The Bootstrappers' Breakfasts™

Lesley Sackey is a leader in the realm of women's boxing and the visionary tech founder of Pillow, a transformative AI integrated platform dedicated to powering survivors to thrive after domestic abuse. As founder of Fight Forward, a social impact business, she has a mission to support women to reclaim their strength and voice after experiencing abuse.

Pillow:

Pillow powers a community of survivors to thrive by connecting them to people, tools and resources through an AI-integrated ecosystem.

Fight Forward CIC

A not-for-profit organisation that uses boxing as a tool to improve the mental health of survivors of domestic abuse. Our mission is to help 100,000 women to Fight Forward.

A trailblazer in the sport, Lesley became the first British woman to win gold at the EU Championships in 2008 on first entry, proudly representing England and Great Britain on numerous international stages.

Motivated by her own personal journey out of abuse, Lesley launched the pioneering initiative The Fight Back, which gained prominent coverage on Channel 4, SKY Sports and the BBC. Her ambitious goal to help 100,000 women "fight forward" out of abuse is rapidly gaining momentum. "My work with Fight Forward is particularly disruptive because it challenges preconceptions about boxing. We are using what is typically considered a violent sport to heal women who have experienced violence. The program helps women reclaim consent over their own bodies and voices, connect with their bodies in a healing way, find community and connection and process trauma through physical movement".

Lesley's influence extends beyond the ring. She co-produced an independent documentary with BBC Sport that highlights the challenges faced by female boxers in Ghana, broadening the narrative around women in sports globally. Additionally, her expertise has been showcased as a guest trainer on Channel 4's "How To Get Fit Fast" and as an athlete on BBC 3's "Last Woman Standing."

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SOCIALS:

Website: www.fightforward.org.uk & www.getpillow.ai

Instagram: @lesleyboxersackey &

https://www.instagram.com/fightfwd

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/lesleysackey

Christina Flach is a celebrity hair and makeup artist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. After starting her career in 1995, she founded her own makeup line, Pretty Girl Makeup, and has acquired many notable clientele. She has worked with many major television networks, celebrities, designers, department stores, magazines, and big name brands. She is an expert at creating looks that allow her clients natural beauty to shine through by making every client feel like the best version of themselves on the inside and the outside. In addition to her career as a makeup artist, Christina is a philanthropist, a beauty expert on NBC's CA Live, and a guest on a variety of podcasts. Christina is represented by Zenobia & Ford Artists NYC, LA, & Miami and is available for travel worldwide.

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SOCIALS:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinaflachmakeup?igsh=aDd4NGY5Nndzdmpo

YouTube :www.youtube.com/@imtoobusypodcast

Website: http://www.imtoobusytv.com/

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/41LL2T3

Rupinder Kaur is the award-winning founder of Asian Women Mean Business (AWMB). A British Asian woman who has thrived in both the corporate and entrepreneurial worlds, she is deeply passionate about helping South Asian women unlock their silent strength and reach their full potential.

Through AWMB, Rupinder supports women in shifting from overwhelm and isolation to lives filled with balance, purpose, and joy—personally and professionally. Her unique framework blends structure, mindset tools, and community within a vibrant and supportive sisterhood.

With over two decades of experience in human resources, psychology, coaching, and mentoring, Rupinder brings a wealth of expertise to her work. She is committed to helping women create lives they are proud of—lives that reflect their values, dreams, and authentic selves.

As a mother to Daya and Sahib, Rupinder understands firsthand the complex challenges working mothers face—from navigating identity shifts to redefining aspirations and reconnecting with who they truly are. Her work is rooted in compassion, experience, and a deep understanding of the South Asian cultural context.

In 2020, Rupinder was invited to join the prestigious Forbes Coaches Council, becoming the only Sikh woman from the UK to be accepted into the network.

AWMB offers support through inspirational blogs, a podcast, and a growing community of like-minded women. By spotlighting real stories of purpose-driven South Asian women, AWMB aims to show others what's possible—because as Rupinder says, "You cannot be what you cannot see."

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SOCIALS:

Twitter: https://x.com/A_W_M_B

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.w.m.b/

Website: https://www.asianwomenmeanbusiness.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rupinderkaurawmb/

Andrea Balboni is a Relationships and Intimacy Coach and founder of Lush Coaching. She helps individuals and couples cultivate confidence, connection, and fulfilment in their personal intimate relationships by drawing on modern psychology, neuroscience, embodiment work, and ancient wisdom traditions.

Andrea brings a unique blend of professional expertise and personal experience to her coaching practice. She is ready to meet you where you are at and help you to get where you'd like to be.

She has contributed to publications like the BBC, The Independent, and the Metro, and collaborated with elite private clubs in London to host transformative workshops.

Before founding Lush Coaching, Andrea spent two decades at the forefront of digital innovation, leading award-winning creative teams for blue chip companies and cutting-edge scale ups globally.

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SOCIALS:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreabalboni_lush/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ_ZyLXMaHAjao0foSI353A

Website: https://www.lushcoaching.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreabalboni/

Marina Mayer is an organisational leadership psychologist, chief science officer and co-founder of Sway, a consultancy building resilience in organisations with bodies in mind. Following an early career in elite athletics, Marina has spent 15 years building teams and organisations from the inside out, leading organisational development, talent strategy and human resources. She holds dual Masters degrees in Organisational Psychology and Theology, specializing in an interdisciplinary approach to narrative leadership ethics, sensemaking, social identity and behavior, and has worked in leadership formation to sustain the demands of leadership in high-pressure, male-domiated environments such as industrial, manufacturing, aerospace, military and defense industries.

Marina's award-winning research, How Movement Moves Us, explores the untapped potential of our bodies to affect leadership cognition, emotional regulation, and resilience. Through Sway, Marina and her team are focused in developing readiness and resilience in organisations going through growth turbulence and change, such as in private capital investment injections and M&A.

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SOCIALS:

Website: https://www.swayatwork.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swayscientific/

Friska Wirya is a globally recognized expert in change management and leadership, known for her work as an Organizational Change Advisor and Change Leadership Coach. She is an Emeritus Faculty member in Change Management, a TEDx speaker, and the author of two #1 best-selling books, The Future Fit Organization and The Future Fit Asian Organization. She also created FUTURE TALK, a team-based conversation card game to encourage raw, real and necessary conversations about change and disruption.

Over the past decade, Friska has led change programs impacting up to 65,000 people across six continents. Her debut book became a bestseller within 36 hours and achieved three additional category best-seller rankings in just a few days. Her work is available globally and stocked at Harvard University, Periplus, Kinokuniya, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Booktopia, Shopee and Tokopedia. Friska has been named among the Top 50 Global Change Management Thought Leaders, Top 50 Asia Pacific Business Consultants You Should Know, and Top 10 Women Change Makers in Indonesia. She is also recognized as a Top Voice in Workplace Culture and Change, and has spoken at organizations such as Salesforce, F5, Microsoft and for events such as the Asian Family Wealth Forum and the upcoming Indonesian Economic Forum. Her insights have been featured in publications such as the Australian Institute of Company Directors, The Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald, Smart Company, UN Women, and Women's Agenda. Based in Indonesia, she continues to advise and facilitate custom change management programs for major players in oil and gas, engineering, and technology.

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SOCIALS:

Twitter: https://www.tiktok.com/@freshbyfriska

Instagram: http://instagram.com/freshbyfriska

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDkVf0igJFUpSlg4w9Bh-UA

Website: https://www.freshbyfriska.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/friska/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@freshbyfriska

Carolyn Sophia Skowron is a passionate mental health advocate, author, and speaker dedicated to breaking down the stigma around mental health and empowering others through her story. Her book, Unbreakable, shares her deeply personal journey through struggles with anxiety, depression, and self-doubt, offering readers a message of resilience and hope. After enduring the challenges of bullying and grappling with her mental health, Carolyn found strength in vulnerability and a renewed purpose in advocating for others. Through her work, she creates safe, inclusive spaces where people feel seen, heard, and supported. Carolyn's mission is simple yet powerful: to ensure no one ever feels alone in their mental health journey. Whether through her book, her speaking engagements, or her community initiatives, Carolyn continues to inspire others to embrace their own resilience.

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SOCIALS:

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/carolyn.sophia?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Book: https://www.amazon.com/unbreakable-Breaking-silence-Finding-Sharing/dp/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolynsophiaaa/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolyn.skowron/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@carolynsophiaskowron9249

Website: https://www.carolynsophia.com/

Grace Redman is a charismatic entrepreneur, success coach, and speaker with a passion for guiding entrepreneurs and high performers to harness the power of the inevitable life and business storms — and soar to new levels of success. Blending practical and holistic principles, Grace empowers her clients to harness their talents, unlock their optimal potential, and transform both their professional and personal lives.

As the best-selling author of "Can I Live?! Dare To Go From F*cked up to Fabulous" and host of the "Real Talk with Grace Redman" podcast, Grace's influence extends far beyond one-on-one coaching. With over 25 years as a successful entrepreneur in the competitive San Francisco Bay Area, she has coached and mentored thousands of professionals through her staffing firm. Her authenticity and vulnerability foster genuine connections, establishing her as a trusted leader and go-to expert in her field.

Grace's resilience is legendary. She not only survived but thrived through four economic downturns and a global pandemic when many competitors closed their doors. In 2024, her perseverance paid off when her firm was named one of the Top 5 Women-Owned businesses in the area. Additionally, in 2025, Grace's coaching firm, Dare To Achieve, was recognized as one of the Top 5 Business Service firms in the area.

While Grace holds a Master's Degree and several coaching certifications, her most profound teacher has been life itself. Her journey is a testament to human resilience: building businesses while raising a family, navigating addiction within the family, caring for parents at the end of their lives, and overcoming a cancer diagnosis that threatened to derail her. These experiences honed Grace's extraordinary ability to guide others through their own transformational journeys .

Although Grace is grateful for her many accomplishments, she considers raising her family her greatest achievement. In this exciting chapter of her career, her mission is to guide others through the inevitable storms of life and business, helping them rise above the chaos, reclaim their power, and SOAR. Her purpose is clear: to inspire individuals to break through self-imposed limits, step beyond mediocrity, and build a life and business they love, with true freedom at the core.

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SOCIALS:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracesredman/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grace.s.redman

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gracredman3

Website: www.daretoachieve.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-redman-701a30/

Simon Calderbank

I am a caring, challenging, and compassionate leadership mindset coach, raised in a strong, matriarchal household with 3 powerful female role models guiding me. Mum, Auntie, and big sister resonated well with my perspective and empathy, helping me to develop a caring, challenging, and compassionate coaching style. It was this context that ultimately drew me to support female leaders.

I have served 100's of women leaders to break through the barriers holding them back to reflect, reframe, and reinvent their mindset to drive positive and lasting change in their workplace. And in their lives.

With only 20 men selected, it's an honour that my female clients' recommendations placed me on the Northern Women's Power Inaugural Advocacy List in 2024 for driving change in gender equality.

Lastly, I'm a Dad to two terrific teenagers, a loving partner, Diane, a loyal frien,d and an advocate that everything in your life is achievable once you know how and where to look within the limitless potential you possess.

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SOCIALS:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sicalderbank/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simon.calderbank.9

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SimonCalderbank

Website: https://big-knows.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simoncalderbank/

Karen Harvey is a creative director, photographer, writer, social entrepreneur, and more. As the founder of Auto Photo, Shutter Hub and Toiletries Amnesty she works to bring innovative ideas and fundamental kindness to every project, and has won multiple awards for photography, writing, and community development.

In 2024 Karen was awarded an MBE for services to people living in hygiene poverty, to conscious consumption, and to the environment. Amongst other recognition, Karen received the Global X Foundation Award for Innovation 2018, was named the Digital Influencer of the Year 2019 at the Dutch Press Awards, and in 2022 was given a Barclays Social Entrepreneur Award for positively driving social and environmental change through business.

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SOCIALS:

Instagram: @harveyhotdog

Website: karen-harvey.co.uk

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/toiletries-amnesty/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-harvey-mbe-75763135/