International Women's Day

This is the first post that I write, being at the helm of my own consultancy firm.  I genuinely am humbled to sit around our board table and to see how many individuals have chosen to work with me in our incredible firm.  Spanning a career of over 25 years in executive search, at the start of my journey, I had to work incredibly hard to just be recognised alongside my male colleagues.  Often meetings that I attended with my male counterparts, I would be sat in a room and often ignored and would have been talked over.  I am thankful and grateful to my clients in the industry that truly see and recognise me for the skills and capabilities that I have and if I can do anything to empower my colleagues to go out into the market and become leaders in their own right; that is something I will be truly proud of achieving. 

When I first started in the recruitment industry, I fortunately had a leader who was female which certainly helped.  However, it was a very male dominated environment, and I recall my work attire was very much “dress like a man”- 3-piece suits, generally trousers with shirts / cufflinks etc.  Today, I no longer own a suit and dress as I wish and how I feel comfortable! 

Today, I am proud and humbled to be leading my own executive search firm that not only drives success but also paves the way for other woman in business, especially the woman that I am honoured to work with. 

Back in the very early years, as I started out and became recognised, I encountered a series of roadblocks that were both visible and invisible—whether it was being underestimated because of my gender or navigating the pressures to prove my worth constantly. Thankfully in the recruitment arena, with it being very “commission based” it was hard to be treated differently because the percentage of commission was the same throughout.  However, there was a disparity on base salary and often I would be 25% less than my male peers.  

When pitching for retainers, my male colleagues would be chosen over me even when it was clear that my networks were far greater.  This however did slowly change, and I can confidently say that I am on a level playing field with my male counterparts now and have been for 15+ years now. Each setback taught me a lesson in perseverance and shaped my understanding that success is not linear. It’s a series of steps forward, with each challenge adding depth to my capabilities. Any step back I took, I pushed forward two steps to continue on my journey of success and acceptance.

I am immensely grateful to the leader I mentioned, Tina Vines who was a fiercely strong, independent lady and incredibly successful at what she did.  She was tiny in statue but bold and gutsy in personality! 

I have been fortunate to have a group of peers that have been strong, supportive – not just for advice but for emotional strength when needed to give me the extra boost I needed.

Being a business leader that is female, I believe I am incredibly empathetic, trusting and supportive of my colleagues. Success is not just about hitting targets and metrics but about building strong individuals that are heard, valued and cared for.  People have feelings and have their own personal pressures, it’s important to lead in a way that people feel they are supported in work and in their personal life. We have created a business that offers the flexibility that allows our people to be successful in their work life and home life and not having to compromise their own values in either space.

Today, after nearly two years of trading, we have grown exponentially, and I take immense pride in knowing that we’re not only paving the way for future generations but also breaking down the barriers of outdated norms. We are brave to be different and flex for what our clients, candidates and colleagues truly need.

As I and my female peers rise into leadership roles, we inspire others to believe that they too can achieve success, regardless of the barriers they face. This is something I look to instil in all of our team.

While we’ve come a long way, there are still challenges ahead—whether it’s breaking down unconscious bias or tackling the gender pay gap. But I believe the next generation of women leaders will rise to the occasion. We still have male dominated specialist areas but slowly we are seeing this shifting which is amazing to see.

On this International Women’s Day, I encourage women to reach out, mentor the next generation, and invest in one another alongside themselves. Together, we can build a future where leadership isn’t defined by gender, but by ability, vision, and determination and that genuinely the best person is in a role not because of their gender but because they are the most capable to excel in that role.

The journey hasn’t always been easy, but every challenge has been worth it. Today, I stand not just as a Managing Partner but as a testament to the power of perseverance. To all the women out there striving to break barriers—keep going. The world needs your strength and your vision. You CAN do this, I am an example of what you can achieve.