A Message from our CEO, Mark Tighe
As a market leader in the finance and innovation space, we believe that diversity, of all kinds, in the workplace is crucial to the success of the business. We recognise that a diverse workforce directly correlates to the production of new ideas, perspectives, and creativity. Without input from our female employees, we would undoubtedly fall behind in the fast-moving, innovative world in which we work.
At Catax, we are lucky to have many women #BreakingTheBias on our sales team, finance department and specialist technical teams, embodying our company values of collaboration, passion, integrity, accountability and most prominently, excellence.
As a business owner, I am very familiar with the concept of ‘hard work = better results’ and am reminded of that in many aspects of my life. Daily, we come across companies pushing the boundaries in their fields, achieving the impossible through hard work and dedication. I can look back on all the hard work from myself and my team that created the successful business we have today. It would be easy, as a man, to ignore the setbacks women often face in the workplace. It would be easy to conform to the outdated, societal assumption that business should be a male-dominated space. It requires a tremendous amount of hard work to #BreakTheBias by changing mindsets, going against the grain and taking a step back to listen and learn from the ambitious women we have in front of us, and it is from that hard work we will achieve great things.
Catax is making it our mission to become the best place to work in Altrincham. With this comes the mission to create equal opportunities for all and elevate women in our workforce so that new and potential employees have a wealth of role models to follow. With this in mind, the next year will see us putting a focus on elevating the voices of women and encouraging them to take up space in previously male-dominated areas. The IDEA Team (a team dedicated to addressing matters to do with Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Awareness) will also open up a dialogue between the board and the wider business so that issues that may otherwise go overlooked can be addressed. We are all responsible for our own thoughts and actions and, as the world changes for the better, we have a choice- we can either ignore the reality in front of us or take on the social responsibility to raise awareness, take action and encourage improvement- this is our mission.
This year for International Women’s Day we are putting the spotlight on some of our amazing women to hear about their thoughts and experiences. Please join us in celebrating their success and achievements and commit to helping #BreakTheBias:
Joan Smith – Business Consultant Midlands
Q: Tell us about your biggest achievements in your career
A: Walking away from a secure, well paid pensionable job to go self-employed. I have never looked back.
Q: How did you get where you are today?
A: Hard work and passion for what I do.
Q: What do you love most about your work?
A: I love that I can, and have, helped hundreds of businesses to grow.
Q: What challenges have you faced in your career as a woman?
A: Some sectors are male dominated so it’s always been a challenge to be heard in some circumstances.
Q: How can we ensure more women pursue careers in leadership?
A: I believe the power of women working together and supporting each other is key. Shout about success, and showcase role models who are leaders as keynote speakers and presentations
Q: What advice would you give to your younger self?
A: Not to think about anything for too long as you will talk yourself out of it. Always go with your gut instinct. It’s worked for me.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you would offer young females starting out in their careers today?
A: Surround yourself with positive people. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. We learn so much from our mistakes. It’s part of the journey.
Q: Who is your top inspirational female?
A: Michelle Obama. She is amazing.
Q: What does the 2022 International Women’s Day slogan #BreakTheBias mean to you?
A: It means we are addressing equality for women, together. I think it may still take another generation or two but we are getting there, together.
Sam Kandola – Head of Capital Allowances Operations
Since joining Catax over 10 years ago as a Case Manager, I have worked across the business in a range of roles. My first big achievement was gaining my ATT qualification. My first exam coincided with buying my first home, so I revised sitting on garden furniture, surrounded by boxes. Since then, I have worked on some of Catax’s largest deals and taken on management roles. I certainly feel like a very different person today, than when I joined Catax fresh out of university.
There have been many occasions in my career where I have been the only woman in the room however I’m really proud to be part of an ever expanding team of amazing women at Catax. It’s also great to see that we have some incredible women in technical roles across the business which are often male dominated.
The best piece of advice I would offer to young females starting out in their careers today is that you have to step out of your comfort zone. It’s ok to make mistakes, it is how you deal with them that matters.
To me, the 2022 international women’s day slogan means boys can like pink and girls can want to play with train sets.
Leanne Mara – R&D Claims Team Manager
My biggest achievements have been staying motivated to progress in my career since leaving university. Making sure that through any type of rejection and negative feedback I continue to work hard and believe in myself has got me where I am today. I would tell my younger self to be wise, stand up for yourself and always trust your judgement. The best advice I would give is what my mum has always given me; Be kind, have fun, never dwell on things and move on. My mum has made me the strong and independent woman I am today, which is why she is my top inspirational female. 😊
Sue Armstrong – Professional Partner Director
As a business women, I’ve always been in finance and started my working life working for Lloyds Bank before having my family. After spending a few years nurturing them into school life, I started back at work part-time working in a building society and soon secured a role as a full time financial adviser.
From here I’ve worked for a large insurance company then an offshore company before setting up my own business working on behalf of clients and their tax requirements – this includes a longstanding relationship with Catax.
My best achievement, in my opinion, is having a career whilst also bringing up my children. This has its own challenges but, on balance, worked well and established a confidence to go for a career of choice to both my girls. They, in turn, have forged their own career paths in a very different market. This makes me very proud.
My job has allowed me to meet many professionals in various industries and to offer them my level of service and the associated benefits. Finance is a well-established sector and, when I started out, very much a “man’s world”. However over the years, I’ve seen this dynamic change – to a more diverse culture, driven by women’s professionalism and the many inspirational women who stand up for their communities.
People like, Michelle Obama, who not only supported her husband as First Lady in his role as US President, but also brought up her children whilst supporting charities and many feminist groups, subsequently forging her own career as an author and public speaker, to name but a few of her many talents – truly a source of inspiration to many.
There are still many mountains to climb for women in business, but we continue to instil our children with the confidence that they can achieve anything they put their minds to. Michelle Obama once said, in an address to the City College of New York – “Never view your challenges as obstacles”. A lesson to us all, I think, when considering the 2022 International Women’s Day slogan #BreakTheBias.
Melanie Farrell – Key Account Manager
Q: Tell us about your biggest achievements in your career
A: The biggest achievement for me was to recognise and stop hiding my Dyslexia. Building the courage to go back to college as an adult student to get help. Through the support of my local college and attending courses, I overcame my anxiety and now I’m much more confident in my career.
Q: How did you get where you are today?
A: Through dedication and discipline. Throughout my career my roles have always involved speaking to customers/clients. Through taking every opportunity in training courses available and pushing myself to be put forward for promotions. This has helped me to develop where I am today.
Q: What do you love most about your work?
A: Speaking to clients and building relationships.
Q: What challenges have you faced in your career as a woman?
A: Some of my roles and companies I’ve worked for in the past have been in a very male dominant environment. In a couple of companies I’ve worked for in the past I’ve been the only woman in my department, I enjoyed the banter, I learnt a lot but I’m still terrible talking about football.
Q: How can we ensure more women pursue careers in leadership?
A: Encouragement and Awareness – Within Catax I think once a month/quarter we should have the face of a female employee on LinkedIn to talk about their career within Catax and also juggling their career with study or being a mum. This will attract new female candidates into the company.
Q: What advice would you give to your younger self?
A: Stop punishing yourself when things go wrong. Take a step back, learn from it and move on – onwards and upwards, tomorrow will be a brighter day.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you would offer young females starting out in their careers today?
A: Be yourself, take every opportunity available and make the most of it.
Q: Who is your top inspirational female?
A: Karren Brady
Q: What does the 2022 International Women’s Day slogan #BreakTheBias mean to you?
A: Inclusivity! To celebrate all Women’s achievements around the world.
Karen McFadden – Associate Director
Q: Tell us about your biggest achievements in your career:
A: Building truly trusting relationships. Knowing that people come back to me because they trust me, they like me, they approve of my ethics and they recommend me to their networks is a fantastic achievement. It’s something I’ve prided myself on throughout my career.
Q: How did you get where you are today?
A: From 10+ years of experience, screwing up and learning from my mistakes. I hear the phrase “I couldn’t do sales!”. And it brings me back to being that eager 20 year old at SKY TV, calling 100 people a day trying to upgrade packages for a terrible bonus. If I could go back, I’d understand that it takes experience to understand that educating, listening and believing in your product is what makes sales the most natural job in the world.
I try to put myself in the shoes of the buyer- would they want to hear every single fact about my product? Would they want to be “pitched” at? Or would they rather listen to how my product has helped their industry, where it can help their business directly and actually enjoy listening to me as I talk?
Q: What do you love most about your work?
A: One of the best things I enjoy about this industry is the fact I believe in what I’m selling. All companies want to pay less tax, that’s a given. So, I love what Catax do. I’m impressed by the team. I’m passionate about educating companies on something that may bring them value one day. Knowing that accountants, solicitors, business coaches want to team up with us because we can help their end clients is an amazing feeling. There is nothing better than believing in your product and understanding how it can help your contacts. Catax make it so easy to share this knowledge which in turns makes my job a lot more enjoyable.
Q: What challenges have you faced in your career as a woman?
A: Many. But that’s not a bad thing. In this dog eat dog finance industry you have to 1) Use your strengths as a woman and 2) Trust yourself. Being a woman isn’t a bad thing- but presenting yourself as less than the man in the room is. Which is a common flaw in the female world. So I learned very quickly to use my softer attributes such as compassion, understanding, listening to enhance my skill set in business. This in turn has given me the confidence to pitch products to companies in more productive ways, more personable ways. It has helped me win some fantastic innovative clients which I’m proud to work with across the UK. All the way from SEM Energy Ltd in Aberdeen down to Mattinson Associates Ltd, Isle of Wight.
Q: How can we ensure more women pursue careers in leadership?
A: It should start from school years. I never had business women come into my secondary school and tell me of all the opportunities available to me. Ideas and inspiration needs to be placed in front of us at young ages so we can evolve from them and create our own destiny’s. Afterall, R&D is all about taking what the world offers now and improving it, is it not? It has to start somewhere…
Q: What advice would you give to your younger self?
A: It’s all about building relationships and working smart. You don’t need to be everywhere and know everything. You burn out quickly and lose enthusiasm. Choose your sector and smash it! Once you’ve smashed that one, choose another and so on.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you would offer young females starting out in their careers today?
A: ‘Confidence is Key’ so maximise yours. Reach for the stars. Don’t underestimate yourself and don’t let somebody else tell you that you can’t do something. Find a way around a problem- everything is worth a try! A personal touch is always a perk and leaves a far deeper mark.
Q: Who is your top inspirational female?
A: Easy- my mum. She knows nothing about the business world. She couldn’t tell you what a pipeline was from a KPI. But she is without a doubt the woman I look up to, the woman I applaud in life, the woman who has earned “Outstanding Life Achievement Award” in my book.
Q: What does the 2022 International Women’s Day slogan #BreakTheBias mean to you?
A: It means the world is moving in the right direction and that’s a good thing. Its adapted, its evolving which shows promise for the future. One day we will have International LGBTQ day, an International Collaboration Day, an International Charity Day…. Chances to showcase exciting professional relationships all around the world.
*Like many things, being a woman in business will have up’s and down’s. It will have advancements as well as setbacks. But the most important thing I have learned is about respect. You gain somebody’s respect in business- it doesn’t matter if you’re male/female/tall/thin/black or blue- YOU will be remembered for just being you.*
Thank you to all these amazing women for taking part today, for sharing your experiences and for providing inspiration to us all. And thank you to the rest of our female team at Catax, and to all the men supporting them!