Irish Woman At The Top 1986

Society

Cork born Detta O'Cathain talks about what it takes for women to succeed in business.

Fergal Quinn presenting 'Saturday Live' introduces Detta O'Cathain an economist and pioneering businesswoman and the current managing director of the British Milk Marketing Board. She was the first woman to be appointed as a non-executive director at the Midland Bank. A director of several companies in England, she also sits on the board of supermarket chain Tesco.

Graduating from UCD (University College Dublin) with a degree in Economics Detta O'Cathain worked for Aer Lingus, where she met her husband Bill Bishop. She left Ireland for England twenty years ago, where her career went from strength to strength.

A strong work ethic and her competitive and driven nature got her to where she is today.

I just worked very hard…I set myself goals and ambitions, and I got there.

As someone who has long been the only woman at the boardroom table, Detta O'Cathain maintains that she has had to work harder than her male colleagues in order to succeed. Pleased to see an increase in women at higher levels in the business world, she is also aware that many look to her as an example of what a woman can achieve,

I'm a bit of a role model, because there are very few of us still, unfortunately.

Equality in the workplace can only be seen as positive, but Detta O'Cathain prefers the middle ground of the women's movement which she believes is having an impact,

We're beginning to make an impact now in a quiet way, and be accepted.

With a strong belief that a disadvantage can be turned into an opportunity, being Irish and a woman in the British business world has made her twice as determined to succeed.