Celebrating the B4 community on International Women’s Day

To begin an amazing series of quotes about or from some equally amazing women, Chris Thompson, Partner at B4 Platinum Members, Wellers, celebrates Debbie Austin. “We’re very happy to celebrate our very own Debbie Austin on International Women’s Day 2025! A dynamic force at Wellers, she is a brilliant networker, empathetic, cares deeply about our clients and staff, and her dedication to the firm is second to none. It’s an inspiration to many looking to follow in her footsteps. Along with her female co-partners, she really exemplifies the power of women in business. We’re very proud to call her a colleague and good friend! Thank you for everything Debbie.”

We celebrate inspiring women like Emma Easton, Founder of Business Bollox. Raised by her inspiring mother, Emma has built a successful marketing strategy business, entering its 5th year. She won Lincolnshire Entrepreneur of the Year in 2024 and was included in the SmallBiz100. Emma serves the SME community through talks and workshops, and even said ‘bollox’ on the House of Lords balcony! Below we hear from more inspiring women in the B4 community.

Giovanna Orru, Sales and Events Manager at Flight Club Oxford, celebrates her personal journey in business. “As we celebrate International Women’s Day, I can’t help but take a moment to reflect on how far I’ve come. For me, it’s an opportunity to celebrate my personal journey and the hard work I’ve put into building my career.

“I’ve recently been hired as the Sales and Events Manager at the newly opened Flight Club Darts Oxford. As we know, starting a new job is always daunting, especially in a field as dynamic as the hospitality industry. But through persistence and resilience, I’ve managed to carve out a space for myself, grow, and thrive in ways I didn’t think were possible. One of the accomplishments I’m most proud of in my new role has been the connections I’ve built within the local community. Relationships are the cornerstone of this industry, and I’ve worked hard to foster genuine, meaningful connections that go beyond business. I’ve had the privilege of connecting with incredible people who share a common goal: to bring the hospitality industry and other businesses together. This sense of community has been one of the highlights of my career so far, and I’m so proud of the positive impact we’re making, not just as professionals, but as a collective force. So today, on International Women’s Day, I’m celebrating not just my own growth, but the collective strength and resilience of all women who have paved the way for us. I’m proud of where I am now, but I’m even more excited for what lies ahead.”

In a quote received from B4 Platinum Members, Unipart, it’s clear that Vicki Hooper is making a difference. “In her role as Chief People Officer, Vicki is removing barriers to enable women to excel every single day and use their voice to accelerate change towards gender equality.”

Zoe Sprigings, CEO at Oxfordshire Community Foundation (OCF), is celebrated by her Deputy Chief Executive, Kate Parrinder. “Zoe is an inspirational leader and deserves to be recognised on International Women’s Day. Since she joined OCF in 2022, she has reinvigorated the organisation from every perspective. She has put in place a new strategy that tackles inequality locally by growing philanthropy. Her strong leadership, credibility and confidence shine through, to the extent that donors and funders are approaching OCF wanting to support their work. She has poured her good judgment, diligence and incredible hard work into making OCF a genuinely fair and transparent grant funder, implementing best practice and focusing on kindness and inclusion towards the delivery charities OCF supports. And she has built a new team that delivers a thoughtful service to philanthropists and charitable organisations alike, focused on delivery but also knowing it can always learn and improve. Her tenacity and vision are striking, and she approaches every challenge with a belief that she can find a solution, understand complexity and do the right thing. Thank you Zoe for pouring your energy and entrepreneurial spirit into supporting people to thrive in Oxfordshire.”

Thank you to all of the inspiring women in the B4 community.