woman reading one of the best women's business magazine

About Us

High Flying Design is an independent women’s business magazine and growth platform - created for ambitious female founders who are rewriting what success looks like.

If you’ve ever felt that growing a business means hustling harder, keeping up with someone else’s pace, or chasing status to prove yourself, you’re not alone.

We’re here to show you there’s another way.

At High Flying Design, being a female “high flyer” isn’t about racing to the top. It’s about clarity, courage, and building a business (and life) that feels as good as it looks.

That’s why we publish across three core columns:

  1. Stories - honest founder journeys that inspire, from bold pivots to quiet wins.

  2. Strategy - smart, sustainable business advice you’ll actually use.

  3. Self - confidence, mindset, and lifestyle content to help women in business grow without burnout.

How we took off

  • 2020

    We launched in lockdown.

    High Flying Design began in 2020 as a boutique web design studio. At a time when salons and women-led businesses were closing their doors, we helped them stay visible online with beautiful, functional websites. That work saw us named a Finalist in the StartUp Awards for Best Creative Start-Up. 💫

  • 2025

    We pivoted in 2025.


    After five years of digital design, we evolved into a full online magazine and growth platform elevating ambitious female founders.

  • Today

    We’re now globally ranked.

    In 2025, High Flying Design was recognised by Feedspot as #7 in the Top 50 Women’s Magazines worldwide.

    But beyond the milestones, our mission has always been the same: to empower ambitious, self-made women to grow businesses on their own terms. 💘

MEET OUR FOUNDER 👋

I’m Shannon Kate Murray - Founder & Editor of High Flying Design.

My love of storytelling started with a First-Class degree in Fashion Journalism, and later a career in digital marketing, where I quickly rose to Assistant Director of Marketing & Operations at a women-led thought leadership agency in London.

In 2020, I launched High Flying Design as a one-woman web design studio. By 2025, I pivoted it into what it is today: part magazine, part growth platform, part belief-building movement for women in business.

Today, I wear two hats:

  • Editor of High Flying Design - curating stories, strategy, and self-belief for a global community of women entrepreneurs.

  • Strategist & Designer - working 1:1 with founders through:

    • The Flight Plan - a 90-minute reset session that maps your next chapter with clarity and momentum.

    • Beauty Web Design (with Socialuxe UK) - high-end, strategy-led websites for beauty brands, salons, and clinics.

At my core, I’m here to prove that ambition can feel good - and that success, when aligned with who you are, lasts.

FREQUENTLY asked QUESTIONS

  • Ambitious female founders, creatives, and women in business who are building businesses on their own terms.

  • Yes - if your story or expertise aligns with our mission. Pitch us [here].

  • We welcome pitches from values-led, women-centred brands.

    Before getting in touch [here], please explore our [Partnerships Deck].

  • No - we’re also a growth platform, offering strategy sessions, useful business resources, and (soon) a community space.

  • We focus on emotional intelligence, sustainable success, and quiet confidence - not hustle or vanity metrics.

    We believe in:

    • Real over gloss: honest stories, not highlight reels.

    • Success is personal: not speed or status, but freedom, fulfilment, and self-belief.

    • Playing the long game: growth that’s sustainable, confident, and human.

  • Subscribe to our monthly Postcard newsletter, follow us on socials (linked below), and join our upcoming community space, Daydream.