The British are suspicious of individuals or corporations with whom they are unfamiliar. Gaining access by way of top bank officials, accounting firms, or introductions by members of the diplomatic corps may be helpful. Self-introductions by way of letter should include appropriate background materials, proper references, and a clear statement of intent. The decision-making process depends on the type of business or corporate entity with which you deal. Other institutes exercise a more decentralized system, authorizing particular departments or profit-centered subsidiaries to render decisions in accord with their own operations, often without first reporting to the board.
Women are competitive in business and are taken very seriously.
Treat them as you would any business colleague. In between, be prepared with details and facts, presented in a logical format. The British prefer a soft, understated sales presentation to aggressive hard-sell tactics. Answer questions directly and with as much information or statistics as are available on your topic. Though an advance agenda and other materials are required to be in place before the scheduled meeting, do not assume your British colleagues have familiarized themselves with the materials.