First 100 days

The 'Women in Marketing' review prompted me to reflect how much has changed in one marketing lifetime.

It was the early 70s when, fresh from university, I applied to 4 companies [2 car, 2 food and confectionery] to join their marketing training programmes.

Both car companies turned me down flat, stating without a moment's remorse that 'we don't take women into marketing'. .. . .oh! those free and easy days before equal opportunities.

One food company turned me down on the grounds that all marketing trainees had to do a stint in the sales force and a woman wouldn't be able to work in an all male force of 800.

But one employer was far sighted enough to take me on- but warned that as their first ever female graduate recruit into marketing I was something of a risk.

I did my stint in their sales force of 700- all men bar me! I then joined marketing. Many colleagues find it unbelievable now, but I was required to stay in the womens' hostel- no visitors, 10.30 curfew.

30 years on and we have proved to be no risk at all. The survey confirms all my observations that we are dedicated, optimistic, forward thinking and great people managers.

I'm almost tempted to forward a copy to those 3 companies that lacked the benefit of foresight 35 years ago...