Hi, I’m Amy, a community builder, a business educator, and the founder of The Lark Network. I am also neurodivergent – I have ADHD and borderline personality disorder – and I’m a mum. These parts of me are not separate from my work; they inform it. I know what it means to feel like you don’t quite fit, and I’ve spent over a decade creating spaces where other women who feel like that can belong, grow, and thrive.

My professional background is in education and enterprise. I started my career as a secondary school teacher, then moved to work in the Higher Education sector, where I’ve spent the last ten years supporting women in business. I founded the Female Entrepreneurs Network (FEN) in 2014 while working at the University of Portsmouth. At the time, I could see how many women lacked access to business support that felt welcoming or relevant. FEN was created as an alternative, a space for freelancers, small business owners, and social entrepreneurs to connect, share, and support one another. Over the years, FEN has reached thousands of women, offering free or low-cost events that prioritise inclusion, collaboration, and confidence-building.

From 2019 to 2021, I was part of the Accelerating Women’s Enterprise (AWE) project, a cross-channel European partnership that aimed to tackle inequality in entrepreneurship. I led training delivery across the Solent region, overseeing the recruitment of mentors and participants, managing communications, and ensuring our offer was accessible to women experiencing disadvantage. AWE gave me the chance to expand my impact across borders and deepen my commitment to doing enterprise differently, not from the top down, but in partnership with the people we were there to serve.

In 2021, I founded The Lark Network as a way to continue this work outside of academic institutions. Lark is a Community Interest Company based in Portsmouth, supporting women who want to start or grow their own businesses, especially those facing additional barriers. Our events and workshops are designed with care and flexibility. We offer pay-what-you-can-afford pricing, a child-friendly approach, and a strong focus on accessibility. Every detail matters – from the way we communicate, to the food we serve, to the community values we uphold. Lark is proudly inclusive and grassroots. It is powered by women who have felt excluded from other business spaces, and who are now building something different together.

I’ve also led on sponsorship development, grant funding, and cross-sector collaboration to keep Lark sustainable and growing. I write all our content, manage our social media, and host monthly events like Startup Sunday and Lark Lunch Break. I work hard to make sure women feel seen, supported, and encouraged – even if they’re not sure they belong in business yet. Many of our members are juggling caring responsibilities, mental health challenges, or financial pressures. Lark holds space for that reality, while still offering tools, learning, and connection to help women build businesses on their own terms.

Alongside my work with Lark, I am a Business Engagement Coordinator at the University of Portsmouth, supporting student and staff collaboration with local businesses. I also hold a Master of Laws in Intellectual Property and have contributed to the University’s Small Business Charter accreditation and Knowledge Exchange Framework success.

At the heart of everything I do is the belief that enterprise can be a powerful tool for change, but only if we design it with inclusion and care. I don’t believe in gatekeeping knowledge or success. I believe in creating access, sharing power, and building community. I know that when you’ve been made to feel like you’re too much or not enough, it can be hard to imagine a place where you belong. That’s what I’ve tried to create through FEN, AWE, and Lark – places where women can show up as they are, try things out, and grow with support around them.

I haven’t done this work alone. I’ve been lucky to collaborate with brilliant women, kind funders, and generous partners who share this vision. But I’ve also done it while raising my kids, managing my own mental health, and navigating systems not always built for someone like me. That’s part of the story, too – and one of the reasons I’ll keep going.

Because for every woman who’s been told she’s too emotional, too complicated, or too chaotic to lead, I want to show there’s another way. One where we build success together, and no one is left behind.