Natwest everywoman Award winner Karen Kirby on “staying motivated in the face of adversity”

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Karen Kirby is Business Development & Policy Director at Indbuild, a specialist steelwork, cladding and rainscreen company operating throughout the UK. In 2013 Karen won the Hera Award in theNatWest everywoman Awards, for female business owners 50 years and over.

From her very first customer order to learning to deal with the effects of a brain haemorrhage and leading staff through a difficult recession, Karen candidly discusses the highs and lows of her career to date.

“I refused to accept we should make staff redundant. So I got them involved. We shared the pain, set up a rota of reduced working hours. Every single person signed up – some came in on unpaid days. We gained strength as a team.”

What has been the highlight of your career to date?

My first ever order! I nearly fell on the floor in excitement! I took so much care over it that it became a mantra for our company: “Treat every order as if it were our first.” Further down the line, getting our first £1 million order was terrifyingly exciting. Another highlight was employing my first member at staff – a teenager with so much potential. He’s still with us 16 years later and is now training to be a director!

In 2008 you suffered a brain haemorrhage which was a huge hurdle to overcome. How did you stay motivated at work?

I always felt blessed that my “motivation” cells weren’t damaged too following the haemorrhage! Motivation is an important skill; something to be nurtured; a gift to be used. Like a good wine, it improves with age and use. The self-preservation I demonstrated following my illness encourages other too; recently a male member of staff sent me an email to say how much I motivated him, which made my day.

How has your illness affected your confidence?

Early in my career my confidence suffered occasionally, particularly when I was talked over in meetings. Later, during my recovered, I couldn’t speak properly and I can still struggle now especially when my brain is tired, but if someone interrupts me or takes over the conversation I now have the confidence to speak up.

What are the key values of Indbuild?

We continually review our processes and systems in staff briefings (usually a relaxing affair with breakfast or lunch thrown in). At present we are undertaking a comprehensive review of our whole company from its ethos to its customers; we are in our next growth spurt and have to be prepared for it. This involves taking on new staff, further training and looking for financial support. It is absolutely important that a business reviews, otherwise it becomes stagnant.

“I believe women, just like men, can do anything they put their minds, hearts and souls into.”

What has been toughest challenge you’ve faced at Indbuild?

During the 2009-10 recession we were facing staff redundancies, but I refused to accept that we should do this. I felt we had to get all our staff involved in the process by asking them what they could do to help save their jobs and to help Indbuild through this hard period, which was effecting construction generally. It was agreed that we would all share the pain; we set up a rota system of a four-day and three-day alternative working week – unpaid for the days off and paid fully for the days working.

This went on for five months (we originally thought it would be a lot longer) but it was amazing how every single person signed up for this – some even came in unpaid on the days they weren’t allocated to. We grew so much stronger from this and all staff felt empowered that they could be involved in helping the business through the process. We didn’t lose one member of staff but we gained strength as a team.  

How do you handle tough conversations?

Tough conversations need to be had; without them you become a walkover and that leads to disrespect all round. I always remember the person in front of me is a human being with a heart. I know how it feels to be treated unfairly, shouted at, belittled in front of others, and I made a choice a long time ago not to behave that way towards others. Life’s hard enough; love and compassion is essential, as is respect of another’s feelings.  

How do you get yourself ready for the business day and how has this changed since your illness?

I usually wake between 4.30 and 5.30 a.m. The first thing I do is meditate. It’s my magic time where creativity flows. Then I drink a lot of water, do some stretching and silently move through the house getting housework done. Afterwards I like to spend some time learning something new (at the moment it’s the guitar). I also do some brain-training online; it’s a must for me as my brain is not so well and every little bit of stimulation is magic.

How did winning a NatWest everywoman Award affect you?

Construction is a very male-dominated world, and while I love it, I have sometimes not been taken seriously and found my decisions, opinions or even suggestions sometimes met with raised eyebrows. The award changed all that. I believe women, just like men, can do anything they put their minds, hearts and souls into.

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