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Mary Flavelle
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Mary Flavelle – Why Networking Pays Off in the End
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.
Mary Flavelle gave an inspiring presentation at the recent ‘Apprentice’ event run by Business in Berkshire as she explained how networking has always played a part in her life – regardless of her occupation at the time.
Always a keen supporter of networking groups, Mary runs her own breakfast event at the Coppid Beech Hotel in Bracknell. Her new networking venture, which launched in May has around 40 attending each month – that’s the power of effective networking in action. The sequence of events which led her along the networking path makes for a fascinating story, which she shared with attendees at the Business in Berkshire Apprentice day.
Originally from Northern Ireland, Mary relocated to Langley, Berks, in the early 1970s when her husband changed jobs. With a young son to look after, Mary initially worked from home in various occupations, including manufacturing plastic air fresheners. Later she worked on a farm for several years. Eventually becoming a fully qualified pruner and chemical sprayer. This led Mary into running her own gardening business but there are only so many years a lady can swing a shovel!
Many years playing netball in Berkshire, brought Mary the offer of a Manager’s post in a Trophy shop in Reading, and where she won the contract to supply trophies for the Reading half-marathon. This in turn led to a spot on Thames Valley TV, a cable network, behind camera was the Chief Executive of Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce, which led to the offer of a permanent position with the Chamber.
With her fast-developing belief in networking, Mary went on to host regular networking sessions and also has a weekly spot every Monday morning on Radio Berkshire with presenter Henry Kelly. She is also one of the Game Birds on the Nicki Whiteman programme and has also appeared on the Morality Panel.
www.businessinberkshire.co.uk/maryflavelle
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