Lisa Sweeting - founder of Green Sense Events

I’ve always been a grafter, even growing up I had to study really hard for exams, I wasn’t one of those people to breeze through. At University I wanted to do more, get involved in all the clubs, learn new skills. From circus skills to violin to climbing Kilimanjaro, I’ve never been one to sit back, always wanting more, always striving for more. It can be exhausting at times, but I have a low boredom threshold and so doing more and feeling the pressure has become my motivation.

Over the last few years, I’ve worked for a charity, which I loved, organising outdoor events, bringing people together and making a difference. I’ve toyed with the idea of setting up my own business on and off for a number of years, afraid of the risk, or the failure if it didn’t work out. But the drive of having ownership and choosing my own direction gave me such a buzz that when I finally committed to it last year I wanted to jump for joy and shout from the rooftops.

Of course, the first step is often the easiest, making it work is when the hard work really begins.

As a mum to two young children Harrison 9, and Amelia 6, I see the challenges for myself and those around me of being a working mum and wanting to do it all day in day out. As women, I think it's in our nature to look after our family, to work, to contribute, to be a role model, to be strong and to support others.

Setting up Green Sense Events was just for me. Of course, it’s to make money but for me my job has always been about giving back, having a sense of purpose and enjoyment rather than just about making money.

It also offers a degree of flexibility around my family which working for someone else never could. Do I want to be seen as someone with power, cold-hearted - no, not really, do I want to be seen as a leader – yes, as an influencer – yes, as a strong role model – of course. But what drives me forward is my mission to do good. To inspire others, to do something I love – events, but to do it in the right way, to make better Social and Environmental choices to create a better future for my children and to support others to do the same.

I’ve realised what a fantastic network of people there are out there, and how supportive people are. Now I don’t see people as competition I see them as collaborators, as people to learn from and network with. We are all still learning every day and my advice would be to keep learning and don’t be afraid. Being a grafter is good, and when you run your own business you have to be all things, wearing many hats, which makes women, the expert multi-taskers the very people to succeed.