Women In Business | Chatting to a female boss!

We’re huge advocates of women’s rights and love it when we see a bad ass woman in business, so we had a chat with Nikki O, owner of subscription box Box of Goth to have a chat about climbing the ranks and becoming your own boss!

Where did you come up with the idea for your business? What was the inspiration?
Nikki: I guess I just decided to do something that I’d like to do and for myself. I’ve spent 10+ years in a number of different jobs working my butt off for other people and I wanted all that work to go towards me for once. I know I work hard so why not see if I could turn what I like to do into a business?
How did you climb the ranks to get where you are today?
Nikki: Through tears, tantrums and sacrifice! When going it alone, to make a business work you really have to stick out the hours, days and months of not paying yourself doing endless hours of work.
As a woman in business, were there any challenges that you have faced because of your gender? What has been the hardest challenge?
Nikki: Luckily in what I’m doing now with Box of Goth, I haven’t had any challenges gender wise, I’m the boss! It’s probably been the smoothest ride I’ve ever had in that regard.
With previous jobs I found the constant unwanted “sexual banter” made going to work not so much a challenge, but a chore even more-so than usual.
When dealing with men in your day to day work life, do you feel you have to act in a certain way for them to take you seriously?
Nikki:  Again, luckily, with that I’m doing now it’s just me and my trusty friend Lucy who I deal with on a face-to-face basis and 99% of my contact with other people is done over email.
Have there been any comments made regarding your gender?
Nikki: Other than sexual comments no, I have always worked hard, and no one could ever dispute that.
What advice would you give to other women about climbing the ranks in business or even starting their own business?
Nikki: Get starting that business! It’s super hard, you’ll spend loads of money, the hours are non-stop, and it will take you away from your family, friends, the gym and socialising in general because even when you are out, you’ll be thinking about work (especially in the beginning, you’ll learn to calm down). Just keep reminding yourself it’s all for you. If you stick at it and do everything possible to make it work, it will! Then you choose what hours, what days and what pay, wa-hey!
What are your thoughts on us reaching 100 years of women being able to vote?
Nikki: It’s great! Hopefully more young people will continue to keep voting for what they believe is best for our country.
What improvements do you think, as a society, we could make regarding women’s rights?
Nikki: I still think equal pay needs to happen. I’ve had a number of jobs where I had the same position as many men in my team and no matter what company etc I was with I was paid less.  It used to really rile me because there was never anyone who worked any harder than I did to deserve the difference in salary.
And finally, who runs the world?! 😉
Nikki: Everybody knows its girls don’t they?! We run this mutha!
 
> Sheridan Rudge