Anna Pearson
Anna Pearson I started Harriet after spending the last seven years investing in female founded companies and identified a need for greater support for founders as they grow their companies and raise funds. Prior to this I served as a member of The Ladies Investment Club and a Venture Partner at Her Capital, responsible for deal sourcing and deal structuring. Prior to my investment work I was the General Manager for Plexus Engage in Australia and the company’s Head of People/Talent. I started my career as a lawyer in Australia and London before moving into commercial roles as an early pioneer of alternative legal service providers. I co-founded Axiom’s business in the UK building and developing the company over eight years in London.
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your corporate journey/venture/initiative.
I grew up in Queensland, Australia which is a wonderful place for kids and a fantastic outdoor lifestyle. My enduring memories as a kid involve climbing trees and running around playing with my friends outside.I’m a qualified Pilates instructor too and being active and fit has always been an important part of my life since I was a child.
Was there any turning point in your life that changed your journey? If so, what was it? Please tell us the backstory behind it.
The point that changed my life was when I stopped practicing law and moved into commercial roles. I made this shift at quite a young age when the initial financial impact and salary reduction was easier to manage. While I enjoyed practicing law, I was always more interested in the commercial considerations my clients were weighing up and I wanted to learn about their businesses and plans.
Every industry that is now a large-scale, top-notch business once started as a small idea in the minds of entrepreneurs. What was that idea that made you start this brand? How did such a unique idea strike you, and what motivated you to “YES, go for it?”
Last year after speaking with a friend and also an investor who was looking to recruit more women I realised there was a gap in the market to meaningfully support female founders on their journey from early stage startups through to later stage funding. I spoke with so many female founders on a weekly basis that I was able to test our business thesis in real time with those founders. We are inundated with requests from female founders to help them build, fund and scale their companies.
Tell us something about your initiative or current role. What is it about, and what impact are you trying to make?
The impact Harriet is trying to make is simple – we want more funding to flow to female founders.
All investors know that female founders raised just 3% of VC funding in 2021. However, very few seem to know what to do or how to create the change we need to see within the industry. Ultimately for diverse founders and startups to address the world’s biggest problems, that has to change.
Female entrepreneurs open just below 40% of all businesses and are 51% of the world’s population. These three stats alone present an arbitrage opportunity for investment because it cannot be true that 97% of entrepreneurial talent resides within 49% of the population (men)! According to BCG, women founders return more than double that of male founders to their investors. Women are more likely to build businesses that are better for our planet and our people. We want to support that because the world needs better businesses and our children, especially our daughters, deserve better. If we want this data to change then we need to do something different, to rip up the traditional way founders obtain capital and to rewrite the story.
Everyone has their own set of challenges when starting an entrepreneurial journey. Still, the most essential part for others to learn is how you deal with those. Would you like to share with us your challenges and your coping mechanisms?
Every business and start-up has challenges. I do believe in the importance of perseverance and humility in establishing a company. Any good founder will tell you, you will fail on a daily basis – the importance is having the humility to learn, grow, take advice and keep moving forward.
While the global pandemic of COVID-19 is associated primarily with adversities, it has also brought about a true boom in startups, with successful entrepreneurship in many countries. The pandemic has impacted all of us in one way or another. Would you like to share your experience on a personal and professional level?
Like many families – while it could be challenging the pandemic provided us with an element of ‘down time’. In some ways life with a family (I have two young children) got simpler and in other ways – harder. As an expat based in Singapore It did give me a good reminder that traveling is a privilege and something we had all taken for granted.
Your journey and your vision are very inspiring, but are there any achievements or accomplishments you would like to mention?
I have been mentoring young women in a variety of commercial roles for years. One of my greatest joys is seeing them succeed. I think as you get older your greatest success is making yourself redundant to those you support or manage or mentor. Their success is ultimately your success.
Would you like to share with our young budding women entrepreneurs the change you would like to see in the world if given an opportunity?
I’d like to make it faster for female founders to grow and succeed in their entrepreneurial journey – that’s what we hope to achieve at Harriet.
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned in your personal life and professional journey? What is your personal motto in life?
I don’t have a personal motto. I do believe anything is possible if you put your mind to it and work hard. And keep learning!
Women are a growing force in the workplaces worldwide, standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. There are cracks in glass ceilings everywhere, with many women breaking through to carve out a space right at the top of the pyramid. What are your thoughts about women’s leadership today?
I actually try not to distinguish between great leaders based on their gender. There are many men and women who are extraordinary leaders and help others to succeed. Our focus should just be on nurturing great talent regardless of gender.
With your grit and determination, you are making a considerable impact, breaking through, and serving as role models for many budding entrepreneurs. What would you want to say to our young women leaders/audience reading this?
Have a go! I see so many people overthinking their journey or being too scared to take the plunge. Career transitions whether they are entrepreneurial or otherwise are always easier when you are younger because you feel you have less to lose. But equally doing them later in your career may be easier giving you slightly more financial freedom or confidence based on your previous skills and experiences. There is no right time though the worst mistake people make is – waiting!