Keeley Tennant - A Truly Inspirational Lady

Summary Keeley Tennant, the director of financial services for Socotec UK, shares her journey from starting as aphotocopying girl to becoming a business unit director. Keeley emphasises the importance of practical learning and taking lateral moves to gain a breadth of skills and industry knowledge. She discusses the challenges women face in male-dominated industries and the need for confidence and a balanced team. Keeley also highlights the importance of building strong relationships with her team and genuinely caring about their well-being. Theprincipal themes of the conversation are leadership, vulnerability, humanconnection, emotional intelligence, and self-acceptance. The key takeaways include leading with humility, authenticity, and kindness, being vulnerable infront of your team, creating a culture of openness and support, embracing human connection in the workplace, adopting situational leadership, and being kinderto yourself. The conversation highlights the importance of valuing people and their individual experiences, as well as the need for balance and self-care in a busy life. Takeaways·       Practical learning and taking lateral moves can help develop a breadth of skills and industry knowledge.·       Women still face challenges in male-dominated industries, but confidence and a balanced team can make a difference.·       Building strong relationships with team members and genuinely caring about their well-being is crucial for effective leadership.·       Success is not defined by academic achievements, but by talent, abilities, and mindset. Lead with humility, authenticity, and kindness·       Be vulnerable in front of your team and create a culture of openness and support·       Embrace human connection in the workplace·       Adopt situational leadership and use emotional intelligence·       Be kinder to yourself and embrace self-acceptance·       Value people and their individual experiences·       Find balance and practice self-care in a busy lifeTitles·       Navigating Male-Dominated Industries: Challenges and Strategies·       Building a Strong and Balanced Team: Keely Tennant's Leadership Approach Finding Balance and Practicing Self-Care·       Creating a Culture of Openness and SupportChapters00:00 Introductionand Background01:56 Transitioningto a New Role04:05 CareerJourney in Finance06:48 Educationand Apprenticeship07:45 SuccessWithout University Education09:05 LearningStyle and Practical Experience09:55 DefyingGender Stereotypes in Education11:15 Inspirationand Mentors12:13 ChallengingGlass Ceilings13:09 Importanceof Lateral Moves14:07 DiverseSkills and Industry Knowledge16:34 Navigatinga Male-Dominated World16:48 BuildingConfidence and Overcoming Sexism20:21 Progressand Challenges in Gender Equality21:16 SurroundingYourself with Supportive People23:11 Confidenceand Taking on New Challenges25:31 Leadershipand Team Building28:00 Creating aFlat Organizational Structure28:07 BuildingTrust and Caring for the Team29:32 Leadingwith Humility and Authenticity30:58 Creating aSupportive Team Environment32:20 TheImportance of Communication and Silence33:17 ChangingMindsets and Approaches33:43 TheBenefits of Organization and Communication35:05 BuildingRelationships and Trust35:58 OvercomingAnxiety and Nervousness38:09 TakingOpportunities and Making Connections39:36 EmbracingVulnerability and Risk44:02 TheImportance of Human Connection46:16 Leadershipas a Privilege and Responsibility47:33 AddressingMenstrual Cycles and Emotions50:52 FindingBalance and Recharging54:03 DefiningSuccess and Embracing Authenticity57:25 Outro