Sharmadean Reid Keynote Speaker

Sharmadean Reid MBE is a British-Jamaican entrepreneur, creative leader and advocate for women’s economic power. Best known as the founder of WAH Nails, Beautystack and The Stack World, she builds brands and communities at the intersection of culture, technology and commerce. Audiences value Reid’s clear-eyed, practical approach to growing women-first networks that drive real outcomes for careers and companies.

In 2009 she launched WAH Nails, the cult London salon and creative space that helped propel nail art into the mainstream, with a landmark concession at Topshop Oxford Circus in 2010. Her industry impact was recognised with an MBE in the 2015 Birthday Honours. Educated at Central Saint Martins, Reid pairs design sensibility with sharp commercial instincts—an approach that underpins her ventures and her talks.

Reid founded Beautystack in 2017, attracting early support from LocalGlobe and a £4m seed round led by Index Ventures in 2019. She speaks candidly about product-market fit, inclusive teams and the realities of scaling as a woman of colour, and channels those lessons into The Stack World—a membership-driven platform advancing women’s careers through content, courses and convening.

Her book, New Methods for Women (Penguin Life, 27 June 2024; paperback 2025), offers a manifesto for independence and practical tools for leadership, community and personal resilience. Recent activity includes hosting The Stack Conference (4–5 October 2024) and leading 2025 “Vision Setting” workshops for members—live examples of her commitment to building the women’s economy. On stage, Reid delivers energising, actionable keynotes tailored to executive offsites, customer conferences and high-growth teams.

In 2024, Central Saint Martins/UAL recognised Reid with an Honorary Fellowship for her contribution to creative entrepreneurship and community-building.