The British Consulate-General New York and The WIE Suite, the leading private community for women leaders in business and culture, gathered together trailblazing British women for the second annual International Women’s Day British Lunch. Hosted by British Consul General New York Hannah Young and The WIE Suite founder, Dee Poku at The British Residence in UN Plaza with special guest Shantell Martin, the lunch celebrated 36 prominent businesswomen, entrepreneurs and creatives.
Spanning media, fashion, politics and entertainment, notable British guests included actress Kim Cattrall; Tatiana Hambro of Moda Operandi; Anoushka Healey, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at News Corp; Claire Reichenbach CEO of the James Beard Foundation; Jessica Lomax, Global Head of Design at Calvin Klein; tv star Jessel Taank; former Marchesa founder Keren Craig; artist Angelica Hicks; DJ and founder Chelsea Leyland; Dazed Media Editorial Director Lynette Nylander; casting director Anita Bitton and Jigsaw (Google) CEO Yasmin Sewell.
Additionally, acclaimed British artist Shantell Martin unveiled two Government art collection pieces that were commissioned for the Coronation of King Charles and are now on display at the British Residence and part of the Government Art Collection.
Hannah Young said:The lunch started as an idea Dee and I had about creating a network of British women here in the city we know as the networking capital of the world. Additionally, the UK’s Foreign Office has made some really great progress with gender equality and investing in women’s rights including the fact that in North America, all the top diplomat roles are filled by women.
Dee Poku said: The biggest revelation for me in coming to America was just how much more ambition and determination were embraced and how freeing that was for me. I found my voice in America and I’m grateful for it and thrilled to connect with other like-minded British women in our chosen home to share challenges and opportunities.
