Video: Janet Street Porter advises business women: ‘Don’t fit in’

“Don’t fit in. Ever.” That was British journalist and broadcaster Janet Street Porter’s advice to attendees at the Look the Business event in Dublin.

Almost 600 businesswomen from across the spectrum of industries turned out at the Mansion House for the 10th beauty and networking event, which is organised by The Gloss magazine in association with Vodafone.

Look The Business is pitched as a chance for businesswomen to meet and collaborate in a more low-key way, with entertaining speakers, a business-themed fashion show and dinner in the Round Room of the Mansion House.

The latest was designer Anya Hindmarch who took to the stage as the first of the guest speakers, where she talked about her own experience in business, and urged women to fire themselves every evening, and come in as their successor the next day.

She was followed by Street Porter, who traced her career according to her fashion history, urging women to get off their addiction to black and adopt some colour.

The event was at capacity this year, and attracted a waiting list of more than 100 people hoping to get last minute access, Gloss publisher Jane McDonnell said.

“It’s a unique event,” she said. “We know it’s a very good formula, a way of combining an evening with a business purpose and entertainment.”

There is the possibility that it will expand further, with a second event being mulled for Cork, and the possibility of taking it further afield, to London and New York.

Plans are already underway for next year’s Dublin event, Ms McDonnell said.