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Women in Leadership Profiles
Name: Jennifer Cuthbert
Role: Head of Fundraising
Company: Young Enterprise
A bit about you: Married to Brian, with a three year old little girl called Madison and also mum to three fur babies; two dogs called Ralph and Bailey and a cat called Pixie. Professionally I’ve been a senior leader in the voluntary sector for 18 years.
What is it like working in your company? I’ve been working for Young Enterprise for nearly eight years and I can honestly say that I am so fortunate to be able to work for such an amazing organisation. The main objective is to enable young people to develop the vital skills that are necessary for them to succeed in the world of work. I get to witness first hand the impact that our work has on young people. As a member of the senior management team it is so important that we create an open and friendly culture so staff enjoy coming to work everyday. We pride ourselves on being an award winning organisation with Investors in People and Investors in Volunteers Accreditation.
Why did you decide to go into your chosen field? After studying for a BA Hons Degree in Business I initially wasn’t quite sure what career path I wanted to follow but I knew I was keen on event management/PR/marketing. I secured a role with an event management company and worked with them for 2 years before applying for a position with Queen’s University in the Alumni Relations Department which is where I realised that Fundraising was definitely the calling for me. I was lucky enough to have been a part of a team who raised £150million to support the redevelopment of the students’ union, physical education centre and the building of a new library. I was responsible for organising some of the most prestigious events of my career to date including a Film Premiere of CS Lewis The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe with cast and film producer Andrew Adamson. Since leaving my position with Queen’s I’ve since worked with charities within Education and Health and Social Care sector leading teams to deliver multi-million pound strategies to ensure sustainability and growth.
What qualifications and work experience did you need to reach your current position? I needed a third level qualification and five years demonstrable experience in senior management.
What do you enjoy the most about your job? Being able to make a positive difference to the lives of others and the fact that I have such a varied role means no two days are the same
What obstacles have you overcome in your career? Working in a previous charity and being micro-managed because my manager was intimated by young strong women. I felt demotivated, devalued and as if my experience, skills and competencies that I had worked so hard for were worthless. I felt like I couldn’t professionally breathe and my morale was at an all time low. With age brings experience and I know now that the success to being a exceptional leader is to accept that you don’t know everything and surround yourself with a team with various skill sets “Great leaders include the team in the mission planning process and inspire them to collectively find the path to achieve the team's vision” Forbes Brent Gleeson 10/05/2019
Why do you think it is important to have a strong female representation in your industry? The voluntary sector does have strong female representation however as an education charity we collaborate with stakeholders from government, public and private sectors, all of which are sadly significantly underrepresented. As a mother of a little girl I am passionate about encouraging and empowering girls/women to explore opportunities and instill confidence that they have the ability to succeed in whatever career path they choose, regardless of their gender.
What advice would you give those wanting to take a similar career path?For me, working in fundraising within the voluntary sector is the most rewarding career possible; surrounding yourself with like-minded people to truly make a difference to the lives of others and working in a fast paced environment where everyday is different. The negative side is the pressures of funding and the ever growing demand for services and support can prove very challenging. For anyone thinking of a similar career path I would suggest that they perhaps contact a local charity and offer their time as a volunteer which will give hands on experience and an insight in the voluntary sector. The skills that develop through volunteering are transferrable and can be applied to any positions in the future.
