Vitalise Businesswoman of the Year Award 2009

I meant to write about this yesterday - but I attended the Vitalise Businesswoman of the Year award ceremony last week at the Hilton Metropole Hotel in Birmingham.

There were over 400 businesswomen at the event from the Midlands area, all with a very interesting story to tell.

My link to the event was SCC, which was not only a sponsor, but was heavily involved in the judging process as well.

The speeches were great and very inspirational indeed, and the winners were very deserving.

Asha Khemka OBE, who is principal and chief executive of West Nottinghamshire College, picked up the Businesswoman of the Year Award, but the one that got me going was the special Woman of Achievement award - given to quadriplegic yachtswoman Hilary Lister - who recently sailed solo around the UK - the first person to do this.

What an inspiration she was, and a very deserving winner. Not a dry eye in the house when she gave her acceptance speech.

Getting a little deep here - but one of the themes of the day was to follow your dreams, and not to let any obstacle stand in your way. Very sound advice indeed.

To find out more about the event - click here.

I will definitely be going along next year - an event well worth attending.