{"id":5450,"date":"2026-09-27T19:29:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-27T19:29:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vaultinsider.top\/?p=5450"},"modified":"2026-09-27T19:29:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-27T19:29:10","slug":"data-awaited-on-stewarts-pathways-forward-daily-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vaultinsider.top\/?p=5450","title":{"rendered":"Data awaited on Stewart’s Pathways Forward \u2013 Daily Business"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Ana Stewart: \u2018professionalising the data\u2019 (pic: DB Media Services)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Chief Entrepreneur Ana Stewart is facing criticism that her Pathways Forward initiative, aiming to improve opportunities for women business leaders, has not published data showing what its participating businesses have achieved.<\/p>\n

Those involved in the programme pledge two actions and publish what they have accomplished after 12 months. <\/p>\n

Several female entrepreneurs and academics have told Daily Business<\/em> they were frustrated at the lack of information on what has been achieved.<\/p>\n

Asked about the lack of published data, Ms Stewart said: \u201cThat\u2019s a good shout. We are in the middle of trying to professionalise how the initiative measures and reports its impact.\u201d<\/p>\n

The initiative was launched in September 2023 to drive gender diversity and inclusion in Scotland\u2019s entrepreneurial ecosystem following work by her predecessor Mark Logan.<\/p>\n

The co-founder of iDesign, which was floated on the stock market, took over from Mr Logan on an unpaid basis and her position was renewed by the new government in July. <\/p>\n

She said she hopes the collective impact of the scheme will help influence government, rather than relying solely on her own advocacy.<\/p>\n

Speaking to Daily Business<\/em> at last week\u2019s Venture Cafe event, she said she had become frustrated after receiving no response from the Scottish Government to a report she authored. \u201cI finished the report and then got annoyed that nobody in government was responding.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked about the Government\u2019s approach to scaling businesses, Ms Stewart said the issue was included in its Programme for Government, but would take time to address.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe problem is structural. It\u2019s not just going to be government policy to fix it \u2013 there needs to be a lot of other things too. I\u2019m an entrepreneur myself. I\u2019ve got a lot of businesses. I want to make sure we get things done.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms Stewart is preparing for a summit bringing together female founders from Scotland and the wider UK, with participants representing at least \u00a34bn in combined revenue.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s quite a lot of activity in start-ups and early-stage businesses among men, but there\u2019s very few women in scaling, so I started to connect them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The summit will focus on the practical challenges of growing and scaling companies, rather than simply hearing founders\u2019 personal stories. The event will include clinics and practical sessions designed to give attendees \u201cactionable takeaways\u201d.<\/p>\n

She added: \u201cI\u2019m all about action. We don\u2019t want to be talking. We\u2019re leaping on that opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

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