Director of Strategic and External Engagement, Barclays

Juliet began her career as a management consultant specialising in financial services, advising C-suite executives at leading UK banks on distribution, product and segment strategy. Driven by a desire to have greater impact, she joined Barclays to help shape the strategy for the Retail and Business Bank. Juliet now leads Strategic and External Engagement for Business Banking, working closely with industry leaders, business groups and government to address the key issues facing UK SMEs. 

A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, Juliet led Barclays’ implementation of the Investing in Women Code and has prioritised strengthening the bank’s support for female founders. She is a member of the Invest in Women Taskforce, which aims to make the UK the best place in the world to be a female entrepreneur by tackling the under-representation of women in investing roles and increasing the flow of capital to women-powered businesses at every stage of growth.

Why do you support the work of The Entrepreneurs Network?

The Entrepreneurs Network does a brilliant job of bringing together people with the knowledge, the will and the wherewithal to make a difference. It is able to channel the voice of entrepreneurs to the changemakers that can create the right conditions for more businesses to start, grow and scale. Through its cutting-edge research, pragmatic policy proposals and lively events, it has real cut-through and influence on the issues that matter. 

What research should more people read?

I may be biased, but I do think the research and focus of the Invest in Women Taskforce has really helped shift the dial and debate on how to solve the entrepreneurship gap in the UK. I highly recommend the 2025 annual report, which brings these findings together, alongside the Angel Investing report, which looks at the state of the nation of female angel investors in the UK. Both can be found on the IWT website here.

To hear directly from founders themselves, do read The Rise Report — the largest grassroots study of female entrepreneurship ever conducted in the UK. The work Emmie Faust is doing in this space is fantastic. And of course, it would be remiss not to mention the work Barclays does with The Entrepreneurs Network on the Female Founders Forum, which has produced a raft of fascinating insights and policy proposals.

Why is the UK an attractive place to grow a business?

The UK is at its best when it makes it easy for good ideas, no matter where they come from, to take root and grow. We have exceptional talent, strong institutions and a globally connected ecosystem that rewards innovation. Our culture and heritage (not to mention our time zone!) make the UK an incredibly attractive place to build a business. Despite the many obstacles that businesses can face, from everyday challenges to global uncertainty, the UK remains a country where businesses can start and scale ideas of consequence — a true testament to our enduring appeal.