Hertfordshire's vibrant business landscape is teeming with remarkable women who have made their indelible mark in their respective fields. In this empowering listicle, we celebrate the extraordinary achievements of three inspiring women who have transformed the funeral, legal, and property industries in Hertfordshire. 

These trailblazers exemplify determination, resilience, and unwavering passion. Prepare to be inspired as we delve into the remarkable stories of Hertfordshire's leading ladies in business.

 

Charlotte Ward - Accounts Manager at Mantle Space Ltd

Charlotte joined Mantle Space just over two and a half years ago as Accounts Assistant for the Business Centres and, through her dedication and hard work, was recently promoted to Accounts Manager.  In her role, she is partly responsible for managing the accounts across all eight of the Mantle Space locations, a role that requires an exceptional level of precision and organisation. Charlotte is known for her ability to coordinate efficiently with the centre managers ensuring smooth communication and support where it's needed most.

One of her key responsibilities is overseeing the timely and accurate uploading of invoices to our system, a crucial task that helps keep the financial operations of the business on track. Additionally, alongside Dan, Charlotte manages the two cafés, keeping a close eye on daily transactions and balancing the books with care. She also handles the processing of the employee company credit card payments, ensuring that all financial aspects run smoothly and are meticulously tracked. Her role requires not just attention to detail, but also the ability to juggle multiple tasks and deadlines, all while maintaining a clear overview of the company’s financial health.

Charlotte's precision and commitment to her work is highly regarded by her colleagues, who appreciate her ability to take on a large workload without losing sight of the finer details. Her proactive approach and willingness to assist where necessary make her an invaluable part of the team.

Outside the office, Charlotte continues to demonstrate the same level of commitment and drive. She is training for the London Marathon in April, a testament to her determination and discipline. Alongside this, Charlotte is a regular participant in the Mantle Space Running Club, training with the group every Monday night. Despite her busy schedule, she always makes time to keep an eye out for her mum, showing the same thoughtfulness and dedication in her personal life as she does professionally.

With her recent promotion and her continual focus on personal and professional growth, Charlotte is an integral part of the team and a true example of hard work paying off.

 

Nicola Hankin, Manager and owner of The Dressing Room Hair & Beauty

The Comet:
Nicola blushes when referred to as an inspiring women but owner of The Dressing Room Hair & Makeup has spent more than 20 years making others look and feel amazing. Never underestimating the power of good hair she also has a listening ear and takes pride that her salon has that "in your friends living room" feel. 

She explains "I always strive to provide a relaxing environment that is not intimidating to clients, as I am aware lots of women feel anxious walking into a salon. My goal has always been to make them feel at home." 

Nicola's recent progression is offering a new hair extension technique; micro wefts and she is also undertaking education to brush up her wig skills. She explains she would love to help those suffering with hair loss by providing a personalised wig service in the salon.

"It's a very rewarding job and the right wig or extensions can be life changing to someone with thinning hair. I'm excited to take The Dressing Room in this direction. Watch this space."

 

Sandra Foster - Managing Director and owner of Fosters Legal Solicitors

The Comet:
Sandra Foster is a Solicitor, the Managing Director and founder of Fosters Legal Solicitors based in the Old Town Stevenage and Peterborough.

Sandra was originally from Ghana, West Africa. She came to the UK in 1999 to study. She studied a degree in administration and law and also has a degree in Master of Law. She is now a qualified solicitor practising in primarily in family law.

The firm is rated top 3 in Stevenage by ThreeBestRated. Sandra is the driving force behind the success of the firm due to her love and commitment of helping the low-income clients in the community including providing free legal advice, working pro bono in cases of domestic abuse where the parent has no money and is fleeing his or her family home. She has also donated money from her own pocket, paid for shopping for essentials, and spent time visiting victims.  

Because of the firm’s vision and achievements, the firm was recognised as a National Business Leader in 2016 for its community work and support of low-income clients. Sandra is also privileged to be a Member of the Leaders Council of Great Britain and Ireland since 2021. She is determined to do whatever she can to help the people who comes into contact with her

Sandra said it is always her vision to encourage, inspire, and motivate people to achieve what they think is impossible. Therefore, her message today is “the steps you take would determine how far you can go in life.”