Women from across the asset finance and leasing sector met at Grant Thornton’s Finsbury square offices for the Women in Leasing third networking event that explored effective communication and how it can facilitate career management.
Speaking at the event were Rich Green (CIT), John Bennett (former Managing Director EMEA of Bank of America) and Pauline Stewart (Inspirati). They explored reading your audience, the importance of preparation and knowing your personal brand. Pauline used a colour-based MBTI tool to explore people’s natural communication styles. Women at the event also had the chance to develop and test an ‘impression pitch’ – a condensed professional and personal profile – with coaches, Foundation Governors and male leaders.
Mike Hartley, Managing Director at Praetura Asset Finance Limited, one of the male leaders attending the event said “It was great to see people learning and laughing at the same time. The guest speakers were excellent and I learned a lot from their thoughts and views about life and business that I will put into practice myself”. He also highlighted the positive attitude at the meeting – “to be better by the end of the day than [we] were before it”.
Women in Leasing are expanding the network of men and women across the sector who participate. Madeleine Bowd, Managing Director for LPM Outsourcing, said “the challenge is for business leaders to ensure that we endorse this initiative from the top down, involving as many of our people as possible in future events”.
Mary McNamara, Chair of the Leasing Foundation Governors and lead for the Women in Leasing Initiative, said “It’s fantastic to hear such great immediate feedback. We aim to get everyone in the room involved in the planning and development of our events and how we should evolve. Women in Leasing is a network owned by the people in the sector – both men and women. It’s great that we are able to enable that”.
For more information on Women in Leasing contact stephanie.strickland@leasingfoundation.org
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