Accelerate Circle
Join a global community of thought leaders, changemakers, and philanthropists dedicated to fostering economic growth through women’s entrepreneurship.
Our Founder Cherie Blair CBE KC is convening the Accelerate Circle: a select group of visionary philanthropists, business leaders and experts in the field to serve as the driving force behind the Foundation’s fundraising and support.
Cherie Blair CBE KC
Global Chair
Leading King’s Counsel, wife of the former British Prime Minister and committed campaigner for women’s rights, Cherie set up the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women in 2008 to support women to start, grow and sustain successful businesses in low and middle income countries.
A creative entrepreneur, Pembe is passionate about the empowerment of women and assisting them into education and creative arts. Pembe founded a theatre company in 2001 developing work addressing cultural displacement and women transcending barriers. She brings extensive media experience in the Middle East context and effective engagement with a range of influencers.
Who is your favourite feminist icon? My feminist icon is the novelist Elif Shafak. She writes about female empowerment after struggles, and is critical of attempts to control art. I see this as being parallel to how the Foundation works to change ingrained gender prejudice.
Cécile founded Seraphine, the maternity wear label, 20 years ago and grew it to being the leading global brand of maternity fashion with a turnover in excess of £50 million. Cecile won two Queens awards for Enterprise for her success in international trade and numerous entrepreneurship awards including Best entrepreneur from City Am and from EY.
Cécile is a regular contributor to podcasts and a public speaker advocating for women entrepreneurship .
Who is your favourite feminist icon? Coco Chanel.
Charles Myers, Chairman and Founder of Signum Global Advisors, has over 25 years of US political and electoral experience advising candidates in Presidential, Senate, House of Representatives and Gubernatorial races, including Hillary Clinton for President 2016 and Joe Biden for President 2020. He also has 30 years of experience in global financial markets. Charles has a BA from Amherst College in Massachusetts and a post-graduate M. Phil degree from Cambridge University in England.
Who is your favourite feminist icon? Gloria Steinem.
Romina Gingasu is a Romanian engineer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. She graduated from the Military Technical Academy of Bucharest with a degree in aeronautical engineering. Romina is also the Founder of the Red Women Foundation, an international organization that focuses on promoting women’s rights, quality education, and gender equality. She has become a prominent figure advocating for women’s empowerment.
In one sentence, what is the best lesson a woman in your life has taught you?
The best lesson a woman has taught me is that I needed to earn my place; I attended meetings with senior, experienced women and I was always the last one at the table until I presented a completed project for women. Now, I manage multiple projects and am proud to collaborate with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women.
