BIRMINGHAM City boss Karren Brady, dubbed the first woman of football, is kicking off a season of talks for the county's businesswomen.

Ms Brady, who married one of the club's players, will be speaking at this year's first Women in Business lunch at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Tunbridge Wells, on March 22. Business Link Kent, based in West Mallling, is backing the event in association with Barclays Bank.

Karren Brady is the most senior female executive in British football and the youngest managing director of a British public limited company. She works alongside club chairman David Gold, whose brother Ralph lives near Tunbridge Wells.

The men are among the richest business people in Britain, with much of their fortune made from the porn industry. They also run Gold Air International, an executive airline based at Biggin Hill.

From a sales background with LBC radio and Saatchi and Saatchi, Ms Brady joined Sport Newspapers in 1988 and was appointed director within a year at the age of 22. She has been managing director at Birmingham City since 1993.

During her presentation, she will explain how she transformed a struggling football club into a commercial success and how her experience can be applied to other businesses.

Carole Black, Business Link Kent's events manager, said: "Karren's message is very much that persistence and determination should be the aim of any business that wants to succeed. The women in her audience are sure to find her approach to business matters innovative, interesting and inspirational."

Tickets are available at £30 plus Vat by telephoning the events hotline on 01732 878555 or e-mailing events@businesslinkkent.com