What's your story? Why not share your success and learn from others?

Meet thousands of women like this on the everywoman network. Joining the network is easy and free. Get connecting today!

From junior clerk after leaving school at 16 to DTI e-commence award nominee, Tina Woollard has made it to the top.

Frustrated by the lack of career opportunities for part-time workers, Lilach Bullock went on to set up asklilach, a successful virtual assistant service for businesses.

Marianne and Ceri filled a gap in the UK market. Creating an online web-site allowing wedding guests to purchase each component of a couple's dream honeymoon from plane tickets to champagne.

Diana Serle travelled through India and Thailand purchasing beautiful jewelery. With little experience she quickly set up a thriving business before taking the plunge into franchising. Now, she has four successful franchises and hopes to open up more shops across the UK!

Claire ascended the corporate ladder at record speed, joining the professional world early in life without much experience. However, she did her homework researching all aspects of the healthcare system including visiting hospital wards and talking to people outside her field. Noticing her expertise and professionalism, she soon rose to the top becoming the Assistant Director of Finance in only a few short years.

Olive Strachan started up a training consultancy and resource center. Surviving surgery, thieving landlords, and unreliable employees she has managed to sustain her business and reached world-wide success.

Kerrie was dominating the field of investment banking. But, she was unhappy feeling as though she was surrounded by fake people and had to put up an act. She decided to open up her own business where she could be herself and transform the industry of interior design.

Rachel's web design agency survived the dot.com crash to become one of London's most respected creative agencies, renowned for it's strong ethical principles. She now counts top not-for-profit organisations like Green Peace among her clients.

Estate agents have traditionally always worked for sellers, while buyers have been left to fend for themselves. Having worked for 24 years as an estate agent, Sharon Hewitt wanted to help homebuyers not make expensive mistakes and so she launched a property search company solely dedicated to the needs of buyers...

Carole had no obvious qualifications or skills that she could turn into a business...all she knew was that she wanted to work for herself and that she didn't want to risk her financial security. The idea of building on someone's else's established business idea really appealed to her so she when she came accross a franchise opportunity she could feel passionate about, she grabbed it with both hands

By the time the sun set on July 7th 2005, successful barrister Polly Higgins had in place a fully formed picture of the company she wanted to set up to help make the world a better place...

Corinne's sister Suzanne was extremely self-conscious about her very bald head following a course of chemotherapy. All Suzanne wanted was to be able to try on and buy hats to cover her head at home...and Corinne suddenly realised she'd stumbled on a real gap in the market - and a great idea for a business.

Gail had always wanted to work for herself, but lacked a good business idea. When she decided she’d had enough of corporate life and started working as a business consultant, she quickly realised she needed a PA but couldn’t afford one. So Gail decided to employ one and share her - then had a "lightbulb-moment" when she realised she had her idea for a business!

Only a mother truly understands what mothers need. Rachel Jones worked late into the nights to get her washable, squashable, fabric highchair business up and running.

Janet Caddick and her business partner operate an after school and holiday club for children which offers more than day care. They help children to develop the most important life skill they’ll ever need – to appreciate and celebrate the differences in the society they live in.

A wardrobe crisis on her 30th birthday, a bit of inspiration from Bollywood and her own British-Asian heritage were the recipe for Aneela Rose’s fashion success. She now owns an East-meets-West ladies' fashion business in the South East. Hand-embroidered garments and accessories in luxurious fabrics from the Indian sub-continent and the Far East are unique but affordable.