In this 2Inspire Network Profile we meet the phenomenal Vanessa Vallely, Founder of WeAreTheCity.com, an online network for professional women which is taking the world by storm. By combining a digital platform to empower women in business and women at work, the site has inspired women from across the world. Vanessa is also the author of "Heels of Steel", book about surviving and thriving in the corporate world. Read on and be motivated!
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| Vanessa Vallely |
Please tell us what is a typical business day for
you?
No two days are the same for me. The one thing that is generally consistent is
that I take the kids to school and then I am on a train somewhere. My Iphone and Laptop are as attached to me as
my own limbs. My days are most made up
of calls to my clients, visits to my mentees, perhaps a school and generally a
talk in the evening. I wake up at 5.00am on most days to cram as much in as I can before the kids wake up (6.30am). I don't watch TV or read magazines so I use
this time to answer emails and make calls.
I probably put in 12 hours a day, but I am a true believer, what you put
in, you get out!
What made you start the business and how did you
get started?
I started WeAreTheCity as I was
frustrated that there were a number of women's networks and opportunities to
up-skill but they were scattered across the internet. I wanted to create 1 site that was dedicated
to women who wanted to progress in their businesses and careers. WeAreTheCity was formed in 2008 and I ran it
for 5 years alongside my corporate career.
We receive in excess of 4 million hits a month and 200,000 unique
visitors, so I guess we must be doing something right! In 2012 we launched
Careers City, our female job board and in 2014 we launched WeAreTheCity in
India. I left my corporate role at Head
of Governance in 2013 to focus on both businesses.
What would you say has been your greatest
accomplishment in the business world to date?
Securing investment, which only
happened this year. We ran WeAreTheCity
via our own funds for many years. I knew
I needed investment to grow and this year I locked myself away and wrote our
business plan. We are very lucky in the
respect we only showed it to two potential investors and within one week, one
of them committed to investing. I was
fully expecting the investment process to take at least year and to bear a few
bruises in the process! It’s a case of
be careful what you wish for as now I am dealing with all sorts, building
leases, staff, apprentices etc. It is
very exciting and definitely a new chapter for WeAreTheCity.
What has been your biggest challenge in
business so far?
Cashflow.
Big businesses don't realise how they crush
us small businesses by taking their time to pay. When you are first starting out this has to
be the toughest aspect of managing any business. If we need materials or services we have to
pay, then we have to wait 30, 45 and sometimes 60 days for payments to reach
us.
What are your future plans for the
business?
In august we will get our new offices
and 6 new members of staff. I have never
had support of this magnitude and in some ways that has what has prevented us
from growing quicker. My husband and I
are just two people, with 2 kids, charity commitments and 3 businesses, to have
hands to help us will be magical. I am also
an ideas person and have tonnes of initiatives I would like to introduce to
WeAreTheCity, however I was always constrained by time and lack of
funding. I am excited that I will soon
have the opportunity to explore new markets and hopefully continue to help
women in their careers, not just in the UK but globally.
If you had to do it all over
again, what would you do differently?
Nothing. I believe things happen for a reason.
Every step, every disappointment, every
celebration and person that came in to our lives and business did so for a
reason. I wouldn't go back and change a
thing. The only thing I could possibly
think of was to chose a better accountant when we were first starting out, we
made a number of mistakes through lack of understanding of our own
numbers! Always know your numbers, that
is what my own business mentee has drummed in to me.
Why is it so important to inspire young
women in particular to follow their dreams?
Because together we are stronger. I believe in giving back and playing my part
in building the next generations of corporate workers and business
leaders. I figure that these people may
hire
my own daughters one day! The world
is full of people who tell you all the things you cant do or what you will
never achieve, my advice is thank them for their opinions and move on, keep
your focus and prove them wrong. I truly
believe you can achieve anything if you try hard enough. Surround yourself with the right people, do
the right thing in terms of helping others and above all, dream big!
What advice would you give to somebody
who wants to start a business in your industry?
Write your business plan first and do
you market research. I wrote my plan 6
years in to my business and I am sure I would have saved time and money had I
done it sooner. Make use of mentors and
don't be afraid to ask others for help.
My biggest advice is network, network and more networking. The bigger your contact base the better. However don't just collect people, you need
to nurture these relationships, open up doors of opportunity for your
connections if you can. I believe in the
saying it’s not always what you know, but who you know.
What or who inspires you in business
and why?
I
love being my own boss and managing my own time. I am passionate about women and youth in
terms of their progression and as Warren Buffet says, “There comes a time when
you ought to start doing what you want. Take a job that you love. You will jump
out of bed in the morning” I jump out of
bed every morning because I love what I do and I love the opportunities I
create for others, who wouldn't want that job!
What is your favourite inspirational quote?
Your boat doesn't come in, you have to swim out to
it – Jason Winters.
Connect with Vanessa
Social media @Watc_girl or the site @Watc_updates
