Tuesday morning saw the GFSB’s Women in Enterprise (WIE) group host its fourth bi-monthly breakfast meeting, this time focusing on the theme “Promoting Ourselves With Confidence.” Held at ISOLAS LLP and chaired by WIE Committee Member MJ Feeke, the session was well attended.

The panel featured Business Minister Gemma Arias-Vasquez, GP Reena Verdi, Nicole Buckley from PossAbilities, and, for the first time, a male participant; Senior Partner at ISOLAS and former Minister for Finance, Albert Isola CBE.

Following the event, Albert shared:
“It was a privilege to be the first male to be invited to participate in this session and I was fascinated to hear the experiences faced by panel members and others in everyday life and how these can be improved. A special thank you to MJ Feeke for creating an inclusive and open space encouraging individuals to speak freely.”

The conversation explored how confidence is communicated through what we wear, how we speak, and how we carry ourselves. The panel discussed how presentation expectations often feel higher for women, with body language and tone more likely to be judged.

Key themes included:

Dressing for Impact – What message does your visual presence send in business settings?
Confidence in Behaviour & Presence – The subtle power of body language, voice, and showing up intentionally.
Mindset & Self-Promotion – Challenging limiting beliefs and embracing the value we bring.
Authenticity vs. Adaptability – Finding the balance between staying true to yourself and navigating different professional environments.

Key takeaways:

• Clothing choices are more scrutinised for women than men
• Uniforms help reduce the pressure of presentation
• Women’s tone in discussions is often interpreted differently to men’s
• Confidence is about alignment with your values, not just how you appear

A heartfelt thank you to our speakers for their insight and openness, and to all the participants who made the breakout discussions so meaningful.

Attendees left with a shared message: authentic leadership starts with being comfortable in your own skin. More WIE events are on the way.