Karen Named Inspirational Member Of The Year

July 3, 2013 - PRLog -- Cardiff’s Damsels Success

Members of Cardiff's Damsels in Success group recently joined the celebrations at the Women Inspiring Women Awards.  

Many Welsh ladies triumphed including Fran Tyler who won the Overcoming Adversity Award, Alison Cross - Jones who won the Woman in the Community Award and Karen Dell’Armi who won the title of Inspirational Member of the Year. Other Cardiff members shortlisted included Jacqui Malpass in the Author/Blogger category, Nadine Honeybone in the Woman in the Community section and Prith Biant who was shortlisted as a Woman to Watch.

Michelle Clarke Director of Damsels in Success Cardiff says; ‘It is wonderful to see Welsh women doing fantastic things and there was such camaraderie amongst the ladies at the event which celebrated women from England, Scotland and Wales. It shows that you don’t have to be in London to achieve great success.’

Former soil scientist Michelle who won the award for Damsels Director of the year in 2012 and was nominated as Women’s Coach of the Year in this years APCTC awards for coaches, describes Damsels in Success  as a personal growth community that inspires, energises and supports fabulous women who want more out of life:- .

‘Damsels is about success with ease and not compartmentalising. When women grow personally they also achieve more in their home life and at work. At Damsels in Success, we believe that you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of everybody else. We create time and space every month for women to put themselves first, connect as a community of inspired women, discover who they truly are and learn to live their lives fully and freely.

It has been a privilege to help Karen who is phenomenally talented, spread her wings and achieve amazing success.  Karen is quite simply a joy to be around – calm, assured, loving, supportive, gentle and wise. She is a true advocate for women, an incredible role model, and someone who has truly integrated the DIS philosophy of ‘Success with Ease’ since joining as a member in March 2011.

Karen always shares her insights, her learnings, her challenges, with such ease, and radiates such a joyful spirit, that people are naturally drawn to her. She has only ever missed a couple of meetings, and connects with members on our forum with the same ease and openness.

She is a gifted jewellery designer and silversmith (www. dellarmi.co.uk). She developed her business after leaving the corporate world to spend more time with her two boys, and now has an internationally acclaimed, award-winning brand and is highly sought after for bespoke commissions, shows and exhibitions. She has recently been appointed as a Director for the Association of Contemporary Jewellery in London – which we’ve all celebrated with her.

Her love of creativity and entrepreneurship has led her to become a Dynamo Role Model for the Welsh Government. She now regularly presents to young people to inspire them to think about starting their own businesses. She is also part of the Women Adding Value to the Economy (WAVE) project that supports women from more deprived areas in gaining the skills and the confidence needed to get into employment or start a business of their own. Her joy and enthusiasm when sharing her own journey and inspiring others is phenomenal – and she has recently started to personally mentor new design and jewellery graduates, thereby sharing her love even more

I truly believe she embodies authenticity and the power of truly being yourself – through her love of walking she has raised over £130,000 for local charities and helped many other women to experience the outdoors and stretch themselves to achieve things they never believed were possible – including two major treks in the last 3 years to Mt Kilimanjaro and Everest Base Camp.’

And here’s what Karen said when she found out that she’s been shortlisted for the award: ‘To belong in such a fabulous loving, fun & supportive community is a gift, to be voted by your awesome beautiful peers in your group is amazing & remembering the gorgeous warmth & spirit of Cathie has given me goosebumps on goosebumps (in this heat!) and sprung a little tear. She'll be celebrating for & with all of us on Saturday for sure!!’ Cathy Brown is a former member of Damsels in Success who lost her battle with cancer last year. The Inspiration Member award is presented in her memory.

Lucie Bradbury, founder of Damsels in Success which sponsored the awards, described the event as 'an amazing and phenomenal evening, where women connected, collaborated and celebrated in style!'

Cardiff’s Damsels in Success meet on the first Monday of each month at the Maldron Hotel, St Mary Street, Cardiff.  

Editors notes:

For more details about Damsels in Success go to www.damselsinsuccess.co.uk

To interview Michelle Clarke, Karen Dell’Armi or any of the other award winners, nominees or Cardiff members, please contact Susan Brookes-Morris of Positive Publicity on 07890 051638 or info@positivepublicity.biz

Photo  by : Woodward Photography  showing Karen, Michelle and Prith- many additional photographs are available if required.