Building the Right Rooms: Nicki Bedford on Leadership, Confidence and Creating Opportunity for Women

What if the biggest barrier to women scaling in business isn’t capability, but access to the right rooms at the right time?

In this Industry Insights interview, we sit down with Nicki Bedford, Founder of the Female Founders Network and host of She Leads the Way, to explore the experiences that shaped her entrepreneurial journey and her mission to create intentional spaces where women can grow, connect and scale.

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Before the ventures and the podcast, who was Nicki Bedford at the very start of her career, and what early experiences shaped your path into entrepreneurship?

At the very start of my career, I was filled with a huuuge amount of energy and ambition (which hasn’t changed at all to be honest!)… I’ve always loved doing hard things, solving problems, and honestly just bulldozing my way into opportunities.

I started my career in sales, then moved into sales leadership and then business leadership, working in fast paced, high growth environments. Those early years taught me how businesses actually operate day to day, how teams are built, how decisions get made under pressure, how revenue is generated, and how influence really works behind the scenes. - And I guess I just realised how much I loved every part of that.

Even from a young age, I’ve always enjoyed building and growing things, often from scratch, and that mindset naturally carried into entrepreneurship, where you have to figure things out as you go and develop ways of thinking that truly aren’t taught.

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Was there a defining moment that made you realise you wanted to build spaces specifically for women in business?

There wasn’t one defining moment, but a growing awareness over time. Women have long been celebrated for roles outside of business, yet their impact, intelligence and commercial capability in the workplace hasn’t always been recognised in the same way. What stood out to me was just how much women bring to the table… high emotional intelligence, empathy, and a strong intuition and an ability to read situations and people exceptionally well. I also saw that many women didn’t always back themselves with the same confidence, despite being more than capable. That’s what sparked a real passion for building spaces that help surface that confidence and ensure women have access to the right rooms and opportunities.‎

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What gap in the business landscape led you to create the Female Founders Network?

What I kept seeing was that there were so many capable women building strong businesses, but they didn’t always have access to the right people or opportunities at the moment it really mattered.
The Female Founders Network was created to be more intentional in that space, to bring ambitious women into the right rooms, support them as they scale, and build an ecosystem where opportunity is created.

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Since launching the network, how has the community evolved, and what moments stand out most to you?

From the very beginning, it was clear there was a real need for this space. Before the membership even opened, we secured Google as our launch partner, which validated the vision early on.

From there, we attracted a strong group of ambitious women and built momentum quickly, including co-hosting a pitch night with Amazon Web Services. As the network grew, the focus has always been on maintaining quality… both in the ambition of the women and the generosity within the community, which is what truly makes it special. Specifically seeing collaborations form organically, members actively supporting one another through recommendations and referrals, and watching real wins come from our workshops and learnings. For me, it’s always been about building an ecosystem and staying intentional as we move into our next phase of growth.

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What does leadership mean to you today, especially as someone who creates space for other women to grow?

Leadership to me is about creating the conditions for other people to do their best work. It's abou how you show up, the standards you set, and the spaces you build. When you create environments that feel safe, ambitious and well-held, people naturally grow into their confidence. Especially when working with women, I see leadership as making room, opening doors where possible, and trusting people to step into their own capability rather than needing to lead from the front at all times.

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What do you believe are the most meaningful ways we can support the next generation of female leaders, both professionally and personally as well?

I think the most meaningful support comes from a mix of access, belief and real world guidance. Professionally, that means opening doors, sharing networks, being honest about what growth actually requires, and giving women proximity to opportunities early.
Personally, it’s about normalising ambition alongside rest and reminding women that they don’t have to fit a single version of leadership to be successful. When women feel supported as whole people…they’re far more likely to lead with confidence.

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You’ve been a cherished part of the Dubai Active community for many years. How important are events like this when it comes to building a business in the Middle East?

Events like this are incredibly important, especially in the Middle East where relationships, trust and face to face connection really matter. Business here is largely built on reputation, and communities like Dubai Active create spaces where those relationships can form naturally over time. For anyone building a business in this region, showing up consistently and engaging in the right environments makes a real difference. And personally, I’ve absolutely loved being a part of it!

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Find out more about the Female Founders Network here https://foundersofficial.com/