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Lessons from my journey to the CFO seat
CFO of Vogue Sourcing, Jade Hartley, sits down with our Head of Sales, Devonshi Mody, to explore the personal and professional lessons that shaped her path to the top. The conversation covers everything from overcoming age bias in leadership to managing global teams, navigating the demands of a fast-growth business, and finding balance as a working parent.
Jade Hartley is CFO at Vogue Sourcing, a global fashion supplier headquartered in Manchester with offices across China, Turkey, Morocco, India, Bangladesh, Spain and Australia. She was recently shortlisted for CFO of the Year at the BDO UK Private Business Awards. With a background spanning manufacturing, fashion and global operations, Jade now oversees finance and plays a key role across multiple business functions.
Jade opens up about:
◻️ Why age, not gender, was the biggest barrier in her career
◻️ How she manages “organised chaos” at home
◻️ The power of mentorship and learning to understand your emotional triggers
◻️ What it’s really like leading in an owner-managed, fast-growth business
◻️ Why success is personal and how to define it on your own terms
◻️ Her advice to her 20-year-old self: don’t wait to be heard, and always reflect on how far you’ve come
⏱ Timestamps
00:00 – Intro
00:42 – Jade’s unconventional start in finance
02:00 – From finance admin to CFO: the pivotal moments
03:55 – Leading beyond spreadsheets: HR, IT and global ops
05:11 – Imposter syndrome and learning to lead without all the answers
06:34 – Vulnerability in leadership and asking the “stupid” questions
07:33 – Working in a female-dominated business
09:15 – Navigating male-dominated industries and earning respect
11:17 – Managing people by understanding what motivates them
12:30 – Why age was the real elephant in the room
14:04 – Mentorship, triggers and emotional intelligence
15:35 – What balance really looks like as a working mum
17:31 – The whiteboard system and 6–8pm no-phone rule
18:28 – Returning from maternity leave and supporting others
20:10 – Creating a culture of inclusion and flexibility
22:10 – Thriving in an owner-managed business
24:07 – Managing up and down in a fast-paced environment
25:21 – Advice to her 20-year-old self
🔗 Follow Jade
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jade-hartley-22912240/
Vogue Sourcing UK – https://www.linkedin.com/company/vogue-sourcing-uk/