In this episode of Sukany4 – The Podcast, we head to the seaside town of Blackpool with Coral Horn, founder of Pink Link and the Enterprise Vision Awards (EVAs). Known for championing women in business, Coral takes us off the tourist trail and into a walk she loves to do at least 3 times a week, through Stanley Park, into Salisbury Wood.
As we stroll along her favourite route, Coral shares stories from scuba diving in the Cayman Islands to working in sales at the Gazette, from launching record shops to navigating corporate boardrooms, her life has been one of resilience, reinvention and relentless energy. She spoke candidly of loss, love, burnout and rebuilding. We talk about stereotypes, spotlighting others, and the power of showing up, whether in business or for a walk by the sea.
A Chapter in Coral’s Life
There’s more to Blackpool than its famous lights and prom. On a crisp, grey-skied morning, I joined Coral Horn, founder of Pink Link and the Enterprise Vision Awards, for a five-mile walk that meandered through Stanley Park, into Salisbury Wood, past a stream, up through Staining, and around the golf course and zoo.
Stanley Park greeted us with the calls of herons nesting high in the trees. Squirrels darted about, and the wild garlic perfumed the air as we wandered deeper into Salisbury Wood. Coral pointed out favourite spots from her many walks here, especially those that helped her train for Kilimanjaro. This isn’t just a local route. It’s a chapter of Coral’s life.
Coral’s story is anything but linear. From scuba diving instructor in the Cayman Islands to working in sales at the Gazette, from launching record shops to navigating corporate boardrooms, her life has been one of resilience, reinvention and relentless energy. She spoke candidly of loss, love, burnout and rebuilding. Of walking away from jobs that no longer aligned with her values, and of walking towards something more purposeful instead.
In 2009, Coral launched Pink Link, a network designed to empower women in business, whether they’re just starting out or scaling up. With over 100 events a year, including workshops, expos and socials, the aim is simple but powerful: to help women connect, grow and succeed in an inclusive space.
By 2011, she created the Enterprise Vision Awards, now the UK’s largest business awards dedicated solely to women. Over the years, these awards have helped raise thousands of profiles and, in some cases, led to hundreds of orders within days.
Our conversation, like the walk itself, was layered. There were moments of joy (spotting herons and memories of Richard Branson popping into her record shop), of grief (losing her sister and best friend), of grit (climbing Kilimanjaro not long after surgery), and of gentle rebellion (choosing pink, finally, as a sign of strength not softness).
A Final Thought
As we finished the loop, past blossoming trees and horses grazing, I was reminded that leadership doesn’t always wear suits. Sometimes, it wears hiking boots, asks thoughtful questions, and builds communities from the ground up.
Coral’s legacy is more than a network or an award ceremony.
It’s in every woman who found the courage to stand up and say, “Yes, I can.”
