Owning “Bossy”: How Catherine Orr is Redefining Leadership
Young, female, and unapologetic, the Uncovered founder on scrutiny, funding, and reshaping the rules for women in business.
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At 26, Catherine Orr launched Uncovered, a social first creative agency, a business that would quickly place her in the rarefied category of young female founders in the UK. The early days were anything but straightforward. “One of the biggest barriers I’ve faced is the added scrutiny that comes with being a young female founder,” she says. “Being direct and decisive – qualities celebrated in others – were often labelled differently in me. I’ve learned to lean into that. If being ‘bossy’ is what it takes to build something impactful, I’m comfortable owning it.”
The pressure to lead differently because of her gender has been a constant undercurrent. “You’re expected to balance authority with likeability in a way that isn’t always applied equally,” she explains. Instead of conforming, Orr has forged a leadership style that reflects her values: inclusive, creative, and focused on championing women – a philosophy mirrored in the makeup of her team.
When it comes to funding, the numbers speak for themselves. Female founders in the UK receive just 2% of venture capital investment. Orr sidestepped the traditional funding route entirely, bootstrapping Uncovered from the start. “Building without external investment has given us control and resilience,” she says.
For the next generation of female entrepreneurs, her prescription is simple: more women controlling capital. “That’s when the system truly starts to shift,” she says. For Orr, redefining leadership isn’t just personal – it’s structural, challenging entrenched biases while creating space for others to thrive.
At 26, Catherine Orr launched Uncovered, a social first creative agency, a business that would quickly place her in the rarefied category of young female founders in the UK. The early days were anything but straightforward. “One of the biggest barriers I’ve faced is the added scrutiny that comes with being a young female founder,” she says. “Being direct and decisive – qualities celebrated in others – were often labelled differently in me. I’ve learned to lean into that. If being ‘bossy’ is what it takes to build something impactful, I’m comfortable owning it.”
The pressure to lead differently because of her gender has been a constant undercurrent. “You’re expected to balance authority with likeability in a way that isn’t always applied equally,” she explains. Instead of conforming, Orr has forged a leadership style that reflects her values: inclusive, creative, and focused on championing women – a philosophy mirrored in the makeup of her team.
When it comes to funding, the numbers speak for themselves. Female founders in the UK receive just 2% of venture capital investment. Orr sidestepped the traditional funding route entirely, bootstrapping Uncovered from the start. “Building without external investment has given us control and resilience,” she says.
