I graduated from Queen Mary with a PhD in Computer Science in 2021 and now work as a user researcher. I am a mum of two teenagers, balancing work, parenthood and various passion projects.

My business 

My entrepreneurial project, WalkTogether AI, is a digital app designed to connect women nearby who want to walk together. Using location technology, it allows users to find one another and choose to share a journey rather than walk alone. By encouraging women to walk in pairs or groups, it aims to reduce vulnerability and build confidence, safety and solidarity in public spaces. The project is currently on hold while I focus on work and family responsibilities, but I hope to return to it when circumstances allow. 

I am an entrepreneur because. . . 

It is the only viable way for me to do the things I want to do. 

The problem I am trying to solve, and why it matters to me 

I want to address the fear and vulnerability women can experience when walking alone. While studying at Queen Mary, I often felt vulnerable walking to and from the Tube station and found myself looking for other women nearby, as their presence helped me feel safer. WalkTogether AI grew from that experience and my belief that women can look out for one another and feel safer together. 

This matters deeply to me, both because of my own experiences and because my daughter will soon be old enough to travel independently. It is difficult to accept how little seems to have changed when it comes to women's safety in public spaces. I want WalkTogether AI to be a small but meaningful step towards helping women feel less alone, more confident and safer on their everyday journeys. 

The achievement I am most proud of 

I am most proud of winning a grant from my local authority for WalkTogether AI. 

How Queen Mary supported my journey 

Queen Mary's entrepreneurial community helped me connect with many inspiring women entrepreneurs across London. 

The advice I would give to a Queen Mary student or graduate who is considering starting something of their own 

Start with something you genuinely care about, whether it comes from your own experiences or a problem you feel strongly about solving. You do not need to have everything figured out from day one. Take small steps, be willing to learn along the way and do not let the fear of getting it wrong stop you. Most importantly, believe that your idea has value, even if it starts small. If it matters to you, it is worth exploring.