Celebrating our local business women on International Women's Day

Karis is the marketing manager at Mantle Space Ltd and has been part of the company’s journey for over four years. Mantle Space currently operates eight flexible office spaces across the East of England, with exciting expansion plans underway — including the upcoming launch of a ninth centre in Harlow.

Marketing has always been at the heart of Karis’ career. Before joining Mantle Space, she spent 25 years in hospitality, working within a number of three- and four-star hotels across the Southeast. During that time, she led, organised, and delivered countless corporate events and weddings, consistently ensuring expectations were not only met but exceeded.

Her hospitality background has given her a deep understanding of customer experience, brand reputation, and relationship building — strengths she now channels into driving awareness, engagement, and growth for Mantle Space.

Outside of Mantle, Karis is a keen SUP athlete and competes around the country in paddleboard racing accompanied by the now team mascot Max, the Cocker Spaniel. Karis also enjoys riding her horse, reading, and generally keeping fit and active.

Sandra Foster, Fosters Legal Solicitors Ltd

Sandra Foster is a supervising solicitor, the director and founder of Fosters Legal Solicitors based in the Old Town Stevenage, Watford and Peterborough. Sandra came to the UK as a student in 1999 to study. She studied a degree in administration, law and also now holds a degree in Master of Law. Sandra specialises primarily in family law for the best past of over 13 years.

Sandra has continued to dedicate her life to empower anyone that cross her path. Because of her driving force behind the success of the firm, the firm continues to thrive. It is rated top three in Stevenage by ThreeBestRated 2026. Sandra continues to commit herself in helping the vulnerable in the community including providing free legal advice and working pro bono in cases of domestic abuse, among others. As she believes in giving, she donates funds from her own pocket to help, pays for essentials for the needy, and spent time visiting victims and those in need.

Sandra says as part of doing her part in the community for empowering, assisting the vulnerable and those in need, her vision also extends to help the local students gain office experience and how practice in law works. So, she is organising through her firm, work experience for students and the youth starting in July 2026. More information about the work experience will be available on their website in mid-March 2026.

The good news for Sandra is that her hard work, knowledge and her contributions to society, has been recognised and it has now been conferred upon her an Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy in Strategic Business Leadership, Law and Community Empowerment. The Convocation Ceremony will take place in San Francisco at the end of February 2026. Her biography will be available to download on Amazon shortly after the ceremony.

Sandra says she is even more determined to do whatever she can in her ability to help the people including students who crosses her path. Sandra says it is her vision to empower, encourage, inspire, and motivate people to achieve what they think is impossible. Therefore, her message today is "how you think shapes your future."

Jacqueline and Tamara, Stotfold Dental Clinic

Jacqueline and Tamara lead Stotfold Dental Clinic, ensuring it is a centre of excellence. 

They are a close-knit team who work seamlessly together. Using their combined experience, passion for the industry and shared vision, to ensure the practice is run smoothly and to a continuous high standard. 

The duo mentor the rest of the staff, to ensure they become highly skilled and share the same enthusiasm, which is now embedded into the culture of Stotfold Dental Clinic. 

Jacqueline has worked in dentistry for 46 years. In all that time, she has never lost her passion for the job. Every day brings new challenges, and she enjoys meeting new patients as well as seeing familiar faces. Some of the practice's long-term patients now bring their own families in for treatment, which Jacqueline always finds heart-warming.  

Outside of work, she is a proud mother of two, and loves spending time with her family.

Tamara has worked in dentistry for 11 years, holding a variety of roles to support patients and the clinical team. These experiences have helped her develop and refine skills to ensure excellent patient care is being delivered and the practice is adapting, growing and advancing. 

She loves speaking to patients, getting to know them and guiding them through their dental journey. 

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time at the allotment she shares with her husband and cuddling with her two cats.

Over the years Jacqui and Tamara have become close friends and can often be heard laughing in the practice together. 

They are an excellent example of women supporting one another.