You can read Solange’s interview below or the full feature can be read HERE.
Lessons and reflections from an award-winning Girlguiding member
When Solange Rebours isn’t leading the operations at Alex Picot Trust, she’s nurturing the next generation of confident, skillful and ambitious girls and young women. Meg Winton heard more about her impressive career and Girlguiding journey.
This year, Solange Rebours will celebrate 40 years of service at private client trust firm Alex Picot Trust.
In her role as Operations Director, she “keeps the lights on and the business going” while looking after a small portfolio of clients – drawing on her background in trust.
Outside of her role at Alex Picot Trust, though, Solange is an influential and accomplished member of Girlguiding.
It’s an organisation for girls and young women from the age of four upwards that helps them “build confidence, have adventures and learn new skills”.
Solange joined Girlguiding aged 10 and has since risen through the ranks and sat in a number of roles across the organisation.She is currently treasurer for the Island’s Girlguiding community, having previously been chair of the Girlguiding finance committee and Chief Commissioner for the South West England area – the first from Jersey.
But such esteemed roles don’t come without commitment. Solange highlighted that many of her weekends over the years have been spent at meetings and events in the UK.
“Instead of jumping in a car and going to the region headquarters in Salisbury, it involved quite a bit of flying backwards and forwards from the Island,” she said.
She feels as though her busy schedule was worth it for the experiences and memories she has gained.
“Being involved in the top levels of guiding was an eye opener and incredibly rewarding.” she reflected. “It’s taken me to places I never thought I’d go, and I’ve met people I’ve never thought I would.
“I’ve had a fantastic experience meeting people from all sorts of places, seeing the girls have such a fabulous time because their leaders were so dedicated, and taking them to events and having lots of fun.”
Solange’s commitment to Girlguiding earned her the esteemed Silver Fish award, Girlguiding’s highest honour.
Girlguiding presents the award to those who have held roles across district, division and county levels; made significant contributions to supporting, motivating, nurturing and developing guiding; are exceptionally high achievers, ready to take on a challenge; and understand the place of Girlguiding within World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and the world.
“You don’t know what is going on in the background during the nomination process,” said Solange.
That’s because, she explained, she was nominated and supported by fellow members who wrote letters sharing examples of her award-worthy work.
“I spent time with the Danish Guides Association, talking to them about how the UK membership was developed and how we reached out to those who couldn’t participate in guiding because of lack of places within units,” Solange explained.
She was also commended for her impact in the South West England region and making guiding “as accessible as possible”.
“My involvement at a local level with my unit – which is so important – and the island structure and how things work over here were also mentioned.”
The regional and national awards committee saw what her fellow members saw and awarded Solange the Silver Fish award.
It’s all the more special because not only is she the first person from Jersey to receive it, but as Solange admits, it’s incredibly rare to be presented with it.
“ The Silver Fish award is a significant achievement,” she said. “I’d been involved in presenting one when I was chief commissioner, but they’re so rarely given out.”
“It never came on my radar that I’d ever get it. It was a very nice surprise.”
Though her role at Alex Picot Trust takes up her weekdays, and Girlguiding her weekends, according to Solange, these two parts of her life are intrinsically linked.
She’s used her decades of experience to improve the financial side of the regional organisation, including restructuring the financial systems and moving to online banking.
But Solange believes Girlguiding has made her a better member of the Alex Picot Trust team too.
“Guiding has taught me to take on challenges and tackle them, something I bring into the workplace every day,” she said. “From a very young age, you learn about teamwork and tackling challenges.
“Having been a manager and now a director, the leadership, listening, communication and public speaking skills you acquire in guiding very much complement those roles.”
Solange shared her gratitude to the firm for allowing her flexibility to uphold this important element of her life.
“When I took on the role of Chief Commissioner, I was travelling a huge amount – around 36 or 37 weekends a year, for five years,” she explained.
“I could be flexible with my time to make flights, because the company were extremely understanding and supportive.
“They knew what I was doing within Girlguiding was having a positive impact on what I was doing here. I’ve been very lucky and fortunate to be at a company that is very supportive of volunteering,” she added.
As International Women’s Day approaches, Solange took the opportunity to reflect on the lessons both her roles at Girlguiding and Alex Picot Trust has taught her.
She cites the 50% female board at Alex Picot Trust as proof there are no “barriers to achievement” at the firm.
And what she’s learnt from Girlguiding is that there is no reason why she can’t achieve what others do.
“I always tell myself that I am equal to anybody, and have the same opportunities as anyone else.”
“It’s self-belief and self-confidence that comes over time, but in reality, there are no barriers unless I put them in place.”
