Festival Aims to Show Women in Business the Power of Being Authentic

The power of authenticity is the theme of a festival designed to celebrate and empower women in business.

WOW Festival Spring Event will take place over two Saturdays on May 24 and May 31 at The Derby – St Pancras Meetings & Events, London. Called I’m Authentic – Sprint into Action, the event will take women on a journey of introspection, reflection and connection – helping them understand themselves better so they can express who they really are and connect with others in an authentic way.

Over the two days, there will be powerful talks by trailblazing thought leaders, expert-led workshops and opportunities to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs. And it forms part of a wider festival by WOW Women of Worth, which will conclude with a closing party in Naples, Italy from June 28 to July 1.

Marianna Penna, WOW’s founder and the event organiser, said: “It’s time to regain the real meaning of being authentic. Authenticity means many things to people, but it is something which belongs to you and helps you understand who you are.

“Most of us have experienced self-doubt and feared the judgment of others. But if you own your vulnerability, it becomes your superpower and makes you absolutely unstoppable.”

This spring’s festival is just part of the work carried out by WOW Women of Worth, a platform created to promote women and women-led businesses in the UK and Italy. Marianna came up with the idea of WOW during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 because she wanted to use her extensive marketing experience to showcase and inspire women who didn’t know how to grow their businesses.

Marianna, who is Italian but has lived in London for 24 years, describes WOW as a ‘marketing spa’, nurturing women-led businesses and giving them space to thrive and grow. She has 25 years’ experience in marketing and is the G100 Italy Chair for the Marketing and Brand Creation Wing.

She said: “The pandemic was a particularly challenging time, and I wanted to show women with businesses how social media could help them get to the next level. Now it has evolved into a marketing spa, where women can nurture the seeds of their business so it bears fruit.

“I see it as a space where women can unwind, meditate and connect with their inner self, getting clarity on their vision, mission and values. Then it’s time to hit the metaphorical gym and put their strategy into action.

“When women own their stories, step into their potential, and build brands that reflect who they truly are, they don’t just create businesses—they create legacies.”

To find out more about WOW Women of Worth, visit www.wearewowwomen.com and book tickets to the WOW Festival Spring Event at www.thewowevents.com