Julie Audette, Coethical

JULIE AUDETTE

ceo

Coethical

What is Coethical’s vision towards sustainability, and what steps are being taken to achieve the company’s sustainability goals?

Sustainability is at the milieu of everything we do. Firstly, by sourcing brands and products that are chemical-free, never tested on animals and significantly reduce the dependency on single-use plastic in the UAE. Secondly, by adopting sustainability practices when it comes to our operations, including distribution, packaging, water conservation, office and warehouse efficiency.

Since launching Coethical, I have aspired the sustainability values and practices adopted at my home to be replicated in our workplace. This included adopting and supporting environmentally conscious practices (including recycling, water conservation and with the environment in mind). I built Coethical so that these core values could be reflected. More recently, our team has volunteered in various beach clean efforts in Dubai.

What does women’s empowerment mean to you?

Women’s empowerment means promoting women’s sense of self-worth, their ability to determine their own choices, and their right to influence social change for themselves and others. Empowering women is essential to the health and social development of families, communities, and countries.

What have been your challenges navigating leadership roles as a woman in the Middle East and abroad?

Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship has made me better at both. Patience is the key. I didn’t have the patience to run a business when I was younger. Also, motherhood helped me on the multi-tasking and prioritising front. I also don’t think I was confident enough to negotiate contracts with our brands before I had kids, but I can say negotiating with my daughter for the last four years has made me an expert negotiator!

How do you feel your leadership is helping drive your company and the industry in a positive direction?

By treating everyone equally and professionally. Everyone on the Coethical team was hired because I see great things in them. I tell my team (including my husband) when they do a great job and when they could do better. Good business leaders don’t hold back from constructive criticism and positive feedback.

In what ways are you and Coethical helping to create leaders?

I empower people who work at Coethical to craft new solutions to problems. I do not want to be the smartest person here; I want the people who work here to be smarter than me and to outshine me. I want to empower our team at all levels here (from interns to senior staff) to tell me what to do. I also want our team to know they have a stake in the company and feel empowered to tell me how to constantly evolve, improve and do what we do better.

If we don’t support women in their careers, then the workforce only has half the successful leaders, opinions, ideas, and growth possible, as it’s only supporting half the population.

Do you believe that profitability and environmental sustainability can coexist?

Absolutely. Who cares, wins. Always.

What are the challenges facing women in leadership?

Being treated equally. From being held to a higher standard than their male counterparts, to facing persistent gender stereotypes, women are unfortunately still placed on an uneven playing field.

What advice would you give to women who are seeking to start their business career?

I tell them to dream big because the first job they have won’t be the last. They should also appreciate and understand that hard work is the only way to get to where they want to be. There is no greater feeling than seeing the results of your own hard work.

In your opinion, are programmes and initiatives enough to close the gender gap?

Gender equality is a basic human right, and it is also fundamental to having a peaceful, prosperous world. While some progress is being made in various parts of the world, there is still a great deal left to be done to right the problems of gender inequality.

A growing number of governments, organisations, and businesses across the world want to advance women in the workplace, but not always know how. What would you advise them?

If we don’t support women in their careers, then the workforce only has half the successful leaders, opinions, ideas, and growth possible, as it’s only supporting half the population. As someone who runs a company, it is my responsibility to give women an equal chance, offer leadership opportunities, and invest in them, which is something we are focused on.

Do you believe in affirmative action policies? Does Coethical have any affirmative action policies in place?

We are still a small team having launched only recently, a few months ago; however, we are pushing for more women to be part of Coethical team. The time has come for women to thrive.