Swindon Lives - International Women's Day Special - Sara Tye

Over the years, Sara Tye's dynamic public relations firm, redheadPR, has worked with countless big name clients including Green & Black’s, Yellow Pages and BT, making her the perfect addition to our Swindon Lives - International Women's Day Special.

What would you say is your most valuable skill?

Networking. Building relationships, whether with clients, stakeholders, employees or even friends, is what I do best, and what I am passionate about. In the end it all comes down to engagement with other human beings, wherever you are in the world and whatever you do.

Do you have family (and/or children)?

I don’t see family as just those I am married to or who are genetically related to me. My family includes my two girls, staff at work, my dog, my parents that live down the road, and all my friends and clients around me. I feel blessed to be part of such a strong community of people.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

It’s a constant balancing act. I learnt about time management through PR - you have to work smartly and effectively, as time is money, and you’ve got to provide results. With over 20 years in this business, it’s just programmed in me now; or maybe I always thought like that, even before I became a PR consultant!

I manage every minute, every hour of every day to divide my time between work and family. Obviously sometimes exceptions have to be made, but generally it’s all about creating a plan you can stick to.

Are there any strong female figures who you would cite as your idols?

The late Dame Anita Roddick has been a huge source of inspiration for me. When I was working with her, she was one of the most driven, visionary and determined people I’d ever met in my life. Ultimately my time spent with Anita confirmed for me it was ok to be strong-minded, confident and a creative thinker.

Have you ever had to give up or miss out on anything in order to pursue your career?

My previous marriage was affected by my career, and socialising, hobbies and sport were massively affected too. But in the end you have to do what you believe in: my belief is to work hard and broaden your horizons when you’re young with an endless supply of energy, letting you reap the benefits when you’re older.

This life choice has definitely been successful for me. I lived a whole life before I was 35, and now I feel like I’m living another one thanks to my efforts in youth.

Based on your own experiences, what advice would you give to fellow females looking to get into your profession?

It can definitely be hard for women, especially in a profession as high-powered as PR. We have to juggle so many different parts of our lives. Fortunately, multitasking is one of our key skills. Practise this skill – I still am every day – and you can make this work to your benefit.

You also need to be a brilliant all rounder to succeed in PR, understanding a huge amount about communications, marketing and business. It takes a lifetime of investment, so set your targets as high as you can, and then aim three times higher. We are all capable of so much more than we think. If you believe this, and live by it, you will have an awesome career.

Being a woman in the world of work is only a disadvantage if you let it.

Do you ever experience any discrimination in the workplace because of your gender?

No. I’m very relaxed about the odd accidental comment or action. Of course, I understand that there are always cases in which women experience discrimination, harassment or other abuse. It’s important to figure out the right way of dealing with the situation, and it’s up to women to support one another as much as possible.

Do men ever feel intimidated by your success?

I doubt they would. I don’t feel intimidated by men’s success, or other women for that matter. It’s impossible to define success anyway: some people say it’s the size of your salary, your house, your business. I just hope that we can all enjoy what we have and strive to achieve our own goals.

If someone did appear to be nervous around me, I would adjust my behaviour to make them feel more comfortable; it’s about working out the right attitude for each client.

As a successful female, where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

Who knows... maybe at the top of Everest, on the moon, or on Mars! I would love to be known for doing something incredible like that.