Fur coat strategy for recession survival

I want to meet Dame Stephanie Shirley. The 75-year old entrepreneur and philanthropist is profiled in the August edition of The Director as part of a series of articles on flexible working. She sounds like a real inspiration.

The IT firm she founded in 1962 built around a model of remote working, with a focus on employee share ownership, social focus and corporate responsibility was acquired by Xansa last year for £470 million.

Here’s her call on how business should view a downturn.

“During the 1970s recession, my husband gave me a second hand fur coat. I wore that coat every day. I turned up everywhere in my little mini, wearing this £1,000 fur coat. It was very necessary to be flash and retain confidence. Business confidence is important at these times.”

What are you doing to keep confidence tip top? No fur coats here, but we are innovating, hiring stars and winning business. And there's absolutely no talk of a down turn here.

Also posted on www.rainierpr.co.uk