We Are Power Podcast
The We Are Power podcast is for your career and your life, no matter what business you're in. A weekly leadership and careers podcast with listeners in over 60 countries worldwide. Each week the We Are Power Podcast will bring you a new interview from a leader within the 95,000-strong We Are Power community. You'll hear personal life stories, top-notch industry advice, and key leadership insight from amazing female role models. Podcast produced by What Goes On Media and hosted by Simone Roche MBE. Find out more at: https://whatgoesonmedia.com/
We Are Power Podcast
Empowering Entrepreneurs through Mentorship and Community with Julie Baker
This week, we sit down with Julie Baker, Head of Strategic Partnerships at NatWest Group.
Julie shares her inspiring 42-year journey from aspiring PE teacher to a leading role at NatWest, and her dedication to empowering women in business.
Discover the power of sponsorship, the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone, and how building the right networks can lead to success.
Listen to learn:
-The importance of investing in women-led businesses
-The collective efforts needed to empower female entrepreneurs.
-The life-changing impact of mentorship, peer support, and community-driven efforts
-How Julie creatively balanced her career with motherhood
You can now nominate for the 2025 Northern Power Women Awards to be in with a chance of celebrating with changemakers, trailblazers and advocates on 6th March 2025! Nominate now at wearepower.net
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Hello, hello and welcome to the we Are Power podcast Northern Power Women podcast. For your career and your life, no matter what business you're in. Hello, hello and welcome to the we Are Power podcast, the podcast where every single week, I speak to some of the most wonderful role models. They've all got different stories, different backgrounds and we want to be able to pass on some of that top tip, guidance, advice, support, whatever it may be, whether it be on your career, your life, whichever adventure you are on. And this week I'm delighted to be joined by the wonderful Julie Baker, multi-accomplished head of strategic partnerships and way more at NatWest Group. Julie, welcome to the podcast, it's great to hang out.
Speaker 2:Thank you, simone, and always great to catch up with you. We've bumped into each other over the years doing the wonderful work that we do and, yes, at the moment my role at NatWest is Head of Strategic Partnerships. But you're absolutely right, it covers loads of different initiatives but, as you know, especially those that you and I are extremely passionate about, like supporting more women into business and helping them scale and grow.
Speaker 1:And how did you find your way into this role? No one has a straight path. How did you get to this fabulous role?
Speaker 2:Oh well, it's completely different to a lot of my colleagues today. I joined NetWest 42 years ago, so after my A-levels and until then I wanted to be a PE teacher and it was a stint on work experience in the PE department that suddenly made me realise absolutely no way did I want to be a PE teacher, because not everybody was as passionate a sport as I was. So I thought what do I do next? And my domestic science teacher said to me Julie, you're good at maths and my husband's a bank manager manager. I'll have a word with him, go and meet him. And the rest is history. She was my first sponsor. I didn't realize it at the time, and that year back in 1982, there were 11 people taking on at Lincoln Smith's bank in the mid-levens, nine males, two females, and I was one of the females. So that's where it all started and of course females were very much a minority in the bank 40 years ago and very little opportunity for progression. But after five years I did get the opportunity mainly because of my boyfriend at the time was already out there to go to the Channel Islands and I suppose it was there that my career started to take off and where I got my first management appointment. It was also a very special time for us because over the years that we spent in the Channel Islands and working offshore, got married and had our first child, our daughter Kerry. So she's a Jersey Dean, which is lovely, but it was whilst I was in Jersey I probably got my real first sort of sponsor as a manager, and it was the guy that recruited me. I wasn't even going to apply for the job because typical female, I thought others would be better positioned to be promoted than I was. I got the job and, of course, I just got married.
Speaker 2:Soon after that I found out I was pregnant and I had to be really creative as to getting back in the workplace, because there's no childminders on Jersey, no day nurseries, and so I was a little bit entrepreneurial and found a friend that had a two-year-old daughter, that was a nurse and worked nights because her husband worked days. He worked with my husband and said if I pay you your nursing salary, will you look after my daughter? And she jumped at the chance and became the first childminder on Jersey. I got back to work and my boss, who was delighted that I came back, said right then, julie, he said we're going to get you out there. I said oh, I don't want to talk in front of any people. The civil group, it said no, you're absolutely going to do that. He said you need to step outside your comfort zone because that's when you grow, that's when the magic happens. I never forgot that and that was in my mid-20s. That happened to me so, so that was my only progression.
Speaker 2:But you know, when did I find the passion or the need to stop really looking at women? I suppose it's when I was relationship manager some 10, 15 years later on the South Coast. I had a portfolio of 200 business commercial clients, mainly in the hotels and leisure industry, and only two were women. And they were amazing women. And I just took a step back and thought I'm the only female relationship manager in my team. I've got a portfolio here with businesses and only two are run by women. This is crazy, whilst we're 51% of the population of women. So that's when it first hit me and that's when I started looking at okay, what can I do to make a difference?
Speaker 1:wow, and how did so? You did that sort of independently, but it's now your role, or one of your roles, right, oh, yes, yeah, no, absolutely so.
Speaker 2:In those days I was really fortunate One, of course, they were both hoteliers. So, first of all, when you know hoteliers, you've got a great place to start networking circles because you can hold it in their hotels, and one of them was actually the secretary of the local hoteliers association. So I had two young children. I couldn't do what all my male colleagues did like network, you know, after work, in the pubs, in the changing rooms, that's, you know, football, health clubs, all the rest of it, because I was juggling being a working mom, that's, you know, football, health clubs, all the rest of it, because I was juggling being a working mum. But what I could do is, one Tuesday a month, go along to this meeting with all the hoteliers in Bournemouth, having my, if you like, I suppose my supporter there, who was the secretary, telling them all. She told them all how wonderful I was, how I could help them build their orangeries or fund their orangeries, fund their you know sort of improvements, expand their hotels, and I had this drip feed of business that turned into a diluted business and all of my male colleagues were thinking how does she do it? And so that was when the magic started to happen and I realized the importance of networks, but especially the right networks, and how you can make them work for you. With my other hotelier customer we went to some business awards. It was a Dorset Business Awards and it was all male and there were very few females in the room. So she started off locally in Dorset some business awards for females.
Speaker 2:This was in the really early days, probably 15, 20 years ago, and again they were hugely successful and the local women came to, started to come out of the woodwork. So then we looked at who else do we need to work with? So I started working with the local growth hub and MEP. I got to sit on the investment panel board, which was in the days of the regional growth fund monies. So I was a supporter around the table making sure that some of that grant funding went to women to support women's own businesses, and it just built and grew really quickly and it was after a few years that I was actually promoted to be a regional director.
Speaker 2:So I was covering Hampshire as well, worked with their LEP. But the head of business banking up in London spoke to me and said how do you feel like coming and doing a role nationally and doing the work nationally with partners. How are you doing locally down in Hampshire and Dorset? So that's how it started. And so 10 years ago, when I was appointed head of enterprise, it was working with strategic partners that were as passionate as I was and as my team are, and as the bank is, to support entrepreneurs. But especially, where's that untapped potential? So women in business, ethnic minority groups, niche groups, as you'll be close to, like those leading the armed forces that want to set up in business, ethnic minority groups, niche groups, as you'll be close to, like those leading the armed forces that want to set up in business. So it's been just the best 10 years.
Speaker 1:Some of the words that you've talked about, Julie, that you've talked about sponsorship. You mentioned sponsorship twice in sort of the first questions. Now, back in the day, we wouldn't have called a sponsor, we wouldn't have known, would they? We would have been like you know what, do you care? Kind of thing, Because we would appreciate mention. But sponsorship is such a different thing. We talk often about people being over-mentored and under-sponsored. Sponsor is so key, isn't it? Sponsorship and advocacy, oh, it is.
Speaker 2:And I know, you know, even in the lives of my children, when the teacher said the right thing to them, like my son once was told, we have really good leadership qualities and he always reminds me of that and he always reminds his bosses in interviews that he said, you know, this was identified and he is now a leader of people in his 20s, which is great. But instilling that belief often takes somebody you know in your early career or even your school school days to to help you on that journey. And it's so important now we all all play that, play that back. But you touched on a couple of things there, simone, that I would like to. Um, that's really helped me with my career, especially over the last 10 years, and that's all those outside interests and I.
Speaker 2:I have a lot of career chats, a lot of mentoring chats with colleagues that are looking to progress, and they often have a moment about, oh, there's no opportunities. But I said you're looking in the wrong places. The opportunities aren't always in your day job. There's so many external interests out there that you can really gain so much more experience from learn loads but enjoy at the same time. And so for the last 15 years, at any one time.
Speaker 2:I tried to keep it down to three, but I've sat on advisory boards, I've sat on boards of LEPs, I've been on investment panels. You know judge awards, I know you do all this as well, but the development, the building of your network, the knowledge you gain from it is, it's just incredible and I encourage more and more of my colleagues and people that I come um, you know sort of meet day to day to do that sort of activity, because it's it's so good, I think, to network um with people outside your own sector. You learn so much and, especially as I've got a passion supporting entrepreneurs, I spend so much time with entrepreneurs sometimes I forget I'm a banker and it's interesting because I think there is.
Speaker 1:I've written the other word. I wrote down it was portfolio. I wrote down sponsor, intrapreneurship, stroke, entrepreneurship and portfolio, because you, you have like, as you said, there's multiple roles. Um, you know, your chair of access to finance group, member of the investing women task force. It's that what's something doing. Give it to a busy woman. I think we often talk multiple roles. You know you're chair of access to finance group, member of the investing women task force. It's that what's something doing. Give it to a busy woman. I think we often talk about, but there's, there's something about having that portfolio, and it's never too early, is it? I don't think it's ever too early to start building those, whether they be a voluntary role or a board role, a voluntary role but they're the things that make us richer, don't they?
Speaker 2:a board role, a voluntary role, but they're the things that make us rich at Obey. Oh, absolutely. And the experience I gained as well working on, initially, the research and the Rose Review report, which tackled the barriers faced by female founders, which we all know. That fantastic headline that is still used by ministers and governments so 250 billion pounds of the UK economy women were to start and scale businesses at the same rate as men. I am delighted and I only saw the figures yesterday, but they are released on social media so I can share them.
Speaker 2:Back in 2018, when we started looking at that research, 58,000 women were incorporated at companies sorry, 58,000 businesses incorporated at Companies House by Women. In the last 12 months it's been 174,000. For the first time ever, we've got over a million businesses incorporations in UK set up run by women. So that is something to celebrate and it is a positive trend and it's actually in that area, faster than we thought. Of course, we've still got challenges about making sure funds get to the women to help them scale and grow, but we've got to start somewhere and that's having that footprint of women running businesses. So really proud of that amazing news and delighted now that we've moved on from the Rose Review and looking at the Investing Women Taskforce which is taking forward that work that all banks out there have got initiatives to support women. You know, whether it's through events, webinars, mentoring, support to accelerators Really proud that on the NetWest accelerators we have over 50% of places open to women.
Speaker 2:We were closer to 60% a lot of the time and you know want that to continue and some amazing businesses see. But you're right about that portfolio, some of the really strong network that I built over the last 10 years has come through some of the working with government as well. So the all-party parliamentary groups I chaired the Access to Finance work stream on the women in enterprise or party parliamentary group and again, the people that you can gain access to, not just in parliament but the key influencers in media. You get the businesses around the table, both small and large, and you really start to be able to make a difference. And you know, one of the that um we're really impressed with is those numbers we're seeing now um opening businesses in the uk and and we know from that data that almost 25 percent of them are 24 years old or less, which I think is fantastic and exciting for the future 100 and I think you know it's that you talk about the age being under 24 as well.
Speaker 1:That support in that next gen of entrepreneurs is massively critical and I think of you obviously always had this in mind from back in your days on the Channel Islands where you were that young individual. You helped create their entrepreneur business the first child minded business on the Channel Islands. You were that person's sponsor, right, you helped that happen.
Speaker 2:Oh, totally, totally. And do you know what? It continued because four years later, after we returned to the mainland, I had Stefan, my son, our second child four years in between. And we're looking again for childminders and initially we had a nanny, we were both working and we found that was the best way of juggling, if you like, two children, because they came to us. And I think for anybody who's got a family, you know, having that support network around you, both in the workplace and at home, is vital. Or you just fumble. So it was fantastic I had that.
Speaker 2:But when the children got older I thought I'm going to get creative again. And there was a customer who was a farmer and had a daughter who was like looking for other roles and I said, do you think? And she did work on the farm, but of course there was gaps. So I said, do you think she'd like to come to my house at eight o'clock in the morning and then take my kids to school and then pick them up at half three? And she did that for five years and the kids loved her, I loved her and if they're in, if they had a sort of sick day or if they're school holidays, they got to go and live on the farm, in the farmhouse and loved it. So you know, amazingly you can be creative.
Speaker 2:But one of the most interesting things that came out of that um, when it all finished it was like where's she going to earn the extra money? And the kids by then we knew the farm and everything. I said well, you know that barn that's just full of rubbish you don't use. Why don't you rent it out? And she rented it out to a guy that um put like old cars and things in there and I put up a cafe and she got far more in rental income that I ever would have paid her in childminding fees. But again, it's just all it takes for someone to have that conversation, isn't there? That's all it takes.
Speaker 1:Obviously, we've talked about entrepreneurship, we've talked about sort of mentoring and sponsorship as part of the awards we you know the Northern Power Women Awards. It is the largest event celebrating gender equality in Europe, which we're massively proud of. But we never stand still and it's never about one night. You know one of the things that we do we bring all our entrepreneurs together for a lunch in advance and there was a brilliant post from one of our entrepreneurs who didn't win this year, but she put a post out to say, monday night, I had the best night not winning, no-transcript. It was beyond that. It was beyond what comes with that and I think that's why it's really important that role modeling which enables you've talked about being part of boards, being part of round tables, being able to influence, being able to mentor others. There's so many different sort of aspects to it and I think that's what this community that we're both part of, if you like, this wider community is so massively. That spirit in there of supporting and high-fiving achievements is so massively important that role model piece.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, totally agree, and what I see now and it's really promising and continues to grow is the amount of women supporting women, and it could be that peer-to-peer support what you're talking about. When you bring lots of businesswomen together, it could be that women of wealth invest in women that are setting up businesses and see the excitement of becoming business angels and investors. But also, something we've worked with recently is Buy Women Built, which is encouraging every woman to buy from a woman, because not everyone will be an entrepreneur, not everyone can invest in one, but everybody can buy from a woman and therefore help their business scale and grow. So there's something we can all do and I'm really delighted that you know we we found each other a long time ago, simone, and, uh, you do amazing work up there in Manchester and I know now nationally and globally, so, uh, fantastic and what is the one thing from your career that you learned that you think everyone should know?
Speaker 1:put it on a t-shirt. When I put it on a tote bag, what do you think that is?
Speaker 2:oh, that's got to be, and I'm going back to what I said at the outset it's it's only when you step outside your comfort zone you grow. So do that, and I still do that. If I go to a networking event I went to one this week and some new ministers were there I went and introduced myself. It's not comfortable, but do it because that's when you really get the opportunities. So, yes, step outside your comfort zone because that's when the magic happens.
Speaker 1:Absolutely and finally. Looking ahead, what are you excited about?
Speaker 2:Because clearly you will not be standing still, oh no, Well, I'm really excited to continue working with the government and the Investing Women Task Force, Obviously, all the wonderful work that we do at NatWest. We've got 1,000 women in business specialists out there and we're looking to make our world-class accelerator even better over the next year, with little exciting initiatives in 2025. So for me, you know that still remains my passion and it's helping that next generation of entrepreneurs, if you like, to have a better journey that those that you and I have probably seen in our time, Simone. So, yeah, it's just making the world a better place for those 100%, paying it forward, passing on your skills, knowledge, expertise.
Speaker 1:Everyone could do something for someone. Julie Baker, thank you so much. Great to have some time to catch up and connect. Reconnect again so great. Thank you so much for joining me. No, thank you, that was wonderful. Simone, thank you and thank all of you for listening to our podcast. Thank you all of you. We love getting your feedback. We love getting your questions. We want you to pass on the conversation, because you never know what someone is going to take away by what they've listened, by listening to the podcast or reading the transcript. Please do pass it on and do get in touch. Stay connected on all of our socials Twitter, instagram and TikTok. We are power underscore net, facebook and LinkedIn wearepower. My name is Simone. This is the we Are Power podcast, a what Goes On Media production.
