Islington business owner Laura Mariana is helping women smash sexist career barriers. She tells James Morris WHAT SHE REALLY, REALLY WANTS.

Islington businesswoman Laura Mariana has enjoyed a successful career at the top. She has been a director with global brands and now runs her own company. But something continued to nag her.

Laura knew women are often overlooked for the top jobs: making up about 12 per cent of boards in global companies. But she also believed more women need to demonstrate the confidence to take ownership of their careers.

The result is a call to arms in her new book, entitled: “STOP IT! It is all in your head.”

Published last month, the book is a “provocative” guide on how women can overcome the obstacles on their path to the most powerful jobs. Chapter titles include “BLAH BLAH BLAH” and “TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT, WHAT YOU REALLY REALLY WANT”.

Laura, who is deputy chair of Islington Chamber of Commerce, launched the book at Upper Street’s Business Design Centre on Thursday.

She said this week: “I am passionate about helping women in business. I’ve noticed, many times, some women lack confidence to put themselves forward and shout about their achivements.

“I think there are lots of barriers to women in leadership as it is. So the book is about helping women take ownership and smashing that ceiling.

“I have worked as a board director, and have personal experience interviewing people, seeing how woman come across differently to males.

“Being able to actually believe there is no difference between you and any other candidate is a big part of the battle. Confidence means a lot.”

Away from book promotions, Laura runs The People Alchemist, a business consultancy company, and bangs the drum for independent Islington businesses with the Chamber of Commerce.

“Islington is such a vibrant community,” she said. “You just have to go down Upper Street and see the number of eateries, which really seem to thrive here. You can see why – Islington is a great place to be.

“But a big thing for the chamber is still our business rates campaign. We are trying to do whatever we can to help small businesses and alleviate this burden.”