NEW SPOTLIGHT SERIES: We meet the local women involved in the Ladies First Charity Calendar, launched this month, starting with the inspiration behind it all, Ladies First Director Tracey McAtamney
TRACEY McATAMNEY – Balsall Common - MISS SEPTEMBER and Ladies First Director Director – Raising money for her CiC Surviving Bereavement
Tell us about yourself. When did you establish your business/charity and why?
“I often say I wear three hats, and each one is incredibly important to me.
My first hat is as Owner and Director of Ladies First Professional Development Ltd, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2027. Our mission is to inspire, introduce and inform through our monthly networking lunches, our Business & Inspirational Awards and, importantly, by creating a network where women support each other.
My second hat is perhaps the most personal. I founded the Surviving Bereavement Foundation in memory of my late husband, Tony McAtamney, who died suddenly in 2004 when I was just 38 and our sons were seven and 15. Having experienced first-hand the devastation and loneliness that grief can bring, I wanted to create something that would make sure people didn't have to navigate it alone. Through our monthly Bereavement Cafés and workplace cafés following the death of an employee, we provide a safe space to talk, listen, be heard and, where needed, signpost people towards professional support and practical help.
And my third hat is my role as Business Development Manager for Jamieson Christie Wealth Management, based in Balsall Common, where I work alongside a fantastic team helping to build relationships and support clients.
Although these three roles are very different, there is a common thread running through all of them – people. I love connecting people, supporting people and helping people to find professional and personal opportunities. For me, it has never simply been about business; it is about making a difference.”
What did you do before that?
“My career was very much rooted in the legal profession. Tony was a Solicitor and together we ran our own Solicitors’ practice in Coventry, where I was the Practice Manager.
When Tony died suddenly my world changed overnight. I was 38, with two young sons aged seven and 15, and suddenly I had to make some very big decisions. I ultimately sold the practice and set up Warwickshire Legal Recruitment, working in association with the Warwickshire Law Society, which I ran successfully for around 10 years, until my Mum was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Following her death, I took the opportunity to reassess what I wanted from the next chapter of my life.
That was when I took over Ladies First – and it proved to be the beginning of a completely new chapter. What started as a professional development network has grown into so much more, and it has given me the opportunity to bring together everything I have learned throughout my career – business, relationships, resilience and, above all, the importance of people.”
Why did you agree to be part of the calendar?
“The Ladies First Charity Calendar was actually ‘born’ over a meal with my good friend and PR partner, Amanda Chalmers. She asked me how I was going to celebrate my 60th birthday, which was this year, and I told her that rather than simply celebrating, I wanted to do something that would make a difference.
There were two real reasons behind the calendar. Firstly, I think that as women get older, there can be a feeling that we become invisible. I wanted to challenge that. Every woman should feel confident, beautiful and proud of who she is, whatever her age.
Secondly, I wanted the calendar to raise money for as many incredible charities and community projects as possible. Every woman involved has her own story - there are stories of loss, illness, divorce, change, challenges, triumphs and new beginnings. These women represent real life, and that is what makes the calendar so special.
I honestly thought we might struggle to find 12 women to take part. Instead, we ended up with 39 women, aged from 19 to 80, all prepared to step outside their comfort zones and be part of something bigger than themselves.
And now, rather wonderfully, we are 40! My daughter-in-law was pregnant when we filmed the calendar and has since given birth to a beautiful little girl. So our calendar has gained a very special new member – even though she didn't quite make it onto the photographs!
This has become something I could never have imagined. It is about confidence, friendship, women supporting women and, most importantly, making a difference to the lives of others. I couldn't be more proud of what these women have created together.”
Were you nervous on the day of the shoot? How did you overcome those nerves?
“The two days of filming at Mallory Court were honestly quite surreal. Each month of the calendar has a different theme, so the whole thing felt much more like being on a film set than simply taking photographs.
There was such a huge amount of organisation behind the scenes, and I was incredibly fortunate to have an amazing team around me. I didn’t really have time to stop and think about the enormity of what we were doing – there was always something happening!
Looking back, what I remember most is the fun, the passion and the sheer amount of laughter we had throughout those two days.
It was women of all different ages and backgrounds coming together, stepping outside their comfort zones and supporting one another. There was a real sense of energy and friendship. That is what I will remember most – not the nerves or the tiredness, but the laughter and the feeling that we were creating something really special together.”
What have you learned about yourself through this experience?
“I have learned that I genuinely love being 60. I never wanted to look 20 years younger or pretend I was anything other than the woman I am today. I simply wanted to be the best version of me.
Turning 60 has made me realise how much there is to be grateful for. Life hasn't always been easy, and I have experienced some incredibly difficult times, but those experiences have shaped who I am.
More than anything, I feel an enormous sense of gratitude for the amazing people in my life – my family, my friends, the women around me and the incredible people I have had the privilege of meeting through my work.
I think getting older gives you a different perspective. You become less concerned about what other people think and much more appreciative of who you are, the people you have around you and the life you have created.”
Besides raising money, what is the most important message behind this calendar for you?
“The most important message I would like women to take from this is simple: love yourself, whatever stage of life you are at.
Don’t wait to be younger, thinner, different or ‘better’ before you feel confident and proud of who you are. Every age brings its own beauty, opportunities and challenges.
We should celebrate the woman we are today – not spend our lives wishing we were someone else. Be kind to yourself, embrace your story, surround yourself with people who lift you up and never underestimate what you still have to offer.
Life doesn’t stop as we get older – it changes, and there is so much more to come.”
Why did you choose your charity to support?
“I chose to support Surviving Bereavement because grief touches every one of us at some point in our lives. Having experienced bereavement myself, I know how isolating and overwhelming it can feel, and I wanted to create something that could support people in our local community.
We provide a safe, welcoming space where people can talk, listen and simply be around others who understand. Nobody should have to feel that they have to navigate grief alone.
What woman most inspires you?
“The woman who inspires me is Catherine, The Princess of Wales. I think the way she has navigated such a difficult and deeply personal experience with cancer, while doing so in the full glare of the public eye, has been incredibly courageous.
None of us know what someone is dealing with behind closed doors, and I admire the way she has continued to show compassion and kindness towards others while facing her own challenges.
What main piece of advice would you give to your 16-year-old self relating to womanhood, if she were stood in front of you now?
“Believe in yourself. You can achieve whatever you want in life. Don’t let fear, other people’s opinions or setbacks define what you believe you are capable of. Be brave, take opportunities, surround yourself with good people and never be afraid to start again. Life rarely goes in a straight line, but sometimes the unexpected turns lead you exactly where you are meant to be.”
Tell us something unusual or unique about yourself that most people don’t know.
“I have a real fear of water – and I absolutely hate getting my hair wet!
When I was 20, I did a parachute jump, and you would probably assume the biggest fear would be jumping out of the plane. Not for me! My biggest fear was landing in water. Thankfully, that didn’t happen!
Ironically, after Tony died, I decided to learn to scuba dive because I knew our youngest son, Oliver, who was seven at the time, absolutely loved the water. I wanted to be able to share that experience with him and not let my own fear hold me back.”