LDC hosts inspirational all-female roundtable on scaling businesses

LDC in conjunction with Rothschild brought together female founders and business leaders from across the West Midlands to discuss their personal experiences of building and scaling a business. Karen Mann, Investment Director at LDC in Birmingham, shares her perspective on the discussion.  

I had the pleasure of hosting a diverse group of women, all of whom are at different stages of their own growth journey, to discuss the challenges and opportunities they’ve faced when building their businesses, including those associated with raising investment.

Our guests included CEOs, investors, advisors and Non-Executive Directors, and they spanned sectors as diverse as technology and business services, and consumer and ICT. Yet despite these differences, it was clear that there are many common threads when growing a business and it was really valuable to hear from one another and share our insights.

My key takeaways included:

• Look after your employees as the business scales – this was such a strong theme throughout the discussion as the wellbeing of employees becomes a critical priority when growing a business. Attendees emphasised the importance of creating a positive work environment where employees feel valued and supported. After all, it’s those businesses that focus on the wellbeing of their teams that build stronger, more loyal workforces, and this helps to drive long-term success.
• Build supportive networks – surround yourself with mentors, advisors and peers who can offer guidance and encouragement while you navigate the complexities of growing a business. This sense of community can provide a vital support system when you need to speak to someone else who has been in your shoes. The right advisor can also add real value when it comes to seeking investment to grow your business.
• Appoint the right Non-Executive Chair – this will be an individual who can provide support when you’re scaling a business, and with the right experience and vision they can guide you through pivotal stages of growth, providing challenge, stability and strategic oversight. They are an independent sounding board who is there to help you navigate issues, build investor confidence, and ultimately support the company for long-term success.
• The importance of finding an investor who aligns with your company’s values and vision –a partnership with the right investor can be pivotal in helping a business to grow sustainably. Our guests stressed the importance of research, and meeting with prospective partners during the investment process to ensure you will have a good working relationship. The right investment partner should not just provide capital, but offer strategic guidance, structure, and mentorship as well.

It was fantastic to welcome such a successful group of women from different stages of their journey, and the advice and guidance they shared left us feeling inspired and ready to put what was discussed into practice.

Thank you to everyone who attended the event and made the evening a great success.