SMASHING BARRIERS Karren Brady, a business icon and ‘Apprentice guru, speaks about her 30 years of playing male-dominated football

In 1993, Karren Brady was elected the first woman to play football. You could hear the laughter and ridicule from Liverpool’s Anfield stadium to Manchester United’s Old Trafford home.

Birmingham City FC’s glamorous 23-year old managing director was met with smirks from many. Her arrival came when women were not allowed to enter top club boardrooms.

Add in the fact that Brady was working for David Sullivan, David Gold, who made millions in the porn industry, and the Ann Summers sex shop business empires, and Brady seemed to be in a problematic credibility battle.

Footie boss Karren Brady with husband Paul Peschisolido and children Sophia and Paolo after being awarded a CBE in 2014

Despite being 52 years old, the female business icon is still at the heart of English football. She was vice-chair of West Ham United and played a leading role on BBC1’s The Apprentice with Alan Sugar.

Karren has a success story that has defied many odds. Karren spoke exclusively with Magazine+ to show that she is eager to open doors for the next generation.

Brady speaks at Simply Business.

“Asking a woman for tight shorts was an example of how someone like me was seen in a business world. You wouldn’t ask them to do that anymore.”

“We have made a lot of progress over the past 30 years, and women are now seen in a different light when leading boardroom positions now. However, Simply Business’s research shows that we still have a lot to do.

“Gender pay gaps will take 100 years to close, and there’s still much to do.

“Only through sharing our experiences can we make it easier for women to succeed. There is much more we can do than eradicate unconscious bias.

“I’m 52, I’ve been around for a while and I don’t have any issues with negative comments regarding my role at this stage in my career. But I know women who face that every day, so we must work together to stop it.”

“If I can use my voice to help that mission, I will utilize it.”

Karren with Alan Sugar and Claude Littner on BBC hit The Apprentice

She continues, “I’ve always been happy to be in the background and that’s where I am primarily at West Ham and on The Apprentice.”

“As a child, I didn’t imagine I would be able to make a living in TV or sport, but it has been a fantastic journey.

“I’ve worked hard to build a career that I am proud of. I have taken risks, been humbled, and returned from my mistakes.

“You only get one chance to live, but it is likely enough if done right. Life is full of ups and downs.

“You must have your vision and stick with it, even if others doubt you. It would help if you held firm to your convictions and believed that you could achieve what you set out to do.

Karren Brady, the vice-chair of West Ham United football club, sits in the House of Lords of the UK.

It is not a good idea to look for your passion from the couch. It would help if you tried new careers, took chances, and discovered your path.

Find what you’re good at, and your ambitions can grow. It doesn’t have to be challenging to find a job you love and enjoy. This can make your life easier.

“Women should never think that they are incapable of being ambitious and aiming for more.

“I have never felt outmatched in a boardroom. Although I knew I was worthy of being there, it wasn’t easy to feel at home in a men-dominated space.

“That is why I’ve spent my career advocating for women and bringing women into my business to share my vision.”

Brady, a mother to two children and former footballer Paul Peschisolido, has enjoyed long-lasting success in Business. But she acknowledges that there is still one major issue.

Terry, her beloved father, was adopted by Terry as a child. However, he has been told that his Irish roots made him famous. His whole story remains a mystery.

She revealed that although it is often said that my dad is Irish, the truth is that my dad doesn’t know his father’s name.

“Despite many years of trying to locate his father, we have never been able to do so.”

He believes his father was Irish and was born there. He has hired companies to find him and discover who he is.

“We keep coming up against a brick wall. My dad would love to see a picture and learn more about him. It would also be wonderful to find out if he is Irish, as we have been told.