I'm going to Miami!

If you read my blog, you'll know that I was extremely honoured when Enterprising Women magazine recently selected me as a winner in their annual Enterprising Women of the Year Awards for 2016.

The ceremony is a celebration of female entrepreneurial talent worldwide, and I was one of just two UK-based women chosen for an award. The fact that Enterprising Women picks winners based on their social contributions and community spirit – as well as their business acumen – is what makes this so special to me.

Now the time has come to attend the awards ceremony. So, like Will Smith in his hit '90s song, I'm goin' to Miami! However, unlike the rapper-turned-actor, I won't be following his "no work, all play" mantra from the song as I'm expecting to keep extremely busy while I'm in the Magic City. Nevertheless, I couldn't be more excited!

Held at the Ritz-Carlton in Coconut Grove, the three-day ceremony is jam-packed with fascinating talks, workshops and sessions designed to support female innovators on their entrepreneurial journeys. Enterprising Women will also be hosting a group of US high school girls who have received scholarships to attend this year's event.

The students will not only get a tour of Miami but also take part in a workshop to develop their leadership skills. Accompanied by their parents, they will benefit from one-on-one mentoring and other educational assistance. I think the programme is great for encouraging the next generation of female leaders, and I'm looking forward to providing some mentoring of my own by having one of the students assigned to me. 

They also won't be the only ones bringing parents along to the ceremony, as I'll be taking my mom to Miami with me! She's been a huge influence on me and my career, and this will be the first time she's ever been to the US. I can't wait to share this experience with her, and we're both so grateful for the opportunity to attend the awards.

I've spoken about a range of issues regarding women and the workplace on the blog before, including Imposter Syndrome, whether it's ever okay to show emotion in the workplace and embracing vulnerability as a path to success.

Therefore, I feel any recognition of female leadership achievements can only be a step in the right direction for gender equality. This is why I'm so touched to be receiving an award and getting the chance to meet so many successful, like-minded women from across the world.

Stay tuned for more updates on how the event went!