Why do role models matter?

WE ASKED THE JUDGES, WHO HAD THE DIFFICULT TASK OF CHOOSING WHICH OF THE NOMINEES SHOULD GO FORWARD, ABOUT THE VALUE OF ROLE MODELS

sally Hopson mBe

“ROLE MODELS PROVE IT CAN BE DONE! I HAD EXCELLENT ROLE MODELS THROUGHOUT MY CAREER – IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT I COULDN’T ACHIEVE MY AMBITIONS.”

Sally is Chief Executive Officer of Services,

Pets at Home Group and was awarded an

MBE for services to diversity following her work as part of the Women in Work Commission.

Vanita Parti mBe

“ROLE MODELS ARE SO IMPORTANT IN INSPIRING PEOPLE IN WHICHEVER WALK OF LIFE AND AT WHATEVER STAGE. EVERYONE HAS A ROLE MODEL, EVEN IF THEY DON’T LABEL THEM AS SUCH.”

Vanita is the founder of blinkbrowbar, the pioneer of the walk-in brow bar, and is largely responsible for bringing the ancient technique of threading into the 21st century.

Carrie rubin

“A ROLE MODEL IS

VERY IMPORTANT AS IT INSPIRES PEOPLE TO FULFIL THEIR DREAMS.” Carrie is Director of Pentland Group plc, President of Pentland USA and is the third generation involved in the family business.

Jacqui Gale

“A ROLE MODEL PROVIDES INSPIRATION AND EXPERIENCE, SOMEONE WHOSE VISION, ACHIEVEMENTS AND BEHAVIOURS I ADMIRE, SOMEONE

WHO COMPELS YOU TO KEEP GOING IN THE PURSUIT OF YOUR OWN DREAMS.” Jacqui is the CEO at Arran Aromatics, as well as a mentor, a member of the Globalscot Network and trustee of With Kids Charity.

meg lustman

“ROLE MODELS INSPIRE US BY BEING AUTHENTIC AND TRUTHFUL ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES, WHICH HELP US NAVIGATE OUR OWN OPPORTUNITIES

AND CHALLENGES TO BECOME, IN TURN, ROLE MODELS FOR OTHERS. A TRULY HOLISTIC AND GENEROUS CYCLE.”

Meg is CEO at Hobbs and previously

Buying Director of Fashion at John Lewis. Before that she spent more than a decade with Aurora Fashions, latterly as Managing Director of Warehouse.

Jo delbridge

“WE ALL NEED SOMEONE TO ASPIRE TO, SOMEONE WHO RAISES THE BAR AND SETS A STANDARD TO BE EMULATED. IT HELPS US TO RAISE OUR OWN GAME WHEN WE SEE ORDINARY WOMEN ACHIEVE THEIR AMBITIONS.”

Jo is Specsavers Director of Public Relations and was one of the first women in the world to be awarded Chartered PR Practitioner status by the Chartered Institute of

Public Relations in 2009. She has twice been shortlisted for best in-house PR professional of the year by the PRCA.

Nichole Viviani

“WE CAN ALL BENEFIT FROM SOMEONE IN OUR LIVES WHO INSPIRES

US, ADDS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, OR SIMPLY ENCOURAGES US TO AIM HIGHER. TODAY’S ROLE MODELS HAVE TO BE ACCESSIBLE AND VULNERABILITY IS

KEY. BEING OPEN ABOUT PERSONAL CHALLENGES AND HOW YOU OVERCAME THEM CAN BE REALLY POWERFUL.”

Nichole is the HR Director for Worldpay and leads the people strategy for their Global eCommerce & Worldpay UK business.

debbie edwards

“ROLE MODELS PROVIDE US WITH INSPIRATION AND GUIDANCE AS WE MAKE IMPORTANT DECISIONS IN OUR LIVES.” Debbie is the Vice President and General Manager of Gap Europe with responsibility for managing the brand across the UK, Ireland, France and Italy.

Kirsty Whitehead

“GREAT ROLE MODELS MOTIVATE US TO THE

ART OF THE POSSIBLE

AND SHOW AND

DIRECT, BY EXAMPLE, HOW WE CAN

ALL CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.”

Kirsty is the General Counsel at Worldpay and an influential member of their executive team.

Helen dickinson oBe

“SHOWCASING FEMALE ROLE MODELS IN RETAIL SHINES A LIGHT ON THE BROAD RANGE OF CAREER OPPORTUNITIES THAT RETAIL CAN OFFER. CELEBRATING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF WOMEN IN OUR INDUSTRY INSPIRES

THE FUTURE WORKFORCE.”

Helen is Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium and sets the strategic direction of the BRC. She was awarded the OBE in 2016 for Services to Retail.

Julie Holdaway

“ROLE MODELS INSPIRE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH

THEIR EXPERIENCE. THEY MAKE WHAT SEEMS UNACHIEVABLE, POSSIBLE.” Julie is the Group HR and People Development Director at Harvey Nichols. Her career spanned 22 years at SSP, the leading provider of food and beverages to the travel industry. W&H