“I am passionate about empowering women and recognising MY worth” Sweena Badhan, Director, Steel Homes and IoD Chair Kent.

I grew up in a strict Asian family where girls were treated differently. I was the eldest of four children and the boys were handed everything on a plate. On the flip side, I left school at 16 to join the family business, working long hours, seven days a week, to secure my furture.

On a family holiday to India when I was 19, it became apparent that I was to have an arranged marriage. I wasn’t forced and I was given a choice of potential husbands. The man I chose was highly educated and came from a modern family who respected women. My husband understood my worth and wanted me to be his equal. He gave me confidence and we have been happily married for 35 years.

Back in England I took control of my life and bought my first house where my husband and I raised a family. My first job was as a Teaching Assistant,  I trained and worked in schools. When I was ready for a new challenge, I took a job with a local construction company where my potential was recognised and I was given additional responsibility as business development.

The construction industry then was a very masculine culture which accepted lots of shouting and swearing. This made me very nervous and looking back I felt racially bullied. I stayed because I didn’t want to be defeated. I left when I realised I wasn’t going to get the promotion I wanted. I had learned a great deal and was much more able to stand up for myself. I know what my capabilities were and my worth, it was time to step up!

Next, I landed my dream job on the other side of the construction industry, with Kent County Council as a Business Development Manager. This was a senior role working with fantastic people where I was able to apply my full skill set. When I was approached by Breakthrough Funding to become business development director, I took a deep breath and jumped at the opportunity.

At Breakthrough Funding, the CEO had a positive influence on my career – not only showing me it’s never too late to start over –  but also encouraging me to build my personal brand and extend my networks. When we sold to EY in 2020, I stayed on as a director. I met some truly exceptional women at EY and have stayed connected with them.

My MD introduced me to the IoD to help me build broader networks and I became a member in 2019. I was the only woman in a room full of white men when I first became Vice Chair of IoD Kent, now I am Chair and very proud to be surrounded by a diverse and inclusive team. We work hard to reflect the make-up of the wider business community.

In IoD Kent we are building partnerships between local businesses and universities to address the skills gaps in areas such as the tech and the food industry. I am passionate about empowering women to talk confidently about how to overcome challenges as a working women in todays world. We recently hosted ‘Impact 2025 Women Leading in Progress’ event in March and it was great to see many of our Male collegues attend.

As a director at Steel Homes, I am unrecognisable from the nervous person who previously worked in this industry, but as a woman of colour I still face barriers. Having worked in a large corporate, education and a local authority, I have taken a lot on board and met some amazing inspirational people. I have invested in myself, and I am excited to start my IoD Chartered Director Programme journey. I know my own worth and trust my gut. I don’t let people judge me.