S3 Ep5: Women in STEM, Neurodivergence and Quiet Leadership with Akua Opong

S3 Ep8: Financial Confidence Starts Young with Jayne Brewer CEO, 2B Enterprising

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2489643/fan_mail/new] What if we are waiting far too long to teach confidence, money and leadership? By the time many women step into the workplace, beliefs around money, ambition and possibility may already have formed. In this episode of The She Leads Collective Podcast, I’m joined by Jayne Brewer, CEO of 2B Enterprising — an organisation bringing enterprise, employability and financial education into primary schools across the UK. Jayne shares her own journey into becoming a CEO, the reality of leadership behind the scenes, and why teaching confidence and financial awareness early could change futures. In this episode we explore: •  The realities of leadership behind the scenes  • Why enterprise and employability education belongs in primary schools  • The surprising age at which financial habits begin to form  • Why role models and exposure matter for children  • Women, investing and financial confidence  • Female angel investing and supporting women founders  • Leadership confidence versus financial confidence  • The importance of networks, asking questions and backing yourself Jane also shares moving examples of children building confidence in real time and explains how 2B Enterprising has already reached more than 70,000 young people.  Connect with Jayne on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaynebrewer/ To find out more about 2B Enterprising - https://www.2benterprising.co.uk/ This episode also marks a special milestone: the 50th episode of the She Leads Collective Podcast. Thank you to every guest, listener and supporter who has been part of the journey so far. 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com [https://marygregory.com] 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marygregory?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BW4x6Jp3MT2SOdG3BzSansQ%3D%3D]  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/  📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584  🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch!  ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review  ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

S3 Ep7: Women Founders and the 2% Funding Gap with David B Horne

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2489643/fan_mail/new] Why are women still receiving only around 2% of venture capital funding in 2026 — despite the evidence showing that businesses led by women consistently outperform? In this eye-opening episode of the She Leads Collective Podcast, Mary Gregory speaks with entrepreneur, investor and author David B Horne about the systemic barriers women continue to face when seeking funding for their businesses. David has raised over £100 million, supported more than 30 acquisitions and exits, and works directly with founder-led businesses on growth and funding strategies. But after being challenged on why so little funding goes to women, he decided to investigate — leading him to write his book Funded Female Founders. Together, Mary and David explore: *  why funding bias still exists  *  the subtle and explicit ways it shows up  *  the difference in how male and female founders are questioned by investors  *  why relationships and warm introductions matter  *  the realities of venture capital culture  *  practical advice for women seeking funding  *  what meaningful allyship looks like in action  The statistics in this conversation are startling. But so too is the opportunity being missed. This is an honest and important conversation about power, bias, business and the changes still needed to create a fairer funding landscape for women founders. Connect with David on Linked in- https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-b-horne/ Visit David's website: https://addthenmultiply.com/ Purchase Funded Female Founders - https://amzn.eu/d/09iBv8B0 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com [https://marygregory.com] 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marygregory?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BW4x6Jp3MT2SOdG3BzSansQ%3D%3D]  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/  📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584  🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch!  ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review  ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

S3 Ep6: Women, Money and Financial Confidence with Yasmine El Mehairy

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2489643/fan_mail/new] So much of the conversation around women and money focuses on gaps — pay gaps, pension gaps, investment gaps and funding gaps. But what if the deeper issue is also about confidence, exposure, access and invitation? In this episode, Mary is joined by Yasmine El Mehairy, entrepreneur, educator and fintech leader, for the first in a three-part mini-series exploring women and finance. Yasmin shares her journey from computer science in Egypt to entrepreneurship, fintech and financial education in the UK. She speaks honestly about building and closing businesses, losing money through poor financial advice, navigating identity and difference, and why women need to see themselves as investors far earlier than many currently do. This is a conversation about money, but it is also about agency, self-belief, role models, risk, privilege, and creating more choices for women. Connect with Yasmine on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasmineelmehairy/ 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com [https://marygregory.com] 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marygregory?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BW4x6Jp3MT2SOdG3BzSansQ%3D%3D]  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/  📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584  🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch!  ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review  ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

S3 Ep5: Women in STEM, Neurodivergence and Quiet Leadership with Akua Opong

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2489643/fan_mail/new] What does leadership look like when you do not fit the traditional mould? In this episode of the She Leads Collective Podcast, Mary is joined by Akua Opong, Senior Engineer at the London Stock Exchange Group, advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, mentor, volunteer and powerful role model for women in STEM. Akua shares her journey from wanting to become a paediatrician, to studying computer science, working with Rolls-Royce and BMW, and building a career in technology. She talks honestly about being a Black woman in STEM, being neurodivergent, managing her energy as an introvert, and choosing to lead and influence without becoming someone she is not. This is a conversation about quiet leadership, representation, allyship, social mobility, mentoring, and the importance of creating environments where different people can thrive. In this episode, we explore: How Akua found her way into STEM  - Why representation matters in technology and leadership  - What it means to be a quiet but powerful leader  - Neurodivergence, ADHD, dyslexia and managing energy  - The importance of mentors, sponsors and allies  - Why organisations need to look harder at the data on women in STEM  - How small acts of contribution can make a real difference Akua’s message is clear: you do not have to change who you are to make an impact. Your difference may be part of your strength. Connect with Akua on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/akua-opong/ 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com [https://marygregory.com] 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marygregory?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BW4x6Jp3MT2SOdG3BzSansQ%3D%3D]  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/  📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584  🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch!  ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review  ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching

S3 Ep4: It’s Not a Confidence Problem: Lauren Neal on Bias, Leadership and Women in STEM

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2489643/fan_mail/new] What if the problem isn’t your confidence, but the system you’re trying to succeed in? In this episode of the She Leads Collective Podcast, Mary Gregory is joined by Lauren Neal, chartered engineer, chartered project professional, founder of Valued at Work and author of the book of the same name. Lauren has spent nearly two decades delivering complex projects in the energy sector, and in this honest and powerful conversation, she shares her experiences of both blatant and subtle workplace bias — from being set up to fail early in her career, to being told she didn’t fit the “tribe” of project management because she didn’t drink, swear or behave like the men around her. Together, Mary and Lauren explore why this is not simply about individual confidence, but about culture, systems, leadership and belonging. They discuss: *  How bias shows up in male-dominated environments  *  Why women are often told to change themselves rather than the system changing  *  The hidden “club” that shapes opportunity and progression  *  What real allyship looks like in meetings and decision-making  *  Why inclusive leadership is central to performance  *  What women can do to hold onto their value when the culture around them undermines it  This episode is for women navigating bias at work, leaders who want to understand what inclusion really requires, and anyone committed to building workplaces where people are truly valued. Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenneal/ Buy Laurens book Valued At Work - https://amzn.eu/d/01pUbhvf 🔗 Connect with Mary: marygregory.com [https://marygregory.com] 📣 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marygregory [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marygregory?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BW4x6Jp3MT2SOdG3BzSansQ%3D%3D]  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_gregory/  📰 Newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7029410958645059584  🎙 Want to be a guest? Get in touch!  ⭐ Subscribe, share & leave a review  ✨ Produced by Mary Gregory Leadership Coaching