Founding Director of Genderscope, Yael Nevo shares with Tide what support should be offered to businesswomen during the global crisis.

Tide is committed to supporting businesswomen from a diverse range of backgrounds – by the end of 2022 Tide will help at least 50,000 women and 20,000 people from BAME backgrounds get started on their entrepreneurial journey.

Nevo said to Tide: “The first thing businesswomen have to deal with was self-confidence. We are socialised to take less space, not make a fuss and not ask for too much. We are told to accommodate the needs of others and so many of us, including myself, need to overcome the idea that we are not good enough.

“On the other hand, as women, our internalised social norms are also mirrored in our professional interactions. When pitching to all-men panels, I’ve been offered less money than what I’ve asked for both in entrepreneurship prizes and in business loans.

“These experiences could very easily set me on a trajectory that would reaffirm these internalised beliefs of being not enough. Instead, time and time again, I choose to use my skills and knowledge about the how the gender power dynamics in our society works, and gain strength from these experiences, knowing that Genderscope was set up to tackle this exact imbalance and that our services are needed. Today I celebrate my successes even more because I know that I had to work harder to achieve them.”

Genderscope is an award-winning gender business consultancy, working with organisations such as Virgin StartUp, London School of Economics (LSE), UNDP, GIZ and ASEAN.

They provide training, policy and legal consultancy services to support their clients’ understanding and utilisation of the gender dimension in organisational culture, executive decision making, and HR processes, in support of sustainability and growth.

“My advice is to think of the added value your business has to society and make sure that it is sustainable both socially and environmentally. When seeking investment, think big and ask for more, much more! Ask as if they already said yes. Put yourself out there, network, and promote your work with pride. Don’t be ashamed to market your achievement. Educate yourself on gender-related issues – gender analyse your business plan and target audience as early as possible.

“The time is ripe for gender-based change, those who linger will be left behind. Know yourself and understand the imbalanced gender power dynamics in our society – learn when you need to push forward and when it is time to let go. Be kind to yourself when things are not working out, it is part of the journey. Seek support everywhere you can find it, embrace challenges, and keep going no matter what” said Nevo.

Consulting is a low cost, low-risk way to start a business and begin your entrepreneurial journey, and there’s no doubt that the demand for consulting services is on the rise. As such, Tide discusses the key qualities needed to become a great business consultant, giving additional tips and advice specifically for prospective businesswomen.

Starting a consulting business allows you to leverage your professional expertise and skills to help other businesses thrive. However, before taking the plunge into becoming a business consultant, it is important to consider the qualities required to be a great one, making sure you have what it takes to enter into the arena. 

There are certain qualities, many of which are commonly associated with women, that make up a great business consultant:

1. Be extremely passionate about what you do, with a drive for excellence
2. Be an excellent communicator
3. Be a top-notch networker
4. Be able to multi-task
5. Be able to think outside of the box
6. Be qualified to give crucial advice that can shape a business
7. Have precise attention to detail
8. Understand how to streamline operations and enhance strategies

Sarah Young, VP of Member Engagement at Tide, added: “Once you have acknowledged that your existing qualities compliment the role of becoming a great business consultant, consider what type of consulting business you’d like to start and narrow down your niche. Do your due diligence with market research and figure out exactly how to position yourself in a way that sets you apart from the crowd. 

“Then, it’s time to register your business. With Tide, business owners can register a limited company and open a business account, all in one go, for free. It only takes minutes to apply, and you can have your certificate of incorporation within hours. We even pay the £12 incorporation fee on your behalf.

“Tide is committed to supporting business owners from a diverse range of backgrounds, so this advice gives prospective businesswomen the inspiration and encouragement to start their own ventures.”

To find out how to register a new limited company, click here.

For more information on how to start a consulting business and get your first clients, click here.

Yael Nevo, Tide member and Founding Co-Director and Head of Business Partnerships at Genderscope, commented: