Businesswomen in Coventry and Warwickshire have been urged to put themselves forward for a major award – after hearing from two inspirational speakers at an event near Stratford.
The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce hosted its latest Women in Business event at Handpicked Hotels’ Ettington Park Hotel, attracting an audience of around 50 regional businesspeople.
The audience heard how just five per cent of leadership positions in the tech sector are held by women and only three per cent of females say a career in technology would be their first choice.
But it was the personal stories of two regional leaders in technology that stole the show.
Gisela Pink, managing director of Pink Connect, described how she grew up in Buenos Aires, and started her own design business which she later sold before doing an MBA in New York.
Her career-path took her to London and then to the Cotswolds where she joined forces with her husband-to-be James Pink and eventually became MD of the IT, communications and technology business.
Gisela told the audience what made her tick inside and outside of work – from karate to being a mum and from philanthropy through to cookery – and said those passions away from the business are part of what makes her a leader.
“I’m the MD of a technology business,” she said, “but it is much more about being human and understanding people.
“We all work differently and communicate in different ways. Understanding that and making sure everyone is accountable to each other for what we are doing, that’s what helps to make the business a success. Each of us in the team has a different accountability. Mine is to lead.”
Gisela was followed by Clare Golby, Head of Public Affairs at Kagool, a Coventry-based data & analytics and ERP consultancy, who talked about her journey from living in the shadow of Strangeways Prison in Salford and leaving school with four GCSEs to becoming a local councillor and landing the role with a global tech company.
Clare described how she landed her first job – in the Job Centre – and how a campaign to prevent the development of a road in her local community changed her life.
She also pointed to her life outside of work and having a strong, supportive family, as being key to delivering in business.
Clare said: “I was asked to speak at an event last year at Millennium Point in Birmingham and I was stood there proudly representing Kagool, in front of my name in huge letters on the big screen. It was the pinnacle for me, knowing where I had come from to get there.
“My advice to anyone would be to try to say ‘yes’ when opportunities come along and then work out what you are going to do rather than thinking of the reasons why you can’t.
“I have a supportive family at home and a supportive team at work – and that makes a real difference to me.”
Dr Sharon Redrobe OBE gave a brief update on the Women of the Year Awards, which will take place at the Birmingham Metropole in October.
She said: “It was great to hear from two inspirational businesswomen and I’d encourage everyone in the room to either put themselves or a woman they know forward.
“Just going through the process is a great way of looking back on what you’ve achieved and celebrating that. I’d urge everyone to go to www.womenoftheyear.org.uk to find out more.”
Keely Hancox, head of operations at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We began the event with a focus on statistics around women in technology and it is clear that more needs to be done to address that. Having Clare and Gisela speak only serves to inspire other women to see what can be achieved.
“It was their personal stories that really blew us all away and helped to set us up for a positive 2023.”
Pictured (left to right): Keely Hancox (Chamber), Dr Sharon Redrobe OBE, Clare Golby (Kagool), Gisela Pink (Pink Connect), Rosa Ferrara (Ettington Park Hotel)