'Catching the Fire' at The everygirl Modern Muse event in Basingstoke

Yesterday I, along with 350 other girls aged 14-18, attended the everygirl's Modern Muse event held in Basingstoke for the local girls in the area. The day was promised to be filled with successful women in business encouraging, motivating and inspiring the girls who attended - and it most certainly delivered.

Liz Jackson MBE, one of our founding Muses and an inspiration herself, was the creator behind the incredible day. Liz from Great Guns Marketing planned the event to show that if we work with young women now, it will help them raise their aspirations for the future. The idea behind this event was that with its success - other programmes of its kind could be rolled out across the country.

Liz took the stage at 9.20 in the morning to encourage girls that really anything is possible, her short speech was effective and got the girls focussed and ready to take on the rest of the day.

Following Liz, Maria Miller, local MP came on to give some excellent advice to the girl's in the room, "the only person that will hold you back is yourself". She went on to say more than 60,000 women are now in work comparing this to 2 years ago, which is great news, but really not enough. She encouraged all girls in the room to "see the opportunity that is there and grab it". It was a very inspirational speech.

To get the energy revved up in the room, the girl's were treated to a "Conference Cardio" by Maxine Tubb, Sports and Wellbeing Instructor. Everyone in the room was lifted to their feet whilst Maxine instructed the room to particular dance moves - this definitely got the blood moving!

Following this, the first panel session was around the topic, "How did I get my Passion"? The panel was comprised of three of our own Muses, Jo Chin from Langland, Aileen O'Toole from eBay and Archie Archer from Contraband International. Moderated by Kiki Maurey, one of our founding Muses, the panel discussed what their greatest achievement has been thus far, what has been their biggest challenge they've faced, and what advice they had wished someone had given to them as a teenager. Aileen explained that she wanted to do something she enjoyed "where there were great people I respect". The girls were then invited on stage to ask questions - and some of them were truly fantastic. One of the girls from the audience asked if the panellists thought they would've made it today if they were faced with the same economical climate as the girls are? The girl's also asked who the panellists mentors were, and who has been their biggest inspiration with a few of the panellists answering their Mother. The panel was incredibly inspirational and it was great to see the young girls getting so involved.

Following lunch, the girls were then taken to their breakout sessions. There were three different breakout sessions the girls could see on the day. "Follow the Leader - with Narinder Uppal from Chartered Management Institute, "Trailblazers", hosted by a panel of successful women in their 20s. The women expressed how to make the most of opportunities and creating potential in yourself. The final breakout session was hosted by Maxine Benson MBE from everywoman, and was how to "Take Control of Your Pathway". The three panelists were local ladies talking about building their companies from the ground and then were on hand to answer any questions from the girls.

The final panel session of the day was entitled "Making it in the Corporate World", with three of British Business' most respected voiced present to explain their experience of corporate life. Kiki Maurey followed this with an inspirational story of her life and the day was finished with Liz Jackson once again taking the stage to explain "If you think you can, or you think you can't - you are absolutely right".

The day closed and it was apparent the girls were inspired. The girl's were left realising their potential and ready to 'catch the fire'.