Two local business owners have come together to celebrate the variety and achievements of women of Bedford this International Women’s Day (Sunday, 8 March).
Lauren Troiano of The Little Marketing Company and Female Founders.UK, and photographer Emily Bateman ran their first International Women’s Day (IWD) campaign last year to highlight to other Bedfordians just how many female founders there are in Bedford.
This year, the pair wanted to delve a bit deeper to discover the reasons behind the businesses and the courage it can take for women business owners to make it on their own.
The shoot featured 40 female founders, all from a variety of different industries, including hairdressers, holistic therapists, personal trainers, educators, communications specialists, fashion designers and more.
Emily said: “It was a real honour to capture the women in this campaign. The eyes can tell a lot about a soul and we wanted it to be striking.
“Everyone’s stories are so personal and individual and strong. I wanted to convey this message by just focusing on the eye. You might even recognise some.
“The next time you support a female founder, whether it’s by having a haircut, getting a massage, attending their workshops or events, take a look at their eyes and discover and appreciate the sheer hard graft these women have poured into their businesses, often into the small hours of the night.”
Lauren agreed, saying: “I set up Female Founders to create a community of women who are entrepreneurs. There wasn’t anything I found I liked in the area when it came to networking, so I set up on my own.
“Through this community, I slowly discovered the reasons behind the women setting up their businesses. It’s so personal, and so many of them are being neglected by their workforce for simply having a baby.
“I wanted others to take the time to realise the strength and courage these women had when it came to setting up their businesses.
“Setting up a business and supporting your family financially is no small task, yet these incredible women have all done so, and often through navigating difficult times.
“I am so proud of all of the women of this campaign, and all other female founders”.
The IWD 2026 campaign will be shared across both Lauren and Emily’s social media channels, so keep an ‘eye’ out for it…
