At Home with Lorraine Kelly 2013 - (Page 368)

General manager I.T Jacqueline de Rojas, 50, is UK general manager of CA Technologies ‘I work for an enterprise JACQUELINE DE ROJAS software company that runs the IT infrastructure of companies such as Tesco, Shell and Unilever as well as public sector customers. My job is to run the UK and Ireland business. It is a high-pressure job, but that comes with the territory of any job at the top. ‘This is my second tour of duty with CA. In 1999, I was running 85% of the sales business and was one of two candidates put forward for the job of country managing director. I was passed over in favour of a male colleague, who was running a significantly smaller business than mine. There is no doubt that I hit the glass ceiling very hard. Since 1999, CA has rebranded and embraced a different culture which includes diversity. Ironically, having not got the job back then, the company “came looking for me” 13 years later. It says a lot about changed attitudes of our own business but also the changed attitudes across the entire industry. The board room is no longer a closed shop to women, and we have more women entering in senior positions. ‘Companies realise decisions are no longer black and white; an interesting aspect of adding women into traditionally confrontational situations is they are often capable of navigating a more diplomatic path where typical alpha males may not be, and, at times, softer skills can make the difference between winning and losing.’ Funeral director Helen Allen, 45, is principal funeral director for The C o-operative Funeralcare ‘I started my career in the funeral profession quite late on, at 35. I was volunteering for The Salvation Army, selling its magazine on a street corner, when a nearby funeral director was short-staffed and asked if I could help them out. I said yes, why not? ‘He dressed me in a black coat and I assisted on the funeral. The family of the deceased were so pleased to see a woman attending at the funeral they made a point of telling the company. ‘After that, I was employed by the funeral home on a casual basis. When a full-time position came up I applied for it, but was told that the position was no longer available. However, I HELEN ALLEN found out later that they employed a man that afternoon! ‘Later, I gained employment at The Co-operative Funeralcare in an operational role, and have never looked back. It’s taken me seven years to get to where I am today, but I’ve had lots of training and encouragement from the company. I was the first female funeral director in my area, but there are a few more now, in and around Dorset, and many more nationwide. ‘I think women are ideal for this role, as some families find it easier to open up and allow a woman to put a comforting arm around them.’ Locksmith Lucy Robinson, 35, runs her own locksmith business, Lucy Locksmith ‘I was an estate agent for several years, and when I got out of that I temped for a bit, trying to work out what I wanted to do. Then a locksmith friend suggested I come out on jobs with him. ‘I really enjoyed it, so I rang around a few local companies to see if they would take me on as an apprentice. One man I spoke to actually sniggered at the idea of a female locksmith, which made me feel very defiant. But I found a company to take me on and I learned the skills I needed before setting up on my own. ‘I’m the only female locksmith in my area, and it can LUCY ROBINSON be a real advantage. Elderly people and women who live alone feel more comfortable with me from a security point of view, and feel reassured I won’t rip them off or do a dodgy job. ‘I’ve never come across a task I can’t do because I lack the strength. And I have never encountered any safety issues – I use my intuition and always take sensible precautions. ‘I love my job and I’m my own boss – which is brilliant. I wouldn’t change a thing.’ 32 ● MARCH 2013 30-33 women in men's jobs FINAL.indd 32 29/1/13 10:58:22

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of At Home with Lorraine Kelly 2013

EDITOR'S LETTER
LORRAINE KELLY UPDATE
NEWS UPFRONT
SAVE THE DATE
READING BETWEEN THE LINES
BEAUTIES IN BLUE
LIGHTEN UP
BAGS OF STYLE
BUCKLE UP
IT'S A WRAP
IF THE SHOE FITS
SETTING TRENDS
THE BIG REVEAL
GET THE LOOK
LONG REIGN LORRAINE
MOTHER KNOWS BEST
AGE IS JUST A NUMBER
EXPECT THE WORST
UNPLANNED PREGNANCY
WOMEN'S HEALTH A-Z
COULD YOU BE DEPRESSED?
SLEEP EASY
GET BACK TO YOURSELF
WHAT A PAIN
LISTEN UP
CHINESE CUISINE
A TASTE OF ITALY
SNACK TIME
DRINK IT UP
EXCUSES, EXCUSES
EXERCISE'S NEW GROOVE
SPRING INTO SHAPE
OUT AND ABOUT
BEAUTY BLOOPERS
CROWNING GLORY
MAGIC MAKEOVERS
I LOVE MY NEW BODY'
FLASH A SMILE
YOUNG AT HEART
SAFELY DOES IT
LOOK AFTER THE PENNIES
THE GOOD LIFE
ROOM REVAMP
CLEAN UP YOUR ACT
WHAT A BLINDER!
TAKE TO THE FLOOR
HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
THE EMERALD ISLE
SPRING BREAKS
REST AND RELAXATION
ANIMAL ACCESSORIES
A MAN'S BEST FRIEND
BEASTLY BEHAVIOUR
STYLE SAVVY
TV FAVES
LAST WORD
STOCKISTS
CRAFT NEWS
WE LOVE BEING CRAFTY!'
HOME SPUN
FRAME WORK
MAKE THE CUT
CLEVER CARDS
KNIT ONE...
SPARKLE!
KITTED OUT
THE ICING ON THE CAKE
HELLO CUPCAKE
LORRAINE'S ROAD TO SUCCESS
THE WORLD OF WORK
AN AGE OLD PROFESSION
THE ONLY WAY IS UP
JUST THE JOB
MOVE OVER, MISTER!
BEYOND THE SHOP FLOOR
THE BANK JOB
ARE YOU COVERED?
CAREFULLY DOES IT
EQUAL RIGHTS
BALANCING ACT

At Home with Lorraine Kelly 2013