International Women’s Day: Interview with Leanne Crowther

In celebration of International Women’s Day we spoke to our inspiring co-Founder Leanne Crowther – female entrepreneur, mother and kick ass woman – about her experience and the challenges she’s faced as a female boss.

1. What do you think is one of the hardest things women face today, whether that’s in the workplace or in their personal lives?

The main challenge for me is the balancing act between family, work and personal and maintaining positivity in each area.

2. What have been the biggest challenges for you as a female entrepreneur? How have you overcome them? 

There have been two – one is dealing with people (employees) in a compassionate way with kindness whilst trying to meet the economic needs of the business.

The second probably only occurs a handful of times a year, but still there are certain men that find it very difficult to accept that as a female that I will be the person that they deal with.  An example of this is whilst on business in Germany recently – the buyer suggested I talk to my business partner (who is also my husband) about the financial aspect of the deal. I explained to him that when it comes to pricing I am the one that decides the pricing strategy and therefore even if I spoke to my male business partner he would revert it back to me.  It is so archaic to be treated as the ‘little woman’ – I’m not the kind of person that would directly challenge this kind of sexism, I just warmly explain that it’s actually my responsibility to set the pricing and I don’t need to check with my male partner. Whilst this is still happening it is much less frequently now and rather than challenge it head on, I tend to laugh it off! I see this as a weakness in the buyer as he cannot see the cards that I’m holding whilst he’s just shown me his full hand!!

3. What do you think the traits of a kickass female boss are? 

Calm, resilient, supportive, determined, collaborative, detailed, direct and kind.

4. How do you feel about working in a predominantly female office and how important has it been to you to help pave the way for women in the workplace? 

I love it. I think we all get along and there is a sense of professionalism in the office with a softer undertone.  I really would like a few more males as I believe a mixture of backgrounds, sex, age and race are very important to all communities and that is especially true in a working environment. 

5. Who is your female role model and why? 

I have so many- and different reasons.  Joanna Lumley – grace, decorum, youth.  My mum – strength, fierce, empowering all of her children to just be the best.  Bjork – Just be whoever you want to be and express yourself through music. Teresa May – A woman in a man’s world.  All of my friends who are mums. My mother-in-law – the kindest, most loving person you could ever meet. Any woman or man that stands up for the good in this world. I could go on and on here…

6. What main change would you like to see for young girls in the next generation? 

I wholeheartedly agree with women’s rights and human rights, I just think we all need to tread carefully when expressing our views. There are such generalisations and stereotypes and we are all so individual and that’s a good thing. The world is in a very fragile state and it concerns me deeply… I just hope for kindness to prevail. If we just stop for a moment and think before we act, treat others and animals how we would like to be treated ourselves then I think we would be in for a brighter future.