All about Sue Hainsby and Deborah Turner, the hosts of Breakthrough Women events

About

Kent business women, Sue Hainsby and Deb Turner, took the obviously mad step to ‘get a dog in lockdown' ! This actually proved a great move in that business discussions could continue in lockdown, albeit with plenty of doggy distractions.

Deb wanted to carry on from her work with Susie Warran-Smith on previous women's events. Sue wanted to help too. They had been told NOT to host in-person meetings despite hearing from all their working women network that they wanted to reap the advantages and support of face-to-face contact.

It was on one of their 'lively' dog walks bemoaning the inability to get women together, that they decided to host their own event as soon as they could. Following the success of their first event in March for International Women's Day 2022, Sue and Deb have been hosting quarterly Working Women networking events ever since.

SUE HAINSBY

Owner and Director, Carlean Lettings and KWIB Business Woman Of The Year

Sue is a director of her own company, Carlean Lettings, acting as a Letting Agent and Landlord and being involved in Property Management and Property Development. She was awarded KWIB Business Woman of the Year in 2018.

As she says: "I am company director and owner of Carlean Lettings, a residential lettings agency. Having firstly started as a landlord and customer some 20 years ago I determined exactly what a great lettings agency should do to manage properties and tenants properly.

With a property portfolio of my own that includes a residential block I apply my experience in managing and advising clients on investment so they can confidently build their own portfolio, enjoying the peace of mind that their property is being looked after as if it is my own."

DEBORAH TURNER

Chartered Surveyor and National Lead for Women In Enterprise, Federation of Small Businesses

Deborah is a Chartered Surveyor, Director of Deborah Turner Limited and a property consultant for clients in the public and private sectors. As a volunteer she works tirelessly for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) as the National Lead for Women in Enterprise, representing the views of business women to national government. She is also an Advisory Board Member at the University of Kent Business School on the MBA programme.

She comments: "I believe passionately in helping women develop the confidence and skills to accelerate their business success. We know that if women have more visible role models, they are more likely to believe they too can strive for business success. Our events showcase real role models and inspire women who may be lacking the confidence to reach for more.”

Snap Shot

Who is the photographer who takes these amazing pictures at our events? Step forward Gina Smith of PhotoGnic. Find out more about her photographic services here. She's fab!