Female Futures Forum 2017

The half-day event, sponsored by UBS, examined the changing mindset of entrepreneurialism through the lens of Generation Z, who, unlike their Millennial counterparts, are ditching a broken system in favour of products, services and ventures that better reflect their inclusive reality. The trends also shed light on the digital and physical tools that are equipping young entrepreneurs to network and upskill.

In conjunction with the Women’s Business Council, The Future Laboratory presented the findings of a study on early-stage entrepreneurialism. The audience heard from several young entrepreneurs on the challenges they face and the influence they hope to leave behind to enable future founders to thrive.

Tracey Follows, chief strategy and innovation officer at The Future Laboratory, led the summary with a call to arms for women to rewrite the contract between themselves, their businesses and their investors for an entirely new framework to encourage growth.

Follows then moderated a lively panel discussion chaired by Cilla Snowball, with discussion from Dr Mara Harvey, head of UBS Unique and a senior manager of UBS Wealth Management, Sara Shahvisi, director of programmes at Fearless Futures, and Sam Baker, co-founder of The Pool, on their personal stories of female entrepreneurialism and the hopes they have for the next 10 years.