Wellness Warriors: the women reshaping the health and fitness industry



    Celebrate International Women’s Month with us at the British Library as we bring together an inspiring panel discussion with five boundary-breaking women entrepreneurs who are transforming the health and fitness industry. As part of our Inspiring Entrepreneurs series, this event provides a unique chance to hear from influential women business founders and put your questions to them.

    Our ’wellness warriors’ will share their extensive experience of setting up and scaling personal training businesses, fitness apps, pioneering athletic wear brands and more. With the fitness industry valued at just under $100 billion globally last year* and with the Olympics fast approaching, these women have harnessed the booming interest in health and wellbeing to establish innovative brands, programmes and communities focused on empowerment and inclusivity.

    Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur curious about the landscape or an established founder looking to stay ahead of the curve, this session will leave you feeling inspired, informed and ready to take the next step.

    *Statista, August 2023

    On the day, you can expect to:

    • Gain valuable insights into the evolution of fitness entrepreneurship and innovations reshaping the health and wellbeing industry
    • Explore emerging business models in health and fitness - from apps to in-person clubs to community-focused chains
    • Discuss how businesses and individuals are supporting marginalised communities within the fitness industry
    • Analyse how fitness brands leverage social media, influencer marketing, and ecommerce to grow their audiences
    • Understand how fitness influencers build successful brands and e-commerce identities
    • Get answers to your specific questions to propel you forward in your business journey.

Speakers

Kayleigh Benoit

Founder of BIND London

Rhian Stephenson

Founder of ARTAH HEALTH and former CEO of Psycle

Matilda Egere-Cooper

Founder of Fly Girl Collective

Ciara Madden

Founder of Body by Ciara fitness app and personal trainer

Leanne Pero

Founder of Black Women Rising

Yashmin Harun BEM

Founding Chair of Muslimah Sports Association (MSA)

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The Beat Goes On: Black Voices in the British Music Industry


In celebration of the British Library’s “Beyond the Bassline” exhibition, we’ve assembled some ground-breaking Black entrepreneurs who’ve transformed the British music industry to share the secrets of their success, including the highs and lows of their entrepreneurial journeys.

At £2.5 billion, the UK is home to Europe's most valuable digital music economy (Statista, 2021, 2023). However, despite the undeniable contribution of Black music artists and entrepreneurs to these figures, 2021’s Black Lives in Music report found that among Black music professionals, 73% experienced direct or indirect racism and noted disparities in respondent’s earnings and ability to gain music funding.

As part of our Inspiring Entrepreneurs series, this event provides a unique chance to hear our panel discuss the challenges and realities of the industry and share their experiences leveraging their creative talent to drive positive change for other artists and innovators. So if you’re thinking about starting a business, or already running one, join us to gain insight into their journey – or simply be inspired!

On the day, you can expect to:

Examine how entrepreneurship has evolved in the music industry, focusing on the journey of Black music in Britain and how this has been impacted by trends and other cultural shiftsLearn how music artists and creatives are transforming wider popular culture and redefining BlacknessAnalyse diverse business models utilized in the industryDiscover new opportunities and potential pitfallsPut your specific questions to our expert panel.

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