was “if your doing today, what you were doing yesterday, you
will not be in business tomorrow”. I didn’t fully understand that
saying until the last few years and realise how right he was.
What has been the greatest challenge you have faced?
The greatest challenge I have faced has been managing the rapid
growth of the Chamber. Sustained high growth is demanding
personally and on staff, it involves change, developing new
management structures and delegating responsibilities. It also
needs a keen eye on the financials. It involves long hours and
constant vigilance. We have managed this process and continue
to do so, but I can understand why so few businesses achieve
sustained high business growth. It’s vital to have the right
people around you to do this. I am very lucky to have a strong
and committed Senior Management Team especially Sharon
Stanton, Patsy Crocker, Kate Eugeni, Carl Gurnell and Gemma
Stewart who have all supported me over the past four years to
make the Chamber what it is today.
What are the challenges to female leadership?
I may not be very politically correct on this, but in my role I
don’t see any particular challenges to female leadership – and
interestingly most of the Chamber Chief Executives in our
region are women. Sure there are some people who make
assumptions about you as a woman in a leadership role, but
I find that they are soon disabused of those views when they
meet me.
More generally, I’d love to see more women in business
leadership roles as many of the ones I meet are exceptional. For
me, the most important person that I needed to convince that
I could be an effective leader was myself. Yes, taking that step
into leadership was initially daunting but only by taking these
steps can we appreciate what we are truly capable of.
Three words that would describe you.
I guess that is how I can come across as I’m very passionate,
direct and decisive, although I do reserve the right to change
my mind if I’m persuaded of a different view.
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What is your vision for Wirral’s economy and businesses?
My vision for Wirral is a place where our children want to stay
to pursue their careers and raise their families. We have some
great natural and built assets, for both business and leisure, and
it’s a great place to live for many of us.
We have to build on these assets and make this a place that our
leading businesses – like Unilever, Cammell Lairds, General
Motors, Dong Energy, Typhoo, Progress to Excellence and
The Contact Company – thrive, grow and attract their supply
chains.
We need a thriving small business ecosystem, brimming with
high growth, innovative companies that sell their services
nationally and internationally. We will make the most of our
outstanding Liverpool facing waterfront and Wirral Waters
schemes to make them business destinations of choice; and we
will work with our town centres to make them attractive and
sustainable destinations for shoppers and business. And we
should achieve much greater inclusion – creating opportunities
for all of Wirral’s residents to realise their potential.
What is the main piece of advice you would give to those
thinking of starting a business?
Invest in ensuring there is a real demand for the product or
service your business is looking to provide. If you’ve got
something people want, at a price that you can make a margin
on, then you’re in business.
Family is very important to you and for many years you and
your husband have fostered children. Why did you decide to
become foster carers?
There are a raft of reasons we decided to become foster carers
but the most significant is the inspiration given to me in life by
my mum. She drummed into us as children that we were no
better than anyone else, but that no one was better than us. And
she lived her life, and still does, to that belief.
For years she supported the extended family whilst working full
time too and we always had other children in the house with