Monica Meister is the Founder of i‑woman, a platform created to expand access to skills development, professional pathways, and community support for women in education and business.
Monica began her academic journey at the University of Suffolk after returning to adult education 35 years after leaving school. Re‑entering formal study after such a long gap, she joined a diverse cohort of women of various ages and backgrounds. Many were balancing work, family responsibilities, and the personal challenges of returning to education later in life.
However, throughout the first year, Monica noticed how difficult this environment could be. The women she began the course with started to leave at a steady pace — “dropping like flies.” Some transferred to different courses, though the reasons were not always clear. Monica felt that a lack of tailored support, confidence‑building, and guidance may have contributed, highlighting the broader barriers women often face in higher education.
When she returned for her second year, the impact of these challenges became even more visible:
Last Woman Standing.
Facing an emptying classroom and the absence of her former peers, she questioned whether she should continue. With the encouragement of her classmates and her own determination to complete what she had started, she chose to stay. Throughout the programme, she applied her background in business and technology to support group work while developing new skills that shaped her future direction.
In her final year, Monica was required to choose a dissertation topic and build a supporting website — both centred on something meaningful to her. She selected:
“The Development of a Web‑Based Social Platform to Support the Female Entrepreneur Community”
Full dissertation available upon request.
The project combined her personal experiences, academic research, and her first‑hand observations of the challenges faced by women in education and entrepreneurship. It also formed the foundation for what would become i‑woman.
After completing her studies, Monica transformed this academic concept into a practical platform. She founded i‑woman to address the challenges she saw first‑hand — offering structured learning, professional spaces, and development tools designed to help women progress with clarity and support.
As the platform evolved, Monica expanded its offerings to include:
- Networking events to connect women across industries
- Mentoring opportunities to guide women at every stage of their journey
- Practical resources and toolkits covering education, entrepreneurship, and personal development
- Community spaces where women can learn, share, and collaborate
These elements have all been implemented directly into the platform, ensuring that women have access to the support Monica once found missing.
Today, she leads i‑woman with a commitment to widening access, strengthening women's professional growth, and providing the resources, pathways, and community needed for women to thrive in education, entrepreneurship, and the workplace.