Permission Granted

Join us for the launch of Professor Maura McAdam's new book, a call-to-action playbook for women entrepreneurs.

Join us for the Belfast launch of Prof Maura McAdam’s new book Permission Granted: A Call-to-Action Playbook for Women Entrepreneurs, an inspiring and practical morning bringing together women founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, and the supporters of women‑led enterprise.

About the Book

Traditional entrepreneurial narratives shaped largely by male‑dominated normsoften fail to reflect women’s lived experiences. Barriers such as unequal access to funding, institutional bias, and the pressure to seek external approval can create the sense that women need “permission” before stepping into entrepreneurship.

Permission Granted challenges this narrative head‑on.

Drawing on more than 30,000 hours of research and interviews with over 300 women entrepreneurs worldwide, the book distils decades of evidence and practical insight into eight powerful Calls to Action (CTAs) to help women start, build, and grow thriving businesses.

Structured across three stages:

• Permission to Start
• Permission to Build
• Permission to Grow

Each chapter blends research‑backed strategies with actionable steps that can be implemented immediately, alongside “Words from the Wise” contributions from pioneering women founders. Designed as a hands‑on playbook, not abstract theory, Permission Granted offers women a clear, evidence‑based approach to entrepreneurship on their own terms.

Event Programme

• Nespresso coffee and networking to kick the event off
• Q&A with Prof. Maura McAdam, hosted by John Ferris, exploring her motivation for writing the book and spotlighting key insights from Permission Granted
• Featured Entrepreneurs (CTA 1: Challenge the Norm): Hear from three women founders who have disrupted their industries and carved their own entrepreneurial paths. Our speakers are Olga McAteer, McAteer Solutions Ltd; Haileigh Lamont - Renegade Adocavy Ltd and Louise Doyle, Needi.
• Closing presentation by Louise Kennan Clarke inspiring us to Grab the Mic (CTA 3)
• Networking with founders, mentors, and ecosystem partners (CTA 5: NetWORKing)

This event is designed to deliver practical value, build community, and spotlight the contributions and leadership of women entrepreneurs.

We warmly invite all attendees to share insights, moments, and reflections using the event hashtag: #PermissionGranted.

About the Author: Maura McAdam, PhD

Professor, researcher, coach, and accredited NLP Master Practitioner.

For over two decades, Maura has translated her globally recognised research on entrepreneurship and leadership into practical guidance used by founders in real‑world environments. Consistently ranked among the top 2% of scientists worldwide for research impact, she is a leading voice in women’s entrepreneurship. Permission Granted is her first book written for a wider audience — blending rigorous evidence with lived experience to offer transformative strategies for women founders.

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