August 11, 2024 • 20 mins
Join us this week as we chat with Hayley Roberts, CEO of Distology and our 2024 Outstanding Entrepreneur Winner!
Hayley shares the emotional story behind winning the award and what it means to her.
Discover the importance of staying true to yourself how being authentic has led to Hayley's achievements.
And she shares her nostalgic love for perms and why she’s still proud of her hair days gone by!
Listen to learn:
- The challenges and rewards of building a tech business in the North
- The power of being yourself
- Why it's essential to keep pushing boundaries
- How to celebrate your achievements and not be afraid to share your wins
Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Hello, hello and welcome to the we Are Power
podcast Northern Power Womenpodcast.
For your career and your life,no matter what business you're
in.
Hello, hello and welcome to thewe Are Power podcast.
This podcast is all abouthighlighting, chatting with,
(00:33):
getting some of that top tips,guidance, life hacks, whatever
it may be to help you, whetherit be your career, your life,
whatever invention it may be,and we're always looking for
those takeaways, something likethat you can take with you today
, pop it on the side of at-shirt or a tote bag into your
world.
As you listen on the pod todayand this week, I am super
excited albeit I feel like we'vealready done a pre-pod prior to
(00:56):
this Our OutstandingEntrepreneur winner from this
year's Northern Power Women 2024Awards Hayley Roberts, founder
of Distology.
Welcome very much.
Shall we start again?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Hello, and yes, let's start again.
You can still talk about wineif you want to.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Oh, 100%, 100% I think there is always those I
can't.
We've literally just had a 15minute pre-chat where we've
talked about boundaries, we'vetalked about sort of in our own
way self-care, we've talkedabout harmony, about getting our
own balance right, and we'vealso talked about cocktails.
So, anyway, it was a good start.
It was a good start to themorning.
(01:31):
Now you are a very achieved,amazing entrepreneur.
But what did winning the awardmean for you this year?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Oh well, you could tell, because I was bawling my
eyes out when I walked up to thestage.
I didn't do my hair.
I was bawling my eyes out whenI walked up to the stage.
I didn't do my hair, I was justlike there's so many amazing
ladies in that room, there's noway I, you know.
So I was so shocked to beawarded and I didn't.
I mean, this sounds a bit wimpy, doesn't it?
But you know, when you getawarded anything, when you just
get your head down to try andgrow a business or head down to
(01:58):
do well in life, you don't.
You know, I was nominated tothe award.
I thought, yeah, I'll go alongwith this.
It's great, be amazing to bepart of it because of what
you've done.
But winning it was just.
It blew my mind actually,because I suppose as well I
forgot about the northern bitbecause I sort of you know we
are up in the northern is rarethat um tech businesses start in
(02:19):
the north.
Um, it's not not super rare,but it's rare, certainly in
cyber security and um, and Ilike it, you know.
I like the differential, I likethe fact that you know we've
got a whole access to people whogo what, what's that, what tech
, what channel, what um, and Ilike busting that myth.
So to me it was about exposingwhat the business does to an
area as much as nationally, that, wow, there's some really good
(02:42):
businesses that are up here andI know there are tremendous
businesses in the north umgenerally.
But it's really nice to keeppushing that, that directives,
or pushing that message.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
So that's what it meant to me, but me personally,
I don't know, I don't, I don'tself-congratulate, so I'm like
that oh, must be something I'vedone that I didn't know about
and it's interesting, thenorthern factor, because I
remember, way back, I think sosort of year one, I did a lot of
interviews with so many of ourpower list and great male
advocates and that northernfactor was really defining.
(03:14):
There were two things One whichwas that importance of having
that sort of sponsor person inthe world that kind of helped
not just get the leg up but justsometimes that person who's
gone, come on, we're goingthrough this door and off we go.
But the second bit was thatidentity of the northerness that
really mattered to them, asthey kind of, you know,
traversed the Korean, no matterhow squiggly it was.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Yeah, I think you're right.
I mean, I never really thoughtabout it that way because I'm
not really territorialnecessarily.
I'm from bloody ruralShropshire.
I'm not necessarily anortherner, god knows.
I'm like no man's land therereally, and very close to the
Welsh border, so who knows?
But I think that the northernthing for me certainly it was
not discriminated against.
(03:55):
But people go, oh, you're inthe north, you can't cover the
south.
Then and I was like, well, holdon a minute, we're working with
software.
How on earth can that be athing?
You know what?
Where's the reason?
So that was years ago.
So it's become less and less.
And of course covid helped thatbecause you know we had to be
international, based in our youknow sat in our pajamas at home,
you know so.
So I think that that's thatthat's helped.
(04:15):
But but I, I'm proud, I'm proudof of of the northern bit, or
the head office being in thenorth.
I I'm I'm proud that we're abit different.
So I think that's the you know,that's kind of what it meant
for me as well.
But I never used to get verycaught up with that.
But now I'm pretty proud.
I don't think it'll ever changewhere the HQ will be.
It'll always be in Stockport.
In fact, I remember speaking toAndy Burner was at an event a
(04:41):
couple of years ago and he'stalking about manchester,
manchester, manchester,manchester, and of course I
collared him early.
Doors, don't stop port.
And he goes.
And then actually, as he wastalking, he went oh, I better
say stop what I hear, you'llkill me.
So he was trying to.
I was like this is a wholeregion, it's a whole area.
So come on, come on, yeah withit, but, um, but I'm not, I'm
not, yeah, I'm not.
We know we don't need to be puton a map.
I I get where Andy comes fromwith what he's doing, his
(05:03):
narrative, but I definitely feellike there is so much more that
we can build here and it's suchan attractive area to grow.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
And you talk about not being self-congratulatory,
but you have been recognizedtime and time as a role model in
tech.
Do you know why I?
Speaker 2 (05:20):
think people have got it wrong.
I think people have got.
Do you know why?
I think people have got itwrong.
I do.
I think I'm not cured cancer.
I've not done.
All I've done is be me.
I think the more me I am, themore I seem to get congratulated
, which is weird.
But then I suppose actually ifI was being a little bit more
sensible about this and actuallygiving back, being more you,
because I think the one thingwe're all frightened of and I
(05:41):
think this is where I don'tsubscribe to being a sheep or,
you know, wanting to just fit inor conform is that the more you
you are, the more you'll landwith people who are right for
you, because you're not falselytrying to fit in.
And that's the biggest lesson Ithink.
Maybe I learned in this processthat the more I was just me and
thought stuff it, I'll just dowhat I think is right for all
(06:03):
the right reasons, then it'sbeen.
Thought stuff it, I'll just dowhat I think is right for all
the right reasons, then it'sbeen.
It's actually I've been aroundbetter people, if that makes
sense and where does thatpassion and drive come from?
Speaker 1 (06:12):
because it's it's very no nonsense, it's very
positive, it's very passionateand the the desire to really
kind of knock.
Whether it be a boundary,whether it be a, a wall, whether
it be ceiling, what is it what?
What is that drive behind that?
I think.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
I've always been a bit of a rebel.
I think I've always been um,not like you know, oh, I'm gonna
just kick the rules into touchkind of way, but I, um, I don't
know, I just I don't, I don't, Idon't agree with too many rules
and and too much box.
Put people into boxes.
I don't know where it comesfrom.
From a from a childhood point ofview, I was always the one that
would do something stupid.
(06:46):
I was always the one that wouldjust, you know, make people
laugh or just go and dosomething different.
Right, and I think and I've doneI could tell you a hundred
stories which is probably notfor a podcast but of how it
cocked my life up, but actuallyI just did what I felt was right
, I, but actually I just didwhat I felt was right.
I mean, I don't do detail, Idon't study hard, I didn't at
(07:06):
school, even though I wasnaturally bright, all those
things, and I'm kind of well,we'll just see what happens,
what's the worst that can happen.
And I think that methodologyhas meant that it's driven me to
believe actually doesn't matterwhat you do from an academic
perspective or with realmeticulous detail, if you do
what you feel is right andyou're not hurting anyone and
(07:27):
you want to make a difference.
The attitude and energy thatyou supply to other people is
infectious, which means itbrings out the best in other
people, which means they can goout and do great things.
When people are doing greatthings, nobody feels like
they're working which isbrilliant, says me.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
sat in the sunshine on a podcast.
I know you.
What is it about your dystologyadventure that has been the
most that's made you smile themost, or the happiest, or
content, oh it's all about thepeople.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
When you start something, you literally are
hustling and you would go aroundI would go around talking to
people saying this is great,we're amazing, as in the real we
, when there was nobody else,and I think you believe in the
mission that you're on.
But when you start to hear andsee people saying it because
they're experiencing it andthey're sat around it, that is
(08:14):
the moment you go oh my god,like they are getting this and
they are really puttingthemselves into it, not the way
I say it, not the way I'm doneit, but just the passion that
comes from them and how proudthey are to work in a company
such as Dysology and the thingsthey share.
Across all the regions that weoperate in as well, they share
this kind of natural joy of whatthey do and this pride in their
(08:39):
work.
And that is the pinch me momentwhere I go oh, my god, what
have I done to deserve this?
What have I done to get thisback?
You know, but that's why I'mthen starting to want to do more
.
I want to encourage more peopleto get involved in this
wonderful industry that I'dnever heard of and most people
99% of the people who work herenever heard of, and that's where
it's now.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
I get a better buzz from that now, and you talk
about that paying forward andthat paying it forward, that's
really important to you, isn't?
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Hugely important.
I think that's my next kind oftragedy of excitement
post-dystology if ever I doanything post-dystology because
this is my fourth industry Imessed up my A-levels, didn't do
the degree I was supposed to do, all that kind of messy stuff
that everyone's experienced,because life is a tumultuous
journey and I think that if Icould encourage at least one
(09:31):
person who's doubting themselvesat this point sat there at 14,
15, going I don't know what Iwant to do to get into something
they'd never would have thoughtpossible, and to expand their
horizons and actually bringthemselves to it and their core
skill sets of which everybodyhas unique skill sets that is
that.
That is that's why I'm here.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
that would be my crystal moment and I know you've
been heavily involved as the um, the ey entrepreneur of the
year, haven't you for a number?
And I know you know sort of, uh, they have sort of a very, very
kind of um impressive program,don't they were, you know, with
an alumni around that you know.
So you've got this constantlygrowing community around you.
What advice would you offer tothat?
(10:12):
We've talked about the 14, 15year old sort of sat there.
The entrepreneur could be anyage.
I was 45 when I set what I'mdoing up.
But what that to that wannabeentrepreneur?
Or they're not sure they eventhink they're an entrepreneur?
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
I think people get hung up on the word entrepreneur
.
They think they should inventsomething different or be
something special, and they'vegot to recognize that before
they do it.
I think that's crap.
If you really want to dosomething, I would never
identify myself as anentrepreneur, although typically
, from a dictionary definition,I suppose I've created something
from nothing.
So, okay, good, that's great.
But you see, I, the ey programand other people who want to
(10:50):
grow their own businesses or dosomething for themselves.
It's about um, following their,their real, true desires, and I
would say that don't letanybody saying oh, I wouldn't do
that if I were you, like I wasgoing to start.
When I start going to start thisand and jump from a really
nicely paid job in a softwarebusiness to doing something on
my own, taking a massive cut,there's a lot of people say, oh,
I wouldn't do that for you,that doesn't sound safe.
(11:11):
But they're not you.
So try not to listen to thenaysayers, because those people
always try to put you down.
It's dead easy to criticize,isn't it?
We sit there in our armchairsgoing that was shit, that was
shit.
You see it with people watchingthe football oh, you're crap.
We never.
You know you should have putthat in.
That was dead easy, and I'mthinking really, but you know we
.
I think we just need to notlisten to any negativity and
(11:33):
just just keep believing thatit's possible.
It might not be the vision thatyou want, but if you get even
halfway there, there's somethingspecial being created and I
wish people would would wouldreally believe in themselves
more, and I'm saying it becauseI never did, but I just
belligerently got on with it,just thought I've got to do this
, I've just got to keep going.
What?
Speaker 1 (11:50):
because you talked about being in four industries,
four sectors.
As you've gone along that way,I think we've talked before.
It's never been that once it'snot been linear, hasn't it?
Speaker 2 (11:59):
you know it's been oh christ, no, no, no, no.
I mean nothing in my life'sbeen linear at all from my
personal life right the waythrough, um, unfortunately, um,
but then fortunately, becauseyou know it makes you who you
are.
But yeah, I started, I didbusiness, so therefore we could
do anything.
I didn't.
I could have got into techstraight away.
I didn't because it looked dull, um and um.
So I went to toiletries becauseyou got free shit and I love a
(12:21):
bit free.
You just love free toiletries.
Oh, my god, please, um, even alittle.
But I don't care how much moneyI ever earn, I'm nicking all
the little bottles and yourlittle jars of mayonnaise,
whatever, um, so, so then I didthat.
Then I went into publishing anddid direct marketing and
publishing, uh, with somemagazine titles.
That was interesting.
So all kind of marketing andsales.
Then I did headhunting um, andthat was brilliant, um,
(12:44):
surrounded by amazing people andamazing people, and got
involved with Delft and settheir team up in Moscow when
they didn't have an office there.
That was years ago.
Yeah, that was reallyinteresting.
And just pop the CD online andimmediately, literally an hour
(13:08):
later, somebody came it wasactually the initial investor in
Stology came and said I needsome help.
And that was it, and that wasmy entry into the world of tech
and channel.
And yeah, I think things happenfor a reason, don't they?
I think we've got to believethat right, good, bad or
indifferent.
By the way, because you talkedabout I didn't want to do that.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
You could have gone into tech early on, but you're
like, don't want to do that,it's boring, it's not for me.
What was it then?
Was it the human or was it theperson?
Oh, it's a human, yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
I mean, back in the day you know it was, it was IBM
actually we went to anassessment center and assessment
center was great.
You really learn a lot inassessment centers.
You know you do sort ofprojects and different bits and
bobs.
And they just all the guys andthe girls who were working there
just looked very grey, verygrey, very stressed.
They just didn't look like theywere having a great time and I
(13:55):
was like, oh, I'm going to haveto be away a lot and it didn't
float my boat.
I thought this is not for me,this is definitely not for me
and I'm kind of glad really,because I don't think I'd have
got all of the other skills I'dkind of picked up or learned
about myself if I hadn't donethat and then got into tech.
I think it's nice to have thatkind of very varied view on life
(14:15):
and that's it.
But yeah, I mean, it was nevergonna.
I was never gonna jump straightinto that.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
I think I would have just died and you've talked
about being you, being yourself.
What is the biggest lesson thatyou've?
Speaker 2 (14:27):
learned oh, don't take yourself too seriously,
honestly, I mean, everybody whosets a real high bar for
themselves will never, ever hitit.
And if they do hit it, it's adetriment to something else
which is probably more important, such as personal relationships
, such as friendships, such as.
You know your real honesty,honesty with yourself, and I
think you just got to.
(14:48):
Yeah, we're not.
I mean gosh those.
But you had said this the otherday to somebody who actually was
a surgeon and I was like, oh,but I'm not saving anybody on a
on a table.
You know that's a really hardjob, right, really hard job.
And and and I doff my cap toall medical professionals out
there but you know I don't, I'mdoing something good, but it's
(15:08):
not devastating if I have a badday.
It's not devastating ifsomething goes completely wrong,
if financially we're not doinga great job, because I know,
given the right attitude andenergy, you can achieve anything
, just like not being thetimelines that you want it and
I'm super impatient, as mostpeople would know.
You know me, know right, Iliterally want it yesterday.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Make it happen, make it happen.
Yeah, yeah, it is like that.
So what is next?
What's next for yesterday thatyou impatiently want to deliver?
Speaker 2 (15:37):
Oh God.
Well, more geo-expansions,amazing new tools.
We want to put in place someideas of how we can get more
value from where we sit in thechannel, maybe acquis in place,
some ideas of how we can do getmore value from where we sit in,
in where we're at the channel,um, you know, maybe acquisitions
, I don't know um, maybe thestates, I don't know.
I keep getting slapped for that, but I'm like, yes, I'd love to
go to the states and sat there,um, but also doing more to get
(15:57):
the awareness out there thatthis industry is phenomenal,
that anybody with any good skillsets which is everything, basta
is not just stand stuff.
You know attitude, energy, justcome along.
It's, it's, it's a brilliantplace to be and it's fast
growing.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
It's not going away and I know people at the heart
of what you do is you knowthere's something about that, uh
, that people factor um, and youknow, when we talked about sort
of the paying it forward but,um, and role models, and you
know sort of really sort ofdiversity, diversifying tech and
supported entrepreneurs, butwhy, why would you encourage
(16:33):
people to either nominate orsubmit the nomination, uh, for
our awards, any awards?
Speaker 2 (16:40):
oh gosh, I mean northern power, women is great.
I mean the.
The power factor is, I thinkthat self-belief everyone should
have self-belief, everybody'sgot power.
They just don't sometimesrealize it yet.
Right, and I think that it'squite a bold statement and it's
aspirational, almost so.
But being in that room thatyou'd created, I mean you must
have the, you must have pitchedme moments all the time, but
(17:00):
massive, it was like a thousandpeople or something and I just
thought, oh my god, this iscrazy.
Everybody was really going foreach other and I think that's
the whole.
The difference between alldifferent awards, but
specifically the Northern PowerWomen Awards, was the feeling of
everyone was backing everybodyand and I love that, because
there's too many, as I said,there's too much negativity or
(17:21):
too much seriousness.
There's a lot of people outthere trying to put someone down
if they're doing well becauseof their own insecurities,
nothing to do with anything else.
And I think the awards it'sreally good to celebrate what
good looks like, not for any egoreasons, but more because wow,
that's brilliant and we all needto do a bit of that.
But we all can do a bit of that.
Wow, that's brilliant and weall need to do a bit of that,
(17:43):
but we all can do a bit of that.
It's not about this is anelitist status or elite status.
This is about it's likeathletes.
It's about it's like you know,good, good, good sports people.
You want to celebrate thembecause they've worked their
arms off to get to that pointand, I think, backing anyone,
nominating anybody, because theydon't know they've got that
skill set as well or they don'tknow how impactful they are.
(18:04):
That's why I would nominatepeople.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
I love that.
And actually there's a Jane whois one of your fellow
outstanding entrepreneurshortlist.
She put a tremendous post outat the end, which you know.
I think it's a couple of days,do you remember?
Yeah, I spent Monday nightlosing kind of thing, but it
didn't feel like that and I lovethat because she was.
She was such a straightforward,sort of no nonce.
(18:28):
I didn't expect to read that,but it was such a brilliant
thing I love to read that.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
But everybody knows somebody who is brilliant but
probably would never say it.
And if that's the person,nominate them.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
Now I've got a question from jane little, who
was, uh, one of our winners thisyear.
So, of of every guest that I'mtalking through in this last
trophy holding season, I'masking them the question um,
from a previous guest, jane'squestion for you at skills, for
we work to build a world whereeveryone can bring their true
self to work.
I know we spoke about thatearlier.
In terms of fashion, clothingis a hilarious fashion trend
(19:04):
that you wore and were secretlysad to see the end of.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Oh my God, what?
Oh my God, do you know what?
I absolutely loved it wheneveryone had perms.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
How did I know you were?
Speaker 2 (19:17):
going to say that I knew it, I loved it, even though
I look like Kevin Keegan.
When I first had my perm itliterally stuck to my head, my
fringe.
I loved it.
And when everyone was goingstraight because I always wanted
curly hair my hair's prettystraight.
It does go a bit curly,unfortunately, but in a crap way
, not in a nice way.
And yeah, I think the perm Idefinitely.
(19:39):
And I think they came back,didn't they not?
Not on mass, and I was a bitlike, oh, can I get away with it
?
I thought no one can look adick.
So, and of course, thehairstyling now has come a long
way since back in the day whenperms first came out.
But yeah, I'd, um, I loved it,rocked it and gutted that that
everyone went into straight hairoh, I don't know why you were
gonna say that.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
I remember having bleached hair and permed all at
the same time, and I couldcomplain now why my hair is thin
.
And finally, finally, finally.
Where is your trophy?
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Oh, my trophy's here In my outfit, my trophy is Ta-da
, ta-da.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Hayley, thank you so much, as ever, always a delight,
and we will get to that LateNow episode or On Tour episode
at some point.
It's got to right.
We've got to make that happen.
I'm walking in the sunshine.
I really want to be where youare.
Yeah, just hop on a plane.
It's all good, hayley.
Thank you so so much forjoining us today.
Thank you and thanks all of youfor listening.
(20:38):
We love these top tips, butthank you for listening.
Thank you, and do stayconnected on all of our socials
facebook, linkedin we are power.
Tiktok, insta and twitter weare power.
Underscore net.
My name is simone.
This is the we are powerpodcast.
What goes on?
Media productions?
Hello, hello and welcome to the we Are Power
podcast Northern Power Womenpodcast.
For your career and your life,no matter what business you're
in.
Hello, hello and welcome to thewe Are Power podcast.
This podcast is all abouthighlighting, chatting with,
(00:33):
getting some of that top tips,guidance, life hacks, whatever
it may be to help you, whetherit be your career, your life,
whatever invention it may be,and we're always looking for
those takeaways, something likethat you can take with you today
, pop it on the side of at-shirt or a tote bag into your
world.
As you listen on the pod todayand this week, I am super
excited albeit I feel like we'vealready done a pre-pod prior to
(00:56):
this Our OutstandingEntrepreneur winner from this
year's Northern Power Women 2024Awards Hayley Roberts, founder
of Distology.
Welcome very much.
Shall we start again?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Hello, and yes, let's start again.
You can still talk about wineif you want to.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Oh, 100%, 100% I think there is always those I
can't.
We've literally just had a 15minute pre-chat where we've
talked about boundaries, we'vetalked about sort of in our own
way self-care, we've talkedabout harmony, about getting our
own balance right, and we'vealso talked about cocktails.
So, anyway, it was a good start.
It was a good start to themorning.
(01:31):
Now you are a very achieved,amazing entrepreneur.
But what did winning the awardmean for you this year?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Oh well, you could tell, because I was bawling my
eyes out when I walked up to thestage.
I didn't do my hair.
I was bawling my eyes out whenI walked up to the stage.
I didn't do my hair, I was justlike there's so many amazing
ladies in that room, there's noway I, you know.
So I was so shocked to beawarded and I didn't.
I mean, this sounds a bit wimpy, doesn't it?
But you know, when you getawarded anything, when you just
get your head down to try andgrow a business or head down to
(01:58):
do well in life, you don't.
You know, I was nominated tothe award.
I thought, yeah, I'll go alongwith this.
It's great, be amazing to bepart of it because of what
you've done.
But winning it was just.
It blew my mind actually,because I suppose as well I
forgot about the northern bitbecause I sort of you know we
are up in the northern is rarethat um tech businesses start in
(02:19):
the north.
Um, it's not not super rare,but it's rare, certainly in
cyber security and um, and Ilike it, you know.
I like the differential, I likethe fact that you know we've
got a whole access to people whogo what, what's that, what tech
, what channel, what um, and Ilike busting that myth.
So to me it was about exposingwhat the business does to an
area as much as nationally, that, wow, there's some really good
(02:42):
businesses that are up here andI know there are tremendous
businesses in the north umgenerally.
But it's really nice to keeppushing that, that directives,
or pushing that message.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
So that's what it meant to me, but me personally,
I don't know, I don't, I don'tself-congratulate, so I'm like
that oh, must be something I'vedone that I didn't know about
and it's interesting, thenorthern factor, because I
remember, way back, I think sosort of year one, I did a lot of
interviews with so many of ourpower list and great male
advocates and that northernfactor was really defining.
(03:14):
There were two things One whichwas that importance of having
that sort of sponsor person inthe world that kind of helped
not just get the leg up but justsometimes that person who's
gone, come on, we're goingthrough this door and off we go.
But the second bit was thatidentity of the northerness that
really mattered to them, asthey kind of, you know,
traversed the Korean, no matterhow squiggly it was.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Yeah, I think you're right.
I mean, I never really thoughtabout it that way because I'm
not really territorialnecessarily.
I'm from bloody ruralShropshire.
I'm not necessarily anortherner, god knows.
I'm like no man's land therereally, and very close to the
Welsh border, so who knows?
But I think that the northernthing for me certainly it was
not discriminated against.
(03:55):
But people go, oh, you're inthe north, you can't cover the
south.
Then and I was like, well, holdon a minute, we're working with
software.
How on earth can that be athing?
You know what?
Where's the reason?
So that was years ago.
So it's become less and less.
And of course covid helped thatbecause you know we had to be
international, based in our youknow sat in our pajamas at home,
you know so.
So I think that that's thatthat's helped.
(04:15):
But but I, I'm proud, I'm proudof of of the northern bit, or
the head office being in thenorth.
I I'm I'm proud that we're abit different.
So I think that's the you know,that's kind of what it meant
for me as well.
But I never used to get verycaught up with that.
But now I'm pretty proud.
I don't think it'll ever changewhere the HQ will be.
It'll always be in Stockport.
In fact, I remember speaking toAndy Burner was at an event a
(04:41):
couple of years ago and he'stalking about manchester,
manchester, manchester,manchester, and of course I
collared him early.
Doors, don't stop port.
And he goes.
And then actually, as he wastalking, he went oh, I better
say stop what I hear, you'llkill me.
So he was trying to.
I was like this is a wholeregion, it's a whole area.
So come on, come on, yeah withit, but, um, but I'm not, I'm
not, yeah, I'm not.
We know we don't need to be puton a map.
I I get where Andy comes fromwith what he's doing, his
(05:03):
narrative, but I definitely feellike there is so much more that
we can build here and it's suchan attractive area to grow.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
And you talk about not being self-congratulatory,
but you have been recognizedtime and time as a role model in
tech.
Do you know why I?
Speaker 2 (05:20):
think people have got it wrong.
I think people have got.
Do you know why?
I think people have got itwrong.
I do.
I think I'm not cured cancer.
I've not done.
All I've done is be me.
I think the more me I am, themore I seem to get congratulated
, which is weird.
But then I suppose actually ifI was being a little bit more
sensible about this and actuallygiving back, being more you,
because I think the one thingwe're all frightened of and I
(05:41):
think this is where I don'tsubscribe to being a sheep or,
you know, wanting to just fit inor conform is that the more you
you are, the more you'll landwith people who are right for
you, because you're not falselytrying to fit in.
And that's the biggest lesson Ithink.
Maybe I learned in this processthat the more I was just me and
thought stuff it, I'll just dowhat I think is right for all
(06:03):
the right reasons, then it'sbeen.
Thought stuff it, I'll just dowhat I think is right for all
the right reasons, then it'sbeen.
It's actually I've been aroundbetter people, if that makes
sense and where does thatpassion and drive come from?
Speaker 1 (06:12):
because it's it's very no nonsense, it's very
positive, it's very passionateand the the desire to really
kind of knock.
Whether it be a boundary,whether it be a, a wall, whether
it be ceiling, what is it what?
What is that drive behind that?
I think.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
I've always been a bit of a rebel.
I think I've always been um,not like you know, oh, I'm gonna
just kick the rules into touchkind of way, but I, um, I don't
know, I just I don't, I don't, Idon't agree with too many rules
and and too much box.
Put people into boxes.
I don't know where it comesfrom.
From a from a childhood point ofview, I was always the one that
would do something stupid.
(06:46):
I was always the one that wouldjust, you know, make people
laugh or just go and dosomething different.
Right, and I think and I've doneI could tell you a hundred
stories which is probably notfor a podcast but of how it
cocked my life up, but actuallyI just did what I felt was right
, I, but actually I just didwhat I felt was right.
I mean, I don't do detail, Idon't study hard, I didn't at
(07:06):
school, even though I wasnaturally bright, all those
things, and I'm kind of well,we'll just see what happens,
what's the worst that can happen.
And I think that methodologyhas meant that it's driven me to
believe actually doesn't matterwhat you do from an academic
perspective or with realmeticulous detail, if you do
what you feel is right andyou're not hurting anyone and
(07:27):
you want to make a difference.
The attitude and energy thatyou supply to other people is
infectious, which means itbrings out the best in other
people, which means they can goout and do great things.
When people are doing greatthings, nobody feels like
they're working which isbrilliant, says me.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
sat in the sunshine on a podcast.
I know you.
What is it about your dystologyadventure that has been the
most that's made you smile themost, or the happiest, or
content, oh it's all about thepeople.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
When you start something, you literally are
hustling and you would go aroundI would go around talking to
people saying this is great,we're amazing, as in the real we
, when there was nobody else,and I think you believe in the
mission that you're on.
But when you start to hear andsee people saying it because
they're experiencing it andthey're sat around it, that is
(08:14):
the moment you go oh my god,like they are getting this and
they are really puttingthemselves into it, not the way
I say it, not the way I'm doneit, but just the passion that
comes from them and how proudthey are to work in a company
such as Dysology and the thingsthey share.
Across all the regions that weoperate in as well, they share
this kind of natural joy of whatthey do and this pride in their
(08:39):
work.
And that is the pinch me momentwhere I go oh, my god, what
have I done to deserve this?
What have I done to get thisback?
You know, but that's why I'mthen starting to want to do more
.
I want to encourage more peopleto get involved in this
wonderful industry that I'dnever heard of and most people
99% of the people who work herenever heard of, and that's where
it's now.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
I get a better buzz from that now, and you talk
about that paying forward andthat paying it forward, that's
really important to you, isn't?
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Hugely important.
I think that's my next kind oftragedy of excitement
post-dystology if ever I doanything post-dystology because
this is my fourth industry Imessed up my A-levels, didn't do
the degree I was supposed to do, all that kind of messy stuff
that everyone's experienced,because life is a tumultuous
journey and I think that if Icould encourage at least one
(09:31):
person who's doubting themselvesat this point sat there at 14,
15, going I don't know what Iwant to do to get into something
they'd never would have thoughtpossible, and to expand their
horizons and actually bringthemselves to it and their core
skill sets of which everybodyhas unique skill sets that is
that.
That is that's why I'm here.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
that would be my crystal moment and I know you've
been heavily involved as the um, the ey entrepreneur of the
year, haven't you for a number?
And I know you know sort of, uh, they have sort of a very, very
kind of um impressive program,don't they were, you know, with
an alumni around that you know.
So you've got this constantlygrowing community around you.
What advice would you offer tothat?
(10:12):
We've talked about the 14, 15year old sort of sat there.
The entrepreneur could be anyage.
I was 45 when I set what I'mdoing up.
But what that to that wannabeentrepreneur?
Or they're not sure they eventhink they're an entrepreneur?
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
I think people get hung up on the word entrepreneur
.
They think they should inventsomething different or be
something special, and they'vegot to recognize that before
they do it.
I think that's crap.
If you really want to dosomething, I would never
identify myself as anentrepreneur, although typically
, from a dictionary definition,I suppose I've created something
from nothing.
So, okay, good, that's great.
But you see, I, the ey programand other people who want to
(10:50):
grow their own businesses or dosomething for themselves.
It's about um, following their,their real, true desires, and I
would say that don't letanybody saying oh, I wouldn't do
that if I were you, like I wasgoing to start.
When I start going to start thisand and jump from a really
nicely paid job in a softwarebusiness to doing something on
my own, taking a massive cut,there's a lot of people say, oh,
I wouldn't do that for you,that doesn't sound safe.
(11:11):
But they're not you.
So try not to listen to thenaysayers, because those people
always try to put you down.
It's dead easy to criticize,isn't it?
We sit there in our armchairsgoing that was shit, that was
shit.
You see it with people watchingthe football oh, you're crap.
We never.
You know you should have putthat in.
That was dead easy, and I'mthinking really, but you know we
.
I think we just need to notlisten to any negativity and
(11:33):
just just keep believing thatit's possible.
It might not be the vision thatyou want, but if you get even
halfway there, there's somethingspecial being created and I
wish people would would wouldreally believe in themselves
more, and I'm saying it becauseI never did, but I just
belligerently got on with it,just thought I've got to do this
, I've just got to keep going.
What?
Speaker 1 (11:50):
because you talked about being in four industries,
four sectors.
As you've gone along that way,I think we've talked before.
It's never been that once it'snot been linear, hasn't it?
Speaker 2 (11:59):
you know it's been oh christ, no, no, no, no.
I mean nothing in my life'sbeen linear at all from my
personal life right the waythrough, um, unfortunately, um,
but then fortunately, becauseyou know it makes you who you
are.
But yeah, I started, I didbusiness, so therefore we could
do anything.
I didn't.
I could have got into techstraight away.
I didn't because it looked dull, um and um.
So I went to toiletries becauseyou got free shit and I love a
(12:21):
bit free.
You just love free toiletries.
Oh, my god, please, um, even alittle.
But I don't care how much moneyI ever earn, I'm nicking all
the little bottles and yourlittle jars of mayonnaise,
whatever, um, so, so then I didthat.
Then I went into publishing anddid direct marketing and
publishing, uh, with somemagazine titles.
That was interesting.
So all kind of marketing andsales.
Then I did headhunting um, andthat was brilliant, um,
(12:44):
surrounded by amazing people andamazing people, and got
involved with Delft and settheir team up in Moscow when
they didn't have an office there.
That was years ago.
Yeah, that was reallyinteresting.
And just pop the CD online andimmediately, literally an hour
(13:08):
later, somebody came it wasactually the initial investor in
Stology came and said I needsome help.
And that was it, and that wasmy entry into the world of tech
and channel.
And yeah, I think things happenfor a reason, don't they?
I think we've got to believethat right, good, bad or
indifferent.
By the way, because you talkedabout I didn't want to do that.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
You could have gone into tech early on, but you're
like, don't want to do that,it's boring, it's not for me.
What was it then?
Was it the human or was it theperson?
Oh, it's a human, yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
I mean, back in the day you know it was, it was IBM
actually we went to anassessment center and assessment
center was great.
You really learn a lot inassessment centers.
You know you do sort ofprojects and different bits and
bobs.
And they just all the guys andthe girls who were working there
just looked very grey, verygrey, very stressed.
They just didn't look like theywere having a great time and I
(13:55):
was like, oh, I'm going to haveto be away a lot and it didn't
float my boat.
I thought this is not for me,this is definitely not for me
and I'm kind of glad really,because I don't think I'd have
got all of the other skills I'dkind of picked up or learned
about myself if I hadn't donethat and then got into tech.
I think it's nice to have thatkind of very varied view on life
(14:15):
and that's it.
But yeah, I mean, it was nevergonna.
I was never gonna jump straightinto that.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
I think I would have just died and you've talked
about being you, being yourself.
What is the biggest lesson thatyou've?
Speaker 2 (14:27):
learned oh, don't take yourself too seriously,
honestly, I mean, everybody whosets a real high bar for
themselves will never, ever hitit.
And if they do hit it, it's adetriment to something else
which is probably more important, such as personal relationships
, such as friendships, such as.
You know your real honesty,honesty with yourself, and I
think you just got to.
(14:48):
Yeah, we're not.
I mean gosh those.
But you had said this the otherday to somebody who actually was
a surgeon and I was like, oh,but I'm not saving anybody on a
on a table.
You know that's a really hardjob, right, really hard job.
And and and I doff my cap toall medical professionals out
there but you know I don't, I'mdoing something good, but it's
(15:08):
not devastating if I have a badday.
It's not devastating ifsomething goes completely wrong,
if financially we're not doinga great job, because I know,
given the right attitude andenergy, you can achieve anything
, just like not being thetimelines that you want it and
I'm super impatient, as mostpeople would know.
You know me, know right, Iliterally want it yesterday.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Make it happen, make it happen.
Yeah, yeah, it is like that.
So what is next?
What's next for yesterday thatyou impatiently want to deliver?
Speaker 2 (15:37):
Oh God.
Well, more geo-expansions,amazing new tools.
We want to put in place someideas of how we can get more
value from where we sit in thechannel, maybe acquis in place,
some ideas of how we can do getmore value from where we sit in,
in where we're at the channel,um, you know, maybe acquisitions
, I don't know um, maybe thestates, I don't know.
I keep getting slapped for that, but I'm like, yes, I'd love to
go to the states and sat there,um, but also doing more to get
(15:57):
the awareness out there thatthis industry is phenomenal,
that anybody with any good skillsets which is everything, basta
is not just stand stuff.
You know attitude, energy, justcome along.
It's, it's, it's a brilliantplace to be and it's fast
growing.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
It's not going away and I know people at the heart
of what you do is you knowthere's something about that, uh
, that people factor um, and youknow, when we talked about sort
of the paying it forward but,um, and role models, and you
know sort of really sort ofdiversity, diversifying tech and
supported entrepreneurs, butwhy, why would you encourage
(16:33):
people to either nominate orsubmit the nomination, uh, for
our awards, any awards?
Speaker 2 (16:40):
oh gosh, I mean northern power, women is great.
I mean the.
The power factor is, I thinkthat self-belief everyone should
have self-belief, everybody'sgot power.
They just don't sometimesrealize it yet.
Right, and I think that it'squite a bold statement and it's
aspirational, almost so.
But being in that room thatyou'd created, I mean you must
have the, you must have pitchedme moments all the time, but
(17:00):
massive, it was like a thousandpeople or something and I just
thought, oh my god, this iscrazy.
Everybody was really going foreach other and I think that's
the whole.
The difference between alldifferent awards, but
specifically the Northern PowerWomen Awards, was the feeling of
everyone was backing everybodyand and I love that, because
there's too many, as I said,there's too much negativity or
(17:21):
too much seriousness.
There's a lot of people outthere trying to put someone down
if they're doing well becauseof their own insecurities,
nothing to do with anything else.
And I think the awards it'sreally good to celebrate what
good looks like, not for any egoreasons, but more because wow,
that's brilliant and we all needto do a bit of that.
But we all can do a bit of that.
Wow, that's brilliant and weall need to do a bit of that,
(17:43):
but we all can do a bit of that.
It's not about this is anelitist status or elite status.
This is about it's likeathletes.
It's about it's like you know,good, good, good sports people.
You want to celebrate thembecause they've worked their
arms off to get to that pointand, I think, backing anyone,
nominating anybody, because theydon't know they've got that
skill set as well or they don'tknow how impactful they are.
(18:04):
That's why I would nominatepeople.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
I love that.
And actually there's a Jane whois one of your fellow
outstanding entrepreneurshortlist.
She put a tremendous post outat the end, which you know.
I think it's a couple of days,do you remember?
Yeah, I spent Monday nightlosing kind of thing, but it
didn't feel like that and I lovethat because she was.
She was such a straightforward,sort of no nonce.
(18:28):
I didn't expect to read that,but it was such a brilliant
thing I love to read that.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
But everybody knows somebody who is brilliant but
probably would never say it.
And if that's the person,nominate them.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
Now I've got a question from jane little, who
was, uh, one of our winners thisyear.
So, of of every guest that I'mtalking through in this last
trophy holding season, I'masking them the question um,
from a previous guest, jane'squestion for you at skills, for
we work to build a world whereeveryone can bring their true
self to work.
I know we spoke about thatearlier.
In terms of fashion, clothingis a hilarious fashion trend
(19:04):
that you wore and were secretlysad to see the end of.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Oh my God, what?
Oh my God, do you know what?
I absolutely loved it wheneveryone had perms.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
How did I know you were?
Speaker 2 (19:17):
going to say that I knew it, I loved it, even though
I look like Kevin Keegan.
When I first had my perm itliterally stuck to my head, my
fringe.
I loved it.
And when everyone was goingstraight because I always wanted
curly hair my hair's prettystraight.
It does go a bit curly,unfortunately, but in a crap way
, not in a nice way.
And yeah, I think the perm Idefinitely.
(19:39):
And I think they came back,didn't they not?
Not on mass, and I was a bitlike, oh, can I get away with it
?
I thought no one can look adick.
So, and of course, thehairstyling now has come a long
way since back in the day whenperms first came out.
But yeah, I'd, um, I loved it,rocked it and gutted that that
everyone went into straight hairoh, I don't know why you were
gonna say that.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
I remember having bleached hair and permed all at
the same time, and I couldcomplain now why my hair is thin
.
And finally, finally, finally.
Where is your trophy?
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Oh, my trophy's here In my outfit, my trophy is Ta-da
, ta-da.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Hayley, thank you so much, as ever, always a delight,
and we will get to that LateNow episode or On Tour episode
at some point.
It's got to right.
We've got to make that happen.
I'm walking in the sunshine.
I really want to be where youare.
Yeah, just hop on a plane.
It's all good, hayley.
Thank you so so much forjoining us today.
Thank you and thanks all of youfor listening.
(20:38):
We love these top tips, butthank you for listening.
Thank you, and do stayconnected on all of our socials
facebook, linkedin we are power.
Tiktok, insta and twitter weare power.
Underscore net.
My name is simone.
This is the we are powerpodcast.
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