Zoë-Lisa Blackler

Zoë has this year launched a training and coaching consultancy, specialising in assisting start-up entrepreneurs and delivering workshops to small businesses, charities and educational establishments.

The training focuses on embracing technology in order to nurture, develop, and retain happier employees, along with leadership coaching for business-owners.

Between 2009 and 2017, Zoë developed and directed multiple-award winning businesses. Among these is the Junior Group. Originally a busy children’s play café, the venture grew to include a gym and evening restaurant for parents with an annual turnover of £240,000.

Zoë employed a team of 12 with overall responsibility for operations, PR, marketing, strategy, finance, HR, health & safety, and training.

She was named as ‘Wales’ number one ‘Mumpreneur’ to watch’ in 2015 and her experience in new venture creation, branding, and strategy led to her developing her mentoring programme.

In 2015, Zoë won a Chartered Management Institute award for her use of innovation in leadership and management and was invited to become a Welsh Government Entrepreneur Role Model for their ‘Big Ideas Wales’ initiative. In this role, Zoë delivers talks about entrepreneurship, business ideas, and strategy to schools, colleges, and universities.

In the future Zoë would like to pursue a career in academia.

Zoë was nominated by Dr Neil Wellard.