Stephanie Darkes: Writer / Digital Storyteller / Editor of Exploring Exeter
Biggest professional achievement to date
I’ve had lots of little achievements such as interviewing Joan Armatrading, a long time musical hero of mine. Working my way up to become a company director at 25 and producing my own radio show. But something I feel really proud of is growing a community festival from 200 people to 10,000.
Best life advice ever received
‘’Fake it, ‘til you make it’’, because everybody is winging it to some degree!
Advice for a young woman stepping into the world from school,
college or university…
Follow your dreams and passion & don’t settle. You have one life; do as much
as you can with it.
Which book has had the greatest influence on your life?
So many to choose from but I would say Paulo Coelho ‘The Alchemist’ - I read
it in my late teens and found it inspirational; it encouraged me to follow my
dreams.
If you could make one change to the world
Equality and equal rights for all.
Heartfelt belief
Kindness begets kindness.
“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”
100 MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN 2018
Grow Exeter Magazine launched the ‘100 Most Influential Women 2018’ in Exeter and the region in December 2017 and we received around 500 nominations for influential women from all walks of life; our panel was spoilt for choice and hard-pressed to select only 100 from the talented nominees that they viewed. The Launch of the ‘100 Most Influential Women’ awards in 2018 has perhaps even more value than in any other year as it was just 100 years ago that the first woman was granted the right to vote in the UK.
Women have truly shown that they can shine in any environment, whether that be in the boardroom, teaching our children, climbing mountains, navigating uncharted waters, they can do anything that they set their mind to and we can’t wait to celebrate our own talented 100.
Honouring women in our March edition of Grow Exeter fell in line with International Women’s Day on the 8th March and the 100 finalists have each been featured in this special edition. To see the 100 finalists individually featured, please grab a copy of our March edition by ordering through the link below. We will be publishing each woman online throughout March and April so keep an eye on our Facebook page or website for their stories.
A huge congratulations to everyone nominated and to the #100WomenExeter, you are all amazing!
