Award-winning broadcaster and writer Sally Magnusson was the Keynote
speaker for this year’s annual Association of Scottish Businesswomen
(ASB) Conference held yesterday, Tuesday 30th April in the auspicious
surrounds of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (RCPSG) in
Glasgow.
Currently a lead presenter of the flagship Scottish news programme
Reporting Scotland, Sally is the author of ten books, with her next
due to be published early next year. Her bestselling memoir about her
mother, Where Memories Go: Why Dementia Changes Everything (2014), has
been credited with improving knowledge and understanding of this
widespread brain condition. Out of that experience she founded the
personal music for dementia charity Playlist for Life, of which she is
chair.
A welcome address was given by Professor Jackie Taylor MB ChB, FRCP,
current – and first ever female – President of the RCPS.
The theme of this year’s conference was “UNSTOPPABLE WOMEN – FIND
YOUR VOICE”. The day was made up of a diverse programme of workshops,
with titles including “Whose Ladder is it Anyway” and “Pitchtastic:
How to Communicate with Confidence, Credibility and Charisma”. The aim
of these was to give delegates who attended the practical tools,
techniques and inspiration to help them step up and speak out, both
personally and professionally, in their career, life and business
activities. Delegates also had plenty of opportunity to network and
meet like-minded businesswomen from throughout Scotland.
A panel discussion “Find your Voice – Your Story” featured Ann
Johnson, Finance Director at Blaze Manufacturing Solutions Ltd;
Professor Sarah Pedersen, Communication and Media, Robert Gordon
University; June Walker, Business Growth Strategist & Board Adviser to
the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and Sheryl Newman, from
Aberdeen-based Appetite For Business, an advocate for women in
business and IT. And we were delighted to welcome back Amy Jackson of
Oxtale to facilitate this discussion for a second year. The panellists
shared their experiences, including developing a strong mindset to
overcome challenges, where they find their support and finding their
voice in business.
The final session of the day was led by Angie Foreman, Programme
Director of Dundee-based Coca-Cola 5by20 and CEO of Women’s Business
Station. Angie shared her story and spoke of the Power to Pull
together, encouraging delegate members of ASB to make pledges to each
other, with a view to building on and growing the existing supportive
culture of the organisation.
The conference was closed by Christina McKelvie, Minister for Older
People and Equalities, responsible for cross government co-ordination
of policies in support of women and gender equality who said: “For too
long, women have been raising their voices, but not being heard. Don’t
stop believing – scale the glass ceiling, and smash it to smithereens”
After the close of the event, ASB President. Lyndsey Greer-Phillips
said “This year’s conference was a runaway success. As part of the
Scotland Can Do Festival, which is a statement of intent to drive
forward entrepreneurial and innovative collaborative working across
Scotland, we brought together inspirational women from across
Scotland to share their stories, their experience and ways in which we
can all find our voice and have our voice heard collaboratively and
individually; to grow ourselves and our businesses for the future
Economy of Scotland. It was a day not to be missed – “Growth is never
by mere chance; it’s the result of forces working together” – James
Cash Penney”
THE ASB CONFERENCE 2019 WAS SPONSORED BY VODAFONE BUSINESS, WHO GAVE A
PRESENTATION DURING THE DAY, AND FUNDING WAS ALSO RECEIVED FROM THE
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT.
