We are continuing our Spotlight Series on marvellous Women to coincide with the campaign kick off for International Women’s Day. We’ve felt inspired to show off some amazing Women in our lives that we have been lucky enough to hang out with and photograph, Women in business who strive to achieve their passions, and what better time than now as we launch our Women’s Portraiture Collections to the world!
In the third of our Spotlight series we ask Annie Legge from The Dot Project some questions…
About Annie
Tell us who you are, the name of your business and a little about what you do…
Annie Legge, Co-Founder and Director of The Dot Project which aims to achieve sustainable social impact through the connection of people and technology. We empower organisations to embrace technology as an enabler for greater impact.
What inspired you to start your business, and what drives you as a woman in business today?
A love of technology and a desire to have impact on the world. As a women-led cooperative, we are proud to be championing the diversity agenda and passionate about the role of women in technology, particularly the natural instinct of collaboration, connection and empathy. I am infinitely curious and I know the impact I need to make is still waiting for me!
Tell us a little about your most recent shoot with Venetia and what personal branding means to your business.
My partner-in-crime Cat & I had a very relaxed shoot with Venetia, in the outdoors in central Bristol – we are both naturally shy of the camera, and yet knew a cropped holiday shot from Facebook was not going to portray the professional imagery we needed for our business. We wanted photos that could represent us both professionally, but at the same time show our natural selves and the dynamic and fun work life we have together.
What is your greatest achievement as a Woman? (Can be in your business, your personal life, something massive, something silly, something you feel proud of)
The obvious is being a mother, but I guess the age and stage I have got to know I feel most proud of having continually stretched in my comfort zone – a friend of mine insists I don’t have one at all! The personal growth and learning that comes from living on the edge, taking a gamble, doing something different is incredibly energising – and of course often exhausting. I am forever learning ways in which to try and manage myself!
Name a Woman that you admire and tell us why (can be anyone at any level)
June Scobee Rodgers – the widow of Challenger Space Shuttle Commander Dick Scobee. I know June personally, and she had an early influence on my own personal journey. Despite such tragedy, June dedicated her energy to continue the educational mission of the crew through creating the Challenger Centers to drive STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education. June is everything I aspire to be, the most loving, kind, generous lady, but with purpose and mission.
This years theme for IWD is #pressforprogress – Are you happy to share a point in your life where you feel you have had to stand up for gender parity / work hard against / press for progress etc.
A career in the tech sector means sadly there has been a few! I always felt my empathy and relationship skills were not valued. The Dot Project will demonstrate the true skills of women in STEM, the importance of a human to human approach to drive success.
And finally, If you were organising a parade in celebration of IWD, which Woman or Women would you create a statue of for pride of place on the float?
Any woman who has put themselves out there, who hasn’t been afraid to champion their cause!
Thank you Annie (and Cat)!
You can view more of the inspirational work The Dot Project do here and follow their movements on Twitter !