Monica's Big Day Out

Two words, unbelievable and wow! I can’t truly describe how incredibly proud of myself I am. I am trying to take stock and hold onto this feeling because we don’t always remember to do that. We are sometimes very quick to move on and not hold onto the amazing feelings and happiness that we get from special events. I can promise I am not letting go of this feeling for a long time.

I was completely surprised when I got the email informing me that I was a finalist in both categories that I had been entered into. Supplier of the Year and Young Woman of the Year (under 30). I know how difficult it is to be recognised as a finalist in such competitive categories, and the calibre of people in the EWiF awards is another level. For the past two years, Stuart and I have done some judging for the Franchisee of the Year award, from Atlas Mapping sponsoring this award. This has given me insight and the brilliant chance to read about incredible women who are truly inspirational and amazing.

A few weeks went by, and the awards were upon us. I was so excited to go already, knowing I would get to catch up with franchise friends (my favourite) and meet new people. Sarah, Stuart and I got the train, and we were on our way. When we arrived, it was a mass of smiling faces, franchise friends ready with our hello hugs and catching up before the awards.

We heard from Natwest, Helen Mansfield, Pip Wilkins and Sarah Cressell. They, as always, had brilliant talks about growth, being yourself and this brilliant community!

The day went by, and it was time for the awards to commence. It is always so brilliant to celebrate others, and these awards are one of the best. Giving the finalists their moments to collect certificates and have an applause before the winner is announced.

Supplier of the Year, they started to describe the winner, and I heard the word ‘data’ and then ‘all of this, and she is not yet 30’. OH MY! My breathing was so heavy, a rush of excitement and up I went to collect my award. To be amongst amazing women as a finalist was already incredible, and winning felt out of this world. I went up smiling like a Cheshire cat. Sitting back down, I felt floaty and could feel there were happy tears sitting behind my eyes.

Young Woman of the Year, I went up to get my certificate as a finalist. I love that there is a category to recognise the accomplishments of young professional women, and to be amongst the finalists was incredible to me. The amazing Lucy won the award, it was lovely to celebrate her brilliant win with her.

The Woman Franchisee of the Year award was up and this year, Stuart and I decided to go and present the award together. We had spoken about Stuart being more himself and making the small speech funny. He spoke about why, as a company, we sponsor this award and what is brilliant about EWiF. The absolute cherry on top of this was a brilliant talk to everyone to uplift everyone in the room. He explained why he had entered me into the two awards and said that as a bit of homework, we should all ‘EWIF – encourage women into franchising by entering an amazing woman into the awards and if you can’t find someone. Look in the mirror and enter yourself, because you are amazing’. An amazing speech and it was so brilliant to support the finalists and celebrate the winner!

With every award that was left and listening to all of the comments about the amazing finalists, my happiness cup was being filled once again.

We were at the last award, Overall Woman in Franchising. Pip went up to the stage to present the award. She started to describe the winner of the award by saying that ‘this year's Overall Woman is quite new to the sector but it feels like she has been in franchising a lifetime already.’ She went on to say such lovely things, and people started to turn and look at me. I thought ‘noooooo, no way’, this can’t be a description of me. Then, Pip said, ‘We have done things a little differently this year with a special video from our winner, although she didn’t know it was going to be used today… so, cue the video.’

BAM! My face was on the screens, and that was it, happy/overwhelmed tears right on cue. Immi came over to hand me a tissue, I had to sit myself next to Stuart. Hearing myself talk about the journey I have been on and how far I have come made me realise that we definitely forget to celebrate ourselves and take stock. The video finished and I had managed to wipe my tears, but could not get over the overwhelming feeling of seeing the room with everyone standing and clapping. I knew at that point, I was not going to be letting this feeling go or forgetting for a minute to feel proud.

This was one of the best days of my life, and I am now holding on to the feeling and trying to remember to feel proud, as we all should! Let’s all be as brilliant as we can be every day.