Career pivots — intentional shifts in professional direction — often arise at critical life junctures, from starting a family to pursuing long-held ambitions or leaving unfulfilling roles. Dr Maria Evans, a seasoned coach and multi-pivoter herself, shared her insights during a recent LUMIN Voices interview, offering invaluable lessons for those contemplating their next move.

The gender pay gap is widely discussed, but its ripple effects extend into a less visible but equally troubling issue: the gender wealth gap. This disparity in savings, investments, and pensions grows over a lifetime, leaving women financially disadvantaged in retirement.

Only 1.8% of venture capital funding in the first half of 2024 went to female-founded businesses, highlighting persistent gender inequities in the investment landscape. But there’s hope for a brighter future with the launch of a £255 million fund dedicated to female-led businesses.

Welcome to Vanesa Pazos as a Founding Advisor to Lumin, bringing her expertise, passion, and dedication to advancing women in the workplace. Vanesa is the co-founder of NoBa Capital, a pioneering VC fund focused on the future of work, and a tireless advocate for women investing in women through her #EmpowerHer initiative.

In today’s fast-paced work environment, it can be challenging to establish a presence that feels both authentic and powerful, particularly in online interactions. For Ilaria Vilkelis, a seasoned executive coach with more than 25 years of experience, genuine presence begins with the courage to be oneself. Drawing from her international background and years working with professionals in diverse fields, Vilkelis shares her insights on the art of building presence in a recent interview with LUMIN VOICES.

What do crockery queen Emma Bridgewater and dungaree tycoon Lucy Greenwood have in common? They both started out as a lifestyle business. It is time to acknowledge the value of micropreneurship and the contributions these smaller businesses make to our economy and our communities.

Equal Pay Day 2024 will be 20th November – the day when far too many women will start working for free. On average, working women earn less each year than their male counterparts doing comparable work. The difference in pay is largest among higher earners according to official data, and the gender pay gap soars as women age. It increases significantly when women are over 40, and peaks over 50, often due to taking the load with unpaid caring in the family.

Workplace bullying is a pervasive issue that often flies under the radar, impacting countless individuals and causing lasting emotional and professional harm. Despite its prevalence, there remains a significant gap in understanding and addressing this problem, particularly in ways that can create meaningful change. Nicki Eyre, founder of Conduct Change, has made it her mission to bridge that gap. Through her work as a consultant, trainer, and advocate, Eyre is pushing for a world where bullying is no longer a silent threat lurking in offices and boardrooms.

This week’s budget from Rachel Reeves was disappointing from a female perspective on so many counts. Nothing about dismantling any of the blockages facing girls and young women or for those already in the workplace – whether considering how to balance having a family with work, securing funding for a start up, or just tackling the gender pay gap, and indeed the gender pension gap. Everything changes, yet everything stays the same.

Women in power are still judged for what they wear more than what they do. From Kamala Harris's pantsuits to Angela Rayner's bold green suit, fashion is both tool and target. Why is power dressing still a battleground for women, and how are they flipping the narrative?

“We have earned the right to be exactly who we are and who we want to be,” says beauty editor Anita Bhagwandas, addressing the pressures on women as they age to modify how they represent themselves. This is such an important message and we need to make sure we are not imposing these limits ourselves.