This week I celebrated International Women’s Day (IWD) with Surrey Chambers Business Women in Surrey (BWiS).

In my role as BWiS chair I am actively involved, along with our steering group, in brainstorming ideas and ensuring our annual flagship IWD event is exciting, interesting and insightful.

Last March, we held the event at the fabulous Foxhills Country Club where around 70 people sat side-by-side chatting together over a two course lunch before listening face-to-face to our speakers. There was no social distancing, no sanitiser, and no face masks.

This year things were very different. Around 40 of us gathered to hear from four fabulous speakers but this time via Zoom. And over the halfway breakout networking session, we all enjoyed a cream tea which had been delivered to our homes the day before.

Both events were excellent in their own way. Providing opportunities to celebrate great businesswomen with other great businesswomen, while enjoying a few hours respite from our day jobs over delicious refreshments. Something we all need from time to time.

The pandemic has been problematic to say the least! But it has also led to new ways of thinking, working and even socialising. I have another Zoom cream tea planned for this Sunday with my mum to celebrate Mother’s Day. I would normally take her to a plush hotel for the afternoon. Instead, we are meeting online in our separate houses to re-enact the experience, dressed to the nines, and with a glass of champagne in hand.

While none of us would want to repeat the past 12 months, we have certainly learned to adapt and act accordingly. So hang in there, lockdown three is almost over, and like all challenges, we will get through this.