Three inspirational speakers who have blazed trails in their industries and inspired others to do the same have been lined-up for Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce’s International Women’s Day 2025 event.
Headline speaker Alana Macfarlane was one half of the DJ-ing duo The Mac Twins before becoming a pioneer in the gut health industry, setting up The Gut Stuff with sister Lisa.
Their business now has products stocked in retail stores across the country, has amassed more than 130,000 followers on Instagram and has led to the pair appearing on the Channel 4 TV series Know Your Sh!t.
Alana will reveal the challenges she overcame as a woman in business and the strategies she used to build The Gut Stuff brand.
She’ll offer advice on starting and growing a business, reveal her top tips for budding entrepreneurs, address how to cultivate a thriving community around a brand and she will share her extensive knowledge of gut health and how it influences both physical and mental wellbeing.
The event takes place on Friday, 7 March at Doubletree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent.
It follows a sell-out one last year – one of the largest International Women’s Day events in the history of Staffordshire – attended by 380 people and headlined by Maxine Laceby, founder of supplement company Absolute Collagen.
Dr Eve Davies, Co-Founder and Communications Director of ProtectaPet, will also speak at this year’s event.
The Newcastle-under-Lyme-based company is dedicated to ensuring the safety of cats outdoors and is an internationally recognised leader in their industry, winning the prestigious King’s Award for Innovation in 2023.
The event will be hosted by Hannah East, a comedian, host, and presenter extraordinaire.
Hannah, who has hosted on Sky Sports and The Olympics, runs an online fitness business, helping mums to build strength, fitness and improve mental health.
She is also known for her work on various charity initiatives, including her advocacy for mental health awareness, and her commitment to supporting emerging talent in the entertainment industry.
Rachel Laver, CEO of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, said: “The Chamber’s International Women’s Day event is a highlight of our event calendar because it offers such a supportive space, where everyone’s excited to share ideas and cheer each other on.
“If you’re a woman with a business idea but aren’t sure where to begin, make sure you book your ticket before they sell out.”
The event will run between 9.30am and 12pm.
It is free for Chamber members, with tickets for non-members costing £20.
To book, or to find out more, click here.
