'Change a Girl’s Life' Panel in Manchester

Following International Women’s Day, we are proud to share that Dr. Rebecca Struthers recently joined an inspiring line-up of speakers for The King’s Trust ‘Change a Girl’s Life’ panel event.

Hosted by the Watches of Switzerland Group at the historic Mappin & Webb showroom in St Ann’s Square, Manchester, the event focused on the transformative power of opportunity, confidence, and technical skills for young women.

The discussion, facilitated by Philippa Jackson (Executive Director of HR at Watches of Switzerland Group), brought together a diverse group of voices to explore how professional pathways and personal resilience can change futures.

During the panel, Rebecca reflected on the challenges of entering the watchmaking industry. “In my career, I was often the only woman in the room. People accused me of being only in the room because I was the token female.”

Addressing the importance of visibility and her recent work, she added  “But I didn’t want to prove them right. This is also what my book is about, I found out about the industry by accident so I wanted to write a book to show young people the diversity of careers in the industry.”

Rebecca spoke about her journey as a master watchmaker, a path she began at just 17 years old. She shared insights into how mastering a complex, patient craft changed her self-perception and discussed why access to technical skills is critical for young women today.

Rebecca was joined by an incredible group of women, each offering a unique perspective on success and resilience:

• Dame Laura Kenny: Britain’s most decorated female Olympian and the first British woman to win gold at three consecutive Olympic Games. She shared how her journey to stardom began in her teens and how she defied the odds to return to the track after the birth of her son.
• Annoushka Ducas MBE: The renowned British jewelry designer and founder of Annoushka and Links of London. A dedicated philanthropist, she also founded "The Brilliant Breakfast" initiative for The King's Trust to empower disadvantaged young women.
• Shauna Tiffany: A King’s Trust Young Ambassador who transformed her experience in the care system into a career as a play therapist and founder of Lighthouse Therapy Hub. She spoke movingly about how the Trust provided the "safety net" she lacked growing up.

The event is part of the Watches of Switzerland Group’s headline sponsorship of the 'Change a Girl’s Life' campaign, which aims to provide practical support and real pathways for disadvantaged young women across the UK.

You can learn more about the campaign and its impact at Mappin & Webb.