Be brave and try new things: Jo Seabright on the power of perseverance

Jo Seabright had to move through various roles, trying to get as much experience as possible while being a single parent.

Now, she is the Customer, Marketing, and Communications director at M6Toll. Jo shares her inspirations, and talks about her career journey  and the power of perseverance.

What inspired your career or business journey?

I didn't go to university after college, and entered the workplace instead, aware that without a degree I needed to be visible and showcase my abilities to achieve success.

I decided to self-fund Chartered Institute of Marketing qualifications in my early 20s to give me 'the edge' and through sheer determination I won CIM Student of the Year when I was 22.

At 24 I found myself in an unexpected situation - a single parent - and that is what truly inspired me to success - a small human relying on me not only to be the breadwinner, but to be a role model.

During my 20s I moved around various roles, trying to get as much experience as possible in various sectors, whilst balancing work and home life.

I was fortunate enough to forge my marketing career in the rail sector in my 30s, and this is when I met the people who would inspire me most, and whose wise words I still carry with me today.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a woman in business and how did you overcome it?

The most significant challenge I have faced is probably self-belief.

Others have always believed in me, trusted me to do a great job and could see the star potential that I could never see in myself.

But over the years my confidence grew, and in 2019 I embarked on an MBA at Aston Business School - mainly to prove to myself that I was 'good enough', but also to address skills and knowledge gaps that I knew would be a barrier to future success.

What’s one key piece of advice for women looking to succeed in your industry?

Get creative! No idea is a bad idea. be brave, try new things. Never stand still. And put yourself out there!

My network has been absolutely key to my career progression, and I can link new opportunities back to people I met many years ago.

Make an impact, and be memorable!

How has gender equality in business changed and what still needs to improve?

Gender equality is such an important topic.

The industries I've worked in - rail and infrastructure - tend to be male dominated, with women in the more 'traditionally female' roles such as HR and marketing.

As much as the businesses I've worked for are truly passionate about breaking down barriers and driving towards a more equitable workforce for all genders, it's not always easy.

We need to create environments where all genders can thrive in traditionally male dominated workplaces.

This goes way beyond addressing bias in recruitment processes, or training bright stars.

It is about how we position our sectors to young people and 'career shifters'.

For me, actively developing and promoting an employee value proposition that promotes an open and positive culture towards women in male dominated roles, and campaigns to position these roles as welcoming all genders, will go some way towards addressing the balance.

How has being part of GBCC supported your business or career?

I've been involved with GBCC for many years, in different roles, and have met many great business contacts, and been inspired by speakers at events.

The networking opportunities are unrivalled, and I look forward to working more closely with GBCC over the coming 12 months as we become Patrons.

This year’s IWD theme is Accelerate Action. Given that gender parity may take until 2158 what does IWD mean to you, and how can we drive faster change?

International Womens Day is important, not only for women, but for all genders, as to me it reminds me of the disparity between genders, race, stereotypes and highlights that we all have a role to play to improve conditions for all - here in the UK and importantly across the world.

The business I work for is part of a global company, and although there's work to do, in the UK we are more fortunate than many employees across the world.

We have strong employment law that protects, and employers who care and are passionate about driving change.