From the day she was rejected by the BBC because it didn’t employ women as receptionists , Mary Flavelle has been turning hurdles into opportunities, leading to her being named Ambassador for Women. “This was Northern Ireland, 1965,” she laughs.
Marketing the products to the local business and sporting community led to radio and TV appearances and, she landed a job at Bracknell branch and subsequently won a British Chamber of Commerce Best Practice Award. Head-hunted by South East Economic Development Association (SEEDA), she was seconded to Business Link, and then nominated for the Ambassador award for the South East. ‘It’s not qualifications, you know, it’s being in the right place at the right time, and taking opportunities,’ says Mary. ‘But most of all it’s personality.’
Mary’s business is networking in all forms, she has strong links with The High Commissioner of Malaysia, and works with the Malaysian Executive Business Club. She has continued her interest in local business breakfasts by launching the Keller Breakfast at the Coppid Beech Hotel, Bracknell and has recently facilitated the London Irish Lunchworks business network at the Madejski Stadium. Her skills as an events organiser have led to her appointment to the committee of the East Berkshire Federation of Small Businesses.
It’s her passion to support women in business, which led to her appointment as Ambassador for Women, and has now given her the opportunity “to encourage young entrepreneurs, to mentor and to keep the government aware of the needs of women at work”. Whilst at the Chamber, she launched the women’s network SHE plc, and recently partnered Sharon Connelly with Ladies who Latte.
‘I am passionate about the importance of working together, sharing burdens and supporting each other. That’s good business.’
Danusia Hutson: Berkshire Life Magazine – extract from January edition 2008
Photo by Dale Strickland-Clark
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Mary's JAM
Hemmings moves step closer to Olympic dream
Anna Hemmings, Britain’s greatest ever female canoeist, takes her place in the Britain Olympic team and is in Beijing this month to compete in the K2 500m sprint event, alongside partner Jessica Walker.
BBC Radio Berkshire
Mary can be found every Monday from 12 noon to 1pm reviewing the daily papers with Henry Kelly on BBC Radio Berkshire. Allegedly the top pair of the week who people love to listen to. There is a great repour between these two people from the Emerald Isle and have become a firm favourite with the listening audience.
Meeting of the Minds Thursday, 28th February 2008 @ The Harte and Garter Hotel, Windsor. Please join us for a top day’s business networking. Meet business people over Mary's Breakfast, the NRG Lunch or take 15 minutes to discuss your needs at our "Meeting of the Minds".
Mary Flavelle – Why Networking Pays Off in the End
Upon leaving school Mary wrote to the BBC in Belfast for a job as a receptionist, Mary’s reply was ‘thank you for your interest in this company I regret to inform you we only employ men’. You learn from knock backs, and this was the first of many. Today, Mary has a weekly spot on BBC Radio Berkshire: “it has taken many years but I got there”, she said.
From the day she was rejected by the BBC because it didn’t employ women as receptionists , Mary Flavelle has been turning hurdles into opportunities, leading to her being named Ambassador for Women. “This was Northern Ireland, 1965,” she laughs.
