Brilliant, Sober & Building Empires: The Women Behind Ideas Fest’s ‘Dry Connections’

We all know the drill - Meet for drinks, chat over cocktails, “network” with a glass of wine in hand. But what happens when you ditch the drink and still want to build powerful business relationships?

That’s exactly what’s being unpacked at this year’s Ideas Fest during the Dry Connections panel.  It's a standout session led by some seriously inspiring women who are breaking the networking norm and showing us how to do business with clarity, confidence… and not a drop of booze.

Joining Amanda Thomson – Founder & CEO, Noughty will be Sam White - Founder & CEO, Stella Insurance, Emma Sayle – Founder, Killing Kittens, and Helen Masters - Sober AF Dating.

As founder of Stella Insurance, Sam’s built a challenger brand that’s rewriting the rules of the male-dominated insurance industry—with transparency, fairness, and a whole lot of guts.  She's open about her own journey with sobriety and mental health, and she brings razor-sharp business insight mixed with real emotional intelligence. 

Emma, founder of Killing Kittens, the women-led sexual empowerment brand turned global movement, is no stranger to shaking things up, and her approach to sober connection is no different. Expect candid takes on confidence, boundaries, and how to build trust in high-stakes, emotionally charged spaces—without relying on a drink to take the edge off.

And Helen's revolutionary Sober Dating means no shots required.  She's flipping the script on booze-fuelled dating, and socialising.  Whether you’re alcohol-free, sober-curious, or just done with beer goggles that lead to drunken disasters, Sober AF Dating is building a space for like minded legends to meet, mingle, and have a bloody good time.

Click HERE to find out how to buy tickets for the event.