Listen to the audio version of this episode: https://manchestermbavoices.transistor.fm Welcome to our brand-new podcast! To mark the beginning of Women's History Month, host Riya Malik sits down with entrepreneur and MBA candidate Gloria Cherono from Alliance Manchester Business School to explore what it really takes to build a purpose-driven business as a woman. From her upbringing in a Kenyan farming community to launching sustainability venture Envirofly, Gloria shares how resilience, ambition and community shaped her leadership journey. Together, they chat about the realities of female entrepreneurship, how the MBA influenced their leadership styles, and how partnerships can be just as valuable as funding when starting a business. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00:00– Introduction to Gloria Cherono 00:02:48– How Gloria’s upbringing in a Kenyan farming community shaped her ambitions to pursue an MBA 00:04:33 – Why she chose AMBS when looking for business schools 00:07:20 – The sustainability problems her business Envirofly helped solve 00:09:52 – Challenges of being a woman in entrepreneurship 00:12:40 – The MBA’s impact on leadership styles 00:17:11 – How the Forté scholarship helps women looking to do an MBA 00:22:10 – Entrepreneurship and the myth of work-life balance 00:24:57 – What’s the Venture Capital Investment Competition? 00:29:27 – What would Gloria tell her ‘month one MBA’ self? 00:32:34 – The Manchester Quiz 00:35:49 – Key takeaways for Women’s History Month Follow us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/alliancemanchesterbusinessschool Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alliancembs TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@alliancembs Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/school/alliancembs