If you’re a businesswoman in need of a super-slick headshot or some advice from a mentor, you’re in luck.
Female-run hotel group The Doyle Collection’s International Woman’s Day 2023 celebrations at The Marylebone are providing both — and more — in the coming week.
First up, award-winning photographer Lisa Tse is offering her services for The Doyle Collection’s annual headshot initiative on March 1 and 2 in a series of short shoots from 9am to 5pm. For a donation of only £15 for a pre-booked session, Tse will furnish you with a digital headshot that can be used for personal marketing, such as websites or press releases. Proceeds will go towards the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), a charity mandated to aid and protect forcibly displaced communities and stateless people.
Tse is described as “one of the UK’s most well connected business women”. She is part of numerous initiatives which celebrate and empower women, including 209 Women. This involved 209 new photographic portraits of all female MPs, shot exclusively by female photographers, being commissioned to mark 100 years since women achieved the right to vote.
Her skill and experitise behind the camera is matched by her creativity and warmth. Headshots have much to communicate, and in Tse’s hands, the results are stellar. However, as important a part of any professional person’s portfolio they are, headshots can cost hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds to secure. Which for many people, particularly at the start of their career journey, is simply too expensive.
The Doyle Collection’s chairman, Bernie Gallagher is committed to empowering women through meaningful action.
“I am delighted that The Doyle Collection’s International Women’s Day Headshot Initiative continues to grow with each passing year,” she says. “We are extremely proud to have the opportunity to celebrate the incredible women in our communities who continue to strive in business at all levels. Our headshot initiative aims to uplift women, providing them with truly useful tools to assist them in their careers.”
The Marylebone will continue its IWD initiatives by hosting Picture This, a ‘speed mentoring’ evening on Monday, March 13, run by women’s private society ‘The Sorority’. A wealth of successful women, including film director Gurinder Chadha OBE, Leonor Diaz Alcantara, CEO of Montessori Group, and fine-art jewellery designer Kiki McDonough, will take questions from, and offer advice to, mentees.
Two mentors will host a small table of guests for 15-minute sessions, before the guests move on. This structure means that mentees will have the chance to speak directly to everyone and glean a variety of tips, insight and inspiration.
The event also serves as an informal networking opportunity, where likeminded, ambitious and inspiring women can gather to share and support one another.
This feels like a steal at just £30 for a ticket, which will again go entirely to UNHCR — especially as there are drinks and canapes on offer too — not to mention and some swanky goody bags.
But what’s really important about both of these initiatives is that they focus on action, change and growth. Too many organisations pay only performative lip service to IWD — posting about it on Instagram and Twitter — but doing little to tangibly help women.
It’s cheering to see that in this case, women really do support women.
