From Vision to Reality - The Leadership Journey in Social Enterprise

Grit. Pivot. Quit.

Leadership in social enterprise isn’t always linear - It’s a continuous journey of grit, unexpected pivots, and knowing when to evolve.

Join us for a morning showcasing women-led social enterprises and their lessons learnt along the way. This event brings together purpose-driven founders and CEOs who will share candid insights into what it really takes to lead, grow, and adapt in the social impact space.

We’ll explore -

• Turning an idea into an enterprise and navigating the first stage of growth

• Scaling your early-stage enterprise into that next stage of growth

• Innovating in your social enterprise including diversifying revenue streams

• Lessons learnt and shared with the social enterprise founders

What’s on the program

Building an Idea Into an Enterprise - Early Stage Growth Lessons

Tenille Gilbert, Co-Founder, For Change Co.

From a university passion project, to a thriving family of hospitality social enterprises. Tenille shares the realities of starting up through her personal experience - navigating uncertainty, testing ideas, and laying the foundations for sustainable impact. For Change Co. is a social enterprise born from the idea that if they can provide the tools to empower young people to take control of their lives, then they will be able to create their own pathway out of the homeless cycle.

Tackling the Next Stage of Growth

Kirra Johnson, CEO, Good Cycles

Growth isn’t just about scale; it’s about strategy, people, and purpose. Kirra unpacks what it means to lead through the next phase, from operational challenges to evolving leadership styles. Good Cycles is a job-focused social enterprise, that delivers social and environmental innovation through four commercial divisions.

Diversifying and Innovation in Your Social Enterprise

Jane Marx, CEO and Founder, The Beautiful Bunch

When traditional models no longer serve the mission, it’s time to innovate. Jane shares how she’s reimagined business models, diversified revenue, and stayed true to purpose while adapting in a shifting landscape. The Beautiful Bunch is a floral delivery service bringing joy through flowers, all while creating jobs and providing training for women from refugee backgrounds.