An Honest Founder Story That Sparked Connection Across West Yorkshire

Women from across West Yorkshire recently gathered at Inspire and Connect events in Ilkley and Farsley for conversations centred on something often missing from traditional networking spaces: honesty.

Inspire and Connect is a women’s networking community that meets twice a month with the aim of creating welcoming, supportive spaces where women can connect, share openly, and feel less alone. Run by Alex (Intent Coach) and Anna, and now expanding with the Farsley group run by Laura of Cultivate Co, the community brings together women from a wide range of professional and personal backgrounds.

At both events, guest speaker Rachel, founder of Vigor Vitamins, shared her personal journey in a way that moved far beyond a polished success narrative. Her talk explored early career leadership and outward success, followed by identity loss, grief, divorce, burnout, and the slower, more intentional process of rebuilding confidence, wellbeing, and purpose later in life.

Rachel also spoke about the importance of building a business with integrity at its core. She shared why honesty, authenticity and strong values matter more than quick growth or loud marketing, and how Vigor was created to reflect those principles. The conversation touched on doing business transparently, staying true to good morals, and building a community around shared values rather than pressure or perfection.

Rather than focusing on milestones or achievements, the sessions centred on experiences many women quietly recognise: people-pleasing, pushing through exhaustion, feeling torn between ambition and personal life, and questioning long-held definitions of success. The story also offered insight into the values that shaped Vigor, a brand built on the belief that health support should be simple, honest, and designed to fit real life.

The response across both Ilkley and Farsley was immediate and deeply engaged. Many attendees shared how closely parts of the story mirrored their own experiences, sparking conversations that continued well beyond the talks themselves. Themes of self-worth, community, and making brave changes in mid-life resonated particularly strongly.

A recurring message throughout both mornings was the importance of lifestyle-first wellbeing, moving away from quick fixes and external validation, and towards health built through balance, consistency, connection, and self-awareness.

Together, the Ilkley and Farsley events reflected what Inspire and Connect continues to create: spaces where women feel seen, supported, and able to share real stories without judgement. As the community grows, it remains a place for meaningful connection, honest conversation, and gentle inspiration.

Learn more and join the Inspire & Connect community here