Women + Innovation #8

After the past couple years of hosting our Women + Innovation events in London, this month we brought the series back to where it all began - the South Coast. What unfolded at our studio in central Bournemouth was an intimate, honest, and deeply connective evening with our local creative community. It reminded us why we started this series in the first place.

Sophie (Studio Wood) introducing the night

Helen (Liang Liang)

Women + Innovation has always aimed to be something that adapts, grows, and gives back to women across design, entrepreneurship, and the creative industries. Too many companies present “community” as branding: a one-way stream of newsletters, ads, and consumption. But real community is reciprocal. It’s something you actively give to, participate in, and help shape. This event was a powerful expression of that ethos.

Sophie (Reia Co-Founder)

Kate (Suri Head of Creative)

Four Women, Four Stories, Countless Insights

Sophie (of MD Studio Wood) kicked off the night by welcoming everyone with an intro to the evening, sharing the idea and vision behind the event series and what to expect from the night. From there, each speaker took the stage to share their career journeys, offering advice and practical takeaways for the audience.

We were joined by four brilliant speakers, each bringing her own perspective, vulnerability, and lived experience:

• Helen Liang, Founder of Liang Liang

• Sophie Salisbury, Co-founder of Reia

• Rebecca Smart, Director of NPD at Gozney

• Kate Gorrell, Head of Creative at Suri

Helen (Liang Liang) & Becky (Gozney) during the panel discussion

Their talks spanned career pivots, creative breakthroughs, lessons learnt, and the emotional labour required to keep moving forward. The feedback on the night reflects what we felt in the room: people left inspired, energised, and connected to ideas, to possibility, and to each other.

The Most Un-Dull Networking Break Ever

After the talks, we broke for pizza from local favourite Doughbox, cooked on Gozney ovens and bubbles from local brand Midas. What could have been a typical “networking break” often the most dreaded part of events - became something else entirely.

Discussing key learnings from past events

The Panel: Honest Conversations & Shared Wisdom

After the break, we gathered again for a panel exploring past learnings, recommendations of books and podcasts from past events, and some audience questions. Topics ranged from navigating risk to negotiating confidently to the realities of entering male-dominated sectors.

W+I Book & Podcast Recommendations

1. Dare to Lead - Brené Brown

2. The Confidence Code - Katty Kay & Claire Shipman

3. Untamed - Glennon Doyle

4. Start With Why - Simon Sinek

Podcasts

• The Pivot Podcast - Jenny Blake

• The Mel Robbins Podcast

• On Purpose - Jay Shetty

• Diary of a CEO - Stephen Bartlett

• How to Fail - Elizabeth Day

Sophie (Studio Wood) introducing the panel

Naivety can be a Superpower

One of the most resonant insights came from Sophie (Co-founder of Reia), who reflected on entering the consumer products world as a trained lawyer. Her honest admission “We didn’t know the rules, so we just did what felt right” sparked a conversation around the unexpected power of naivety. Sophie also recommended leaning on other people for that crucial experience and advice “Don’t try and do it all yourself.”

A common theme from the night was - sometimes, not knowing the traditional path is what frees you to forge a better one.

You Can Be a Good Mother and Have a Career

Both Rebecca (Gozney) and Sophie (Reia) spoke candidly about balancing work and motherhood, a topic that sparked nods and quiet recognition across the room. They shared the idea that you can be a good mother while pursuing meaningful work. It is hard, but as Rebecca said she wouldn’t change how she did it looking back. And sometimes the most powerful gift we give our children is letting them see their mother do hard things “like being in a factory in China.”

Belonging, Representation & Standing in the Room

Helen (Liang Liang) shared one of the most touching and memorable moments of the evening. As an Asian woman often finding herself the only person who looks like her in the room, she spoke honestly about the weight of that visibility. The pressure, the vulnerability, and the courage required to occupy those spaces.

To support herself, she spoke about having a little black book of ready made responses that she knows inside out. These responses/pre made questions come in handy when someone says something to her. When asked for examples she said she often asks people to repeat themselves when they say something questionable to her - or “ What did you mean when you said X?” Helen explained that quite often people don’t want to repeat themselves or haven’t realised how something may sound. It was a powerful tip to everyone in the room.

It was such a simple and human insight, yet it resonated deeply. A reminder that even the most confident people carry unseen strategies for resilience.

Community “Co-Created”

More than anything, Women + Innovation #8 affirmed the heart of this series: Community is something we build together. The generosity of the speakers giving up their time and being vulnerable, the openness of the audience, and the willingness of everyone in the room to contribute made this one of our most meaningful gatherings yet.

This wasn’t about being sold to, or passively consuming.
It was about participating. Sharing. Asking. Listening.
It was, in every sense, community.

We’re already excited for what comes next and grateful for every woman who continues to help this living community grow.

Once again, we are so grateful for the support and feedback this event series has gained. We cannot thank our speakers enough for sharing their stories, answering difficult questions, and openly discussing the challenges they have faced.

Special thanks to the whole Studio Wood team for helping in the set up/break down and to James Wood and Abi Batley for the photos.

While we do not disclose the guest list before or after the event, we had the pleasure of hosting a diverse range of professionals in the room, including designers, creatives, product managers, founders and entrepreneurs. If you wish to stay connected or secure tickets, click on “stay in the loop” on our website, to subscribe to our newsletter where we release event tickets 24 hours before social release or be sure to follow us on the Studiowood Instagram or LinkedIn.