Our co founders Karen Benveniste and Debra Sobel were delighted to be invited as key speakers at this London event, aimed at women either returning to the workplace, or looking to further their career and current role.
The talk offered an honest and positive appraisal of being a woman in the workplace, with Karen and Debra’s combined 50 years of experience across both high profile broadcast careers, and then as business owners. They spoke about the challenges – from unequal pay in the television industry and juggling families with pressurised TV schedules, to the reality of running a business where clients come first, and flexibility isn’t always as easy as it might seem! And the joys – amazing experiences both in the TV world and working on incredible projects with great clients and the excitement of progressing in your career and building a business.
Karen and Debra described how they left the BBC on a Friday in May 2006, and started Monday morning with their first clients. Over 12 years they produced all manner of films for companies including Aviva, AXA PPP International, British Gas, Standard Chartered, Microsoft and CGI. Charity clients include Institute of Cancer Research, The Crown Estate, The Duchenne Research Fund, Kisharon, Camp Simcha, Norwood … for which the company won multiple industry awards. As their work became more purposeful, they adapted the agency into Verity London, supporting clients with their strategic and content needs in the purpose space, and it is now an expanding company with high demand in this space for the expertise of its growing team .
The audience wanted to know what was it really like though – to start a business from scratch?.Debra was brutally honest, described how – when they began, they were green, but had that slightly invincible, can do anything attitude that definitely won them work. Including one cold call within the first six months of the business that turned into a quarter of a million pound contract.
She described how it’s important to take a deep breath and say yes to things which might scare you. And have belief in your experience, skills and passion for what you do to enable success
Karen went on to discuss the importance of being confident women and promoting yourselves unapologetically. That included being prepared to turn work away and not competing on price as a race to the bottom.
And the importance of taking advice, re-thinking things and continually learning – running a business is a constant learning curve. She dismissed the idea that running your own means means setting your own hours – if your serious about succeeding this isn’t usually the case. And the benefits of working with a great partner…and putting together a talented team.
They finished with some of the joys of business – whilst it can be stressful there are some big pluses. The lack of office politics and being able to set the agenda for your business according to your ethics and expectations, the satisfaction of paying yourself and rewarding yourself for success on your own terms, and the fulfilment of building a brand that you own.
It was a great day, speaking to so many women and answering questions on all topics work and business. Hopefully reassuring many to be brave, believe and aim high in the workplace, whether you’re looking for employment or thinking about starting a business of your own.
