we aren’t alone in the trials and tribulations we
go through. As women, we need to be better as
pushing ourselves forward.”
In hindsight, Butcher realises just how important
networks have been in her role in the business.
“Never underestimate the importance of your
network, it’s your bank of future opportunities and
will bear fruit if you nurture it. Not every meeting
has to have tangible output. It’s critically important
to build relationships above and below you on
‘the ladder’, we’re all on a rung somewhere. The
people above you can help to nurture you up the
way, the ones below you are the people you need
to invest in to help them move up. Its fundamental
to your own personal development as well as
being the right thing to do, to gi ve back. The ones
who come up behind you will push you up a level
and stop you getting stuck on a rung.”
Whilst she’s up in Glasgow, Jessica will also be
spending time at the On the Corner community
project in Barras. The project was a lifeline to
Jessica’s sister in law Sarah, who passed away
suddenly last year, and it is important to the family
that they support the place which meant so much
to the talented artist during some of her darkest
times. “Sarah’s life changed dramatically during
the last two years of her life. She had struggled
through some very bleak periods but On the
Corner was a real haven for her. It’s an incredible
place, supporting the socially excluded, drug
addicts, people with mental health problems, the
marginalised on the very edge of society. We set
up a foundation in Sarah’s memory and we will
be holding an event whilst we are in Scotland, an
evening of remembrance and celebration.”
Jessica acknowledges that balancing work and
family life is a constant challenge. She’s taken
the longest of her three maternity leaves with her
youngest son Joe, who is now eight months old.
With her first two children, she went back to work
much sooner, “The business was my baby and for
each of my children, I’ve appreciated the flexibility
the personal choice I’ve had to manage my leave
as it felt right for me and for us as a family. We are
still at least a generation away though from really
progressive maternity policies in the UK.”
There’s no doubt at all that Jessica Butcher
will continue to inspire and empower women
entrepreneurs across all sectors, but especially
those in STEM, who have a vocal and fearless
champion in their corner. As one of the few female
co-founders of a tech company, she is a much
needed role model and proof that there’s no limit
to what non-techy women with a ‘scrappy CV’ and
a tendency to get bored easily can achieve.
She is looking forward to coming up to Scotland
for the first collaborative BWS/WES Awards and
knows women in business take an enormous
amount of support from each other. “Women
value hearing other women’s journey’s, knowing
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