IWD 2025 - an interview with: Anna Whitehead

Tell us a little about your career journey leading to where you are now.

I started my HR career at Miss Selfridge and Topshop Topman and have held roles across blue chip luxury retail, media and most recently football!

What does the International Women’s Day slogan “accelerate action” mean for you?

For me it’s creating a sense of urgency. Despite raised awareness, inequalities exist here in the UK we need to lead the way for Women’s Equality across all industries. 

How important is it for women to lift each other up and what does that mean to you?

It’s absolutely vital. I’m privileged to have been lifted up by inspirational women leaders during my career and have been able to pull others up in return. Many of those relationships are enduring.

How important is diversity across senior leadership teams? 

Diversity partly mitigates the effects of bounded rationality in any team and of course in leadership teams where diverse views and perspectives are needed to solve complex problems and tasks it’s essential.

Senior leadership: 26%, C-suite: 19%, 1 in 4: Chief-level. These are the percentages and numbers of female leaders in our industry. What do these numbers represent to you?

They’re a starting point. Organisations must go further.

As a successful leader, how do you think (business) leaders can accelerate action toward closing the gender gap and ensuring equal opportunities in the workplace?

Recognise the value of a hybrid/autonomous working model to women who are adversely affected by dictating return to the office trend that we are currently seeing.

Can you share your top tips for entrepreneurial/managerial/leadership success?

Stay curious and open to new ideas in your profession, be trustworthy, lift up your team and be dedicated to your self-care.

What’s the most important piece of advice you’d give to a woman thinking of starting a career at leadership level?

Go for it. It’s where you’ll have the opportunity to make a positive impact.

Have there been any role models through your life (work or professional) who have helped shape you as a leader?

Too many to list but special mention to my first manager at Miss Selfridge, Sarah Taunton who gave me my first opportunity in HR and to Celine Gilg; an inspiring woman and we experienced COVID lockdown together as leaders at Puig. Something I will always remember positively.