RIGHT ON THE MONEY /
SUNDAY TIMES STYLE

Kiki Loizou reports on the rise of successful businesswomen and features Sorority Founder Lisa Tse about the secret of her success and the importance of women supporting each other through a sisterhood.

"Lisa Tse's story isn't so uncommon. A new generation of go-getting young women is shifting the balance of wealth in Britain. Outperforming boys at school and bored with waiting for the corporate world to accommodate their talents, women are designing the working lives they want — and making big money in the process. "Entrepreneurship is attractive, as it can offer greater flexibility," says Tse. And then there is the constant stream of influential women, from Beyoncé to Michelle Obama, bombarding us with motivational talk. Who runs the world? Girls...

Designer splurges aside, Tse says that having money makes you generous. "I'm a real giver," she says. "I believe in sharing the benefits of my success, and it feels great to be able to help others." Currently working with Alicia Keys and Keep a Child Alive to help African and Indian women gain financial independence, Tse is one of Britain's sucessful businesswomen who give liberally to causes close to their hearts...

...her work is inspired by the idea that she will make a long-lasting impact on the future of women in business. In 2010 she founded The Sorority, a private members' club for successful women, who pay £1,000 to join. "I want to be remembered as a woman who helped others to realise their capabilities," she says. "I have never believed there are set ways of accomplishing anything; you can achieve whatever you want."

If men are more likely to cite money as a goal in itself when it comes to business, it's clear that for Britain's female businesswomen, the kick they get from knowing they achieved everything single-handedly is what keeps them going. "Women are known to be modest about their achievements," says Tse. "We're not taught to brag about what we do, even though we're doing better than ever before."

LUXE LIST
QUINTESSENTIALLY MAGAZINE

"Launched at a secret location in London last June, The Sorority is an exclusive international club that is far more than just a professional networking group – it is a vision that represents and celebrates the very best of today’s poised professional women, helping them to realise their full potential. There is no corporate mindset or focus on one particular industry. Rather, the club has been created for women who have achieved something unique – so, the young prodigy, the banker-turned-organic farmer, the single mother running an internet empire from her living room, the accomplished and innovative CEO, the list goes on. Importantly, it’s for women who have a desire to share experiences and who value collaboration.

You only have to look at some of the members already on board to see this club represents something rather special: luminaries such as film director Gurinder Chadha OBE, Katie Derham (BBC Broadcaster), HRH Sultanah of Pahang and shoe designer Beatrix Ong."

COUTTS WOMAN

The Sorority Founder Lisa Tse speaks to Coutts Woman about the journey of a female entrepreneur, and her vision to empower and inspire other women to achieve their full potential.

READ FULL INTERVIEW ON COUTTS WOMAN

MAKE THE CONNECTION/
BAZAAR AT WORK / HARPERS BAZAAR

By Viv Groskop

"Newlys launched initiative The Sorority,has women in advertising, media and the City among its varied membership. It costs £1,000 a yeat to join, including VIP events and club privileges. With 40 founding members including Gurdinder Chada (the directior of Bend It Like Beckham), BBC Presenter Katie Derham to HRH Sultanah of Pahang (the wife of a Malaysia monarch) and shoe designer Beatrix Ong, it is aiming to attract more than 1000 high-achieving women nationally.

One founding member, media entrepreneur Anjula Acharia-Bath says bluntly "If you aren't good at networking learn to be. How? Just by not being afraid to start conversations". Sorority founder and brand guru Lisa Tse sees this new club as a place to meet role models. 'Networking was first created for a male-dominated corporate environment. For me, it should be about creating a space where women can bond. We can talk about babies, bras, profits and losses all in one conversation. You meet wome you find you can talk to. It's only afterwards that you find out they've got all these terrifice achievements to their name."

IT'S GOOD TO SHARE/
STYLE MAGAZINE / THE SUNDAY TIMES

By KATE SPICER

"The designer Lisa Tse recently launched The Sorority, a women-only network with the presenter Katie Derham, the shoe designer Beatrix Ong and the film-maker Gurinder Chadha among its members.

"The Sorority is about collaborative spirits" she says. "Its about creating something amazing with these big hearts and minds. I want to celebrate women as they really are, not contructed stereotypes like you see on The Apprentice. We want to remove the formality of presenting yourself as a perfect facade. This is about informality, being open and warm."

LISA TSE: THE ART OF ENTREPRENUERIAL DREAMS /
BLUE CHIP MAGAZINE - THE BUSINESS PEOPLE'S MAGAZINE

By Salima Amer

A personal interview with The Sorority Founder Lisa Tse.

SISTERS ARE DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES /
EVENING STANDARD

Liz Hoggard joins us for the launch of The Sorority.

BBC LONDON NEWS MEETS FOUNDER LISA TSE

Gareth Furby visits Sorority Founder and President Lisa Tse at her design studio in The City before joining her at the official launch of The Sorority in a 2 minute feature for BBC London News.

BOYS NOT ALLOWED /
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH STELLA MAGAZINE

"Networking groups for professional women are de rigueur these days, but the Sorority, which launches next month, is replicating the traditional gentlemen's club by aiming for the top end of the market.

The founding members are certainly a glamorous bunch, including the newsreader Katie Derham, the television chef Ching-He Huang, the film director Gurinder Chadha and HRH the Sultana of Pahang. Think perfect hair and make-up, high heels and heavy jewels.

Membership is largely by recommendation and invitation, though you can apply and be interviewed - once in you will receive a handmade silver brooch bearing the group's insignia to mark you out from the crowd.

The Sorority founder, Lisa Tse, 31, a design strategist, started her own business at an early age. She believes 'alpha females can be soft, kind and collaborative; we don't have to be ruthless'.

Activities will range from the Sorority Slumber Party, an annual ball in aid of women's causes, to private dinners to film projects. A place for wannabes this ain't."

CAREERS /
ASIANA MAGAZINE

The Sorority Founding Members Ahlya Fateh, Anna Sofat and Maleeha Lodi with Founder Lisa Tse are interviewed for Asiana Careers.