During the coming months we will be featuring many of the Woman Who Achieves Finalists to learn more about them.
Jude is also a judge for the Woman Who Achieves Solopreneur Awards. You can enter here up to the deadline at midnight on 21st July. If you’re selected as a Finalist, you could be featured in a future Friday Feature.
Jude Jennison
We asked Jude our Friday Feature questions and we love her responses. You can also read Jude’s inspiring business journey in I Am A Woman Who (2018 Edition):
FRIDAY FEATURE
Name: Jude Jennison
Twitter Name: @judejennison
Who is your role model and why?
My horse Kalle. She’s manages to blend strength and power with gentleness and nurturing. She represents the full range of female leadership. When I took her on 8 years ago, I had no horse experience and I have learned a huge amount about my leadership from her. She continually expects me to step up.
There were very few women role models for me in my corporate career so I’m inspired by a blend of characteristics that I’ve witnessed in men – the courage, creativity and entrepreneurship of Sir Richard Branson, the peace-making skills of Gandhi, the resilience and leadership of Nelson Mandela, the oration skills of Martin Luther King and the desire for social justice.
What’s the worst job you have ever had?
I was once micro-managed by a manger who was less experienced than me. It drove me crazy. I spent more time being frustrated with him and not enough getting the job done. It was the worst year of my career but I learned a lot about the environment I need to thrive and to ask for my needs and be willing to walk away if they are not met.
What’s the best business advice you have ever received?
Ask for what you want. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
What is your proudest achievement in business?
I have two…
- Reducing a $1 billion budget by 25% over two years, saving 2500 jobs. I was given an all expenses paid trip to Monte Carlo as a thanks. They flew in Cirque du Soleil as the entertainment and I was wined and dined like never before (or since!)
- and winning Woman Who Solopreneur. It was a recognition of what I’ve gone through to turn a failed business into a profitable one, it reminds me of what I am capable of and gives me the confidence to take my business to the next level.
What’s your favourite business book?
Presence by Peter Senge et al. More of a leadership than a business book, it explains how to lead change in a different way. They say the book you write yourself will have the biggest impact on you. Having written two, I can honestly say the personal growth in the process of writing my books was life-changing.
and just for fun…
Which personality or business person would you invite to sit on your dream Board of Directors and why?
Sir Richard Branson. I think he’d be challenging as well as fun, he’s courageous, willing to fail and cares about society as well as business growth.
If you were a cartoon character, who would you be?
Tigger
Tell us an amazing fact about you, that not many people know?
I narrowly missed being killed by a serial killer in Yosemite National Park. When I opened the door of my hotel room and saw the maintenance man in front of me, my body went ice cold so I shut the door in his face. It was a few years later when I watched a TV programme about him that I discovered he was a serial killer who had killed and buried women all over the park. Thanks to trusting my instincts, I’m here to tell the tale!
Interested in sponsoring Woman Who?
It’s not just about one day in the calendar year and offers a whole host of benefits and events throughout the year to promote you, and your business. Sponsorships for the Woman Who Achieves Solopreneur Awards 2019 are available from just £350 plus VAT. Contact us for more information
Woman Who is delivered in partnership with the FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) East & West Midlands Regions.
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