Seeking Inspiration: The Hunt for Female Role Models

This International Women’s Day I thought I would make one of my rare LinkedIn posts to talk about female role models at work.? With regard to finding my own role models, it’s not always been the easiest task to find successful women in business that I look up to and admire, and in terms of being a role model myself I think my imposter syndrome has always got in the way of me identifying as such!??

The reasons for finding few female role models throughout my career, are certainly typical and largely institutional.? Whilst I have never worked in a wholly male-dominated industry, it’s certainly the case that as a female business leader - whatever the sector - the further you progress in your career, the fewer people like you that you find, and I acknowledge that this is clearly even more of an issue for women of colour. ?

Working in TV during the 90s, the entertainment industry was every bit as sexist as the #metoo movement revealed it to be.? That said, my experience of it was great and I loved being an on-set art director, amongst male dominated camera, sound and lighting crews, with directors who were always male, and producers who were usually male.? The Art Department stood apart from the traditionally female crews for Make-Up and Costume, and the requirement for props, chippies, decorators, as well as the technical skills of construction and drawing, resulted in a largely male-dominated department. There just weren’t that many women I could see to look up to - though I did get to work with a brilliant Art Director, Heather Gibson who showed me the way my career could go.? Sadly though, the freelance nature of working in TV was not a conducive environment for role models, with no consistent line management or co-workers, and a different set of relationships to build with every contract.?

The late 90s and early noughties led me to digital media, and once again a largely male working environment.? As a producer of websites and games, I led my own teams of developers and designers, and found an archetypal split of software engineers (male) and artists and animators (female).? Back in the Dotcom boom times, we were all making it up as we went along, but still no-one was rewriting the boardroom status quo, and looking above me, my line manager and the senior management team were almost exclusively male.? Certainly they were a lovely bunch, and there was plenty to aspire to, even some potential role models, but none of the elusive female variety.?

Striding out on my own, I set up a digital agency specialising in kids content, Scream Out Loud, before joining forces with Dominic Minns and forming Plug-In Media Ltd and latterly Brighton Zoo Studios ? I was now in a leadership position of my own making, and stumbling through business management with no formal training or rulebook, and certainly no immediate mentor or role model to aspire to.? As my business established itself, however, I finally began to recognise and work with other female leaders as clients and advisors.? I met the wonderful Anne Brogan of Kindle Entertainment and our creative collaboration resulted in 2 BAFTA-winning interactive projects.? My most recent chapter took me to Creative UK's Female Founders programme and introduced me to an incredible group of female business owners (no individual name check here but they're all in the photo above), and we buoyed each other up via our regular Zoom sessions at the height of the pandemic.? I’ve grown to appreciate the joy of an all-female cohort of peers and we continue to advise and support one another through the many challenges we each encounter running a creative screen business.? The special chemistry of that group and its inspiring support was expertly nurtured by the brilliant Erica Wolfe-Murray - a woman I wish I’d known much earlier in my career, and on the scheme I was also lucky enough to work with coach, Jo Emerson who provided another exceptional, supportive, female perspective on my career.

Sadly, I also recognise that women do not always provide this type of nurturing support to one another, and I regret to say that I could come up with a list of at least as many women from my working life, who have actively prohibited my confidence and growth.? Sadly, Mean Girls culture doesn’t end with the school playground, and when it comes to that behaviour, I’d rather look to the support of my male role models.?

To build a work culture of inclusive, supportive, confidence-inspiring, female leadership, we need to make our female role models visible to women throughout their careers.? I still feel too uncomfortable to view myself as one, but when it comes to passing the baton, the wonderful thing about being a female business leader is the opportunity to raise other women up alongside you, and to promote that visibility.? One of my proudest work achievements has been to use my business to give opportunities to so many exceptional women and I have been awestruck and privileged to assemble the most amazing gal team over the years.? Get ready for the name check, ladies - you are all spectacular! (Apologies in advance for anyone I forget or am not connected to here - there will be a few...) Ana Hulshof Emma Bullen Danielle Barnetche Helen Keogh Carys Rowan Jules Langran Lauren Stevens Lauren Morse Roseanna Lockett Anna Haigh Rachel Adderley Kat Woolley Kate Genevieve Kat Allen Sally Testka Sasha Fusini Carol Hounsell Ellie Petrova-Taylor Anya Krasnikova Abi Slack