4 March 2021|Latest Posts, Meet the Successful Founder
.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:1280 "IWD International Female Founders Spotlight: Karen Holden")
Karen Holden is an award-winning solicitor, equal rights activist and founder of A City Law Firm. She was one of 100 women invited into the Freedom of the City in 2019, an accolade previously bestowed upon Florence Nightingale and Margaret Thatcher.Karen specialises in advising businesses about scaling-up, starting up, investments, Brexit, Covid-19 and everything in between. She’s constantly challenging the legal status quo – whether in tech or LGBTQ+ rights.
What would you love to share to encourage other women to start their own business?
There are many advantages to running your own business which far outweigh the difficulties. Striving to meet your own goals means you maintain your own standards, ethics and achievements. Starting my business meant my career continued to evolve, rather than suffer, as I was juggling work and children. I have also been able to make sure others never felt like being a parent could jeopardise their careers or compromise being a parent. Furthermore, there is nothing more exciting than disrupting a traditional male-led sector by paving the way for other women to progress.
What are your top tips 5 tips for entrepreneurial success?
Work Clever – you need a good work ethic whilst still juggling life so it works for you and your business. I started my own business from just £5,000, it took a lot of sleepless nights and working around the clock to get to where we are today.
Never Give up – if you are not making mistakes you are not innovating and evolving. Many businesses collapse in the first three year due to poor cash flow so keep a tight reign on your budget and debtors
Be Passionate – about what you do and if you don’t enjoy or understand aspects hire/outsource to professionals that can do this for you. Don’t try and do everything yourself
Have a good ego system and circle of advisors and mentors – advice from experienced people is vital
Don’t be afraid to promote yourself – it may go against the grain but scaling, seeking investment or clients you need to sell yourself and promote why they should choose you.
Who are the 5 women who inspire you the most?
My mum – she worked two jobs to get me through university this sacrifice meant everything.
Margaret Thatcher – we may not have agreed with everything done or decided but she took on the most male-dominated sector and paved a way for us all.
Lady Barbra – a judge that changed the judiciary from within
Emmeline Pankhurst- enabled us to even have this conversation
Princess Diana – despite her life pressures her time dedicated to charity and aids humanitarian work was inspiring to all
What is your favourite saying/inspirational quote?
“If a door closes on you either go around it or like me break it down”
Website & Socials
Website: https://acitylawfirm.com/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holdenkaren/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ACLFKaren
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acitylawfirm/
