Strong Woman: The Truth About Getting to the Top. Karren Brady

by the Monday, I was managing director of a football club. David had seen what was coming, and warned me, ‘Football is a very male-dominated business, and you are going to have to be twice as good as the men to be considered even half as good.’ I just replied, ‘Luckily, that’s not difficult!’ And that was how I felt. I had no idea that anyone would be interested in a female managing director – after all, I wasn’t going to manage the team.

      I knew I’d come up against some outdated beliefs, so there were no real surprises there, but what was a shock, as I’ve said, was the level of press interest. I think it was due to the heady combination of my being young and a powerful, modern, independent woman who’d had the cheek and balls to come and run a football club. At the time I really couldn’t work out what all the fuss was about, but the media were fascinated by this young woman getting involved in football and I had to deal with that.

      I remember Kelvin Mackenzie, then the Sun editor, calling me in my first week in charge and asking me to do an exclusive photo shoot with his paper. ‘Why on earth would I want to do that?’ I asked, and he explained how it worked. I did the photo shoot, got coverage for the football club, which helped to build its profile, and both parties were happy. Kelvin taught me the importance of being the promotion in true Richard Branson style. This was the start of my relationship with the Sun, where I have been a proud columnist for the past six years. It’s my paper, loyal to me from the start, and as I’ve said, loyalty is very important to me. I’ve been asked to join the Daily Mail, the News of the World, the Guardian, but I have never been able to break the real loyalty I felt for the Sun. I even went on to work with Kelvin as a consultant when he started TalkSport, helping him with its start-up, devising shows and coming up with ideas. An editor and a businessman – what a combination. Shame he’s a Charlton fan!

      When I gave my first press conference at Birmingham, I was desperate to look older than I was so I put on my big earrings and my wide shoulder pads and did my hair up. My aim was to look 25 because that seemed so much older than 23, at that age. I went on to the stage to outline what we intended to do for the club, and at the end I asked for questions. Of course, that was when a journalist from the Sunday People put his hand up and said ‘What are your vital statistics, love?’ For a minute, I thought, This is going to be a mountain to climb, but I told him, ‘Listen, I know I am not a man, I know it’s difficult for you, this young woman coming into football, but I promise you, in 10 years’ time, you’ll find us playing in the best league in the world, and setting the standard other football clubs will follow.’ Then I flicked my big hair and walked off stage. As I passed him, he said, ‘You may not have a dick but you have got great big balls.’

      He was right, I don’t have a dick! But I do have big balls and I needed them. If you’re a woman in a male world, you need to put a marker down early and say, ‘I’m tough. I’ll lead the company by having integrity and professionalism. I will stand up for what I want, I will make improvements and I will deliver solutions.’ In the end, I found that the business was easier than the players.