CEO, Panintelligence
Tell us something most people won't know about you
I have had walk-on roles in Emmerdale and was in their Church Choir; we even released an album and I was on the front cover. I don't even watch the programme!
What has been your highlight of 2018 so far?
Growing the team from 20-30 people in six months. We are experiencing fantastic growth and building a fantastic culture and team I am immensely proud of. I love going to work; it feels like a family.
Who would play you in the film of your life?
Jennifer Saunders, although I wish I was that funny. I often find myself in moments which would make for a great comedy. Think Absolutely Fabulous meets The Office!
Which tech firm (other than your own!) do you most admire?
I most admire business built on the foundations of a strong culture. New high growth SaaS companies like Epos Now are exciting to be involved with, with an agile and innovative culture. While Tribal, a more established software vendor into education, has transformed its business and maintained a great culture and experienced team in the process, which is a hard thing to achieve.
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Game of Thrones. I secretly wish I was Daenerys Targaryen.
What is the most irritating tech buzzphrase of 2018?
‘Disruptive'… although the new Baby Shark Song the kids are singing at home is a close second! I just wish I could get it out of my head - do do do do do do.
What would be your first act if you were made Prime Minister?
Implement a returnship programme similar to apprenticeships for women returning to work after children. I know so many incredibly talented mums who feel returning to the work they are educated and experienced in is simply not an option for them.
What's the biggest untapped opportunity facing the channel?
Analytics and AI is a huge growth area and it's built on data. The channel has customers sat on huge amounts of data that they are not getting the value from. Analytics is an easy and obvious upsell opportunity for any channel organisation helping customers to collect and store data.
What is your most treasured possession? I am from a large Yorkshire family and I have lots of old photos of my ancestors. We go back 14 generations in my village. Photos of family would be the first thing I would save - after the kids - in a fire.
What do your family think you do all day?
Play ping pong and pool. My kids have spent time in the holidays at the office and they take full advantage of the recreational spaces we have for our team. Natalie said: "This isn't work, you just play all day!"
Who has been your mentor in business?
I have had a number of mentors but my mum stands out. Now retired, she was a leader in the early ISPs Planet Online, Freeserve and Energis and has been a huge influence on my choice of career. As one of very few women in tech at the time, she has led the way for women like me to believe in ourselves and succeed.
