Pink Shoe Pops-Up in the North West!

On a brilliant sunny Thursday, Pink Shoe stepped out in Liverpool! Leading businesswomen and men from across the North West enjoyed a spectacular pop-up event at the UK’s tallest restaurant Panoramic 34. 

Helene Martin Gee thanked everyone for coming; NW chairman Úna McBride; wonderful speakers- Jill Pay, Serjeant at Arms at House of Commons; Sylvia Tidy-Harris founder of 4 companies including womenspeakers.co.uk; Alison Loveday, Managing Partner of Manchester law firm Berg; and Panoramic 34 for hosting us.

Delighted to be in iconic Liverpool – historically centre of the world via shipping and its unbeatable music heritage, Helene referred to the growing focus on creative and media business.

She gave a brief introduction to Pink Shoe Club. Explaining pink was a boy’s colour until 1920s so in a way Pink Shoe is reclaiming the power of pink, showing we’re happy to celebrate powerful femininity.

Helene talked about the exciting Global Entrepreneurship Congress in March. Pink Shoe is very active with entrepreneurs and is planning to be fully involved in the GEC and fringe events.

The club's main facets are entrepreneurship; thought leadership and getting more women into senior roles; and close links to Parliament, which influences every aspect of our lives- using the connection to get the voice of women heard. Also, links with European Women in Leadership (WIL), Women in Public Policy and with Vistage UK.

At Pink Shoe events there are no badges, which encourages wider networking and often unexpectedly successful connections. PSC seeks ‘radiators’ not ‘sponges’, women (and men) who are successful in their lives; aim to share ideas and do business together; also want to give something back.

Helene said its essential to leave a legacy, partly achieved through ‘Pink Potentials’ some of whom had helped at the event and greeted guests, along with Pink Shoe London ambassadors.

Previous Pink Potentials are working around the world – a museum in Tokyo, top ad agency in Paris, think tank in London, running a human rights charity in Kosovo...

Pink Shoe is a peer-to-peer group, just 150 ambassadors in each city by invitation only, plus growing number of Diplomat members also very senior and successful, both women and men. Members from the North West will be welcome at events both in the region and in London and Brussels.

The club is organising these pop-up events in response to the requirements of businesswomen in the area, and with local passion and know-how. Helene said this passion is epitomized by Úna McBride – local businesswoman and tireless campaigner, founder member of Pink Shoe who lobbied hard to ensure the North West was the first Pink Shoe pop-up. 

Úna then warmly welcomed guests and shared her delight at having a full house. She explained her personal passion for the region and its people and places.

Úna's vision is for Pink Shoe women in the North West to connect and do business as well as have fun. To support each other in their own business and career goals, whilst also being able to hold a hand out to the next generation.

Úna said the Pink Potentials team at the event of Dani, Katie & Chloe are young women who will go far and Pink Shoe aims to help them.

She thanked Helene, Vanda Green and the London Pink Shoe members who had joined us, and praised Panoramic 34 and its extraordinary views, also the excellent Panoramic team who looked after us so well from start to finish, and prepared the splendid afternoon tea.

Úna then opened the conversation and welcomed her illustrious panelists Jill, Sylvia & Alison.