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International Women’s Day – Take ONE

International Women’s Day – Take ONE

To celebrate International Women’s Day, we asked female business leaders, clients and colleagues from around the world (Australia and the UK to Singapore, the Middle East and South Africa) to answer three questions about their personal motivation and inspiration and about how they support other women.

The answers are great – as varied and inspiring as the women themselves.

In the first in this three-part series,  to be posted over three consecutive days, with highlights on social media, in the run-up to International Women’s Day on March 8th, we list the answers to the first question we posed:

As a female business leader, what personally motivates you?’


‘Family, choices and making a difference’

Lou Kiwanuka
Director, The Shaper Group
Twitter | #operationsfoundation

‘Empowerment, freedom, passion, pride’

Daniella Draper
Director, Daniella Draper Jewellery
Twitter | #danielladraper

I was complaining to my 83-year-old mother a few years ago about ‘the hustle’ of being a self-employed businesswoman. My mother had just started her 4th company and said “oh I love the hustle! The hustle is what gets me out of bed in the morning...the harder it is , the more determined I become” I have adopted the way she sees it and so, have managed to turn something I think a lot of women experience when setting up a business -how challenging it is- into a wonderful engine.

Minnie Driver
President, Huge Fan Productions
Twitter | Instagram | #hugefanproductions

‘Living life, exploring new challenges, the youth of today.’

Val Garland
L’Oréal Paris Global Make-up Director
Author of VALIDATED by Val Garland
Winner of Best TV Judge for BBC Glow Up
Twitter | Instagram | #ValGarland #VALidated 

‘Kindness. As a woman in business, it is easy to be misled into thinking that to succeed in this world, one has to be tough and unpleasant. I am motivated to be strong and kind.’

Willis Homewood
Founder, The Little Doo Company
Instagram | Twitter

People, places and purpose motivate me. I’m a creative doer, so I love to make positive uplifting change happen through my creativity. Over the last two decades I’ve created joyful, happy homeware products and patterns both under my own label and for commercial clients and art institutions, like the Tate. As an advocate of the circular economy, my most ambitious project to date was realised in a solo show ‘From Sheep to Seat Fleece to Floor’ at Yorkshire Sculpture Park last year, out of which the film ‘Ella Doran’s Fabric of the Land’ was made. Helping make change happen and increasing awareness are my greatest motivations.’

Ella Doran
Designer and Founder, Ella Doran Homewares
www.elladoran.co.uk | www.elladorandesign.co.uk
Instagram | Twitter

‘It motivates to be able to operate at the intersection of art and business. I really do approach each shoe as a work of art.  My first identity is as an artist and fashion is my medium.  For Coast and Koi to retain its unique signature, requires me to be constantly evolving my art.

Each shoe is actually unique, and I am motivated by knowing that I can pass on that gift of uniqueness to women who wear my shoes. It comes down to something as simple as the warm feeling that comes from making others feel special.

I am motivated by knowing that the buck really does stop with me! Coast and Koi is essentially a cottage-industry operation, with an order-flow that is often unpredictable. I need to stay nimble - a ‘do whatever it takes’ attitude is necessary for survival.

I am motivated by the agency I feel in being able to shift perceptions around ‘Africa’ and to help break stereotypes of what is an ‘African aesthetic’.  It’s far broader than the global penchant for tribal patterns and leopard print. Through my brand, I am motivated by the sharing of a more nuanced appreciation of Africa.’

Caryn Wilensky
Founder, Coast and Koi
Website | Twitter

‘I’m a problem-solver and I love seeing a challenge approaching. There’s nothing better than absorbing very complex information and breaking it down to the essentials in a way that everyone can understand. I’m also motivated by working with a talented team of like-minded people who believe in a future when there will be no female business leaders – just business leaders.’

Lindie Kramers
CMO, Istoria Group
Twitter | LinkedIn

‘Coming up with an idea, making it work and seeing the pleasure it brings others’

Sue Hills
Founder, Ancestral Footsteps
Website

‘Running a Project Management Consultancy, as well as helping business with project management in general, my love and motivation is two-fold: helping less experienced PMs flourish  and helping young businesses create a better agency with regards to their team structures, processes, systems and documentation in order to make them able to manage and run projects better and more efficiently whilst achieving higher profit margins.’

Nadine Schofield
Managing Director, Project Management On Demand
Instagram

‘Throughout my practice as a trade mark attorney, my clients are always my number one priority. Whether they are a small start-up or a large multinational corporation, it’s important to me that I get to know them and their needs, so that I can provide tailored recommendations and commercially-focused advice. I’m always striving to secure the best possible results for them and to deliver the very highest quality of service. Developing relationships with clients, some of which I have worked with for many years, is one of the most valuable parts of my job. 

Alongside this, I feel very passionately about encouraging and developing the skills of more junior members of staff. As a firm, Mewburn Ellis takes training very seriously and we are known for our high standards. Helping others to achieve their goals is extremely rewarding and I remember from my own days as a trainee what a difference it can make to have a supportive mentor.’

Rebecca Anderson-Smith
Senior Associate, Trade Mark Attorney, Mewburn Ellis LLP
Twitter | #MewburnEllis
LinkedIn | Mewburn Ellis LLP LinkedIn

‘I've always been passionate about women's issues. I never planned to start a company but when I got pregnant, I realised women have so many unique health requirements which nobody talks about. Technology has the potential to improve lives at a grand scale. Yet, when it comes to women, that potential isn't realised.

That’s where my drive comes from. An ambition to get women communicating openly about health issues they’d previously found too ‘embarrassing’ to talk about. And, to bring women’s tech out of the dark ages through innovation and beautiful design that has the power to change women's lives.’

Tania Boler
CEO and Founder, Elvie
Instagram | Elvie Instagram

‘To set an example to my children and to our younger generation. My mum, who had her own business in music publishing was always such a good role model to me and I want to be the same.’

Lucy Snell
Co-Founder, Cherry
Twitter | #lucysnellonline

I would have to say that creating and encouraging a community of like-minded people, peers and entrepreneurs at Istoria Group has motivated me in so many ways. Working ethically and fairly, every day, has also helped me become a better person. It has changed my life.’

Claire Menzies
Chairwoman, Istoria Group
Instagram | LinkedIn

‘In a non-regulated industry I’m motivated by my passion to make Aesthetics safer for patients whilst also being more innovative.’

Katie Bennett
Brand Manager, Galderma
Twitter | #Inspiredbyyou

‘Personal drive and a challenge.’

Jenny Lau -Fuller
Senior Retail Design Manager, Unibail– Rodamco – Westfield
Instagram

‘I am driven by helping women and girls empower themselves, their health and their sexual wellbeing. As a community manager, I get to hear first-hand how the brand, our products, and the content we create does this. It really doesn't feel like a job at all and our team works together in a way that allows everyone to try out ideas; so being in an environment where you can share so openly and be respected is also very motivating to keep going.’

Sinnead Ali
Community & Content Manager, Smilemakers
Twitter | #soulguided
Smilemakers Twitter | #discoveryourself

‘Challenge and continuing to develop. I am also lucky enough to work with brilliant people and brands and that makes me happy to come to work every day. I have a curious and restless mind so need to know that I’m always learning both at work and outside. A little bit of fun also goes a long way.’

Jenny Stone
Group HR Director, William Reed Business Ltd 

‘Life is short! That's my best motivator.’

Lisa Montague
Founder of Blackfish Swimwear
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

‘As a professional communicator, helping my clients articulate their values, opinions and services with maximum clarity to the right audience is my daily mission. Beyond that, working hard, having a clear conscience and being proud of what I do, right down to the finest detail, is very important to me. If it’s possible to do something with a little extra wit or style, it’s always worth it. It’s about pride – but also about joy.’ 

Caroline Collett    
Founder, Caroline Collett PR Ltd
Website | LinkedIn | Twitter

‘Seeing other people develop around me. Perfecting processes and achieving great results.’

Hannah Jardine
Group Business Manager, Istoria Group and Board Member, ESSA
LinkedIn

‘Continuous learning is a huge personal motivator for me.  Also I work so closely in our client organisations, alongside so many fantastic and inspiring teams and individuals, the drive to understand our clients challenges and priorities and for us to support in #improvingqualityoflife within their communities and for their colleagues and clients is a huge motivator.’

Sarah-Jane Osborne
Head of Workplace, Arcadis
Instagram | #arcadis #improvingqualityoflife

‘Challenging myself and advancing on a personal level. To be a strong communicator, supporting and sharing power and information with others in the working environment.’

Shatha Olayyan
Showroom Manager, FBMI (Fatima Bint Mohamed Bin Zayed Initiative)
Twitter

‘Running our own business allows us to manage our own schedule, which means the business enriches our lives rather than forces us to make difficult compromises.  Being self employed also gives us creative freedom when exploring ideas for our clients.’

Amy Long and Laura Elgar
Long & Elgar
Amy Long Instagram | Laura Elgar Instagram | #longelgar

‘My main motivator is JOY to be honest. Seeking it out and adding it in wherever possible. As a business we’re pretty serious about it. I figure we’re all on this planet together so let’s be part of the camp that’s making it a better place to hang out. Dream big. Hustle hard. Laugh a lot. And importantly have each other’s back and cheer each other on. When women support other women incredible things happen.’

Katie Rockliff
Founder and CEO, REAL PRETTY KIND ™
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | #thisisrealpretty #peopleandplanetkind #realprettykind

Thank you to all the great women who have participated.

#IWD2020 | #CollectiveCreativity