Meet PERTH WOW's 2018 Mentors!

The programme at WOW this year, as always, is packed with inspirational, incredible women. Women who unapologetically make their voices heard; who are doing great things in their communities and the wider world.

Given this, it’s particularly exciting that this year WOW will feature Speed Mentoring sessions! The idea behind these being that experts across a wide range of fields from journalism, to science to theatre and activism movements – amongst many others will be available for three individual 15-minute mentoring sessions.

Through these, participants will be able to share challenges, exchange ideas, and potentially identify a new mentor. Women lifting each other up, and supporting each other to succeed! So without further ado, here is a list of some of this year’s WOW Perth mentors!

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Nicola Martin – Owner of Red String Agency and Small City, Big Personality
Nicola is an experienced marketing & PR professional with over 15 years in the business. Known for her creative ideas and excellent execution she enjoys a solid reputation as a copywriter, a strategist and a go-to person for inbound marketing. In 2012 she launched local online magazine, www.smallcitybigpersonality.co.uk, to great success.

Fiona Reith – Developing Young Workforce Manager at Perth & Kinross City Council
Fiona currently co-ordinates a project called Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) across the Perth and Kinross region where she links employers with schools so young people know more about the world of work. Before that she worked in business development in drinks and cosmetics. She lives in the countryside outside Perth and has 2 children. She’s a qualified coach and mentor and loves hearing about other people’s ideas.

Tricia Fox – CEO at Volpa
Tricia Fox is CEO of Volpa, one of Scotland’s leading integrated marketing agencies. Starting her business at just 26, she has over 15 years’ experience in the ups and downs of entrepreneurial life for women, a passion for learning (and dogs), not to mention energy, enthusiasm and a forthrightness that, as a woman, she has found that (some) people find refreshing!

Gillian Taylor - Head of Democratic Services at Perth and Kinross Council; wife and mother of 16 year old daughter.
Having left school shortly after starting 6th year, Gillian went in to the world of work with the Royal Bank of Scotland but found the routine sameness of each day was not for her. After a year she moved into local government where she stayed – enjoying a varied range of roles, and gaining higher and further education qualifications along the way.

Lee McKay Doe – Founder of Find my Mojo
Are you unhappy in your career, but have no idea what else to do? Or perhaps you have a burning desire, but you are holding yourself back? Lee is a mindset coach and final-year counsellor and her passion is helping women to identify and overcome blocks such as guilt, fear and lack of confidence. She wants to help you live the amazing life that you deserve!

Maggie Symonds - Next Arc
Maggie started her first business aged 20. Later, she provided Internet access to Scotland and consultancy to the European Commission, Scottish Government and the US, developing teams and networks. Having lived in a small island community made her aware of the challenges and opportunities for small businesses. 

Rachel Weiss – Founder at Rowan Consultancy and Menopause Café
Rachel Weiss founded Rowan Consultancy in 1997 and now employs an office team plus a network of 50+ freelance consultants, providing counselling, coaching, training and mediation nationwide. She is an accredited coach, coaching women entrepreneurs and leaders. Rachel recently founded the Menopause Café charity, adding 3^rd sector experience to her experience in the private sector. She looks forward to exploring and refining your thinking on the questions you bring to speed mentoring.

Heather Borderie - Operations Director and Workplace Coach at Glendoick Garden Centre.
Heather has over 20 years experience in management, leadership, setting up systems and growing businesses in a variety of organisations. Her motto is: Never ask someone to do something you wouldn't be prepared to do yourself. Halo Coaching is her own business, where she works with a few select clients in self-development, usually in a workplace setting.

Anne Dunbar - NHS Senior Charge Nurse Theatre Co-ordinator for Main Theatres in Ninewells Hospital
Anne started her nursing career in 1976 and after 42 years still enjoys her career and learns something new each and every day. She has worked abroad and lived in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia for six years in the 1980’s working in their main hospital.

In her current role at Ninewells she manages teams of up to 60 staff and works under pressure to make sure that a theatre is always ready for any emergency that might come in. She would love to help others gain insight into how they manage the highs and lows, and the incredible team work and organisational skills that go into every single case, patient and staff member to make a team that she is unbelievably proud to be a part of - that save lives on a daily basis.

Claire McKenzie - Founder of the first ever Perthshire Pride Festival
Perth born and bred Claire Mackenzie studied Human Resource Management at Abertay University before moving to Australia to work and travel. After returning home to Perth, she founded Perthshire Pride, a charity that celebrates the LGBT+ community and overall diversity of Perthshire. She was inspired to start up Perthshire Pride as she felt Perthshire did not have a visible LGBT+ community.