People: The local women blazing trails in business
Sponsored Feature: To mark Women's History Month, Velvet shines a light on the local women blazing trails in the world of business
Julie Kervadec, Marketing Manager at Grand Arcade, Cambridge
Julie Kervadec is an expert in marketing with a passion for positive social and environmental Impact. Julie has had an international career in retail and fashion, in multinational corporations and also as an entrepreneur.
Julie started as a fashion industry product manager, developing clothing collections for hundreds of thousands of customers worldwide. After working in Madrid and Paris, she moved to Cambridge to launch her own eco-fashion brand. She was one of the first in the industry to raise awareness about the downsides of the fashion industry and the need for more sustainability. Julie has continued her work in sustainable consumer brands and has been serving on the boards of award-winning social ventures like Capikooa.
Julie also works for the global real estate company Cushman & Wakefield where she is responsible for the marketing strategy of Grand Arcade, Cambridgeshire’s leading shopping destination. She prioritises impactful events and campaigns which enliven the city and gather the local community around important topics. In 2022 Julie initiated the event Let’s Go Circular to showcase some of the best circular economy initiatives and she recently collaborated with the artists Dinky Doors to create an art trail and auction, raising funds for Cambridge Street Aid.
E: julie@grandarcade.co.uk
Catherine Mowat, Senior Partner at Tees
Having joined Tees in 1998 as a trainee, Catherine was made a Partner in 2007 and moved to Cambridge two years later to lead the Private Client team. She holds an MBA in Legal Practice Management and was appointed as the firm’s Senior Partner in August 2021.
As Senior Partner, Catherine is responsible for leading Tees’ partnership and works closely with the MD and Chair in guiding Tees’ strategic direction. She plays a crucial role in maintaining Tees’ unique culture and protecting the firm’s values, while continually ensuring their relevance in the modern world and alignment to achieve Environmental, social and governance (ESG) excellence.
Alongside her managerial responsibilities, Catherine’s Private Client work includes particular expertise in complex estate administration and succession planning. She advises regularly on Wills, powers of attorney and trusts. Her specialism in succession planning for rural clients means she is regularly tasked with untangling complex and high-stakes arrangements.
Although her role has developed to include broader responsibilities over the years, Catherine retains the same drive to achieve the best outcomes for her clients. She was praised in the Legal 500 UK as “a tower of strength and a wise counsellor”.
T: 01223 311141
E: catherine.mowat@teeslaw.com
Sasha McNally (MNAEA), Associate Partner at Carter Jonas
Born in Leicester and raised on the outskirts of Cambridge, Sasha started her career in the financial sector before transitioning into real estate with a local agency following the birth of her two children, Lucy and Joe.
A qualified member of the National Association of Estate Agents, Sasha has so far accrued more than 22 years experience within the industry and has developed a detailed knowledge of residential sales, acting for both private and commercial clients and specialising in properties with values between £750,000 and £3,000,000.
A keen swimmer, Sasha can often be found at her local pool or socialising with her friends over a glass of wine.
T: 01223 403330
E: sasha.mcnally@carterjonas.co.uk
Cíara Moore MA, Director of Moore Associates Cambridge
Cíara Moore was born in Dublin, Ireland and has lived in Cambridge for 26 years. Cíara’s career in healthcare spans 30-plus years, 25 of which she spent in the NHS, 17 of which she happily worked locally in Cambridge University Hospitals.
In 2019 Cíara set up Moore Associates Cambridge to provide subject- matter expertise to the NHS and private health care providers. Cíara has a wealth of experience in this field and she and her team are dedicated to helping their clients achieve their goals. Whether they are transforming health services or require specific subject-matter expertise, Moore Associates Cambridge provides the guidance and support organisations need to succeed.
Ciíara is also the founder of Female Leaders at Fifty, a network for women that supports them through mentorship, development, and engagement. Cíara recognized the importance of networking and support among women of all ages, but particularly at 50.
Cíara regularly writes a series of blogs and has recorded podcasts to help engage members of the network and provide valuable information. With a growing following on social media, it is Cíara’s vision that Female Leaders at Fifty becomes the go-to source for female empowerment.
E: ciarambmoore@outlook.com
Sarah Bush (MARLA), Director, Head of Lettings at Cheffins
“As the Head of Lettings and the first female board member at Cheffins, one of East Anglia’s leading professional services and auctioneering businesses, I have worked hard to get to where I am in my career,” says Sarah. “I started in the property industry 35 years ago at Januarys in Cambridge aged just 18! Two years later I was promoted to manager of the Royston branch.
“I have always had a passion for property and I specialised in sales for the first fifteen years of my career. As my interest in the lettings market grew, I moved to Accent Property Management in 2007, to concentrate on lettings. Nine years later, I joined Cheffins as Head of Lettings, and was asked to join the board in 2019.
“I am passionate about women in business and look to inspire my female colleagues. At Cheffins, we are keen to promote diversity and equality within the workplace and we are taking steps to increase the number of women in senior roles, and working hard to close the gender pay gap. There is still much to be done to encourage women in business, particularly within the property industry, and as a sector, we need to pull together to help adjust the balance.”
T: 01223 271980
E: sarah.bush@cheffins.co.uk
Laura Turner, Owner of Flora Laura Flowers
“I've been creating floral designs for as long as I can remember,” says Laura. “One of my earliest childhood memories is of a hot summer's day, the bumble- and honey bees hopping from flower to flower on the roses and honeysuckle bushes, me sitting on a lawn full of ox-eyed daisies and buttercups making flower chains into crowns or bracelets.
“Fascinated by flowers and nature, my love of flowers continued and I started working in a flower shop once I left school. Fast forward a couple of years, having pursued other interests and career paths, such as art, customer service and health and safety, I realised that I missed the colourful world of flowers, so I re-trained and returned to floral designs, much to my mother's delight!
“She loved the fact that my passion for flowers was reignited; that they put a smile on my face and a bounce in my step. Shortly afterwards my mum unfortunately passed away, so I decided to set up Flora Laura Flowers in her memory. An eco-friendly ethos naturally followed and I incorporate this into my work.
“My unique creations are always hand-crafted to order, using sustainable, ethically sourced flowers and materials - I love to work with mosses, willow, raffia and jam jars, to name just a few. Not only do I hope you’ll love my flowers as much as I do, the bees and butterflies would be proud of you too!”
T: 07543 549851
E: info@floralauraflowers.co.uk
Jane Cattermole, Founder and Managing Director at Bay Tree VA
Jane worked as a PA for 20 years before setting up Bay Tree VA, which celebrates its 15th birthday in March. Comprising a team of high-calibre virtual assistants who are carefully matched with a portfolio of clients, the Bay Tree VAs provide business support to start-ups, international organisations and busy individuals nationwide.
Jane reflects: “At Bay Tree, we have found a rich seam of talent in the 45+ age bracket who have PA/Executive Assistant experience but want a change in their work/life balance to accommodate children, other responsibilities or because they are semi-retired.
“Technology has been the great liberator; it enables us to work from home offices, without the daily commute and traditional 9-5 working model. We are proud to provide new opportunities and a supportive team environment to those with a calm, capable, ‘can-do’ attitude, who in turn are a valuable, flexible resource to our clients.”
In 2021 Bay Tree VA was listed in the Eastern Daily Press 'Future 50' - identifying companies that display exceptional potential for growth and ‘ones to watch’. Previously recognised as 'VA of the Year - England', Jane is a VA industry awards judge and an active member of the local business community.
E: standingby@baytreeva.co.uk (new client enquiries) or teamwork@baytreeva.co.uk (prospective VA enquiries)
Sharon Livermore, Director of Kameo Recruitment and Ambassador for the Employers Initiative on Domestic Abuse
Sharon Livermore, Director of Kameo Recruitment, established her business in May 2018 to not only recruit but to be used as a force for good within the community. Her mission: to raise awareness of domestic abuse. Why? Sharon is a domestic abuse survivor who came close to becoming a statistic on November 4, 2015. Through Kameo Recruitment Sharon has been able to present her extensive understanding of domestic abuse, share her lived experience, educate businesses on what domestic abuse is and how employers can support.
Sharon is an Ambassador for the Employers Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA) and the Domestic Abuse Alliance. In 2021, Sharon, with the support of both, along with the HR department, created Sharon’s Policy, a FREE template Domestic Abuse Policy, which allows businesses to start their journey in supporting their employees. Sharon now dedicates her career to changing lives, whether that be through finding people their dream job or creating workplaces where domestic abuse is understood.
Kameo Recruitment has more than 50 years of combined recruitment experience. Sharon has created a culture of collaboration and empowerment, both of which are deeply rooted in the business, and Kameo aims to uphold those core values when engaging with candidates and clients alike.
T: 01223 608244 or 07897 316514
E: sharon@kameorecruitment.com
Rachel Sackel, Mortgage and Protection Adviser with Mortgage Advice Bureau Cambridge
“I’m Rachel, a Mortgage and Protection Adviser with Mortgage Advice Bureau Cambridge. I started my career in financial services in 2010, making the change to becoming a fully qualified Adviser in 2016 and started working with MAB in 2017,” says Rachel.
“I decided to become an adviser because one of my biggest strengths is my organisation and I wanted to use my skills in a meaningful way – what better way to do this than helping take the stress out of one of the most important decisions a person can make in their lifetime?
“As a Mortgage and Protection Adviser, I provide my clients with advice tailored to their personal circumstances and am able to look at lenders who represent the whole of the market, meaning there are very few people I cannot help. I am also qualified to provide protection advice to ensure my clients can remain in their homes in the event of a range of unforeseen circumstances. I pride myself on providing high quality advice and ensuring I have an excellent reputation in the area.
“Outside of work I am very active and have a passion for fitness – I dabble in powerlifting and am currently training for my first half marathon.”
E: Rachel.Sackel@mab.org.uk
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