My guest today is Oonagh McDonnell, the founder of It's Her, a social enterprise based in Manchester that researches, develops and delivers collaborative and engaging activities, courses and workshops that support women and help them change their narrative.
Oonagh's story is rooted in adapting to adversity and overcoming loss, beginning with her mother's death when she was eight years old, which left her feeling responsible for three younger siblings.
After studying at Manchester University, she developed a love for the city and the diverse voices of the women who call Manchester home.
The devastating loss of her sister necessitated Oonagh to completely change her career, shifting her focus and seeking opportunities in the Middle East that would not have been available in the UK.
Her experience observing women in Saudi Arabia who forged their life, despite their obstacles sharpened her focus on the still considerable barriers to equity in the UK. Oonagh founded It's Her, a social enterprise aiming to enable all women to achieve equity.
Oonagh believes that when women put themself in a position to thrive, the whole family and society, in general, reap the benefit.
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You can find out more about Oonagh's enterprise It'sHer: www.itsher.uk
The Book I chose for Oonagh is Three Women by Lisa Taddeo.