After a 12 year career spanning roles including business development in a large city corporation, running pioneering online publishing businesses and her own small web consultancy firm, Julia was itching to stretch her entrepreneurial wings. When Julia and her sister Katy hit upon the idea of designing their own shoes, fueled by the frustration of never being able to find the beautiful heels that they were looking for, it was only a matter of time before they launched their game-changing fashion business Upper Street.

At UpperStreet.com, the made to order luxury shoe label, women all over the world can now create their perfect shoes online and have them delivered to them within a matter of weeks.

Where did you start your career, and how has it shaped you professionally?

After I graduated from business school at Nottingham Trent University, I was selected to join the Marketing Graduate Scheme at Reuters. This was an incredible opportunity to experience a wide variety of roles in sales and marketing, both in London and Singapore, along with a phenomenal amount of personal development and training. This was such excellent grounding for my future career, and when after 4 years I left to join internet pioneer UpMyStreet.com I was able to bring the structure and discipline of big successful company culture to an exciting and innovative new upstart in the .com space.

What I did learn from large corporate life though is how frustrating I personally found it to not be able to make an impact on company strategy, capitalize on new opportunities quickly and also deal with big company politics. I can’t imagine working for anyone else now, and certainly think I would struggle to go back into a large organization.

Tell us about your inspiration to start Upper Street?  What was the first step?

My sister Katy was getting her shoes made to her designs in Hong Kong, where she lives, because she found it difficult to find what she was looking for, and particularly shoes in her size out there. When I saw her beautiful shoes I was green with envy, and with my experience running online businesses it made perfect sense to think about how we could turn that into a website experience.

The first step was locking ourselves away to write the business plan. We decided to meet up in Dubai, half way between London and Hong Kong, and we sat by the pool in a fabulous five star hotel for a week thinking that this would be how glamorous our life would be once we were running our own business. Of course, the reality of it is much harder! Of course there are glamorous moments, but most of what we do to make our business successful is just about blood sweat and tears!

Julia wears Le Marais Short Sleeved Tunic in Blood Orange, Cropped Trousers in Black, Pointed Courts in limited edition tbar, made in pony skin in black and zebra

How did you turn that vision into reality?

Once the business plan was written, and customer research undertaken, we set about bringing together all the resources to make our dream a reality. We had to find shoe manufacturers who were prepared to work with us, despite the fact that the industry is used to making orders in significant volume, and we had no track record or experience in this area – but we managed to persuade them.

We brought in a shoe designer to create the collection of shoe components and materials that when brought together would make beautiful shoe designs. We also had to engage a technical agency to build our innovative 3D Shoe Designer. And of course, all the marketing resource to help us take our concept to market. All in all it took us about 18 months from idea to launch.

What is the best thing about running your own business?

I have 100% passion for what I am doing now, that’s incredibly motivating. I love the fact that we’re building a brand, product and company culture that is exactly how we want it to be and that we feel so proud of. And funnily enough, I sleep better than I’ve ever done, despite there being a huge amount of pressure and stress involved with running my own business – I think that’s all because I feel so much control over what we do. Finally, who wouldn’t love running a business where you’re around shoes all day long?!

What is the biggest lesson that you would give to an aspiring entrepreneur?

Never take no for an answer, stick with your vision and duck and weave your way to get there, despite all those naysayers that will tell you it can’t be done. And always make sure you’re on top of your finances; it’s absolutely true that cash is king, and you need to be acutely aware off all of your key metrics and how you’re progressing against targets.

What is your current favourite pair of shoes and why?

My pointed t-bar court shoes in black pony with a zebra print heel. They are so damn sexy and also completely unique – I always get stopped in the street when I’m wearing them.

The Fold are hosting an Upper Street Sample Sale on the 26^th – 27^th June.  Email info@thefoldlondon.com for more information. 

Julia wears The Bond Street in Navy Leather, Polly wears Le Marais Jacket in Angora Grey.

Current role

Director, Commodities Structuring, Societe Generale Corporate & Investment Banking

Career Background

Kathryn joined Societe Generale Corporate & Investment Banking in 2010 and is part of the physical gas and power trading business, developing bespoke risk management and financing services for companies in the energy sector. She has transacted a range of innovative strategies that were tailored for her clients’ specific requirements, and opened several new business streams.

Kathryn is also Head of Societe Generale’s UK Women’s Network, which focuses on practical initiatives to address gender balance issues, and represents the company on the Women on the Wharf Steering Committee.

Prior to joining Societe Generale, she was Head of Structuring & Pricing at EDF Trading and before that held structuring positions at Barclays Capital, initially in Fixed Income, and then in Commodities. She has a Masters Degree in Physics and an MBA, and is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments. Kathryn was recently named as one of Brummell Magazine’s 30 Ones to Watch in the financial services sector.

What is one the greatest challenges that you have had to overcome in your career? 

I always feel that the next challenge is the greatest one, until it’s done and then I move on to the one after. It’s what makes things interesting, and at the moment I feel lucky that in effectively having two jobs I have double the challenges!

I always feel that the next challenge is the greatest one!

On the one hand my day job is highly specialised and involves developing new solutions to assist our clients in managing risks in their trading businesses, both in terms of commodity prices but also the cost of capital and the financing arrangements. This is a big team effort involving colleagues from other business lines, as well as support teams. I spend a lot of time with our legal department figuring out how to turn these new types of transactions into actual contacts we can sign with clients.

On the other hand, my position as Head of the Societe Generale UK Women’s Network involves an entirely different type of challenge. This is all about leadership… developing a vision and inspiring my colleagues to invest their time and energy with me to make our agenda a reality. It’s an amazing opportunity which is taking me far outside my comfort zone on a daily basis!

We know you are involved in running the Women’s Network at Societe Generale.  What is the key role that the network plays for Women in your organisation?

Societe Generale has a really strong commitment to diversity which is evidenced in a number of ways, but most visibly by the various diversity networks. The UKWN is funded by the Societe Generale London branch but is a “bottom-up” organisation where the agenda is formulated by the members of the network rather than by the branch Exco.

By following an explicitly business oriented agenda we can demonstrate very clearly that diversity is good for business and contributes directly to the bottom line. Our initiatives seek to do this directly for example though specific training and development schemes and by targeted events for our female clients, and indirectly through internal lobbying to improve the recruitment and retention of female talent in all parts of the business.

You have an MBA from London Business School. Would you recommend an MBA to women building their career in Finance?

I think that all depends on what sort of career the women are looking for. For women targeting a role in a trading or quant finance area then a MiF might be more appropriate as a higher degree of specific mathematical knowledge is needed. Otherwise I found my MBA studies to be extremely useful and I certainly still work on developing some of the softer skills that are part of the programme, which underlies how important it is to develop ourselves beyond the purely technical scope.

What other advice would you give women who are thinking of working in the City?

Despite all the negative press recently, the City really is a fantastic, dynamic place to work. It can be tough, but if you’re smart, hard working and above all client oriented, anyone can succeed. It may sound clichéd, but networking is really important both inside and outside your organisation. Colleagues often say that they feel awkward when networking, even if they recognise its importance.

Someone I hugely respect recently spoke about networking with authenticity and focusing on your values and the value you can bring – I think that’s really great advice…networking should be about developing mutually beneficial opportunities and not just what you can get for yourself. The other thing is to be visible… develop a great personal brand and make sure you get noticed.

The Bond Street Dress it’s an elegant sleeveless dress that also works well in the evening.

What do you do outside of work to unwind?

I suppose I quite enjoy challenges here as well! My husband and I both sing in the Royal Choral Society and have the privilege of performing regularly in amazing venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, the O2 and Proms in the Park. I enjoy sport… we try to go horse riding most weekends with our two sons and I also aim to run a half marathon every year.  Otherwise hanging out with my husband and two lovely boys!

What is your most desired place in the world to escape to this summer?

Italy… beautiful country, interesting sights, fabulous food, and that wine…!

What is your favourite Fold dress?

Definitely the Bond Street… it’s sharp enough for the office but also works well in the evening. An elegant sleeveless fitted dress, with pencil skirt and leather band details which give it a sleek and sophisticated look.

Current Job

Online and social media producer and Co-Founder of YES! London

Charlotte Clarke is a writer and activist, currently working as an online and social media producer for the Financial Times. Starting out on the newspaper in 2008, as an editorial assistant, she now writes and edits content for the Business Education section, manages social media strategies on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter and contributes to special reports and magazines. In 2011, she helped launch the Women at Business School page, having campaigned for more coverage of women’s issues in the newspaper early on in her career.

In her spare time, Charlotte chairs YES! London, a women’s network that raises funds and awareness for the charity Dress for Success London.

You were one of the founders of YES! London, can you tell us a little bit about your involvement and the work that you do together?

I co-founded YES! London with my best friend Candice O’Leary in November 2010. We had both been volunteering as stylists for Dress for Success London – a charity that helps women on low incomes find employment – since 2009 and were keen to promote its profile by creating a network of supporters. It is such a fantastic charity, completing its mission in such a simple yet effective way. The clients are so inspired when they find out they will be given their very own suit to keep, plus shoes, accessories and interview training. You literally see their self-confidence blossom!

Candice and I now have a dedicated team of 10 wonderful women helping us plan and host fundraising events throughout the year and we have registered more than 70 members since we launched. Our events vary between business talks, cocktail evenings, gallery visits and swap shops but our ultimate aim each time is to create a fun, sociable atmosphere where women can network and share skills to enhance their own career success while also raising funds and awareness for Dress for Success London.

Charlotte is wearing the Bond Street dress in Midnight Blue styled with Le Marais Jacket and Upper Steet snakeskin stilettos and the Belgravia dress (color block dress right bottom) in Blood Orange and Taupe.

We’re really excited to be working with you and YES! London on an upcoming fashion show. What can people expect from this evening?

We are so pleased to be collaborating with The Fold for this event, especially as it’s our biggest one so far. Our sister YES! networks in the US have been producing fashion shows for the last few years and we were keen to create our own version. The Fold was an ideal partner for us due to its focus on high flying modern women, and the showroom looks fabulous.

People can expect a lot of fun, laughter, clothes and prosecco! We will be holding a drinks and canapés reception from 6.30-7.30pm, where all guests will have the chance to meet, network and visit our pop-up shop. The shop will have couture, designer and high street items for sale, at discount prices ranging between £5 and £40. Guests will then be invited to take a seat to watch the fashion show and listen to our success stories, including a speech from Pauline Murphy, training programme manager at Dress for Success London.

After the show, the shopping will continue until 9pm. All profits raised will be recorded through our Just Giving page and donated straight to Dress for Success London. We have 100 tickets in total to sell so we are looking forward to a large turnout of men and women keen to support the charity and meet other likeminded individuals.

What kind of styles can we expect to see from the Dress for Success catwalk?

There will be three scenes in total after guests see The Fold Spring/Summer 2013 collection. The scenes will focus on outfits for the modern woman, luxe holiday wear and glamorous showstoppers, and will be modelled by Dress for Success London clients and supporters.

Items in the show have been kindly donated to Dress for Success London as part of their annual drive for clothing (as with items in the pop-up shop), and will be available to buy through a silent auction on the night. Designer names include: Donna Karan, Jil Sander, Matthew Williamson, Oscar de la Renta and Stella McCartney.

Charlotte is wearing the Bond Street dress in Midnight Blue styled with Upper Steet snakeskin stilettos.

For those interested, how can you get involved in YES! London?

Membership is open to all women living in London and is really easy to complete. You just need to fill in a short registration form and make a £10 pledge via our Just Giving page. Full details can be found on our website: www.yeslondon.org.uk or email team@yeslondon.org.uk – we are a mixed bunch from a variety of industries, including fashion, law and IT, and we are always looking for new members. It is for such a great cause that creates immediate results so you definitely will enjoy and benefit from getting involved.

When you’re not organising large scale fashion events, or working for that matter, how do you spend time relaxing?

I practice yoga during the week and go mountain-biking with my husband at weekends in the countryside. The latter is slightly more of a workout than a relaxation exercise (cycling is hard!) but I really enjoy it – especially the chance to escape the City for a bit and then have a picnic. I also try to go to Zumba classes whenever I have the time, they are so much fun – you soon start to feel like you are guest starring in a music video!

Which is your favourite Fold Dress from the collection?

The Bond Street or The Belgravia. Though it’s very hard to choose…

To purchase tickets for the upcoming Y.E.S! London Fashion Show, in support of Dress for Success London, you can purchase them via the Eventbrite page here.

The Fold is hosting a Fashion Show Fundraiser on Thursday 20th June 2013 to support Y.E.S! London raise money for Dress For Success in their commitment to to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

The Fashion Show will be held at our Showroom in Clerkenwell, featuring outfits from The Fold Collection and couture & vintage clothing from the Dress for Success Designer Sale will also feature in the show, all of which will be available for purchase on the night.

Tickets on sale here are £30 for members, £35 for non-members, and include:

DRINKS RECEPTION: Networking will take place over a selection of drinks.

SUCCESS STORIES: Dress for Success London will give a short speech about their work followed by top tips from Y.E.S! London and The Fold.

FASHION SHOW: Everyone will be invited to take a seat to watch our inaugural Fashion Show featuring couture and vintage clothing from the Dress for Success Designer Sale and pieces from The Fold Collection.

SHOPPING: All attendees will have the opportunity to buy everything featured in the show.

Proceeds raised, including clothes and ticket sales, will go to Dress for Success London.

For more details, contact us on 020 8965 5600 or via info@thefoldlondon.com

This week The Fold hosted a Summer Shopping Event at our new Clerkenwell Showroom. The event featured collaborations with Stella & Dot, Bikini Fling and Julianna Heale. Each brand had a common entrepreneurial background, having been started by woman who all recognised a gap in the market.

CEO and Founder of Stella & Dot, Jessica Herrin, decided to create a company that provided busy women a new career alternative in jewellery styling. Bikini Fling was created by Alexia, who with her global upbringing, had always seen the importance for women feeling confident in a bikini. Julianna used her passion for fashion and stylistic eye to help women find a treasure for a great price.

Finally, our CEO and Co – Founder at The Fold, Polly McMaster, felt uninspired by her working wardrobe and decided to create a brand where women can dress stylishly for the office.

With each brand looking to inspire women to feel confident in what they are wearing, whether it’s going from the office to drinks and adding a necklace to glam up their outfit, or heading to the beach in their new bikini. We aim for our customers to leave feeling stylish and confident in their new purchases.

The event was a huge success, thank you to everybody who participated!

Summer Shopping Event at The Fold Showroom (1)

Summer Shopping Event at The Fold Showroom (2)

Summer Shopping Event at The Fold Showroom (3)

Summer Shopping Event at The Fold Showroom (4)

Summer Shopping Event at The Fold Showroom (5)

Summer Shopping Event at The Fold Showroom (6)

Summer Shopping Event at The Fold Showroom (7)

Summer Shopping Event at The Fold Showroom (8)

Summer Shopping Event at The Fold Showroom (9)

Summer Shopping Event at The Fold Showroom (10)

Summer Shopping Event at The Fold Showroom (11)

Summer Shopping Event at The Fold Showroom (12)

Summer Shopping Event at The Fold Showroom (13)

Summer Shopping Event at The Fold Showroom (14)

Summer Shopping Event at The Fold Showroom (15)

Summer Shopping Event at The Fold Showroom (16)

Summer Shopping Event at The Fold Showroom (17)

For more information, contact our events team at info@thefoldlondon.com or call us on 020 8965 5600.