Top five Modern Muses, as picked by Karen Gill

On this the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, the everywoman Modern Muse project is doing it's bit to help women fulfill their potential. Set up by Karen Gill and Maxine Benson in 2010, Modern Muse is designed to engage the next generation of female business leaders and entrepreneurs by showcasing women of today in all walks of business life. The goal is to reach out to one million young women and girls over the next three years and inspire them to look at business careers and entrepreneurship as a way to achieve their dreams. Here, Karen Gill, shares the profiles of five of her top muses:

Mrs Sally Hurst, FRSA, Devon
www.theoldbagcompany.co.uk
Areas of Specialism: Entrepreneur
What I give to Modern Muse: Mentoring

If you have an idea… you need the courage, determination and drive to make it happen. Having done this, I am now proud to say I have built up an award-winning national business.

I love to… be able to help women and inspire them as I think it is so important for women in business to have support and encourage them that they can do it. I am an ordinary mother of 5 children and if I can succeed so can you. From my experiences business is a learning curve so it is useful to talk to other like-minded business people. Enjoy the high moments and remember these when you have the low moments.

Mrs Wendy Hallett, Greater London
www.hallettretail.co.uk
Areas of Specialism: Entrepreneur, Retail, Fashion
What I give to Modern Muse: Guest Speaking, Mentoring

There are a number of events in my life… that have affected how I think about life and work. My mother died of cancer when I was only 7 years old and I myself was diagnosed with cancer in 2004 and it inspired me to believe life is for living. Motherhood inspired me to set up my business to enable me to have a challenging job in an industry that I absolutely love, but also have flexibility of work so I could be a mum and have time with my kids, whom I also absolutely love.

For me real inspiration is… when through what you do or are you inspire another person to be inspirational themselves, and so the chain continues. I believe that inspiration rather than admiration makes people want to do things - it results in actions that help someone else to achieve their dream and believe they can do something.

Anna Lee, City of London
www.stormwatches.com
Areas of Specialism:Entrepreneur, Marketing, Fashion
What I give to Modern Muse: Mentoring

I am inspired by… anyone who in the face of adversity has risen to the challenge. I came from a poor family and my mother suffered from mental health issues throughout my childhood, so I became independent at a very early age through necessity. These factors stirred up the drive and energy in me to succeed. I've always had a passion for fashion and knew that I would enjoy working in some form or other within the industry. With hard work and determination you can achieve more than you know.

Ms Sharon Hilditch MBE, Merseyside
www.crystalclear.co.uk
Areas of Specialism: Beauty Industry
What I give to Modern Muse: Guest Speaker

It is not power that corrupts but fear… Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.' Aung San Suu Kyi

J K Rowling inspires me… she demonstrates what can be achieved simply by believing in yourself and never giving up on the dream. Estée Lauder is another one who had a real passion to build a brand and it still has such a large influence within the beauty industry today.

Mrs Becky Humberston FRSA, Essex
 www.utterlyhorses.com
Areas of Specialism: Creative, Customer Service, Entrepreneur, Retail
What I give to Modern Muse: Guest Speaker, Workshop, Work Placement, Mentoring

Success will naturally follow passion in its footsteps… A successful company has a passionate person at its helm and as long as that passion is alive, the business will thrive. Create or be part of a business that you love and that love will show in every thread of your business. My other favourite musing is: "There is no such word as can't." It's a very simple phrase and one that nearly everyone on the planet will know but it's true! You can do anything you set your mind too.

My inspiration over the years has come… in many forms from books, history and people- I've taken a pinch of inspiration from everything around me! I believe that everyone, both past, present and in theory, the future, has the ability to be an inspiration. Not all inspirational people have to be in the public eye - inspiration can come in many forms.

To find out more about becoming a muse, visit www.modernmuse.co.uk

8th March 2011