As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we are surrounded by an influx of events, social media posts and colourful graphics designed to empower women. But empowering women should be more than just a day or week of the year, it should be a movement designed to create a safe foundation for those around us to learn and grow. 

In our latest blog post, Breakwater Agency Founder, Adele Slater takes some time to reflect on her 15 years within the events and marketing industry, her lessons learned, and the steps she has taken to help her get to where she is today. 

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

It’s important to understand that International Women’s Day does not automatically equate to positive discrimination within the workplace. Too often, we see comments online from men and some women saying, ‘What about the men?’ or ‘When is International Men’s Day?’ For those who are wondering, it is Tuesday, November 19th. 

To me, International Women’s Day is about taking time out of our busy lives to celebrate each other, recognise our achievements and learn from each other where we can. 

What has been your experience?

As an entrepreneur working within an industry that’s predominantly female-led, since joining agency life, I have been surrounded by strong female role models guiding the way. 

But this has not always been the case. I started my career in the oil and gas industry, where the Operations Manager would call me ‘princess,’ and I’d be expected to wear a tight, low-cut top to hand out beers at the golf outings. I would find myself saying ‘but I have a masters degree in marketing’, but without really knowing what to do or how to get out of the situation I was in. Fast forward 18 months to March 2015, Aberdeen is slowly edging towards a massive crash, and I find myself 23 with a new mortgage and no job. What could have been seen as the worst-case scenario, has been the saving grace that changed my life. And here’s how… 

Finding allies

Pushed from my comfort zone, and somewhat inflated salary, I moved from the energy industry into property. Isn’t that another male-dominated industry filled with bravado and boys clubs, I hear you say? 

From the outside looking in, I could see why you’d think this is the case, but within a few fast-paced months, I’d made business connections that have grown into lifelong friendships. 

Stepping away from behind my desk, I took time to meet people for coffee, attend events, and even join networking groups like Women in Property and ABN. I volunteered for a local charity and sat on its fundraising committee. Now surrounded by like-minded people who I could trust, my confidence grew, and my career began to flourish. 

Getting a mentor

I was fortunate enough to find a mentor that I could also call a friend, Morven. I met with her one dreary Friday morning to discuss an upcoming event, and we hit it off. I always refer to Morven as my unofficial mentor, as we never sit down to discuss strategies, my personal development or what my next moves are. But whenever I’m at a crossroads, there’s a challenge in my life, or I simply need a sounding board, Morven is there to listen and give me guidance where needed. 

Not everyone will be as lucky as I was and will have to actively look for a mentor to support their development. And that’s OK! Mentorship programmes can be a powerful tool, with structure and guidance to help you get to where you want to go. 

Throughout my career, I’ve acted as a mentor for RGU students and it fills me with pride seeing them update their LinkedIn as they continue to climb the career ladder.

Building your network 

There’s no denying that Aberdeen is a village. But building your network and being nice to everyone you meet can go a long way. Over the last 15 years, I have met some fascinating people, and whether it’s been 10 days or 10 months, I know that I can pick up the phone to my connections to ask them for advice, nip in to meet them for a coffee, or if I’m feeling particularly brave ask for a favour while I’m at it. 

My friends will often joke, ‘is there anyone you don’t know’ and the answer is obviously yes. But if you build a big enough network, your ability to get introduced to a person or a business becomes that much easier. 

Treating everyone as equals

While in the oil and gas industry, I was quite often overlooked or not included in conversations because I was ‘only a coordinator’ and wouldn’t have much to say. Spend time listening to everyone you meet, building connections, and finding out how to help them rather than simply seeing if they’re a potential customer and moving on. 

Attend as many events as possible

Get yourself out there! Honestly, you have no idea how much this will help develop your confidence and your career. I made my move from in-house to agency at my close friend's 22nd birthday party. I was standing in the kitchen when the owner and managing director of Hampton’s asked if I knew anyone who’d be looking to make the move into an account manager role. 

Throughout my time at Knight Property Group, I was constantly attending events, from black-tie dinners to awards shows and even the odd comedy gig. I’d joke that I’d go to the opening of a sweetie packet, but I loved it. Every week, I would meet someone new, and I’d have fun along the way. 

The best way to get started is to get out there. Aberdeen has a wide range of networking events, from Aberdeen Young Professionals to Women Connect, Women in Property, and ABN. But it doesn’t stop there, you can attend industry events, sports clubs and running clubs. The possibilities are endless! 

Empowering anyone in the workplace, regardless of their gender, is a collective effort that requires commitment, dedication, and ongoing action. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals, building meaningful relationships and helping others will get yourself a long way in life.