It’s International Women’s Day and we wanted to highlight some of the women inside the Bath BID. We asked each one a few questions about who inspires them and their experiences in the workplace.
Ellen Kythor, Welcome Ambassador Coordinator at Bath BID
Which women inspire you most?
Women entrepreneurs who create a successful career and business from their hard work, clever ideas and ceaseless energy, including Steph at Good Day Café, Nat at Sweet Little Things and Café au Lait, Pippa at Circus Health, and Maddie at Soul Spa. Bath wouldn’t be the same without them!
Miriam Zaccarelli, Office and Projects Coordinator at Bath BID
Which women inspire you most?
- My 9 year old niece who walks into a room in a goth black skirt and a Pokemon T-shirt and announces, “I’m here!”; who patiently coaches me round the roller disco rink, firmly holding on to my wrist-guarded hand until I can skate on my own; and who unashamedly asks me if she’ll grow up with a nose as abnormal as mine.
- Skin from Skunk Anasie for her sheer power and integrity, incredible music and every possible type of beauty.
- Anne Millan, the nurse in RUH’s day patients unit, for her diligent, compassionate and professional care of me during a recent operation: getting me tested, prepped, dressed and drugged for my ear operation, and bringing me food, coffee, more tests and a comprehensive set of post op instructions afterwards. Although she didn’t perform the complex surgery in my ear, she facilitated the many crucial unsung tasks that made it possible, for me and maybe 40 others that day, and every day of her professional life.
What has been your proudest moment in your career?
When I instructed the unreasonable landlord of my business premises to backpay me the same hourly rate he was paying a new male project manager for doing exactly the same building management tasks I had been doing for two years. ( I was calm and gracious on the phone when he agreed, and then danced around the office punching the air and crying with joy for the next ten minutes.)
How can we support other women in business?
- Celebrate each other with even seemingly small acts of recognition – thank yous and compliments take seconds and can mean a lot.
- Recognise that many of us, still overcoming generations of inferiority for being female, may have inner critical voices tinged with destructive messaging (not to even mention what our childhoods gave us) – so don’t give those negative space in yours or anyone’s mind.
- Ask for advice and help from the incredible women around us – as Brené Brown says, “Offering help is courageous and compassionate, but so is asking for help”.
Alison Stubbs, Marketing/Events Manager at Bath BID
Which women inspire you most?
Growing up I was inspired by strong female characters in film and video games. I wanted to be Padme from Star Wars who was clever and incredibly talented but I also wanted to be brave and strong like Lara Croft. I even dressed up as Lara Croft for a fancy dress competition on holiday once and won!
As an adult, I feel those traits are still something that I want to be today; clever, brave and strong.
What have been the biggest challenges in your career?
I think the biggest challenge for me is feeling heard and understood by others. I have regularly felt minimised by others throughout my career. It’s a very hard line to walk when expressing yourself can be perceived by others as too assertive and I feel that is a common issue for other women as well.
We are very lucky to be in an organisation that is very receptive to everyone’s thoughts be they big or small!