As part of our IWD series, Living360 chats to the founders of Dr Pawpaw, Beautifect and more about what it takes to get to the top.
To celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March 2026, Living360 is spotlighting inspiring women across sports, business and beauty.
From founding some of the biggest beauty brands in the UK to making sporting history, these trailblazing women have overcome bias, setbacks and stigma to achieve their dreams. Here, they reveal how they did it.
Dr Tara Lalvani: founder of Beautifect
“I founded Beautifect not simply to create a product, but to re-engineer the way women experience beauty,” explains Dr Tara.
“Starting on my own meant stepping into the unknown. I came from a science background where competence was measured by qualifications, but business is different. You learn as you build. You scale as you solve. I had to take a leap of faith and develop commercial instinct in real time. But I was clear on one thing from the beginning: if I couldn’t find the solution, I’d create it.”
Read more: Spurs footballer Molly Bartrip: “Anorexia nearly destroyed me”
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Hollie Doyle: professional jockey
As it stands, Hollie Doyle is currently the highest-achieving female rider in British horse-racing history, with over 1,000 wins in the UK. She was also named as The Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year in 2020.
“Life as a jockey can be tough, whether you’re male or female,” she tells Living360. “But in the early stages of my career, some trainers were weary at the thought of a woman riding for them.”
During her apprenticeship, Hollie was the only female jockey in her cohort and trained alongside five male apprentices every day.
She explains that her trainers’ reservations came from her being “smaller” and “not as strong” as her male counterparts, but she refused to let that hold her back.
“I decided to put on a stone in muscle mass and really focus on my strength and fitness,” she says. “I believe that this was pivotal, and I approached my career as if I was no different than anyone else.”
Read more: How Gemma Atkinson is challenging the health and beauty industries
Pauline Paterson: co-founder of Dr Pawpaw
After struggling to find a natural solution to soothe her daughter’s eczema, Pauline founded Dr Pawpaw with her husband Johnny in 2013. Since then, the business has become one of the most successful beauty brands in the UK, and is stocked by Superdrug, Holland & Barrett, Amazon, Lookfantastic and more.
Pauline’s advice to budding female entrepreneurs? Remember to put yourself first.
“The best advice I can give to women is to look after yourself as much as you look after your business,” she says. “Take time to shut off, exercise, read a book, meditate or whatever you need to do to look after you.”
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Sabrina Pace-Humphreys: ultrarunner and co-founder of Black Trail Runners
“My secret weapon is consistency,” says Sabrina. “I don’t chase perfection, I just keep showing up. Some days, that might mean going for a long run, other days, it means a 10-minute walk.”
Sabrina co-founded Black Trail Runners in 2020 to create more visibility and access for Black people in trail running, but she believes anyone can benefit from finding a supportive group, adding that you should “surround yourself with those that believe you can”.
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Anna Whitehouse: columnist, author, host and founder of Flex Appeal
In 2015, Anna quit her job after being denied flexible working. The reason for the refusal? Because it might ‘open the floodgates’ to other employees seeking flexibility.
Anna’s Flex Appeal campaign has achieved great things since its conception in 2015, most notably getting a new bill passed in April 2024, which ensured that employees can request flexible working from the first day of employment. It’s a big step for working mothers, but the road doesn’t end here. Despite wearing many hats herself, Anna advises women to be easy on themselves.
“My advice is to remember that you’re human, there’s only so much time in every day and your best is more than enough,” she says. “Your children think you’re the best thing ever, regardless of how much you earn and what you do. The key is balancing this with your own career happiness. Whatever you do, don’t believe Instagram, there’s no one who’s getting it right.”
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Top tips from female founders and sports stars:
Protect your time
“The narrative of ‘doing it all’ is misleading,” says Dr Tara. “The real skill is knowing what not to do. Clarity is everything. I’m ruthless about prioritisation. If something doesn’t move the needle personally or professionally, it doesn’t stay on my calendar. Protecting time is a leadership skill.”
Move away from uniformed perceptions
“Mums are often terrified that flexible working is going to impact their career,” explains Anna. “We need to move away from a uniformed perception of what success looks like and refocus on productivity and results. This is how both businesses and mothers can win.”
Put yourself first
“I move my body every day,” explains Sabrina. “It doesn’t always mean running, but I make sure to step outside each day and reconnect with myself.”
For Dr Tara, movement is also non-negotiable.
“Reformer Pilates resets my thinking. It’s not about fitness alone, it’s about mental clarity. The best strategic decisions are rarely made when exhausted or overwhelmed.”
Face your fears
“I feel most empowered when I’m doing something that scares me,” says Sabrina. “Even if that means speaking up in places where my voice isn’t always welcomed.”
Hollie adds that you should “never let your fears stop you from trying something new”.
Allow more than one version of you to exist
“Female leadership is often expected to be softer, more accommodating,” says Dr Tara. “I lead with clarity, standards and long-term thinking. Strength and empathy are not opposites. Strategic discipline and emotional intelligence can coexist. In fact, they should.”
“I believe women are redefining leadership. We’re proving that ambition and family life are not mutually exclusive. That precision, resilience and intuition are powerful commercial assets. The industry is evolving because women are building it differently.”
Surround yourself with people who elevate you
Sabrina experienced first-hand why community matters. During a mountain race, she found herself in a dangerous situation on a remote section of the course, left unsupported when others continued ahead.
“Running should be a safe space and if you see someone who needs help, you should offer it,” she says.
This translates to business, too. Dr Tara highlights the importance of delegation, noting that women tend to hesitate to delegate in fear of people thinking they’re incapable.
“Leadership isn’t about proving capability, it’s about building leverage,” she says. “Surround yourself with people who elevate you — at home and in business.”
Feature image: Dr Tara Lalvani, Pauline Paterson, Anna Whitehouse
