A Westminster Adventure: From Moray to the House of Lords with f:entrepreneur
What a whirlwind few days in London! Being named among f:Entrepreneur's #iAlso100 for 2025 was exciting enough, but heading to the House of Lords to celebrate International Women's Day took things to another level entirely.
The adventure began with that dreaded 4am alarm for my flight to London. Despite the bleary eyes, the buzz of anticipation kept me going as I made my way south from Moray to Westminster. By afternoon, I found myself sitting by the sunny Thames with a cuppa, taking a moment to absorb what was happening.
Of course, the immediate panic was what to wear! After weeks of mild fretting (wellies didn't seem quite right for the House of Lords), the wonderful Stella at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland in Forres stepped in and sponsored a proper swanky frock for the occasion. Their support for both Brilliantly Brave and The MidLife Mingle has been incredible throughout our journey.
The House of Lords reception itself was something special – finding myself among 100 remarkable female entrepreneurs, all juggling businesses alongside a host of other responsibilities. The energy in the room was incredible – a room full of women who understand the daily balancing act of running a business while managing countless other commitments.
Michelle Ovens CBE, founder of Small Business Britain and the f:Entrepreneur campaign, captured the spirit perfectly in her speech: "The drive and determination of women-led businesses across the UK is nothing short of remarkable. Despite the entrepreneurial load of running a business, women are demonstrably happier and more confident for taking on that challenge and making a huge impact through their businesses."
Her words really resonated with me – the research showing that 80% of women feel more confident after launching their business, and 87% report feeling happier certainly matches my own experience with Brilliantly Brave.
My #iAlso100 selection had already been recognised in the Scottish Parliament, Douglas Ross MSP having lodged a motion highlighting our work with both Green Ribbons and Brilliantly Brave that gained cross-party support across Scotland. His words to Holyrood were incredibly touching: "Jean's work ethic, determination to succeed and her drive to help and support for others, is outstanding and it is very fitting that she should be named one of the UK's most inspiring small business leaders."
From Westminster to Holyrood – not bad for a small business from Moray! This double recognition feels particularly meaningful because it amplifies our message about accessible mental health support and shows how our purpose-driven model is resonating at a national level.
After the formal ceremony, we headed to The Blue Boar pub with its walls covered in Gerald Scarfe's fantastic illustrations. This was where the real magic happened – connecting with incredible women like Lara from The London House Of Wellbeing, Jenny who runs Storm in a Teacup gift shop, Catherine from Cup-O-T, and Clare from Little Green Change.
Despite running completely different businesses, we found ourselves sharing so many common experiences and challenges. There's something powerful about that immediate shorthand that develops between female entrepreneurs – within minutes, these weren't just business contacts but women I felt I could call at any time for advice or just a sympathetic ear.
The London adventure was made even better by staying with talented illustrator Kirsty Todd, who we met last year at PGLive. What could have been simple accommodation turned into late-night chat, Gin, and the kind of genuine connection that makes this whole entrepreneurial journey worthwhile. It truly felt like staying with an old friend despite our relatively new connection.
I've returned to Moray tired but buzzing with new ideas and connections. The #iAlso100 recognition feels particularly meaningful because it celebrates the full picture – running Brilliantly Brave while also managing Green Ribbons, The Midlife Mingle, wild swimming groups, conservation work, and yes, occasionally operating a digger!
Our model of channeling 100% of profits into mental health initiatives is part of a growing movement of businesses that are redefining success to include social impact. Knowing that every 1,000 cards we sell funds a two-day mental health first aid course for 16 people makes this impact tangible and meaningful – something that many of the women I met at Westminster immediately connected with.
Here's to fabulous women in business being fabulous! The Westminster connections will undoubtedly lead to exciting new possibilities, collaborations and friendships – watch this space!
For more on this story: https://www.pgbuzz.net/swanking-it-up-at-house-of-lords/
About Brilliantly Brave
Brilliantly Brave is a purpose-driven greeting card publisher based in Moray, Scotland. Founded in 2024, the business creates beautifully designed cards that celebrate diversity, promote mental wellbeing, and directly fund community mental health initiatives. By channelling 100% of profits into local support services, we're pioneering a new model of social enterprise that proves commercial success and social impact can go hand in hand.
