GRACE Talks on International Women’s Day Left Us Inspired, Connected and Ready To Celebrate Women

By Amy Malpass Hahn Published Mar 10 2019

While we've never doubted the power and diversity in women's stories, our GRACE Talks event on International Women's Day last Friday truly brought it to life.

With five incredibly accomplished guest speakers, we heard stories that spanned what it takes to build a $100 million business, through to stepping away from a big career to focus on health and family. As always, it was the diversity of stories that made for not only a morning that had us on the edge of our seats throughout its entirety, but also provided reassurance that there really is no one right way to go about career, life and motherhood. Photography: Emmy Etie | Founder Georgie Abay wears Saba

At the event, we heard from:

The remarkable Vashti Whitfield, who – despite her enormous energy and vibrancy – had a majority of the audience in tears 30 seconds into her talk. Sharing her history and why we need to embrace life’s challenges as opportunities, she provided unforgettable insights and widsom.
The wonderful Kate Pascoe Squires, who after building cult homewares label Kate + Kate, decided to step away from the hectic world of small business, to focus on her health. She spoke with elegance and made a compelling case for slowing down and embracing the beauty in the everyday.
The hilariously accomplished Meg Mason, whose musings on motherhood had our audience in fits of laughter while nodding their heads in agreement. From what it takes to survive the early years of motherhood, to finding motivation to work as a freelancer (“it’s easy when the outside world is so motivated to send me bills”), we all rushed off to buy her books.
The powerhouse Bronwyn Mccahon, who shared the story of her time at Cosmopolitan, and what it took to see her step away from the top job. Focusing on her family and building a brand new business, she showed how reinvention can be a powerful thing.
Finally, the incomparable Raegan Moya-Jones, who built baby brand Aden + Anais to a $100 million business. With remarkable honesty and humour, she proved to us all that hard work and passion can see us achieve whatever we set our minds to. (And we absolutely can’t wait to try her new moonshine label, Saint Luna.)

The event was made all the more special by our host venue, The Woolwich Pier Hotel...

Newly renovated in glorious pastel tones, the venue made for a stunning location to welcome a Friday morning. Overlooking the Harbour Bridge, The Woolwich Pier also treated our guests to a beautiful morning tea from their High Tea offering, with scones, finger sandwiches, quiches and freshly brewed teas served on delicate cups and saucers.

As we discover at all our GRACE Talks events, the fashion on display is enough to make "mum style" a highly covetable term...

From printed wrap dresses, through to embellished sneakers and statement bags, the women who attended our International Women’s Day event showcased what it means to be a modern mother. Connecting through honest stories, sharing a diversity of experience and celebrating everything it is to be a woman today – it was inspiring, to say the least. The Grace Tales’ founder, Georgie Abay, was dressed the part to lead the proceedings, with an outfit by our go-to choice for modern Australian workwear, Saba. In elegant and classic navy, Saba proved to be the easy, perfect outfit choice that we have always known it to be.

It also wouldn't be a GRACE Talks event without a highly covetable goodie bag...

Our guests walked away with:

Missed out on our GRACE Talks event for International Women's Day?

If you’re in Sydney, you are in luck, as we have just released tickets to our next event – a celebration of Mother’s Day at the beautiful Boathouse Shelly Beach on Friday 14th April. At this event, you’ll not only see The Grace Tales founder Georgie Abay in conversation with one of Australian’s most remarkable and resilient women – Sam Bloom – but will also celebrate the launch of our first book, ‘GRACE MOTHERS Letters To Our Children’. A perfect gift for Mother’s Day, this beautiful book is both an intimate insight into the joys and tribulations of motherhood and a celebration of mothers and their children everywhere. Some 60 extraordinary women, from Australia and around the world, have written heartfelt letters to their children. Inspiring, occasionally surprising, often funny and frequently poignant, they capture the essence of what motherhood means for each writer. Brought to you by the founder of The Grace Tales Georgie Abay, renowned fashion and portraiture photographer Julie Adams and leading journalist Claire Brayford, GRACE MOTHERS features such luminaries as Australian designer Collette Dinnigan, US journalist, author and advocate Gretchen Carlson, fashion designer Heidi Middleton, UK financier and campaigner Dame Helena Morrissey and survivor and speaker Sam Bloom. With a foreword by Australia’s former Governor-General, the Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce, and gorgeously evocative photographs throughout, GRACE MOTHERS is a book to cherish forever. Find out everything you need to know and grab your tickets (which are strictly limited) here. We hope to see you there.