The corporate world can be a cruel place to be, if your face doesn’t fit.

Being a petite 5ft 2” female, with a high-pitched voice and a playful character, I often get mistaken for someone much younger and in-experienced than I am.

Some people think that this is a blessing and sometimes I really like it when people are shocked that I am in my forties.  But in my professional life, this has at times been a struggle.

I have found it harder to be taken seriously in a corporate world compared to some of my peers.  Earlier in my career more so, when I was surrounded by tall women in kitten heels with expensive taste.  I am tiny, I like flat shoes and love bargain shopping!!

For a while I overcompensated to be accepted.  I would power dress, drink coffee (blurgh), try to get involved in conversations that quite frankly bored me and while at work my fun and quirky personality faded.

For years I did this, climbing the ladder to be someone I was not even sure I wanted to be, but I did it anyway.

Meanwhile, in my private life, things were changing, Carl and I had decided to start a family and I wanted to be the best version of me in this new stage of life. It was at that point I decided to change things. 

I needed to be sure that I had a supportive workplace and a place where I could just be me, that was the only way I could be happy.  As the lovely Giovanna Fletcher says, happy mum, happy baby.

The time came where I left my job and embarked on a new journey. Still in a similar sector but away from the pressures of ‘image’.  Finally, I was accepted into a world where people were just like me, I had a great team, I made friends that I would meet outside of work to do things I enjoyed doing with my own friends, I was happy.

Since this, I have always made sure that from the very first meeting with any potential employer, I have just been me.  Slightly bonkers, not dressing too seriously, make-up free and smiling. 

As the years have gone by and as my children have grown, I’ve steadily continued to grow in my career.  But the difference is, I am just myself.

I now have a great job, and I am (mostly) accepted for who I am.  Yes, my colleagues sometimes tease me about my social media hobbies, but I am good at what I do at work and that is what matters.

I say mostly accepted, as I’ve still had a few hurdles.  As a female, working in the engineering industry, there are some walls I am still breaking down.  Just last week, the term ‘a woman in man’s world’ was used about me in a conversation at work. 

But the difference is now, I am confident to challenge those stereotypes and help people understand the value that everyone can add, regardless of age, culture, gender and more. 

I still remember a few years ago, I delivered a presentation to my then, Managing Director.  After which he said to my own manager (shocked) “wow, she actually knows her stuff”.  It was as though he was surprised that I knew how to do my job.  Such a backhanded compliment.

At work, I always deliver above and beyond expectations, that is what should matter.  I will not apologise for looking and acting like I do, anymore.  No-one should.

I will proudly park my rusty Renault between the Audis, Mercs and BMWs in the car park for years to come (well if she survives).  

Here is to breaking down barriers and being accepted for who we are!!