Spotlight: Meridian’s Finance Director Nominated for National Female Business Leader Award

If you follow Meridian on social media, you may have seen that our Finance Director, Jeanette Barrowcliffe, has been nominated for the Female Business Leader award at the National Business Women's Awards, taking place this October.

We took the opportunity to chat with her about her well-deserved nomination, her ongoing role as a judge for the awards and her insights on the importance of recognising and empowering women in business.

Jeanette, this is your fourth year judging the National Business Women's Awards (NBWA). Why is it important for you to continue supporting them?

I think it's important to support other business leaders, and I find it really interesting reading through the submissions and seeing the amazing achievements of others. The format for the judging is fair; I wouldn't be involved if it wasn't, and it's great to see and be part of so many female leaders being recognised for their achievements. 

Why is it important to spotlight and celebrate women in business?

Women often don't 'big themselves up' or consider what they are doing as being exceptional and worthy of recognition. Yet they are doing an excellent job, and that should be celebrated and recognised more. In doing so, we are highlighting what women are capable of, promoting equality and inclusion to help remove the barriers that still exist. It also hopefully encourages more women to strive for success, no matter how they define it. 

With the 'broken rung' remaining the largest barrier women in business face, what are your recommendations for other leaders and businesses in addressing the gender imbalance early on in women's careers?

Imbalance needs to be called out when people see it happening, which is hard but necessary. Often, the person being biased or the companies with biases in their processes don't realise they exist and the impact they have; by calling it out, clarity can be brought, and behaviours and processes can start to change. 

The world has become much better since I started my career, but there is still more work to do to ensure equality. I don't believe positive discrimination fixes the underlying issue - people should be recruited and promoted based on skills rather than as a tick-box exercise, which doesn't help fix the underlying problem. Inequality is fixed by tackling unconscious bias, upskilling staff and monitoring the outcomes of job applications, pay reviews and promotions. In doing so businesses then create the right culture and bring down barriers for women, including the broken rung that impacts women early in their careers. 

What has been your greatest business success to date?

There have been many highlights in my career to date! I'd say my greatest success though is helping support and develop the careers of numerous people that I have met over the years, alongside assisting and leading two management buyouts. Not forgetting bringing up two children along the way!

You've recently found out you have been nominated for an award at the NBWA - tell us what this is for?

The NBWA released a new award for Female Business Leaders this year. It's a peer-nominated, voted-for award where people vote for the nominee they feel should win. 

How did it feel to be nominated?

I was and still am extremely humbled and surprised to have been nominated by someone; I was not expecting it. I have also been overwhelmed by the number of people who have responded to my nomination and their comments - thank you! 

Sometimes, it's hard to see or understand the impact you have on someone or how you are perceived until something like this happens! As a judge, I obviously recognise that this is why the NBWA is invaluable, but to be on the other side of the voting has further highlighted its importance for me. 

If you'd like to vote for Jeanette, please click this link and select Jeanette's name from the dropdown. Voting closes on the 7th September 2024.