Managing directly – Becoming your own boss

Joint Women in Management and Milton Keynes and North Bucks Chamber of Commerce event held on Wednesday 2nd February.

Despite the cold economic climate,  the Women in Management evening at Acorn House glowed with warmth and energy and sparkled with ideas, anticipation and enthusiasm. All had come to learn from the speakers and from each other and there was a friendly buzz over canapés and drinks even before the formal part began.

Rita Spada, Chief Executive of Milton Keynes and North Bucks Chamber of Commerce, gave a thoroughly inspiring and stimulating talk on starting and growing a business. She stressed three building blocks:

• the brand – what the business is about, publicity and influence;

• business capability- training and development of people, support services, suppliers; and

• capacity – premises, finance, tools and equipment.

She described how organizations go through developmental stages from survival to performing well and then making a step change to having a strong culture and making a big impact.

Elizabeth Sheldon from ‘Evidence Talks’ digital and computer forensics experts, talked compellingly about pulling a business around after a  massive fall in demand in 2009. They had to reduce costs, concentrate on produce development and plan very carefully, quarter by quarter – and it worked.

Angela Rhodes from Crispin Rhodes, HR Consultancy, described a very personal journey from starting as a sole trader to selling a franchise- over many years of consuming and demanding but satisfying work. She echoed Rita’s slogan –‘reputation builds referrals’.

Siobhan Harper from Chiki Ceramiki, which is a very new pottery painting business, was refreshingly frank about the challenges of getting started and the highs and lows as the business develops. She vividly captured the demands of ordering paints and pieces, firing finished items, cultivating customers, recruiting part time staff and providing coffee, cake and calm.

The questions came thick and fast ranging from managing wayward associate staff to using the web effectively. Many stayed on afterwards to network further and exchange experiences.

The tremendous enthusiasm of the speakers showed how much delight and satisfaction can be gained by ‘becoming your own boss’.

Liz Gifford                         February 2011