Rise Her Collective London Summit
We’re so excited to announce the very first Rise Her Collective Summit @ Canva London
A full day designed for women building small and medium-sized businesses, whether you are just getting started or already growing something of your own.
Expect practical sessions, open conversations and plenty of useful ideas you can take back to your own business. It will be a relaxed space to learn, meet other founders and talk honestly about what it really takes to build and grow.
Across the day, we’ll bring together founders, experts and ecosystem leaders to explore content, personal branding, technology, AI-supported decision-making, access to opportunity and building a business without burning out.
Agenda
10:00–10:30
Arrival, Coffee & Informal Networking
Registration, coffee, light snacks and informal conversations before the programme begins.
10:30–10:45
Welcome – Rise Her Collective
Opening remarks, an introduction to the day and what participants can expect from the summit.
Morning Programme
10:45–11:25
Create, Show Up, Grow: Content That Works for Small Businesses
with Lorna Bladen
UK Small Business Community Manager at Canva
A practical conversation on how women founders can use content to grow their businesses without a large team or budget.
From idea to execution, the panel will explore how to create consistently, show up confidently and turn visibility into meaningful results.
What works in content today and what does not
Turning everyday ideas into simple, consistent content
Using Canva to save time and stay creative
Building a recognisable brand without overthinking it
11:25–11:40
Coffee & Refreshment Break
11:40–12:20
Building What's Next: Woman Frontiers in Tech
Moderated by Attila Dikbaş
General Manager, İTÜ ARI Teknokent
A candid conversation with women building technology-led businesses.
The panel will explore the realities of developing a product, entering the market, earning credibility and growing within an industry where women remain underrepresented.
Turning an idea or industry insight into a technology business
Building and testing a product with limited resources
Finding customers, investment and the right support network
Navigating credibility, leadership and representation in tech
Lessons founders wish they had known earlier
12:20–13:00
Who Gets to Build? Rewriting the Path for Women Founders
with Professor Pınar Özcan
Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, University of Oxford
This session challenges the invisible rules of entrepreneurship and explores how women navigate and reshape the journey from idea to scale.
From access to capital and professional networks to confidence, visibility and systemic barriers, the conversation will look at what needs to change and how entrepreneurial ecosystems can better support women building the future.
13:00–13:45
Food, Refreshments & Informal Networking
Sandwiches, snacks and drinks will be available, with time to meet participating brands, continue conversations and make new introductions.
Afternoon Programme
13:45–14:25
From Gut Feeling to Structured Decisions
With Eren Baydemir
Co-founder & CEO, DecisionBox
A practical session on how early-stage founders can use AI to make clearer decisions and turn ideas into more structured next steps.
Using AI to explore ideas and opportunities
Turning broad thoughts into practical actions
Supporting research, planning and problem-solving
Simple examples founders can apply to their own businesses
14:25–14:40
Coffee & Refreshment Break
14:40–15:20
Business Ownership Without Sacrificing Your Health and Happiness
With Mike Jones
Leadership Coach @ We Are Better Happy
Building a business shouldn’t mean becoming the person who works the most, gets paid last and carries every problem.This conversation looks at how founders can build businesses that work for them too, not just their customers, teams and everyone around them. We’ll talk about letting go of the pressure to do everything, making better choices about where your time goes, and building a business that can grow without your health and happiness paying the price.
15:20–15:30
Closing Remarks
Key reflections from the day and closing remarks from Rise Her Collective.
15:30–16:00
Closing Drinks & Networking
An opportunity to meet the speakers, visit the participating brands, continue the conversations and connect with other founders before the summit ends.