Celebrating Inspiring Women in Business: Interview with Helen Emmett, CFO Experian UK

As we wrap up our second inspiring women interview series, we are proud to share our conversation with Helen Emmett , CFO, Experian UK, who spoke with Ellie Smith at our Women's Networking Breakfast event in March. Helen shared her insights on the subject of work-life balance and how imposter syndrome affected her career and personal growth.

Helen began her career at Boots, in Nottingham, on a graduate scheme and has remained in the city ever since. As a mum to two teenage boys and a Trustee of the National Justice Museum in Nottingham, Helen is a busy person who knows first-hand the challenges of balancing work, family life and personal growth / care. She credits her exposure to more female leaders as a key factor in building her confidence and helping her succeed in her career.

However, as Helen candidly admits, imposter syndrome has held her back at times. Early in her career, she didn't even consider CFO as a career option because there weren't many women role models in senior leadership roles at the time. It was only after seeking the advice of a coach that she realised the impact that imposter syndrome was having on her thinking and behaviour. Helen's coach encouraged her to seek feedback from her peers and to lean-in to her strengths, rather than her self-doubts.

Helen's experience highlights the importance of having supportive networks and mentors in the workplace. She also emphasises the value of softer, less 'alpha' skills in creating a safe and inclusive environment for employees. As Helen notes, businesses perform better when their leadership teams are diverse and representative of their employees and customers.

One of the key takeaways from Helen's talk is the importance of flexible working in enabling women to pursue senior roles and achieve work-life balance. By offering flexible arrangements, employers can support their employees' needs and retain top talent. Helen also encourages women to have faith in themselves and their abilities, and to seek out opportunities to learn and grow.

As we conclude our inspiring women interview series, we hope that the stories and insights we have shared will inspire and empower women in business. We'd like to thank Helen Emmett once again for her time and wisdom, and we look forward to continuing to celebrate and support women's achievements and progress in the workplace.

Note: During the interview, Helen mentions a new paternity policy at Experian that hadn't (at that point) been announced. However, at the point of releasing this article and video (17.04.23), that news has since been made public.

Feeling inspired? If you are, or know an inspiring woman in business who would like to share their story and experience with us here at SF Recruitment, we are now looking for future candidates for our third series of Inspiring Women interviews. Please don't hesitate to get in touch with Ellie Smith to discuss this further or nominate someone to be featured.

You can watch all of our Inspiring Women Interviews on our YouTube Channel via the links below:

Inspiring Women Series 2:

Esther Ferrari

Natalie Gasson McKinley MBE

Lyndsey Harrison Grimes

Helen Emmett

Inspiring Women Series 1:

Amanda Barlow

Liz Lyon

Alison Allsopp

Pam Sheemar

Sheila Brown OBE