One of Britain’s most successful entrepreneurs, Karen Millen OBE, will join SheChain Live for an exclusive fireside chat, sharing insights from the journey that transformed a £100 investment into one of the world’s most recognisable fashion brands.
Taking place on Thursday 1 October at the Winter Gardens Blackpool, SheChain Live brings together business owners, buyers, procurement specialists and industry leaders to help women-led businesses access new routes to market, valuable connections and opportunities for growth.
Starting with a £100 loan and a determination to create beautifully made clothing for women, Karen built the Karen Millen brand into an international fashion business with stores across the world. Her career has also included significant challenges, setbacks and reinvention, making her one of the UK’s most respected voices on resilience, leadership and entrepreneurship.
During the fireside chat, Karen will share lessons from building a global brand, navigating business challenges and creating success on her own terms. The conversation will explore the realities of entrepreneurship, the decisions that shaped her career and the resilience required to build and sustain a successful business.
Karen Millen said “I’m delighted to be joining SheChain Live and the Enterprise Vision Awards. Throughout my career I’ve learned that success is rarely a straight line, and I’m looking forward to sharing the lessons, challenges and opportunities that have shaped my journey in business. I hope attendees leave feeling inspired to take the next step towards building something meaningful of their own.”
Coral Horn, Founder of SheChain Live and the Enterprise Vision Awards, said “Karen’s journey proves what’s possible when ambition is matched with opportunity. Too many women have the ideas, capability and determination to grow but still struggle to access the networks, relationships and commercial opportunities that help businesses scale. That’s exactly why we created SheChain Live. We’re delighted that Karen is joining us for what promises to be an honest and inspiring conversation. Her story isn’t just about success; it’s about resilience, reinvention and continuing to move forward when challenges arise. Those are lessons that resonate with entrepreneurs at every stage of business. SheChain Live is about more than inspiration. It’s about creating practical opportunities for women-led businesses to connect with buyers, procurement professionals, partners and decision makers who can help unlock growth.”
SheChain Live forms part of a wider movement to help increase opportunities for women-led businesses and support greater participation in supply chains, procurement and business growth.
The Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship found that up to £250 billion could be added to the UK economy if women started and scaled businesses at the same rate as men. Yet many women still report barriers to accessing investment, procurement opportunities, strategic networks and routes to growth.
More than an event, SheChain Live is a platform for opportunity. Bringing together buyers, procurement professionals, partners and industry leaders, attendees will gain practical knowledge, valuable connections and expert insight to help grow their businesses. The programme includes expert speakers, practical workshops and opportunities to connect, with sessions from organisations including WEConnect International and ITV’s Confidence on Camera programme. Designed to inspire action as well as ambition, SheChain Live aims to help women-led businesses discover new routes to market, unlock opportunities and take their next step with confidence.
The event takes place the day before the Enterprise Vision Awards, the UK’s largest celebration of women in business, creating two days dedicated to inspiration, opportunity, growth and recognition.
For more information and tickets visit the WIB360 website
