Women in Business

The Conversations, Challenges and Communities Shaping the Future of Work

The conversation around women in business has moved beyond representation alone. While progress has been made in opening doors, the focus is now shifting towards something more fundamental: how workplaces are designed, how leadership is experienced, and whether the structures in place genuinely support the realities of women’s lives.

Across the UK, women make up almost half of the workforce, yet their experiences at work are still shaped by challenges that are often overlooked or under-discussed. These range from access to leadership opportunities and funding, to the less visible but equally important factors of health, flexibility and workplace culture.

Across Spacemade’s network of coworking spaces and private offices, these shifts are visible in the way businesses are built and in the conversations taking place within them.

Building Businesses from Real Life, Not Theory

For many women, the decision to start a business is not driven purely by ambition, but by lived experience.

At Studio Y, Erika Tamayo, founder of Hermosa, built her business after seeing first-hand how the wellness industry was falling short.

“People didn’t just want protein — they wanted something that tasted great and felt good in their body.”

Her experience reflects a wider shift towards products and businesses that are designed with real needs in mind, rather than assumptions.

For Shanice Hoo Mills, founder of Kallure, the turning point came at the intersection of career and motherhood.

“I wanted to continue doing meaningful work while creating flexibility for my family.”

Her work now focuses on helping brands connect more authentically with their audiences, while also creating visibility for others entering the industry.

“When I was growing up, careers in brand, communications or strategy simply weren’t visible to people from my background.”

The Reality Behind Leadership

Leadership journeys are rarely linear, and for many women, they involve navigating environments that were not originally designed with them in mind.

At Park House, Leeds, Claire Glaister, Managing Partner at Lake Legal, has built her career within the legal sector while helping shape a different kind of workplace culture.

“The business was founded to create a different culture from the toxic corporate environments many people experience.”

At Hale House, Giovanna Forte, founder of Forte Medical, faced a different challenge — entering an industry without a clear pathway.

“There was no MedTech innovation ecosystem when we started. It was a lonely path.”

Her experience also highlights the realities of balancing leadership with motherhood in professional spaces.

“I turned up with baby in car seat and placed her at the end of the Board Room table. What’s that?! demanded the CEO. That’s a baby and she needs feeding in 45 minutes so can we get on with the meeting please?”

Moments like this illustrate how leadership often requires not only resilience, but a willingness to challenge expectations.

Workplaces Weren’t designed With Women in Mind

Many of the challenges women face at work are not always visible, but they are widely felt.

According to research from the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD), more than 2 in 3 women aged 18–60 say their periods have negatively affected their working lives, yet only 12% of employees report that their employer offers any form of menstrual health support.

As Janet Lindsay, CEO of Wellbeing of Women, states:
“It is unacceptable that menstrual health problems are causing women to suffer at work.”

These figures reflect a broader issue. Women’s health — from menstrual conditions to menopause — remains under-discussed and under-supported in many workplaces, despite affecting a significant proportion of the workforce.

Changing the Conversation Around Health and Work

As awareness grows, so too does the importance of creating space for open and informed conversations.

Across Spacemade’s community, a series of events has explored how health and wellbeing intersect with work.

At Ellisse, Aoife McGrath from Wellbeing of Women led discussions around reproductive and gynaecological health, highlighting the need for greater awareness and support.

At Studio Y, Rebekah Brown, founder of MPowder, explored the relationship between nutrition, stress and women’s health.

Meanwhile, Megan Gibson from Grace & Green challenged workplace stigma directly, encouraging a shift in how menstrual health is perceived and discussed.

Together, these conversations point towards a broader cultural shift — one where wellbeing is recognised as an essential part of working life, not separate from it.

Womens Rights and the Workplace

Alongside cultural change, structural change remains critical.

Spacemade also welcomed the Fawcett Society, the UK’s leading membership charity campaigning for women’s rights and gender equality.

Their work highlights ongoing challenges across areas such as pay, workplace protections and misogyny, reinforcing that progress is not guaranteed and must be actively maintained.

Through campaigning, research and advocacy, organisations like the Fawcett Society continue to push for meaningful, lasting change in how workplaces operate.

The Role of Environment and Suppporting Women at Work

The environments people work in can play a significant role in shaping their experience.

For Ella McGovern, a coach based at The Landing, building a business initially came with a sense of isolation.

“Growing an online business can be isolating, especially in the early days.”

Her work, which is closely linked to women’s health following her experience with PCOS, requires both personal and professional resilience.

“Having a coworking environment gave me the connection and support I was missing.”

Spaces such as coworking environments and private offices provide not only flexibility, but access to a wider community – something that can be critical for growth.

Redefining the Future of Work

What emerges from these experiences is not a single narrative, but a collective shift in how work is understood.

Women are building businesses, leading organisations and shaping industries in ways that reflect real life; not outdated expectations.

Across Spacemade’s network of coworking spaces and private offices, this shift is already underway.

The challenge now is to ensure that these changes continue – not just in conversation, but in the structures, policies and environments that define the future of work.