A Calleo Woman - Leigh Houghton

In the spirit of Women’s Month, we turn our attention to some wonderous Calleo women who continue to inspire us. 

What is Calleo? The Latin definition is “to be skillful or wise by experience” and we believe these group of women embody these traits wholeheartedly. Without further ado, allow us to introduce Leigh Houghton. 

We would love to know more about you, please introduce yourself. 

I’m Leigh Houghton, I’ve been in the graphic design industry for roughly 19 years now. I have done design work in corporate fields such as pharmaceuticals, software development and a hotel group as well as in more creative industries such as marketing agencies, website development, and small design agencies. Life would be so dull without design, I’ve always loved how a combination of colour and imagery creates their own dialogue without needing words. I now thoroughly enjoy working as a freelancer for great growing companies and my two fluffy co-workers keep me going. I believe Tea is an essential way to start to the day and a little chocolate to end it.

Could you share a memorable moment or project that showcased the positive impact of efforts by women that inspired you? How did this experience inspire or influence your perspective? 

Oh wow, there are so many aspiring women I’m unsure where to start. I was really impressed by the recent presidential inauguration Airshow. The woman who stood out for me was Major Mandisa Mfkeka, a young fighter pilot who led the Hawk formation with incredible skill. I believe she has piloted all our Air Force aircrafts; this is particularly impactful to me in a male-dominated field. Another woman who had a significant impact on me was the late Lieutenant Commander Gillian Malouw, the first female submarine navigator for our SA Navy. Unfortunately, she passed away in an accident at sea. Both these women have proved that no dream is too big and anything is possible.

How do you think women can leverage their unique skills and strengths to actively participate in the business world?

I feel women are remarkable, there’s an enormous strength in compassion. Always be open to new ideas and use the ones that benefit you, not all of them will be good or easy but the more open-minded you are, the more possibilities are born. There’s always a time in everyone’s life when you feel you don’t know what you are doing, but you are not alone! These are the lessons and skills that build you. I believe sharing these lessons with others is valuable as you will always learn something in return.

As a woman who runs her own business, what advice would you give to aspiring women looking to pursue their dreams?

Everything is scary at first, if you don’t try you will never know. When (not if) you decide to make that leap – jump with both feet. I believe it’s so important to always have a dream no matter your age. Once you have that dream (be it big or small) you give birth to further dreams. When things feel scary that’s when you are in the right spot, it’s called growth. Also don’t be afraid to ask for help, watch and be inspired by others in your field of business and you will find your way.

As a woman in South Africa, what are you looking forward to when it comes to the advancement of women?

Women have always been advanced; it’s just taken this long to recognise it and give them a platform. I believe that along this journey, people who have underestimated women have only made them stronger. I’m looking forward to seeing more of this force, the unashamed female integrity in owning their power while still nurturing their compassion. I think we are strong problem solvers who can balance situations both objectively and subjectively.

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