We’ve got so many amazing women across Norfolk doing incredible things so we’re celebrating them across the month of March. We also have our own inspirational women who work within Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, and we're shining the light on them too. Andrea Wilson, is our Connector and Account Manager.
What one piece of career advice would you give to the 20 year-old you?
Be confident in what you know and if you don’t know don’t be afraid to ask for help, it’s easier to fess up to not knowing something than trying to wing it and it ends up biting you on the bum! I would also have told myself to follow your dreams because you never know where they will take you. See question 3!! I wished I’d had the nerve to follow my career goal.
Who is your female role model?
My mom – who else could it be – I love her to pieces and she’s always been there supporting me in everything I’ve done – as I’m getting older I’m definitely becoming more like her, I do things and think “Oh my goodness that was definitely something my mom would do!!”
What was your career goal when you were young?
I wanted to be an Actress or a Dancer, neither happened so I found a way that I could do this as a hobby whilst being able to work in a ‘normal job’ as well.
What’s your biggest career achievement to date?
I’d say I’ve had two the first one was when I took the plunge to run my own business, I had to learn brand new skills from scratch. Running your own business means you have to do everything, from sales to credit control to delivery driver and everything in between! My business was a magazine editorial aimed at school aged children called Raring2Go – the skills I learnt have stayed with me and helped in lots of other areas of business since then. The second was the time I won a massive contract to run an event with a large, very well-known cruise line. It was a challenging event from start to finish with a lot of input needed from the whole of our team from legal to operations – the client had very specific ideas and also required certain terms and conditions agreed to, negotiating these needed handling carefully and considerately. The event was only a success because of the team surrounding it and me. Teamwork honestly is the very best thing. By the end of the event myself and the team were both relieved and proud of what we had achieved. My client was lovely and the experience had gone so well for them that after the event she sent me flowers. Happy customers always make me happy.
What have your biggest challenges been as a woman in business?
Things have changed a lot, when I was younger it was very much seen that men had the more high profile roles and ladies were there to do the running around. I started life as an office junior in a Steel Factory back in the West Midlands. People even smoked in offices back then!! The highest role a lady would have got to was probably PA to the Managing Director. Personally, I haven’t felt challenges along the way in my career, I just feel happy to be in work and doing a good job. Most of my career has been in the field of Sales progressing to Team Leader/Sales Manager roles. I like to be honest with my clients and to ‘win’ sales through building good rapport and understanding. Listening is particularly key to that. I feel lucky to have worked with and for some amazing female entrepreneurs and leaders but likewise, I’ve had some fantastic male bosses as well. My biggest supporter is my husband who is always a brilliant sounding board.
Interested in Membership? It's easy, get in touch and let's have a chat!