Manoeuvring your way around any industry can be a hard task, particularly if your chosen profession falls into the media category. Long gone are the fedora-adorned, notepad-accessorised days of traditional journalism, now we are in the midst of a digital revolution with new innovations and developments arising at an unprecedented rate.
While it may seem a difficult feat to make your mark in this new landscape, especially as a woman, it is not impossible. beautyheaven Group’s founder Jackie Maxted has literally been there done that - rising from the PR arena to establish a successful publishing company of her own. BD sits down with Maxted to pick her brains on the changing role of women in the workplace, and learn just what it takes to gain success within an ever-changing industry.
What do you think are the key factors holding women back in the workforce?
Women are probably less confident about negotiating for what they want. But not just less confident, as I think those negotiating skills are improving, I think sometimes women are unaware of how good they are and what they do, and they are less likely to say it. You almost have to prise women’s success stories out of them, I don’t think that is the case with men so much. I think women have more difficulty with saying: “I’m really good.” And yet we are extremely competent - just as men are extremely competent. Gender is irrelevant, really we’re just not good at selling ourselves.
How do you suggest overcoming this?
Just because you have done a good job doesn’t mean that management knows you have, so present it. I know that the most successful people in my business have come to me with amazing presentations and figures demonstrating their success. Show your bosses what you’ve done, don’t just expect them to notice. Treat yourself like a business and show your best side. Be professional, spend some time, invest, do your homework, come and show how great you are - and then you can’t be ignored. And that goes across gender. We should be better at presenting and be professional about it rather than being personal. Women can be a little bit guilty of using personal relationships to carry them forward in their career, which probably isn’t going to work when it comes to larger organisations.
What about when it comes to family - is it possible to juggle a family life and a successful career?
I don’t think that children need to have a full-time mum, but I do think that being a full-time mum is something that some people want to do and that’s great. For me, juggling is just a skill. You have to decide what’s important for yourself - what’s important about the work and what are the important things about being a mum. Juggling is about creating a balance and the balance is something that only you can decide.
At the end of the day, you have to be comfortable with the decisions you make and the life that you create for you and your family. Know that there are some sacrifices. You can’t be the perfect mother and there’s no such thing as the perfect employee. Just do enough of what makes each work.
What do you think is key to navigating a career within the media?
Publishing is tough. Especially now, with the massive change in the media landscape, I think you have to be really good at what you do. And you have to be prepared to show and say to management just how good you are at what you do. I’ve always believed in working hard, having ideas, having integrity with your colleagues and the people you work with. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, be open to them and learn from them. And look at yourself and ask how you can be a better person in this role. Ask for help.
One of the biggest problems I’ve had within my career is with people who can’t acknowledge or own their weaknesses. Everybody has them. The best thing is for somebody to tell you what they are - if you don’t know, you find out and can then work out what you are going to do about it. Some things you acknowledge and maybe can’t be fixed, but it’s good to be aware of them. When you are dealing with a workplace and your job, know your weaknesses in order to compensate for them in some way - whether by help from colleagues or managers or via training.
What is your advice to young women beginning their career in the media?
Attitude is everything. Have a positive attitude towards your job, towards your colleagues, towards your common goals, and to what the business is trying to achieve. You’re in control - so be positive and make it work for you and make it work for your job.
