Podcast: when Ann Francke met AllBright

06 December 2018 -

Ann Francke met AllBright co-founder Anna Jones to talk about the success of AllBright – and its decision to appoint a male chair

CMI Insights

In November 2018, CMI chief executive Ann Francke visited the Marylebone outpost of AllBright – a members’ club founded to support the progression of women in the workplace.

Francke recorded a podcast interview with AllBright’s co-founder Anna Jones. As part of the discussion she asked why the female-focused organisation appointed a male chair. Allan Leighton, the former chief executive of Asda, joined AllBright in August 2018.

“We fundamentally believe that to really make change happen you need to bring enlightened men on that journey,” Jones told her, echoing the CMI stance on the role as men as agents of change.

“When we looked for a chair, we wanted someone with a different perspective. Both my co-founder (Debbie Wosskow OBE) and I are female CEOs with strong points of view.”

Jones admitted that it was crucial to have someone who “put their money where their mouth is” and acknowledged that Leighton is one of several male investors in the business.

With the board in place, the pair confirmed that the organisation was “going global” with a new opening in West Hollywood, USA, leading to Francke to declare the future of AllBright “very bright”.

Other topics tackled in the podcast interview included the skills that women need to improve in business; tips for closing the confidence gap; and how to promote one’s own abilities.

LISTEN: ANN FRANCKE INTERVIEWS ANNA JONES OF ALLBRIGHT

Listen: CMI CEO Ann Francke interviews AllBright co-founder Anna Jones

CMI has its own networking group – CMI Women – dedicated to supporting women in business