As Brits, we’re apologetic about our finances by our very nature, with some studies showing that money is an even more taboo topic than mental health these days. But for women, this discomfort is magnified. We’re conditioned to downplay our ambitions, to apologise for wanting more. Let’s be honest, how many of us have hesitated before asking for a raise or felt guilty about negotiating harder? It’s exhausting, outdated, and not talking about money is holding us women in business back.

This isn’t just about personal hang-ups; it’s systemic. The gender pay gap, the lack of female representation in leadership roles, and the pitifully small slice of VC funding going to women-led businesses – these aren’t just statistics, they’re barriers we face every day. In all seriousness, this is not (just) about the money or the final total when I hang up my business boots – in many, many years from now. It’s about the opportunities, the success, the satisfaction. It’s about rivalling the world’s biggest companies, all currently run by men, and doing so with integrity and good ethics – a far cry from the current male-dominated, Musk-fronted billionaire class.

Here’s an uncomfortable truth: if women started and scaled businesses at the same rate as men, we could inject a staggering £250 billion into the UK economy. That’s not just a number; it’s transformative potential waiting to be unleashed. Yet, the funding landscape remains frustratingly male-dominated. Only just over one in 10 senior leadership roles in tech across Europe are held by women. In 2025, it’s absurd.

When I exited my last business, I made a decision: my next venture wouldn’t just aim high, it would aim for the stratosphere. It was this thinking that has propelled our company, Hey Savi, a fashion platform that’s taking on the major search engines to fundamentally change the outdated way we search and shop online. It’s a technology that speaks so directly to the female experience. A technology built by women, FOR WOMEN! There’s an irony to the fact that the world’s biggest women’s femtech app, and recently the first to achieve unicorn status, was founded by two men.

Alongside this, I’m proud to be part of a fully female founding team, alongside two phenomenal co-founders, Angela Vinci and Sarah Daniel. Together, we’ve raised £2.2 million in pre-seed funding, making us only the second ever fully female-founded UK tech company to do so at this stage. Our data science, technology and engineering leadership team each happen to be women too, as well as true leaders in their field. Ambitious, unapologetic and laser-focused on creating something extraordinary.

But here’s where things need to change. Female founders don’t just need applause; they need investment. The venture capital world has a bad habit of rewarding bravado over substance, ego over expertise. Funding flows to the loudest voices in the room rather than the smartest minds. The best companies aren’t built on arrogance; they’re built on deep knowledge, strong teams, and a commitment to long-term impact.

Investors need to start backing businesses that lead with purpose.

The most successful companies in the coming decades won’t be those that chase hyper-growth at all costs; they’ll be the ones that innovate responsibly, scale sustainably, and put customers – not the founder’s ego – at the heart of every decision.

It’s disappointing to see how events in the US are impacting female leadership and diversity, pushing us back instead of forward. Women’s rights and opportunities should be advancing, not regressing, yet we’re witnessing a cultural shift that undermines decades of progress. We need to reject this backwards momentum and redefine leadership for today’s business climate. This means valuing resilience, intelligence, and collaboration over outdated notions of dominance and unchecked risk-taking.

The UK government has made some promising noises about supporting women in business – childcare initiatives, investment taskforces like Invest In Women. But let’s be real, systemic change takes more than policy promises. It requires action from all of us, especially those who’ve already climbed the ladder.

To my fellow entrepreneurs, both male and female: it’s time to pay it forward. Mentor someone who reminds you of your younger self. Invest in women-led businesses like your future depends on it - because it does. The ripple effect of this kind of support can’t be overstated. And let’s stop being shy about ambition. Talking about money isn’t crass, it’s necessary. Wealth creation isn’t just for men (particularly American men!) - it’s for anyone with a vision and the guts to pursue it. So yes, I want to be a billionaire, and not just for me. I want it because every step I take toward that goal is another crack in the glass ceiling for the next generation of female leaders. And I vow to continue paying it forward – through both support and investment – for the founders who come next.

This isn’t just about breaking ceilings; it’s about blowing them up entirely and rewriting the rules while we’re at it.

Big dreams? Absolutely. Bold statements? You bet. But that’s how change happens: with audacity and action.

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