Winner Inclusivity IN PARTNERSHIP WITH JAGUAR COO, Focus7 International LE ONA B ARR-JONE S
‘You need to bring your authentic self to work’
In 2015, after a long career as a British Army officer, Barr-Jones co-founded Focus7, a brand-led digital marketing agency and provider of diversity and inclusion training. She remains a reservist and is the colonel commandant of Essex Army Cadet Force, leading more than 1,000 cadets and nearly 200 adult volunteers across the county. What’s the best career advice you’ve received? “My nan used to say: ‘Always be true to yourself,’ and she was right. You need to bring your authentic self to work.” What’s the secret of great leadership? “It’s about always striving to be inclusive. Inclusive leaders listen before they lead. They build diverse teams, with diversity of thought, and ensure that every member feels listened to, respected and valued.” Which person in business do you most admire? “Oprah Winfrey, who overcame her own trials and tribulations stemming from child abuse to become the first female African-American billionaire. Her success
Winner Non-Executive Chair, Companies House and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency LE SLE Y COWLE Y OBE
‘You can teach anyone a skill, but not attitude’
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director.co.uk
Cowley’s CV features a long list of board roles, including that of CEO at domain- name registry Nominet UK in 2004-14. In 2008 she founded the Social Tech Trust, a charity that has so far provided more than £31 million to social ventures aimed at improving people’s lives with technology. Adding to her portfolio of non-executive directorships at government agencies in October 2019, she became chair of the National Archives. Who has inspired you the most in business? “Stephen Covey, who taught me to ‘start with the end in mind’. I still have my ‘personal vision board’.” What is the best piece of career guidance you’ve ever received? “The principal of the further education college I was working at encouraged me to get an MBA. As someone who’d gone straight into work from school at 17, I was the only member of the college management team who hadn’t been to university. I took her
advice, even though it meant that I had to study while holding down a full-time job and bringing up a baby. I still draw on my MBA knowledge and tools today.” What advice would you offer less experienced leaders about navigating turbulent times? “I’m a business agony aunt in my spare time. My usual advice is: weather the storm by getting busy with the tasks you’ve been postponing and then preparing for better times, but don’t forget to take care of yourself and your people.” What’s the secret to building a great team? “Recruit people with the right attitude who can work well together. You can teach anyone a skill, but not attitude.” What’s the most important leadership lesson you have learnt so far? “It’s impossible to over-communicate during a period of profound change.” What are your aspirations for 2020? “To learn glass-blowing, to finish writing my book and to keep calm and carry on.”
can be attributed to her passion for helping others. Everything she says and does is values-based, authentic and inclusive.” Where do you get your best ideas? “I read widely and attend IoD and other leadership events. I speak regularly to others about what they’re working on. You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with. So, if you want to be successful in business, spend more time with successful business leaders.”
WHAT THE AWARD PARTNER SAID
Davy Price-Stephens, HR director and transformation programme leader, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR): “We need a diverse and engaged workforce at JLR that reflects both the communities we work in and our global customer base. Inclusion is about harnessing potential and working much harder to build an organisation that’s capable of unleashing this huge pool of talent, without constraints, on its brands and products.”
PETER NUTKINS
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