Member Article

Inspire Network International Limited appoints first ever Chief Executive taking 10,000 strong network global

The Inspire Network, a North East women’s networking group with over 10,000 members is set to go global with a new structure and its first ever chief executive.

The new Inspire Network International Limited has been launched after eight years running as a not-for-profit company supporting women in business at every stage.

Now the new company with its roots and over 10,000 members in the North East has the goal of becoming a national and international organisation with Inspire groups all over the globe supporting and inspiring women of all ages to reach their dreams of entrepreneurship.

The company is launching the first phase of 30 new groups with licence agreements across the North East and beyond.

And Inspire aims to support budding entrepreneurs at the start of their careers with a new not for profit young people’s company for women between the ages of 16 and 22 in entrepreneurship, to empower them and give them leverage and support.

The new company has appointed Mandy Charlton as its first ever Chief Executive, a Newcastle photographer and blogger with over 12 years of business experience behind her. She has faced many challenges and was unable to leave her own home due to bipolar disorder and agoraphobia but has gone on to establish herself as a business leader with a successful photography business and as a well-known blogger.

Mandy knows the challenges of starting a business against all the odds, as she has learned to thrive in a saturated market achieving many awards and accolades along the way.

She said: “Fifteen years ago I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and agoraphobia. Despite this I set up Mandy Charlton Photography with one camera and £250 and have since become one of the most successful photographers in the NE.

“I wanted to connect to people who were in a similar position to me and I was naturally drawn toward business women who seemed calm, composed and in control. I heard about a local networking meeting which was child friendly, I went along and it’s led to great friendships with women who share similar issues to me.”

The group became the Inspire Network and extended its membership to all women whether they had children or not.

Mandy added: “It’s tough building any business and as a woman it can be even tougher with running a household and bringing up children, requiring great skill to juggle effectively. Add to this my battle with mental health issues and sometimes it can feel like guerrilla warfare.”

Her vision for the Inspire Network International Limited is for it to become a worldwide organisation which makes a profit and becomes a global brand; but at its heart is philanthropic and supportive.

She said: “We are a company with people at its heart. We want to educate, inspire and empower women at all stages of business. Working as a global network means one day we can make a difference in countries which aren’t as egalitarian as ours.

“There are some shocking statistics, for example globally 65 million girls are not in school unable to get even a basic education.

“That is my quest to grow the Inspire Network International Limited so that we can help girls and women around the world.”

Mandy has two daughters, one of whom she educates at home, and whilst she still has bipolar, good self-care and medication have enabled her to manage her condition.

“Now I have changed my life because I did it on my terms. And I want to give that message to other women whether they are facing a mental health problem, a disability or gender discrimination.”

Mandy was among 100 community leaders recently invited to the Facebook headquarters to learn how to make their online communities even better.

“I picked up so many tips and have implemented some already, there’s some game changing stuff coming to our facebook groups which is going to make them an even better place to be.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by 2B Communications Limited .