The latest episode of the Business Awards Show features an interview with Tracey Barr, an independent strategy consultant. The insightful conversation charted the course of Tracey's impressive 40-year career, exploring her transition into entrepreneurship, her philosophy on networking, and her valuable experiences as both an awards judge and a published collaborator.
Founder of the Strategic Link, Tracey recounted her diverse professional journey, which began with a sponsored engineering degree from Ford and evolved into high-level strategy consulting. Working with prestigious firms like LEK and Arthur Andersen, she was instrumental in major projects, most notably the development and launch of the now-dominant UK property portal, Rightmove.
Twenty years ago, Tracey made the leap to independent consulting, establishing her firm as a specialist in healthcare strategy. She explained how she built her business in a pre-social media era, relying on a robust professional network, word-of-mouth referrals, and strategic associations with other firms like Eden McCallum. Tracey further emphasized that her approach to networking has always been about more than just business development; it’s about finding community and connecting with inspirational, like-minded women.
Drawing from her experience as a judge for both the Best Business Women Awards and the Funny Women Awards, Tracey offered critical advice for anyone seeking recognition. She went on to stress that while a compelling story is important, the key differentiator for a winning application is the inclusion of clear, tangible evidence to substantiate your claims. She observed that many excellent candidates fall short simply by failing to provide the necessary proof to back up their narrative, a crucial lesson for any aspiring award winner.
The conversation also touched upon Tracey’s experience co-authoring the book "Fab Collab" with fourteen other businesswomen. Finally, Tracey provides some nuggets of wisdom about what it takes to thrive when setting up any new business.
{1:58} Tracey's career journey.
{5:35} The challenge of becoming a self-employed consultant.
{7:02} Getting her first clients.
{9:29} Obtaining work through referrals.
{10:42} What drives Tracey to do the work she does.
{11:19} The power of networking.
{13:05} What networking brings to Tracey's life.
{13:32} Building a relationship with Lynne Parker and Funny Women CIC.
{15:00} When awards first appeared on the radar.
{17:35} The Felix cat food campaign.
{18:14} Becoming a judge for the Best Businesswomen Awards.
{22:45} Judging the Funny Women Awards.
{24:23} Advice for setting up on your own.
{28:10} The F:Entrepreneur community.
{30:55} Co-writing 'Fab-Collab' with fourteen women!
Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk
Connect with Tracey: https://www.thestrategiclink.co.uk/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracey-barr-healthcare-strategy-digital/
Listen to Episode 62 with Lynne Parker of Funny Women: https://thebusinessawardsshow.libsyn.com/episode-062-interview-with-lynne-parker
