Women make up nearly half of all recruitment consultants in the UK, yet more often than not, they’re locked out of the boardroom. A third of recruitment consultants have boards where women hold less than 5% of the seats. While the industry has come a long way from its ‘boys club’ days, senior leadership remains a tough space to break into. As we celebrate International Women’s Day this month, our director Faye Angeletta, has been part of that shift.

what does being a woman in recruitment mean to you?

I was the first woman to join tdm recruitment 10 years ago and the environment shaped me massively. I learned a lot in a male dominated environment and, I would like to think that has worked both ways with my male colleagues taking learnings from me too.

We can’t argue the world is littered with inherent biases making it difficult for women to move up the ladder; traits that people typically associate with leadership are usually associated with masculinity. But that doesn’t matter at tdm. What is key, is having grounded core values, commitment, drive, passion, and consistency – do your job to the best of your ability and do it well, every day. I haven’t been held back and my success has been celebrated and supported in a meritocratic environment where my contribution is valued and important.

what’s the best lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?

Never settle. If you want to continue to grow, you can’t become complacent – continuous learning, exploring new challenges and pushing yourself is paramount. You can always be better.

if you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Believe in yourself, trust your process, and never compare yourself to others. Everyone’s trajectory is different and you may take different steps to get to where you are going, but if you believe and stick to the plan, you will get to where you are going and do so in the right way. Don’t look over your shoulder and look at what others are doing, focus on your own path.

who has inspired you most and why?

As a massive football fan I am inspired by all our Lionesses, present and past, who have contributed to shattering stereotypes and paving the way for the future of women in sport. Women were banned from playing by the FA for 50 years until 1970. Women’s abilities in sports were undermined and their aspirations limited. Yet 50 years later, they brought a country together and changed the perception and value of womens football globally. I was at the women’s Euro’s final in 2022 behind the goal for that iconic moment when Chloe Kelly kicked the ball over the line in extra time and swung her shirt over her head in jubilation. I am not too proud to admit I cried when the final whistle went as I knew it was all about to change for the better – no more years of hurt.

Not just this month but all year-round, we celebrate the incredible contributions of women in all industries, including recruitment, and recognise the progress made and the work still to be done. If you’re passionate, driven, and ready to make an impact, we’re always looking for new talent to join our team. See the job info here.