Thank you!

Thank you for attending Women in Wholesale Speed Mentoring 2024 and for making this our biggest Speed Mentoring event to date! Here you will find some resources from our amazing mentors, photos from the day and a link to give your feedback.

See you at Diversity in Wholesale in the autumn!

Find out more about our 2024 mentors and their sessions with some handy resources to take way with you
MENTOR BIOGRAPHIES & RESOURCES
Being You with Richard Howell, Founder, Marvel, FMCG 
Richard, a visionary disruptor in recruitment, founded a business prioritising people, the planet, and purpose over profit. Diagnosed with ADHD, he's dedicated to helping others succeed by embracing authenticity. Leading in diversity and inclusion, he employs innovative strategies like blind CVs. Marvel FMCG, a certified B Corp, donates 1% of placed candidate fees to Alzheimer’s Society. 
Being You with Clare Bocking, Director, Immediate Impact & WiW Chairperson 
Clare, a seasoned Executive Director with 30 years of experience. A lifelong learner, she earned her Executive Coach qualification at the University of Warwick in 2014 and a Distinction in a Diploma in Organisational Change from Warwick Business School in 2023. Passionate about diversity, Clare chairs Women & Diversity in Wholesale, mentors leaders, and runs her consultancy, Immediate Impact Ltd. Additionally, she serves as an Associate Consultant for Total Negotiation Group and an advisor for Aston University Business School. 
Being You resource
Driving Change and Legacy with Coral Rose, CEO, Fairway Foodservice
Coral, a founding supporter of WiW and former Chairperson of the FWD, started her journey in foodservice wholesale in 1993 with Brakes. Following the birth of her third son, Coral established her own business, serving as a consultant in foodservice. Joining the Country Range Group in 2010, she advanced group marketing and strategic development, ultimately becoming Managing Director in November 2013. As the CEO of Fairway, Coral will share insights on driving change during her 30-plus years of experience.
Driving Legacy and Change resource
Driving Change and Legacy with Emma Senior, Managing Director, Sugro Wholesale
Emma assumed the role of Managing Director at Sugro in 2023, capping off a 20-year journey marked by various promotions at Mondelēz International. With a strong focus on wholesale, Emma previously managed Bestway and Booker Buying Groups, and has worked with the Discounter team, overseeing Iceland. Emma will share her role in instigating transformative changes within Sugro.
Allyship with Martin Holmes, People Director, Creed Foodservice
Winner of the FWD’s Diversity in Wholesale Award 2023, Creed is well known for being a champion of diversity and among the 'Best Companies to Work For.’ Martin is the driving force behind many of these successful initiatives. He's led successful initiatives for employee engagement, cultural change, and business improvement. In this session, Martin will share tips on how women can build better connections with male managers, fostering collaboration and insights to gaining support.
Allyship with Debbie Robinson, CEO Central Co-op
Debbie Robinson, the first female CEO of Central Co-operative, will share insights on allyship drawing on her extensive experience as an influential and successful leader in UK retail. Formerly leading Spar in the UK and awarded an Honorary Doctorate for her ‘contribution to business’, Debbie is a compelling speaker, leader, and a founding supporter of Women in Wholesale. With a focus on creating a supportive workplace, Debbie will reveal how working together helps us to go further than working alone, fostering psychological safety and trust.
Allyship resource
Careering into Motherhood with Lana Bhikha, Joint Managing Director, Woods Foodservice
Lana's journey at Woods is truly inspiring. Starting as an order taker, she worked hard and climbed up to joint Managing Director while raising twins. In this session, Lana shares valuable experiences and tips on how to balance the challenges of every-day life – whether it be young children or other dependents – with a senior leadership role. Lana emphasises clear communication, authenticity, and recognising others' efforts.
Careering into Motherhood Melanie Tucker, Head of Out of Home, Biotiful Gut Health
Mel, a certified WiW Academy Coach, Girls Network UK mentor, and WiW Committee member, is dedicated to supporting women in the wholesale channel. She does this by raising awareness of the tools available to women at different stages of their career, and of how to leverage the power of your network to drive long-term success. Mel will discuss career journeys and the conflicting, daily juggle of personal and professional.
Impartiality Ayman Nasreldin, Executive Coach
Ayman, an official WiW Academy Coach with 22 years of corporate experience, specialises in inclusive leadership and is an accredited EMCC coach. Passionate about unlocking potential, he assists high-potential individuals and leaders in discovering their purpose and optimising performance. This session explores methods for fostering workplace impartiality, ensuring fair treatment for all employees regardless of background or beliefs.
Impartiality with Clare Jackson, Talent & Development Business Partner, Sysco
Passionate about developing people, Clare was honoured with the Sysco Gender Equity Movement award and spearheads the Mentoring for Inclusion program at Sysco GB. A steadfast advocate for women in the workforce, she showed her support for diversity by training to join the mere 3% of women HGV drivers in the UK during the HGV driver crisis, helping to better understand the challenges female drivers face.
Communication Tips with Holly Pennington, HR & Training Manager, Parfetts / Go Local
Holly, winner of the FWD’s Emerging Talent Gold Medal Award, prioritises people and culture. Recognising that happy staff boosts retention and lowers turnover, she bravely engaged the senior board to highlight HR's significance and earnt herself a seat in the boardroom. Holly actively shapes a positive company culture, promoting diversity and nurturing talent. Breaking barriers, she was Parfetts' first female speaker at the DiW conference in 2023.
Communication Tips - Resource
Communication Tips with Ruth Fawcett, Wholesale & Convenience Associate Director, CCEP
Ruth, with over ten career promotions, is experienced in leading teams and achieving consistent success. In this session, she shares insights on effective team communication, emphasising the importance of engagement, influence, and having everyone’s support with team projects. With 19 years at CCEP, she is a seasoned professional, collaborating with the UK's largest wholesalers and retailers.
Communication Tips - resource
Celebrating Diversity with Ednah Otieno, Director of HR, Diageo
Ednah Otieno, an advocate for diversity and inclusion, boasts a career spanning various leadership roles. With roots in EABL Africa, she excelled in HR functions before joining Airtel Africa and Mars Wrigley. Returning to Diageo, she assumed pivotal roles, including Group Human Director and DHR Director, spearheading diversity initiatives. Diageo, ranked second in FTSE Women Leaders Review, lauds her contributions. Ednah remains committed to fostering inclusivity, leveraging her expertise across industries.
Celebrating Diversity with Kate Carroll, Head of Charity, Nisa
Discover the impact of workplace adjustments on overall inclusivity. Nisa pioneers innovative concepts, such as Zen gardens for multi-sensory needs, Ramadan-friendly washrooms for foot-washing, and a wellness area for stress relief. These initiatives are just a few of the many activities that Nisa is running to ensure that all employees feel acknowledged, valued, and supported. Kate plays a key role in spotlighting diverse cultures, religions, and cuisines, promoting a strong sense of belonging in the workplace. Prepare to take away great ideas!
Celebrating Diversity - resource

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