TEES TIME
Continuing our new feature , we find out what makes local business leaders tick .
Name :
Michelle Robson
Role : newly appointed chief people and compliance officer , PD Ports
Born : Newcastle upon Tyne Lives : Northumberland
Family : Married to Mick , with two beautiful daughters , Grace and Sofia
Tell us about your upbringing : I grew up in Newcastle and met my husband when we were young . By 17 , we were living together and trying to find our way in the world . I ’ m very proud of what we have achieved together and the family we have today with our daughters , Grace and Sofia .
Tell us about your first job : Well , my first job was when I was 14 at a shoe shop called Freeman Hardy Willis . But after college and as I started to look for a ‘ serious job ’, I started my career in the shipyards of South Shields , back in the days of “ personnel ”.
How different has your career been from how you imagined it at 21 ? By the time I was 21 I had already committed myself to a life in maritime and oil and gas , I loved it . The other part of my career I had the bug for was world travel . The oil and gas industry had supported travel to places I would never have dreamed of going . So not very different at all really ! In fact , I ’ d say just as I had planned it .
What one piece of advice would you pass on to those starting out in business ? I ’ d say think very early on what you want to be known for , think of yourself as a brand and stay true to what ’ s important to you . Authenticity and never changing who I am have always been important to me .
Which part of your job do you most enjoy ? I love building communities and bringing people together to really achieve something great . My role enables an opportunity to strategise and collaborate with all aspects of our business . By driving a people strategy alongside the organisation ’ s goals , I can contribute to both the long-term success of our business and the wellbeing of our people .
Which part of your job do you least enjoy ? Anything that involves a spreadsheet ! I love data and the analysis you can gain , but I always try and balance the facts with what I am thinking and hearing around the business .
Do you ever doubt yourself as a business leader ? We are all human and we all make mistakes . Of course I can sometimes doubt decisions I have made but , ultimately , I am also a great believer in “ trust your gut ”. Overall , I don ’ t doubt my leadership though , I always try to seek to understand first , then make a considered decision and stick to it .
How do you switch off from work ? I love to spend time with my family , and I also love to be active in my local community . I run a youth group for girls and enjoy being involved with our village school . They can often be a welcome distraction from the chaos at work .
Why does your business matter ? PD Ports plays a crucial role in the local economy , providing employment opportunities and contributing to the overall economic growth and prosperity for Teesside and other locations in the UK . We are also strong supporters for growth in the region , embracing opportunities , driving change , securing inward investment and championing the benefits of being in Teesside . Our ports support import and export of major goods up and down the UK and connect those goods to major global markets , while committing to enhance the infrastructure of the local area also where we can .
Which of your personal traits has been the most important in your career ? I ’ d say I am a very down-to-earth person . I always treat everyone as I would like to be treated . This has enabled me to build strong relationships and communication channels , building trust and fostering a real collaborative culture .
Which of your own personal traits most frustrates you ? I can get frustrated quickly with a slow pace but , again , over the years I have tried to balance this off with patience and taking the time to be measured and considered before jumping in too quickly .
Which trait in others do you most dislike ? It takes nothing to be kind and I don ’ t like seeing people be taken advantage off , so injustice or a lack of kindness is something I won ’ t tolerate .
If you were to recommend just one book to Tees Business readers , which would it be ? The last book I couldn ’ t stop reading was The Adaptation Advantage by Heather McGowan and Chris Shipley . I often go back and refer to the many comments I had scribbled along the way !
What ’ s your favourite local restaurant and why ? I ’ m new to Teesside so not able to make any recommendations yet but looking forward to trying as many new places as possible . Sounds like a good reason to get out and try some great food !
What social media do you use ? I ’ m not a big social media user . Typically , I only really have a presence on LinkedIn .
Which local business leader would you like to see interviewed in this feature ? One of my key areas of interest is early careers , STEM and youth development , so it ’ s been amazing to hear about some of the initiatives going on in PD Ports to encourage young people to consider a career in the port and maritime industry . I ’ ve heard about some of the great work being done in the sector by people like Zoe Lewis at Middlesbrough College , Claire Preston at Power of Women , Tania Cooper at Steel Benders and Katrina Morley at Tees Valley Education – I hope to meet all of them , so I ’ ll nominate them all as a way of inviting them to get in touch !
The voice of business in the Tees region | 63