Summary
Keeley Tennant, the director of financial services for Socotec UK, shares her journey from starting as aphotocopying girl to becoming a business unit director. Keeley emphasises the importance of practical learning and taking lateral moves to gain a breadth of skills and industry knowledge. She discusses the challenges women face in male-dominated industries and the need for confidence and a balanced team. Keeley also highlights the importance of building strong relationships with her team and genuinely caring about their well-being. Theprincipal themes of the conversation are leadership, vulnerability, humanconnection, emotional intelligence, and self-acceptance.
The key takeaways include leading with humility, authenticity, and kindness, being vulnerable infront of your team, creating a culture of openness and support, embracing human connection in the workplace, adopting situational leadership, and being kinderto yourself. The conversation highlights the importance of valuing people and their individual experiences, as well as the need for balance and self-care in a busy life.
Takeaways
· Practical learning and taking lateral moves can help
develop a breadth of skills and industry knowledge.
· Women still face challenges in male-dominated
industries, but confidence and a balanced team can
make a difference.
· Building strong relationships with team members and
genuinely caring about their well-being is crucial for
effective leadership.
· Success is not defined by academic achievements, but
by talent, abilities, and mindset. Lead with humility,
authenticity, and kindness
· Be vulnerable in front of your team and create a culture
of openness and support
· Embrace human connection in the workplace
· Adopt situational leadership and use emotional
intelligence
· Be kinder to yourself and embrace self-acceptance
· Value people and their individual experiences
· Find balance and practice self-care in a busy life
Titles
· Navigating Male-Dominated Industries: Challenges and
Strategies
· Building a Strong and Balanced Team: Keely Tennant's
Leadership Approach Finding Balance and Practicing
Self-Care
· Creating a Culture of Openness and Support
Chapters
00:00 Introductionand Background
01:56 Transitioningto a New Role
04:05 CareerJourney in Finance
06:48 Educationand Apprenticeship
07:45 SuccessWithout University Education
09:05 LearningStyle and Practical Experience
09:55 DefyingGender Stereotypes in Education
11:15 Inspirationand Mentors
12:13 ChallengingGlass Ceilings
13:09 Importanceof Lateral Moves
14:07 DiverseSkills and Industry Knowledge
16:34 Navigatinga Male-Dominated World
16:48 BuildingConfidence and Overcoming Sexism
20:21 Progressand Challenges in Gender Equality
21:16 SurroundingYourself with Supportive People
23:11 Confidenceand Taking on New Challenges
25:31 Leadershipand Team Building
28:00 Creating aFlat Organizational Structure
28:07 BuildingTrust and Caring for the Team
29:32 Leadingwith Humility and Authenticity
30:58 Creating aSupportive Team Environment
32:20 TheImportance of Communication and Silence
33:17 ChangingMindsets and Approaches
33:43 TheBenefits of Organization and Communication
35:05 BuildingRelationships and Trust
35:58 OvercomingAnxiety and Nervousness
38:09 TakingOpportunities and Making Connections
39:36 EmbracingVulnerability and Risk
44:02 TheImportance of Human Connection
46:16 Leadershipas a Privilege and Responsibility
47:33 AddressingMenstrual Cycles and Emotions
50:52 FindingBalance and Recharging
54:03 DefiningSuccess and Embracing Authenticity
57:25 Outro
