International Women’s Day: Q & A with Emma Ferrier of Fox Ferrier Ltd
Released On 18th Mar 2024
In celebration of International Women’s Day, Martin Johnson, General Practice Director, talks to his client Emma Ferrier, Project Manager & Operations Director of Fox Ferrier Ltd, about her experiences navigating the world of business, her strategies for overcoming adversities and her invaluable advice for aspiring female entrepreneurs looking to make their mark.
Emma shares insights from her career journey, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs of women in business, and more.
Women in Business:
Can you share your journey to becoming a successful woman in business? What were the key milestones?
Overcoming challenges, being persistent and seizing opportunities are the three red threads that define my journey. Key milestones included moving out of London, getting married and having a baby, and then having to find a job that worked around my life. I can’t say I made too many strategic career moves, but I embraced open-mindedness, said yes to things, tried to maintain an attitude of continuous learning, and built a strong professional network.
What challenges have you faced as a woman in your industry, and how have you overcome them?
As a rurally based professional and a mother, I couldn’t find a job that worked for me that paid enough to cover childcare costs AND would give me professional enjoyment and challenge. I embraced persistence and opportunities, built my networks and my competence, and accepted coaching and mentorship; this cocktail definitely helped me overcome most hurdles. Opportunities were sometimes dead-ends, like the one where I ended up audio-typing a Methodist minister’s memoirs (definitely helped with sleeping though!), but it wasn’t always the obvious conversations that had the best results.
In what ways do you believe the business landscape is changing for women?
The business landscape is evolving with increased recognition of the need for flexible working arrangements, enabling women to be effective both in their working and family spheres. Working from home was normal for me for over 3 years before COVID hit, and attitudes towards it have changed significantly in the last 3 years; I really believe this has enabled a lot more women to go back to work who couldn’t do so before. In addition, the push for inclusivity and diversity is heading beyond paying lip service. Initiatives promoting gender equality and inclusive policies are reshaping opportunities for women, and once working from home was seen as ‘normal’ a lot of doors opened.
Overcoming Adversity:
Could you tell us about a time when you faced significant adversity in your career? How did you navigate through it?
A challenging project early on in my consultancy adventure really tested my capabilities…and made me realise what I didn’t want to do…or how I didn’t want to work! The project leader was incredibly toxic and it took me a few short weeks to realise that one of the big positives about being a consultant was choosing who I worked with. I was in the happy position of being able to walk away.
My business was, however, only a fledgling and this client was my most lucrative work at the time; it was pretty terrifying to walk away. I don’t regret it at all – set out your market stall and stick with it. That experience led me into a new network, and I have been able to happily leverage my skills, offer and seek support, and learn from every setback. Picking myself up and being positive as much as I can has enabled me to navigate my journey successfully.
How do you maintain resilience in the face of setbacks or challenges?
Resilience comes from a positive mindset, learning from failures, and focusing on solutions. In the world of project management within leadership development, which is my field, I am constantly working on materials and programmes that shout about this. I am a very positive person anyway, but I have ensured my own continuous adaptation and learned that a strong support system is crucial. I have also learned that the times you are resilient and pick yourself up are not always the times that pay dividends – those often come later down the line.
What advice would you give to other women who are facing obstacles in their professional lives?
Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, seek mentorship, and build a resilient mindset. Challenges are temporary; perseverance brings lasting success. And remember to keep smiling – if you can’t smile, you might need to rethink your strategy.
Women in Male-Dominated Fields:
What has been your experience working in a male-dominated field? Can you share strategies or tips for women entering industries where they are in the minority?
I am lucky enough not to experience very much of this currently; there are a lot of women in my field. When I do come across it, I think the best tips and strategies I can give are understanding it’s important to prove competence and find allies. I make my voice heard through knowledge, collaboration, and emphasising the value diversity (especially when that diversity is me!) brings. Always maintain your confidence and stay true to your capabilities. Seek mentors, foster relationships, and be a trailblazer for others. Networking really does help too – it amplifies your influence, your reputation, and creates a supportive community.
Celebrating and Promoting Equality:
In what ways do you or your organisation promote gender equality and celebrate diversity?
My clients foster equality through inclusive policies, diversity training (which is mandatory for some of my clients), and mentorship programmes. Celebrating achievements and recognising diverse contributions is key, and offering gratitude to the incredibly diverse teams I work with is very important.
Often it is the more global clients who are both best and worst at diversity – nationalities can be pigeon-holed into a caricature-like zone of ‘they do this…’, but you get to work with people from every continent, so skill and personality become your guides and not location or culture.
Can you share a success story or initiative that has effectively promoted equality within your workplace?
As far as a success story, introducing flexible work policies led to a more inclusive culture, boosting employee morale and productivity. Alongside that, one of my clients has tied their ‘Unconscious Bias’ training to year-end reviews and rewards. It’s not a long programme (less than 2 hours online) but it has demonstrated that small changes can create a significant impact.
How can businesses do more to create inclusive environments that support and uplift women?
Businesses can prioritise diversity in leadership, implement unbiased hiring practices, and ensure equitable opportunities for career advancement. It sounds so easy, but can be incredibly hard in reality; it must be done. However, the value that this diversity brings through engagement, collaboration and a reduction in groupthink is seen on the bottom line when it is implemented sincerely.
Starting and Growing a Business: What motivated you to start your own business, and what were the initial steps you took?
My motivation to start my consultancy was purely practical – I couldn’t find a job that I wanted to do locally which would enable me to afford childcare. Working from home wasn’t an option (then) so I almost had no choice. Passion for my work and identifying a market opportunity, as well as being lucky enough to find the perfect network, has fuelled my business.
How have you scaled your business, and what were some of the pivotal decisions that contributed to its growth?
Scaling my business has been tricky as I don’t want to take on any employees – most of the people I work with are consultants, and most of my clients have their own networks. However, I have some very strategic partnerships, I innovate when and where I can, and adapt to market trends when possible. Decisive grasping of opportunities, financial prudence, and customer-centric approaches have all contributed heavily to the growth of my business.
What are the key financial challenges you’ve faced while growing your business, and how have you addressed them?
Financial challenges were pretty simple – finding enough work and then being able to increase my prices based on my perceived value. My rates were ridiculously low to start with, and I have gradually increased them thanks to my mentor’s encouragement. Cash flow management was a challenge to start with, because running a business was never my aim, and I am not that comfortable with numbers…I do tend to get there, eventually!
Balancing Roles:
How do you balance your professional ambitions with personal responsibilities?
Balancing my professional ambitions and responsibilities is interesting, but the whole reason I started doing this is one of my main purposes. Prioritisation, time management, and a supportive network (my husband!) are crucial. Setting realistic goals and learning to delegate ensures balance. One of my biggest learning curves is in knowing when/how to say no…that was a real challenge!
Can you share insights on maintaining work-life harmony while pursuing growth in your career or business?
When maintaining work-life harmony, I try to define boundaries (my own and my clients’), practice self-care, and communicate openly. A flexible work environment fosters harmony and boosts productivity. And many of my clients are also working mothers and fathers, so they do understand. Future Perspectives:
What trends do you see shaping the future of women in business over the next decade?
Future trends I see are a further embedding of the ability to work remotely, more part-time working and job-sharing, technology advancements, and a focus on diversity. I really believe these will shape the future. Embracing innovation, fostering inclusivity, and staying adaptable are key.
How do you plan to evolve your business strategies to stay ahead in an ever-changing market?
My evolving business strategy will be centred on continued market analysis, embracing both learning and technology, and continuing to invest in my network. Agility and customer-centric approaches will drive the evolution of my business, coupled with keeping an eye on opportunities. And not looking any gift horses in the mouth!
Advice for Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs:
What advice would you give to young women aspiring to start their own business or make their mark in their chosen field?
Believe in your capabilities, be resilient, and seek mentorship. Embrace challenges as learning opportunities and stay true to your vision. Continuous learning is key.
Take opportunities when they crop up – they might not always sound right, or like an opportunity, but if you’re in the market, you never know where they will lead to. My first big opportunity came from a friend looking for help, saying she wasn’t ‘living the dream’ because she was so snowed under…on Facebook. Now that might have been the best ‘Could I help?’ message I ever sent!
Are there specific resources, books, or networks you would recommend to women looking to advance their careers or entrepreneurial ventures?
Recommended resources is a huge topic. There are podcasts, articles and books galore. If I were to recommend a few things they would be the list below. I would also say that your best two resources are your head and your gut – trust them both when you can.
- Harvard Business Review: HBR offers a wealth of articles on entrepreneurship, covering various aspects of starting and managing a business.
- “The E-Myth Revisited” by Michael E. Gerber: Gerber discusses the common pitfalls entrepreneurs face and provides insights on how to avoid them by structuring your business effectively.
- “Zero to One” by Peter Thiel: Thiel, co-founder of PayPal, offers unconventional wisdom on innovation, startups, and building a successful business.
Networking groups like Women Entrepreneurs Network, and online courses on leadership and entrepreneurship. Also, your accountant – I know, this is put out there by them, but seriously, they are one of the BEST resources you have; use them!
If you don’t have a business mentor, the government-backed mentoring service offers free mentoring support for small businesses. You can find a mentor through various organisations such as Mentorsme or the Prince’s Trust.
