An Interview with Helen Bailey

In celebration of International Women's Day this year, we interviewed Aviatrix MD Helen Bailey to find out her thoughts on the role employers can take in promoting gender equality in business, her advice to budding female entrepreneurs, and her vision for a gender equal future in the workplace.

 What are 3 things that you think employers can do to encourage gender equality in the workplace?

• Respond to capability and achievement rather than what people say they can do

• Actively encourage and invest in women to speak up and give them the space that they don’t naturally perceive they have to have their   say - put their ideas forward etc. 

• Know that men and women are different and take time to gain a view from both genders to give a balance of opinion to ensure you have  an equal influence and therefore less male gender bias.

If there was one piece of advice you could pass on to a new female entrepreneur what would it be?

Do whatever feels right to you and do not look at others for affirmation and approval - trust yourself and have faith and belief in YOU and your idea.  Use others to help, assist and guide you BUT do not constantly seek others approval - therein lies the route to hell as you cannot satisfy everyone else’s needs or vision of success.  The real joy of being an entrepreneur is to remember you are working on a blank canvas so you can   do what you want.  Every great business starts with a person just like us who relentlessly pursued their dream and did not give up!  Keeping going is the biggest challenge no matter what. 

In terms of gender equality, what is your vision for an ideal workplace in the future?

EVERY single person in an organisation having their say in making the workplace amazing, compassion for others and allowing people to bring their ‘home’ self to work whatever that takes or looks like.  A collaborative, open working environment that brings the best out of everyone either because they work at home, on a beach or odd hours to support ‘work to live’ rather than ‘live to work’.

Be sure to check out Helen’s brilliant blog series ‘Understanding Female Entrepreneurs’ for more interviews with inspiring female entrepreneurs.

Aviatrix are an experienced, specialist research consultancy who work with their clients to transform their businesses through a deeper understanding of their team and customers. Visit their website for more information.

If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk