Rachael Flanagan is a Welsh Entrepreneur and founder of the professional cleaning company Mrs. Buckét, known for modernizing the industry and championing women in the workplace. She leads a predominantly female workforce and is committed to breaking down the barriers women still face in business.
When Business lobby group Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Cymru found discrimination and unconscious bias were holding women back from leadership roles, and more affordable childcare would open up their career prospects, Rachel Flanagan set to work to remove the barriers women face in work places by founding a business with an all female workforce for Mrs. Bucket.
Rachael Flanagan believes women need visible female role models in business and is determined to challenge outdated stereotypes about their place in the workplace.
She founded Mrs Buckét Cleaning Services after failing her business A-level, and is clear about how the industry has evolved.
“Gone are those days where someone’s hunched over a mop,” she said.
According to the CBI, giving more women the chance to rise and lead could make a “significant impact” on the Welsh economy.
Flanagan, who is from Swansea, wants to help women who deal with “imposter syndrome” and don’t feel confident enough to go for senior positions.
“I’ve had managers that have worked with me, and I’ve had several conversations with them on the sidelines to say ‘you can really do this’,” she said.
She also believes that men have to contribute to changing workplace culture.
“It shouldn’t be up to women to have to smash their way through all these different hurdles,” she said.
”The blokes in the room should be realizing that they themselves are closing off opportunities, that there’s something about the culture in business which has made it difficult for women.” she added
Now 37, Flanagan employs more than 400 staff across south Wales, using modern technology to deliver cleaning services in offices, schools and specialist environments.
She points out that the work no longer resembles the old image of women in tabards doing basic cleaning tasks.
Flanagan said some of her most valuable mentors have been men, but she often finds herself as the only woman among chief executives and founders.
Therefore to improve opportunities for women, she starts with her own company by promoting flexible work and trusting employees to get the job done while still managing family responsibilities.
“There are employers out there who really do give flexible working patterns,” Ms Flanagan said.
Her advice to women is clear: “Move to those companies so you can excel.”
“Just because you’ve got small children doesn’t mean that you can’t still move on in your career as well.”
Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Cymru and the University of South Wales in a study outlined several challenges women face when aiming for leadership.
“We can’t deny that progress has been made,” said the CBI’s chief people officer, Asha Musoni. “But structural institutions and cultural barriers still exist.
“Those specific barriers are around flexible working, access to adequate childcare, gender bias at work, lack of mentorship opportunities and support for working fathers.”
Data from the research showed clear differences in how men and women experience advancement. Only 11% of men, compared with 48% of women, felt they lost opportunities because of their gender.
“And when you think about when they actually do get into these senior roles, 44% of women say that they are unfairly allocated tasks,” Ms Musoni said.
“Even giving people the opportunities, and then not allowing them the space and opportunity to flourish, is showing is a problem that we need to get behind and think about how we overcome that,” she added.
For Flanagan, one of the biggest motivators for women is seeing others succeed.
“If you can’t see it, you can’t be it”
Umm E Habiba
Punjab, Pakistan
