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60 seconds with senior leaders: meet the alumni of Principally Women
60 seconds with senior leaders: meet the alumni of Principally Women
We’ve been running our Principally Women programme since 2018. Some incredible leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators have taken part. We spoke to a few of them to find out how Principally Women has impacted their careers and, in some cases, their lives.
Four years of Principally Women
Our Principally Women programme is about to complete its fourth year. While there are many programmes aimed at supporting women in business, what makes Principally Women unique is that it doesn’t simply look to build skills. Instead, it aims to foster and encourage personal and professional growth, along with the practical and personal skills needed to scale. Even more than this, our past and present members have said Principally Women creates a community where skills, knowledge and experiences can be shared, and support can be found – both during the programme and afterwards.
Learn more about the Principally Women programme
Seven stories in seven minutes
There are between 12 and 15 women on each cohort of the programme, and in recent years we’ve had multiple cohorts in various areas across Scotland. This means that dozens of leaders have come through the Principally Women doors since it began, and each has had a unique experience.
We asked a selection of past and present members to share what Principally Women was like for them, their experience as a female leader, and their advice for other women in business.
Fiona Wallis
What’s your day-to-day like?
My job is to steer the ship, look after the strategic side of the business and provide whatever the team need to make their jobs easier.
What’s been your experience as a female leader?
When I started out - this was the job market in the early 90s - there were no role models to speak of, really, and you kind of took your cues from the male counterparts. So, I did a bit of the power suit and all that kind of rubbish. But I’ve realised that leadership is about being authentic above all else. Pretending to be someone else won’t serve you.
How did you hear about Principally Women?
It was actually my male colleague that recommended it. I was changing roles, going from head of a function to head of a business. Principally Women resonated with me because I thought it would help me develop the skills I needed for my new position. There was a lot of competition, so I felt privileged to be picked.
What was the best part of Principally Women for you?
Having that time with Principally Women once a month was like a ray of sunshine; it was ‘me time’. I could address some of my demons in a safe environment with these clever women, and it felt like everybody was in it together – particularly during the pandemic. The subject matter, the ability to do that during [the pandemic], to have that support, to be able to share ideas. I used to come away from my sessions with new vigour.
What’s your advice for other women in business?
Be yourself and be human. You can be firm and fair, and you can also be funny. You don't have to be the most confident, most knowledgeable person in the room, you just need the desire to do your job as best as you possibly can.
Jennifer MacLennan
How did you become regional director for Fifth Ring?
My background is in journalism, but after a few years I decided to go into public relations (PR), and then Fifth Ring gave me a chance. That was about five years ago. I came in as their PR team leader and just moved up from there. It wasn't really my plan to rise through the ranks so quickly at Fifth Ring, it just happened quite organically. Opportunities opened and I stepped into different roles.
What’s your next career move?
There are currently two male directors at the company and three regional directors who are part of their succession plans – myself, one counterpart in Asia and one in America, and we're all women.
My relationship with them is really strong. Even though we're in different time zones, we're in sync. They're incredibly smart women and I have a lot of respect for them. It’s good to have people you're proud to work with.
Why did you choose to take part in Principally Women?
I was nearing the end of my maternity leave and starting to think about going to work and my (male) boss sent me the programme. Reading about it, it resonated with where I was at. I was excited when I got accepted because we got sent bits of information about the other members. It was such a huge mix, such different kinds of people, and there was so much diversity in the different topics covered.
Did you learn anything about yourself on Principally Women?
I was feeling a bit of a crisis of confidence before going back to work, so the programme helped give me a lot of perspective – not just about work, but about who I am.
Also, when you move up in a company, it can get lonelier. It helped remind me that I’m not alone, and there are support networks available.
What’s your advice for other women in business?
Don’t be afraid to change, don't be afraid to fail and don't be afraid to try. Don't think that because you've done something for your career so far, you're stuck forever, because that’s when misery sets in. Or it does for me, anyway!
Lyndsay Wilson
What’s your background?
My skillset is numbers. I’m a qualified accountant, so I started there and went on to work in European banking, then investment management and then insurance, so all based in financial services. I come from quite an entrepreneurial family, with my dad setting up his own business, so it was something I always aimed to do.
As a female leader, have you ever felt a pressure to have a persona?
I felt untold pressure, certainly in my 20s and 30s. Financial services can be a very male-dominated industry, especially in London. For a long time, I tried to keep a lid on the way that I spoke and my enthusiasm, because I thought that it could potentially undermine what I was trying to deliver. It took a business scare for me to simply not have the time or energy to keep that mask on any longer, and it’s very liberating and powerful to be your authentic self. After that, the real Lyndsay was unleashed.
How did you find out about Principally Women?
I’d been doing some consultancy for a company that has been quite heavily supported by Scottish Enterprise, and it was the account manager [from Scottish Enterprise] that told me about the programme. He knew that I was in the process of setting up Titanium and he thought it’d be a great resource for that new challenge. I read the overview of the course and knew instantly that I wanted to be a part of it.
What surprised you about Principally Women?
It was everything that I hoped it would be, but their success in moving the programme online during the pandemic was an absolute feat. During lockdown and the isolation of that, it was a crutch for me. Being able to talk to these women, hear their stories of how they were handling their businesses during that time rubbed off on me, and it felt like a collective “we can do this”.
What’s your advice for other women in business?
Take the time to understand your true brand, the one that’s unique to you, and let it loose. Recognise when you admire someone’s business attributes. Be bold and curious- ask them about their story and any advice they can offer. Then you can take all that information and build on it to go forth and prosper.
Michelle Reid
What’s a day like as People and Operations Director?
It’s really focused around and coaching and mentoring people. I spend most of my time ensuring that people understand the purpose of their role and what value they provide.
Have you been mentored by anyone in your career?
I’ve worked with some fantastic people, but I’ve never really had anyone who’s done for me what I try to do for the people I work with. That’s really what drives me. If I’d had someone like that, I might not have taken as many knocks. But equally, those knocks have given me my experience, so I don’t have any regrets. That’s why I value programmes like Principally Women so highly, as they provide opportunities to grow.
What attracted you to Principally Women?
I take every opportunity that I can for self-development. For me, a lot of that comes from connecting with people and sharing learnings with them.
Principally Women gave me lots of insight into how to develop strategy and ideas, as well as solutions for some of the challenges that I had at the time. I felt privileged to be able to help others with some challenges that they had too. It gave me a confidence boost, and it humbled me to know that I don’t have all the answers, but that I don’t have to, either.
What was the main thing you took from the programme?
One of the things that Principally Women has given me is the belief that I can be a competent commercial manager. Up until just before the course started, I didn’t believe I was commercial enough or good enough to be in a commercial role like Managing Director or Chief Executive Officer, but the programme let me realise that I don't have to know everything to be in one of those roles. I’m more than capable with the experience I have.
What’s your advice for other women in business?
Firstly, get yourself a mentor and be willing to take their advice and guidance. Secondly, take every opportunity that comes your way with both hands. Never look at something and go “I can’t do that”, instead think “what will that opportunity give me?”.
Aimee Doole
How did you get involved with Principally Women?
We’re fortunate to have worked with Scottish Enterprise for several years, and the team have supported us in many areas across innovation and skills development, so I heard about it from there. The programme really spoke to me because I think, regardless of what stage you're at in your career, you can always learn fresh skills. I think you need to be humble in that sense and keep opening yourself up to new approaches, and that’s what it offers.
What has been the best part of the programme for you?
It’s been powerful to have a space where you can go to chat, listen, learn as well as reflect with like-minded people. Especially now, coming out of the pandemic, when everyone has been through a disruptive time, it’s reassuring to be in a place where you’re supported to meet the new challenges of the workplace.
Would you recommend the Principally Women programme?
Absolutely - in fact, my sister is doing it now, too.
What’s it like working in a typically male-dominated industry?
The engineering industry has previously been quite male dominated. But I’ve seen a lot of positive change over the last ten years, and [Booth Welsh] has certainly played a part in that. Investing in STEM initiatives and encouraging our next generation of talent allows us to showcase the engineering sector as an exciting and rewarding career path where anyone can belong.
What’s your advice for other women in business?
Jump in when you’re offered opportunities and seek out those that align with what you really want to do. You will often be surprised at how much value you can add, so never underestimate that. Build a strong network and look around to see what you can do for people as well as what they can do for you. We’re all part of this collective vision to keep building a strong, diverse and equal workforce.
Gillian Watters
What are your main responsibilities?
Overseeing a team of five, and setting weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual deadlines for myself and the team to report company finance data to the Managing Director for all companies in the Group.
The department is deadline driven. My focus is on keeping the team motivated to meet these deadlines.
My job involves ensuring workflow, job margins, cashflow and expenditure are within budgets and forecasts set for the year. I’m also responsible for funding growth plans and looking at strategic approaches for all companies. And I set company finance policies and ensuring that all companies in the group are compliant with financial regulations.
Have you ever felt like you had to change because of your role?
I think I’ve had to build a bit of a thick skin; - you can’t really be easily offended. I’ve also had to learn how to tame my passion, in a sense. I’ve always been someone that’s quite quick to react, so I’ve had to learn to separate my feelings from the facts in some situations.
Why did you apply for the Principally Women programme?
I’d just been offered the role of Group Finance Director, and, in all honesty, I didn’t feel entirely ready for it, because I hadn’t had any formal management training. I felt that Principally Women could help me not only evaluate the skills I needed for my new position but help me build them as well.
Did Principally Women help you feel more prepared?
100%. From the first session, a lot of other participants could relate to my situation, and it was really helpful to talk to people that had been in similar positions. It also offered lots of opportunities for self-reflection. There were key moments where I realised that the parts of me that I thought didn’t lend themselves to leadership are actually the parts that make me a good leader. The programme has brought many lightbulb moments.
What’s your advice for other women in business?
Aim for what you want. Tell yourself “I can” and you’ll find a way. Don’t let circumstances stop you. Be significant, make a contribution, and keep growing through continued learning. Stand tall and own it.
Jo Chidley
What are you passionate about?
Skin care (of course!), sustainability and diversity. This is why I co-founded Beauty Kitchen and Re, a buy-anywhere, return-anywhere, reuse anywhere alternative to single-use packaging. It's a scalable, whole-system approach for refill and return, which uses smart, reusable packaging and removing the barriers to retailers, brands and consumers who want to participate in the circular economy.
Beauty Kitchen is one of the highest ranked B corporations in the world, with its cradle-to-cradle certified skincare products stocked in major retailers across many countries.
What’s your background?
I studied chemistry, so I call myself a failed chemist – but I’m quite proud of that, to be honest.
Professionally, my background is human resources (HR). I’m a qualified HR professional and I worked for some big organisations, with involvement in some big change management programmes. My co-founder has similar experience, but brings an accounting skillset, so we do have a strong commercial and corporate background at Beauty Kitchen.
How did you come to hear about Principally Women?
It was through a mentor of Beauty Kitchen who worked for Scottish Enterprise. We’ve been lucky enough to receive a lot of support from SE and Business Gateway, so opportunities there were on my radar. When this colleague told me about Principally Women, the programme was still in its early days. It just felt like the right time and the best way to plug any gaps in my skills.
What was it like being on part of the first ever Principally Women cohort?
What really struck me was the emotional support that it provided; just having a space to not only speak but sit back and listen to other people. This also helps give you a bit of brain space, when you hear about what other people are going through and, their challenges and how they’re approaching them. In an interesting way, it relieves some of the stress of your own problems. There’s this kind of symbiotic relationship that happens, and I think that’s quite unique to women.
What’s your advice for other women in business?
Know what you’re passionate about. Try to take any negative experiences in your stride and learn from them. Take solace in the fact that they’ll help you in the future.
Also, prioritise diversity in all its forms. Call out the things that need to change and don’t be afraid to have difficult conversations, because that’s how we progress.
Our other programmes
At Scottish Enterprise we also support several other female-focused business programmes, including Investing Women and Mint Ventures.
Investing Women is a female-led angel investment syndicate that focuses on bringing more women into investing. We are currently contributing funding to increase the reach of its associated AccelerateHER* support programme, which provides access to the vibrant Accelerate HER community, as well as its world-class international market building missions, growth-focused skills training and mentoring with selected investors from the Investing Women network.
Visit the Investing Women website to learn more
Mint Ventures is a new women-led angel investment club and network. We’ve recently contributed funding to help the firm run a series of regional roadshows that aim to encourage more women to become angel investors, as well as helping women-led companies access investment. These will form part of a programme of awareness events that will run across the UK.
Visit the Mint Ventures website for more information
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