Women’s Leadership Takes Centre Stage at Randolph Hotel Networking Breakfast

Guests gathered in the historic setting of The Randolph Hotel, one of Oxford’s most iconic landmarks, to hear powerful stories of personal and professional growth, explore how organisations can better support their people, and strengthen connections across Oxfordshire’s business community.

As one attendee later reflected:

“A fantastic session with a brilliant line-up of speakers – an inspiring morning of honest conversations about leadership, resilience and wellbeing in the workplace.”
Katy Farrington, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Stakeholder Relations, Unipart

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Setting the Scene

Victoria Volonte, Assistant Director of Sales at The Randolph Hotel, welcomed guests warmly, noting that the hotel is celebrating more than 160 years of history welcoming “academics, leaders, creatives and change makers” to Oxford.

The exclusive event, limited to 60 B4 Members, created an intimate atmosphere for meaningful discussion.

Reflecting on the event afterwards, Victoria said:

“Yesterday I had the pleasure of hosting our first Women’s Networking Event at the hotel, in celebration of International Women’s Day week. It was truly a wonderful morning filled with inspiring women, meaningful conversations and powerful connections.”

She continued:

“Seeing so many talented and driven women come together to support and uplift one another made the event a real success.”

Victoria also shared a touching personal moment from the evening:

“When I got home, I showed the photos from the event to my daughter, who is only three and a half. She said, ‘Mummy, I am so proud and I am so happy to have you.’ Moments like this remind me why it all matters.”

Victoria works closely with organisations across the region to create memorable events and partnerships at The Randolph Hotel, which today continues its long tradition as a luxury hotel and events destination in the heart of Oxford.

Fiona Curnow, Director of Client Experience at Gardner Leader, also welcomed attendees and highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for women to connect across the Oxford business community.

She spoke about Gardner Leader’s growing presence in Oxford and the importance of relationships, networks and shared experiences in supporting professional women. Fiona also celebrated the achievements of female colleagues within the firm and invited guests to attend the firm’s own International Women’s Day event the following day.

Gardner Leader is a leading Thames Valley law firm, providing legal services to businesses and individuals through practical advice and strong client relationships.

Reflecting on the event afterwards, Fiona added:

“A great B4 event celebrating International Women’s Day — thank you for the opportunity to celebrate with the network.”

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A Personal Journey Into Wellness

Executive coach and culture consultant Claire Croft introduced the morning’s keynote speaker, Georgie Spurling, Founder and CEO of ARVRA Wellness.

Georgie’s story was both powerful and deeply personal.

Born with a rare heart condition and once told she would never exercise, she defied medical expectations and pursued a career helping others discover the connection between movement, mental health and wellbeing.

“I didn’t start my life very well,” Georgie shared, recalling how at age 17 she challenged her doctors’ expectations and took up dance — a decision that “completely and utterly turned my life upside down.”

Her decade-long journey studying the connection between physical and mental health eventually led to the creation of ARVRA Wellness, a preventative wellbeing ecosystem designed to support both individuals and organisations.

After the event, Georgie reflected:

“Honoured (and slightly in awe) to have been the keynote speaker at this year’s B4 International Women’s Day event. Standing in a room full of absolute boss women had my imposter syndrome working overtime!”

She continued:

“The heart of the talk was about wellness at work, and how we need to start meeting people at life’s moments — wherever they are at. Life doesn’t neatly separate into ‘work’ and ‘everything else’.”

ARVRA Wellness combines personalised wellbeing programmes and digital tools designed to support stress management, injury recovery and long-term health outcomes.

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Beyond the One-Size-Fits-All Approach

During her conversation with Claire Croft, Georgie challenged the wellness industry’s reliance on what she described as “dump and run solutions.”

Instead, she encouraged organisations to focus on listening to employees first, building wellbeing programmes around real needs rather than generic offerings.

“You can’t just implement tech and tech and tech,” she explained, highlighting the importance of human connection in the post-pandemic workplace.

Her advice for organisations included:

• Asking employees the right questions about wellbeing needs
• Ensuring support extends beyond the working day
• Personalising wellbeing support
• Simplifying programmes rather than overcomplicating them

For individuals, she encouraged “habit stacking” — linking wellbeing practices to daily routines — and rejecting the pressure to pursue perfection.

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The Power of Vulnerability in Leadership

The morning’s panel discussion brought together four remarkable women leaders who shared deeply personal experiences that shaped their understanding of workplace wellbeing.

Jo Stevens, Managing Director of Oxford Innovation Space, spoke movingly about bereavement following the sudden loss of her husband in 2020.

“It’s okay not to be okay,” she shared, describing how the support she received from her employer during eight months away from work transformed her leadership approach.

Oxford Innovation Space supports high-growth businesses through workspace, mentoring and business support across a network of innovation centres throughout the UK and Ireland.

Amelia Foster, CEO of Sobell House Hospice, spoke about the importance of normalising conversations around death and grief.

“The grief doesn’t get any smaller. The rest of your life grows around it.”

Sobell House Hospice provides specialist palliative care and support to patients and families across Oxfordshire.

Megan Carter, People & Engagement Director at Blenheim Palace, shared her experience navigating a hysterectomy and sudden menopause while working in a senior HR leadership role.

“It was a pleasure to represent Blenheim Palace and inspirational to sit on the panel alongside powerful women sharing their own personal stories.”

Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, combines heritage conservation, tourism and events while supporting a large and diverse workforce.

Alexandra Rae, CEO of Wise Investment, encouraged ambitious women to choose employers carefully and have open conversations about expectations around career and family life.

Wise Investment is a long-established wealth management firm known for its disciplined investment strategies and responsible financial planning.

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Celebrating International Women’s Day

The event was held in the spirit of International Women’s Day (IWD) — a global celebration recognising the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

First observed in 1911, International Women’s Day is now celebrated annually on 8 March and has grown into a worldwide movement championing progress for women across every sector of society.

Across the business world, the day has become an important opportunity to spotlight female leadership, share lived experiences and encourage more inclusive workplaces.

Events like Empower, Connect & Inspire reflect this spirit — creating space for open dialogue, shared learning and meaningful connection.

By bringing together women from across industries to exchange insights and experiences, the morning at The Randolph Hotel demonstrated the power of honest conversation and supportive networks in shaping stronger workplaces.

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Key Takeaways: From Policy to Practice

Several powerful themes emerged throughout the morning:

• Culture trumps policy — meaningful support comes through trust and relationships
• Leadership vulnerability creates psychological safety
• Wellbeing is a long-term investment, not a quick fix
• Human connection remains essential
• Personalisation within consistency strengthens wellbeing strategies

As facilitator Claire Croft summarised:

“If you put fuel in the tank, the tank runs longer.”

Reflecting afterwards, she added:

“This morning reminded me of the power of connection and conversation. Success comes when we think humans first, job titles second.”

Claire works with leadership teams across sectors through Claire Croft Associates, helping organisations strengthen leadership capability and build confident, high-performing cultures.

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Looking Ahead

As the event concluded with group photos and informal networking, it was clear that the conversations sparked at The Randolph Hotel extended far beyond wellbeing programmes and HR policies.

They were fundamentally about recognising the whole person behind the professional role — someone carrying hopes, challenges, resilience and ambition.

The Empower, Connect & Inspire breakfast demonstrated the power of honest dialogue, shared experience and supportive leadership in shaping healthier workplaces and stronger communities.

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Event Details

Keynote Speaker
Georgie Spurling – Founder & CEO, ARVRA Wellness

Panel Members
Jo Stevens – Oxford Innovation Space
Alexandra Rae – Wise Investment
Megan Carter – Blenheim Palace
Amelia Foster – Sobell House Hospice

Facilitator
Claire Croft – Executive Coach & Culture Consultant

Organisers
Victoria Volonte – The Randolph Hotel Oxford
Tina Rosser – B4

AV Support
That Event Company

Photography
Jacob Holdsworth

Note: Zoe Jackson, Founder & CEO of Shire & Wold Staffing, was unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances abroad.