Beanstalk Charity Lunch

Pink Shoe hosted another successful lunch with its charity partner Beanstalk. Director Annie Williams outlined the charity’s vital work in providing one-to-one literacy support to children aged 3-13.









Guest of Honour Baroness Jenkins spoke enthusiastically about Beanstalk and how its work can be literally life-changing for the children. 

Beanstalk’s trained reading helpers give children the support they need to improve their reading ability and confidence. Annie explained that not only is financial support essential, they need to recruit and train volunteers. Being a reader helper not only changes lives but is incredibly rewarding and enjoyable.

To find out about more about Beanstalk and/or becoming a reader helper, please see: Beanstalk

BoardAble Seminar

It was a packed room of exceptional talent for the latest BoardAble seminar on Public Appointments, NED and Board roles. 

Firstly, Helene Martin Gee outlined the extensive range of roles available for public bodies and how to package the transferable skills of senior leaders in other sectors when applying for a public appointment.

BoardAble Patron Sarah Anderson CBE then talked us through the recruitment cycle for public appointments. How to ensure a relevant supporting statement and the importance of focusing on key career achievements that match the scope of the role.

Programme Director Vanda Green explained the process of joining the full BoardAble programme - the next course begins in February and there are two programmes each year. Helene Martin Gee added that due to high demand Pink Shoe is also considering setting up a BoardAble Summer School.

After the roundtable delegates enjoyed informal networking. 

AWA 20th Anniversary Launch at Coutts

Pink Shoe Ambassadors were thrilled to be invited by Yvonne Greeves of NatWest for the launch of the 20th annual Asian Women of Achievement Awards at Coutts Garden Court. 

It was especially exciting to discover that Yvonne is now Head of Women in Business at NatWest and RBS, excellent news and a very well deserved promotion.

Warmly welcomed by the MD of Coutts we heard something of the history of the bank and about the inspirational Angela Burdett Coutts. 

Then there were more inspiring speakers, including NatWest's Julie Baker and the indefatigable Pinky Lilani, AWA founder then a powerful talk about the positive impact AWA has had on her career from Sevasti Wong Global Comms Media and Tech MD at Accenture.

EY hosts Corporates are from Mars....

Pink Shoe members were able to join EY for a timely and absorbing debate hosted by Fleur Bothwick OBE and chaired by Kay Allen OBE author of ‘Corporates are from Mars, Charities are from Venus’ the topic of debate with a top level panel including Kate Nash OBE and David Grayson OBE. 

Different viewpoints on how charities and corporates can best work together to mutual success made for an insightful evening. Delegates heard how the best partnerships work between the two sectors and how to align cultures to create a partnership beneficial to both.

Guests were each given a copy of the book which is highly recommended reading.

209 Women

We visited a unique exhibition in Parliament to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first women getting the vote. Every one of today's 209 female MPs has been photographed with images on display in Portcullis House until February.

Find out more about this historic exhibition here: 209 Women