Getting to know the founder of Vesta Mentora
Linda Middleton-Jones has enjoyed a career across a range of industries and sectors and is now the Managing Director of her own import and export consultancy, International Trade Matters Ltd. Her high profile roles within the business community have overcome traditional gender barriers, sometimes without precedence, sometimes with some resistance, but always with success. She is passionate about sharing her experiences, both as a woman in business, but also as a global entrepreneur.
“I started Vesta Mentora 2 years ago. It is named after the Roman goddess of the hearth, home and family, to reflect that women can become more than a spark, they can sparkle by becoming everything they were meant to be,” explains Linda.
“While I believe the main reasons women are less apparent in the workplace may be due to traditional family obligations, I often feel that women display a lack of confidence of their otherwise abundant ability. While there is a number of female champions or celebrities, there is definitely a lack of business role models,”
“At Vesta Mentora I work with women clients to make sure they have a positive role model, and it is crucial that we have chemistry in working together. Confidentiality is very important so setting out boundaries is the first priority.”
“We always need to be clear about what we are looking to achieve or overcome, yet the one-to-one meetings are very informal. I challenge ideas, and act as a critical friend. Mentoring is always about keeping an open mind, listening and empathy. I provide a positive sounding board based on constructive support and advice.”
“With the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, mentoring is no longer just about face-to-face meetings, or one size fits all. We have Zoom, Teams, Skype where I can work with business leaders from across the globe,”
“I work with a myriad of women in businesses within manufacturing and the service sectors across the globe. There is no doubt that the diversity of women in business is truly amazing,”
You can get in touch with Linda HERE