Building a lingerie empire: My first job… and my boss told me I ‘had legs’

She's currently CEO and founder of the post-surgery lingerie company, THEYA Healthcare, but Ciara Donlon has weathered her fair share of professional storms.

“In my own experience in the corporate work environment, I’ve experienced sexism and inequality,” Ciara told Her. “In my first job out of college, my boss exclaimed one day, out of the blue, ‘She has legs’ when I went in wearing a skirt. Needless to say it was the last time I wore a skirt and I left sooner after that." That incident took place more than 15 years ago, but sadly, Ciara says "casual sexism" is still alive and well today in 2017. “It’s a sad reflection on society when we need to discuss this in 2017,” she continued. “Unfortunately, it’s not surprising to me that young women feel they are being treated unfairly in the workplace.”

Fantastic news - Ireland's Ciara Donlon founder @TheyaHealthcare HQed @NovaUCD named Laureate for Europe #CWIA2017 @CartierAwards @Entirl pic.twitter.com/83VIdvGaYo

— NovaUCD (@NovaUCD) April 12, 2017

Sadly, the ‘legs’ comments was not the only time Ciara felt her gender played far too big a role in her professional life. “Another memory that sticks out was when I discussed my salary in comparison to other colleagues at the same level with my employer. I was told that I should be grateful to be the second best paid employee on my grade in my department,” she revealed. “The person who was paid more, who happened to be male, had less responsibility and was the youngest at our level. I pointed this out to my boss, and he was left red-faced and stuttering.”

Ciara Donlon, CEO + Founder @TheyaHealthcare sharing her success + inspirational story with this morning's delegates @UlsterBizSchool pic.twitter.com/toOqD8UmNb

— NIChamberofCommerce (@NIChamber) March 13, 2017

With years of climbing the corporate ladder and an incredibly impressive CV to show for herself, the businesswoman says she is still hearing one word far too often. “I am not a girl, and I haven’t been one for about 20 years now, yet many men feel it’s still OK to refer to a grown woman as a girl. It just implies she is a child and not as mature as others.” The businesswoman says we’re taught from a young age that women play a supporting role. “Even from when we’re toddlers, the differences start to manifest themselves. I have a four-year-old son and I notice it in the cartoons he watches. “There are always at least four main characters, one who is the token female in pink. Why is that? When in real life, we are either equal or there are more women. “I found it very telling recently when my son was talking about a popular cartoon, and he said to my husband that it was silly there were only two girls and way too many boys. My little boy, who is growing up in a house where his parents are equals, immediately noticed the imbalance - and he is right too.”

So proud! our CEO Ciara Donlon is a finalist for the Cartier Womens Initiative Awards #Cartierawards #DrivingChange https://t.co/bE07owmL89 pic.twitter.com/4jtUfdHfoA

— THEYA Healthcare (@TheyaHealthcare) February 9, 2017

The issue of gender inequality is now steeped so far into the working world that many don’t even notice it. However, pay inequality is still a huge problem, one that many of you struggle with daily and that’s partly because of the general fear women have to even discuss the issue with their employers. We asked you, our readers, about this, and 88 percent of you said you find it difficult to discuss your salary with your employer – and Ciara thinks our female representatives, or lack thereof, in the Dáil play a big part in this.

We shouldn't have to ask for equal pay. But we want to know, do you find it difficult to discuss salary with your employer? #BridgeTheGap

— Her.ie (@Herdotie) April 25, 2017

“When only 22 percent of our politicians are women, yet we make up over 50 percent of the population, you know there is a serious imbalance. Women need to be represented by women in order for gender issues to be properly addressed.” Now, as an employer, Ciara strives to ignore the issue of gender when dealing with staff. “In my company, all employees are paid on merit and that’s it. Sex does not enter the equation and I don’t see why it should. “At the end of the day, it’s the results that matter and whoever can deliver those results should be compensated accordingly.”