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Zenna AtkinsZENNA ATKINS

What are your current leadership roles?

What has been your greatest achievement to date?

My kids, because I didn't think I would be a good mother and I am.

I received an honorary doctorate from Portsmouth University in 2005, which I am really proud of as I had no formal qualifications. I was voted Ernst and Young Entrepreneur Of The Year for my work on PCSP which was a business model for tackling young offending.

I'm proud of the things I started up - I've tackled social problems and formed businesses. At 16 I had failed at school and didn't have qualifications. My friends and I knew there wasn't going to be work for us so we set up Breadline, an unemployment centre [in Cornwall]. We didn't know there was such a thing as free money from grants so we set it up as a business; we had a café, a band practice hall, a darkroom and space for the claimants union.

I then moved to the Richmond Fellowship where I volunteered, and then worked, and I was younger than the clients. I also set up Young Single and Homeless in Portsmouth which is a three tiered accommodation service. I went to Portsmouth Council and set up the first public service vehicle with charitable status and I also founded Social Solutions.

I enjoy making things work, and they work when I bring in brilliant people to help people be more brilliant. I am proud of every client and staff member who went on to do great things.

Have there been barriers that you've had to overcome personally or professionally?

I'm dyslexic and this continues to be an issue, I wasn't able to read until I was 12. People make judgments about spelling and writing, from that they question my ability to do the role. I also failed at school and didn't have any qualifications. They failed to ask me about my performance at school at my interview for the Chair of Ofsted!

There are things that should have been barriers but weren't barriers. When I was applying to run the Safer Cities programme at Portsmouth Council, where I was the Crime Prevention Officer, I was heavily pregnant and the interview date was set for my due date. I asked if the interview could be moved but I was told it couldn't. I was 2 weeks overdue in the end and I was huge when I interviewed. I got the job and there was no flexibility as to the start date, they were determined to make it difficult for me. I was a single mum and went back to work when my baby was 6 weeks old and took him to work with me. He was a on my front in a pouch or on my back until he was 6 months and could go to childcare. No one minded, he was a quiet baby - except the equal opportunities people down the hall. Being a single mum with a baby should have been a barrier, but it wasn't.

A lot of the senior women went off with nervous breakdowns there due to the atmosphere. It didn't bother me as I've always had strong self esteem; I don't need other people to make me feel okay. I'm good when I am in a position where I am challenged. However, I do worry about how I do my job and I look for constant feedback on that so I can do it better.

There isn't a hidden network, I've got things because I applied for it or worked for it, or set it up. I join things which are out of my comfort zone, I like to try them out and challenge fixed opinions. I apply for a new board position every month because I don't have qualifications to fall back on. I've never been afraid of failure and bloody hard work. I still do front line work so I remember what it is like to have a deadline and need to deliver for someone.

PMT is a barrier for me, I have hideous PMT and can't do meetings at that time of the month. Women are terrified to admit hormones affect them and often deny they are women, there is something about saying I am a girl and all that comes with that.

People can become clone leaders rather than real leaders, there can be a lack of real challenge. People can lose what makes them different and this can be particularly true of women in male dominated environments.

What have been the major transitions on your leadership journey and what helped you through them? e.g. move to a new role, starting a family etc

Change doesn't bother me - I don't mind feeling like a fish out of water. When I start something new I usually know the least and I'm good at giving people space and finding my own space to work in. I bide my time and gain an understanding of what is in the thinking and understand expectations before making a judgment about the role.

Transitioning between local and national and the difference in scale was an adjustment. There is a big difference between the local and national media. I've transitioned between sectors, I've worked in the public, private and third sector. I have a good understanding of the differences and similarities of exec and non exec roles. Often with the private sector going to the third sector there is a lack of understanding of the legal obligations in a non exec role. It's easier transitioning in exec roles rather than non exec.

Was there someone who helped you or inspired you to realise your potential as a leader? How did they help/inspire you?

Everyday someone inspires me.

I have two strong role models from when I was young. My Aunt Vera who relentlessly pursued justice and the right thing. In the second world war she ran covert operations in France and trained young women to spy in France . At the end of the war there were 117 female agents still in France and my Aunt traced all of them; they had all died and it was terrible news to deliver to relatives.

The other is David Cofie who was like a second father to me. He worked in Islington as a social worker and uncovered a ring of pedophiles. He went to the leader of the council, who was Margaret Hodge - she went on to be minister for Children and Young People. She refused to take action, but David, concerned about the children in the area, went ahead and leafleted about the danger and worked with the community. He was moved out of his job for that; he was willing to risk everything to protect children.

Is there one piece of advice that you would give an aspiring leader?

If there is a problem there is a solution, if there is no solution it's a fact so live with it. Pick people around you who are different to you.

The other thing, for your personal life, is to make clear rules and stick to them. I have 6 of 7 breakfasts with my children, 6 bedtimes and 5 evening meals and I allow one overnight a year for each business.

What do you most enjoy about your leadership role(s)?

Working with great people and businesses.

What do you think of Ignite?

I passionately believe in diverse leadership. There are simply not enough women at the top. If Ignite can spark the desire in women to get the top it has to be something worth investing in.

   

Success stories

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