TGt Meets... Karen Davison-Renouf, Founder of ContactCORP - IWD Special

By Karen Davison-Renouf, Founder of Swindon-based business ContactCORP, which is a local trusted recruitment company.

What do you #choosetochallenge? 

I would choose to challenge quality, proactivity and equality of thought for all ... challenge your own thoughts as harshly as you challenge your peers, friends, parents, teachers and employers. Consider our history, evolution, progress and laws before reacting. Allow your own thoughts to flow, fully consider, discuss, and then challenge in a thoughtful, peaceful and constructive manner. There are countless examples in history of how one person's thoughts have won over a generation, challenging how things are done... and as a result, have changed our future.

Thinking of your own experience in the world of business – which inequalities, if any, have you experienced personally or witnessed around gender? 

When I was younger I experienced a lot of, “you're too young too”... and I felt I had to dress in an extremely conservative way to ensure I was taken seriously in business. Today there are times when pockets of business feel like “an old boys club”, however not in the recruitment industry, where culture, empathy inclusivity and relationships are key business drivers. I am very pleased to say I have worked with, mostly absolute business professionals who treat everyone with respect and consideration.

Have you during your career ever challenged a situation where you felt a woman (even it’s yourself) has been disadvantaged by gender? 

During my long career I have experienced some inequality, however I would describe these few acts as being, laughed at and underestimated, by arrogance, lack of awareness, clumsy business acumen and manners, rather then a genuine attack on gender.

What do you think women offer in particular to the world of business? 

Women offer an insight into relationships that you rarely find in a strategic business plan, road map or balance sheet. Relationships are at the heart of every business regardless of size, price or contract, and people buy people. This exact phrase was relayed back to me recently when I needed to finance ContactCORP during this pandemic. The integrity and relationship that encouraged mutual trust cemented through many years, was remembered and I was welcomed back with open arms and given the funding to ensure ContactCORP could survive the pandemic and rebuild afterwards.

Is gender important when it comes to success in business? 

Gender is not important when it comes to success in business, passion, integrity and the ability to build relationships whilst remaining humble and transparent outstrip any gender bias.

Can you name any women in business you admire? 

I have known, worked with and admired many female professionals as well as full-time mums. In a predominately male dominated industry such as logistics, however there is one lady who stands out whom I have known for over twenty years.

Lesley Elliot, HR Manager at Homebase, and now with Bleckmann, Swindon. Her calm, positive and caring nature is second to none. She is kind, considerate and has a way of managing any people situation, no matter how difficult, in a calm manner where everyone leaves with their dignity fully in tact and in a positive frame of mind.

Do you think women who start their own business experience more challenges than men? 

If you want to start your own business gender does not qualify you for success. Being confident, well prepared, knowing your business inside out and being prepared to work hard does.

What do you think about the gender pay gap? 

In the recruitment industry I have not recognised a gender pay gap, a vacancy has been a vacancy, a temporary role a temporary role, and never have those been catagorsied by gender. There are a few roles I have seen some females shy away from and those mainly involve heavy lifting.

What do you think about the International Women’s Day movement? 

Even though I am considered and kind in my approach, one of my team once said to me they had a "feeling" and gave me a few examples of my approach, and they wanted to raise "awareness". Initially, I was devastated and cried for most of that day, something women are told they should not do in business, however I sometimes find it necessary for comfort and reflection. Over those very tough following weeks I discovered every single individual has a different perspective on things, and just because I thought I was clear, kind and aware, it didn’t necessarily mean everyone else around me thought I was. One of the crucial lessons I learned was to read more and to start up conversations around these difficult, but extremely important subjects. I have found more recently that regardless of whether I thought I knew and thought I had an understanding, others around me could interpret my words and actions differently. Now, no matter how awkward it feels my motto is to keep listening and talking about things until you reach a mutual understanding where you can move forward comfortably.

Anything else you'd like to say?

We often hear the terms such as "glass ceiling" and I would say please never limit your imagination, desire or ambition based on any myth. Ask difficult questions of us as business owners, leaders, teachers, parents, colleagues and in return listen intently. I have certainly learned a lot by listening, however communication does have to flow all ways, across gender, across age, across every potential real and perceived bias there may be... I also subscribe to the theory that it’s not what you say but how you say it that makes the real difference in this busy and crowded social media space. Take a breath, consider your words and be prepared to listen to a response even if you don’t like the answer, respect it.

To find out more about ContactCORP, visit www.contactcorp.co.uk/