Happy International Women's Day!

What are the challenges we face in this business?

Hiring the right people - simple as that. We are so much more engaged with our potential and current workforce which is great but as a HR community we can never let ourselves think we are perfect. Companies spend a lot more time and money on staff attraction and incentives and support, from identifying the right person and indeed once they are onboard, looking at stress levels, work life balance and so on. I think if you have a happy workforce, you will have a more focused and productive one. It may not mean we’ll avoid making mistakes however it does mean a more open company culture

How do I ensure work/life balance?

Can I be honest and say I haven’t quite mastered that art yet? I have days and weeks where I get my “Zen” or whatever the buzz word is, right; others where I want to up sticks and retire in Alaska. What I do think is key is eating well and sleeping well. You are the only person who knows your trigger points so keep an eye out and when you see steam, take a step back and deal with it. Burnout is not fun and it happens to everyone at some point, you just need to accept it and move on. I would also suggest seeing your friends regularly, avoid big nights out and get plenty of fresh air. I’m a fan of crazy winter walks on mountains, annoys the hell out of people on a Sunday morning when you post a super fresh selfie as well! Finally, talk to people and let people know how you are. Wellness is a theme which is becoming more and more important as our lives are more hectic than ever. So look after yourself first and try not to worry too much. Life has a way of sorting itself out.

What would be the most important work lessons I'd like to pass on to other young women?

My big concern at the moment is that there is just too much focus on inequality in the workplace, particularly relating to gender pay and positions. I have no doubt that this does still go on but as I’ve said in (apologies Sandberg) we’ve leaned in but so what?

My worry is that we as women are at times putting barriers in our way – the above can act as quite a negative driver in terms of our focus. If you think you’re in for a tough ride when seeking promotion, are you more inclined to be battle ready or open and frank? Will you be defensive and negative or positive and approachable? This is a real topic for me and while I do not want this to in any way deflect from the actual issues that face women in the workplace, which I know are very real, we need to see how we can manage our own capabilities and stand up and be heard and progress with-out those perceptions – we can be just as loud as we want we just need to go for it.

What would I tell my 22 year old self?

I know what I’d like to ask my 40 year old self which is – have you retired yet?! In all honestly, I am very weary of regret and like to think that there are very few mistakes I’ve made in my life which, unbeknownst to me, could have altered where I am today. If I look at young career women starting out, as I did with very little knowledge but a lot of drive, I would advise them to never look back and be fearless. And to stop worrying! It really will be ok in the end. Enjoy the ride – we all get just one shot so don’t screw up and have fun. You need to push yourself and not be afraid to shout and be heard in the business world. And if you’re wrong, admit it and move on. I would also encourage people to travel but remember that if you want a career, to not be afraid to try a couple of things before you find your niche.

Would I do anything differently?

Absolutely not but as you get older you begin to really understand how your actions steer you in the direction you want to go and the longer you work the more astute and clever you’ll become in carving out a healthy and successful path. That’s not to say I don’t do things differently now – I’m more adept at thinking before I speak and certainly avoiding taking things personally; I very much took my own failures and criticisms to heart but there came a point when I realised that this was free advice and to buck up and listen and learn. Now I say that and I’m still no ice queen but for the sake of my team, I’m able to look at things from all perspectives and indeed give them advice and support when needed. However, if there is one thing I could have done differently, I’d have created the iPhone. With hindsight of course..!

What will the next 5 years look like?

I would like to think that I will continue to work in the area that I do; I am getting more involved in CSR initiatives and a big focus for me in 2019 is promoting our brand and hiring top talent. As much as I joke I have no intention of retiring anytime soon and feel very passionately about the Spanish economic market. Ultimately I find people jobs, that’s what I’ve been trained to do however there is a lot more that we as influencers and employers can do to support the economy and I plan to really make this a focus over the coming months and years.