Creswell credits a lot of her ability to take on big projects with “an innate confidence” that she has a desire to push herself.
“I don’t ever think ‘I can’t do that’,” she says. Instead, she’s too busy thinking, how can we do that.
Homewood was raised to have a strong sense of self, and her ability to take on challenges has only increased with age.
“You get braver because you realise that failing to achieve a huge goal is not the worst thing that can happen,” she says. “If you over think things, you won’t do it.”
In terms of risk mitigation, all the women interviewed for this feature were unanimous in their attitudes to risk. Identify the worst-case scenario, assess whether that outcome is “something you can live with,” says Homewood, and then make a decision.
Sarina Bratton, founder and managing director of Orion Expedition Cruises has always been competitive and her willingness to put in “extreme effort” was honed when she was an Australian junior champion diver. Trying a forward three-and-a-half somersault off a 10-metre tower, where the danger of injury is high, has meant that she is very skilled at risk mitigation. You take on that new dive when you have done all the necessary preparations, never before.
In 2004, Bratton became the world’s first female leader of a shipping line as a part-owner and managing director of Orion Expedition Cruises. She took this monumental step, she says, only when she was “ready”, when she had the industry experience, the market knowledge, the operations and marketing experience, and a strong vision.
“To take that big step was huge, but it was very well considered.”
TIP: Learn to live and brilliantly manage risk rather than fear it.
Abigail Forsythe would not be in the position she is in today without backing herself and her product. She had a “deep feeling” that her KeepCup enterprise was going to work. (So widespread is the appeal of the KeepCup, the business even has customers in Alaska and Iceland.) The first prototype for the cup sparked 100,000 sales, the market appeal immediate. That’s when Forsythe felt like there was a tank hurtling towards her.
“If I didn’t climb in and drive it, it was going to run over me,” she says. More than 800,000 KeepCups have been sold and the cups are now being trialed at major food retailer Pret a Manger in the United Kingdom.
“You have got to trust yourself and your instincts,” she says.
Deborah Homewood learned a powerful lesson about the importance of backing yourself and your abilities earlier in her career. She was a single mum at the time, working in a company rife with sexual harassment and bullying.
“I felt I had to be quiet because I had sole responsibility for my two-year-old child,” she says. “I felt I couldn’t afford to be brave.”
Needless to say, the situation deteriorated. Finally Homewood realised that this work was damaging her career because she was so caught up in trying to manage the situation that it was hard to concentrate on the actual job. “If it is a toxic workplace, just get out,” she says.
“No question, self-doubt is the enemy of thinking big,” says Christine Christian.
TIP: Self-belief is intrinsically tied to success.
A century after the first International Women’s Day was celebrated there is much to rejoice in, in terms of the economic, social and political gains.
However, this needs to be weighed against new waves of sentiment against gender equality and women’s progress.
It seems not everyone wants change. A London School of Economics January 2011 study by Dr Catherine Hakim has found that 64% of women aspire to marrying a man with a bigger pay packet than they do, with 69% saying they would prefer to stay at home and care for children if money was no object. No wonder pop star Lily Allen is singing about girls waiting for a man to ‘pick her up and put her over his shoulder, it seems so unlikely in this day and age’.
A classic stereotype of the successful businesswomen is the guilt-ridden parent that is perennially feeling guilty about ‘not being there’ for their children. Carolyn Creswell is always being asked how she manages her business and four children.
“I think women are fascinated by how you can juggle an interesting career and be a good mum,” she says. Creswell’s philosophy is to avoid the guilt trip. “I am a good mum,” she says.
“I am proud of what I do and I don’t think my kids have suffered. This is how it works for me.”
TIP: Break the mould.
Special webinar: Breaking the barriers for women in business
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, SmartCompany’s founder and publisher Amanda Gome will be joined by Pacnet’s chief executive Deborah Homewood and KeepCup founder Abigail Forsyth to discuss the key barriers that prevent female entrepreneurs from reaching their full potential. Register now.
Visit Women’s Agenda for more news and advice for professional women.
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