Scaling Female Leadership: The Deprogramming Company

Co-Founders James Eves and Michelle Minnikin

We’ve been working ON our business over the last year.

I admit it’s easy to fall into that trap of client work, being busy and life getting in the way. I’d even started a part time PhD in October, which compounded this problem.

This was when a door of opportunity opened. Always happens when you’re looking for them.

We gained some funded support through Durham Business Growth (DBG) and RTC North after talking through our current situation, plans and potential.

A real sense of validating what work we’d done, the thinking hours and what came next. The case study dips into this. Read more here

Having someone external, a business mentor, who can objectively look at what you’re doing. Question it. Challenge you. Encourage you, has such an impact.

The time together was worth every moment.

Setting out a vision, some key strategic imperatives and financial objectives to better formalise and operationalise our next 12-60 months.

A big part of that vision was a shift in thinking.

Unlocking the untapped potential of women in the workplace isn’t something that should only be destined for values statements and career web pages.

A moral or values-based stance. There’s no question about that.

Yet that hasn’t changed growth or helped female leadership pipelines to flourish.

It’s a missed strategic and operational opportunity that belongs in growth planning and the boardroom.

This movement to a business case for this work is where we’re seeing the impact. Our pilot Rise Above programme with 12 female leaders at AND-E insurance is a finalist at the British Insurance Awards within the Training & Development category. Awards dinner next week!

And this programme started before our complete corporate rebrand, narrowing the offer and changing our messaging. 

The AND-E team already bought into our new vision and direction, not just us.

Tested it. Proved it. Cracked on with the company rebrand and plan.

Based on this initial success we are gaining a further, separate round of funded support from DBG / RTC North - with the same mentor - to get into tactical moves. Starting soon!

He called us out on our numbers and projections. Thought we are wildly underestimating the potential to scale.

Encouraging, exciting and a tingle of nerves. So, that must mean we’re on the right path.

Read more about AND-E's experience in the impact report