International Women’s Day: Reflections on Being a Female Founder in Private Healthcare
Every year on International Women’s Day (8th March), we celebrate the achievements, resilience, and contributions of women across the world. It is also a moment to reflect on the progress still needed to create equitable opportunities in leadership, business, and healthcare.
As the founder of Lycali, International Women’s Day feels particularly meaningful. Building a business in the field of neurodevelopmental assessment and therapy has been both incredibly rewarding and deeply challenging. It has required persistence, creativity, and a strong belief in the importance of supporting children, families, and adults who are navigating neurodevelopmental differences such as autism, ADHD, speech and language needs, and learning differences.
Why Female Leadership in Healthcare Matters
Women play a vital role in health and education sectors, yet female founders still face barriers when starting and scaling organisations. These can include limited access to funding, balancing family responsibilities, and navigating systems that have historically been designed around traditional corporate structures.
However, female-led organisations often bring something powerful to healthcare services:
Empathy-driven leadership
Community-focused values
Holistic approaches to wellbeing
A strong commitment to inclusive support
At Lycali, these values shape everything we do. Our goal has always been to create a service that is not only clinically robust but also compassionate, accessible, and supportive for families.
The Motivation Behind Lycali
The vision behind Lycali was simple: to build a service that helps individuals better understand their neurodevelopmental profiles and access the support they need to thrive.
For many families, navigating the system can feel overwhelming. Waiting lists can be long, information can be confusing, and parents often feel they must advocate strongly for their children to access the right support.
Through comprehensive assessments, psychoeducation, and therapeutic support, Lycali aims to provide clarity, understanding, and practical strategies for individuals and families.
The Reality of Being a Female Founder
Starting and growing a business is rarely a straightforward journey. There are moments of excitement and growth, but also uncertainty, problem-solving, and resilience.
For many female founders, the journey involves balancing multiple roles:
Business owner
Leader
Clinician
Parent or caregiver
Community member
What keeps many women moving forward is the impact of their work. Seeing individuals gain insight into their strengths, watching children become more confident in their learning, or helping families feel understood can make the challenges worthwhile.
Building a Supportive Community
Another important aspect of female entrepreneurship is community and collaboration, particularly in Kent (our main hub). Women supporting women, through mentorship, partnerships, and shared knowledge creates stronger businesses and more inclusive services.
At Lycali, we are proud to work alongside professionals, educators, and families who share the same goal: helping individuals feel understood and supported.
Looking Forward
International Women’s Day is not just about celebrating achievements; it is also about continuing to build opportunities for future generations of women in leadership, healthcare, and research.
As Lycali continues to grow, the focus remains the same:
Supporting individuals with neurodevelopmental differences
Providing high-quality assessments and therapeutic services
Creating a compassionate and inclusive environment for families
Being a female founder is both a responsibility and a privilege. It is an opportunity to build services that truly reflect the needs of the community and to contribute to a future where diverse leadership and inclusive healthcare are the norm, not the exception.