Wellbeing

Lynne Franks: Empowering Women

Our columnist bridges the gender gap and empowers women with her inspiring SEED programme

Twenty years ago this month, The SEED Handbook, the feminine way to create business was published throughout the English speaking world. As part of the launch, I had to explain what the feminine way to do business meant to a suspicious Jenny Murray on Women’s Hour; tell confused male TV presenters across the globe that women did want to do business differently; and speak to thousands of women of all ages, countries and cities around the world.

After 20 years running my successful fashion and beauty PR agency, which was a very female-led industry, I had seen that women had very special gifts when starting and running a business, and that more and more of them would be leaving the corporate world to do exactly that. It was clear to me that the feminine qualities of intuition, multi-tasking, relationship-building and collaboration would give women huge advantages once they crossed the bridge of their own lack of confidence. But as usual, I was running away with myself somewhere in the future.

According to women’s business organisation Prowess, only one in three UK entrepreneurs are female; a gender gap equivalent to 1.1 million missing businesses (Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship, HM Treasury 2019).

And so the past 20 years has been a roller coaster of ups and downs as I have taught workshops, retreats, opened B.Hive women’s business centre, created more SEED learning and delivery content with partners like UNESCO and The Prince’s Trust, and saw so many women’s lives change for the better as they found their direction and power. I even got an OBE last year from Prince Charles for my work in the field which was a true acknowledgment and honour. And, as I observe women doing so well in natural health, beauty, local stores, organic foods, coaching, running local women’s networks, wellbeing practitioners, eco-farming, creative products, community leadership and many more fields, it has become very clear that I was right all along. When a woman follows her dream and works according to her values including integrity, connection, freedom and love, she cn achieve virtually anything. I am celebrating SEED 20.20 with a whole manner of activities starting around International Women’s Day on March 8th with talks and workshops across the country, podcasts, a new SEED platform for likeminded women to connect and support each other, retreats at my SEED Hub in Wincanton and, I have promised myself, taking all the content of 20 years of SEED and making it available to download for women everywhere.

Do get in touch with me and come and see me at one of my talks, kicking off at London’s H Club on March 11th or visit me in Wincanton. We have so much to do together and if not now, when?

Article by

Lynne Franks

Author, Entrepreneur, Broadcaster and Lifestyle Guru

is an acclaimed author, entrepreneur, broadcaster and lifestyle guru

Discover more

Article by

Lynne Franks

Author, Entrepreneur, Broadcaster and Lifestyle Guru

is an acclaimed author, entrepreneur, broadcaster and lifestyle guru

Discover more