At 85, Christine Marsh is redefining what’s possible. And she’s just been featured in Women’s Business Magazine.
When the 2025 edition of Women’s Business Magazine landed, exploring the compelling theme “From Side Hustles to Empires: Histories of Women’s Working Lives,” Christine found herself in remarkable company. The magazine cover features Lady Elizabeth Ashcombe of Sudeley Castle, a woman who transformed tragedy into triumph. Inside, Christine’s story sits alongside an extraordinary collection of women whose lives span centuries and continents.
Yes at 84: Christine’s Journey
Christine’s feature, titled “Yes at 84: Reinvention, Runways & the Courage to Keep Evolving,” captures the essence of a woman who’s lived many lives — and shows no signs of slowing down.
Born in India in 1940, Christine’s father had wanted a son and called her “Bill” until she was 36. Her response, captured perfectly in the magazine: “Oh dear. He’d ordered a son. I must have been a rebel at conception.”
The article traces her journey from a nomadic military childhood across India and Singapore, through corporate success (and a redundancy at 50 that sparked her entrepreneurial leap), to founding Prime Objectives. It touches on her remarkable travels — from swimming with dolphins in Hawaii to traversing Russia to Siberia with just three Russian words in her vocabulary.
But perhaps most striking is what came after loss. Following her husband Colin’s death in 2020 after over 60 years of marriage, Christine made bold choices. She moved into a retirement community. She returned to art at 81. And then? She signed a five-year modelling contract at 84.
Two of Christine’s quotes from the magazine capture her philosophy beautifully:
“I’ve had the dippy bits and the dark places, but out of those dark places comes creativity.”
“You have to have the foresight and the will to do what you really intend to do, and not listen to the negative things that other people say.”
A Magazine Rich with Women’s Stories
Christine’s feature is part of a much larger tapestry. The magazine includes a fascinating podcast series by Dr Amy Edwards titled “From Side Hustles to Empires: Histories of Women’s Working Lives,” exploring everything from careers advice and working motherhood to women in technology and direct sales throughout the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.
Contemporary entrepreneurs are featured too — women building businesses in financial advice, sustainable farming, mental health, adventure tourism, and digital education. There’s even a “Man of the Year” feature on Craig Stephen Barclay, whose quote perfectly captures the magazine’s ethos: “Empowerment isn’t a competition. When women thrive, businesses thrive. That’s just good leadership.”
The magazine also spotlights the next generation, including a refreshingly honest piece from recent graduate Angelina Mitchell about navigating post-university life in an uncertain economy.
A Tapestry of Time
What makes this particular edition special is how it weaves together past, present, and future. Historical context sits alongside contemporary challenges. Christine’s 85 years of lived experience — from being called by a boy’s name to walking runways in her ninth decade — illustrates the magazine’s central theme: women’s working lives have been complex, creative, and courageous.
Whether building empires from kitchen tables or rebuilding after loss, whether fighting for the right to join the Stock Exchange in the 1970s or launching mental health platforms today, these are stories that span generations.
And Christine’s story? Well, it’s a reminder that transformation doesn’t have an expiry date.
The Power of Intention
What matters the most isn’t whether you jump or get pushed – it’s what you do once you’re airborne.
Do you resist the change, clinging to what was? Or do you open yourself to what might be?
Do you let fear paralyse you? Or do you use it as fuel?
Do you see endings, or do you see beginnings?
Get Your Copy
Women’s Business Magazine 2025 Edition is available now, priced at £4.99. Purchase your copy here.
The Women’s Business Awards ceremony takes place on 3 December 2025 in London.
