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As an Excutive Coach, coaching more ladies than men, I was one of the few men present at the Women as Leaders Conference put on by the Institute of Directors in October 2008. It highlighted a number of issues, as well as providing some inspirational and very motivational speeches for those fortunate to be present.
For me Chey Garland was the star of the show. She runs Garlands Call Centres from the centre of Middlesborough and now employs over 3,000 full and part time people in what has got to be one of the toughest sectors in the world. Now a true global player she started with £600 in 1980 as a commercial credit agency and has built up an amazing business that is able to beat Asia in a market that appears to be all about costs but as Chey pointed out it is really all about customer satisfaction and customer retention. An amazing lady with everything in abundance… energy, drive, passion, commitment, vision, quick on her feet, belief in what she is doing, loves her workforce, total commitment to her customers and top quality all the way through. Her answer to about how she competes against Asian call centres was pure magic.. “don’t compete on the same level as the competition... Garlands helps their customers improve their product/service so that there aren’t so many service/complaint calls”… A fantastic, motivational story and one that has been recognised by “Veuve Clicquot Businesswomen of the Year 2005” and many, many other awards all over the UK.. http://www.cjgarland.co.uk/whatwedo/seniormanagement/ chey_garland,_cbe_-_chief_executive.php?flink=478
Hilary Devey who started Pall-Ex that has access to a pool of 7,500 trucks, based in Leicestershire is very unique in a male orientated transport sector. What stood out for me was her huge drive and determination to do whatever it took to make her idea work. This was harnessed to an amazing energy force that allowed her to do what most people would baulk at in terms of covering the miles and doing the deals. Certainly a person who has huge charisma and the ability to control any environment underpinned her whole strategy and allowed her to be the success she is. A really long journey literally..http://www.pallex.co.uk/
Elin Hurvenes from Norway started The Professional Boards Forum in Norway and has brought it to England. Her company acts as the go-between company owners, CEO’s and experienced business women, introducing them at regular forums. She believes passionately that women must play a larger part in the running of businesses and that there are many women out there who have the talent to make a difference at the highest level. Apart from her excellent English, her willingness to seek out the top level people to support her unquenchable dream really stood out. If you believe anything strongly enough you can make it happen… http://www.elinhurvenes.com/
Conclusions
· The next conference should be marketed towards men as well, so that more men come. Men are the stumbling block. It has got nothing about not being enough women out there. It is all about changing the rules and letting great women in… see my article on the subject
· Whatever the gender, any person starting a business requires huge amounts of belief, passion, energy, commitment, people skills, be quick on their feet and be able to choose and nurture a good team around them.. for more details and help on any of these topics please contact me on
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©William Barron - Creating Insight - October 2008
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