Championing Women in Business: Meet Lisa Young
International Women’s Day 2026 – Give to Gain
This International Women’s Day (IWD), we’re shining a spotlight on someone who has quietly – and consistently – been one of the most impactful champions of women in business in the Southeast region. Meet Lisa Young, a key member of the Let’s Do Business Group team and the driving force behind our Her Biz programme, which has supported aspiring female entrepreneurs over the past six years.
This year’s IWD theme, Give to Gain, feels like it was written with Lisa in mind.
A Career Built on Connection
Lisa’s passion for supporting businesses didn’t appear overnight. It was built over a long and successful career in business banking, where she worked as a relationship manager, getting to know business owners, understanding their challenges, and helping them to grow.
“I always enjoyed working with small businesses,” she tells us. “Getting to know the owners and providing support to help them grow their business.”
Around 15 years ago, Lisa became a Women in Business Ambassador for her bank, where she began networking events for female entrepreneurs. That experience planted the seed for what was to come. When the opportunity arose to deliver the Her Biz programme at Let’s Do Business Group, she jumped at the chance.
Women in Business in the UK
The landscape for female entrepreneurs is changing, and the numbers tell an exciting story. Early-stage entrepreneurial activity among women has tripled since 2022, rising from just over 3.5% to 10%, and 1.8 million women now run incorporated or self-employed ventures across the UK – the highest share on record.
And the potential is enormous. Research suggests that if even more women were supported to start and scale a business, it could add up to £250 billion to the UK economy. It’s a compelling reminder of just how much untapped talent and entrepreneurial spirit exist, and why creating the right support and access to knowledge for women at the start of their business journey is so powerful. That’s exactly the gap that programmes like Her Biz are helping to fill.
Understanding The Challenges Women Face
One of the things that makes Lisa so effective is that she understands the realities of starting a business as a woman. It’s rarely straightforward, and the pressures are often invisible to others.
“The most common challenge is having to juggle family life alongside finding the time to start the business. Many women also continue in their jobs whilst trying to move forward with their idea.”
It’s a challenge backed up by the data. Of the 14.1 million women currently employed in the UK, almost two-fifths work part-time, with many balancing the demands of family and caring responsibilities alongside their careers. The fact that so many women choose to pursue a business idea on top of everything else they are managing is a testament to their drive, ambition, and determination.
Her advice? Be patient with yourself. “Don’t be worried if things take time to progress – small steps are good.”
It’s a refreshingly honest perspective, and one that resonates with the many women who come through the Her Biz programme feeling the weight of competing demands on their time and energy.
What “Give to Gain” Means to Lisa
For this year’s International Women’s Day theme, Lisa doesn’t hesitate.
“For me, the theme of Give to Gain is quite a powerful one, as it will resonate with many people. Personally, and professionally, I always give a lot of myself, and I am passionate about supporting people who want to start a business. I am always happy to use my knowledge in the industry to help someone take the right path.”
It’s that generosity of spirit – the willingness to share hard-won experience freely and genuinely – that sits at the heart of everything Lisa does. And it’s the essence of what Her Biz was built on.
Building More Than Business Skills
Her Biz isn’t just a business course; it’s a confidence-builder, a community, and for many women, a turning point.
Lisa is clear about what she wants every participant to take away: “My aim when someone completes the Her Biz programme is that I have given them the foundation of knowledge to move towards the next stage.
She’s a firm believer in continuous learning, encouraging participants to attend courses, webinars, and listen to podcasts, as well as researching their sector thoroughly before launching.
And if there’s one lesson that she wants every aspiring business owner to truly understand? “The most important area they need to understand is the financial side of running their business, and that Cash is King!”
The need for that kind of financial grounding is clear. The number of female-founded businesses has more than doubled over the past decade, yet access to funding remains one of the biggest hurdles for women starting out. The UK Government has responded with a £500 million investment to boost opportunities for underrepresented entrepreneurs, including an additional £50 million specifically for female-led venture capital funds – a clear signal that backing women in business is now a national priority. That makes building solid financial knowledge from day one more important than ever.
Her Message to Women Who Aren’t Sure They’re Ready
Perhaps the most powerful part of speaking with Lisa is the advice she gives to women who are sitting on an idea, wondering if they’re ready to take the leap.
“Don’t be afraid and give it a go. Start small and slowly and build up over time. Take the time to put together a business plan, which doesn’t have to be War and Peace – just put down your idea and the steps towards achieving it.”
She also encourages women to seek out the stories of others who have been on the same journey: “Speak to others about their journey to find out what did and did not work for them.”
It’s practical. It’s honest. And it’s exactly the kind of advice that changes lives.
A Trailblazer We’re Celebrating
On International Women’s Day 2026, we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Lisa for everything she gives – to Her Biz, to the women she supports, and to the wider business community across our region.
If you’re a woman thinking about starting your own business, or you know someone who is, Her Biz could be the perfect step. To be the first to hear when we will next be running the programme, subscribe to our monthly newsletter.
Happy International Women’s Day from the team at Let’s Do Business Group.