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
Take a look at my Video:
Mary's JAM
SEEDA coffee morning for women in business
SEEDA - South East England Development Agency - SEEDA - are sponsoring a coffee morning for women in business at the Coppid Beech Hotel, Bracknell on 19th November at 10am - 12 noon.
BBC Radio Berkshire
Mary has appeared on quite a number of programmes on BBC Radio Berkshire. To keep up to date with the latest news in our region and for travel you trust - tune in on line: www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire or turn your radio to 104.1fm.
Mary's Keller Breakfast
Mary has an eye for detail and makes your visit memorable, inspired and rewarding. The success of the event lies in the percentages of who attend. One third will be regular members who wouldn’t miss a breakfast, the 2nd third will be of those who come and go depending on work commitments and the final third is new people, this mix gives everyone a reason for attending.
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.
