 15 will inspire me to progress in my career within the events world. I am very much looking forward to working with my mentor Hannah Rhodes over the coming year.”
Commenting on Fast Forward 15, Hannah Rhodes, founder of Hiver Beer and Burrows-Jones’ mentor, said: “It’s a wonderful opportunity for the mentees to gain insight into working cultures outside of their own role and gain perspective on their own professional challenges.
“I’d love to think that in a year’s time the applicants will have clarity about their own ways of working and will be looking to lead the industry by example in the years ahead. Even as a mentor, you can’t help but be impressed by the high standards set by Fay and think, ‘What’s stopping me?’”
Fay Sharpe added: “This has been a momentous occasion; there was real electricity in the air when we introduced mentors and mentees to each other for the first time in the flesh. This will be an exciting and productive year and I look forward to working with all parties to ensure that the scheme is a resounding success, serving as an example to the hospitality industry.”
The full list of participants are:
Aspirational Board Director
Selina Donald, ITV (mentor: Fay Sharpe, Zibrant)
Rachel Bartlett, Warwick Conferences (mentor: Jo Austin, Lime Venue Portfolio)
Middle Management Progression
Fleur Burrows-Jones, National Theatre (mentor: Hannah Rhodes, Hiver Beer)
Catriona Ross, Post Office Ltd (mentor: Alex James, Zibrant)
Corporate Events Professional
Laura Adams, cievents (mentor: Joanna Lawlor, AstraZeneca)
Michelle Kibble, Everywoman Ltd (mentor: Karen Sumner, Allen & Overy LLP)
Lauren Glynn, Harrow School Enterprises Ltd (mentor: Jackie Mulligan, Leeds Beckett University)
Kate Furness, Zibrant LIVE! (mentor: Jason Scott, entrepreneurial consultant)
Emma North, Black Tomato Agency (mentor: Lex Butler, Wolf & White)
Budding Entrepreneur
Amy Seton, The Food and Drink Events Company (mentor: Paul Beavis, Champagne Lanson)
Libby Willetts, EMA Events (mentor: Sallie Coventry, ibtm events)
Maternity Leave Returner
Rebecca Goodman, Ageas UK Ltd (mentor: Yasmin Arrigo, Haymarket Media Group)
Under-26
Tanya Dennis, MRO Network (mentor: Meenaz Lilani, Fairmont/Raffles Hotels & Resorts)
Charlotte Warwick, Silverstone Circuit (mentor: Louise Bang, Ritz Carlton)
University Final-Year Student
Hannah Coleman, Bournemouth University (mentor: Juliet Price, HBAA)