Better with Etta

That’s why when Etta Cohen stepped down from her role at the head of Forward Ladies, the women’s business networking organisation, it was inevitable that she would in some ways still be involved in this battle for greater diversity.

Ms Cohen handed over the reins of Forward Ladies 18 months ago to Griselda Togobo. Despite giving up her cherished baby, she continues to fight for what she believed in: equality.

“I would just like to see a time when there is actually probably no need for a Forward Ladies as such – when we do have the level playing field,” she says. “Where if women want to progress, be it in a company or in growing their own business, then there are no barriers.

“Interestingly enough, I have spoken to some people who feel things in some areas are actually getting worse not better. That’s scary.”

Ms Cohen started off life as a schoolteacher in inner-city Leeds. Disillusioned with the education system, she left the profession.

“I met so many young people who had so much talent and yet they were going to drop through the net,” she says.

She also served as a magistrate for 15 years and went through a divorce, bringing up two children on her own.

Ms Cohen eventually found herself in a business development role at the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward. This is where she launched Forward Ladies and spun out with the organisation when Yorkshire Forward decided to make it self-financing.

Forward Ladies went onto become a prominent organisation championing women’s issues.

“As we grew we actually had a voice that could influence because I sat on many groups and consultations in London and we took the ladies to Westminster several times,” she says.

“We had senior politicians come to speak at the events held at Westminster and we got a lot of publicity promoting what we were doing. I think it gave women self-belief and confidence.”

The financial directors of Tesco and Asda, leading politicians such as Iain Duncan Smith and Theresa May are just a few of those who have held court at Forward Ladies events.

The key to this organisation’s success though was its relaxed approach to business networking. In fact, the idea for Forward Ladies was conceived over an informal lunch that Ms Cohen had with a female bank manager.

These days, as well as being an ambassador for Forward Ladies, Ms Cohen is also a board member of the Yorkshire Asian Business Association (YABA). She believes that women from all cultures have a role to play in building the region’s future prosperity. “We have to recognise that this region is so wealthy because it’s made up of such tremendous cultures and within those cultures we have so much strength. We have to understand the women in those cultures.”

Although it was a challenge to attract women from all backgrounds to Forward Ladies’ events, being a women-led organisation made it easier for Asian women to attend, says Ms Cohen.

Her campaigning for greater diversity saw her receive an OBE last year. However, Ms Cohen insists her honour for services to women in business was not about her but a recognition that gender diversity issues were being taken seriously.

“They’re realising that women in business, entrepreneurship, is key to UK plc. That’s what that meant to me,” she says.

While politicians have extolled the virtues of greater gender diversity in the workplace and commissioned many reports and studies, Ms Cohen is steadfast in her belief that action is what is needed.

“I would like the Government to start actually taking this whole contribution that women can make seriously and not pay lip-service to it,” Ms Cohen says.

“I’m not interested in box-ticking. I’m interested in things changing on the ground.

“We’ve had all the studies as to what the barriers are facing women and minority groups. Do something. Now.”

Ms Cohen insists it’s not about giving women preferential treatment but that the best people are given a fair chance, whatever gender or ethnicity they may be. Not every woman may be interested in becoming a CEO or sitting on the board of a business.

But those who want to and have the ability should be given a chance to do so, says Ms Cohen.

“I don’t want people to think that women want special treatment. Women don’t. What they want is equal treatment.”

Recruiting people from different backgrounds can benefit organisations as it brings different perspectives, says Ms Cohen.

She adds: “Where we are missing out is we don’t include a much broader spectrum when we’re looking to develop and recruit people.

“People say that if women are of a certain age they want to start a family. I would say that is not a hindrance. That actually can be a help because that woman will have a different outlook on life and a different understanding.

“Instead of looking at things negatively they should be looking at what that women can bring to the organisation. I had two children – it didn’t stop me working, it didn’t stop me performing and it didn’t stop my brain from functioning.”

Childcare isn’t the sole responsibility of women, she adds, and there’s no reason for women who go on maternity leave to be left behind. Especially with modern technology enabling remote working and innovation such as online training that could keep women up to speed during their time off.

Ms Cohen’s message to women is simple: “Have passion, believe in yourself and you can do anything you set your mind to.”