Serving the Teesside Business Community | 41
YOU CAN
DO IT!
When I was at school, I wanted to be…
either a chef or a teacher. I managed to
combine both my passions by becoming a
teacher of home economics - teaching food,
textiles and childcare - before training to
become a specialist teacher of dyslexia.
The best business decision I ever made
was…having the confidence to leave my
role in education and step into the business
world. I had no business background but my
desire to dramatically improve the literacy
skills of students was so strong it made me
determined to do it.
The worst business decision I ever made
was…not starting my company sooner. But I
do realise that everyone who has supported
me, worked alongside me and helped me
build my business would probably not
have been around at that time. Finding the
right people at the right time makes all the
difference and sometimes that can be fate.
The best part of my job is…teaching
students and training teachers. It is the most
marvellous feeling in the world when you
witness that lightbulb moment – when a
student, who has been struggling with their
reading and vocabulary knowledge, finally
sees themselves progress ing.
The biggest downside of my working
life is…perhaps the long-haul flights and
being stuck in airports for hours but I am
compensated for that because I love the
training I’m involved in overseas.
If I could change one thing to help my
organisation it would be…to find more
time. It’s so exciting at the moment but
there’s so much more we can do.
Four words to describe me are…
passionate, enthusiastic, determined and
hardworking. My favourite local charity is…Teesside
Philanthropic Foundation, who support
groups and individuals on Teesside who are
less fortunate than ourselves. They really care
about our communities.
My business mantra is…You can do it!
With the right people around you, all sharing
the same goals, values and determination
you will succeed. When I’m not working, I like to spend
my time…with my husband working in the
garden and then having the time to sit back
and enjoy it.
My greatest achievement is…on a personal
level it has to be having a fantastic daughter. My guilty pleasures are…great food and
wine!
The advice I’d give to business start-ups
is…be brave, build a team around you and
never be afraid to ask for and take advice
from other successful, business-minded
people. The best holiday I ever had was…my
first visit to Brisbane visiting my sister and
brother-in-law. They both took a month off
work to spend the whole time with us. We
visited Sydney, spent time on Frazer Island,
Hamilton Island, Moreton Island and sailed
around the Whitsundays.
The biggest character on the Tees
business scene…has got to be Jamie
Pennington of Viral Effect. He’s full of life,
business-minded and daft as a brush!
Teesside’s a great place for business
because…it is up and coming. Lots of
exciting young companies are coming out of
Middlesbrough and many are supported by
our great university.
My biggest frustration about Teesside is…
that we don’t shout loud enough about our
successes.
Not many people know this about me
but…I won the Junior South of Scotland
Badminton Doubles Championship - though I
have to admit my partner seemed to do most
of the work!
In retirement, I’ll spend my time…walking,
gardening, spending time with family and
friends as well as learning a new craft, which
will be soft furnishing. My husband enjoys
repairing and restoring wooden furniture so I
would like to be able to work alongside him.