Creating a community

Today, Basra runs a successful independent practice. To those looking in, it may seem like ‘she has it all.’ However, “my first few years as a practice owner were the hardest of my life,” she told OT.

Basra officially took over Edwards & Walker Opticians in Doncaster in January 2015, just four months after giving birth to her first child.

Speaking honestly, Basra shared that going into practice ownership, she had felt that “being an optometrist would be enough,” but quickly realised there was a large business knowledge and skills gap that she needed to fill.

“The first few years in practice were really tough – we lost patients, and we were making a loss,” she shared.

“As an optometrist, I didn’t have any business skills. It’s not taught at university,” she said, adding: “Looking back, I was very innocent and naive, and I didn’t have any peers to talk to about it or to learn from.”

As 10 years at the helm of Edwards & Walker Opticians approached, Basra reflected on her career and found herself thinking, ‘imagine if I had someone like me back then who I could speak to.”

“I wish I had been able to speak to somebody when I was in a bad place and ask ‘What should I do? Is everything going to be ok?,” she added.

I want to create a space that is safe for people to talk and ask questions

In January, Basra launched The SheSees Network, a community designed to provide female professionals across optics with a “safe space” where they can speak to and learn from each other, professionally and personally.

Having experienced an absence of peer networking during tougher practice ownership times, through The SheSees Network Basra hopes to create a space she would have benefited from and wishes she had.

“I want to create a space that is safe for people to talk and ask questions,” she said.

Extending beyond a community, Basra hopes the network will support, connect, and elevate women working across optics, whether they are an optometrist, dispensing optician, or optical entrepreneur.

“There are so many facets to optics, it is a broad profession, which is why I would encourage anyone working across eye care to join – ophthalmologists, manufacturers, sales reps,” she said.

Basra believes the network provides a unique support offering – “there’s nothing else in optics like this being offered,” she said.

The optometrist acknowledges there are some great industry-wide events for education and networking, but that in practice “things happen monthly, and sometimes daily, and in those moments, you may think, ‘I think I could just ask X a question’,” she said.

“With The SheSees Network, practitioners can do just that.”

I want to dispel the myth that you have to be special to do this, and let young, female optometrists know that they can do this too if they want to

The next generation

From time-to-time Basra is approached by students and newly-qualified optometrists who aspire to be business owners in the future.

While Basra is flattered, and always happy to answer questions, she sometimes finds it difficult as she does not feel she is anything special. “I want to dispel the myth that you have to be special to do this, and let young, female optometrists know that they can do this too if they want to,” she said.

“If I can do this, so can they,” she added.

She hopes the network can support the next generation coming through who want to be practice owners by answering their questions and creating a space where professionals can share their skills and experiences.

Basra also hopes that for new graduates The SheSees Network will “provide them with the opportunity to learn about the profession and the opportunities it holds.”

Having a conversation

Benefits from the network extend beyond those who aspire to be practice owners. “It is for everyone at every stage of their optics career,” Basra emphasised.

Basra wants to bring women across the profession together in a space where they can acknowledge each other professionally and personally.

“Across social media we see people’s highlight reels. I share the highs, but I also share the lows as that is real and that is life,” Basra said, adding: “I want people to feel safe to do the same. To talk about life, health and all those things.”

“If I can answer just one person’s question and support them, then I feel like I’ve achieved something,” she said.

Over the past six-months, 216 professionals have joined the network on LinkedIn, and a further 80 have joined on Facebook.

On joining, Basra asks people to fill in a questionnaire about themselves and what support they are seeking. This allows her to share online conversations and workshops covering these requirements.

She will try to facilitate professional and personal discussions. For Basra, having the personal conversations are equally as important as the professional.

“You are an optometrist, but you are also a person, and whatever goes on in your personal life, will follow into your professional life, and it’s important we talk about it,” she told OT.

“Females tend to be the caregivers in a range of situations so being able to share our tips and tricks with each other and learn from each other in a safe space is really important,” she said.

You are an optometrist, but you are also a person, and whatever goes on in your personal life, will follow into your professional life, and it’s important we talk about it

Meeting matters

While predominately the network is online, Basra will host webinars and workshops throughout the year focusing on business growth, leadership, mindset, and career advancement.

She will also create themed networking events staggered throughout the year, providing members with the opportunity to meet face-to-face. These would be once a quarter, in cities including Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, and London, she said.

Drawing on her experience working in aesthetics as well as optometry, Basra noted, “in this profession there are lots of intimate events and it’s great at championing other women. We don’t do that in optometry and I think events like this can support that.”

Basra confirmed that the first event will be High tea for high achievers, and those who may wish to attend can register their interest on The SheSees Network website.

To join The SheSees Network, connect on LinkedIn or Facebook.