Development & Alumni Relations Office

What made you decide to set up your own business?

Knowing I could offer something different and better than the traditional consultancy model for my sector and me and deciding I had to put my money where my mouth was! 

What has been your biggest challenge so far?

Saying no! There are just so many amazing individuals and organisations doing so much superb work in the creative industries, arts, heritage and third sectors. I do quite a lot of training and speaking events and inevitably these fabulous people find me at the end and want to ask me about a specific problem. I inevitably end up giving them half a day pro bono consultancy over a coffee and have picked up over ten mentees this way. It drives my partner bonkers as it's all in my 'free' time but these people couldn’t afford to pay consultancy rates and its humbling how spending just a little time with them can make such a big difference. I’m just as inspired by their work as they are by the advice I give them so it's 'win-win' really. But a girl does have only have so many hours in the day – allegedly!

What has been your biggest success or triumph so far?

Every client win is a triumph for me because it's such a competitive market and I genuinely only tender for work that I really want to do.  I've become an Accredited Coach since starting the business which was a real triumph at the time. I thought it would be really easy to get but it's a completely different way of thinking and interacting and it was brilliant to develop those skills and have that recognised.  And being named 'one to watch' in the Observer Courvoisier Future 500 network was pretty exciting too.  

How do you feel your time at Queen's prepared you for this venture?

'Performing' at meetings with a hangover (I’m joking!). In all seriousness I was blessed with an amazing tutor in Dr John Catherwood who really encouraged me to think about everything, from business and medical ethics to politics, religion and aesthetics in a very lateral way.  I'll never forget bringing my house rabbit (don't ask) to one particularly illuminating tutorial, setting her on the table and having a full on group discussion about whether there really was a rabbit on the table in the tutorial! It was relevant at the time your honour but God knows why now! What I do know is that these sorts of debates and discussions gave me the confidence to think differently as long as I had a sound rationale behind the thinking. It also introduced me to some of the greatest thinkers, leaders and ideas in the world which I find myself returning to time and time again. 

What advice would you give someone considering starting a business?

Do it. As Nike would say, Just do it! You can (and should) do lots of market research and planning but at the end of the day I hear so many people talking about how much they hate what they do and what they'd like to do and you've really just got to make it happen. Because one of the scariest and most glorious things about life is that you're the only one who can! 

And only start a business doing something you're really passionate about because when you're working 24/7 to make it the best that it can be, you need to know 150% that you're the luckiest person in the world to be doing it.  When you talk about it and have to sell what you do, that passion will inspire others. 

And once you have started, think big. Just because you feel like a minnow doesn't mean you can't out swim those bigger fish. 

What is your next ambition?

When I first moved to London I played a key role in helping the consultancy I worked for to win a major cultural project contract in Dubai which I went on to produce the brand and marketing strategy for. My first client when I set up the business was a brand entry strategy for a New Zealand artist. I really enjoyed those projects and think we can learn a lot from different international approaches and models. So the next ambition is to do some more international work.  I've some friends in London moving back to the USA soon so have already got on the networking case!

Any other comments you would like to make?

It would be fantastic if reading everyone’s stories inspires more women to take the plunge.  Statistics show that 8 out of 10 new businesses fail within the first three years which is pretty daunting stuff but I've met enough entrepreneurs now to know that the only way to be successful is to 'feel your fear and do it anyway'. I’m living proof that anyone can and I know that more female entrepreneurs  would make the world a more interesting place.