Last week Diana (our Director of Studies) and I had lunch with Cherie Blair. Well us and three hundred other people. She came to Manchester to promote and raise funds for her foundation, the Cherie Blaire Foundation for Women, which helps women in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East set up in business.
Overcoming Prejudice at Work
She talked about her early life – being brought up in Liverpool by a single mum – and how it was her mother who inspired her to work hard and get ahead. She also talked about her early career and the barriers she encountered being a woman in the man’s world of law.
Women in Business
Things have much improved in Britain since the 1970s when Cherie was just setting out, though there is still work to be done regarding social attitudes, equal pay and opportunities. But, in many countries the barriers are much bigger for women to overcome if they want to start a business and this is where the foundation can help.
The ethos of the foundation is to create an equal platform for women to compete in the world of business. However, I was very pleased to see that this wasn’t a ‘man bashing’ exercise but one attempting to provide improved opportunity for one half of society.
Hard Work Brings Success
What did strike me is that Cheri Blair is a very clever lady who has worked tremendously hard to get to the top of her profession. She didn’t get there on the coat tails of her husband – she did it herself. Hats off to her!
So ladies, don’t be put off by the barriers of going into business. Get the right training and support, work hard and who knows where it will take you. And gentlemen, that goes for you too.
