all really fantastic female civil servants so a little bit about me first
servants so a little bit about me first
servants so a little bit about me first I am the permanent so actually the plant
I am the permanent so actually the plant
I am the permanent so actually the plant for international trade di T was set up
for international trade di T was set up
for international trade di T was set up shortly after the vote to leave the
shortly after the vote to leave the
shortly after the vote to leave the European Union we do three things we
European Union we do three things we
European Union we do three things we finance and promote international trade
finance and promote international trade
finance and promote international trade around the world we negotiate free trade
around the world we negotiate free trade
around the world we negotiate free trade deals and market access deals and we
deals and market access deals and we
deals and market access deals and we champion free trade but I’m not here to
champion free trade but I’m not here to
champion free trade but I’m not here to talk about that today my little bit
talk about that today my little bit
talk about that today my little bit about my background I began my career in
about my background I began my career in
about my background I began my career in the civil service in 2000 after a stint
the civil service in 2000 after a stint
the civil service in 2000 after a stint in the private sector I started as an
in the private sector I started as an
in the private sector I started as an economist on a one-year temporary
economist on a one-year temporary
economist on a one-year temporary contract and I never left so I always
contract and I never left so I always
contract and I never left so I always say to people beware before you start
say to people beware before you start
say to people beware before you start working in the civil service because the
working in the civil service because the
working in the civil service because the interest and the complexity of the jobs
interest and the complexity of the jobs
interest and the complexity of the jobs that we do mean you will never leave
that we do mean you will never leave
that we do mean you will never leave once you’ve had the chance to work on
once you’ve had the chance to work on
once you’ve had the chance to work on those I think we’re very lucky and
those I think we’re very lucky and
those I think we’re very lucky and privileged to do what we do I spent most
privileged to do what we do I spent most
privileged to do what we do I spent most of my career in the ministry of justice
of my career in the ministry of justice
of my career in the ministry of justice and its predecessor departments with a
and its predecessor departments with a
and its predecessor departments with a couple of stints in the Cabinet Office
couple of stints in the Cabinet Office
couple of stints in the Cabinet Office and a couple of stints in the Foreign
and a couple of stints in the Foreign
and a couple of stints in the Foreign Office and now I’m building an
Office and now I’m building an
Office and now I’m building an international economic department 3,600
international economic department 3,600
international economic department 3,600 people around the world and I have three
people around the world and I have three
people around the world and I have three kids when I’m not doing that wasn’t
kids when I’m not doing that wasn’t
kids when I’m not doing that wasn’t showing off by the way that was just the
showing off by the way that was just the
showing off by the way that was just the nature saying I totally hear and all
nature saying I totally hear and all
nature saying I totally hear and all other points that have been made earlier
other points that have been made earlier
other points that have been made earlier today I want to talk to you about
today I want to talk to you about
today I want to talk to you about ambitious leadership and I want to talk
ambitious leadership and I want to talk
ambitious leadership and I want to talk to you about your ambitious leadership
to you about your ambitious leadership
to you about your ambitious leadership and before I do I just want to say that
and before I do I just want to say that
and before I do I just want to say that leaders are not the same thing as bosses
leaders are not the same thing as bosses
leaders are not the same thing as bosses so the best leader you know will may not
so the best leader you know will may not
so the best leader you know will may not be a boss probably isn’t your boss they
be a boss probably isn’t your boss they
be a boss probably isn’t your boss they may not be someone at the top of your
may not be someone at the top of your
may not be someone at the top of your organization they might be someone who
organization they might be someone who
organization they might be someone who works for you they might be someone who
works for you they might be someone who
works for you they might be someone who works alongside you but the one thing
works alongside you but the one thing
works alongside you but the one thing that great leaders all do is they take
that great leaders all do is they take
that great leaders all do is they take organizations and people to places that
organizations and people to places that
organizations and people to places that they wouldn’t have got to otherwise and
they wouldn’t have got to otherwise and
they wouldn’t have got to otherwise and that’s how you can spot them so the best
that’s how you can spot them so the best
that’s how you can spot them so the best leader that I work with was a peer of
leader that I work with was a peer of
leader that I work with was a peer of mine at the Ministry of Justice we were
mine at the Ministry of Justice we were
mine at the Ministry of Justice we were implementing together a really big major
implementing together a really big major
implementing together a really big major program lots of
program lots of
program lots of scrutiny lots of media interest and I
scrutiny lots of media interest and I
scrutiny lots of media interest and I was reliant on him to bring his
was reliant on him to bring his
was reliant on him to bring his organization with him and so sometimes
organization with him and so sometimes
organization with him and so sometimes you will look around you and you will
you will look around you and you will
you will look around you and you will see the people you will spot great
see the people you will spot great
see the people you will spot great leaders and you should watch them
leaders and you should watch them
leaders and you should watch them because great leaders are worth their
because great leaders are worth their
because great leaders are worth their weight in gold so I’m gonna talk about a
weight in gold so I’m gonna talk about a
weight in gold so I’m gonna talk about a concept that has been very important for
concept that has been very important for
concept that has been very important for me in my leadership and in what I would
me in my leadership and in what I would
me in my leadership and in what I would describe as achieving more ambitious
describe as achieving more ambitious
describe as achieving more ambitious leadership so does anyone in this room
leadership so does anyone in this room
leadership so does anyone in this room like jazz it’s not compulsory right okay
like jazz it’s not compulsory right okay
like jazz it’s not compulsory right okay it’s not compulsory to like jazz but it
it’s not compulsory to like jazz but it
it’s not compulsory to like jazz but it helps you might have heard of a
helps you might have heard of a
helps you might have heard of a saxophonist called Wayne Shorter one of
saxophonist called Wayne Shorter one of
saxophonist called Wayne Shorter one of the jazz Giants played with Miles Davis
the jazz Giants played with Miles Davis
the jazz Giants played with Miles Davis complete jazz great when asked a few
complete jazz great when asked a few
complete jazz great when asked a few years ago
years ago
years ago what does jazz mean to you he said jazz
what does jazz mean to you he said jazz
what does jazz mean to you he said jazz means I dare you I dare you and when I
means I dare you I dare you and when I
means I dare you I dare you and when I heard this this had this incredible
heard this this had this incredible
heard this this had this incredible impact on me because the idea of using
impact on me because the idea of using
impact on me because the idea of using this concept I dare you it was more than
this concept I dare you it was more than
this concept I dare you it was more than just saying it was daring it provided a
just saying it was daring it provided a
just saying it was daring it provided a connection it built that bridge
connection it built that bridge
connection it built that bridge I dare you and it did something
I dare you and it did something
I dare you and it did something expanding it said that music jazz could
expanding it said that music jazz could
expanding it said that music jazz could be more there was more to it if you go
be more there was more to it if you go
be more there was more to it if you go further and I think that that is a
further and I think that that is a
further and I think that that is a brilliant concept to apply to leadership
brilliant concept to apply to leadership
brilliant concept to apply to leadership the concept of I dare you
the concept of I dare you
the concept of I dare you so what do I mean by that I talk a lot
so what do I mean by that I talk a lot
so what do I mean by that I talk a lot in the department of international trade
in the department of international trade
in the department of international trade about how I want us to be a bold
about how I want us to be a bold
about how I want us to be a bold Department an ambitious Department I
Department an ambitious Department I
Department an ambitious Department I wanted to be ambitious about what we can
wanted to be ambitious about what we can
wanted to be ambitious about what we can achieve and I don’t mean being reckless
achieve and I don’t mean being reckless
achieve and I don’t mean being reckless I don’t mean daring in terms of taking
I don’t mean daring in terms of taking
I don’t mean daring in terms of taking risks in appropriate risks when you work
risks in appropriate risks when you work
risks in appropriate risks when you work with taxpayers money
with taxpayers money
with taxpayers money you can’t ever be reckless you’ve got to
you can’t ever be reckless you’ve got to
you can’t ever be reckless you’ve got to spend that money wisely you’ve got to
spend that money wisely you’ve got to
spend that money wisely you’ve got to spend it on the right things you gotta
spend it on the right things you gotta
spend it on the right things you gotta spend it efficiently but I do mean
spend it efficiently but I do mean
spend it efficiently but I do mean unashamedly being bold I want us to be
unashamedly being bold I want us to be
unashamedly being bold I want us to be bold we have something called the di T
bold we have something called the di T
bold we have something called the di T spirit one aspect of that is being
spirit one aspect of that is being
spirit one aspect of that is being enterprising it means being innovative
enterprising it means being innovative
enterprising it means being innovative it means being confident and yes it
it means being confident and yes it
it means being confident and yes it means being daring and I want to build
means being daring and I want to build
means being daring and I want to build and create an environment where people
and create an environment where people
and create an environment where people feel that they can be daring and they
feel that they can be daring and they
feel that they can be daring and they will be rewarded for big thinking and
will be rewarded for big thinking and
will be rewarded for big thinking and for self motivation
for self motivation
for self motivation so given this one of the most important
so given this one of the most important
so given this one of the most important principles in leadership is people will
principles in leadership is people will
principles in leadership is people will do extraordinary things when put to the
do extraordinary things when put to the
do extraordinary things when put to the test so what you’ve got to do as a
test so what you’ve got to do as a
test so what you’ve got to do as a leader is you build a supportive
leader is you build a supportive
leader is you build a supportive environment you build a protective
environment you build a protective
environment you build a protective environment and then you say I dare you
environment and then you say I dare you
environment and then you say I dare you I dare you to be great I dare us to do
I dare you to be great I dare us to do
I dare you to be great I dare us to do something really extraordinary I dare us
something really extraordinary I dare us
something really extraordinary I dare us to take this organization to somewhere
to take this organization to somewhere
to take this organization to somewhere it wouldn’t otherwise have got to and
it wouldn’t otherwise have got to and
it wouldn’t otherwise have got to and finally I think that I dare you can
finally I think that I dare you can
finally I think that I dare you can apply brilliantly to your own mindset so
apply brilliantly to your own mindset so
apply brilliantly to your own mindset so how many times have you been in those
how many times have you been in those
how many times have you been in those moments of self-doubt you know you’re
moments of self-doubt you know you’re
moments of self-doubt you know you’re kind of in the meeting there’s 20 people
kind of in the meeting there’s 20 people
kind of in the meeting there’s 20 people in the room two people seem to be
in the room two people seem to be
in the room two people seem to be hugging the conversation let’s face it
hugging the conversation let’s face it
hugging the conversation let’s face it not usually the women and or you’ve got
not usually the women and or you’ve got
not usually the women and or you’ve got to speak in front of you know a thousand
to speak in front of you know a thousand
to speak in front of you know a thousand people and you’re nervous that mindset
people and you’re nervous that mindset
people and you’re nervous that mindset mindset really matters you know manage
mindset really matters you know manage
mindset really matters you know manage yourself first really important rule of
yourself first really important rule of
yourself first really important rule of leadership mindset matters I dare you I
leadership mindset matters I dare you I
leadership mindset matters I dare you I really encourage you to apply that
really encourage you to apply that
really encourage you to apply that concept that idea of I dare you to your
concept that idea of I dare you to your
concept that idea of I dare you to your own leadership and so next time you’re
own leadership and so next time you’re
own leadership and so next time you’re in a sticky or tricky situation so I
in a sticky or tricky situation so I
in a sticky or tricky situation so I mentioned you know people people do can
mentioned you know people people do can
mentioned you know people people do can do extraordinary things and put to the
do extraordinary things and put to the
do extraordinary things and put to the test
test
test obviously you can’t apply I dare you as
obviously you can’t apply I dare you as
obviously you can’t apply I dare you as a concept to everything you do it would
a concept to everything you do it would
a concept to everything you do it would be completely exhausting I mean as
be completely exhausting I mean as
be completely exhausting I mean as already mentioned we’ve all got enough
already mentioned we’ve all got enough
already mentioned we’ve all got enough on to also be doing I dare you on every
on to also be doing I dare you on every
on to also be doing I dare you on every aspect of life so I want to talk about
aspect of life so I want to talk about
aspect of life so I want to talk about something that a mentor of mine once
something that a mentor of mine once
something that a mentor of mine once said some of you might know him
said some of you might know him
said some of you might know him Nick McPherson former moments actually
Nick McPherson former moments actually
Nick McPherson former moments actually the Treasury meant to me for a few years
the Treasury meant to me for a few years
the Treasury meant to me for a few years and by the way mentoring is the topic of
and by the way mentoring is the topic of
and by the way mentoring is the topic of a whole other TED talk but you must get
a whole other TED talk but you must get
a whole other TED talk but you must get a mentor if you don’t have one already
a mentor if you don’t have one already
a mentor if you don’t have one already single most important thing apart from
single most important thing apart from
single most important thing apart from coming to TEDx women that you will do it
coming to TEDx women that you will do it
coming to TEDx women that you will do it to help yourself as get yourself a great
to help yourself as get yourself a great
to help yourself as get yourself a great mentor so Nick said to me a few things
mentor so Nick said to me a few things
mentor so Nick said to me a few things really matter
really matter
really matter good people know what does and I think
good people know what does and I think
good people know what does and I think this is brilliant on two levels
this is brilliant on two levels
this is brilliant on two levels first it’s about Toyota’s ation so if
first it’s about Toyota’s ation so if
first it’s about Toyota’s ation so if you’re going to be daring if you’re
you’re going to be daring if you’re
you’re going to be daring if you’re going to be the leader that takes the
going to be the leader that takes the
going to be the leader that takes the organization to somewhere it wouldn’t
organization to somewhere it wouldn’t
organization to somewhere it wouldn’t otherwise have got to you’ve got to know
otherwise have got to you’ve got to know
otherwise have got to you’ve got to know what matters and that means you need
what matters and that means you need
what matters and that means you need complete strategic clarity I like to
complete strategic clarity I like to
complete strategic clarity I like to take a step back very regularly and say
take a step back very regularly and say
take a step back very regularly and say what are we actually doing what are we
what are we actually doing what are we
what are we actually doing what are we actually doing it’s kind of like a basic
actually doing it’s kind of like a basic
actually doing it’s kind of like a basic concept I did one job where I’ve said it
concept I did one job where I’ve said it
concept I did one job where I’ve said it so much that when I left the team gave
so much that when I left the team gave
so much that when I left the team gave it to me on a monk what are we actually
it to me on a monk what are we actually
it to me on a monk what are we actually doing but it’s really important if
doing but it’s really important if
doing but it’s really important if you’re gonna build a bridge and take an
you’re gonna build a bridge and take an
you’re gonna build a bridge and take an organization to get there where are you
organization to get there where are you
organization to get there where are you going what are you doing and then you
going what are you doing and then you
going what are you doing and then you can apply the IED a new concept to those
can apply the IED a new concept to those
can apply the IED a new concept to those really really important things so good
really really important things so good
really really important things so good people take people with them and good
people take people with them and good
people take people with them and good people work out how to get there what
people work out how to get there what
people work out how to get there what are the really important things that
are the really important things that
are the really important things that only you can do in your leadership to
only you can do in your leadership to
only you can do in your leadership to get you there and then you really great
get you there and then you really great
get you there and then you really great people apply the idea concept to those
people apply the idea concept to those
people apply the idea concept to those things so I mentioned people people are
things so I mentioned people people are
things so I mentioned people people are the most important asset your team
the most important asset your team
the most important asset your team nobody can do anything on their own I
nobody can do anything on their own I
nobody can do anything on their own I mean literally you can’t do anything you
mean literally you can’t do anything you
mean literally you can’t do anything you can barely achieve you know it’s quite a
can barely achieve you know it’s quite a
can barely achieve you know it’s quite a lot of making it’s work if you’ve got
lot of making it’s work if you’ve got
lot of making it’s work if you’ve got three children and everything else
three children and everything else
three children and everything else that’s going on you’ve made it into work
that’s going on you’ve made it into work
that’s going on you’ve made it into work everything you do is about your team the
everything you do is about your team the
everything you do is about your team the single most important thing that you do
single most important thing that you do
single most important thing that you do every day is interact with your team and
every day is interact with your team and
every day is interact with your team and the people around you I don’t just mean
the people around you I don’t just mean
the people around you I don’t just mean the people that work for you the team
the people that work for you the team
the people that work for you the team the team they’re delivering things and
the team they’re delivering things and
the team they’re delivering things and that’s because they’re the people that
that’s because they’re the people that
that’s because they’re the people that are going to help you achieve the
are going to help you achieve the
are going to help you achieve the mission so it might feel like getting in
mission so it might feel like getting in
mission so it might feel like getting in the lift you’ve got several emails that
the lift you’ve got several emails that
the lift you’ve got several emails that have just come in and you’re totally
have just come in and you’re totally
have just come in and you’re totally focused on what’s happening in your
focused on what’s happening in your
focused on what’s happening in your iPhone no put it away
iPhone no put it away
iPhone no put it away it’s that one-to-one interaction that’s
it’s that one-to-one interaction that’s
it’s that one-to-one interaction that’s going to make the difference the most
going to make the difference the most
going to make the difference the most important thing you do is that
important thing you do is that
important thing you do is that interaction and you’ve got to remember
interaction and you’ve got to remember
interaction and you’ve got to remember as a leader leading by example can’t be
as a leader leading by example can’t be
as a leader leading by example can’t be delegated right leading by example that
delegated right leading by example that
delegated right leading by example that is you you’re doing it you’re never off
is you you’re doing it you’re never off
is you you’re doing it you’re never off by the way it works when you are at work
by the way it works when you are at work
by the way it works when you are at work in most people in that space you are in
in most people in that space you are in
in most people in that space you are in a cut you’re like a plot device right
a cut you’re like a plot device right
a cut you’re like a plot device right you’re a plot device called boss and you
you’re a plot device called boss and you
you’re a plot device called boss and you are never off the light and the shadow
are never off the light and the shadow
are never off the light and the shadow that you cast these are crucial things
that you cast these are crucial things
that you cast these are crucial things there
there
there affecting people’s days if you look up
affecting people’s days if you look up
affecting people’s days if you look up beat and positive and confident people
beat and positive and confident people
beat and positive and confident people feel good about their day if you look
feel good about their day if you look
feel good about their day if you look stressed and harassed and oh my god
stressed and harassed and oh my god
stressed and harassed and oh my god people don’t feel so good you’ve got to
people don’t feel so good you’ve got to
people don’t feel so good you’ve got to remember you are never off that light is
remember you are never off that light is
remember you are never off that light is really really crucial but like you are
really really crucial but like you are
really really crucial but like you are shedding really important and people
shedding really important and people
shedding really important and people want you by the way to be courageous if
want you by the way to be courageous if
want you by the way to be courageous if you want to engender in your team a
you want to engender in your team a
you want to engender in your team a sense of I dare you a sense of I’m going
sense of I dare you a sense of I’m going
sense of I dare you a sense of I’m going to dare you to be great you’ve got to
to dare you to be great you’ve got to
to dare you to be great you’ve got to look like you’re prepared to step up but
look like you’re prepared to step up but
look like you’re prepared to step up but you’re going to be courageous that you
you’re going to be courageous that you
you’re going to be courageous that you will step up you will dare them to be
will step up you will dare them to be
will step up you will dare them to be great and you will support them and
great and you will support them and
great and you will support them and build around them a protective
build around them a protective
build around them a protective environment in which they can do so so
environment in which they can do so so
environment in which they can do so so that’s it in conclusion just to say this
that’s it in conclusion just to say this
that’s it in conclusion just to say this is these have been really important
is these have been really important
is these have been really important words for me I dare you and it’s really
words for me I dare you and it’s really
words for me I dare you and it’s really helped me work out what how ambitious I
helped me work out what how ambitious I
helped me work out what how ambitious I want my leadership to be which is very
want my leadership to be which is very
want my leadership to be which is very how ambitious I want the department to
how ambitious I want the department to
how ambitious I want the department to be but also how to get there how to take
be but also how to get there how to take
be but also how to get there how to take people with me what really matters so I
people with me what really matters so I
people with me what really matters so I really encourage you apply them in your
really encourage you apply them in your
really encourage you apply them in your own life or else five three other words
own life or else five three other words
own life or else five three other words if these don’t speak to you but find
if these don’t speak to you but find
if these don’t speak to you but find something find something that speaks to
something find something that speaks to
something find something that speaks to you that will help you manage your own
you that will help you manage your own
you that will help you manage your own mindset will help you manage your team
mindset will help you manage your team
mindset will help you manage your team and will help you take your organization
and will help you take your organization
and will help you take your organization to somewhere you wouldn’t otherwise have
to somewhere you wouldn’t otherwise have
to somewhere you wouldn’t otherwise have got to thank you very much
got to thank you very much
got to thank you very much [Applause]
”
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