ISLINGTON NOW

High heels, immaculate make-up and assertive body language marked out the hundreds of female entrepreneurs who gathered at Islington Design Centre yesterday for a talk from the latest member of Dragons’ Den.

Julie Meyer, the latest addition to the BBC’s Dragons’ Den (Photo: BBC)

Keynote speaker Julie Meyer emphasised the need for government investment in entrepreneurship in times of economic hardship.

Ms Meyer, 42, who was recently invited to be an ‘Online Dragon’ for the new series of Dragons’ Den, advised the businesswomen in the audience to “be as unreasonable about success as you possibly can be”.

Ms Meyer, who is from California, founded her company Ariadne Capital in 2000 and has advised internet companies such as Skype and Espotting. “People want to work for themselves,” she said. “The internet is the key to unlocking this.”

Instead of the traditional image of “breaking through the glass ceiling”, Ms Meyer argued that women should be less negative and instead focus on “building their own cathedral” by using their own “unfair natural advantages”.

“The strengths of women are that we understand communities and ecosystems,” she said.

“But you need to remember that there is no safety net. If you are running your own business, the buck stops with you.”

Julie Hall, head of Women Unlimited, which organised the event, said that “2009 is the year of the woman, and not a year too soon”.

Ms Hall called for a “cultural shift in the UK”, stating that Britain is 23rd in Europe for the proportion of businesses which are majority owned by women.

Ms Hall said developing countries such as India and China were prime examples of countrties promoting equality in business.

“As a culture we need to encourage women to branch out and explore their skills,” she said.

Addressing the various career women sitting in the audience, she added: “Success begins with you - each and every one of you.”