From navigating funding barriers to balancing the emotional toll of setbacks, resilience has been the driving force behind my entrepreneurial journey. As the founder of Unikorrn, an AI-powered compliance and risk management platform, I’ve learned firsthand how perseverance, adaptability, and belief in your vision can transform obstacles into growth opportunities.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day on 8th March, it's a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience that women bring to leadership, innovation, and business. The lessons we learn through adversity shape us into leaders who not only survive but thrive and those lessons are worth sharing.

Turning challenges into strength

When I first stepped into the world of startups, I quickly realised that building a business meant facing rejection, a lot of it. Whether it was investors doubting the market potential or struggling to convince early adopters to trust an unproven platform, every ‘no’ felt like a blow. But resilience isn’t about avoiding failure; it’s about learning from it. Each setback pushed me to refine my pitch and grow thicker skin. Over time, I began to view rejection not as a roadblock but as valuable feedback, guiding me closer to building a solution that truly met market needs.

Navigating corporate spaces

Before founding Unikorrn, I spent over six years working in heavily male-dominated corporate sectors, often sitting in boardrooms where I was one of only one or two women among eight or more men. Walking into those rooms required immense self-belief and determination, knowing I had to work twice as hard to be heard and prove my value. Yet, that experience sharpened my resilience and taught me how to advocate for myself and my ideas with unwavering confidence. Those years of navigating tough corporate environments laid the groundwork for my entrepreneurial mindset, showing me that resilience isn’t just about persistence, it’s about knowing your worth, even when others underestimate you.

The emotional weight of an entrepreneur

Being a founder isn’t just a professional role, it’s personal. The highs of a successful pilot test are euphoric, but the lows of not raising or not reaching certain goals can feel crushing. As women, we often carry the added pressure of proving ourselves in rooms where we might be the only female voice. Resilience, in this sense, comes from acknowledging those emotions without letting them define your path. I’ve learned the importance of building a support system, whether it’s fellow founders, mentors, or friends who can offer perspective, encouragement, and sometimes just a reminder that it’s okay to take a break.

Advice for aspiring female founders

For women looking to break into the startup world, my biggest piece of advice is this: trust your intuition and lean into your unique perspective. Your lived experiences, your insights, and your vision are what set your business apart. Surround yourself with people who lift you up, and don’t be afraid to ask for help, the right mentors and allies can make all the difference. And most importantly, remember that resilience isn’t about never falling down; it’s about getting back up, every single time, with a little more wisdom and a lot more determination.

Building Unikorrn has taught me that resilience is the heart of leadership. It’s what transforms challenges into stepping stones, setbacks into lessons, and dreams into reality. And for every woman out there with an idea, a vision, or a passion, know that your resilience is your superpower. Use it, and there’s nothing you can’t achieve.