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International Women's Day Interview: Elaine Stroud, CEO, Entrepreneurs' Forum
Welcome Elaine, and thank you for taking the time to talk to us. As CEO of Entrepreneurs’ Forum you see all kinds of different leadership and entrepreneurs, and to celebrate International Women’s Day we’d love to pick your brain on some issues that women are facing in this space.
What inspiring qualities do you notice that female leaders have?
The female leaders who inspire me have the right blend of passion for what they do mixed with an element of humanity. I admire those who radiate positivity for their work, but aren’t afraid to ask for help or admit that they don’t have all the answers. I value those who are curious to learn and take on board different opinions but will ultimately have the confidence to make decisions for themselves.
I genuinely believe that women make better leaders than men as we often have higher emotional intelligence and therefore are better at relationship building, the key to business long term success.
What challenges do female leaders face that their male counterparts don't?
There is a lack of female role models in leadership positions which holds back women from putting themselves forward for these roles. If we’re going to move the dial, we need more female leaders to talk about their lives and career paths.
Female leaders are also usually in the minority. Humans are naturally drawn to those who are similar to themselves, so females need to make more of an effort in networking events to make connections. This can be really hard, especially if you’re new to leadership roles and building your own confidence.
Statistically, it’s more difficult for women to raise external finance and I’ve heard first hand from female founders who’ve been asked more questions about their domestic circumstances than their business, when pitching in front of investors.
Have you noticed a rise in female entrepreneurship over the last few years? Do you think it's sometimes harder for women to be in this traditionally male dominated space?
I haven’t noticed a rise in the number of female led businesses but there are definitely some very ambitious female founders emerging in our region. The barriers to entry have been reduced due to more widespread use of technology to find new customers and markets. There’s also some pressure on government to better support female founders which is opening up more finance, grants and support in favour of women. I think it’s really important to showcase female entrepreneurs as having relatable role models is the best way to encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs to follow.
And finally,
It was great to chat. Thank you for your insights, Elaine.
If you want to find out more about Elaine, you can see her LinkedIn here.
Did you spot Ellie on the panel with Elaine recently?
Check out Ellie speaking on Entrepreneurs' Forum panel. The panel talked about their growth stories whilst sharing their innovations, challenges and opportunities, and it was chaired by Elaine.
