Honouring women through kindness, connection, and empowerment.
International Women's Day - Partner Spotlight
Saira Begum Mir BEM, BCAc Founder of Pl84U Al-Suffa
1) What first inspired you to start PL84U Al Suffa, and what's kept you going through the tough days?
I realised that there were so many homeless people in OUR community (we are all ONE) I know that we all have a stereotypical view of another and I wanted to break these barriers, I wanted OUR elderly, OUR young to all sit and eat together, so that we can get to know one another - communication is what breaks down barriers and only then do we start to 'accept' and respect others and OUR differences 💜
2) This year's International Women's Day theme is "Give to Gain" - what does that mean to you in your own work?
The IWD theme for this year is 'Give to Gain' from what we have been taught and we follow in Islam - the true meaning to 'GIVE' is without expecting anything in return.
3) What's the best piece of advice you've ever received from another woman?
The best piece of advice - my mum was my role model, she was resilient, strong and very kind to everyone, no matter what her personal circumstances, she would always smile
4) What’s one thing you'd love to see change for the next generation of women starting out in the charity sector?
Believe in yourself, be positive, no matter what your circumstances, they always come with a blessing.
Cofounder of MOB, Georgie - Community, Customer Experience & Partnership Lead
1) What first inspired you to start Mums Who Build, and what’s kept you going through the tough days?
My world completely turned upside down when I became a mum. My son was born with a rare genetic condition and he’s severely autistic, so I spent years navigating diagnosis and fighting for his basic rights, things like education, medical support and growth hormones.
It also meant I couldn’t just go back to a traditional 9–5, even though I’d had a career I loved. And it made me realise how quickly motherhood can impact your confidence, identity and financial security.
Then I met my co-founder Bex at a first birthday party. We had different journeys, but we were both living the same reality: that becoming a mum often comes with a hidden cost. Less career progression, less pay, less pension, and less long-term financial stability, simply because mums are the ones who usually step back when family life needs them.
Bex’s story really shaped this too. She came from a divorced family. Her dad was financially fine, but her mum had taken years out of work to raise children, and after the divorce she struggled to rebuild financial stability. That experience stayed with Bex and it’s a big part of why she became an accountant, worked in commercial finance for brands like Apple and Red Bull, and why she’s so passionate about helping mums feel financially confident.
Mums Who Build was born from that moment. Two mums basically saying, this can’t be it. What’s kept me going through the tough days is Bex and the community.
Having a co-founder on the same mission is everything. Building something from scratch while raising children is intense. You need someone to navigate the hard moments with and celebrate the wins with.
And honestly, the irony is that the community we’ve built to support mums has ended up supporting me so much, too. I go to our free pre and postnatal strength classes at Pure Muscles Gym in Wood Street, Walthamstow. I show up to our Friday Big MOB Mum Meet-up at CRATE 17 & Central and sit in rooms full of women who genuinely get it. When imposter syndrome creeps in, I’ll literally organise a workshop on confidence.
The whole point of The MOB is that you don’t have to juggle ambition and motherhood alone. And on the hardest days, that reminder keeps me going.
2) This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Give to Gain”. What does that mean to you in your own work?
To me, “Give to Gain” is exactly what we do at The MOB.
We give mums space. We give them tools. We give them community. We give them free practical education around money, careers, wellbeing and business.
And what we gain is powerful. When a mum feels financially confident and supported, it doesn’t just change her life. It changes her family. It changes what her children grow up seeing as normal.
I truly believe that when we invest in mums, everyone benefits. That’s the gain.
3) Who’s a woman in your life — famous or not — who’s had the biggest impact on the person you are today, and on your business?
Without question, my mum.
Both my parents were entrepreneurs and built a chain of galleries called Artisan Gallery. I grew up spending school holidays in the gallery with her. Retail is long days and Saturdays, and she worked incredibly hard to build that business and give us a great life.
She didn’t really step back when we were young, which meant she couldn’t always be present, and that’s why I’d be in the gallery with her. At the time it just felt normal. Now, as a mum myself, I realise how hard that must have been.
She’s also always been my biggest champion. She would sit with me for days revising for exams when I was stressed, and she always made me feel like I could do anything.
Watching her juggle business and motherhood shaped me more than I realised at the time. And now I understand her in a completely different way.
4) Tell us a bit about the work you do with 17 & Central — what’s coming up that you’re most excited about?
Last April we launched the Big MOB Mum Meetup with 17 & Central. The idea was to create a free weekly space where mums could come together, connect, make friends and build opportunities, without the pressure of formal networking.
Every week there’s a short talk or workshop so there’s always a focus. If you’re feeling shy or overwhelmed, you can just sit and listen, pressure-free, and still leave feeling like you did something positive for yourself that morning (kids are welcome!).
For 2026, we’re building a six-week rotation of themes to support mums on maternity leave, those building businesses, navigating careers, and prioritising wellbeing. We’re also hosting markets where mums can shop from other mum-led businesses and showcase what they’re building.
We’re especially excited about a SEND-focused morning to celebrate neurodiversity, and a single parent morning. These women are incredible, and they deserve a space that sees them.
We’ve also welcomed Yvonne, founder of Whirl & Wonder, as our MOB Ambassador for Walthamstow. She supports second-time parents, which can be such an intense and isolating season. And we’re teaming up with a local doula to make sure there’s regular, accessible support available too.
It’s about creating a space where mums feel supported, not judged, and where ambition and real life can sit side by side.
You can download the new MOB App to sign up to our weekly free meetups and tap into our free digital resources, all designed to help you build the life you want, on your terms, and at whatever stage of motherhood you're at.
Cofounder of MOB, Bex - Consultant & Artist
1) What first inspired you to start Mum’s Who Build, and what's kept you going through the tough days?
We started Mum’s Who Build because we both experienced our ambition being stalled, and our income being negatively affected, when motherhood arrived for each of us. And we met hundreds of women experiencing the same.
Each of the women we met had different experiences, all had one common problem; the systems mothers are being asked to operate in including the work week, school holidays, and financial jargon, are not designed for women and mothers to thrive in.
And many of us shared a common fear; motherhood and invisibility was slowly costing us our futures. Our pensions. Our confidence. Our identity.
We knew it didn’t have to be that way.
Mum’s Who Build exists to enable women to connect their work, wellbeing, money and motherhood and become strong. We enable women to build the capability to say yes to what really matters.
On tough days, what gets us through is talking to one another; having a cofounder to lean on when our expectations are mismatched to our results, makes us resilient. And talking to our community; seeing that we are helping women achieve goals and grow, is why we do it.
2) This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Give to Gain.” What does that mean to you?
To us, “Give to Gain” means strategic input, not sacrifice.
Motherhood can be 99% giving to others.
When a mother gives herself one focused visibility action per week, one brave conversation, or one hour of structured planning, she gains momentum and confidence for her future too.
The shift isn’t just financial, it’s psychological. She stops feeling behind and starts building intentionally. And her children grow up watching ambition modelled in a healthy, sustainable way.
3) Who has had the biggest impact on you and your business?
My mum shaped my belief in independence and resilience. After her divorce, she showed me that you commit even when conditions aren’t perfect.
And my cofounder Georgie has shaped how we design our work. She’s reinforced that ambition needs to be flexible, not pressured. We build for real lives, not ideal ones.
4) Tell us about your work with 17 & Central.
Our partnership with 17 & Central brings ambitious mothers into the same physical space, which matters because isolation is one of the biggest hidden growth blockers.
Our weekly meetups bring together up to 70 women and children for practical conversations about money, work, visibility and wellbeing on motherhood. Our upcoming International Women’s Day event will be our biggest yet, and it reflects a shift.
More mothers are ready to be visible, secure opportunities confidently, and stop building alone.
And we’re here to support that.
Candy Ellie Graham, Creative Director Cultural Fashion & Arts CIC
1) What first inspired you to start Cultural Fashion & Arts, and what's kept you going through the tough days?
Cultural Style Week actually came first. I registered it in November 2021, not fully knowing what it would become when it launched in May 2022. When people began taking part and sharing their heritage so proudly, I realised there was something really powerful in it. That momentum led to Cultural Fashion & Arts being established in June 2022. I wanted to create more intentional spaces where culture could be experienced, celebrated and shared in creative ways. The tough days are very real. Running a community organisation takes a lot emotionally and practically. What keeps me going are the messages from participants and new people wanting to take part, the confidence and joy I see in people when they take part (especially children), and the photos that capture genuine pride.
2) This year's International Women's Day theme is "Give to Gain" - what does that mean to you in your own work?
For me, “Give to Gain” feels personal. I grew up in London and although I knew I was Nigerian, I was not always closely connected to that side of my heritage. At times I felt a little disconnected and would admire other cultures from a distance.
As I got older, I began exploring my Nigerian roots more intentionally. Being able to create spaces where people can connect with their own heritage, and where others feel safe enough to ask questions and learn about cultures different from their own, has been deeply meaningful for me. There is something powerful about building environments where curiosity, pride and understanding can exist side by side.
3) How do you think the landscape has changed for women running businesses, non-profits or charities since you started yours?
I am still relatively new to doing this full time. Until recently, I was balancing this alongside corporate work, so stepping fully into leading the organisation has been a big shift. One of the biggest realities has been how much community work is celebrated in principle, but not always supported in practice. Culture, diversity and inclusion are often welcomed, but securing funding and backing can be challenging.
That said, I do see more women stepping into leadership in their own way and building organisations that reflect their values and lived experiences. There is strength in that. I just hope the systems around us continue to evolve to better support and sustain that leadership.
4) What does it mean to you to be able to bring your work into a space like 17 & Central, and what can visitors look forward to next?
I grew up in Hackney and Walthamstow Market was part of my childhood. We would get the 55 bus or the overground there. I remember the diversity, the fabrics, the different languages, the aunties and uncles running their stalls. It always felt vibrant and full of life. To now bring this work into 17 and Central, right by that market, feels like a full circle moment.
Visitors can expect exciting ways to celebrate heritage and diversity. We want to work with local communities to create opportunities for people to feel confident sharing their culture, while others feel open and curious to learn. It is celebration, but it is also about connection.
