Branch News Item

Branch: South East
Date: 27 Nov 2008
Title: Visibility, Entrepreneurship & Success

Following a champagne reception sponsored by AKSWard,
34 guests were entertained to lunch at le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons
at the launch of the Thames Valley satellite by Sandi Rhys Jones
who spoke with enthusiasm on the need for women to demonstrate
visibility and entrepreneurship in order to achieve success.

Sandi loves bridges. Herbert Morrison (Peter Mandelson's
grandfather) opened the Waterloo bridge in 1945 ; he praised the
men who had built the magnificent structure - but failed to
recognise nor acknowledge that 70% of the workforce had been
female! In fact as Thames boatman will tell you Waterloo Bridge
is known as the Ladies Bridge for this very reason. Why did
Herbert Morrison not know? Because due to wartime security
measures the public could not see the workforce close up therefore
failed to realise that the people wearing dungarees and flat caps
were women not men!
Sandi uses this point to illustrate the importance of visibility not
just numbers. In 1945 3% of the manual construction workers
were female and in 2005 it was only 1%.

Sandi gave examples of highly visible women in today's market
place including Cathy Stewart, Winner of CBI First Women's
Award in 2006 and Carol Bell, Winner of Women in the City
Award 2008.

Sandi went on to acknowledge the importance of visibility in
terms of pay equality noting that at age 40 -45 women earn £35k
on average against a man of the same age earning £75k for the
same job. Sandi encouraged her listeners to challenge the status
quo and demonstrate their worth.

Sandi identified factors affecting the success of women
entrepreneurs which can be applied to all women in property.
The six Fs : Finance, Frustration, Family, Fear, Fun and
Friendship. Noting that for the latter it was the professional
networks which offered opportunities for growth and for women
to put each other forward for awards and public recognition.
Sandi noted that at last women were beginning to lead the
professions. Namely the first woman president has been
appointed to RIBA, IMechE , RTPI, and most recently ICE. Sandi
identified that each had been an entrepreneur and encouraged the
audience to be entrepreneurial use obstacles as a catalyst, take the
downturn as a stimulus, and remember the women of Waterloo!

After the lunch Lesley Pollock, Chairman of the satellite outlined
the events programme for 2009. Vice Chairmen Micheline Peter
presented Sandi with a signed copy of Raymond Blanc's recently published book “A Taste of My Life”.
The guests were given a conducted tour of the kitchens."

Further details

Carol Bell, Chairman; Sandi Rhys Jones, Keynote speaker; Lesley Pollock, Chairman of Thames Valley Satellite

Pre Lunch drinks

Lunch at Le Manoir

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