Did you enjoy school?
I loved school and I still love learning – I have an innate curiosity and a drive to know how something works and how we can make it work better. I passed my 11+ much to my parents’ astonishment and went to a grammar school. Then was the first person in my rather large family (16 aunts and uncles and 40 cousins) to go to university. I am still immensely proud of that.
What qualifications do you have?
I have the usual O levels (I was the last cohort to do O levels before the move to GCSE – yes I am that old!), A levels and a Business Studies with Marketing degree. I have never studied for a Masters but maybe one day.
Has your career path been a smooth transition, a rocky road or a combination of both?
I am not sure I have ever met anyone who has a smooth transition in a business career – I think the norm is to have twists and turns and a bit of a rocky patch here and there. I certainly have had my fair share – from working in an owner-managed business where the biggest blocker was the owner (quite common I think); to restructuring myself out of my own role (along with others) more than a few times. What’s always important is to do the right thing for the business, and the right thing for your own values – maintaining that is critical for me.
What specific challenges do you see women facing in the industry? (Feel free to provide any of your own examples!)
I would hope there is now more opportunity for women coming into the industry than there was when I started my career, but there are still challenges. Confidence and visibility can still be barriers – I have seen incredibly capable women hesitate to put themselves forward for opportunities unless they feel 100 percent ready, whereas others will take the leap much earlier.
There is also still the challenge of balancing career progression with family responsibilities, and sometimes the assumption that women will naturally take on the emotional or organisational “glue” roles within teams. I have been fortunate to work with some fantastic leaders and allies over the years, but I have also experienced situations where I had to work harder to have my voice heard or my experience recognised.
The good news is that the conversation is changing, and I think strong female role models and supportive leadership make a huge difference. I am proud of Ordnance Survey’s Womens Network in this regard.
What is the best career advice you can give to others?
Stay curious and stay adaptable. Very few careers follow a perfectly planned path, and often the biggest growth comes from the unexpected opportunities or challenges.
I would also say: do not compromise your values. Skills can be learned, but integrity and how you treat people are what define your reputation over time. Relationships matter enormously in business, and people remember how you made them feel long after they forget a presentation or a project.
Finally, back yourself. You are usually more capable than you think you are.
If you had to pick one mentor that had the biggest influence on you, who would it be?
I do not think I can point to one single mentor, because I have learned something valuable from so many different people throughout my career – including some who taught me exactly what not to do!
The people who had the biggest influence on me were leaders who combined commercial strength with humanity. The ones who challenged me, trusted me, and gave me opportunities before I probably felt fully ready for them. I have always tried to take those lessons forward into my own leadership style.
From where do you draw inspiration?
I draw inspiration from people who are willing to challenge the status quo and make things better, whether that is in business, technology or everyday life.
I am also inspired by learning itself. I genuinely enjoy discovering how things work, understanding new ideas, and connecting dots between different experiences. Some of my best ideas have come from conversations, reading widely, or simply being curious enough to ask, “why do we do it this way?”
Outside work, my family and the people close to me are constantly inspirational.
- What is the biggest challenge you have faced to date?
Professionally, some of the hardest moments have involved significant business change and restructuring – including making difficult decisions that affected people and teams, and at times restructuring myself out of a role. Those experiences are never easy, especially when you care deeply about the people involved.
What those situations taught me was resilience, honesty and the importance of leading with empathy. Difficult periods also force you to grow, adapt and reassess what really matters to you professionally and personally.
What qualities do you feel makes a good leader?
For me, good leadership starts with authenticity and trust. People want leaders who are honest, consistent and willing to make difficult decisions while still treating people with respect.
A good leader should also be curious, open to challenge, and able to create an environment where people feel safe to contribute ideas and learn from mistakes. Communication is critical — particularly during periods of uncertainty or change.
Most importantly, leadership is not about hierarchy or having all the answers; it is about enabling other people to succeed.
From a work viewpoint, what has the last 12 months been like?
The last 12 months have been both challenging and energising. Businesses everywhere are having to navigate rapid change – whether that is economic pressure, advances in technology, changing customer expectations or evolving ways of working.
What I have found most interesting is the pace of innovation, particularly around AI and digital transformation. It is creating huge opportunities, but it also requires organisations to think carefully about skills, culture and how technology can genuinely improve outcomes rather than simply adding complexity.
What would you say are the biggest tech-based challenges we face today?
One of the biggest challenges is keeping pace with the speed of technological change while ensuring we use technology responsibly and ethically. As above, AI in particular offers enormous potential, but organisations also need to think carefully about governance, trust, security and the human impact of automation.
Cybersecurity continues to be a major challenge as threats become more sophisticated, and there is also a growing need to ensure people have the skills and confidence to adapt to new technologies
Technology should ultimately enable people and businesses to work smarter and better — not overwhelm them.
What can be done to encourage more women into the industry?
Visibility and representation matter enormously. Young women need to see people like themselves succeeding in leadership, technology and commercial roles so they can picture those careers for themselves.
Mentoring, sponsorship and early exposure to STEM and business opportunities are also really important. I think we also need to challenge outdated perceptions about what careers in technology or business actually look like – many roles are highly creative, collaborative and people-focused.
Creating inclusive cultures where different perspectives are genuinely valued is equally important. Recruitment is only part of the story; retention and progression matter too.
Give us a fact about you that most other people wouldn’t know.
Most people probably would not know that I have a real obsession with antique jewellery. I am fascinated by the romance and history of pieces that are hundreds of years old – imagining who wore them, the lives they were part of, and the stories they could tell if they could speak.
A few years ago, I even designed some jewellery myself using antique stones, which combined my love of creativity, craftsmanship and history. That passion has never really left me, and I am now looking to study towards becoming GIA qualified in diamond and coloured stone grading.
For me, antique jewellery is the perfect combination of artistry, history and curiosity – which probably says quite a lot about my personality in general!
