Technical service manager, ArtSystems
Tell us something most people won't know about you
I used to be a landlady, managing 27 public houses in the South East. I was granted my first licence at 19 years old, one of the youngest in the country at that time.
What has been your highlight of 2018 so far?
Becoming head of department, enabling me to make positive changes to staff and customers alike.
Who would play you in the film of your life?
Sandra Bullock. A bit clutsy and clumsy, but with a good heart.
Which tech firm (other than your own!) do you most admire?
HP. Its staff are very dedicated, and its products are constantly transforming. A very forward-thinking enterprise.
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Wine, red wine, lots of. And cheese (with wine).
What is the most irritating tech buzzphrase of 2018?
‘Don't boil the ocean' or the most irritating word has been ‘bandwidth'; it's being used far too frequently. I counted 12 times in a 45-minute meeting recently.
What would be your first act if you were made Prime Minister?
That's far too much a dangerous question to answer, it would get me into trouble…
What's the biggest untapped opportunity facing the channel?
Service. Service has increasingly become one of the best-selling tools. After sales, service has become invaluable to our customers.
What is your most treasured possession?
My family - my husband and two children are my world.
What do your family think you do all day?
My nine-year-old daughter thinks I "shout at men all day"; at least that's what she told her teacher I do. My husband thinks I get shouted at all day.
Who has been your mentor in business?
My direct manager Simon Cooksey has mentored me for the last eight years, teaching me how to deal with situations using best practice. Steve Hawker, our MD, has guided me and taught me how to react commercially. Without the help and support I've received from both of them I would have failed in my role many times over.
