Lessons and stories, from my past

I enjoyed what people were sharing on International Women’s Day. My old friend Tessa David made me laugh with a Motherland-esq diary entry for a working mum. There were also some lovely posts from people giving praise to colleagues past and present. I was inspired to do the same if I'm honest. 

Then I had a moment of clarity when I realised my working style was massively shaped by 4 influential women early in my professional career, and each taught me the fundamentals which I rely on today. So I want to say thanks in my own way here. 

It’s 1999, I'm selling shoes in House of Fraser whilst finishing my A-levels. 

A 17 year old chap, who attends an all boys school, I think it's fair to say I couldn’t really communicate effectively, and certainly not to women! But Clare, my first manager here, basically changed all that. 

If you want to sell shoes, you need to actively listen to your customers' needs, (sounds familiar!). Throw in lessons on upselling (handbags with heels, shoe trees with brogues), and Clare taught me the fundamentals of communicating with purpose. 

I’m at university, it’s 2003. I have had enough of seeing peoples' feet and want a desk job. 

I meet Hannah Larkin, at Digital One, who taught me how to write clear and useful emails. In other words, how to talk “corporate”. But here's the best bit, Hannah was also one of the nicest people you'll ever met (she’s also an amazing photographer) so I learnt that you can be corporate AND nice. 

Now in the Civil Service, I spent the years between 2006 - 2010 working for two brilliant women, Andrea Holmes and then Sue Shaw. 

Both were hard-working, honest and straight talking northerns. I had to work equally as hard to earn their trust. But they always took the time to give me feedback (warts and all). Each in their own way, they saw my development as a reflection of their leadership. Another lesson I’ve always strived to pass on. 

Back to the present. I’m lucky to work with some incredible women on a daily basis at dxw (you can read more here). But I owe so much to the amazing women who unselfishly helped me in those first 10 years. Empathy, trust, industry. I now owe it to them, to pass those lessons down to the next generation

First written on the 10 March 2024