TGt Meets...Liz Hutchings, Founder and Managing Director of Total Guide to - IWD Special

To honour this year's IWD, we're interviewing businessmen in Dorset to find out more about their business, life, living in Dorset and the importance of IWD. We're kicking the series off with Liz Hutchings, Founder and Managing Director.

I’m based in Poole and as well as overseeing operations for the Total Guide to Group and Franchises, Total Guide to Dorset is ‘my patch’ so I’m really hands on here. 

Total Guide to Ltd was created in 2012 as a group of local online information hubs across the UK aimed at bringing local communities together and “helping businesses to succeed, people to thrive and places to come alive”. We’re also a full service digital marketing agency providing digital content, design, SEO, email marketing and social media services for our clients across the country.

Thinking of your own experience in the world of business – which inequalities, if any, have you experienced personally or witnessed around gender?

I still find many (not all) professional services can be condescending to women and the networking events can be very much "men in suits/a bit of a boys club”. Not all, but I still experience this.

What do you think women offer in particular to the world of business?

Women tend to be more analytical and emotional and lead more with their heart and passion than their heads. I think this passion is then passed on to team members, clients and suppliers. I think women can be more open and honest and therefore offer and deliver a transparency to their work and business.

What do you think men offer in particular to the world of business?

I think men and womens’ different styles of work leadership are equally important. There is a balance to be had and I feel like men can often bring a logical dynamic. Everyone is different though no matter your sex; these two questions are really a generalisation; I know many women that run their businesses ‘like men and vice versa’.

Can you name up to three women in business or in your organisation or in the wider business community that you admire? 

Bethany Hamilton – A child surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack only to begin surfing again within a month and to spend her life being at the top of her game, raising a family and writing books, films and public speaking to help motivate audiences worldwide to live their life with more tenacity and courage

Rachael Booth our Sales Director – Rach has always been a positive, kind and hard working person but this has never been more evident and important than through the Covid pandemic. Rach has continued to crack on and smile throughout.

Fiona Scott – PR and Comms who again has remained positive and provided a community of like-minded individuals to support each-other through business and this challenging time.

Can you name up to three men in business or in your organisation or in the wider business community that you admire? 

Steve at Poole BID – who I have only known for a short while but I’ve worked with many BIDS across the country and Steve stands out as someone that really cares about the local business community and works relentlessly to make positive things happen – and he is always chirpy!

My husband - he joined the military just after we met (maybe to get away from me :)). He's worked incredibly hard and has climbed the ladder very quickly but still has time to be a wonderful husband and inspirational and loving father to our two children. Although we try not to discuss work too much, he is in a leadership role in an organisation so focussed on team work and getting results so I do find his ocassional input to be extremely valuable. Where being a small business we can lack methodology and structure, he helps me to make sure we have key systems in place to get the best from our team and to keep achieving great results and relationships with our clients.

Do you think women who start their own business experience more challenges than men? Can you explain why you think this?

The only challenge I face as a woman in business is the parenting/work/life juggle. Banks have been supportive and have offered me business loans if I should ever need them.

Perhaps the emotional side of things is a challenge – I rarely stop thinking about work and work every spare moment I get and then feel guilty that I’ve then perhaps let something slip at home.

I feel that there are many exciting opportunities for men and women in business and mostly, the only barrier I witness is those not believing in themselves.

Describe Dorset in 3 words…

Breathtaking, Diverse, Surprising

Where’s your favourite place for an out of office/remote meeting?

Patisserie Mark Bennett in Ashley Cross – Almond Croissants and Latte’s are such a treat in lovely surroundings in a great location.

What do most love about working in Dorset?

The balance of being able to work hard while meeting like-minded people and then being able to pop to one of Dorset's many beauty spots with the family to de-compress!