IWD 2021: Jenny Dance - Empowering Women in Innovation

As part of International Women’s Day, we interview Jenny Dance on her role at Phona, her views on women in business and what a more gender-balanced world-view means to her.

Tell us about your role.

I run an EdTech business, specialising in technology to help people improve speech sounds and pronunciation. It’s a small business, so I do a bit of everything, which I enjoy.

What do you enjoy most about your job?  

Seeing how people are able to benefit from our technology as it improves their confidence in communicating. I love seeing that ‘lightbulb moment’ as they are able to understand, in a meaningful way, how to analyse a model recording and their own pronunciation in comparison.

And what are the most challenging aspects?

It can be difficult to find enough time to focus on each aspect of the business. There are always so many competing priorities!

What 3 things do you think you need to progress as a woman in business?

The same as for anyone, regardless of gender: tenacity, confidence and pragmatism.

What are the biggest challenges the future generation of women in business face?

I think it’s possible that the future of work will benefit many women – for example, more focus on flexible working and working from home. The challenges are more likely to be to the ‘traditional’ male employee model, which looks less attractive than it did 20 or even 10 years ago. I hope the future will see a more homogenous mix of highly valued skills, and less focus on a one-dimensional ‘male vs female’ viewpoint.

What can the next generation bring to business that previous generations may not have?

Greater confidence is key. My daughter, 10, is still the exception in her primary school maths lessons, because many girls don’t put their hands up to answer questions. That makes me sad. I would like to see that change – and fast.

What does a more gender-balanced world-view mean for you?

A better reflection of humanity, all its fantastic strengths, amazing talents, viewpoints, flaws and intricacies. 

How can we enable more women to take a place at the board-room table?

Encourage confidence from an early age; open minds – regardless of gender; and recognise that flexible working is very important to all the women who balance caring responsibilities (children and elderly relatives) with work.

How can businesses evolve to be more gender-balanced?

By not focusing too much on men vs women, but looking at the skillset of the employees or people involved in running the business. Talents, strengths and weaknesses span the whole of the gender spectrum. How can those skills be harnessed to drive the business forward, and have some fun while doing it? I’d personally like to see more emphasis on neurodiversity (although not as a gender issue) – lots of exciting areas to explore there.

What advice would you give to young women and men starting out in business today in context of promoting a more diverse world-view?

Look at the positives of the people you meet and work with, regardless of gender. How can you help each other? How can you bring your strengths and knowledge together to create something exciting and successful?

What women inspire you and why?

My mother – she is incredibly strong, fiercely intelligent and a great negotiator!